2015 7 2

GUYANA

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

Granny scales high fence to escape gun-toting bandits PRICE: $80

No. 104238 THURSDAY JULY 2, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

INCLUDING VAT

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65-year-old ‘granny’ Dolarie Sewghair

– pregnant woman beaten, overseas visitors left Port Mourant home seconds before attack

Guyana remains steadfast against Venezuela’s actions Page

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Guyana, China’s relation set for further strengthening 11 Page

Coalition is not falling apart – it is as strong as ever, says Minister Harmon

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Minister Joseph Harmon

FREEMAN WANTED

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Freeman Fordyce

– for attempted murder, abduction

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Zhang Limin presenting a copy of the work done by China’s President Xi Jinping to Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, yesterday (Adrian Narine photo)

Suspect accused of killing Cane Grove rice farmer remanded Page 12

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

PM Nagamootoo performing duties of President

– President Granger in Barbados attending CARICOM Heads meeting FIRST Vice-President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has been sworn-in as acting President by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Carl Singh.

The Prime Minister was sworn-in yesterday afternoon, following the departure of President David Granger for Barbados. The Guyanese Leader is heading a delegation to the 36th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference taking place from July 2-5, in the Caribbean nation.

President Granger is also among several incoming and newly elected Heads of Government who are scheduled to address the opening ceremony of the Conference, which begins at 16:30 hrs today.

The new CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, and its Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, will also be delivering addresses. Key issues expected to be on the agenda during the Conference include Venezuela’s maritime claim to Guyana’s territory, the Dominica Republic’s move to expel Dominicans of Haitian descent, and sustain-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo receives the presidential instrument from Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Mr Carl Singh after he had taken the oath as President, yesterday

able development goals and challenges.

On the eve of his departure for the Conference, the President had issued the following statement.

“The Government of Guyana remains committed to

improving relations with the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Guyana remains steadfast, however, in its stand against the several illegal and increasingly militant actions of Venezuela directed against

Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Guyana reasserts that its lawful boundaries that were established 116 years ago are not negotiable. Violation of them on land or at sea is an assault on the tenets of

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo taking the oath as President. President David Granger left Guyana yesterday to attend the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Barbados

CARICOM and must be condemned as such.

The President said that this will be Guyana’s message to all at the Heads of Government Conference.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo will be performing the duties that fall under the purview of the President, until the President returns to Guyana. (GINA)

Italy funding Guyana’s participation in Asset Recovery training AS Government continues its State Asset Recovery Unit’s activities, Italy has agreed to boost Guyana’s capacity to execute this activity, according to Minister

of State Joseph Harmon.

Addressing the media at his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, the Minister of State indicated that the European country has agreed

to fund, via the CARICOM Secretariat, Guyana’s participation in a training programme, ‘Illicit Economy and Financial Flows Investigation and Asset Recovery’.

The programme will run from July 6 to 12, at the Rome Police Training Center, and Guyana Police Force Superintendant Wayne De Hart will attend.

Harmon said Guyana will be represented as “it is clear to us that the path which we have taken, to pursue recovery of State assets is something that has found favour with CARICOM countries and the CARICOM Secretariat.”

He added that there has also been an “overwhelming response” from Guyanese living abroad, many whom are also highly qualified and prepared to take time off from their work, “who have volunteered their time and energy, without pay to come and work for us in this regard.”

P r o f e s s o r D r. C l i v e Thomas has been in contact with several international agencies and he will be issuing statements in this regard, Minister Harmon told reporters.

Since taking office, the Government has launched forensic audits and investigations into the operations of several ministries under the previous Government.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Granny scales high fence to escape gun-toting bandits

– pregnant woman beaten, overseas visitors left Port Mourant home seconds before attack

By Jeune Bailey Vankeric THE invasion of 10 armed bandits forced two women, including a 65-yearold grandmother to scale six-foot fences in a bid to escape the robbery attack at Seventh Street, John’s Settlement in Port Mourant, Corentyne.

Just after 01:00 hr on Wednesday morning, Dara Singh, aged 38 years, was offloading several items, including two tractors from a container.

He had engaged the services of several persons from the neighbourhood, to assist with the task. They had just completed the offloading when his overseas-based brother-in-law along with his wife, left the premises seconds before bandits struck.

After they drove away in the car, six men ran into the yard, saying: “No body move.”

“Me run under the tractor and hide. One of the other bandits say, look the owner gone and hide under the tractor. They started to beat me under the tractor, before dragging me into the kitchen where they told me to kneel. They asked for the money and the gold.

Me say you all nah do me nothing. This is all I have in my pocket…$700,060… the container money.”

Dara Singh was dragged from under a tractor, beaten and robbed

But Singh noted that the men, some armed with shotguns and a pistol, cutlasses, and iron were dissatisfied with the amount, and demanded more money and jewellery.

The intruders reportedly a s k e d f o r S i n g h ’s o v e rseas-based guest, who had moments before left the home.

Singh recalled being taken to his bedroom before he was returned to the kitchen where he was constantly “broadsided” with cutlasses.

According to him, his helpers along with members of his family, which amounted to 12 persons, were all held against their will for almost 45 minutes,

Sharaz Azaz shows the iron bar which was used by a bandit to inflict injuries to his head

as an additional four men kept watch from the outside.

Meanwhile, Shavraj Azaz had just finished helping out when the bandits rushed into the yard. He was told to lie before a bandit armed with an iron rod inflicted several injuries to his head, forcing him to comply.

Kamalie Devi Khalicharan saw the bandits entering their yard, and being fearful, she did what was a normally impossible task.

She scaled two separate sixfoot fences, before seeking r e f u g e i n a n e i g h b o u r ’s

One of the tractors which was being offloaded from the container when the bandits struck

home, two streets away.

Her mother-in-law Dolarie Sewghair, was not to be left behind although her son Dar ’s life was in danger.

She, too, scaled the fence before running for safety.

However, Sabita Singh could not join the two elderly women in their hurdle jumps. Instead, she stayed behind and was gun-butted to her face. She is six

months pregnant.

After the bandits had left and the family re-grouped, they discovered missing an additional US$600, a rip saw, two amplifiers, two gold chains and four finger-rings, among other items.

Two youth are in custody and are assisting the police with the investigation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

‘Publik Wing and Burger House’ to be opened in Giftland Mall THE ‘Publik Wing and Burger House’ is set to be opened in the new Giftland Mall at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, come August 1, and the owner Sean Major yesterday inked the tenancy agreement with Marketing Manager of Giftland, Karen Agtarap.

According to Agtarap, Giftland is proud to have Major as part of the concession there and looks forward to doing business with him.

Meanwhile, Major said ‘The Publik’ has been doing really well, and it is time to expand and “there is no better place to put our next branch than the Giftland Mall.”

The businessman said he is also impressed with what he has seen so far at Giftland Mall and is excited to start his business there. He is hoping that everything goes in their favour and they are able to pull off the opening at the beginning of August. (Navendra Seoraj)

‘COURTESY CALL’: Commonwealth Secretary General, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister The Honourable Moses Nagamootoo, on Monday. Also accompanying Mr Sharma were Simon Gimson, Director and Head of the Commonwealth SG Office; and Albert Mariner, Head of Caribbean/Pacific Political Division. The Prime Minister and Mr Sharma discussed matters of mutual interest to the Commonwealth and Guyana particularly political cooperation at the national level and at the Parliamentary level to further the interest of and better serve all Guyanese along with the need for long overdue Local Government Elections.

Marketing Manager of Giftland, Karen Agtarap hands over the agreement to ‘Publik Wing and Burger House’ owner Sean Major, yesterday (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Defence lawyers seek not guilty verdicts in trial of septic tank murder accused

By George Barclay

THE jury of five women and seven men sitting in the ‘septic tank murder trial’ were yesterday asked to find the accused Ralph Tyndal, also called ‘Dick’, and Anthony De Paul Hope, called ‘Papa’, not guilty of the murder of Colleen Forrester.

The body of Forrester was found in a septic tank at 55 William Street, Campbellville by spiritual Elder, Winslow Smith, who carries on a church at East La Penitence, where she was said to be a member.

Smith did not give evidence at the preliminary inquiry but because his name featured at the jury trial he was called by the prosecution to give rebuttal evidence.

In giving that rebuttal evidence, Smith admitted that he carries on a spiritual

church and that Forrester was one of his members.

He carried on church every Sabbath but denied a defence suggestion that he was present with Forrester when she was last seen alive.

He told the prosecutrix that he would have seen Forrester on the last Sabbath before Christmas, since he holds church on Saturdays.

He said that the woman was a member of his church but he had nothing to do with her death.

I n a n s w e r t o A t t o rney-at-law Melvin Duke, Smith denied a suggestion that his search in Forrester’s yard and finding her body in a septic tank did not give anyone the right to say that he knows about her death.

Smith said that when he opened the septic tank, he saw what appeared to be different colours of clothing.

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- prosecution to address jury today

In court Tyndal, De Paul Maughn

yesterday, murder accused Ralph also called ‘Nick’, and Anthony Hope, also called ‘Papa’ (Samuel photo) who came into the yard and It was not until he called his searched, that the boy realson who was on the road, and ised that there was a body in

the tank.

Smith said it was at this stage that he called in the police who began investigating.

Duke noted that despite all of this information, the police did not see the wisdom in taking a statement from Smith.

Counsel further asked the jury to give his client the benefit of the doubt by returning a verdict of not guilty in his favour.

In his address to the jury yesterday, Attorney-at-law Madan Kissoon said his client Tyndal was present on the scene because he was invited by his friend who resided there.

And his friend was at-

tempting to hide him in a wardrobe after learning that Forrester was around, and as caretaker she had determined that no one should be invited there when she was away.

According to Kissoon, Tyndal was more of a spectator than a participant and he asked the jury to give him the benefit of the doubt by returning a verdict of not guilty in his favour.

When the hearing resumes today the prosecution will address the jury.

Presiding Judge Madame Roxanne George will address the jury tomorrow and hand over the case to them for their consideration and verdict.

Cabinet votes to respect CCJ ruling, pay off $2B Court Judgments GOVERNMENT has decided to pay off almost $2B in liabilities stemming from Court Judgments awarded against the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The Judgments made against the then PPP/C Government, arises from its failure to adhere to a previous CCJ ruling, leading to a case of contempt being acted on in favour of Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL).

The Guyana Government was asked to fork over more than US$2M in compensation

…PPP/C administration was guilty of contempt, imposing discriminatory tax to the Trinidadian company.

The then Guyana Government was also found to be guilty of imposing a discriminatory tax which was found to be in breach of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramus, to which Guyana is a signatory.

THRILL IMPORTER Surinamese based importer of ‘Thrill Drinks’ Rudisa Beverages and Juices NV, had taken the then Guyana

Government to court over the tax imposed that caused the company to pay $10 on each bottle of beverage it imported into the country.

The CCJ ordered the Guyana Government to pay the Surinamese Company some $6.5M in compensation.

Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon, yesterday made the disclosure following Cabinet’s meeting the previous day.

He explained that Cabinet

decided to pay the debt that the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government inherited from the PPP/C administration since Guyana has signed on to the CCJ as its final

judicial arbitrator.

According to Harmon, the accord that binds Guyana to the CCJ must be respected. He affirmed that the Court has made a

ruling against the Guyana Government, and since the CCJ represents the highest level of appeal in the juris-

See Page 21

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EDITORIAL ROAD RAGE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

GUYANA

- Guyana’s killing fields

THE carnage on the road must stop. Too many innocent lives are being lost. Too many families have been devastated by the wanton and unnecessary loss of life of a loved one at the hands of a killer behind the wheels of a vehicle. Too many have been maimed or incapacitated in one way or another by those who use our roadways like their own private playground.

They do not stop speeding, nor driving under the influence of alcohol. They violate the traffic laws with impunity, because they either can pay a bribe and get off, or get a rap on the knuckles in the court because of some clever rhetorical gimmickry by some hotshot lawyer.

Speeding to overtake another bus to get an $80 fare is a norm, so the lives of a busload of passengers are only worth $80 in their estimation.

One minibus driver, who had been laughing as he raced a friend in a car on one of the country’s highways, was stopped by the police and issued a ticket, after he had been shown the mileage on the speed gun when he

attempted to argue.

When he returned to his bus, he said there is a need for some more killings in the country so that things could get “better”. One could only surmise that by “better” he means where anarchy prevails and there is no rule of law enforced. In other words, back to the law of the jungle.

But we are supposed to be humans living in a civilised society, not a jungle where predatory beasts ravage the vulnerable. Our laws were formulated to create order in the societal construct, with the intention of protecting the citizens of the land.

The Non-Governmental Organisation ‘Mothers in Black’ evolved from a mother’s pain at losing a cherished child; and the organisation has had tremendous success in bringing road safety issues to the front burner in the legislative processes. But enacting laws is only one step. Enforcement of those laws has to be a correlative factor for effective solutions, so that the precious human resources of this country could be safe to live productive lives, and pursue goals that

could contribute to nation-building initiatives.

With all the laws that are being flouted and even with all the warnings, drivers violate the laws without caring a whit that they are responsible for the lives they are endangering with their irresponsible behaviour.

Meanwhile, the callousness of some police ranks who ignore the suffering of the citizens of the land because of misconceptions and wrong perceptions need to also be addressed, if the trust of the public in the Police Force is to be re-established.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, there are questions being asked by the public, and the Force needs to provide satisfactory answers to those questions. The Force needs to reflect your personal integrity, sir, whatever it takes.

This newspaper is aware of the frustration of honest police ranks who capture perpetrators at great risk to themselves, only to see them set free by the courts on one flimsy pretext or another, and we will support every initiative you undertake to restore law and order in the land.

Former Presidents Bill 2015...

A legislation ‘infected with virus of unconstitutionality’ THE Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2015 will not apply to former Presidents nor the current President.

This Bill seeks to repeal the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act 2009 and in its place, install a regime of benefits and other facilities to be accorded to Executive Presidents after they demit office.

The first issue which I wish to address is to whom would this Bill apply, if it is enacted into law. In my humble view, the Bill, if it becomes law, will not affect nor apply to the benefits and other facilities which accrue to any former President under the Former President (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2009.

I wish to further submit that it will also not affect nor apply to President David Granger who is entitled to the benefits and facilitates under the 2009 Act, on the same basis and for the same reasons as former Presidents.

I am of the considered view that if enacted, the 2015 Bill cannot in law, retroactively or retrospectively, affect the entitlements conferred by the 2009 Act. These entitlements have already accrued to the former Presidents.

In the case of Mr Granger, as will be explained below, these benefits also accrued to him the moment he assumed office, because when he did so, the 2009 Act was in force.

However, they will only become due when he demits office. The 2015 Bill, therefore, can only operate prospectively, and will only apply to Presidents who assume office after Mr David Granger.

More significantly, any attempt to utilise this Bill as an

instrument to deny and deprive any or all of the aforementioned persons their entitlement under the 2009 Act would be unlawful, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.

I set out hereunder the reasons for my aforesaid conclusions. I will begin with Article 222 of the Constitution. It provides thus: 222 (1): “There shall be paid to the holders of the offices to which this article applies such salaries and such allowances as may be prescribed by or under any law or, ...”

222 (2): “The salaries and allowances payable to the holders of the offices to which this article applies are hereby charged on the Consolidated Fund.”

222 (3): “The salary and allowances payable to the holder of any office to which this article applies and his or her other terms of service shall not be altered to his or her disadvantage after his or her appointment and, for the purposes of this paragraph, in so far as the terms of service of any person depend upon the option of that person, the terms for which he or she opts shall be taken to be more advantageous to him or her than any other terms for which he or she might have opted.”

222 (4): “This article applies to the offices of President, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, any Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature, members of the Elections Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission or the

Police Service Commission, the Ombudsman, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Auditor-General and the Commissioner of Police.”

The fact that the “salaries and allowances” of these office holders are charged upon the Consolidated Fund signifies that they are not subject to the approval (or disapproval) of the National Assembly. It is but an indicia of the level of protection, and the security of tenure, which the Constitution accords to these office holders.

Moreover, Article 222(3) specifically protects these salaries, allowances and terms of service from alteration to the detriment of the office holder after his or her appointment.

As it relates to Presidents, I submit that the benefits and other facilities conferred by the 2009 Act are captured in these “allowances and terms of service” to which Article 223 makes reference. It is clear, therefore, that while the remuneration package of these office holders can increase, no diminution is permitted, even after they would have left office.

As it relates to Mr David Granger, he assumed office while the 2009 Act is in force. That Act guarantees him certain facilities and benefits which will accrue to him when he ceases to hold the Office of President. Article 222(3) protects those facilities and benefits from any alteration to his detriment. The 2015 Bill cannot, and does not, affect those facilities and benefits.

Additionally, Article 142(1) of the Constitution provides that “No property of any description shall be compulsorily taken possession of, and no interest in or right over, property See page 8

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Please Mr. President...

to Minister Cathy Hughes Who’re the people you pardoned - Kudos for what she plans doing for tourism - and what crimes did they commit

PRESIDENT David Granger announced on May 26, 2015, with much fanfare, the pardoning of 60 criminals whom he described as “young persons...” who were imprisoned “for petty non-violent offences.”

Every year, going forward, on the nation’s birthday, Mr Granger intends to pardon more felons who may meet this criteria.

One month has elapsed, and all the Guyanese public knows about the released convicts is that the number of pardoned inmates were reduced from the original 60, and that a U.S. Government-backed project has embraced the convicts, and intends to reintegrate them back into our Guyanese society.

While this may appear, on the surface, as a noble cause, I am galled that the media, which was a humbug to the previous Administration, is allowing Mr Granger a free pass by ignoring the limited information that is being provided about: 1: Who these pardoned criminals are; 2: What constitutes “young persons”. Is a person in their 30s who is set in his/her ways considered ‘young’?

3: What constitutes “a short duration”.

These subjective terms being used by Mr Granger need to be questioned, and deserve an answer.

It is time the love fest and honeymoon between the new Administration and the media simmer down. As the fourth arm of Government, the media needs to examine Mr Granger’s rubric of who gets pardoned.

I recall, with trepidation, the cacophony of the Guyana Bar Association and Mr BurchSmith, the Guyana Human Rights Association and the many other proxy cudgels of the previous Administration, when Mr Donald Ramotar pardoned Ravindra Deo. The silence of these organisations is now deafening with Mr Granger’s pardon. With Mr Ramotar’s pardon, at least we know who was released, and the gravity of his crime. Mr Granger has not given us that courtesy.

It was reported in some sections of the media that cell-phone thieves are being pardoned.

When I contemplate that ‘Presidential Pardons’ are the new dispensation of justice for short sentences, and for being a young criminal, I can’t help but feel empathy for the families such as that of Ms Sheema Mangar, who died after she was run over by car after chasing after the crooks who stole her cell-phone.

The new Administration campaigned on “It is time to end crime”. However, we are witnessing a surge in violent crimes under their watch. With crime surging uncontrollably, I would like to know who are being pardoned, and the nature of the crimes committed.

What if I was a victim of crime that led to conviction and detention of one of the Granger-released thugs?

Mr Granger, please release the names of the pardoned criminals, and the nature of the crimes committed.

The media needs to do its job; demand the demographical and criminal records of the pardoned hoodlums.

CONCERNED CITIZEN

Whatever became of the Aurora Land Development Project

SINCE during the Burnham Administration when Mr Gavin Kennard was the Minister of Agriculture, we the residents of South Essequibo were told of the Government’s plans to implore about 5,500 acres of land for agricultural purposes behind the villages stretching from Supenaam to Adventure, a distance of about nine miles, and although Reid and Malik and Taylor Woodrow did some drainage and irrigation work along the Essequibo Coast and the areas aforementioned, that promise was not kept.

About a decade or so ago, this project, now called The Aurora Land Development Project, was discussed at all levels in the Region, and residents living within this area (that is Supenaam to Adventure and also those living elsewhere, but would benefit from this project) were very, very excited about the benefits to be derived from it becoming a reality.

There were a lot of meetings convened by the Regional Administration pertaining to this project, and a lot of groups formed, about 15 in number comprising about 900 persons. Then, sometime in 2006, the then President Mr. Jagdeo, accompanied by Minister Robert Persaud along with senior Ministry and Regional Officials, visited the Aurora Primary School and promised that within six months, this area of land will be available to farmers.

The excitement and expectation grew further. Then, as the years passed by, the anxiety vanished and the silence about this project grew.

I, as one of the Alliance For Change representatives on the Regional See page 8 Democratic Council asked the question about this project at several Coun-

TOURISM Minister, Cathy Hughes has been in the news with her plan for the tourism sector. I applaud Mrs Hughes on her appointment. She seems to be developing a sincere spirit of hospitality with a passion for service. She deserves kudos for trying to expand what is a tough sector of the economy.

The Minister clearly wants tourism to play a bigger role in the economy than her predecessors. But with soaring crime over the last six weeks, people are fearful to journey to Guyana, so arrivals will decline instead of rise.

And once arrivals decline, there will be terrible effects on the economy: Declining GDP, loss of jobs, fall in circulation of money, etc.

So, Minister Cathy Hughes has to convince the Government to take drastic measures to reduce the crime spree. The Government must be proactive in going after criminals who prey on visitors.

The Minister is an outstanding PR person, and I am confident she can do the job of selling Guyana. Her pro-active role in focusing on tourism is most welcomed. She has hit the job running. But a lot more needs to be done in promoting tourism, especially in encouraging airlines to fly to Guyana.

Caribbean Airlines and Dynamic cannot meet market needs; another carrier is urgently needed, especially now that the fares are going through the roof. The competition will be good for reduced fares benefiting flyers.

The Government should approach Mr Nohar Singh of Travel Span for the airline to re-enter the Guyana market, and for ideas on how to boost tourism. Few, if any other Guyanese, is more qualified than he for that task. He should be offered incentives to lure him into the Guyana market after his bitter experience with the previous Government.

Tourism expansion should be closely connected with the private sector. Mrs. Hughes should consider holding a panel discussion among experts and travel agents on the role of tourism in the economy, especially in business expansion.

Guyana can be a great destination for travellers who look for a special type of vacation in the interior, or to be with friends and families. Guyana is close to North America and the Caribbean; there is great value, and we now have a five-star hotel (The Marriott) to attract high-end tourists. We also have great cuisine, and warm, hospitable people. Missing are the carriers and affordable fares and security. This should be the focus of Minister Cathy Hughes and the new Government.

VISHNU BISRAM

Nandlall needs to explain his paradoxical contentions IT is common knowledge now that former Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall has taken great umbrage at the Government seeking to “extend advertisements overseas for the posts of Chancellor and Chief Justice.”

Nandlall came to the fore with his attack after Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, announced that the Government will indeed be proceeding with its plan for these posts, and consequently he has raised a number of questions on the matter.

However, it appears as though Nandlall is merely ‘imagining’ or ‘conjuring up’ factors that do not reside in what the Government is thinking.

Nandlall recalls an incident which occurred in early post-Independent Guyana, when the then Government “created the office of the Chancellor of the Judiciary, over and above the office of the Chief Justice, as Head of the Judiciary.” This, he said, was done not only to circumvent but to also humiliate the

then sitting Chief Justice, who later resigned and migrated permanently from Guyana.

The Government and the public at large want to know where is the logic in this kind of thinking. It should be remembered that pre-1992 People’s National Congress (PNC) Administrations were presented as most dictatorial and tyrannical by the likes of Anil Nandlall. It means that the then particular Government could have replaced any Chief Justice as Head of the Judiciary, instead of appointing a Chancellor of the Judiciary, “over and above the office of the Chief Justice.”

The Government sees this kind of reasoning as indeed ‘very shallow’ on Nandlall’s part, to draw such an illogical and non-sequitur conclusion; or one can say that he is now debunking his previous position and view that the pre-1992 Governments were not the ‘slaughterers of democracy’ as he and his ilk constantly claimed, when they were in Government.

Secondly, the natural question is why Mr Nandlall should even think that the Government has ulterior motives and a hidden agenda to control, undermine or emasculate the judiciary.

Also, how is it that ‘outside bearers of these offices’ will be part of this supposed plan of the Government.

Naturally, one has to contend a ‘wave of emotionalism’ here as being foundational to this kind of spurious analysis. One has to posit some questions here, and hopefully elicit from Mr Nandlall, explanations for his paradoxical contentions: “Do the advertised posts mean that the Government is making itself more transparent and removed from the judiciary; or is this modus operandi clearly saying that it is making itself subject to the Judiciary and restoring it to its place of independence and being bereft of any form of politicisation?”

I do hope for some kind of clarification.

RAMOS DESANTOS

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Trade unionism at UG and the Law I SHOULD be grateful if you publish this letter to raise awareness of some of the requirements of our labour laws, and to encourage compliance and good order in the governance of trade unions in the conduct of industrial relations.

The Labour Laws of Guyana provide the legal ambit/ framework for functioning of trade unions in a responsible manner. For the University of Guyana (UG), these laws include the Trade Unions Act, the Labour Act and the Trade Union Recognition Act. These laws are taught at the University of Guyana. Can the executives of the Unions tell the University community and the general public how compliant they are with the laws? How consistent and principled are they in the teaching and practise of industrial relations at this higher institution of learning?

There are two trade unions at UG: The recognised and certified University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) for UG Staff by the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board, and the unrecognised University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA).

The Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board is the statutory body to certify a trade union as the recognised majorly trade for collective bargaining purposes. The Labour Laws for the functioning and governing of trade Unions impose obligations for trade unions to be in good standing.

Are the trade unions at UG complying with the requirements of the labour laws?

Under the Trade Unions Act, trade unions are required to vest the property of the union

in trustees for legal action, for financial accountability including prompt submitting of the Union’s financial accounts for auditing by the Auditor General of Guyana, and annual returns (by 1 May each year) of statements of receipts, funds, and assets to the Registrar of Trade Unions. This is for each year operation, accounting particularly for the union dues it receives from members.

Under the Trade Union Recognition Act, trade unions are required to apply to the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board to be certified as the recognised majority union for collective bargaining purposes for a defined bargaining unit.

This Act also imposes the obligation to negotiate and bargain in good faith. The concept and principles of good faith negotiations are well known and no doubt being taught at the University! Breach of bargaining in good faith under this Act constitutes an offence and liable on summary conviction by a Court to payment of fines.

The conduct and behaviour of the UGSSA warrants the testing of this matter in the Courts, and any interested party can take this up as public service.

It is an established fact that the UGSS is not the certified, recognised majority union as the collective bargaining agent for UA Staff at the University, having applied to the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board and failed some three years ago to gain recognition for want of the minimum number of members in the bargaining unit of the UA Staff.

It is therefore unrepresented of the majority of Senior Staff. The UGSSA cannot in the spirit and intent of the law bargain for UB

Staff since the UGWU has sole and exclusive bargaining rights for its bargaining unit.

The UGSSA has been parading in the media and public eye as the representative of Senior Staff when it does not have as members in good standing the majority of senior staff. The UGSSA is persisting on “backdoor recognition by piggy-backing on the recognised status of UGWU” under the guise of joint negotiations despite the separate bargaining units with distinct community of interest of staff, and nature of their duties.

The University administration caved in under external political influence and pressure and participated in this disorderly and unprincipled conduct of industrial relations at the University.

One would expect that the highest teaching and learning Institution in the land would set a high standard in constructive and responsible negotiations having regard to the financial resources – income of the University and its ability to meet all the demands. This is not a new situation, as it was so for many years before the recruitment of the current Vice-Chancellor who is being used as the ‘scapegoat, and given a basket to fetch water.’

The power approach – building up expectations of staff with unrealistic proposals at general meetings, agitation in the media before dialogue/discussions, unnecessary industrial action, negotiations in the media, misinformation to the media, external influences and pressures, illegal actions, vocal, boisterous minority, public agitation, political lobbying, and personal attacks on the integrity of the Vice Chancellor - all of which seem to be engineered by an unrepresentative union. The Vice Chancellor

has the support and confidence of the University Council and those who have the good interest of the University at heart, but for the few disgruntled union officials with their predetermined agenda.

One would expect the University Unions to set a good example for the national community by eschewing the power approach and employing the consensus and rights approaches in good faith encounters. There

are also the Conciliation/Mediation and Arbitration processes in the event of failure of the earlier processes.

SAMUEL J. GOOLSARRAN

Whatever became of ...

From Page 7

cil Meetings, and no answer was given about this long-overdue and promised development made by no less a person than the then Head of State. Then, on April 8, 2011, shortly after Mr Donald Ramotar was either elected or selected to be the Party’s Presidential candidate, residents were invited to another meeting at the Aurora Primary School, the purpose of which was to discuss the said project, and to address us would have been Mr Jagdeo and Mr Robert Persaud and other Senior Ministry Officials.

This time around, the Minister told the gathering of more than 500 persons about the estimated cost of the project, which was tagged at $1.3 billion, and the amount of acreage to be drained and irrigated, and the benefits to be derived. The President at that time on his arrival also endorsed what was already said by Minister Robert Persaud.

Mr Donald Ramotar, after he was introduced to us, spoke briefly about this much-touted project; mention was also made of the Berbice River Bridge, the Skeldon Sugar Factory, the Providence Stadium and inroads the PPP made in the PNC strongholds. At that time, the address sounded like what you would expect to hear at a political meeting. A promise was however made

by Mr. Jagdeo that in a matter of two to three weeks, evidence of things happening concerning this project will be seen. That meeting then concluded.

Surprisingly, when we left that meeting, we were none the wiser regarding:1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

The criteria to be eligible for a portion of land The amount of land to be allocated to each successful applicant The cost of a portion of land per acre The terms of payment The terms and conditions under which the land would be acquired

But after years of promises, we are still in hope and not in despair; we are meekly waiting but we are beginning to murmur. I feel that it’s time a statement regarding the status of this project be made.

A copy of part of this letter first appeared in the letters column of the Stabroek News on Monday, March 19, 2011.

Now, for the benefit of those hundreds of families that would have benefited from this once much-talked-about project, I would like the former Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy or any senior Government official to say as at May 11, 2015, the exact situation as regards this project. And while it is early days yet for the current Administration, the current Minister with responsibility for Agriculture, Mr Noel Holder, can say if there is anything in the file pertaining to this project.

ARCHIE W. CORDIS

A legislation ‘infected with virus From Page 6

of any description shall be compulsorily acquired …” without the prompt payment of adequate compensation.

For the purpose of the Constitution, the Courts, both in Guyana and throughout the Commonwealth, have given the widest possible definition to the term “property”. Property has been defined to include money, choses in action, rent charges, mortgages, easements, shares, or anything that has economic value.

Every single entitlement enumerated in the 2009 Act as a benefit or facility to a former President is capable of being converted into monetary or economic value. These entitlements, therefore, are the legal property of those to whom they statutorily accrue, and Article 142 of the Constitution prevents the repeal of the Act by this 2015 Bill from having the effect of compulsorily acquiring the property which the 2009 Act confers, without prompt and adequate compensation.

Having established that, the 2015 Bill will only apply to Presidents post David Granger. I am of the view that some of its clauses are infected with the virus of unconstitutionality and, accordingly, are liable to be struck down by a Court for

want of constitutionality.

It provides thus: CLAUSE 5 PROVIDES: “A former President shall cease to be entitled to the benefits and other facilities provided unART. 149 (1): “Subject to the provisions of this article – der SECTION 3, if the former President engages in business, (a) No law shall make any provision that is discriminatrade or paid employment…” tory either of itself or in its effect; and (b) No person shall be treated in a discriminatory manARTICLE 149(A): guarantees every citizen of Guyana the ner by any person acting by virtue of any written law, or in right to work without hindrance as a fundamental right and the performance of the functions of any public office, or any freedom. It provides thus: public authority.”

Art. 149A: “No person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her right to work, that is to say, the right to free choice of employment.”

It is excruciatingly plain that CLAUSE 5 collides with ARTICLE 149(A), and will be unconstitutional.

Secondly, the Bill confers certain benefits on “a child” of a former President, and its definition of “child” is confined to a child born in or out of wedlock. However, our law and Constitution contemplate another category of children: Those who are adopted. This Bill discriminates against adopted children.

ARTICLE 149 guarantees protection against discrimination.

Additionally, ARTICLE1 49(D) provides that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law, or equal protection and benefit of the law. It defines equality to include “the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms guaranteed by under this Constitution or any other law.”

I submit that in so far as the Bill excludes adopted children, it violates ARTICLES 149(1) and 149(D), and will be unconstitutional.

MOHABIR ANIL NANDLALL Attorney-at-Law

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Caracas in ‘peace’ moves on dispute with Guyana

By Rickey Singh - in Bridgetown

AS Heads of Government of the 15-member Caribbean Community begin their 36th regular annual meeting with a ceremonial opening this evening at the Barbados Hilton, new and significant initiatives were underway in Caracas to diffuse the new conflict that has arisen in Venezuela-Guyana old territorial dispute.

This pre-summit development centres around a sig-

nificant statement which is expected to be made today by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.

It is intended to “clarify” the origin of an earlier Presidential decree last month that unilaterally defined as part of Venezuela’s Atlantic Coast what has long been officially recognised as Guyana’s sovereign territory in the Atlantic ocean.

According to informed sources linked to officialdom in Caracas, it seems that the original draft ‘decree’ was intended for “internal official

President of Guyana, David Granger

President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro

briefing” prior to being issued for public attention in Venezuela and internationally.

Strangely, however, it was made public in its original format, as an official ‘Presidential’ decree.

This significant “clarification” development is expected to coincide with a visit this evening by President Maduro as an invited guest for the CARICOM Summit who had attended previous meetings of the Community which is part of the wider Community of Caribbean and Central American states

(CELAC).

While here, President Maduro is expected to engage in bilateral talks with Guyana’s new President, David Granger, as well as with Barbados’ Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart, who is the current chairman of CARICOM. There are CARICOM leaders who are also keen on discussing with President Maduro the need for improved official relations between Washington and Caracas in the wider interest in hemispheric peace and development.

Rehabilitation Therapy – bringing comfort to the impaired PHYSICAL Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), also known as physiatry, has been restoring comfort in the lives of billions of individuals worldwide.

This type of treatment is a branch of medicine that aims at enhancing and restoring the functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities.

This treatment is designed to help patients recover from injuries, illnesses, or diseases to as normal a condition as possible. It is prescribed for many types of cases including amputations, cancer, arthritis, neurological problems, cardiac diseases, orthopaedic injuries, spinal cord injuries, stroke, and traumatic brain injuries.

There are several forms of this treatment, which include among others, physical therapy, aquatic therapy, medical nutrition therapy, sports medicine, and athletic training.

Physical therapy/rehabilitation or physiotherapy is one of the most common types of this treatment; it is also the most popular one in Guyana.

These types of treatment and exercises are designed for the remediation of physical impairments and disabilities through the promotion of mobility and functional ability.

ACCESSING SERVICES In Guyana, rehabilitation therapy is available free of cost in all of the country’s 10 Administrative Regions. It can be accessed at the country’s five main hospitals and a number of health centres, according to the Ministry of Public Health’s Rehabilitation Service Director, Mrs. Barbara Lawrence.

A digitalised hearing aid

A staff at GPHC’s Audiology department assisting a patient to put on his hearing aid

Care can be accessed at two centres in Region One at Moruca and Mabaruma; in Region Two, at Suddie and Charity; in Region Three at the Leonora and Leguan hospitals; in Region Five at the Mahaicony Hospital; in Region Six at three centres; in Region Seven, at Kamarang and Bartica; Region Eight, at the Mahdia Hospital; Region Nine at Annai, Lethem and Aishalton; and in Region 10 at two centres.

Most of these facilities offer four main types of therapies: physiotherapy, which deals with mostly mobility, occupational therapy, aimed at familiarising individuals with their comfort zones, such as their work space and homes; speech therapy, which deals with the pronunciation of words and exercises for exhausted/over used tonsils along with other injuries relating to speech; and audiology, which deals with hearing disorders, and which is a major focus area, especially at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

In addition to these fa-

cilities, individuals can also access this type of care at the Cheshire Home in Mahaica, and also at the Open Door Center/National Vocational Center for persons with disabilities, located in Sophia, Georgetown.

Under the Rehab Services Programme Seven, there are two agencies that receive subventions - the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Center and the National Commission on Disability. These institutions receive approximately 5% of the National Health Budget, towards providing a better quality of life for disabled individuals, despite a few challenges.

HUMAN RESOURCES “Our major challenge remains human resource; we do need a lot of specialised skilled professionals…but we do have a number of rehabilitation assistants…our ultimate goal is to provide quality services for persons with disability so that they can enjoy a full, productive and independent life,” Lawrence stated.

To bring some level of

Amanda La Rose, Senior Rehabilitation Assistant, Occupational Therapy department, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) working with a patient who has an injured arm

relief at the human resource level, training has been focused on the area of Rehabilitation Assistants. Mrs Lawrence pointed out that, “What we have done as a country is to train mid-level workers, so we have trained Rehabilitation Assistants (a rehab assistant is someone who is trained in the three areas - physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy) to provide a basic level of rehab services.”

Since this type of treatment should be continued at home, the Ministry of Public Health also works with teachers, community volunteers and care givers. Support groups also play a major role in this form of treatment as it allows individuals with the same disability to work together and relate to each other, providing some level of extra comfort.

The Rehabilitation Unit of the country’s main referral hospital, GPHC, is doing very well. This facility sees an average of 15 patients daily in each department except for occupational therapy which sees an average of 30 patients per day.

The professional therapists provide timely, restorative medical techniques, in helping persons with temporary or permanent disabilities, to heal both physically and emotionally. This is done through modalities, which comprise hot/cold packs and electrical stimulation. This helps to strengthen, relax, and heal muscles. Individuals are given independent sessions and work time with their therapists; one session can be 30 minutes to one hour long.

The unit is housed in a separate department with audiology in a different flat;

due to the fact this type of treatment requires a very quiet/isolated environment.

GPHC’s audiology facility is offering one of the most modernised types of care; this is digitalised hearing aids, which allow for a wider variety of adjustments, to suit the needs of the patients.

Monty Thompson, a patient who has benefited from this type of treatment, pointed out that it has contributed significantly to changing his life. “It (his life) has changed a lot, I could listen lil music, when my children talk to me I does hear, they don’t have to come close in my ears, that used to annoy me because I use to feel like they hollering on me, now I get the hearing aid, we could talk and watch lil picture (movies)…it more comfortable,” Thompson said.

The Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre was recently lauded by the Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton, for doing a magnificent job.

He pointed out that, “This Centre could be used as an example across the country.”

Physical therapy is believed to have been derived through the advocating of massages, manual therapy techniques and hydrotherapy by two physicians who treated people as far back as 460 BC. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Guyana remains steadfast against Venezuela’s actions – President Granger says violation of country’s borders is against CARICOM tenets PRESIDENT David Granger, on the eve of his departure for the threeday CARICOM Summit in Barbados, reiterated that his Government remains committed to improving relations with the Government of neighbouring Venezuela, but Guyana remains resolute in its stand against the “several illegal and increasingly militant actions of Venezuela directed against Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

In a statement issued just before his departure yesterday for the Conference, President Granger added that, “Guyana reasserts that its lawful boundaries that were established 116 years

ago are not negotiable. Violation of them on land or at sea is an assault on the tenets of CARICOM and must be condemned as such”.

The aforementioned statement, the President said, will be Guyana’s message to all at the Heads of Government Conference which opens this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Carl Greenidge, who is part of the Guyana delegation, stated that: “Our analysis and those of the friendly bilaterals with which we have consulted in the last three weeks, point to the fact that the 1787 decree promulgated by Venezuela, apart from being illegal in international law, seeks to

President David Granger

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

appropriate for Venezuela marine spaces and related resources which currently constitute and are accepted as part of the EEZ of every state in the Eastern Caribbean ranging from St Kitts and Nevis to Grenada as well as

Suriname.

The Guyanese Foreign Minister, in a statement too, explained that the declaration by the neighbouring country also affects states to the west, “and in that regard the Government of Colom-

Coalition is not falling apart – it is as strong as ever, says Minister Harmon MINISTER of State, Mr Joseph Harmon, has emphatically put to rest any idea circulating that suggests the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition is being self-subverted.

In referring to ‘ridiculous statements in some sections of the press,’ the Minister declared quite boldly that on the contrary, “the Coalition is not falling apart, but is working quite cohesively.”

From the inception, when the coalition was launched in February 2015, it was attacked by many, or at least held in suspicion. APNU and AFC, on the launching, had also signed the Cummingsburg Accord.

At its core, the Cummingsburg Accord strongly suggests that there must be a sharing of political power and responsibility, as the Agreement provides for some amount of Executive authority to be delegated to the Prime Minister, and it is this which is being used by opposers of the Government to suggest that the union is now suffering from some form of schism and that the Prime Minister is being slighted.

However, according to Minister Harmon, there is no rift and “at the Chairing of Cabinet, there is no issue, because Cabinet is chaired by the President, and upon direction from him, parts are chaired by the PM.” The Minister alluded to the Tuesday, June 30 Cabinet session, when “in fact, half of the meeting was chaired by the Honourable PM, and the other half, by the President.”

He also added the all-important detail that, “all decisions made under that particular person, chairing a session, that those decisions stand right across board, and so no one is seeking to subvert another.”

Mr Harmon even hinted at the gathering momentum of the coalition, saying that a forum on coalition building, to strengthen the merger of the APNU and AFC, will take place later in July.

R e c e n t l y, p e o p l e q u e r i e d what was happening with the APNU+AFC bond, but Prime Minister Nagamootoo had offered the explanation that he “is more or less a partner of the President. We consult on a number of issues…I believe that I occupy a very stra-

bia, like that of Guyana has lodged its objection”. This fact, he said, will be drawn to the attention of the Heads of the CARICOM States.

“Obviously, it is for those Heads to take appropriate action, whatever the state of their current bilateral relations with Venezuela.

Bilateral relations can only continue if you are a state!”

Minister Greenidge emphasised that in a matter as fundamental as this, “silence is not an option if we are to remain independent, let alone as viable states.

We have to stoutly and unapologetically represent our interests and pursue fairness in the international arena.”

Minister Greenidge, in responding to a recent re-

port that a Venezuela Government spokesman had claimed there was nothing to be concerned about in relation to the Venezuelan decree, said that “a law calling on a Navy to enforce a security zone and to exclude other states from it is no laughing matter, neither can it be an error if after six weeks it is still in force. It was further noted by the minister that, “No subsequent amendment has ameliorated to any degree the coercion behind the decree. As of today, it still requires the Venezuelan forces to exclude us as a matter of duty and an obligation from those areas internationally recognised as ours.”

Bicycle bandits rob Stanleytown grocer in NA

The Hannif Grocery which bandits robbed yesterday afternoon

By Jeune Bailey Vankeric

Minister Joseph Harmon

tegic role in the administration of the country.” Prime Minister Nagamootoo is currently acting President of Guyana, in the absence of President Granger who is in Barbados attending the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting.

THREE armed bandits robbed shopkeeper Farook Hannif of his daily sales, just after he had sold a customer chickens at his shop at Lot 55 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam in Berbice.

One of the bandits entered the shop, just after 17:00 hrs, posing as a customer, while the other stood by as the businessman attended to customers outside the counter.

Recounting the incident, Hannif said: “As I got to the gate, one came to me, pointed a gun, saying, ‘Don’t move’. By then, the other bandit ran towards me, and was attempting to ‘vice’ me.

I resisted, but the other pulled out a gun saying, ‘Don’t try

that! Don’t try that! I said alright, alright’. We tugged at each other, before entering into the shop behind the counter, where they demanded that I lie on the ground.”

The businessman, who had been shot during a robbery attack a few years ago, noted that his brother intervened, enquired as to what was happening and on recognising the situation, shouted “Thief! Thief!”

It was during this period that Hannif managed to escape, running to the public road where he alerted passersby. It was during this period too, that the bandits wrenched off the drawer containing the day’s sales of just over $40,000, before escaping on bicycles.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Guyana, China’s relation set for further strengthening – Chinese Ambassador pays courtesy call on PM CHINESE Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Zhang Limin, yesterday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at his temporary office at the Ministry of the Presidency, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, to congratulate him on his new post, as well as to discuss issues which will further strengthen the two countries’ bilateral relations.

During this meeting the two officials discussed a number of areas of mutual interest that could see possible collaboration between the two countries. Continuation and expansion of marketing Guyanese products in China was also discussed.

According to Prime Minister Nagamootoo, the meeting was a very good one and which has further bolstered the bilateral relationship shared between the two countries.

He also alluded to the fact that Guyana and China

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Zhang Limin engaged in discussions during the courtesy call

are “very old friends” and yesterday’s courtesy call was “a very cordial visit in which we exchanged our views on a number of matters including how to strengthen our bilateral relations.”

Another focus area which derived from this

conversation was an improved investment climate for Chinese investors in Guyana.

Meanwhile Ambassador Limin, through his translator, echoed the same sentiments as the Prime Minister with regards to the relationship shared by the two

countries. He said, “China and Guyana (have) enjoyed very good relations for a long time.”

He added that although the new Government has only taken up office for approximately two months, they “have demonstrated a willingness to develop and

further strengthen China and Guyana’s friendly relations…China also gives great importance to developing relations with Guyana… we have been conducting close cooperation in their international affairs as well.”

In closing, the Ambassador also committed China’s continued support to Guyana, as it has done over the years. He noted that he has seen a broader opportunity for cooperation and a brighter future ahead for the continuation of this partnership.

The Ambassador also used the opportunity to gift Prime Minister Nagamootoo with a collection of work done by China’s President, Xi Jinping.

The Chinese Ambassador also recently paid a courtesy call on the Public Security Minister, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan during which discussions were held on numerous areas of collaboration for the security sector primarily in the area of capacity building. Guyana is to receive security equipment valued US$4M from China.

In 1972, Guyana was the first English-speaking Caribbean country to recognise the People’s Republic of China, and after more than 42 years of friendship and cooperation, the bilateral relationship shared between these two countries continues to flourish.

In 1966, when Guyana gained Independence, steps were taken to promote ties between the two nations. In 1972, a time when the United States was leading global efforts to resist recognition of the Chinese people at the United Nations, Guyana risked itself as the first English-speaking Caribbean country to recognise and support the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and thus establishing formal diplomatic relations.

The relationship between the two countries has been steadily heightening. Guyana has thus far benefited from several areas of assistance from the Chinese in the investment, infrastructure, health, river transport and security among many others.

South African officials call on President Granger

President David Granger with the Honourable Luwellyn Tyrone Landers, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa (3rd from right). The South African High Commissioner to Guyana, Her Excellency Maureen Modiselle (2nd from right) is also in photo. The delegation paid a courtesy call on President Granger on Monday last. (GINA photo)

12

Suspect accused of killing Cane Grove rice farmer remanded

By Geeta Rampersaud AN excavator operator was yesterday charged with the brazen Turkeyen Public Road murder of a businessman which occurred during the course of a daring daylight robbery.

Thirty-two-year-old Sherwin Trotman of Lot 45 Section ‘D’, South Turkeyen, was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he made his appearance before Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge alleged that on June 1, at University of Guyana Road, Turkeyen, being in the company of another, he murdered Cane Grove rice farmer Hardat Kissoon.

Trotman who was unrepresented in court stated that he was not placed on any identification parade nor was there any statements or witnesses in the matter.

The accused further stated that he was arrested and shown a video with two individuals on a motorcycle.

According to Trotman, he could not make out the im-

KILLED: Hardat Kissoon

ages on the video since it was blurry. He further stated that he was asked by two police officers, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Michael Caesar and Sergeant Sarabo, if he did the shooting and his response to them was no. They then told him that they were holding him as the rider of the motorcycle, Trotman said.

The murder accused claimed that a Sergeant at the

station, whom he identified as Sergeant Seeram, handed a phone to him and said that he should make contact with his relatives to bring $2M. Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor Denero Jones said that the entire incident was captured on a CCTV camera.

Trotman was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for July 8.

According to investigations, 42-year-old businessman Kissoon of Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, was travelling in a Route 44 minibus when another man in the vehicle requested to get off the loaded bus. As the man was passing Kissoon, it is alleged that he pulled out a firearm and held him at gunpoint and demanded a bag which he had in his possession.

A struggle ensued over the bag during which Kissoon was shot to his chest and the perpetrator escaped with the bag. Kissoon was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

DPP advises withdrawal of attempted murder charge against Jamaican – after ex-cop fatal shooting

By Jeune Bailey Vankeric JAMAICAN national Ralvin Mickey McLean, who was charged with an attempt to murder ex-policeman Ravi Outar during a shootout at Rose Hall Town in Corentyne, Berbice, had the charge against him withdrawn following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Sources close to the DPP chambers indicated that the police had failed to obtain a dying declaration, although Outar was still alive days after the shooting.

Further, the Police were advised to withdraw the attempted murder charge against McLean since, it was advised, that the defendant should have been charged with being an accessory before and after the fact.

McLean had appeared at the Albion Court before Magistrate Marisa Mittelholzer, where an indictable charge was filed by Detective Lance Corporal 18302 Beharry.

Particulars of the charge stated that on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Rose Hall Town, in the Berbice Magisterial District, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Ravi Outar with intent to murder.

Police Sergeant Orin Joseph, prosecuting, said on the day in question, at about 20:00 hrs, the victim along with Meschell Outar, was sitting around a table in front their shop, when two men approached the victim. One of the men was armed with a small handgun, and he discharged five rounds at Outar, causing him to receive injuries.

However, the victim managed to wrestle with one of his attackers and it was during the altercation that Outar observed a parked motorcar a few rods away, and in the driver’s seat sat the suspect.

In the meantime, the other identifiable gunman, who was earlier wrestling with Outar, ran towards the vehicle, which later sped away.

The injured man was

Jamaican Ralvin Mc-Lean

rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital before being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he remains a patient.

Subsequent to the incident, the scene was searched and four spent shells from .32 revolver were found. A report was made and the suspect, was contacted and cautioned, but he denied the allegations.

He was thereafter arrested and charged with the present offence.

Ravi Outar died at the Georgetown Public Hospital and a post-mortem conducted by Dr Nehaul Singh revealed the cause of death as sepsis.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Surinam Airways to make non-stop inaugural flight – to Orlando, Florida today

GUYANESE can now fly from Georgetown direct to Orlando, Florida, compliments of Surinam Airways. The Airline is scheduled to make its inaugural non-stop flight to the U.S. city today (July 2) from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The Orlando bound flight should depart CJIA at 10:30 hrs this morning and return at 18:00 hrs tomorrow. It will operate once weekly for three months, after which an evaluation of the operation will be done to ascertain the way forward, the Airline’s Local Manager Rudi Westerdorg said.

Currently, Surinam Airways offers two nonstop flights - from Georgetown

to Miami – twice weekly since the airline resumed operations on April 2, 2012.

The airline’s official is buoyant of the success of the new route since feasibility studies signal Guyanese travelers are desirous of visiting the U.S. city at an affordable price.

“We work closely with travel agents, so we have an idea of the travelers’ needs,” said Rudi Westerdorg.

GREAT NEWS FOR AVIATION SECTOR Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson, said the introduction of the new route is great and exciting news.

“This initiative is a clear indication of the confidence Surinam Airways has in the

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson

volume of passengers’ traffic in Guyana, and by extension our aviation sector,” he commented.

Minister Patterson also stated the he was impressed with CJIA’s management strategy to attract other airlines to ply the GEO route.

He noted that Guyana is truly the gateway to many other countries, and its potential in the aviation sector is boundless. To this end, he intends to actively engage CJIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Ghir, on the untapped opportunities available to explore.

Labourer gets $30,000 bail over break and enter at market stall CITY Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday granted a labourer $75,000 bail on a break and enter and larceny charge, after he was accused of looting a stall at La Penitence Market.

Kurt Clark, a 30-yearold labourer of Lot 144 James Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, who is accused of breaking and entering a market stall, was granted

$75,000 bail after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that between June 25 and 26 at La Penitence Market, he broke and entered the stall of Adrian Kennedy and stole 10 packs of Teddies pampers, two kerosene stoves, four cases of Carefree panty liners, Kotex panty liners and a Yale panty liner, together valued at $43,400.

Representing Clark was attorney-at-law Clyde Forde, who requested bail in a reasonable sum for his client.

City Police Sergeant Douglas, prosecuting, did not oppose bail but asked that the father of one post a substantial amount. The matter was transferred before Magistrate Alex Moore for July 14.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

FREEMAN WANTED – for attempted murder, abduction THE Guyana Police Force has issued a Wanted Bulletin for Freeman Fordyce, for questioning in relation to investigations into the attempted murder and abduction of Devon Chung which occurred on June 26, 2015 at D’Urban Street and Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Freeman Fordyce is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 225-8196, 226-7065, 227-1149, 911 or the nearest police station.

The Police assured that all information will be treated with strict confidence.

Particulars of the wanted man are as follows: ● Name: Freeman Fordyce ● Date of Birth: 1976-09-21 ● Ethnic Origin: African ● Last known address: Lot 271 South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown.

In the bizarre June 26 abduction, 37 year-old carwash owner Devon Chung of Lot 142 Guyhoc Park, was shot in the chest and back at around 19:10 hrs, allegedly by two men who had abducted him from his wash bay at D’Urban Street and Vlissengen Road.

WANTED: Freeman Fordyce

The men then reportedly dumped Chung in Plum Park, Sophia, after abandoning their vehicle, which ended up in a trench.

It is understood that in March this year, Fordyce was among three persons taken before a city court to answer charges of the alleged abduction and unlawful confinement of a woman.

Ferguson heads delegation at CASSOS meeting in Barbados HONOURABLE Annette Ferguson, the Minister with responsibility for aviation in Guyana, is currently heading a delegation at the 15th Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) Board of Directors meeting in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The meeting commenced yesterday and will conclude tomorrow (Friday).

Minister Ferguson is accompanied by Guyana Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) Director General (ag), Chaitrani Heeralal and its General CounselAmanza Walton-Desir.

The implications of Guyana’s compliance to

the International Civil Av i a t i o n O rg a n i s a t i o n (ICAO) Regulations and the provision of technical assistance to enhance aviation practices, safety and security are among the issues on the meeting’s agenda.

Guyana is also working to achieve Category One rating under the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme by 2016.

Category One means that air carriers from the assessed country may initiate or continue service to the United States in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal

Minister Annette Ferguson

code-share arrangements with U.S. carriers. For Guyana, this would mean that Guyanese operators would be able to fly direct to the U.S., among other benefits.

GBTI CEO ‘relieved’ AML Bill passed – says banks’ guidelines were drawn from amended act

By Ravin Singh FOLLOWING the momentous passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill last Friday in the National Assembly, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), John Tracey, has expressed how “relieved” he was at this achievement.

In an invited comment yesterday following a GBTI-held seminar, the CEO related that despite the eventful backdrop which followed the successful passage of the bill, the guidelines under which GBTI operates from the central bank, has already been in place on the basis of the amended act.

As a result, Mr. Tracy is of the view that the requirements for financial institutions under this forthcoming law, is already being adhered to, since it is stipulated in their operational procedures.

But, remaining hopeful, the CEO said he anticipates satisfaction on the part of regional and international correspondents, given that Guyana has now legally installed mechanisms which must be followed “dutifully” by banks across the country.

“There are also minimum risks of money-laundering and terrorist financing from Guyana and from the banks in Guyana,” he added.

As such, a “clean bill of health” is expected to be issued, even while he eagerly awaits the resumption of normalcy in the business environment, “without a cloud hanging over our head; that we are not compliant with every other country that subscribes to AML/CFT.” Guyana moved one

CEO of GBTI, Mr John Tracey

step closer to becoming financially compliant with international regulations when the National Assembly passed the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill last Friday. The bill was unanimously supported by the 33-seat Government in the absence of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Presenting the bill was Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, who told the House that, “The proposed bill has added the person authorised by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and it has said also that they could seize and detain cash above the sum of $10M anywhere in Guyana.”

Finance Minister Winston Jordan also weighed in, offering that the passage of the bill was a momentous occasion and that the bill is a result of “tremendous efforts and inputs of a wide cross-section of people and entities that are involved in the fight against the twin evils of money-laundering and financing of terrorism.”

He pointed to the diffi-

culties this would place on policy-makers being able to assess the state of the economy while formulating appropriate economic policies. “A parallel economy will be operating alongside the official economy, and in many respects, to the detriment of the official economy,” he said.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has long expressed concerns about the integrity of financial systems which could have a dampening effect on foreign direct investment.

Jordan noted all of this as the right reasons for passing the bill, which was approved in the National Assembly after it was read twice, taken before the Committee of the House, and finally approved by the majority of members in the National Assembly.

This bill sought to amend the principal AML Act, which was passed in 2009, and introduces a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), as well as the enhancement of sanctions and granting greater powers to authorities tasked with safeguarding Guyana’s obligations to the international financial system.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

GWI’s Senior Management urged to execute duties with integrity – during meeting with Minister Bulkan MINISTER of Communities, Mr Ronald Bulkan yesterday met with the Senior Management of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the nation’s supplier of Water and Sanitation Services, at the company’s Corporate Complex on Vlissengen Road, Bel-Air Park.

According to a statement from GWI, the minister interacted with the Corporate Management Team, Customer Services and Divisional Operations Managers.

He was accompanied by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emil McGarrell and Technical Advisor to the Minister on Projects, Charles Ceres.

Minister Bulkan commented on the structure of the Ministry of Communities and explained that GWI is now within the purview of the new Ministry as a vital arm for the delivery of safe water service country-wide.

He emphasised that while the structure of the Ministry may be new to GWI employees, it is essentially a continuation of the existing policies that govern

the efficient delivery of services to the nation.

Mr Bulkan explained that the Ministry of Communities was created with the belief that more empowerment is needed among the local democratic bodies, communities and agencies providing essential services to residents.

He explained that the Ministry’s thrust would be to provide essential support for local government bodies in an effort to encourage more decision making and execution of community development initiatives at this level.

Commenting directly on issues related to Guyana’s Water Sector, the Minister of Communities also stated that there is an urgent need for the re-establishment of the National Water Council to effectively make decisions on issues related to the long-term management of local water resources.

He also advocated for the creation of a National Strategy on Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and deemed it essential to the overall strat-

Minister Ronald Bulkan with GWI’s Central Management Team, PS Emil McGarrell and Technical Advisor Charles Ceres at his right and left respectively

Minister Ronald Bulkan with GWI’s Senior Management and Customer Services Team, yesterday

egy of sustainable administration of Guyana’s water resources.

Focusing on matters which directly affect the management of GWI, Min-

ister Bulkan emphasised the need for a strategy to deal with Non-Revenue Water.

He explained that there is an urgent need for the utility to reduce the amount of water that is unaccounted for within the system and the subsequent loss of revenue.

Minister Bulkan also underlined the importance of the utility becoming financially viable and urged GWI Management to continue with the aggressive campaign for revenue from water service charges. He also highlighted the need for customers to be educated about the importance of paying for the services provided by GWI as well as the critical need for education on the wastage of water.

The Honourable Minister completed his inter-

action with the GWI Team by emphasising that there would be no reinvention of operating standards but instead a focus on areas for improvement. Minister Bulkan charged GWI’s Management Team with ensuring that all services provided to customers are of the highest quality and that all GWI employees perform their duties with the utmost integrity.

Interaction and the sharing of ideas between Guyana Water Inc and its umbrella body, the Ministry of Communities will continue today with a visit

by Minister within the Ministry, Mr Keith Scott, to GWI Customer Services offices, treatment facilities and communities in East Berbice.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

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GPHC gets much-deserved facelift

By Shirley Thomas

THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is among the latest to have benefited from the major cleanup of the city, bringing a breath of fresh air to the environment and a much-deserved face-lift to the landscape in that part of Cummingsburg.

On Tuesday, a team of about 25 labourers deployed by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, effected major desilting works to the main concrete drain along New Market Street, bounded to the east by East Street and to the west, Thomas Street.

The transformation brought about was literally unbelievable. However, the contractors and team leaders explained that the task of cleaning the drain was made especially difficult, since

huge portions of builders’ waste were thrown into the drain, effectively blocking the water from escaping out of the area. Hence, each time there was a downpour, the water overflowed the pavement and flooded the hospital compound.

They also detected bags of sand and layers of boards in some parts of the foundation on the road, and explained that it meant that whenever the road-repair crew came to fill potholes or raise the level of the road, they just deposited their stuff on the roadway without removing the sandbags and wood before effecting repairs.

A word of advice or caution coming from the workforce: “It would be a good idea for the administration of the GPHC to set standards for the vendors selling outside the hospital gate to conform to. They should not

What a transformation! Unbelievable, but true. This is what the entrance to the GPHC now looks like stands outside the Accident cials visited the worksite litter and likewise encourage boxes and beverage bottles.” and Emergency Unit’s main where they inspected the their customers to do likeThe workers engaged in gate on New Market Street. work being done and comwise. There should also be cleaning up the environment Meanwhile, Chief mended the team for the bins of adequate sizes, set up claimed that much of what was Executive Officer of the good work they delivered, in conspicuous spots for the found in the drains constituted GPHC, Mr Michael Khan and moreso in a timely disposal of wrappers, food refuse coming from the vending and other hospital offimanner.

This 3ft-long piece of concrete column with steel embedded in it continued to block the drain for perhaps years, without being detected

CEO of the GPHC Mr Michael Khan and others observe the work being done by the cleansing workforce

The men and women at work, cleaning the exterior of the GPHC compound on Tuesday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

ExxonMobil to pump more resources in oil exploration - in Guyana

The Guyanese team led by President David Granger, meeting with ExxonMobil’s top officials on June 29, 2015

THE United States multi-national oil and gas giant, ExxonMobil has expressed confidence in exploration activities in Guyana and therefore will be deploying further resources in this regard.

This is according to Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon.

Minister Harmon, addressing his weekly post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, informed that Cabinet was briefed of a visit, during this week, of three of ExxonMobil’s Executives to Guyana. The team included the President of Exploration Steven M. Greenlee, Executive Vice-President Exploration Mike Husten and Vice

President, America, Erik Oswalk.

Harmon explained that Cabinet, during the visit of these executives, reaffirmed its commitment to the exploration work being done offshore in Guyana’s waters.

The oil and gas exploration began in Guyana around mid-March, this year, drilling offshore in the

ExxonMobil’s top officials

Stabroek Block. Just two months later, on May 20, the company announced that its engagement in Guyana was proving successful, as its exploration drill ship, the Deepwater Champion, had found a deposit of a ‘significant’ amount of oil in the Stabroek Block, about 120 nautical miles offshore Guyana. This dis-

covery was made in one of the two wells it dug, in the Liza-1 drill site and which realised more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone.

The petroleum find by the U.S. firm ExxonMobil is being estimated to be as many as 1.5 billion barrels of oil.

Since the announce-

ment by ExxonMobil of its find, the Venezuelan Government has laid claim to Guyana’s territory.

Through a Presidential decree it laid claim to Essequibo. The country had also sent notices to ExxonMobil to refrain from exploring for oil in the area claimed by the neighbouring country.

Opadeyi lawsuit seen as ‘malicious and vindictive’ – UG unions

AGAINST the backdrop of a $10M lawsuit filed by Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Guyana (UG), Professor Jacob Opadeyi against President of the UG Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), Dr Melissa Ifill, a supporting union, the UG Workers’ Union (UGWU) has described the move by the VC as “ad hominen, malicious and vindictive.”

Last week, legal action was brought against Ifill through a writ sponsored by Opadeyi, for damages in excess of $10M for libel published in a document titled, “Petition of No-Confidence in University of Guyana’s Vice Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi.” The petition was released by Ifill on June 23, 2015 via email.

According to the court document released on Saturday, Dr Ifill, who is the defendant released the email, which she used as a medium to “falsely and maliciously” publish “defamatory words” against the VC. It was reportedly disseminated to several junior and senior staff members and students of the institution.

Additionally, the VC secured an interim injunction, restraining the UGSSA President and/or her servants or agents from further publishing or causing to be published, sentiments

Professor Jacob Opadeyi

Dr Melissa Ifill

which were expressed in the email.

But while only Ifill was sued, a statement released by the UGWU yesterday disclosed that the Petition of No Confidence was circulated by both Ifill and President of the UGWU, Bruce Haynes. This was however, done on behalf of the Joint Union membership and with their authorisation and endorsement at a general meeting held on June 23, 2015.

Supporting Ifill against the legal action which confronts her, the statement related that, “The UGSSA and UGWU stand by that No-Confidence Petition in its general and specific content.”

The statement further added that this private action by the VC that specifically names the UGSSA President is a signature action by Professor Opadeyi, in the sense of being ad hominen, malicious and vindictive and confirms the rationale for the issuance of the Petition of No Confidence.

“The unions find it unprecedented and most unhelpful that the Vice Chancellor sought recourse to the law against the President of one of our two unions, notwithstanding Section 7 (1) of the Trades Union Act, which states that unions, or their members or officers, cannot be sued for actions on behalf of their union,” the statement said.

The unions also highlighted that this private action by the VC is “diametrically opposed to the spirit of the Minister of Education’s expectation” and public statement, that, “…I don’t think [the Vice Chancellor] would stay in a situation where nobody wants to work with him...”

As a result, the unions are convinced that the move by the VC is an “attack on all staff and the unions.”

“It is an attempt to bully and intimidate and will be legally and vigorously defended” the UGSSA and UGWU said, adding that they are also convinced that this will only serve to exacerbate an already unhealthy atmosphere at UG. “As responsible bodies, we remain committed to serving our membership and will continue to carry out our work without fear,” the statement concluded.

(Ravin Singh)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

INDUCTION STREET LIGHT…

GEA pilots yet another Street Light technology IN an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the benefits and implications of energy efficient street lighting, address environmental concerns, acquire potential

energy savings of newer technologies and reducing maintenance costs, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has once again piloted another ‘Street Light

Technology’ through the ‘Induction Lamps Street Light Project’.

Between June 15th-19th, 2015 a team of Engineers, led by Energy Engineer, Mr

Leon DeSouza, replaced 37 high pressure sodium vapour (HPSV) street lamps (rated at 250 watts each) on the Timehri Highway, between Bounty Farm and the Timehri Police

Outpost, with 37 energy efficient Induction Lamps rated at 120 watts each along with one (1) timer control relay rated at 25 ampere to switch lamps ON at nights and OFF during the day.

Based on a study conducted by the GEA, the Government of Guyana operates about 6,000 HPSV street lamps for highway lighting which accrue a yearly operational cost of approximately G$365.7 million dollars per year while consuming 6,570,000 kWh of energy.

Through the use of Induction street lamps (and the use of light emitting diode (LED) lamps), it is possible to significantly reduce costs associated with the provision of street lighting.

Induction Lighting, unlike most other light technologies, does not use electrodes to create illumination. Rather than using electrodes or filaments, induction lamps use electromagnetic energy in a nondestructive process to produce energy efficient lighting.

With no electrodes to fail, Induction Lights can last up to 100,000 hours. To put this into perspective, an induction lighting system lasting 100,000 hours will last more than 11 years in continuous 24/7 operation, and 25 years if operated 10 hours a day.

Additionally, induction lighting has many advantages including the following: ● Virtually maintenance-free operation ● High efficacy - in many cases, 60+ or 70+ lumens per watt ● Long life ● Excellent colour rendering index (CRI)—80+ and in some cases 90+ ● Choice of warm white to cool white (2,700–6,500 K) ● Instant start and restrike operation ● No flickering, strobing, or

noise • Low-temperature operation Implemented at a total cost of G$2,102,064 with an estimated simple payback period of about 1.09 years, the Project aims to demonstrate the suitability, benefits and savings associated with induction street lamps.

The GEA, in a statement to the media yesterday, explained that this venture will afford the Street Light Division, the Energy Agency and other stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the benefits and implication of yet another efficient lighting technology.

T h e G u y a n a E n e rg y Agency will continue to monitor, research and record the performance of the Induction Lamps. The information obtained from data gathering, and experience gained from the installation process, will be used to guide decisions with regards to street lighting.

According to Dr. Mahender Sharma, CEO of GEA, “the information obtained will allow the GEA to compare the Induction Street Lamps with the previously installed Led Street Lights to determine which of the two technologies is best suited for use in Guyana”.

GEA encourages all Municipalities, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and civic groups to observe this pilot as street lighting falls within the mandate of the “owner” of the streets. The Ministry of Infrastructure is responsible for any lighting of the National main roads whilst Local Government organs are responsible for any lighting of local roads and streets. Should anyone (commuters/passers-by) wish to give feedback about the technology they can do so via telephone number 226-0394 ext. 241.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Can’t Guyanese have a good time without drinking REPORTS in the Stabroek News (26 June, 2015) and Guyana Chronicle (28 June, 2015) from the 60th Caribbean Public Health Agency Research Conference in Grenada say that Guyana has been highlighted as one of the countries with high levels of alcohol use in children and young people.

Guyana seems determined to nurture its alcohol culture and alcohol industry.

There has probably been one or two prosecutions for anyone selling alcohol to children, and there is aggressive marketing targeted at young men especially.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the majority of alcohol consumed by children,

young people and others is legally made and distributed, with taxes supposedly contributing to Guyana’s development.

There have been reports of accidents over the last few months which involve young people ‘who were drinking’.

There are other violent episodes (and the Conference talked about violence as a public health issue) with per-

sons, men especially, who ‘were drinking’. There is hypocrisy in telling boys and girls that they should not drink when adults can do so.

Many adolescents and young people would probably rebel at such hypocrisy.

Statisticians and philosophers can probably argue over correlation and causation related to Guyana being home to the finest rum in the world, where the laws do not matter, and the amount of lives destroyed by alcohol consumption.

The reality for many is that

the alcohol culture has made it difficult for many Guyanese, children especially, to achieve their full potential.

Discussions about moderation are irrelevant when many of the persons who believe that they are in control are not.

Many persons who enjoy their drinks and have continued their lives resist any idea of a responsibility to change the alcohol culture in Guyana. Can’t Guyanese commit to reducing alcohol consumption in Guyana now? Can’t Guya-

nese have a good time without drinking? Can’t Guyanese men ‘roll’ without drinking as one campaign pushes? This is not about saints who do not drink and villains who drink.

Hitler was reported to have been a teetotaler. It is just calling for Guyanese to take some personal action with a collective responsibility to ensure that alcohol does not destroy any more lives.

VIDYARATHA KISSOON

On Guyana’s external debt MY avocations since demitting ministerial office no longer permits me to exert close scrutiny of all that is said in the theatre of Guyanese politics and, even moreso, to offer detailed responses thereto.

It would be remiss of me, however, to let a particularly glaring recent example of either misreporting or misinformation go unremarked upon.

The Guyana Chronicle on (June 27th) reported that Minister of Finance Winston Jordan informed the National Assembly on

Friday that Guyana’s “external loan debt stock stands at US$1.6B and its domestic loan is appreciating significantly” (sic). The story was carried as the first lead article on page 1, with a headline that repeated the statement purportedly made on Guyana’s external debt, impossible to escape notice by even a cursory glance.

Knowing the information reportedly provided by the Minister to be inaccurate, I allowed a day to elapse, anticipating his correction in the event the

newspaper misquoted him.

My quick perusal of (Sunday’s) newspapers has thus far rendered no evidence of any such correction having been issued. Instead, a second newspaper has now reported him as having made the same statement with the said amount of US$1.6 billion repeated.

I, therefore, wish to draw attention to the following.

Firstly, Appendix VI to the national Budget Speech for 2014 reported that Guyana’s exter-

nal debt stock stood at US$1.247 billion at the end of December 2013, and provided a detailed disaggregation by creditor.

Secondly, Appendix F1 to the Mid-Year Report for 2014 reported that the external debt stock stood at US$1.227 billion at the

end of June 2014, and provided a similar level of disaggregation. Thirdly, See Page 20

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On Guyana’s ...

From Page 19

Table 7-III of the Statistical Annexe to the Bank of Guyana Annual Report for 2014 reported that Guyana’s stock of external public debt amounted to US$1.217 billion at the end of December 2014, disaggregated by creditor type.

All three of the aforementioned documents have been freely available in the public domain since their respective issuance, includ-

ing on the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Guyana websites, where they could still be sourced when I last checked (on Sunday last).

With the kind courtesy of your pages, please permit me now to respectfully invite the Minister of Finance to make publicly available disaggregated details on the US$1.6 billion that he reported to the National Assembly last Friday as Guyana’s external debt stock.

Alternatively, he might

wish to consider issuing an appropriate correction, including in the National Assembly where his statement was originally made. He might also wish to consider examining more closely the accuracy of other aspects of what he is reported to have said in the same article and address them similarly.

ASHNI SINGH Former Minister of Finance

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Insubordination or profesionalism I WRITE concerning the matter of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Nursing Director, Ms Colleen Hicks and the Chief Executive Officer.

From the onset of the new Administration of President David Granger, there was one outstanding proclamation, “Professionalism.”

Please allow me to congratulate Brigadier (rt’d) President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and the entire coalition on their assumption to office of Government of this great Republic.

I ask an all important question, was Ms Hicks really insubordinate or was she acting professionally.

Please be reminded that the CEO has worked under a previous Government, which for the greatest part was more dictatorial than professional. The CEO may have always had it his way without professional considerations and reasoning and now Ms Hicks, if

you know her, in her professional stance.

The way forward with her therefore, and for that matter with any professional is not, “I say do this or do that but rather the use of their professional know how and hence discussions rather than directives.”

M r E d i t o r, w h a t i s even more disturbing and perhaps sympathetic is the response of the new Public Health Minister.

I have every reason to believe that the David Granger Administration is serious about professionalism and therefore all the Ministers, seniors and juniors, must adhere to that call.

The Minister of Public Health in his opening statement felt that the matter was blown out of proportion because Ms Hicks was not fired but her Probation period had come to an end and the CEO did not bother to confirm her as the Nursing Director because of insubordination. Then there seems to be a disclaimer in

his next set of statements about the possibility of him being misled as to the facts of her employment.

Even if Ms Hicks was on Probation, did the Minister take time to check out the matter thoroughly and professionally?

All of the new Ministers of the Government must be careful and cautious in their quest for high praise on their jobs that they are not found to be partial for their own personal purposes and as well as the false use of Executive authority.

It is time to review Ms ‘Hicks’ matter thoroughly.

I urge the new Administration to truly embrace professionalism at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and help stop the death rate at this institution.

May God bless this great nation of Guyana.

REV. O’BRIAN WELCH

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Cabinet votes to respect CCJ ruling...

From Page 5 diction, the ruling of the court must be respected.

The matter of the court judgments against the then PPP/C Government became a renewed subject of topical interest after Attorney General, Mr Basil Williams, recently called on his predecessor to explain why the judgments were still to be paid.

Minister Harmon told members of the media yesterday during his post Cabinet press engagement that the Council of Ministers had been briefed by the Subject Minister on the outstanding judgments.

LAW ABIDING COUNTRY Minister Harmon said Cabinet was told Guyana continues to be in default of the CCJ rulings.

According to the Minister of State, “Cabinet made it clear that as a law abiding country where the rule of law will reign supreme, that

judgments of court have to be respected unless they are vacated.”

As such, Minister Harmon reported that Cabinet has since taken the position that Judgments awarded to TCL in the sum of TT$2.6M will be respected.

He used the opportunity to reiterate that the judgment was incurred because of contempt for the court.

Rudisa Beverages was awarded US$6.5M and, according to Minister Harmon, “these sums of money are due to be paid to the companies and Cabinet has taken the position that they will honour these commitments.”

He did seek to explain that “in the spirit of our accepting this responsibility Cabinet has advised the Honourable Minister of Legal Affairs (Basil Williams) to seek to enter into negotiations with these companies.”

The Minister explained that the APNU+AFC Government is looking to have the companies accept a

For Thursday July 2, 2015: 05:00hrs For Friday July 3, 2015: 05:30:00hrs For Saturday July 4, 2015: 05:30hrs

smaller compensation package than that which was awarded by the CCJ and for which the PPP/C administration had failed to honour.

CLEAR THE AIR Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has in recent time stated publicly that it was the APNU+AFC duo, during the course of the life of the 10th Parliament which blocked attempts at remedying the law for which the CCJ found to be discriminatory.

Minister of State Harmon however, yesterday sought to clear the air on the matter firstly seeking to make pellucid that the judgments by the CCJ against Guyana was for, specifically, a violation of the Treaty of Chaguaramus.

This Treaty, he said, binds the various CARICOM countries to a number of commitments. According to Minister Harmon, what occurred during the life of the 10th Parliament was that the then Opposition voted down amendments to an unrelated issue.

Harmon said, what in fact was presented to the House by the then PPP/C Administration was an Environmental Bill, which in fact sought to impose a new tax on local manufacturers.

He accused Nandlall of attempting to rewrite history as if to make the APNU+AFC coalition somehow responsible for the judgments made against the Guyana Government.

In fact, Minister Harmon, told reporters that the records indicated that a decision was taken by the former administration approving the sums of money to be paid.

“In spite of that, this crass contempt continued,” said Harmon.

The Minister of State was adamant: “We have to show that we respect the law, we have to show that if this is the court of final jurisdiction that we respect it and once you subscribe to the jurisdiction of the court then you have to abide by the judgments.”

(Gary Eleazar)

Aries You may be a little hesitant today, and not really sure why. Just when you thought you had it all figured out, another aspect comes up with a completely different perspective. It may be hard to choose one path and stick with it.

Keep in mind that your unique path may incorporate many different side paths. This is one of your many gifts.

Taurus Watch your back today. There’s a distinct presence nearby that requires your attention. Luckily, your emotions are a lot more stable than usual, and you’re more strongly connected with your feelings. In fact, you may be in the clouds. You shouldn’t have any problem navigating through this part of the atmosphere. Others may look to you for advice.

Gemini You may look confused today. It may be hard for you to stick with one subject. Your attention may jump from one thing to another. That’s OK. There’s a distinct advantage to seeing all sides of the story. You will have greater perception and awareness of things today. Take this opportunity to put yourself in other people’s shoes so you know how to deal with them in the future.

Cancer You may find it difficult to keep things neat and organised today. It seems like you’re tying to organise a room full of feathers buffeted by gusts of wind. Buy a paperweight. Meanwhile, you might want to give up organising the feathers and deal with it another time. You may feel too lazy to fight the wind.

Leo Your expansive, outwardly directed plans are moving at full force, but once in a while self-doubt slows things down. Today is one of those days in which insecurity may hamper your progress. The secret to success is to consider all the options and trust your instincts. Use your keen powers of observation to collect data and arrange facts in an orderly fashion.

Virgo Your emotions are more peaceful and easier to control today. It’s almost as if you’re merging with the energy around you. The one thing to be careful of is indecision. When it comes to taking action on something and you aren’t sure which way to go, you’d do better to hold off. Make your big move some other day.

Libra Go with the flow today. Find the freedom you seek by simply following the path of least resistance. There’s no reason for you to be unhappy. Life doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. Just be completely yourself. People will act the way they need to in relation to you. Don’t worry about their feelings.

They aren’t your responsibility.

Scorpio Your heightened sensitivity could get you in trouble today. The more you try to pin down a specific answer to something, the more resistance you may encounter. Don’t expect a straight answer from anyone or you will be disappointed. People may be flighty or forgetful. Try not to take anything too seriously today.

Sagittarius Your expansive nature is reaching out to others, but you may run into opposition. Keep in mind that not everyone wants your advice. Give it only if someone asks for it. It may be in your nature to want to jump into people’s lives and fix things. Resist that temptation. What people may need instead is someone to listen.

Capricorn Your general mood is at a peak today, although this mood is slightly off due to indecision on your part. Don’t let this get you down. If you find it hard to make a choice about something, the solution is simple. Put off making the choice until you feel more comfortable about it. If you must make a decision today, go with your instincts.

Aquarius You may be a bit confused today. Nothing seems to fit right. It’s as if you’re faced with many different roads, unsure of which one to take. All the choices seem reasonable and you may fear you will miss out on something great whichever one you choose. The truth is that you can find a way that incorporates what you’ve learned from previous paths. Trust yourself.

Pisces You may be tormented by an important decision today. The good news is that once you make up your mind, you will feel much better about yourself.

Until then, however, you may vacillate from one side to the other. Asking others for advice may put you in even more of a quandary. The only one who can decide your path is you.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Djokovic, Sharapova turn up heat as Wimbledon sizzles

By Pritha Sarkar LONDON, England (Reuters) - With everyone “feeling hot, hot, hot” at the All England Club yesterday it was little wonder that Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova were eager to escape the Wimbledon furnace as quickly as possible.

Spectators, sitting under

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Maria Sharapova the searing sun on Wimbledon’s Henman Hill, were heard breaking out into the Buster Poindexter anthem that aptly summed up the hottest day of the year in Britain -- with the mercury hitting 93 degrees Fahrenheit.

Champion Djokovic was spared the worst of the heat on the partly covered Centre Court as he kept things simple in a 90-minute 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 second-round demolition job that ended the Wimbledon career of seasoned Finn Jarkko Nieminen.

His opponent in the next round, Australian Bernard Tomic, will be hoping the weather eases for their showdown tomorrow after complaining it was “too hot”.

“I was starting to get dizzy out there with the heat hitting me ... I was very dizzy out there,” Tomic said after beating Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-6(5).

The blazing sun was the least of Sharapova’s concerns, however.

“It’s much, much warmer in my hometown in Longboat Key, Florida,” the Russian fourth seed said after subduing Dutchwoman Richel Hogenkamp 6-3, 6-1.

What would have concerned her though is her misfiring serves.

The 2004 champion was left red-faced as she fired down three successive double faults to surrender her serve at 4-2 up in the first set but survived that blip to win eight of the next nine games.

Court Two also hosted the other half of tennis’s golden couple with Sharapova’s boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov, the 11th seed, outlasting American Steve Johnson 7-6(8), 6-2, 7-6(2).

Hinds says communication, relations with WICB crucial KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – West Indies Players Association boss, Wavell Hinds, believes there needs to be greater communication among the key stakeholders in West Indies cricket, and says a harmonious relationship with the West Indies Cricket Board is key to the success of the game in the region.

The former Test batsman, who serves as chief executive, said improved communication was necessary if the regional game was to be rebuilt.

“We need to improve the structures of West Indies cricket. How we communicate is one way we can improve big-time,” Hinds told the Jamaica Observer newspaper.

“And that’s between all parties, including WICB, WIPA, players and territorial boards. There have been improvements, but we just have to make sure we are singing from one hymn book.”

WIPA was at the centre of the controversial abandoned one-day tour of India last October, when angry players called for Hinds’ resignation as they protested the Collective Bargaining Agreement he signed with the West Indies Cricket Board.

Players, then, claimed the new agreement resulted in a huge slash in their earnings, and contended that Hinds had not informed them of the change.

The agreement went to mediation and last month, WIPA and the WICB announced they had hammered out a new deal.

Hinds, who played 45 Tests and has sat on the WIPA executive for the last 13 years, said the players union had played a key role in helping to develop the game.

“We’ve implemented MOUs (memorandums of understandings) and CBAs (Collective Bargaining Agreements) over the years and we have instituted minimum standards and all those things,” Hinds pointed out.

“We’re still in that process of improving and we want to just continue the work of the previous administrators who have done a fantastic job. We are restructuring our staff to support those policies that we want to execute and carry out.”

Also key to development, Hinds contended, was the relationship between the WICB and WIPA, which in the past had been acrimonious.

“We are trying to improve relations with the WICB since we are about the same business in getting cricket to move forward and to galvanise support, not just from the fans, but from the corporate entities, both regionally and internationally,” Hinds said.

Sepp Blatter...

From back page

anybody calls me corrupt because FIFA is corrupt, I can only shake my head. Everybody who says something like that should go to jail.”

He said he was a religious person and that his faith had given him strength during the last weeks.

“I own a golden cross that has been blessed by Pope Francis. I believe I will go to heaven one day,” Blatter said.

A U.S.-based lawyer said on Tuesday Blatter would not travel to Canada for Sunday’s final of the women’s World Cup for personal reasons.

Reuters was unable to determine the specific reasons why Blatter had decided not to attend the final in Vancouver.

Some lawyers with experience in international criminal cases have said Blatter would be ill-advised to travel after an indictment announced on May 27 by U.S. prosecutors against nine current and former FIFA officials and five sports marketing businessmen.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Captain Gayle leads home Tallawahs THIS was a more restricted innings than the swashbuckling brand of cricket that we are accustomed to from the big man, but Chris Gayle carried his bat in another influential innings as the Jamaica Tallawahs captain scored his second half-century on his second Caribbean island in two days in a compelling match at Warner Park in Basseterre on Tuesday.

(Scores: Jamaica Tallawahs 164 for 3 (Gayle 72*, Lynn 52) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 160 for 5 (Guptill 53, Samuels 50, Santokie 4-37) by seven

wickets Helped by a knock of pure ferocity by Chris Lynn - who struck three consecutive sixes in a score of 52 from 33 balls - Gayle struck a boundary to crown victory for the away side with five balls remaining.

In truth, Gayle should not have been at the crease at the very end after blasting a Shahid Afridi delivery sky-high when on 49, but the chance was dropped and the self-styled World Boss didn’t need a second invitation to plunder further runs.

Warner Park is an intimate stadium with short

boundaries, but this was a match in which both teams struggled to score freely as the bowlers exerted themselves.

The best of them was Krishmar Santokie, who was dispatched for 10 runs in the opening over but struck back to claim four wickets as he became the joint-highest wicket-taker of this year’s tournament.

But this is a match that will be better known for the feats of his illustrious teammate at the top of the batting order.

This was not the free and easy Gayle that willingly causes destruction to opposi-

Devastating Argentina reach Copa final

Argentina’s Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring a goal as Paraguay’s Ivan Piris looks on during their Copa America 2015 semi-final soccer match at Estadio Municipal Alcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo, in Concepcion, Chile, Tuesday. (Reuters/Andres Stapff)

By Santiago Torres CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) - Argentina produced their best performance of the Copa America so far to crush Paraguay 6-1 on Tuesday and set up a classic final against hosts Chile.

Angel di Maria scored twice and Marcos Rojo, Javier Pastore, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain also found the net in a brilliant display orchestrated by an inspired Lionel Messi.

Argentina had scored only four goals in their four previous matches but Messi said it was not because the team had not been playing well.

“We talked about that just before the match and we said it was just chance that we hadn’t scored more

because we’ve been playing well,” Messi said.

“Today all the goals came at once.”

Gerardo Martino’s side took the lead after 15 minutes when Messi swung a free kick in from the left.

Rojo failed to connect cleanly with his first touch but swept the ball home from close range with his second.

Argentina doubled their lead 12 minutes later and again Messi was the provider, threading an inch-perfect pass through the Paraguayan defence for Pastore to run on to. His powerful low shot gave goalkeeper Justo Villar no chance.

Things went from bad to worse for Paraguay when both their strikers, Derliz Gonzalez and Roque Santa Cruz, limped off injured.

Santa Cruz’s replace-

ment, Lucas Barrios, gave them hope with a goal just before the break but in the second half Argentina were unstoppable.

Minutes into the second half Pastore burst through midfield and fed di Maria, who buried a left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Six minutes later Messi destroyed the Paraguayan defence with a mazy run to set up Pastore. His shot was parried by Villar but di Maria was on hand to slot home the rebound.

On 80 minutes di Maria turned provider, crossing from the left for Aguero to head home, and minutes later Higuain came off the bench to score a sixth.

Argentina will face Chile at Santiago’s national stadium on Saturday.

tion teams, but even a slightly more scratchily knock still resulted in a six that blasted out of the ground and fired a total of 106 metres - the biggest in this year’s competition.

Gayle now has 11 sixes and 171 runs in the tournament so far - more than any other player.

The Jamaica T a l l a w a h s achieve a sevenwicket win thanks to manof-the-match Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 72 at Warner Park, St Kitts.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

America reach Women’s World Cup final

By David Ljunggren

MONTREAL, Canada (Reuters) - The veteran U.S. women’s soccer side earned another chance at World Cup glory on Tuesday, reaching the final for the second time in a row by beating top-ranked Germany 2-0 with the aid of some poor refereeing.

Seven of the U.S. teams that started the Montreal semi-final had played in the deciding game in 2011, where they lost to Japan, and for many this will clearly be a last opportunity to triumph.

Japan and England met in the other semi-final yesterday in Edmonton. The winner will move on to face the United States in the title game on Sunday in Vancouver.

The inventive and fleet-footed Americans were

United States forward Kelley O’Hara (5) celebrates her goal during the second half against Germany in the semifinals of the FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup at Olympic Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: JeanYves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports) the superior side throughout an exciting game but the world’s second-ranked side benefited from two crucial decisions by Romanian referee Teodora Albon.

They took the lead in the 69th minute when captain Carli Lloyd scored a penalty after Albon ruled that Annike

Krahn had obstructed Alex Morgan. Replays showed the offence took place outside the box.

“It was clearly outside the area ... I’m very sad that this penalty decided the game. But what am I going to do though?” said German coach Silvia Neid,

adding that her side’s usually lethal attack that had scored a tournament-best 20 times coming into the match had been below-par.

Minutes earlier, U.S. defender Julie Johnston was adjudged to have pulled down Alexandra Popp but escaped with just a yellow card. Neid said Johnston had been the last defender and should have been sent off. Germany’s Celia Sasic - top scorer in the tournament - dragged the resulting penalty wide in the 63rd minute. “I thought it was an unbelievable duel between two tremendous teams,” said U.S. coach Jill Ellis, who declined to comment on the officiating.

The Germans, who had

produced some storming performances earlier in the cup, were atypically sluggish and looked to be feeling the effects of last Friday’s gruelling quarter-final against France, when they played 30 minutes of extra time.

Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer made two crucial stops early in the first half against an American side that started the tournament slowly but has been gaining momentum and confidence.

U.S. substitute Kelley O’Hara flicked the ball home from close range in the 84th

minute to seal a merited victory in front of a passionate Montreal crowd of more than 51 000, most of them Americans. “Four years ago we came so close ... I feel we have really good momentum going into this,” said Lloyd, 32, who played in the 2011 final.

Other survivors from that match who are in the current squad include keeper Hope Solo, 33, defender Christie Rampone, 40, midfielder Shannon Boxx, 38, and veteran forward Abby Wambach, 35.

Serena makes short work of Babos LONDON, England (Reuters) - Top seed Serena Williams was kept waiting to get on Centre Court but she swept aside big-serving Hungarian Timea Babos 6-4, 6-1 inside an hour yesterday to reach the Wimbledon third round.

Following on from an epic five-set men’s match between Marin Cilic and Ricardas Berankis, the world number one and five-time Wimbledon champion was not about to hang around.

She broke her 93rd-ranked opponent in the opening games of both sets, wrapping up the first in 34 minutes, and never looked in any danger despite having to salvage two break points in the fourth game of the second set.

“I’m definitely playing well,” she said as she came off court after 59 minutes. “I had to pick up my game today. She has such a huge serve.”

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

Guyana Karate College pays courtesy call on Dr Roopnarine THE Guyana Karate College (GKC) and the International Karate Daigaku (IKD) recently met with the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine in an attempt to solicit the ministry’s support.

On Friday, June 26, representatives from the GKC and the IKD paid courtesy call on Dr Roopnaraine at which they used the opportunity to request support and recognition for the Karate discipline in Guyana.

The delegation from the GKC and the IKD included Annabelle Carter-Sharma - Architect; Frank Woon-A-Tai - Chief Instructor; Jeffrey Wong, Vice-Chief Instructor; and Rev. Father Compton Meerabux, treasurer.

At the meeting the GKC articulated their wish to see the integration of karate into the CXC curriculum as well as the possibility of establishing the IKD programme at the University of Guyana.

Among the other matters discussed was the completion of the college building, with the GKC seeking financial support from the Education Minister in securing funding.

The GKC was established in 2005. In 2011 it established the International Karate Daigaku (University) with the majority of Guyanese as top masters. Today, the GKC boasts 50 regional organisations in 30 countries, Guyana included.

Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnarine (centre) with representatives of the the Guyana Karate College during their courtesy call.

Rashid, Finn in England squad for first Ashes Test (REUTERS) - Leg-spinner Adil Rashid and fast bowler Steven Finn were included in England’s 13-man squad yesterday for next week’s first Ashes Test against Australia.

Rashid is uncapped at Test level but impressed in the recent one-day series against New Zealand. Finn has not played test cricket since July 2013.

“There are no huge surprises in the squad,” National selector James Whitaker said.

“Adil Rashid’s inclusion provides (captain) Alastair (Cook) and (coach) Trevor (Bayliss) with plenty of bowling options and the surface at Cardiff will dictate who makes the final eleven.

“Within the squad there are players who have plenty of experience of Ashes cricket and that knowledge will I’m sure be useful for the players who are yet to experience a home Ashes series.”

Rashid, 27, was the only member of the 13-man party who was not part of the four-day training camp in Spain last weekend. “(I’m) delighted, over the moon. I’m very excited to be part of the Ashes squad and to be just part of the team so I’m really looking forward to it,” he told Sky Sports News.

“It’s nice to be part of the squad and if I do get a heads up, I’ll obviously try my best and if I don’t, it’s no drama.

I’m still part of the squad and it’s always a learning curve to be playing or not to play.”

The first Test starts in Cardiff on Wednesday.

England suffered a humiliating 5-0 whitewash in the last Ashes series in Australia.

Squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood.

MITCHELL Marsh further pushed his claim for a place in the Australia Test side with a century on the first day of their final Ashes warm-up at Essex.

Marsh, who also scored a hundred against Kent last week, was unbeaten on 136 as Australia racked up 440-6.

Marsh faces competition from Shane Watson, who made 52, for the first Test against England starting on July 8. Opener David Warner crashed a sparkling 94, Adam Voges a composed 49 and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill 78.

If Marsh clarified Australian thoughts through weight of runs, then the make-up of their pace attack for the first Test in Cardiff also became clear, albeit for a different reason.

Ryan Harris was due to play against Essex at Chelmsford, but pulled out with soreness related to a long-term knee problem, meaning Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are likely to form the tourists’ Test pace trio.

The news on Harris was confirmed before a toss where Essex captain Ravi Bopara - perhaps in a pre-arranged agreement - invited Australia to bat on a scorching hot day.

On a true pitch showing occasional signs of bounce, the tourists made the most of the Essex hospitality against a line-up in which four of the bowlers had played only 28 previous first-class matches between them.

The hosts stuck to their task and did not help themselves with five dropped catches but, in the main, this was a day of batting practice for Australia.

Still, they wobbled midway the morning session when Tom Moore - playing only his fifth first-class match after signing from club side Brentwood last summer - struck twice in two balls.

Chris Rogers was caught behind for 21 and Australia captain Michael Clarke was brilliantly caught at leg gully by Ryan ten Doeschate for a golden duck.

Adil Rashid

Mitchell Marsh hits second tour century

NOTABLE DATES CLIFF Anderson gained a victory over F. Abrigo on July 1, 1940. The fight was the sixth for Anderson who had one more contest in his native Guyana before heading to the United Kingdom.

The featherweight boxer was born Clifford Matthew Anderson on October 22, 1921 in New Amsterdam, Berbice and made his professional debut in 1940 as an 18-year-old. Anderson made two unsuccessful bids for the Commonwealth featherweight title in 1947. Both times he fought Al Phillips.

On March 18, he lost by points to the Englishman. In the rematch four months later, Anderson was disqualified by referee Andrew Smith in round eight, for illegal blows. He quit the sport in 1953 after engaging in a total of 87 fights.

Anderson boxed 602 rounds in his 13-year career, had 48 victories (19KOs), 28 defeats and 11 draws. The National Sports Hall was renamed Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in recognition of Anderson’s contribution to the sport.

He died in 1998.

JUNIOR middleweight Tony `The Tiger’ Marshall had an entertaining fight with Andrew Council but in the end had to settle for a draw.

The contest was held on July 1, 1994 at the PA Convention Centre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was the second of five fights the Guyanese had for that year.

The battle against the American Council was the main supporting event on a card that was headlined by a match between Ivan Robinson and Lyndon Walker. Council was 27 years old at the time, four years older than his opponent.

Like Marshall, the American had two unsuccessful attempts at world titles. He lost on points to Bernard Hopkins and Keith Holmes when challenging for the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council middleweight titles respectively.

Marshall was born in Guyana but lived in the USA from an early age. He is part of a small group from the Land of Many Waters who although born in Guyana, never fought a professional contest in Guyana.

The group comprises Cleveland Denny, Egerton Marcus, Adrian Dodson, Steve Frank, Dennis Andries and Vivian Harris.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

NAMILCO ‘Wheats Up’ for 12th annual CARICOM Day cycle race

By Stephan Sookram THE National Milling Company (NAMILCO) yesterday renewed its sponsorship with the Roraima Bikers Club (RBC) for the 12th Annual Wheat-Up CARICOM day cycle race.

During a brief ceremony yesterday at the Company’s Eccles Boardroom, several trophies were handed over to the Executive of the RBC. Speaking during the ceremony, president of the RBC Brian Allen indicated that the milling company has been behind the RBC from the inception and continues to support the efforts of the club to develop cycling.

“They have been with us through thick and thin.

I want to say at this point a special thank you to the management and staff of NAMILCO and for being there whenever we need them.

“This sport has grown from strength to strength over the years. It started with the road race from Georgetown to Long Creek and three years ago we decided to make it a circuit race.

Why we did that is to get more people involved, get the sporting public involved and get more people behind the sport of cycling.”

He spoke of the plan to have next year’s event being truly a CARICOM event by

inviting countries to take part, but noted that the help of central government will be integral in this regard.

Meanwhile Financial Controller of NAMILCO Fitzroy McLeod said that the event has been giving the sporting community an exciting environment to watch competitive cycling.

“The new format, which has been adopted over the last three years after we turned it into a 12-race criterium, allows for cyclists of all developmental stages, veterans, seasoned professionals to be able to insert in their calendar, an event which presents them with a very safe and challenging

Classy Tridents get back to winning ways THE Barbados Tridents got back to winning ways in the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League thanks to a clinical bowling and fielding display against the St Lucia Zouks in St Kitts last night.

The Tridents made 148-8 from their 20 overs, perhaps slightly below-par, but they were magificent in the field, and once they had removed Andre Fletcher for 52 there was only ever going to be one winner as they reduced Darren Sammy’s side to 133-9.

The 2014 champions were keen to put their defeat at the hands of new boys the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots behind them, but they made a sluggish start after winning the toss and electing to bat, with Dwayne Smith - the man who usually gets them off to such a good start - particularly out-of-sorts.

Zouks’ pacemen Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach and Fidel Edwards all bowled with good speed and accuracy - Gabriel’s first three overs saw him go for 0-5, such was his hold over the batsmen.

Smith and Dilshan Munaweera both got out in the 20s but it was Shoaib Malik who rescued the champions as wickets continued to fall throughout the innings, the Pakistan great keeping his

Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson took the early wicket of Johnson Charles at Warner Park, St Kitts.

Fletcher did make partial cool superbly to hit 51 from 34 balls before he was out in amends with a fine innings of 52 off 35 balls including four the final over.

Edwards went for 1-25 sixes, but when he was out, from his 4 and Gabriel Ross Taylor and Kyle Mayfinished with 0-18, while ers soon followed, expertcaptain Sammy (2-28), ly dismissed by the crafty Roach (2-37) and Nathan Sri Lankan spinner Jeevan McCullum (1-38) - making Mendis.

The Tridents turned his first appearance after replacing Eddie Leie - all the screw and the run rate impressed with the ball soared, and even though Sammy clubbed opposite too.

The Zouks were soon number Kieron Pollard for in trouble in their reply as a huge six, Rayad Emrit Johnson Charles uncharac- destroyed any lingering teristically got out early and hopes the Zouks had with Kevin Pietersen was crazily 3-20 from his 4 overs as run out after a mix-up with they snuffed out the run chase in clinical fashion.

Fletcher.

A Roraima Bikers Club executive collects NAMILCO staff member. opportunity to test them- which is interactive, right selves and it has the unique next to the action,” he stated. feature of also presenting the The feature event of the audience with an ambience 12-race day is a 30-lap af-

Ramdyhan to face Gentle in GBTI tennis final DEFENDING Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) women’s tennis champion, Nicola Ramdyhan, will play Afruica Gentle in this year’s ladies’ final.

Last year Nicola played Shauna Gentle in the final and managed a win but this time around the baby sister has a shot at the title and revenge.

In the first semi, Ramdyhan made light work of the up-and-coming Kalyca Fraser 6/0, 6/2 while on Court 2, the other semi-final between Afruica Gentle and Carol Humphrey went ding-dong in a match that lasted over 2 hours.

Mark McDonald and Hemraj Resaul’s journey to the Men’s Doubles Open came to an end when Daniel Lopes and Nicholas Glasgow defeated them 6/2, 6/2.

In the other quarter-finals of the category, fans were delighted to see big server Nicholas Fenty team up with doubles partner, Leyland Leacock to beat, Stephen Bailey and Oswin Coggins 6-1, 6-1.

The win sets up a semi-final match against Nicholas Glasgow and Daniel Lopes.

the trophies from a fair where the top rider will take home the Wheat-up trophy, a cash prize and a year’s supply of Wheat-Up.

Beginners table tennis training programme set for July 6-17 in Linden

A TWO-WEEK table tennis beginners’ programme is being planned for Linden by one of the town’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-certified coach Howard James who will be assisted by Shavin Green.

The training for youths between the ages of 8 and 19 will be from July 6 through to July 17 and the venue is the Mackenzie High School auditorium.

James said that the hours for the double sessions on the days identified will be from 09:00hrs to 12:00hrs and 12.30hrs to 15:00hrs, Monday to Friday.

He will be assisted by Mackenzie High school teacher Shavin Green who, according to James, is a trained coach.

He is encouraging parents to register their children for the sessions early as this will be the starting of what will be a continuous programme in Linden.

James noted that Linden had produced several top players who went on to represent Guyana at the international level in the past. The most recognisable figure in table tennis from Linden is Horace Benjamin who became a junior national champion and was the runner-up at the Caribbean table tennis championships during the 1970s.

All things being equal James maintained that the intention is to make this training a long-term programme and according to him the Guyana Table Tennis Association has been approached and will be assisting with equipment. He said five table tennis tables will be moved from playing venues in Linden to the designated venue the Mackenzie High School.

James is urging persons to contact him on 666-8669 or Green on 682-8835 for further information. There is a registration form which must be filled by the parent of the children interested in participating and several sponsors have been approached to assist, among them Banks DIH. (Joe Chapman)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday July 02, 2015)

Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 12 sixes (2) Andre Russell (203 runs; HS 47*)

Today’s Quiz: (1) Name the teams that have contested CPL finals to date?

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday July 2, 2015

National Sevens rugby team departs for Pan Am Games THE National men’s rugby Sevens team departed yesterday morning as they get ready to represent Guyana at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada from July 10 to 26.

The team gathered in front of base Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands before they departed for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Speaking to the media, manager Terrance Grant indicated that he expects an improved showing from the lads following their disappointing finish at the North American Caribbean Rugby Association’s 7s series recently. “I would expect a much-improved performance in as much as we are in a group of death, with Argentina, the defending champions and our neighbours Brazil.

“We have to put behind

The Rugby 7s team pose for a photo opportunity prior to their departure for Canada. us North Carolina. That is done and dusted. We have to think of what is in front of us which is the Pan Am Games and to improve on our 2011 performance,” he said.

The team will play in an Invitational Rugby 7s tournament, as a warm-up this weekend, where they will be looking to improve their kick-off reception something

that has been a sore point for them against teams with height advantage, according to the manager.

Coach of the team, Theodore Henry, noted that the

Lara, Yorke to feature in Hero CPL charity match today SPORTING legends Brian Lara and Dwight Yorke are the latest stars confirmed to take part in the Hero CPL charity match at Warner Park which takes place today at 18.00hrs (EST).

The match will bring together a host of cricketing legends and current stars to mark what promises to be an exhilarating two weeks in St Kitts and Nevis, where Warner Park hosts ten Hero CPL matches from June 30 to July 11.

The game between the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis XI and cricketing legend Sir Vivian Richards’ XI will boast an impressive list of allstar names who will be joining Brian and Dwight, including; former English fast-bowler Darren Gough; Indian spin legend, Murali Kartik; former West Indies batsman Daren Ganga; Ashes-winning Australian Damian Martyn; former New Zealand cricketer and sports commentator Danny Morrison and his fellow commentator and former West Indies paceman Ian Bishop.

The players will also be joined by three current CPL coaches - Simon Helmot, Eric Simons and Stuart Williams, alongside one of the best West Indies female cricketers in the region, Stefanie Taylor.

All proceeds from the game will go to a local char-

Brian Lara and Dwight Yorke ity. Last year, three charities - Special Olympics St Kitts and Nevis, St Kitts and Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities and the Creative Youth Academy benefited from the proceeds.

This year ’s chosen charity will be the St Kitts-Nevis National Education Foundation (SKNNEF), which is a non-profit organisation that seeks to provide deserving disadvantaged students with an opportunity to receive an excellent education. The Foundation’s goal is to award 30 scholarships to disadvantaged students in the Federation.

St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Timothy

Harris, said, “I am particularly looking forward to being part of this Hero CPL allstar charity T20 match that brings together celebrities, cricket legends and current stars of the game, for a noble cause, during an exhilarating week of what is called the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’, at the most romantic cricket venue in the Caribbean, in the twin-island paradise of St Kitts and Nevis ... nothing could be better!

“I invite all to come out and enjoy this exciting event on the CPL calendar and by doing so give support to the St Kitts-Nevis National Education Foundation (SKNNEF), a non-profit organisation that gives our

disadvantaged students an opportunity to receive an excellent education, a fair chance and a fair share of the good things in life.”

When Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of the Hero Caribbean Premier League spoke, he said, “We’ve got some fantastic names from the worlds of cricket and entertainment due to take part in the charity match. The event is set to mark the pinnacle of celebrations in St Kitts and Nevis.

The Hero CPL is the Biggest Party in Sport, so we’re expecting a fun and colourful evening of entertaining cricket, whilst raising money for a worthy cause.”

charges are upbeat about playing in the Pan Am Games where the big teams are headed. “We expect to go to the Pan Am Games and give it all that we have got.

One of the things the guys are excited about is playing in the international tournament, coming up against the big teams. It is always the mindset of local ruggers to play against the world’s best and the Pan Am Games gives us the opportunity.”

After playing their practice matches against Ontario 7s team, Uruguay and A pro America team, they will head into the competition proper on July 11, taking on Argentina first, followed by Canada and Brazil.

Richard Staglon has been named captain while his charges are Peobo Hamilton, Lancelot Adonis, Rickford Cummings, Claudius Butts, Ronald Mayers, Patrick King, Akeem Fraser, Ryan Gonsalves, Dwayne Schroeder, Phibian Joseph and Avery Corbin. (Stephan Sookram)

5th Annual Malta Supreme 11-race cycle programme set for Saturday THE 5th annual Malta Supreme 11-race cycle programme is scheduled for Saturday and will be conducted by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed around the inner circuit of the National Park, beginning at 09:00hrs.

The day’s activity which is being sponsored by beverage `giant’ Banks DIH Limited under its Malta Supreme brand will see as the feature event a 35-lap race which will be open to schoolboys, novices and invitational.

The defending champion is Akeen Wilson of Team Evolution who returned a time of one hour 17 minutes 24.94 seconds in winning the event last year.

This time around he will have to be wary of a host of other cyclists who have really been performing these past months. Among them are Orville Hinds, Raynauth Jeffrey (US-based), Akeem Arthur and Marlon `Fishy’ Williams.

If the other four US-based cyclists – Geron Williams, Alanzo Greaves, Hamza Eastman and Scott Savory - remain in the country for the event, then their presence will add more spice to the event.

Only last Sunday Eastman became Guyana’s new road race champion, winning the 92.86-mile event ahead of Greaves and Williams. The 10-lap race for juveniles will see a new champion being crowned as last year’s champion Michael Anthony is no longer a juvenile. Anthony had done it in 29 minutes 09.41 seconds.

Shameer Baksh will be defending the veterans’ five-lap event. He won the event in 12 minutes 07.35 seconds last year and will have to contend with the likes of Kennard Lovell, Linden Blackman, Warren McKay, and Eon `Dumb Boy’ Jackson among others.

Eon Thomas who returned 15 minutes 9.41 seconds in winning the five-lap race for mountain bikers will be out to make a successful defence of that title, while in the BMX Boys and Girls 12-14 years three-lap race, Jaleel Jackson will be looking to do likewise. Jackson won the event in 14 minutes 08.06 seconds.

There will also be BMX events for boys and girls 6-9 years old and boys 9-12 years old.

Representatives of Banks DIH’s marketing department will be on hand to make the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Classy Tridents get back to winning ways See story on page 30

GFF donates 100 footballs to Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Ms. Valarie Garrido-Lowe flanked by members of the GFF and other representatives at yesterday’s presentation.

T

HE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday handed over (100) footballs to the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, to be distributed amongst the villages in the hinterland region, in an attempt to aid their preparation and participation at the upcoming Hinterland Games next month (August).

Chairman of the GFF’s Normalisation Committee Clinton Urling, Dr. Karen Pilgrim, Eric Phillips, Technical Director Claude Bolton and General Secretary Richard Groden met with Minister within the Ministry Ms. Valarie Garrido-Lowe and representatives from Regions 1, 8 and 9 at a simple but significant presentation ceremony in the Ministry’s Boardroom.

Minister Garrido-Lowe said that sports play an integral role in the lives of the indigenous people, especially the sport

of football since it is most favoured and popular in the hinterland.

“What generally happens, all though they are really talented and enthusiastic, they don’t get the necessary exposure, training and everything and it makes me said to see every time, a national team has to represent Guyana, I’m not seeing a truly national team; I’m not seeing my indigenous brothers and sisters and I would like us to change that” said the honourable minister.

The Minister pointed out that it is her hope for the ministry and the GFF to form a strong link “where we can develop hinterland football to a high level where the opportunity can come to our hinterland brothers and sisters”.

Meanwhile, Urling said that Guyana has a unique geography in the Caribbean Region, with large expanses of land,

Sepp Blatter: I’m not corrupt and will go to heaven one day

BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - Sepp Blatter, president of the world soccer governing body FIFA that is embroiled in corruption investigations, has told a German magazine he has a clean conscience and believes he will “go to heaven one day”.

U.S. prosecutors have not accused Blatter, 79, of any wrongdoing, but his stewardship of FIFA is under scrutiny, sources familiar with investigations in the United States and Switzerland have said.

Blatter announced on June 2 he would step down as FIFA president after an election that is likely to take place late this year or early next year.

“I have a clean conscience,” the Swiss told German

Sepp Blatter is due to relinquish his role as FIFA president at an extraordinary congress to be held between December and March.

Photograph: Adam Davy/PA magazine Bunte in an interview published yesterday.

“Whoever calls me corrupt will have to prove it, but nobody can prove that because I am not corrupt.”

Blatter said he was open to criticism. “But if See page 26

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while noting “we’ve not seen the best of Guyana’s football when we send our national team out, I sincerely believe that some of our best players will come from the hinterland region and since becoming the head of the Normalisation Committee, we’ve made a deliberate effort to expand the game and reach out to the Hinterland communities” He added “currently we only have a member of the GFF from Region 9, but listening and speaking to other people, I’m beginning to realise that even that one Member Association is insufficient to service the entire Hinterland region, so we may have to at establishing may be three or four members, affiliated to the GFF and to have its members supply the relevant information so we can get them on our national team and to participate internationally”.

The Normalisation Committee Chairman spoke profoundly of the GFF’s robust plan which includes technical support for all across the country; areas that were traditionally overlooked, since Urling is of the view that “football is concentrated to a few areas”.

“I know the balls and the equipment we’re providing today is not enough to satisfy the eventual demands but it’s a start and the GFF is looking forward to working with the Ministry to help in our reach of the game” Urling said.

Hinds says communication, relations with WICB crucial See story on page 26

West Indies Players Association boss, Wavell Hinds THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015