2015 7 10b

GUYANA No. 104246

FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015

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

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Venezuelan decree maintains ‘threat of force’ in Guyana’s waters – President Granger says Guyana remains resolute in defending itself against all forms of aggression 3 Page

House cuts ‘scandalous’, ‘outrageous’ benefits 8 of former Presidents Page

Con artist fleeces food vendors 14 Page

– using counterfeit $US100 bills

President David Granger being greeted by Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland and Prime Minister, Mr Moses Nagamootoo on his arrival at the Public Buildings yesterday to brief Parliament on the latest developments regarding the Maduro Decree (Photo by Delano Williams)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Constitution Amendment Bill passed without PPP/C vote

By Derwayne Wills THE National Assembly yesterday passed the Con-

stitution (Amendment) Bill which amends Article 222A of the constitution, challenging a popular belief

that a two-thirds majority was required for constitutional amendments in the National Assembly.

Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Carl Greenidge (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Social Protection Minister, Ms Volda Lawrence

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr Basil Williams

The Bill, presented by Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Mr Basil Williams, first debuted in 2013 when then Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity Parliamentarian, Mr Carl Greenidge, now Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister, brought it to the House.

It seeks to provide financial autonomy to a number of constitutional bodies, including the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Judicial, Police, and Teacher Service Commissions, Public Service Appellate Tribunal, Office of the Ombudsman, and the Guyana Elections Commission.

“A literal interpretation of the provisions [Article 222A] conveys that the seven entities listed in the third schedule are independent entities.

Article 222A, however, seeks to assure or guarantee their independence by providing a mechanism in paragraph 222A 1(a).

“This legislation raises Turn to page 4 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Venezuelan decree maintains ‘threat of force’ in Guyana’s waters

– President Granger says Guyana remains resolute in defending itself against all forms of aggression “Guyana will continue to pursue a wide range of diplomatic options as our first line of defence, [and] Guyana remains resolute in defending itself against all forms of aggression” – President Granger Exploration and Production Guyana Limited in the Stabroek Block off of the coast of Demerara.

President David Granger addresses the National Assembly in the absence of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic. Seated are Members of Parliament from the APNU+AFC coalition Government (Adrian Narine photo)

By Derwayne Wills PRESIDENT David Granger in his address to the National Assembly yesterday on the Venezuela border issue denounced that country’s description of Guyana’s maritime boundaries as “Integral Maritime Defence Zones” in its recent decree, noting that “there continues to be a threat of force in these areas.”

There has been much speculation on the intent of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s most recent decree, but President Granger highlighted its basic tenet.

“While the new decree (No.1859) does not contain the coordinates of the decree No. 1787, it does contain a general description of all defence zones with the description of the Eastern, Central, and Western regions, remaining consistent with previous

versions of the new decree.”

While rejecting Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s waters as defence zones, President Granger said the decree “goes on further to state that these defence zones are spaces created to plan and execute integral defence operations.”

AGGRESSION AGAINST GUYANA “We consider decree 1787 as constituting an act of aggression against Guyana,” President Granger noted. The Head of State recalled his recent trip to Barbados for the 36th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, and a recent visit to Guyana, where Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma expressed solidarity with Guyana from the 53-nation Commonwealth.

“The matter is to be discussed at the Commonwealth

Foreign Ministers Meeting in New York in September,” President Granger continued. During the CARICOM Summit in Barbados, the President met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who “committed to sending a mission to both Venezuela and Guyana.”

The President expressed his willingness to accept that group delegated by the UN Secretary General.

“The decree, of course, violates the word and spirit of the 1966 Geneva Agreement that forbids the claiming of new territory while the agreement remained enforced,” President Granger maintained.

He further explained in the words of Article 5, “no new claim or enlargement of an existing claim to territorial sovereignty in those territories shall be asserted while this agreement is in force, nor

shall any claim whatsoever be asserted otherwise than in the mixed commission, while that commission is in being.”

The Guyana-Venezuela issue has been like a sleeping volcano spanning across decades, but Venezuela’s new claims, according to President Granger, goes far beyond the previous claims of Essequibo and its maritime boundaries and now extends to the maritime space of Demerara, and even part of Suriname’s maritime space.

In defence of its claim, the Venezuelan Government has made many attempts over the years to challenge economic activities in the Essequibo Region and waters associated with it. “The Venezuelan Government had no right, either under the Geneva Agreement or international law, to oppose exploratory activities by Exxon Mobil and its subsidiary Esso

CONTRARY TO INT’L LAW “Guyana has full and undeterred authority to unilaterally explore and exploit the living and non-living resources within its jurisdiction,” President Granger declared, adding, “Any objection is contrary to international law.”

On this note, President Granger recalled the actions of the Venezuelan Government, through that country’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, in February, of writing to the Country Manager of the Exxon Mobil’s subsidiary to object to the dispatching of a rig to proceed with petroleum exploration in accordance with a concession grant from the Guyana Government.

The President said that in face of “acts of aggression”

by Venezuela, Guyana continues to utilise international law to strengthen its territorial integrity. “Guyana has never used aggression against any state. Guyana has always embraced the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes.

He cautioned, however, that “in as much as we are a peace-loving nation, we will not allow our territorial integrity to be threatened or

violated” since “Guyana has long recognised that Venezuela’s territorial claim has hindered the development of all five of its Essequibo Regions through lost foreign investment and blocked projects.”

ExxonMobil continues to explore in Guyana’s waters, President Granger noted, under the 1986 Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, the Maritime Boundaries Act under Order No. 19 of 1991, declaring the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Following his July 6 address to Venezuela’s National Assembly, President Maduro issued the contentious decree, which provides no coordinates for patrol

by Venezuela’s Navy, even in Guyana’s waters, adding to the Spanish-speaking country’s ongoing claim of 156,000 square kilometres in the Essequibo Region.

DIPLOMATIC OPTIONS While Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge is slated to attend the high-level Commonwealth meeting in September in New York, President Granger gave assurance to the National Assembly that, “Guyana will continue to pursue a wide range of diplomatic options as our first line of defence, [and] Guyana remains resolute in defending itself against all forms of aggression.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Constitution Amendment Bill... a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.”

Making a case that the amendment does not require a two-thirds majority, which would include the opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Williams argued that clauses and the process for amending are included in the provisions.

Article 164 (1) of the Constitution, according to Williams, provides for a vote by simple majority, while Article 164 (2) (a) provides for a referendum, and Article 164 (2) (b) provides for a two-thirds majority.

“If Article 222A is not listed under the referendum provisions, nor is it listed under the two-thirds majority

From Page 2 a question of good governance, and it seeks to restore due constitutionality at the independence of certain constitutional commissions and bodies,” Attorney-General Williams noted in his address to the National Assembly yesterday.

“The expenditure of each of the entities shall be financed as a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund determined as a lump-sum by way of an annual subvention approved by the National Assembly,” AG Williams said, adding: “Article 226 (1) provides that in exercise of its function under this constitution,

provisions, it could only be by virtue of not being listed therein that it is required to be under Article 164 (1), which provides for a simple majority,” Williams continued.

Meanwhile, former Attorney-General, Mr Anil Nandlall has turned to the media to explain what he called the “unconstitutional” passage of the Bill.

“This Bill seeks to amend the Third Schedule of Article 222A of the Constitution by adding certain entities to the said schedule,” Nandlall noted in his letter published in the Guyana Chronicle, while noting the “many implications which [will] arise from this.”

“It is more commonsense and logic than law,

that the schedule to an article in the constitution is part of that article. Therefore, the Third Schedule is part of Article 222A.” If Nandlall is correct then the provision, which was amended by the APNU+AFC Government in the National Assembly must require a two-thirds majority.

“This Bill seeks to rescue the institutions concerned with the protection of our fundamental rights from the clutches of the Executive, the Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister told the National Assembly yesterday in support of the bill, which he first brought to the House in 2013.

When that bill was brought to the National Assembly and approved, ac-

cording to Greenidge, “the [then] Attorney General [Anil Nandlall] and the Government advised the [former] President [Donald Ramotar] not to sign the bill on grounds that it was illegal.”

“The APNU+AFC coalition, notwithstanding the fact that it is now in Government, has no difficulty putting in place a bill which in effect would curb the excesses of the Executive,” Greenidge continued.

Greenidge went on to challenge the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act which, according to him, impedes on the independence of constitutional bodies since the heads of budget agencies were expected to justice their financial request to the Finance Secretary.

Meanwhile, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence also lent her voice in support of the Bill as she spoke to the independence of constitutional commissions and agencies being critical for the promotion of democracy.

She noted that democratic constitutions are based on the philosophy of the decentralisation of power, and the Bill grants constitutional bodies the power to administer and control monies allocated to them in the execution of their duties, while lessening the reach of the executive arm of the Government.

The Bill was passed yesterday in the National Assembly and will be put before President David Granger for his assent.

Tube and train strikes...

Commuters face travel disruption

TUBE and train strikes have caused misery for travellers, with the entire London Underground network shut down and many rail services cancelled.

London Overground, bus and boat services were reported to be very busy.

London Underground (LU) has contacted the conciliation service Acas to set up fresh talks with unions which are on strike over pay and night services.

A separate strike at First

Great Western hit travel between London, the West and Wales.

Many of the staff in the Tube strike have now ended their 24-hour action, but Tube services will not resume until Friday morning.

LU said its trains were in all the right places to minimise delays when services restart, but could not rule out some disruption, according to BBC London transport correspondent Tom Edwards.

The rush hour started earlier than normal for the second

consecutive day as workers made alternative arrangements to get home.

An extra 200 buses were laid on, as well as additional river services, said Transport for London (TfL). Cycle hire was said to be particularly busy.

LU chief operating officer Steve Griffiths thanked Londoners for their patience and said: “We are, as we always have been, ready to talk at any time to sort out this dispute.”

The strike began at 18:30 BST on Wednesday when members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and Unite walked out.

At 21:30, members of the

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Long queues formed for buses at Liverpool Street Station as commuters tried to get home terns.”

LU offered staff a 2% average pay rise plus a £2,000 one-off payment for drivers affected by a planned weekend night-time service.

Daniel, a train driver for LU, said the 2% rise was a good deal but he objected to the “point blank” way unions

train drivers’ union Aslef began their own 24-hour stoppage.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The strike action on London Underground is rock solid across all lines.

“That means an end to the attempt to bulldoze through new working pat-

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were asked to accept the deal within four hours.

He said he also he felt compelled to strike because he felt the introduction of the night Tube was premature.

“The assets are not good enough. The rolling stock constantly breaks down, which leads to trains being withdrawn from service.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Pope Francis focuses on poor in Bolivia (BBC News) POPE Francis is visiting Bolivia, on the second leg of his tour of Latin America’s three poorest countries.

After landing at La Paz airport, the pontiff spoke of the need to protect the most vulnerable in society from the impact of capitalism.

He was greeted by President Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous leader, who gave him a ritual pouch with coca - a sacred leaf in the Andes.

The Pope flew in from Ecuador. He will also visit

Paraguay.

‘Double religion’ During the airport welcome ceremony, the pontiff praised Bolivia - a majority indigenous country - for encouraging the poor to be active citizens.

“Bolivia is making important steps towards including broad sectors in the country’s economic, social and political life,” he said.

President Morales is a fan of Pope Francis, who he says shares many of his views on how capitalism leads to social inequalities,

BBC regional analyst Candace Piette says.

But she says Mr Morales’ government has for many years had an uneasy relationship with the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis was greeted by children and President Evo Morales as After taking office in he landed in Bolivia 2006, Mr Morales ordered religion, double faith,” he lowland city of Santa Cruz, Pope Francis visited the site the Bible and cross to be monies. said in January. removed from the presidenPresident Morales has But Mr Morales’ attitude where the body of a Jesuit tial palace - both symbols of said he is a Catholic but - to the church changed radi- Bolivian priest was found.

The priest was torcolonial Spanish oppression. like many Bolivians - he cally when Francis became A new constitution in believes there is plenty of pope. He visited him twice tured and murdered in 2009 made Bolivia a secular room for both Christianity in Rome and invited him to 1980 during the military state, and Andean religious and traditional belief. come to Bolivia, our analyst rule for defending the rights of Bolivia’s mining rituals replaced Catholic “I remain convinced that says. rites at official state cerewe Bolivians have a double Before leaving for the community.

Lawmen want to revisit outlawed Dyslexia reported as most prevalent learning disability in Jamaica legislation to help fight crime (Jamaica Gleaner) FOUR years after the Supreme Court struck down amendments to the Bail Act, Jamaica is again toying with the idea of arresting people even without sufficient evidence, as part of a wider move to stem the rising tide of violent crimes.

“We also want to, hopefully, get an amendment to the Bail Act, so that even persons who are not charged for criminal offences can be arrested and bailed prior to charge,” Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams said on Monday.

The proposed amendment is now before the Legal Reform Unit of the Ministry of Justice, and according to the commissioner, it is the subject of active consideration.

“Even some defence lawyers have come on board and engaged in the discussions,” Williams said.

However, attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman, said that it is a waste of time contemplating the changes, as enunciated by Williams, to the Bail Act, as it does not fit with the Constitution.

“It cannot be done,” Wildman, a veteran attorney said while stating, “it is an ill-conceived position by the commissioner. They don’t understand the law and the Constitution of Jamaica. The commissioner is being ill-advised.

“You cannot effect an arrest on anyone under the Constitution of Jamaica unless you have a warrant, which would

be that the person is wanted for a crime, or you have reasonable and probable cause that the person has committed an offence. In the absence of that, any form of arrest would be illegal, unconstitutional and the police would be in serious trouble,” Wildman told The Gleaner.

Wildman said the commissioner may have arrived at the suggestion because of a lack of understanding of some basic issues.

“Bail has nothing to do with arrest, that is where the commissioner seems to get it wrong. Bail is after you have been properly arrested and charged then you are entitled to bail. You can’t merge the two things,” he said.

(Jamaica Gleaner) SPECIAL education expert Dr Susan Anderson has noted that the most prevalent learning disability in Jamaica is dyslexia.

In her recently published book, Climbing Every Mountain: Barriers, Opportunities and Experiences of Jamaican Students with Disabilities in their Pursuit of Personal Excellence, Anderson chronicles the realities of Jamaicans living with disabilities and provides insights on disability policy in Jamaica and around the world.

According to Anderson, who is a lecturer in educational psychology and spe-

cial education in the School of Education at the University of the West Indies, “dyslexia is not a sign of low intelligence or laziness. It’s also not due to poor vision.

It’s a common condition that affects the way the brain processes written and spoken language. Dyslexia is primarily associated with trouble with reading.”

While there is no databank which disaggregates data on learning disabilities in Jamaica, Anderson, in responding to questions from The Gleaner, said researchers and special education practitioners point to trends which indicate the prevalence of dyslexia.

The ability of classroom

teachers to recognise students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia remains a concern for Anderson.

“Although we have made progress in adequately equipping teachers to recognise when a student has a learning disability, we have a lot more work to do ... . In order to develop the skills, experience and confidence to be inclusive of all children, policymakers and trainers responsible for developing and delivering teacher training and for recruiting teachers, need to understand inclusive education and its importance in any drive for educational improvement,” she said.

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EDITORIAL

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

guyana

PPP and the National Assembly AFTER naming its members to take up its seats in the National Assembly, the PPP failed to attend yesterday’s sitting of the House. Many observers had speculated that the former ruling party would have ended its boycott.

It has become obvious that the PPP did not contemplate the possibility of losing office. So, when it became clear that the die was cast there was no clear strategy on how to immediately transition to its new role.

This situation is not unique to the PPP; the PNC found itself in a similar position in 1992. It is a direct consequence of the length of time these parties occupy the seat of power.

This is one of the many aspects of our political system that needs fixing.

But it would have been expected that, by now, the PPP would have recovered from the early shock of defeat.

Perhaps, the party feels that calling off the boycott at this point would make it look indecisive and weak in the eyes of its supporters. Whatever the tactic behind the prolonged boycott, it does not help the standing of the party in the eyes of the larger society. The sooner its takes up its seats, the better it would be for the country.

While the Government has to proceed with the business of the country, it knows full well that the absence of the full quota of members calls into question the legitimacy of the deliberations and decisions. Even if the majority ignores the Opposition, as is usually the case in our majoritarian system, the presence of both sides at least gives a sense of formal democracy at work.

It is against that background that we urge the PPP to do the right thing and take up its seats. They owe it to their supporters, but above all, they owe it to the country to behave like the mature party it is supposed to be.

The party can use its influence in the Assembly to help in democratising that institution by making the votes and voice of the opposition count for something.

In this regard, the PPP would be advised to merge the traditional oversight role of the Opposition with an enlightened approach to cooperation with the Government in pursuit of the national good. After decades of an adversarial parliament, both sides of the political divide have a golden opportunity to institute a new kind of power sharing.

Of course the PPP may be tempted to use the parliament as a medium to pursue the politics of “cheated, not defeated”. This would, of course, tour the House into another medium of confrontation. Many observers have speculated that with former President Bharrat Jagdeo as Opposition Leader, the PPP has signaled a preference for the latter. Mr Jagdeo was well known for his confrontational style when he was the Head of State and on the campaign trail after he demitted office. Whether he employs the same style as parliamentary leader is left to be seen.

But as Guyana faces an uncertain next few years both domestically and in relation to the new pressures from Venezuela, it would need a united front that is grounded in actual cooperation. Over the years, both Government and Opposition have paid lip service to cooperation without making any solid moves in that direction.

Perhaps this parliament provides an opportunity to move beyond rhetoric. The PPP represents half of the electorate, which makes them more than a minority. They would, however, have to show the political maturity and will to turn in a new direction. And the governing coalition would have to be equally responsive to the call for national consensus.

Chief Justice’s decision in Richardson vs. Attorney General and Raphael Trotman ON the 9th day of July, 2015 our learned Chief Justice delivered his judgment in Cedric Richardson vs. Attorney General and Raphael Trotman. The judgment is arguably tendentious, occasionally pleonastic, bereft of sustained rationality, strangely and curiously, not to mention inexcusably, eschewed the application of the required rule of statutory interpretation in construing the provisions of Article 1 of the Guyana Constitution, given the concatenation of genus-describing attributes employed therein.

The gravamen of the issue falling to be determined in Cedric Richardson vs. Attorney General and Raphael Trotman was the extent and nature of the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution of Guyana.

In effect, was that power of amendment definitively and exhaustively prescribed in procedural Article 164 of the Guyana Constitution regulating its alteration? Compare in this context Article 69 of the Belize constitution and Article 368 of the Indian constitution. Or were there substantive ar-

ticles of these constitutions imposing constraints, expressly or impliedly, on the power of Parliament to amend them.

Consider relevant dicta attributed to Conteh C.J and Sikri C.J in Belizean and Indian cases cited below. Of equal relevance, where the constitution has been expressed to constitute the supreme law, as in, Article 8 of the Guyana constitution, was there peremptory preclusion of curial intervention to examine the limits to Parliament’s power of amendment, if the constitution so determines.

In Cedric Richardson vs. Attorney General and Raphael Trotman the complainant alleged that Act No.17 of 2001 purporting to amend Article 90 of the Guyana constitution and disqualifying a person from seeking election more than twice as President of Guyana, diminished and restricted his democratic right of choice, and, having not been approved by the electorate in a referendum as required by Article 164(2) of the Guyana constitution, was constitutionally invalid, void and of no legal effect.

On the contrary, however, the Proviso of Article 164(2)

expressly prescribed that there was no need for approval by referendum of the relevant bill which was passed by 2/3 majority vote and did not alter any provisions of Articles 1 or 9 of the Guyana Constitution. Act No.17 of 2001, therefore, in my respectful opinion did not require approval by referendum to establish its constitutional validity and efficacy, as our learned Chief Justice wrongly determined.

Relevant common law jurisprudence, however, appears to advise that the limits of the power of Parliament to amend the national constitution are not prescribed exhaustively in the relevant provisions for amendment and that any such amendment to be valid may not compromise the “normative requirements” of the Constitution as opined by Conteh C.J of Belize in Bowen vs. Attorney General (B.Z. 2009 SC 2). Or in the characterisation of Sikri C.J of the Supreme Court of India, “does not enable Parliament to take away fundamental rights or

See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Chief Justice rules...

Presidential term limit unconstitutional

- says appeal or referendum could reverse decision

By Ravin Singh

THE presidential term limit which barred an individual from running for presidential office after they would have served two presidential terms was yesterday deemed unconstitutional by acting Chief Justice, Mr Ian Chang.

Earlier in the year, Mr Cedric Richardson, a private citizen, had challenged the two-term limit, and the manner in which the Constitution was amended, which was through a two/thirds majority in the National Assembly.

Contending that the amendment was illegal, Richardson suggested instead that such a decision be made by

Acting Chief Justice, Mr Ian Chang way of a referendum.

In his ruling yesterday, Chang stated, “The alteration or replacement of the original

1980 preamble was effected

by Act 6 of 2001, which did not receive the approval of Guyanese citizens by way of referendum. Yet it declares ‘as citizens of Guyana, we adopt these fundamental laws and make provisions for their amendments to reflect changes in our society.

“In so far as it seeks to trench on and to dilute the pre-existing democratic rights of the electorate to elect as president a person of their own choice, needed a referendum and is invalid and without legal effect for reason

of non-compliance.”

He also noted that Article 9 of Guyana’s Constitution guarantees the Guyanese people sovereignty “through their representatives and the democratic organs established by or under this Constitution.

“The purported alteration of Article 90 by the Act No. 17 of 2001, in substance and effect, undoubtedly diminishes the democratic rights of the electorate in electing a person of their own choice as President...The court therefore holds that Act No. 17 of 2001, in so far as it seeks to trench

on and dilute the pre-existing democratic rights of the electorate to elect as President, a person of their choice,” Chang said in support of his ruling.

He further argued that the term limits “in substance and effect, undoubtedly diminishes the democratic right of the electorate in electing a person of their own choice as president by excluding from presidential candidature.”

As it is, the ruling could only benefit former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who is the only individual alive that is qualified to seek a third term

in office as President.

However, the ruling offered by the Chief Justice is subject to reversal by way of a referendum or an appeal, should that route be taken.

Meanwhile, Dr Jagdeo had said last year that he was not interested in running for presidential office for a third term. He is expected to lead the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) 32 Members of Parliament (MPs) as Leader of the Opposition when they take up their seats in the National Assembly shortly.

Chief Justice’s decision in ...

From page 8

to completely change the fundamental features of the constitution so as to destroy its identity” (Kesavada Bharati v State of Kerala).

However, such amendments in the opinion of Sikri C.J may abridge fundamental rights in the public interest (op. cit. para. 504).

In Cedric Richardson v Attorney General and Raphael Trotman our learned Chief Justice opined: “There can be no doubt that Parliament could have altered Article 90 by 2/3 majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly. But in so far as those alterations diminished and further restricted democratic sovereignty which, under Article 164(2) was procedurally protected by the requirement of a referendum for its legal validity and efficacy, the holding of a referendum was required”. In my respectful opinion, however, the aforementioned dictum cannot be reasonably construed as constituting the compelling culmination of a process of informed and credible juridical analysis. In the first place, the term “democratic sovereignty” employed by our learned Chief Justice in terms of identifying the core values of the Guyana constitution is at worst undecipherable and at best a juridical oxymoron which defies rational analysis. Secondly, perusal of the originating summons filed by the complainant alleged that Act No.17 of 2001 which amended Article 90 of the 1980 constitution restricted and curtailed the democratic rights and freedoms of the electorate “by purporting to eliminate from the executive Presidential candidature a person who has been re-elected as executive President…” By ineluctable inference, therefore, Act No.17 of 2001 by allegedly infecting Article 1 of the Guyana Constitution, required the approval of the electorate by referendum for its constitutional validity; and this despite the proviso in Article 164(2) which reads “Provided that if the bill (containing the proposed Act No.17 of 2001) does not alter any of the provisions mentioned in subparagraph (a) and is supported at the final voting in the Assembly by the votes of not less than two thirds of all the elected members of the Assembly it shall not be necessary to submit the bill to the vote of the electors”.

At this stage of the analysis it is important to note that the said bill did not purport to alter any of the provisions of Article 1 or 9 which were included in subparagraphs 164(2) (a) and it was approved by 2/3 majority vote of the Assem-

bly. Consequently, on a literal interpretation of the proviso mentioned in Article 164(2) Act No.17 of 2001, having not altered any of the provisions of Article 1 or 9 and having been approved by 2/3 of the Assembly was not required, as wrongly determined by the learned Chief Justice, to secure the approval of the electorate by referendum in order to establish its constitutional validity. Nor was it established or even alleged by the complainant that Act No.17 of 2001 abrogated or destroyed fundamental rights or normative requirements constituting the core of the Guyana Constitution as determined by Conteh C.J and Sikri C.J. Our learned Chief Justice, however, appeared to have assimilated democratic voting rights of the Guyana electorate to normative requirements of the Constitution articulated by Chief Justice Conteh of Belize and to fundamental features of the constitution exemplifying its core identity in the characterisation of Sikri C.J of the Supreme Court of India. If this assimilation of the aforementioned terms were juridically feasible our learned Chief Justice might have been marginally exonerated in finding that Act No.17 of 2001 required approval by referendum for its constitutional validity and efficacy.

However, in my respectful opinion our learned Chief Justice’s attempt at assimilation of these semantically irreconcilable attributes was not juridically feasible because the “normative requirements” mentioned by Conteh C.J, to wit, the separation of powers, protection of fundamental rights and the rule of law, all of which, significantly in the present context, spoke to the attributes of a constitution of a legal and political collectivity and not, as our learned Chief Justice wrongly determined, to the discrete political rights of citizens of a democracy.

Similarly, Sikri C.J of the Supreme Court of India in addressing the amending power of the Parliament was by necessary implication concerned with identifying attributes of the state as a political collectivity. In the premises, reliance by our learned Chief Justice on the aforementioned dicta of Conteh and Sikri to find for the unconstitutionality of Act No.17 of 2001 was juridically misconceived. Our learned Chief Justice should have applied the eiusdem generis rule of statutory interpretation to construe democratic in Article 1 of the Guyana constitution (Francis Bennion, Statutory Interpretation, 2002, pp.1054 ff.).

More importantly, the democratic rights of the com-

plainant which, in the opinion of our learned Chief Justice, were diminished and restricted, may, in the informed opinion of Sikri C.J, be reasonably abridged in the public interest but not abrogated (op. cit para. 504). Equally relevant to note is the fact that although Act No.17 of 2001 was determined by our learned Chief Justice to have diminished and restricted the democratic rights of the electorate, it was not determined nor even alleged to have altered any of the provisions of Article 1 as required by the Proviso of Article 164(2) so as to preclude exemption from affirmation by referendum in establishing its constitutional validity.

In my respectful submission, therefore, the determination of our learned Chief Justice in Cedric Richardson v Attorney General and Raphael Trotman is irretrievably flawed and is likely to be overturned on appeal, given among other deficiencies, an arguably perception of bias by reference to the relevant provisions of the Bangalore Draft Principles and the Latimer House Guidelines on judicial conduct. In the ultimate analysis our constitution, the supreme law, relieved Parliament of the need to secure approval of Act No.17 of 2001 by referendum. And where the constitution has been expressed to be the supreme law as in Guyana, and has pronounced clearly, definitively and conclusively on an issue, as in the Proviso of Article 164(2) of the Guyana constitution, no judge should dare to tread contrarily lest judicial determinations be unwittingly construed as trumping constitutional supremacy. In the informed submission of Durga Das Basu, the eminent Indian constitutional law expert, where the constitution excludes specified questions from curial scrutiny, “the courts lose their jurisdiction to entertain these questions altogether because they have no power to override the constitution and the questions, accordingly, become non-justiciable.”

(Commentary on the Constitution of India, 5th Edition, 1965 (Calcutta: SC Sankar and Sons (Ltd), at p.338.)

PROFESSOR JUSTICE DUKE POLLARD BA (Hons) LLB (Hons) LLM. LLM LEC.JCCJ (rtd.), Department of Law, University of Guyana

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

House cuts ‘scandalous’, ‘outrageous’ benefits of former Presidents

– ‘If Jagan were alive, he would have been appalled by the extravagance’, says Finance Minister

By Tajeram Mohabir THE National Assembly yesterday approved the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2015, placing a cap on the benefits of former Presidents and setting out the conditions under which these benefits can be obtained.

The Bill repeals the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act of 2009, and provides greater specificity, especially if account is taken of the fact that a former President is eligible for a pension which is seven-eights that of a sitting President.

The Bill was passed as the PPP/C again chose to stay away from the House.

Piloting the Bill, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that in keeping with Resolution Number 22, passed by the National Assembly on August 2, 2012, the legislation seeks to render the conditions acceptable and predictable, and to place a limit on the benefits, including tax-free concessions to which former Presidents are now entitled.

The House passed the contentious Presidents Benefits Bill in 2009, which was later signed into law by then President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Act has been harshly criticised.

Many view the uncapped expenses of the former President as extravagant, and according to Minister Jordan, it is a “burden on the Treasury.”

The amendments passed in the National Assembly in 2012 were never approved by then President Donald Ramotar. The shunning of the amendments, the Finance Minister said, was unfortunate, as it was steeped in “narrow, self-serving interests and considerations.”

UNCONSCIONABLE With Guyana being a developing country, with a

Finance Minister, Mr Winston Jordan

National Security Minister, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan

Former President, Mr Donald Ramotar

Former President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

long way to go in terms of attaining the standards of some sister CARICOM nations, Minister Jordan said the benefits Jagdeo awarded himself are unconscionable. He contended that if Founder of the PPP and former President Dr Cheddi Jagan were alive, he would have been appalled by Jagdeo’s extravagance.

Dr Jagan had famously said: “We cannot have a Cadillac-style living with donkey-cart economies. Our leaders must set the example of democratic, accountable, clean and lean governance and efficient governance.”

Minister Jordan said that worst yet, under the previous legislation, the benefits of the former Presidents were tax-exempt when even in the wealthy U.S., former Presidents do not enjoy this gift.

The salary of a sitting President in Guyana is currently $1.6M. A former President receives 7/8 of the salary of a sitting President in pension. Taking the current sum earned by the incumbent, a former President receives some $1.4M in pension, which is more than the salary of a senior Cabinet Minister, who earns $579,000.

To crown it all, the pension automatically increases when the salary of the President increases.

Minister Jordan contended that it is not that the Administration has any grouse

with former Presidents living in dignity on demitting office, whether they choose to live as hermits, or in a mansion with swimming pool by the seaside.

What the Government is strongly against, he said, is the extravagance the Act of 2009 allows former Presidents. It represents a great disparity, he said, when compared to public servants, who have to serve 33.3 years to qualify for pension.

On mentioning the amount, one parliamentarian quipped: “Was it a house or factory?”

For the period mentioned, Jagdeo’s transportation bill was tagged at $15.2M, while the State expended $20M on his security. The monthly sum for his security amounts to $752,000, and all security services were done by the Presidential Guard.

“A certain former President,” Minister Jordan said, “also booked a First Class ticket for two, worth $7.4 million, even though he refused to acknowledge his spouse.”

In the 2012 Resolution, the APNU and AFC, which at the time commanded a majority in the House, capped the electricity, water and telephone bills of former Presidents at $5000 each per month.

But under the new Legislation, Ramjattan said, the Administration has decided to multiply the sums allocated in each line head by 5.

The Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2015 caps the water, telephone and electricity bills of former Presidents at $25,000 each per month.

The Bill also defines a former President as any person who held the office of the President substantively.

This is an amendment to the Resolution passed in 2012 by the APNU and the AFC, which had defined a former President as a person who serves five years in office.

VULGARITY The vulgarity of the law passed by the Jagdeo Administration, the least, he said, flies in the face of servant leadership.

Through the “outrageous and scandalous” benefits, the Finance Minister said Jagdeo drew down millions from the State to cover his electricity, transportation, telephone, water and other bills.

Quoting from a report in another section of the media, Minister Jordan said Jagdeo made the State fork out $45M to cover his transportation, security and electricity bills from 2011 to 2014.

This sum does not include his pension, which tops $1M. The figures provided by then Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh shows that former President Jagdeo racked up an electricity bill of $9.8M, which equates to about $365,000 per month.

CUT WASTE The minister stressed that leaders were “not elected to feast on the hog,” and that given Guyana’s large debt, the Administration sees it necessary to cut out waste where it is found.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Carl Greenidge waived his presentation to the House to allow National Security Minister, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan to share his input.

Ramjattan described the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act of 2009 as a schema, pointing out that the $375,000 electricity bill racked up by Jagdeo and the other uncapped expenses are cogent reasons why the Act should be repealed.

NOT SPITE Ramjattan told the House that the amendment was made because the APNU+AFC Administration has no intention of denying former President Donald Ramotar his benefits.

And on that note, he sent an early warning to former President Jagdeo that he (Jagdeo) should not look forward to drawing down a fat sum in pension and a salary as Leader of the Opposition.

It is only the latter he will get, the National Security Minister said, as he sought to apprise the former leader of the perks he will receive when he enters the House.

The Bill that was approved yesterday also provides for former Presidents the services of personal and household staff, including a gardener, but the total number of such staff shall not exceed three persons, including any member of the staff who may be on earned vacation or sick leave.

Former Presidents will also be entitled to three staff for clerical and technical work, which should not be political in nature.

They will also be provided with $200,000 per annum for free medical attention and treatment or reimbursement.

The sum covers the spouse of the former President and his children below age 18.

But reimbursement will not be given where attention and treatment were obtained abroad or at private health facilities in Guyana when the services are available at government institutions.

Former Presidents will also be entitled to two fulltime security personnel, including the services of the Presidential Guard at their place of residence; two vehicles owned and maintained by the state; toll- free transportation; and an annual vacation allowance equivalent to the cost of two first-class return airfares provided on the same conditions applicable to judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

These benefits will not be subject to tax exemptions, concessions or privileges; and a former President will cease to be entitled to the benefits outlined in the Bill if he/she engages in business, trade or paid employment, or is convicted of a criminal offence for which a prison term is imposed.

PEOPLE TALKING

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

By Ras Michael

EVERYWHERE, people talking.

Talking and eating ‘a food’ is the two main occupations in Georgetown these days.

What they talking or eating is not important. They does eat anything from anybody that selling; and they talk about anything and anybody that comes to mind.

A big surprise came one morning around eight o’clock. I was called upon to meet an old friend at that hour at Stabroek Market. Disembarking from the minibus, I noticed several street

ise that this was something the vendors practised each day. I made a mental note to pursue an investigation around town to see whether it was only vendors by ‘Stabroek’, or if by chance it was a culture among vendors around town, to be eating lunch at eight o’clock in the morning,

Ras Michael is

BACK

e a c h m o r ning. I also became curious as to whether it was also a part of the culture of vendors in Berbice and Essequibo, to engage in this gastronomical exercise.

Before I could engage further on this research, I noticed that I had erred somewhat in my analysis of the eating habits of Georgetown vendors. Lo and behold! I discovered that it was not just a morning habit, but that vendors seem to eat all day as they sold whatever wares they presented to the purchasing public.

Now, psychiatrists will have you know that people who are suffering emotional discomfort find eating steadily a means of

comforting themselves. I noticed, too, that not only eating was a passionate occupation among vendors, but that the purchasing of food from different food sellers was just as important. It meant they had money to spend on food, and that may have quite a bit of significance in the cultivation of the habit. Whatever the reason, Georgetown vendors were establishing their own food culture.

Which leads me to the topic of talking, which I noticed was another pre-occupation not only among vendors but people in general. Georgetown people loved to talk. They talked all day. Georgetown people were always talking about one thing or another. They talked about husbands, ‘sweetman’, children and neighbours.

They talked about politics and Venezuelan aggression against Guyana.

Waiting on my bus one evening, I was subjected to listening to a lady I had never met before.

She felt it important to increase my knowledge of the infidelity of her ‘child-father’. She was Turn to page 15 ►

vendors gathered together, and each had a food box in hand. I just noted this in passing, but as I hurried onwards towards my appointment, I noticed other vendors sitting by their make-shift stands. Almost each had a Styrofoam food box in hand and a plastic spoon that travelled rapidly from box to mouth and back to box again.

I soon came to real-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

PPP Gov’t hid Venezuela’s intention to withdraw from rice agreement – PM Nagamootoo VENEZUELA will not be renewing its oil for rice barter under the PetroCaribe deal which will come to an end on November 16 next, according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan after his recent trip to the Bolivarian Republic.

But Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, while noting recent developments between Guyana and Venezuela over the territorial issue, is saying that Venezuela had long indicated to the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government that it will be withdrawing from the agreement.

“There is documentary evidence that Venezuela’s decision was communicated to former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; and Guyana’s Ambassador in Caracas, Geoffrey Da Silva,” the Prime Minister noted in a post from his Office’s official Facebook page yesterday.

While President Granger addressed the National Assembly yesterday regarding the Venezuela/Guyana border issue, the Prime Minister is concerned that the former Administration, which departed office fol-

“There is documentary evidence that Venezuela’s decision (not to renew the oil for rice barter deal) was communicated to former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy; former Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; and Guyana’s Ambassador in Caracas, Geoffrey Da Silva” - Prime Minister Nagamootoo

lowing their defeat at the May 11 polls, did not inform the country of the decision, which could have far-reaching implications on the country’s vital rice sector.

SAD AND INEXCUSABLE “It is sad and inexcusable that the Guyanese people were not advised of this by the former PPP Government,” the PM’s post read.

“Questions will now have to be asked as to whether the Guyanese people, and the thousands of rice farmers, in particular, who could be affected, were being held hostage by the PPP’s silence purely for the purposes of narrow politicking.”

“Further, this revelation comes on the heels of Venezuela’s actions to challenge what is lawfully Guyana’s territory, and it will have to be considered whether Venezuela’s position of the non-renewal of the Petro Caribe barter agreement is indeed an act of economic sanction against Guyana,” Mr Nagamootoo continued.

According to the ‘online post’ from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Guyana Government will explore the options of ensuring there is no adverse effect to rice

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Finance Minister Winston Jordon

farmers and other stakeholders in the sector.

“The rice barter agreement will come to an end in November,” Finance Minister Winston Jordan said in an invited comment from this publication yesterday.

Jordan noted, too, his uncertainty as to whether the end of the contract could arrive sooner than November.

The Finance Minister Jordan attended the 11th Meeting of the PETROCARIBE Ministerial Council in June, with a delegation, which included representatives of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

The contract, informally dubbed the ‘Rice-for-Oil’ Agreement, saw Guyana providing rice to Venezuela,

which decreased Guyana’s payment to Venezuela for oil coming from that petroleum-rich country.

While Prime Minister Nagamootoo indicated that Government is considering whether the recent developments in the Guyana/ Venezuela border issue could have caused this posture from the Venezuelan Government, the Finance Minister recounted that the Venezuelans had signalled their intentions since 2014 on numerous occasions.

The Finance Minister also met with Venezuelan officials in the Government and the state-owned Petroleum of Venezuela (PDVSA) oil and gas company.

“We put forward our case [and] again they reiterated

Former Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

they wanted no more rice from Guyana.”

debted to Venezuela in the tune of US$190M. “Without the rice for barter,” the Finance Minister told the Chronicle, “we revert to what we originally had, which is long-term payment of the debt.”

Jordan anticipates a reduction of Guyana’s debt to Venezuela of some US$45M, in a similar arrangement to the debt write-offs of over US$110M in 2014. (Derwayne Wills)

FINDING NEW MARKETS Jordan said the Venezuelan authorities then indicated their willingness to receive small amounts of rice from Guyana “as buffer stocks.”

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister said the Government is considering new markets for Guyana’s rice.

Guyana is currently in-

NDIA, GUYOIL heads sent on 308 and 200 days’ leave respectively

By Ravin Singh AMIDST an ongoing forensic audit by the APNU+AFC Government, the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL), Lionel Wordsworth and Badrie Persaud, respectively, were both sent on administrative leave this week.

According to information reaching this publication last evening, Persaud, who had been a registered candidate for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) at the recently-concluded General and Regional Elections, was asked to proceed on over 200 days of leave, for which he has qualified. He

is expected to proceed on leave from today.

This confirmation was made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during an interview with News Source yesterday. According to Minister Harmon, Persaud was expected to have gone on leave around the same time that Wordsworth proceeded on his leave, which was just over a week ago.

Calls had been made following the May 11 elections for the GUYOIL Chief Executive Officer to resign from the State-owned company since he had decided to be a political party candidate. An adamant Persaud protested this, however, and refused to resign.

Prior to Persaud being requested to proceed on leave, Wordsworth, who

Mr Badrie Persaud, Chief Executive Officer of GUYOIL

Mr Lionel Wordsworth, Chief Executive Officer of NDIA

had found himself at the centre of controversy over the years, was sent on 308 days leave which commenced on Monday, marking some 10 months he

would be away.

These developments come at a time when forensic audits are being conducted into state agencies which include NDIA and GUY-

OIL. Wordsworth, an engineer, has been under fire for the management of NDIA which has been accused of significant corruption.

Wordsworth also faced public embarrassment in 2012 for alleged malpractices, with leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan charging, “This was the same person, who months after being appointed CEO of NDIA, saw his wife who was working for $42,000 per month buy a house for $60M.” “This is vindication of their princely lifestyle and how it is sustained,” Ramjattan had said, hinting at the alleged corruption under the previous Administration.

Additionally, in 2012, following an audited report, the immediate dismissal

of the NDIA CEO and the Senior Section Engineer, Aneel Chowbay, was recommended. Conflict of interest and several instances of fraud in relation to fuel consumption and equipment operations were reportedly unearthed according to a Kaieteur News report.

However, GUYOIL has not escaped public scrutiny with the most recent episode being the issuance of “free” gasoline to former Government officials. Minister of State Joseph Harmon has described this as a pattern of “serious abuse by the previous Administration.”

Meanwhile, the APNU+AFC Government has indicated its intention to re-structure some of the boards of State-owned entities, including GUYOIL.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Kitty Market: An accident waiting to happen

By Ravin Singh IN its current deplorable state, the Kitty Market has been described as an accident waiting to happen, even as vendors continue to endure the threats posed by the dilapidated structure.

Sitting on the corner of Barr and Alexander Streets, in the ward of Kitty, the derelict market once served as a livelihood for many vendors, and acted as a symbolic representation of historical structures.

Upon arriving within the vicinity of the market, one would logically assume that such a structure did not possess any characteristics making it capable of facilitating vendors. From rotting boards, to cases where there were no boards, the top flat could be best described as a shell.

This shell however, is anything but polished. With hundreds of holes which the sun beams through during sunny days, one can vividly draft an image of what a rainy day results in.

Dented zinc sheets expected to provide protection against the weather could be described as having outlived their lifespans, with bright orange rust on its surface replacing a once smooth, red texture. Wooden boards were even being used as weights to pin the zinc sheets from blowing away.

Boards on the shell too, had been in total disarray; some even hanging by one nail. Clearly there were no windows, except square openings in the structure which

acted as an entry point for birds seeking shelter.

The gutters, or as they once were, were broken at intervals, allowing seepage of water when there were showers. But what was surprising was that vendors were still occupying this half-collapsed building.

During his routinely slow business hours, this newspaper was able to solicit a comment from ANDRE FOSTER, a vendor, who described the conditions he faces daily as “severe and deplorable.”

Knowledgeable on what is required to rehabilitate the market, Foster offered that once the roof is repaired, the rest of the rehabilitation project should not be costly.

He explained that the upper flat of the building could even be used as the community’s post office instead of having it at a point where it is not used.

“It will be very easy for people to come here and it will generate more business activities in the area,” he said, adding that this building is so big, that it once facilitated the community centre and the health centre. Forster noted however that those institutions have all shifted and no maintenance work is being done.

But while these are the conditions the vendors are forced to endure, the saddened man lamented that they are still required to pay the full rental fee of the market which he thinks is unfair.

As if it were not surprising enough, a closer examination of the market revealed that brave

A shot of the Kitty Market showing the dilapidated structure

sellers were even occupying stalls in the market and not just on the outskirts.

NANDRANIE PERSAUD was one of these persons who expressed similar sentiments to that of Foster. The burdened woman who retails clothing, detailed her daily encounter of having to put up with the leaking roof when there is rainfall.

She related that rainfall is not the only threat, as the sight of the building has forced customers

to abstain from shopping there.

“Sometimes people don’t even know we sell here… they think the market is no longer functioning,” Persaud said. These have been contributory factors to her small business not being capable of meeting her family’s financial expenses.

Furthermore, the woman explained that just three months ago, she decided to visit the Mayor of Georgetown to plead for his intervention, but was told that there

was not any money to rehabilitate the market. Persaud said she sees this as unfair treatment, since they are still required to pay their rental fees in a timely manner.

Last year, promises had been made by Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green and the Town Clerk (ag) Carol Sooba, to examine the state of the market and immediately provide a solution to avert the expected collapse of this structure. To date, no action has been taken in this regard.

Communities Ministry meets with GECOM – to iron out LGE plans IN light of a proposed date for the hosting of overdue Local Government Elections (LGE), a team from the Ministry of Communities accompanied by Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, on Wednesday last met with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), to discuss and iron out details in relation to the holding of these elections.

This was revealed in a statement issued by the Communities Ministry yes-

terday. The statement added that the ministry expects and intends such engagements to be frequent, while preparations for LGE continue.

It was disclosed that details regarding the work and role of GECOM, the Ministry of Communities and more generally, the Government of Guyana were discussed at the meeting.

Officials from both institutions expressed “optimism and confidence” that the respective agencies are ca-

pable of disposing of any outstanding issues related to the holding of LGE. These included, but are not limited to, the delineation of boundaries of local

government organs, wherever current circumstances indicate the desirability for such adjustments; and updating any relevant legislation, as required.

“Minister Bulkan had said in his address to the National Assembly on June 26, 2015, that he had indicated to GECOM that the Government of the Coop-

erative Republic of Guyana, would like, ideally, for LGE to be held in November 2015, in line with the promise made during the campaign to return political power to the people,” the statement said.

The ministry’s team comprised: Ministers Ronald Bulkan, Winston Felix and Dawn Hastings-Williams; Deputy Permanent Secretary Abena Moore, and other staff of the Ministry of Communities.

GECOM officials included: Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally and Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

GITEP donates over G$12M worth of books, equipment to CPCE, UG THE Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project (GITEP) donated books and projectors along with digital cameras worth in excess of GY$12M to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana (UG) yesterday.

The books and equipment presented are directly linked at improving both institutions library holdings. The items were acquired from Mallory International in the United Kingdom through international competitive bidding. They comprised multiple copies of recent publications and revised editions on a wide range of subjects.

The CPCE received ap-

proximately 86 titles with multiple copies, along with 10 projectors and 10 cameras to further enhance the integration of ICT in the teaching and learning environment. On the other hand, the university received almost 58 books along with some amount of projectors and cameras to provide cutting -edge research, improve learning, and professional development of teachers and students.

Tota Mangar, Coordinator of the GITEP programme, said in his remarks at the handing- over ceremony at the CPCE and UG, that observers were sent to interview administrators and staff of both institutions to

ascertain what was needed to boost their performance.

Therefore, books were identified as the necessary items on both institutions lists. They also catered for the satellite campus and learning resource centres on both campuses.

The objective of GITEP is to assist the Ministry of Education and the Government of Guyana to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of quality teachers’ education in Guyana.

A number of initiatives were previously undertaken by GITEP, whereby the Faculty of Education and Humanities was the main beneficiary. In the quest for CPCE students viewing the donated books yesterday

institutional strengthening, new courses were introduced; administrators were exposed to leadership and management courses both locally and overseas, while lecturers were provided with intense coaching from specialists in key subject areas.

Presently, some lecturers are embarking on short -term

online courses fostered by GITEP. The faculty was also provided with an ICT lab with 30 work stations and a refurbished room to house equipment. One of its biggest achievements was the push for near-perfect collaboration with the two institutions.

GITEP is currently in the process of providing a state-

of –the- art smart room to the faculty before the conclusion of this month. Mangar said that a contractor has already been assigned to refurbish a room into a smart room.

Stipends were also presented to four of the faculties outstanding students, based on exceptional Grade Point Averages (GPA).

Students of the University of Guyana who received stipends from GITEP

Samples of the books donated to UG by GITEP

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Thanks to Insel Air...

Guyana now connected to 27 destinations INSEL Air now connects Guyana to 27 destinations worldwide, with four flights weekly to Aruba and Curaçao.

In an interview with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerald Gouveia, he explained that Guyana, through Insel Air, is now further connected to some 26 destinations worldwide.

Roraima Airways serves as the Ground Handling Services Agent and General Sales Agent for Insel, and destinations included in the scope of travel are Jamaica, St. Maarten, The Dominican Republic and several South American destinations.

Captain Gouveia related that the airline offers two direct flights to Aruba and two flights to Curaçao.

With this, he explained that for a passenger who will be continuing to Miami, that “passenger will be checked by either Aruba or Curaçao officers, so that when he or she reaches Miami the flight will be deemed a domestic one and there will be no further checks needed.”

With this arrangement, he noted, travel to Miami is hassle-free; “no more long

lines.”

Another major achievement for the Roraima Group was the collaboration through Insel Air out of Miami making a link with a major tour company, Gouveia revealed. He noted that by this collaboration “through Insel Air out of Miami, Roraima was able to link up a major tour operator whom we just signed a contract with.” He

further explained that this will now be feeding the Guyana tourism product with 15-20 tourists coming every week, “they will come here for four days and five nights, where they will be treated to all facilities by Roraima.”

He also explained that this package would cost $US399 all inclusive. “We can do this because we own all the facilities and we

provide from the tours, to accommodation and food among others.”This, he noted, has been gaining excellent traction.

The “bumper sticker” campaign will be launched in the near future, Gouveia stated. Staff of Roraima will be on the streets of Georgetown placing Insel Air bumper stickers on vehicles, with drivers’ permission, take a picture

and that picture will be sent to the Insel Air head office. “Winners will be chosen randomly and some lucky persons will win themselves trips to Insel Air destinations,” Gouveia explained.

Insel Air officially began its service to the Guyana market from June 18, 2014. The airline operates MD-80 aircraft which could accommodate up to 150 passengers, and has been servicing the Guyana route four times weekly.

The airline offers its passengers a convenient flight schedule; Economy Class and Comfort Class service and Online checkin. Additionally, frequent flyers are rewarded on each flight through the Insel Starmiles loyalty programme.

Timehri man jailed for breaking and entering AmeriJet bond A TWENTY-five-year-old man was sentenced to six months imprisonment on Tuesday for break and enter and larceny committed on the AmeriJet bond in 2003.

Ryan ‘Patchie’ Waddell of Bones Scheme, Timeh-

ri, East Bank Demerara, was found guilty after a trial was conducted before Magistrate Leron Daley at the Providence Magistrates Court.

Particulars of the charge said that between November 19 and 20, 2013 at Timehri,

East Bank Demerara, he broke and entered the storage bond of AmeriJet and stole a quantity of articles valued at $813,400 property of the United States Embassy.

The matter was prosecuted by Police Inspector

Michael Grant, who called a total of eight witnesses to testify on behalf of the state.

Magistrate Daley took into consideration the fact that Waddle had been incarcerated for 18 months before sentencing.

Waddell and another man, Albert “Bonnie” Rajaram, were charged jointly with the offence. However, Rajaram was sentenced to three years imprisonment by former Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, after he accepted on his first

court appearance that he had committed the offence.

According to reports, Waddell and Rajaram were caught on Close Circuit Television cameras (CCTV) plundering the AmeriJet bond. (Geeta Rampersaud)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Con artist fleeces food vendors – using counterfeit $US100 bills

By Shirley Thomas THE public is hereby alerted to be on the look-out for a “con man” moving around the city with coun-

terfeit US$100 bills, which he has been passing off on unsuspecting persons, particularly female roadside food and snack vendors, around the city.

Several persons are reported to have been fleeced by the man who has been moving around the city over the last several weeks. More

recently, he has been targeting female vendors in Guyhoc Park, where he is reported to have fleeced at least three persons.

In Arapaima Street, Guyhoc Park, two women were deceived. Two Wednesdays ago, he showed up in front of a home in Arapaima Street, where he spoke with a young woman selling bread and snacks. The woman recalled that he drove up in a white Toyota Carina motor car, chauffeur driven, with the window wound half way up.

He got out of the car, looked into the show case and placed an order for 40 rotis with curry, which he said he wanted for Friday, July 3rd. The woman informed him that the cost would be $14,000, and that he would be required to pay a deposit.

The man then tendered a crisp, new US$100 bill, and told her that he hadn’t any other currency at the moment.

She was reluctant to accept the foreign currency, and so he told her that he was going to drive around to his mother in Guyhoc and get the deposit. However, after 20 minutes he returned without the money. He implored her to take payment out of the US$100, suggesting this time, that she should take out the entire $14,000 and he would uplift the package two Fridays later.

One of the counterfeit notes presented at a roadside snackette, from which the roti and curry was ordered (Photos by Delano Williams)

One of the counterfeit US$100 bills tendered at a roadside snackette (the front separated from the back)

This she did, and handed him his change to the tune of $6,000. He immediately got back into the car and drove off. But after he had left, the shopkeeper said, she felt something strange about the money which was folded when he gave it to her. “I felt it was unusually soft and when I crushed it together, it

Friday, July 10, 2015 - 12:30 hrs Saturday, July 11, 2015 - 14:00 hrs Sunday, July 12, 2015 - 14:30 hrs

began to disintegrate, that’s when I knew it was counterfeit.” She said she had the note checked out and it was confirmed that it was indeed counterfeit, but by then the man had disappeared with her $6,000.

The woman recalls vividly what he looks like: “He is dark, chubby with full eyes and low haircut. He’s in about his 50s,” she said.

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD Meanwhile, up the road from her, another vendor – a mother of four who sells snacks as well--said around 09:00 hrs. one morning, she was just preparing to set up her glasscase outside her home, when someone in the family told her that a man was outside enquiring for her.

The young mother said when she went outside, she saw a fancy silver grey Toyota Allion and a man, (fitting the same description the first victim gave), looked at her and told her that she was wanted at the police station. “ I bluntly asked him, “What for, I don’t have any brushes with the law.” She said he told her that she had bought some stolen food boxes. “So I said sorry, what I sell is not served in food boxes.”

It was then that he proceeded to tell her that he had a feeding programme scheduled for Friday and wanted to place an order for 100 puris and 20 egg balls. He took her and her husband’s phone numbers, saying that he would have to contact them to let them know what time he was coming to uplift Turn to Centre

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Banks DIH, Virgin Promotions win bid – to host Anna Regina Town Day activity BANKS DIH Ltd and Virgin Promotions have won the bid to host the Anna Regina Town Day celebrations this year.

According to Town Clerk Diana Critchlow, the beverage company and Virgin Promotions will host the celebrations on August 14, 15 and 16.

She said the council had received two bids for the

hosting of the event this year.

After meeting with representatives of both companies separately on Tuesday in the Anna Regina Town Council boardroom, it was decided by councillors that Banks DIH and Virgin Promotions be awarded the franchise.

Last year’s Town Day activity was hosted by the Anna Regina Town Council in collaboration with stake-

PEOPLE TALKING From page 9

undeterred by my lack of response, and perhaps took it to mean that I was paying great attention to her child-father’s proclivities.

I waited for a decent ten minutes, hoping she’d pause for breath, at which point I felt I could beat a hasty and unnoticed retreat. This was not to be, however, since she seemed to have exceedingly good lungs. She spoke in what could be called perfect creolese, and then began to punctuate it with stiff forefinger jabs to the side of my ribcage. I became desperate; I needed to escape.

I looked around, seeking a means of escape from this verbal assault on my ears, as well as the forefinger jabs.

I seemed to be in luck. A guy I vaguely knew passed by on the other side of the road. I seized the opportunity with both hands, so to speak. I hailed out to him, and as he paused, I hurried across the road to meet him.

I was wrong to approach this individual. I had made the wrong decision, and had engaged a virtual ancient mariner. Ten minutes after, and two dollars lighter in pocket, he seemed likely to continue his discourse on the importance of herbal healing. Meanwhile, two of my buses had passed by, and as I crossed back over

the road, the lady who had engaged me first had already disappeared into the cab of another bus.

I sighed, and took up my position once again, awaiting, hoping that another bus would soon appear. It took another half-an-hour before one did, and as I joined it, I made a vow to myself never again to place myself in a situation where I became a victim of either a female or male type of ancient mariner.

There is an old saying that if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. I now believe it. As I settled back in my seat, sighing in appreciation at the comfort of not being in a packed bus, I heard a voice next to me say, “Hi Michael.” Immediately I called out to the conductor, “Stop the bus! I forgot my bag!” And as the door slid open, I jumped out with alacrity and waved him on. I was not going to travel with any bus that evening; I was going to take a taxi.

At last I was free; I could now settle down in the back seat and enjoy my ride home. I did settle back, until the driver turned around and said, “Hi Michael, you start back writing in the Chronicle again, I see.”

I sighed in resignation.

holders in the Essequibo business community. The

three-day activity brought hundreds of Essequibians together to celebrate Anna Regina’s achievements over

the past 23 years.

Many Essequibians from overseas and other parts of the country also

turned up for the grand celebrations which included a princess and queen pageant competition.

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Con artist fleeces...

From page 14

the order. She said she handed the money to her husband and he put it aside.

By then the man who was again chauffeur- driven, with window half way up, drove off with the $6,000 change from the US$100. The young woman said she began working energetically towards having the order ready for Friday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015 and she succeeded. “I got my sister to help me and she even went and bought a new mill to grind the split peas for the puri,” she recalled. But on the day they were expecting the man to pick up the items he just did not show up.

“We waited till it began getting late and then I figured he was not coming

and that this thing had to be a hoax.” She said she informed her husband and they took a decision to use up what they could use and share out the remainder. “I sent some down to my church, and shared out to other people, but I didn’t get to sell even one, and so I lost on the whole order, and plus lost my $6,000 which

I gave him as ch young mother of all, she lost $20,00 When her husb to change the mon was told that it w flecting on the en husband said, “A

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

hange,” the distraught four lamented. So in 00. band went to a cambio ney, that was when he was counterfeit. Rencounter, the woman’s And the money looked

brand new, that was what caught me.”

But now he’s counting their losses and probably has come to the sad realisation that: “All that glitters is not gold.”

A TASTE FOR FISH A third snack vendor, this time in Tuc Ville Terrace, related that one night, A

man fitting the same description drove up in a fancy car with dark-tinted windows. He sat in the back of the car, did not get out and told the woman selling that the following day was his birthday and he wanted to feed some children.

For this reason, he wanted to order 15 boxes of fish. While still comfortably

seated in the backseat of the car, he signalled to her that she should bring $6,000 because he had only “come in” to Guyana a few days ago, and had only US currency, But this time he was met by a bold and brassy salesperson who, according to her, “quickly picked up the vibes,” and promptly replied: “Nah, nah!

I don’ have no $6,000, suh you can keep getting up if you gon lef’ all the way down town and come here to change money.”

She said at that stage he asked her to sample her wares (the fish) she was selling. “I gave a piece to him and he drove away,” she said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015 Tel: 691-6411

Apsara’s back! And with a bang!

--with kathak, belly dancing added to the platter

F

INALLY, Guyana, you will get what had been whisked away from you as the Apsara Dancers return with one big terrific bang!

In an exclusive interview yesterday, Director Chandini Rambalak noted that while the group was off the scene for a bit, getting things together, they are now back again with two special dance classes added to their belt of accomplishments.

The group is now offering kathak and belly dancing, and these classes are even being offered to school children who are enjoying their vacation. The belly dancing has been smartly infused with a Bollywood flair to make it even more exciting, according to Rambalak.

While the kathak sessions have already started, the belly dancing will commence on Wednesday, July 15.

Rambalak noted that belly dancing is a dance done by females only, and it’s all about feminine empowerment via dance. She said that belly dancing was only known to be performed in Middle Eastern countries, until Colombian songstress, Shakira, introduced it to the world not so long ago.

“Women all over the globe were going crazy when this dance came out! It inspired women all over the world to learn this dance style. And today, it is a very much sought after art form,” Rambalak said, adding: “Not too long after, it was introduced in Bollywood by Katrina Kaif in “Shiela Ki Jawani”, and a few more like Rani Mukherjee. Aga Bai has left an imprint on me; I think Rani did an excellent job belly dancing to Aga Bai” APSARA dancers took the risk and introduced it in its first show in 2008, held at the National Cultural Centre, knowing just how conservative culture is in Guyana. However, it was successful, and was enjoyed to its fullest by the audience, according to Rambalak. Since then, she said, it has always been one of the popular dance items that patrons always look forward to see and enjoy.

As Shakira has been quoted as saying: “Every woman can belly dance; it’s very healthy, and puts you in contact with the feminine aspects inside a woman that we need to develop and feel proud of.”

Persons interested in joining the dance classes can contact Ms Rambalak on phone number 640 2085, or by emailing her at apsara_guyana@yahoo.com

Cardella Hamilton crowned Miss Jamzone Guyana 2015

Miss Jamzone Guyana 2015, Cardella Hamilton TWENTY-four-year-old model, Cardella Hamilton is the new Miss Jamzone Guyana 2015.

The sassy Ms. Hamilton outperformed five other beauties in the five-segment tourism-centered beauty pageant to emerge this year’s queen.

Hamilton, with her confidence and poise, also copped the People’s Choice Award, along with the prize for Miss Body Beautiful, and received, among other things, a US$1000 cash prize and a trip for two to a local resort.

Hamilton, who is no stranger to the local pageant scene, will represent Guyana at the Miss Jamzone International Pageant slated for August.

The First Runner up spot went to 23-year-old University of Guyana student and teacher, Radiante Frank. She also copped the prizes for Best Smile, Best Evening Gown for her Mwanza-designed evening dress, and Best Country Dress, also designed by local designer, Mwanza Glenn.

Frank received a trip for two and US$500 cash among other rewards. The six ladies, in just over two hours, strutted their stuff in a national dress, fantasy swimwear and evening gown before it all came down to the nail-biting Question and Answere segment of the competition.

Before the large crowd gathered at the HJ Waterworld at Providence, Hamilton, as Delegate #6, took the last question for the night, namely: “If you were given $10M to invest in a tourism project, what would that project be, and why?”

And her response was: “Definitely, I would be investing that $10M into marketing my country, so that the world could know about the beauty Guyana has to offer.

“We have the Mighty Kaieteur Falls and the beautiful Baganara Island Resort, and I believe that Guyana is the gem within the South American continent, and we are comparable to Ecuador and Costa Rica. So I would definitely market my country to the best of my ability. Thank you!”

The new queen was crowned by her presecessor, Soyini Fra-

ser. Hamilton is a final-year student at the University of Guyana, where she is majoring in Public Management, which she intends using to pursue her dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

The other contestants included Eksi Edwards, Treasure James, Carlene Waithe and Onica Rose.

Come cruise the 90s at Club 704

COME cruise in style and take yourself back in time to the 90s as Club 704 (at Lamaha and Albert Streets, Georgetown) presents the ultimate ‘Old Skool Dance’ tomorrow night.

The main attraction will be Dancehall superstar, ‘Red Rat’, alongside guest performer, ‘Pascalle’.

And with DJ Puffy and DJ Breeze in the house, the ambience will be pulsating. Selector Diamond will also be gracing the Club with his presence.

Admission is said to be cool.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Vizion Kids Show set to explode in Linden and -Jamaican magician set as Georgetown center of attraction IT’S nice to see that someone is actually catering to the whims and fantasies of the kids, as the Vizion Sounds entity is poised to host one of the biggest kids’ shows ever at two locations in Guyana.

The first show will be staged on July 26, 2015 at the Mackenzie Sports Complex Ground in Linden; while on July 27, another massive show will explode in Georgetown at the DCC Ground in Queenstown, Georgetown.

And folks, this will be a kids’ show with a difference,

in that promoters will be bringing the Jamaican magician ‘The Wizard’, who will be a climax feature at both events.

Other attractions will include the popular ‘fire eater’ Shawn Thomas out of Linden.

Parents are urged to bring out the kids in their numbers since the Dora and Sponge Bob characters will be hopping and prancing all over the place.

Trampoline, Ferris Wheel and Merry Go Around will bring extra excitement, as the kids are allowed to mingle and interact with their favourite cartoon characters.

Flashback!!!

Naya Zamana 20 launched The Guyana Hindu Dharm i c S a b h a , r e c e n t l y, launched the 20th Edition of Naya Zamana on Sunday last, at the Marriott Hotel, Kingstown, Georgetown.

Naya Zamana, a renowned dance production which has gained international recognition, this will be held at the National Cultural Centre on August 26.

The production which has attracted sold out audiences for the past 20 years and is a fixture on Guyana’s entertainment and cultural calendar, has been raising the bar in the performing arts each year.

The original choreographies in a multitude of dance

styles along with the breath taking backdrops, dazzling costumes and unique concepts have trilled thousands over the past years and continue to be one of the

leading dance productions of its kind in Guyana. Naya Zamana is used as an opportunity to showcase Guyanese creativity of which the sabha is proud of for the past two

decades.

The 20th edition of the production forms a theatrical spectacular and tells a vibrant story through media, dance and music.

‘Champion of Champions’ calypso contest billed for National Park THE recently established 4Cs promotion group has proposed its first promotion titled, ‘Champion of Champions Calypso Competition’ which is slated for Friday July 24, 2015 at the National Park, Georgetown.

The competition is aimed at returning the art form to what it used to be in the days of yore, when hundreds of followers flocked the various venues to lend their support while having fun.

Calypso has always played a major role in speaking out against corruption and other ills affecting society. The competition will celebrate the ‘People’s Victory’ in recognition of Guyana’s rich cultural calypso heritage and free speech of relevant topics.

To rebuild the artform, promoters are now seeking to set high standards in every aspect of organising the event, beginning with the proposition of a motor car as the first prize. A trip for two to a named destination will be the second prize, while a motorcycle and refrigerator will comprise the third and fourth prizes respectively.

Consolation prizes for other finalists are also being considered. Promoters are looking at having two special gate prizes as well for two lucky ticket holders. Monetary contributions will be accepted to defray expenses which will be incurred for same.

Christopher Boyer is our dashing ‘Show Stopper’ THIS week, Bombshell proudly features a very versatile and dashing young man as our ‘Show Stopper’.

He is none other than Christopher Boyer, 25, an adorable gentleman who exudes masculine charm and is always creative. He adores the outdoors, and is really a fanatic on the dance floor.

Our ‘Show Stopper’ vows to always put his talents and creativity to good use, and would like to urge his peers to abstain from doing drugs, practise safe sex, and do unto others what they would have others do unto them.

Christopher is in a committed relationship, and is a father of one. His very life revolves around his other half and their offspring. So, ladies, quit the gaping and drooling! This one is already taken!

Christopher Boyer Veteran calypsonian, Mighty Rebel, is one of the masterminds behind this initiative

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Bombshell’s Artiste of the Week...

Edward Perez: Essequibo's musical representative THIS supplement takes pleasure in showcasing Guyana’s rich vocal talent, as always.

Whilst it is a known fact that we are loaded with very gifted musicians, we also acknowledge that most of our more talented musicians originate from the ‘interior’ and other outlying regions.

It is only when such persons grasp the sometimes rare opportunity of coming to the glitz and limelight of the city that Guyana becomes aware of his/her vocal abilities and special gifts.

Nevertheless, one has to admit that when this happens, such persons become the target of many celebrated musicians who, because they are afraid of a bit of competition, become green with envy, and just would not move over to make way for fresh natural talent.

As such, Bombshell would like to bring to the fore the very talented Edward Perez, a youth from Charity, on the Essequibo Coast, who, in 2011 and 2012, surprised many with his vocal ability and raunchy entertainment tactics.

A fresh face with no prior experience, he entered the Adult Calypso Competition in 2011, and, surprisingly, made it to the finals. Congratulations, bossman! That year, he entered the contest with a very stimulating selection dubbed, ‘Crime Rate’.

Again in 2012, he entered the said competition, this time around with a selection titled, ‘We Need a Change’. And while he certainly impressed the audience at the semi-finals, things did not go so well with the judges.

Nonetheless, this talented lad persevered, and just recently released a scorching reggae single titled, ‘I Am Not That Man’, which he claimed reflects the happy times and some troubles endured in a past relationship.

Edward is already preparing his entry for next year’s calypso competition, and vows to blaze a fiery trail for others to follow. Bombshell wishes this Essequibian youth all the best in his future endeavours, and hopes he makes it to the top amongst the Guyanese music icons. Good luck, dude!

Lawerence Poole is Moussy Malt Millionaire

With all the frenzy Southland International Inc ‘Moussy Malt Promotion’ has generated since it began a few months ago, one can only imagine the stampede generated when the ‘Carlsberg Crew’ gather on Saturday last at the Bounty Supermarket, Water Street, Georgetown for the final drawing.

At this drawing, three lucky persons won themselves hampers containing Southland International Inc products while Lawerence Poole of Paradise Housing Scheme was declared the 2015 Moussy Malt Millionaire after the final drawing. He won for himself $1 M. Taking home hampers were Martha Krane of 577, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Donna Mc Crea of Friendship Village, and Claudia Rodrigues of Laluni Creek, Soeskyke Highway.

Southland International’s management wishes to thank their fans for their continued support upon whose satisfaction they have been allowed to grow and prosper in their countrywide promotion in a highly competitive market place.

Edward Perez

22 Dameon Apple

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Princess Star Show grinds into fourth gear --City girls poised to demolish Bartica posse THE excitement is fast reaching boiling stage, with claws unsheated as the ‘Princess Karaoke Star’ event grinds into fourth gear.

Last Saturday, some 20 singers faced off at ‘Club Next’ (Princess International Hotel) as they battled for supremacy in the ‘Boot Camp’ leg of the competition. To date, the excitement revolves around Barticians Silyne Griffith and Dameon Apple, and of course Georgetown’s La

Lake Mainstay regatta, show set for August 16

THE Lake Mainstay Resort will be hosting its 15th Annual Regatta and stage show on Sunday August 16, at its magnificent fresh-water lake.

The gates will be opened from 09:00 hrs, while the Regatta will commence at 11:00 hrs. The Stage Show will immediately follow the presentation of cash prizes and trophies.

Attractions are as follows: Clash of the Titans Stage Show, plus Neil Gonsalves and Team from Pomeroon in a fiery faceoff with Dave Scott and Team from Bartica.

The twelve Categories of Power Boat Racing include: · 2 – 15 HP – 2 laps Male/Female Race · 2 – 40 HP – 3 Laps Male/Female Race · 3 – 90 HP – 4 Laps Male/Female Race · 2 – 200 HP – 5 Laps Male/Female Race · 3 – Open HP – 6 Laps Male/Female Race · 1 – Open HP – 4 Laps (Jetski) Male/Female Race Along with: · 1 – 200 M – Male Canoe Race · 1 – 200 M – Female Canoe Race · 1 – 200 M – Open Swimming A memorial race in the 90 HP category will be held in honour of Orin Bell.

There will be over G$3M in cash prizes and trophies to be won in the aforementioned events. After the daredevil regatta races on the water, the big stage show and beach party will unfold, with dazzling performances by reigning Soca Monarch, Jumo Primo; Soca & Reggae Star, Yoland Nedd; Guyana’s Chutney King, Prince JP; Lyndon Jumbie Jones, M.C & Comedian; Caribbean Hot Shots Band; and Pream’s Mega Sounds out of Essequibo.

Other sources of entertainment will include Exotic Dancers; a Children’s Fun Park; and food galore, courtesy of the Food Court and Abbie’s Creole Kitchen among other food enterprises.

Lake Mainstay Resort’s regattas have grown over the years and gained the reputation of being well organised, disciplined and the biggest in Guyana.

Essentially a family-oriented event, it is anticipated that this year’s event will see in attendance over 8,000 patrons from both at home and abroad.

The admission fees are: Adults $1000, and children $500. At the gate: Adults $1200, and children $700.

Shaun Charles, Iodele Gilbert, and Maria Rushuvelle.

Well, these ‘hotties’ have vowed to demolish the competition come tomorrow night, when they face off with ten other singers at the same location from 21:00hrs.

Tomorrow night, the 15 contestants poised for battle will have to bring their best to the game or face the wrath of the judges. At the end of the competition, the eventual winner will take home cash prizes, bragging rights and a recording deal with one of the top recording studios, plus an all-expenses paid weekend for two at a top resort in Guyana, and the opportunity to represent Guyana in Trinidad.

Lashaun Charles

Trendy clothes for the ‘bigger’ girls

AS you may know, it was always a worry and a ponder for our plus-size girls to actually decide on a suitable outfit, shoes and accessories, since it appeared like all the stores and boutiques had one notion in mind: Catering to the whims and fancies of the skinny ladies.

Well, my big sisters, your troubles are over. With your taste, and fashion cravings in mind, the classic ‘Trendy Plus Boutique’ comes to the rescue, offering you almost anything you can ever dream of wearing.

Big girls, you can now give those skinny divas a

--in the sheerest of fabrics

‘run for their money’ since this joint even showcases exquisite big girls’ lingerie in the most dreamy and daring cuts.

And trust me: you can pick up your swimsuits in both two piece and full bodied styles.

Check this, girls: there are hot pants there for you in all dashing colours; your fish net stocking and necklaces will speak high volumes of today’s fashion.

Evening dresses in shimmering styles await you; and, of course, elegant office attire for the career minded woman.

The shoes and bags there

are items to die for. And girls, don’t worry, they have sizes there for our ivas with very large shoe size.

Finally, you can flaunt your assets in all the glamorous clothing you desire, and show you’re the world that you can be big, bold and beautiful, after shopping at Trendy Plus Boutique located at 83, Robb Street, Lacytown (Between Camp and Alexander Streets) They can be contacted on phone numbers: 674-4331 or 225-7567.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Staglon fit to play in Pan Am Games … Medicals quash broken rib rumour

By Stephan Sookram GUYANA’s Rugby 7s captain, Richard Staglon, will return to lead the Green Machine, following rumours that he may have

been ruled out of the Pan American Games.

‘Staggy’ as he is known to the team had suffered some rib injuries during a game in a warm-up tourna-

RICHARD STAGLON ment in Canada and local officials had feared that he may be out of the tournament.

However, medicals and scans have shown that the skipper is fine to resume his spot. Avery Corbin who had

also suffered an injury has also been cleared to play. The other teams that participated in the practice tournament were the Ontario 7s team, Uruguay and a professional North America team.

The Green Machine are set to play their first game on July 11 when they take on Argentina, followed by Canada and Brazil the same day.

This tournament will be a huge test for the lads who had a disappointing performance in the United States recently, when they failed to qualify for the Olympic Games just over a month ago, at the North American & Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) tournament.

The full team reads: Staglon, Peabo Hamilton; Lancelot Adonis; Rickford Cummings; Claudius Butts; Ronald Mayers; Patrick King; Akeem Frazer; Ryan Gonsalves; Dwayne Schroeder; Phibian Joseph and Avery Corbin. The manager is Terrence Grant and Theodore Henry is the coach.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday July 10, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Vernon Phillander (2)Shakib-ul-Hassan (Tridents)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Name the non-nationals that are currently cap taining teams in Hero CPL 3.

(2) How many CPL matches were played at Warner Park, St. Kitts last year?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Fairview 08:35 hrs Clifton Surf 09:10 hrs Judd’s Joy 09:45 hrs Captain Swarovski 10:25 hrs Radisha 10:55 hrs Chestevin ENGLISH RACING TIPS York 08:45 hrs Ajaya 09:20 hrs Wedge 09:55 hrs Interception 10:25 hrs Curbyourenthusiasm 11:00 hrs Bogart 11:35 hrs Barreesh 12:10 hrs Spryt ASCOT 08:55 hrs Nisser 09:30 hrs Red Artist 10:05 hrs Steve Rogers 10:35 hrs Forever Popular 11:10 hrs Dawn’s Early Light 11:45 hrs Rifle range 12:20 hrs Hannington NEWMARKET 09:10 hrs Angel Vision

09:40 hrs Easton Angel 10:10 hrs Lucida 10:45 hrs Magical Memory 11:20 hrs Von Blucher 11:55 hrs Amazour 12:30 hrs Express Himself IRISH RACING TIPS Navan 12:35 hrs Wider World 13:05 hrs Anonymous Lady 13:35 hrs Dr Doro 14:05 hrs Catwilldo 14:35 hrs Unsinkable 15:05 hrs Intisari 15:35 hrs Sheeba AMERICAN RACING TIPS Belmont Race 1 Whats Up Big Boy Race 2 S’maverlous Race 3 Groovy A Race 4 Special Selection Race 5 Winter Wish Race 6 Dauphine Russe Race 7 Readthebyline Race 8 Seeking Her Glory Race 9 Mohican Chief

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

Guyana U-19s begin Regional Title defence on July 22 HOLDERS Guyana will face hosts Jamaica at Manchester High School in the central town of Mandeville, when the Regional Under-19 Super50 Tournament opens on Wednesday, July 22 in Kingston, Jamaica.

The Guyanese captured the 50 oversa-side title, as well as the 3-Day crown last year, to complete the Under-19 double, when the tournaments were staged in their homeland.

The Final of the 50 overs-a-side competition against the Jamaica was abandoned however, without a ball being bowled at Everest, in the Guyana capital of Georgetown, due to rain.

This followed an unbeaten run in the preliminary competition, which included a 68-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis Method over Jamaica at the Bourda Oval, also located in Georgetown.

In the other first-round matches of this year’s tournament, Windward Islands meet ICC Americas at the St Elizabeth Technical High School in south-western Jamaica, and sparks can be expected to fly when Barbados tackle old rivals Trinidad & Tobago at Jamalco in central Jamaica.

Leeward Islands have drawn a bye first up, before opening their account against the Barbadians in the second round of matches on the following day at Ewarton, situated centrally between the well-known locations of Spanish Town and Ocho Rios.

The tournament fields seven teams – the six territorial sides from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago and Windward Islands – along with a side from ICC Americas.

Each of the teams will play the other once in a round-robin competition, featuring seven rounds of 50 overs-a-side matches, with the two teams accumulating the most points qualifying for the Final, to determine the tournament winner on Sunday, August 2, at the Treasure Beach Sports Park in south-western Jamaica.

All new One-day International playing conditions recently introduced by the ICC, the sport’s World governing body, will apply for the tournament, which presents another opportunity for the region’s best Under-19 players to showcase their talent to break into the West Indies Under-19 squad for the ICC Youth World Cup next year in Bangladesh.

Regional Under-15 Tournament

Guyana battle T&T in title defence opener

DEFENDING champions Guyana will open the Regional Under-15 Super50 Tournament against Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday, July 23, at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda.

The Guyanese captured the title last year in Jamaica by topping the points table, following victories over all opponents except Windward Islands.

In the other first-round matches of this year’s tournament, Jamaica meet Windward Islands at the Guyana National Stadium and Leeward Islands face Barbados at Wales.

The tournament – in its 20th year – will be contested under a round-robin format, featuring five rounds of matches with the team accumulating the most points being declared champions.

The Regional Under-15 Tournament commenced in 1996, with the-then hosts T&T taking the inaugural title. They hold the record for the most RU-15 titles with seven, also winning the title in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2010 and 2013.

Reigning champions Guyana have claimed the top prize three times comprising back-toback titles in 1998 and 1999, plus last year.

Jamaica have won the title on four occasions (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011) and Barbados have won three times (1997, 2004, 2012).

Windwards emerged champions eight years ago, leaving Leewards yet to win the title.

MATCH SCHEDULE Round 1 – Thursday, July 23 Jamaica vs Windward Islands – Guyana National Stadium Leeward Islands vs Barbados – Wales (Guyana) Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago – Bourda Oval Round 2 – Friday, July 24 Barbados vs Jamaica – Bourda Oval Trinidad & Tobago vs Windward Islands –Enmore Guyana vs Leeward Islands – Guyana National Stadium Round 3 – July 27 Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago – Guyana National Stadium Barbados vs Guyana – Everest Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands – Wales Round 4 – Tuesday, July 28 Guyana vs Jamaica – Enmore Leeward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago – Bourda Oval Windward Islands vs Barbados – Guyana National Stadium Round 5 – July 30 Jamaica vs Leeward Islands – Everest Guyana vs Windward Islands – Guyana National Stadium Trinidad & Tobago vs Barbados – Wales

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

No information forthcoming from GFF THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) says the recent sacking of three managers of the Golden Jaguars unit is an internal matter.

Managers of the country’s senior National men’s football team Mark Xavier and Faizal Khan, along with English Parris who managed the Under-23 squad, were all told that their services are no longer needed by the GFF. Though this newspaper was unable to ascertain the rationale behind the three managers’ dismissal, it was under Xavier and Khan that four English-based players (Neil Danns, Matthew Briggs, Samuel Cox and Marcel Barrington) were unable to represent Guyana in their 2-2 away draw against St Vincent and the Grenadines in the 2018 World Cup Qualifier, due to not being granted citizenship on time.

Director of Marketing and Communications Rawle Toney told the Guyana Chronicle in an invited comment yesterday that the move to relieve the trio of their jobs on the team’s management panel is internal.

He added that the GFF will not be releasing any further information on the matter regarding the trio, noting, “All I can say is that the matter was an internal one by the GFF and was handled that way.”

Meanwhile former Khan has promised to release a statement ‘in time’ as to his alleged sacking from Golden Jaguars’ management duties.

Khan, in a public forum stated that as of now, he has no official comments but is going to release a statement in the coming days.

Linden kick-starts Summer Table Tennis Camp TABLE tennis players in Linden will now have the opportunity to further their education in the sport, following the commencement of the first Summer Table Tennis Camp on Monday at the Mackenzie High School auditorium.

The Linden Table Tennis Committee, headed by Howard James and Shavin Greene; the general secretary, both of whom are ITTF Level One coaches are the ones conducting the clinic, sponsored by Banks DIH Limited Sports Plus Store and sanctioned by the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA).

It is aimed at introducing, orienting and teaching the fundamentals of the sport of table tennis to children between the ages of 8 and 18 years old to create a larger pool of players which would create the foundation for development of table tennis in the mining town.

Organisers have indicated that they have registered over 40 players who would be split into two groups for better management of the programme.

The programme will be held from July 6-17 and will culminate with a competition which will be held on July 16 and 17 and will be used to identify the best talents for whom continuous training will be provided.

There are also plans to develop the programme in a more holistic way targeting players from the region.

Greene recently completed his ITTF Level One certification and was recognised by ITTF Latin American Development Officer Mr Ramon Ortega Montes as a great coaching prospect in his report to the ITTF on the course conducted in Guyana in August 2014

Ansa McAl adopts Team Evolution cycling club under Gillette brand ANSA McAl Trading Ltd has once again shown its commitment to the development of sports by lending sponsorship to Team Gillette Evolution cycling club and outfitting them with new kits.

President of Evolution Cycling Club, Keith Fernandes, said that, “Team Evolution is comprised of a number of talented senior cyclists and a large number of veteran cyclists, whose enthusiasm for the sport far outweighs the team’s collective talent.

“I would like to thank Ansa McAl for their support and for recognising our talent. Ansa McAl is the premier company that supports sport in Guyana and we at Team Evolution, now renamed Team Gillette Evolution, are very honoured to be chosen to represent the Gillette brand.”

Fernandes went on to give reassurance by stating that “the value and responsibility of this sponsorship is not lost on us

Team ‘Gillette Evolution’ president Keith Fernandes and club members at yesterday’s presentation with Ansa McAl Trading representative. and I can assure you that we will carry the name Gillette with great pride and honour.

The company’s Public Relations Officer, Darshanie Yussuf, said that Team Evolution have proved themselves as the No.1 cycling team in Guyana. As such,

Ansa McAl, through its Gillette brand, is more than happy to be associated with such high performance and quality - attributes that Gillette is known for internationally.

The team was formed in early 2015 and has become arguably the top cycling team in the country. This

is no small feat considering the short space of time they have been in existence.

Team Gillette Evolution comprises strike riders Orville Hinds, Stephen Fernandes, Raul Leal, Akeem Wilkinson, Michael Anthony and Marlon Williams among others.

Rogers hits 95 but England eye first-innings lead

CHRIS Rogers fell for 95, failing to turn a half-century into a hundred for the seventh Test innings in a row, as PAINFUL BLOW Australia ended the second day of the first Test on 264 for Rogers and Warner had begun well, sharing a 52-run five, 166 behind England yesterday. opening stand before the latter was well caught at first slip by The tourists, replying to England’s 430 all out, also lost England captain Alastair Cook off James Anderson.

David Warner (17), Steve Smith (33), captain Michael Clarke Moments later Cook, much to team mate Joe Root’s (38) and Adam Voges (31). mirth, was rolling around Smith and Clarke were in agony after being struck coaxed into errors by the spin a painful blow in the groin of Moeen Ali who hit an enarea that forced him off for tertaining 77 as the home team treatment. kept the Australian fielders S m i t h , t h e w o r l d ’s busy for 75 minutes in the number one Test batsman, morning, adding 87 to their clubbed Moeen to the boundovernight total for the loss of ary three times in one over the last three wickets. but the spinner had the last The 37-year-old Rogers laugh by inducing a leading has been superbly consistent edge that Cook caught at in a run of 50-plus scores short mid-on, ending a stand that began against India in of 77 with Rogers.

Brisbane in December but Clarke also looked set for he will kick himself as a a big score before dancing century appeared there for down the track to Moeen and the taking. offering a sharp return catch.

He had progressed largeAustralia would have been ly untroubled towards a fairly happy reaching the close fourth Ashes hundred when of play four wickets down but he tried to cut a ball from a late lapse in concentration paceman Mark Wood that from Voges, who played a was too close to him and loose drive off Ben Stokes and nicked it behind to wicketwas caught at short cover, left keeper Jos Buttler, trudging Chris Rogers goes on the attack while wicketkeeper England feeling they could forlornly off the field at So- Jos Buttler looks on. establish a decent lead. phia Gardens.

Earlier, Mitchell Starc A deserved 100 eluded him but he still joined a select band shook off a sore ankle to finish with five for 114. Fellow with a seventh successive knock of 50-plus, matching West paceman Mitchell Johnson, the scourge of England in their Indians Everton Weekes and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Zim- Ashes demolition in Australia last year, conceded 111 runs babwean Andy Flower and Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara. and went wicketless.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

GSSF pays courtesy call on Minister of Public Security BOARD members of the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) paid a courtesy call on the 2nd Vice-President of Guyana and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, yesterday at his Ministry’s headquarters on Brickdam.

During the visit the president of the GSSF, Vidushi Persaud, vice-president Michael Blake, asst. secretary/treasurer Ryan McKinnon, Internal Auditor Dr Bhiro Harry and committee member Dr Pravesh Harry discussed with Minister Ramjattan their plans for the future and gave an update as to the accomplishments so far.

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan with some of the directors of the GSSF Board.

Ministry of Education recognises Hugh Ross HUGH Ross, the 2015 National Amateur Body Builders Association (NABBA) Masters Over-50 title-holder, was yesterday recognised by the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, for not only his recent accomplishment, but for his outstanding ambassadorship.

Ross, who is currently Guyana’s most successful and recognised bodybuilder, exacted revenge for his second place finish at the 2014 installation of the event and came out on top of some of the world’s finest in the sport at the Dolmen Resort Hotel, Oracle Conference Centre, in Malta.

Minister within the Ministry of Education with the responsibility for Sport, Hon. Nicolette Henry, made the presentation at her Main Street Georgetown office and while congratulating the 2012 and 2014 Mr Universe (Masters) winner, the Minister thanked the 55-year-old Guyanese for being an example for others to follow.

“The Department recognises Mr Ross as one of Guyana’s most outstanding athletes who have demonstrated that hard work and commitment can lead to success in any sports discipline – bodybuilding in this case,” the Ministry said in a release.

Hugh Ross (left) receives his plaque of appreciation from Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry.

GASA accelerates preparations for Goodwill Games THE Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) is upping the tempo on preparations ahead of this year’s Goodwill Games set for Trinidad and Tobago.

According to president of the body, Ivan Persaud, the swimmers are putting in final training and going the extra mile to ensure that they produce top performances in the Twin-Island Republic.

He added that they have to trim the squad down from the large number of athletes. “We got about sixty kids in the squad and we have to break down to forty, so it’s a lot of last-minute ditch from all the kids to put in enough training to see if they can make it into the team.

“One of the things we failed to do previously as an association is to harness a full team, where we can participate in relays and in relays you stand a very good

chance for amassing a higher total of points.”

He noted that heading to Trinidad, the association already has

IVAN PERSAUD a game plan with how to secure much-needed points in order to come away with a successful result.

The relays provide much greater

opportunities to score points, with 18 points rather than individual races which only amass 9 points.

For too long, Persaud said, Guyana has been at the bottom half of the pool, adding that the association intends to ensure that this is corrected before they host the event in the next two years. Currently the athletes in training are being put through the same processes as they would be subjected to in competition, to ensure that they are familiar with them.

“What we are trying to do is mimic the same Goodwill Games organising. Friday evening we will work, Saturday and Sunday, so it is the same format that we use at the Goodwill Games to let the kids get a feel of competing Friday evening then going Saturday morning and Sunday morning.”

The Goodwill Games will take place July 14, 15 and 16, 2015.

Australia announces host dates for West Indies series

RANKED eighth on the ICC Test team list, the West Indies, will head Down Under for a three-Test series later this year, with the hosting board, Cricket Australia, confirming the dates.

West Indies will head to Australia after the New Zealand series, which commences in Brisbane (November 5-9), then Perth (November 13-17), before the day-night Test match at the Adelaide Oval (November 27 –December 1).

The West Indies get cracking just nine days later with matches in Hobart (December 10-14), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7). When the West Indies return home, the Aussies will host India.

The West Indies are ranked eighth in the Test world with the Aussies second.

WIMBLEDON…

Serena Williams beats Sharapova in semis WORLD number one Serena Williams brushed aside fourth seed Maria Sharapova to set up a Wimbledon final against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.

The American, 33, extended her winning run against Sharapova to 17 matches over 11 years with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Williams could win a sixth Wimbledon and 21st major title tomorrow, when she can also complete a ‘Serena Slam’ by holding all four Grand Slam titles.

Muguruza, 21, beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the first semi-final.

The Venezuela-born 20th seed led by a set and a break only for 13th seed Radwanska to respond with six straight games and force a decider.

“I don’t have words to explain it,” Muguruza told BBC Sport.

“I worked all my life to achieve this moment. I think I was playing really well so I had to stay calm and keep a poker face.”

Williams was thrilled to reach her 25th Grand Slam final, saying: “I’m so excited. I got a bit nervous because it was a semi-final and it’s a long time since I’ve been this far.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday July 10, 2015

FIFA imposes life ban on Chuck Blazer FIFA has banned former executive committee member and ex-CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer from all football-related activities for life.

Blazer, 70, worked undercover with prosecutors in the United States after pleading guilty to charges of bribery, money-laundering and tax evasion.

In May, several FIFA officials were arrested on charges of racketeering, fraud and money-laundering.

CHUCK BLAZER A FIFA statement said Blazer “committed many and various acts of misconduct”.

Overall, 14 people were indicted, with the U.S. Justice Department alleging bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150M (£97M) over a 24-year period.

Blazer was the second highest official in FIFA’s North and Central American and Caribbean region (CONCACAF) from 1990 to 2011 and also served on FIFA’s executive committee between 1997 and 2013.

GMR&SC confirms August 9 Meet

THE Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) has confirmed its second National Race of Champions 2015, on August 9 at the South Dakota Circuit, with several competitors already getting their cars into top gear.

According to a correspondence from the GMR&SC, the second circuit race for 2015 will fulfil the dual role of keeping the rust off the local competitors while allowing the Caribbean Motor Racing Association’s (CMRA) championship drivers, a chance to do the same in season testing.

The GMR&SC has also indicated that a number of riders are expected to enter the day’s activity along with the usual Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 competitors.

Meanwhile, cars that participated in the Second leg of the CMRC championship in Trinidad and Tobago a few weekends ago are in Guyana and will be returned to the owners in the coming days.

Some of those drivers are expected to take stock and make fine-tuning before the Third leg of the CMRC in Barbados in September.

The day’s sponsors for August 9 include to date: Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Southland International through their Carlsberg brand, Ganesh Parts and Fly Jamaica. (Stephan Sookram)

In a transcript from a 2013 U.S. hearing, the American pleaded guilty to 10 charges.

Blazer admitted he and others on the executive committee of football’s world governing body agreed to accept bribes in connection with the choice of South Africa as 2010 World Cup hosts.

He said he also facilitated bribes over the 1998 event.

A document of his agreement with U.S. prosecutors shows Blazer was secretly co-operating with them from December 2011.

The New York Daily News reported in 2014 that Blazer had bugged meetings with FIFA executives at the

London 2012 Olympics with a wire device concealed in a key fob.

FIFA had suspended its investigation into Blazer because of his “ill health” but reopened it in December 2014, leading to his lifelong ban.

In its statement FIFA added: “The decision was taken on the basis of investigations carried out by the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee in response to the final report of the CONCACAF integrity committee and the latest facts presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.”

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Guyana U-19s & U-15s begin Regional Title defence on See story July 22-23 on page 28

Staglon fit to play in Pan Am Games See story on page 27

FIFA imposes life ban on Chuck Blazer See story on page 31

Serena Williams beats Sharapova in semis

No information forthcoming from GFF

See story on page 30

See story on page 29

Linden kick-starts Summer Table Tennis Camp Ministry of See story on page 29

Education recognises Hugh Ross Hugh Ross (left) receives his plaque of appreciation from Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry.

See story on page 30 Coach Shavin Greene demonstrates a fundamental element to young students.Â

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FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015