SUNDAY No. 104241
SUNDAY JULY 5, 2015
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Gov’t will set up…
SYSTEMS TO DETECT CORRUPTION
- says PM Nagamootoo Page
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PRIME MINISTER MOSES NAGAMOOTOO
GPF kicks off 176th anniversary with massive route parade
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Armed bandits terrorise Two BASS 4 2 Corentyne family officers arrested Page
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Bibi Bissember
- widow forced to part with 1975 wedding band
PUBLIC EVASION FOR WHAT IT IS!
Hinds’ Sight
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Sase Singh
- after fatal shooting of alleged contraband smuggler
Dr David Hinds
If past mistakes are to be avoided, both the Gov’t and Opposition would have to show a lot of political maturity Page 8
RAS
See inside
MICHAEL is
Back
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
Armed bandits terrorise Corentyne family - widow forced to part with 1975 wedding band
By Jeune Bailey Vankeric WIDOW Bibi Bissember was forced to part with her 1975 wedding band after armed bandits forced their way into her Bush Lot Farm home, just after 20:00 hrs on Friday night. She was in her living room, while her grandson, Faraaz, was sitting in their
verandah when she heard a shot fired. But, it was when she walked to the back of her house, with an intention of asking the neighbour whether she heard anything that she [Bissember] was confronted with a bandit who pointed a gun through the grillwork. “He used a series of expletives and demanded
Widow Bibi Bissember
Dorwin Lord in hospital yesterday
that I open the door, or he will shoot me. I complied. At the time I had on eight fingerings, three pairs of jingles, two hand bands, one chain, a pair of earrings, all gold jewellery. He demanded that I take all off. I told him I have to use soap and water as the rings fitted tightly. He waited while I took all off. I did not want to part with my wedding ring. My husband died seven years ago .We had been married since 1975, but he told me if I did not take it off, he would cut off my finger. He had a sharp knife in his hand. I became afraid, and so I had to take it off,” the woman recalled. F u r t h e r, t h e m o t h e r of three recounted even as the masked bandit was demanding her jewellery, another approached and was enquiring to his accomplice for “the load”, and was told it was in a plastic bag in the haversack which was worn by the first bandit. Assuming it was ammunition, Bissember said after the bag was removed, several rounds were fired before the men ransacked her home, further removing three bags, two cellular phones, a gold band which was given
to her by an overseas-based friend to make a larger size, and $120,000 in cash. All the stolen articles exceeded $800,000. Meanwhile, before the bandits struck the widow’s
be aired on television. Norbert said it was during that period that his nephew David, left to go outside, when he heard him scream. “My sister Rose thought David was experiencing
The second house attacked by bandits at Bushlot Farm, Corentyne home, they pounced on her tenant Norbert Raphael and his household. According to Raphael, his sister Rose, along with four of her six sons, and a niece, was viewing an African movie as they awaited the second CPL cricket match scheduled to
his usual epileptic attack, so she went downstairs. I heard her shout Jesus Christ before a shot was fired. My niece Valarie shouted ‘thief! thief!’… I attempted to lock the door, but the bandit say, don’t lock the door.” Norbert said the four men – two of whom had
guns - were masked. “I saw one with a knife. One came up with my sister Rose. He asked for the gold and the three million dollars. I tell he ‘boy me never see so much money’. My sister started to scream. They told us to shut up. They asked for the foreigners in the front house (Bissember). I tell them I don’t know where they deh. They left and run up she [Bissember] back stairs,” the man related. During the intrusion, Raphel said the bandits took three rings from his niece Valarie who was visiting from the Linden Highway. Meanwhile, siblings Dorwin Lord aged 18 years and Daniel Lord aged 16 years, were returning home from church and as they were about to enter their yard, the bandits reportedly fired shots in their direction. Dorwin sustained gunshot injuries to his face, and is currently hospitalised at the New Amsterdam hospital. The victims said their masked attackers were seemingly young men, who were partially dressed in Army fatigues. Investigations are continuing.
Mirror-like! This is the once garbage-infested and clogged-up canal that runs parallel to North Road on the periphery of Bourda Market; and this area is bounded to the east by Orange Walk and to the west by Alexander Street. This picture is eloquent testimony to the remarkable change that the collective energies of likeminded citizens, working together for the good of the community and combined with the political will of top-level stakeholders, can bring about. (Delano Williams photo)
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
(The following is a reprint for our Sunday readers)
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President Granger calls on CARICOM to reject oppressive, obnoxious Venezuela decree
N his inaugural speech at the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting last Thursday evening, President David Granger implored the Caribbean Community to reaffirm its collective support for the principles enshrined in international law for safeguarding territorial integrity, sovereignty and national independence. President Granger was at the time addressing the opening ceremony at the opening of the 36th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, at the Hilton Hotel in Barbados. Making the case for Guyana, the President said even as this country approaches its 50th Independence Anniversary, with its sister-country Barbados, it is doing so with a ‘monkey on its back’. He described this as the unbearable burden of an ‘oppressive and obnoxious’ claim to Guyana’s land and sea space by Venezuela. “CARICOM has been a source of solace and steadfast support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the years. We never needed that support more”, President Granger said. Guyana, he pointed out, has over the years borne the brunt of having funding for a major hydro-electricity project blocked; intimidation of investors harassment of its citizens in border areas and the expulsion and seizure by gunboats of petroleum
President David Granger (fourth from right, front row) with colleague CARICOM Heads at the summit in Barbados. (Photo courtesy Ministry of the Presidency)
exploration vessels. President Granger noted that Guyana’s border with Venezuela was fixed 116 years ago, when it was determined, defined, delineated and demarcated by international arbitration. In addition, maps were drawn, atlases were adjusted, border markers were cast in stone, the President stated. “Any state that systematically, cynically and sedulously seeks to repudiate solemn international agreements and to undermine the security and sovereignty of another state must be
President David Granger met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the Hilton Hotel in Barbados where the 36th Regular meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government was being held. President Granger was able to put forward Guyana’s position on the territorial dispute with Venezuela to the UN Secretary General who offered to mediate the border controversy between the two countries
condemned. Our national boundaries have been recognised internationally,” he declared. Though this territorial dispute has been alive for the past 50 years, President Granger said Venezuela has become regressive and even more aggressive. “That country continues to threaten the development of Guyana, a CARICOM member state, both on land and at sea. That country, mindful of its superior wealth and military and naval strength and unmindful of the plight of the poor people of one of the world’s smallest and least populated states, has again resorted to intimidation and the threat of the use of force.” It is against this backdrop that the President passionately pleaded for the support of its Sister States in the Caribbean Community. “We clamour for the succour of the Commonwealth. We yearn for the security of the United Nations and the shelter of international law to bring a peaceful end to Venezuela’s rejection of the validity of a boundary which has been defined as a full, perfect and final settlement.” The Guyanese Head of State told the CARICOM leaders that naval superiority cannot be allowed to supplant the supremacy of the law, and that ‘gunboat diplomacy’ has no place in the 21st century Caribbean and must be condemned where ever it occurs.
President David Granger, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and other officials in the Guyana delegation in meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and his team
In this light, the President assured the representatives of the international community assembled at the opening ceremony of Guyana’s adherence to international law. “We assure the Secretary General of the United Nations; we assure the Secretary General of the Commonwealth; we assure the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States and we assure the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community, that Guyana, today and for all time, will pursue the principles of mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.” Without CARICOM’s cooperation, the President said, Guyana runs the risk of being miniaturised and marginalised and efforts to improve the economy could be trivialised. Acknowledging the fact that CAR-
ICOM is made up of small states, President Granger said these states deserve and should demand to be treated as equals among the nations of the world. “Let us not be afraid to re-engage the rest of the hemisphere as a natural family; as natural allies and as a force for peace and international law.” He said CARICOM member states are powerless as individual states, but are powerful as a community of sovereign states, and speaking with a united voice, they can gain amplitude in order to influence the global agenda and resolve the many issues that confront small states. Regarding the countries’ waters, or so-called exclusive economic zones, the President said these are integral to CARICOM’s survival, “because we depend on these waters for our economic sustenance — travel,
trade, tourism, fishing and petroleum exploitation.” “Our exclusive economic zones are rich in resources. These zones represent potentially lucrative economic frontiers,” Mr Granger said. However, he warned that because some have not been demarcated, this can also be exploited by forces external to the Community He said the solution lies in the process of maritime delimitation in accordance with the International Law of the Sea. “We must be prepared, also, to exercise absolute sovereignty over our maritime waters and resources. We must protect these resources from being invaded and annexed. We must pursue the principle of collective security which provides, that a threat to any of our members represents a threat to our entire community.”
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
Two BASS officers arrested - after fatal shooting of alleged contraband smuggler
By Jeune Bailey Vankeric TWO Officers attached to the Berbice AntiSmuggling Squad (BASS) are assisting the Police in their investigation of a fatal shooting which resulted in the death of 40-year-old labourer Charles Caesar, called ‘Naggazar’. Caesar, a father of two, were among six persons who were intercepted by BASS, as they were off-loading a motor vessel (boat) aback Number 66 Village on Friday night. According to 18-yearold Devon Fraser, just after 20:00 hrs, while being in company with five others, they went to the Number 66 foreshore in a minibus with the intention of off-loading items from a boat. The motor vessel was captained by a Surinamese, who would transport smuggled items. It was while they were offloading, that two members of BASS approached shouting: “Nobody move; everybody lay down flat”. He recalled that they fired a warning shot. “Then two other shots followed shortly afterwards, followed by another. We were all lying on the ground with our hands behind our back. Caesar was seated on the makeshift wharf
where the boat was moored. His foot seemed to be tangled with the rope which had tied the vessel. However, after the shots were fired, they bundled us in the bus and took us to their office,” Fraser said. “At the BASS office, they took our personal information, such as our name and address, before taking us to the Springlands Police Station where ranks were told that we were smuggling and that if we have money we can be placed on $10,000 bail each, and if we don’t have money, then we have to stay in the lockups. The BASS officials did not tell the police that there was a shooting incident. All they say was that we were caught smuggling,” Devon Fraser said. He recalled using a cellphone to call his sisters who subsequently posted bail for all those who were detained. M e a n w h i l e , Ta m i k a Fraser recalled that after she posted station bail for the men, she returned to her Line Path home. It was then she realised that Charles Caesar was not accounted for. It was just before midnight when she decided to look for the missing man. She drove to
the Number 66 foreshore, where she saw Caesar lying on the foreshore, bleeding profusely from an injury to his left leg. “I noticed a piece of tarpaulin which I used to tie the injured leg. Devon help me put him in the trunk space
hospital for the Springlands Police Station, where she reported Caesar’s death and it was then that the police became aware of a shooting incident. According to a source at BASS, officials from the anti-smuggling squad were carrying out routine surveillance when they intercepted a motor vessel offloading aback Number 66 Village. “During that period a warning shot was fired, in an attempt to prevent the unlawful act. A minibus driver and four labourers were detained and the minibus containing 60 cases of aloe drink, and 6 cases of dates were impounded,” the source stated. Investigations are continuing.
Tamica Fraser, who found the semi-conscious and bleeding Charles Ceasar at the #66 foreshore in Corentyne, Berbice
Devon Fraser, one of six persons intercepted by BASS, as they were off-loading a motor vessel aback Number 66 Village on Friday night of the Spacio car, and I drove him to the Skeldon hospital where nurses tried to save his life. The doctors said he bled profusely, resulting in him loosing much blood. Shortly after he arrived at the hospital, Caesar died,” she told the Chronicle. According to the 22-yearold woman, she left the
The minibus that was impounded in the BASS compound yesterday
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
GPF kicks off 176th anniversary with massive route parade THE Guyana Police Force (GPF), as part of its 176th anniversary, yesterday morning staged a grand route march that saw participation from all arms of the Force. This activity which is an annual part of the Force’s celebration also saw the participation of the Minister of Public Security, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, who took the salute in front of the Ministry’s Brickdam office. The parade, which failed to attract the usual heavy downpours in years gone by, saw just a few seconds of passing clouds which dropped a few drizzles as the Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and
Unit (TSU) drill square at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary and made its way through several city streets in Georgetown before heading to Brickdam, where the first “eyes-right” salute was given to Vice-President and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan with Permanent Secretary Angela Johnson to his right and Commissioner Seelall Persaud to his left. The ranks marched to the sounds of the Guyana Police Force Band and those from the Police Steel Orchestra to the front and rear, respectively. Units in the parade included Presidential
Public Security Minister Ramjattan takes the salute from parade commander, Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken re-entered Police Headquarters, they were addressed by Commissioner Persaud and also gave three cheers for Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, President David Granger; Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud; and for the 176th Anniversary of the GPF. This year’s parade was deemed one of the largest that the force has ever had, according to Commissioner Persaud who, in his remarks, thanked the officers for the good work they have been doing especially during the election period. He pointed out that it is a crucial time for a country and without
A police-sponsored youth group salutes Commissioner Seelall Persaud and other senior ranks at Eve Leary his divisional commanders were preparing to take the salute from the parading ranks, headed by Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken who was backed up by Senior Superintendent , Whitney Bacchus. At promptly 06:00hrs yesterday, the parade moved off from the Tactical Services
Guards, Immigration, Criminal Investigation Department, Traffic, Scouts, Association of Women Police, Police Welfare, Police Athletes, Community Policing Groups, Youth Groups, Traffic, Special Constables and individual groups representing the various police divisions.
The parade did bring out spectators, especially those in downtown Georgetown as it got the attention of those who positioned themselves at doors, windows and gates as the sounds of the police musical instruments grabbed their attention as the parade passed by. When the parade
proper surveillance could prove very dangerous. He added that the new administration has indicated a lot of changes for the Force and “these changes say to me that we will be resourced, we will have the tools that are necessary for us to do our jobs, that our welfare will be looked at…” “However, there will be a greater demand on us for accountability and i m p ro v e d d e l i v e r y o f See page 10
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
Editorial
Guyana
Time for One Caribbean, One Voice IF ever we needed a united Caribbean with one voice, it’s now. The threat by Venezuela to annex the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone between Colombia and Suriname is a danger at the heart of all Caribbean states. The leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), who met over the past few days at a summit in Barbados, could not afford to prevaricate, or worse, bow to the brazen aggression of Caracas, principally against one of its founders. Guyana’s President, Brigadier (rt’d) David Granger, has indicated in his maiden address to his fellow Regional heads that CARICOM’s roots are indeed deep, as he traced the birth of the Caribbean unity movement to 1965: “It was right here that it all started. Fifty years ago on 4th July, 1965, Antigua’s Vere Bird, Barbados’s Errol Barrow and Guyana’s Forbes Burnham — three busy ‘Bs’ — met here in Bridgetown. Their intuition and initiative
led, five months later, to Dickenson Bay which led to the establishment of the Caribbean Free Trade Association which in turn led to Chaguaramas and the creation of the Caribbean Community on 4th July 1973. The rest is history.” President Granger warned that after fifty years, the Caribbean has to protect itself against domination and disintegration, by collectively supporting principles to safeguard the national independence of member states and their territorial integrity. President Granger placed the existence of CARICOM in that historic context as he exposed what he described as “an oppressive and obnoxious claim” on our land and sea by Venezuela, Guyana’s neighbour to the west. Caribbean leaders need no lecture on the nature of that spurious claim which has met, in the past, a stiff back from this Region and periodic condemnation of Venezuela’s aggression against a peacefully developing state.
Nagamootoo demonstrated class at U.S. embassy reception WHAT a difference in the way America’s birthday was celebrated in Guyana this year, as contrasted with last year at the reception hosted by the U.S. Embassy! Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, acting as President in David Granger’s absence, demonstrated “class” doing the honours at the reception for the 239th Anniversary since the U.S. was founded in 1776. There was a proper toast as normally happens at such receptions. The PM did not cuss out anyone. In contrast with last year, when a hard-working, decent minister was instructed to read a nasty Government message to the then U.S. Ambassador. It was a most awkward moment for that minister. Opinion polls, conducted by this writer and published in the media, consistently revealed that Guyanese wanted friendly relations with the U.S. and collaboration on various matters, including on the LEAD project. Instead of heeding national opinion as well as the overwhelming view of the Guyanese-American diaspora, the then Government proceeded on a self-destructive course of attacking the U.S. and the ambassador for unjustified reasons. Guyanese were most unhappy with the then Government in its handling of relations with the U.S., but the ruling party was unwilling to pull back from its collision course and ultimately paid the price in the May 11 Elections. Guyanese-Americans are most grateful to be welcomed and allowed to make their home in the great USA. There are as many Guyanese-Americans (first, second and third generations) living in the U.S. as Guyanese living at home. Guyanese-Americans support their loved ones back home, sending cash remittances of over $200 Million dollars annually, plus sending tens of millions more in material goods and supplies. Some 150,000 Guyanese-Americans visit their homeland every year, adding hundreds of millions of American dollars to the economy; Guyanese- Americans help prop up the economy. Clearly, Guyana’s survival is tied up with the U.S. So why would any Government “cuss out” America? What is the gain from such abuse? Why pick a fight with the most powerful country and on whose generosity you were in office? The new Government has only positive comments for the U.S. and the embassy in Georgetown. “Naga” is saluted for demonstrating class at the most significant reception by a foreign mission in Guyana. VISHNU BISRAM
The border between Guyana and Venezuela was fixed some 116 years ago, and settled finally by an arbitral award. So, today, when Venezuela resurrects the spectre of threat of force against Guyana in prosecution of a legally non-existent claim, it must give rise to collective repudiation from all Caribbean states. A threat against one state must be a threat against all. Today, CARICOM must exhort, in a common refrain: “One for all, all for one”. We expect nothing less than full solidarity for Guyana! At the same time, we congratulate President David Granger for his inaugural speech at a CARICOM summit, and for standing tall like a true soldier for Guyana. You made us proud, Sir!
EU urges abolition of death penalty
THE European Union welcomes Suriname’s recent ratification of a new penal code which includes abolition of the death penalty. By taking this positive step, Suriname has joined the ever-increasing number of abolitionist countries in the world. The EU, and increasingly most of the world, consider capital punishment to be cruel and inhuman punishment. Any miscarriage of justice - which is inevitable in any legal system - could lead to innocent persons being killed and is irreversible. Following its first Universal Periodic Review on 11 May, 2010, Guyana established a Special Select Parliamentary Committee to consider the abolition of the death penalty. However, since then it has not issued any conclusions and Guyana’s second Universal Periodic Review on 28 January, 2015, again recommended that Guyana abolish the death penalty and accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aimed at abolishing the death penalty. I encourage Guyana to follow these recommendations and abolish the death penalty; an action which will contribute to the inherent dignity of all human beings and the inviolability of the human person. ROBERT KOPECKÝ Ambassador of the European Union
Valid reasons why positions of Chancellor, CJ should be advertised
I TOTALLY agree with the comment made by my learned friend, Jonas M.F. Coddett when he stated in a letter to the Stabroek News on Saturday, July 4: “If the positions are not advertised, then prominent Guyanese lawyers overseas would not know of the vacancies to be filled.” I know as a fact that there are many Guyanese who are attached to the judiciaries in Belize, The Bahamas and the
Eastern Caribbean who are experienced and qualified to hold the offices of Chancellor and Chief Justice. I will commence with Kenneth Benjamin, a Guyana scholar, who is the Chief Justice of Belize and who served 17 years as a High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Court (ECC), Court of Appeal Judges in the ECSC, Louise Blenman, and Gertel Thom and also Minet Hafiz of the Court of Appeal in
Belize. Maureen Crane-Scott, the granddaughter and daughter of Alfred Victor Crane, and Victor Emanuel Crane, both served as heads of the judiciary in Guyana. In fact, Maureen was admitted to practise with me in 1979 by her father Victor Emanuel, who was Chancellor of See page 7
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
U.S. presses Guyana on same-sex marriage IT baffles me after this election with many curious speculations about who is the real winner. We are now seeing the U.S. emissary to Guyana, Mr Bryan Hunt, pressing Guyana to copy the U.S. to legalise same-sex marriages. Same-sex marriages for this U.S. dignitary may be a human right, but it’s an abomination and violation of God’s laws from the Holy Scriptures and we will face some severe consequences from God Himself, just like Sodom & Gomorrah when God destroyed them completely because they broke the laws he had given to his prophet Moses. Those who are clamouring to pass this evil gay rights bill are either gays and lesbians themselves or atheists who are trying to corrupt the morals of the world, including our country. We must not forget that the AIDS epidemic is an historical phenomenon of an American homosexual who carried this deadly virus into the world from Africa, because of his evil practice. AIDS is also carried by lesbians, heterosexuals and bisexuals all over the world. To p r e s s o u r c o u n try Guyana to legalise this abomination upon our nation tells me clearly we may be an independent nation but we are still being controlled by modern American and British colonialism. This country will not be destroyed by criminals, but it will be destroyed by those who watch evil take it over by diabolical, diplomatic individuals and do nothing about it. We are living in the midst of a tremendous moral breakdown in our
society; even heterosexuals and married couples are living in an open-marriage lifestyle of “free love” in all forms of sexual immorality, such as fornication and adultery, incest, bisexuality, prostitution, etc., that has destroyed the family values and moral principles of God’s words from the Holy Scriptures. It’s very sad when innocent children are born into immoral families whose lives are destroyed by immoral parents by incest, rape and even murder. Homosexuality and Lesbianism are sexual activities between persons of the same sex. If this ‘’Gay-Rights & Lesbian rights Bill’’ should be made mandatory, then it will re-define the laws of marriage between a man and a woman ordained by God our Creator, since the beginning of time. It simply means two men or two women living in a gay or lesbian relationship can walk into any church from any religion and legally get married just like a man and woman. What is marriage? Marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God between a man and a woman; not between a man and a man, or woman and woman. God is a God of order; he created the woman for the man so that a divine family union can be created to populate the world. I asked those who wish to implement these laws if their father were married to a man and their mother was married to a woman, if they would have been in this world. They were unable to answer me. When God created hu-
man beings, he made them male and female. The Bible account of creation establishes human beings as persons who possess a specific sexual identity. ‘’So God Created Man in his own image...male and female he created them.’’ (Genesis 1:27) ‘’Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’’ (Genesis 2:24) The scripture did not say a man shall be joined to a man or a woman to a woman. Man and woman were created by God for each other, their relationship is ordered by God. That is why a lesbian or a homosexual will never be able to give birth to a child. It was never in God’s plan to corrupt human beings, but we now have some impudent law-makers who are trying to violate God’s laws. I wish to God that we are not wiped out by a tsunami or earthquake should we angry the Lord our God whose wrath is beyond limits. Homosexuality and lesbianism are all deviations from God’s created order. They violate the basic sexual structure which God created. It is a perversion. It is against nature. The Bible, as well as many other scriptures, classifies homosexual practice as sin. It is a violation of the will of God. A simple reading of Genesis chapter 19 (about the two angels who paid a visit to Sodom and stayed in Lot’s home) indicates that sodomy is a great wickedness. God points to Sodom and Gomorrah homosexuality and lesbianism as an example of sexual immorality and
Valid reasons why positions of ... From page 6 the Judiciary - creating legal history for a father to admit his daughter to practise. I recall Chancellor Crane was very emotional because he wanted his daughter to remain in Guyana and move towards being appointed as head of the judiciary like her father and grandfather, but she had other plans and moved to Jamaica and later to Barbados where she was appointed a High Court
Judge. She is now an Appellate Court Judge in The Bahamas. There are several other Guyanese judges in The Bahamas and the ECC, names such as Indra Hariprashad, Charles and Carolita Luckhoo-Bethel (The Bahamas), Mortimer Cumberbatch, Darsham Ramdhani, Birnie Stephenson-Brooks, and Keith Thom, (CSC). There are also first-instant Guyanese judges in Belize: Denis Hanomansingh, Courtney Abel, and Shona
Griffith. In addition to the Caribbean there are several in the United Kingdom, the United States and other jurisdictions. Readers might recall that one Rabi Sukul, a Guyanese lawyer in the UK, without any judicial experience was appointed as a Court of Appeal Judge in Guyana. He quit after it was revealed that he was allegedly disbarred in London. OSCAR RAMJEET
destroys them by the vengeance of eternal fire. We should ask ourselves many questions before even thinking to ever entertain such a Bill in Parliament. We should ask: Do we fear God? Do we believe in God? Do we believe in God’s Holy Scriptures? On whose authority are we trying to change or violate God’s divine and eternal laws? Are High Courts in the USA trying to be God? Or trying to change God’s Laws to corrupt the morals of this world? The Bible says that to lie with a person of the same sex is an abomination. In Leviticus 18:22, ‘’Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, it is an abomination.’’ Homosexuality is an insult against God. The Bible’s message offers hope to those who practise sodomy, but before one can be delivered-he/ she must acknowledge his/ her sin; they must honestly desire deliverance, they must want to do what is right in the sight of God. They can be cured by prayer and counseling, but they must have an intense desire to change that is a process of healing and
deliverance from their vile lifestyles. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and change us from all unrighteousness. Homosexuality is learned/inherited ancestral behaviour -what has been learned or inherited as a curse can be unlearned and broken by the power of prayer and divine guidance. I have prayed and counselled many such people over the years as a Pastor/ Reverend and have seen them changed completely. In conclusion, the greatest error a nation can ever make is to implement laws into their legal system that will violate the laws of God, thus bringing curses and God’s judgment upon their nation. I close with this interesting scripture: ‘’If my people
who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’’ (11 Chronicles 7:14) It’s my sincere hope that our President and all the other members of Parliament throw this homosexual bill into the garbage that’s administered to Guyana by the honourable Bryan Hunt, lest we invite more curses and judgments of God upon us. I am calling upon The Guyana Evangelical Association and all other religious organisations to remove this corrupt LGBT law from our nation. May God open our eyes to his divine truth. REV. GIDEON CECIL
A consciously informed society is capable of profound decision-making PLEASE permit me space in your newspaper. I’m penning this letter in relation to a letter that was published in the newspaper on Friday 3rd July, 2015, which stated: ‘Magnanimity and an apolitical approach will be needed’. I endorse the call for the Minister of Social Cohesion, Mrs Amna Ali, to be objectively magnanimous in the execution of her duties. And the writer, while he recognised the wisdom of President Granger for the conceptualisation of this ministry, he also presumed to assume that the subject minister, while trying to fathom the major causative factor(s) for the lack of our social cohesion will experience “many sleepless nights.” I’m realistically optimistic that a consciously informed society is capable of profound decision- making. Therefore, it is incumbent on us as Guyanese to comprehend the pivotal role we play in decision-making for nation-building; and article 13 of Guyana’s Constitution states that: “The principal objective of the political system or the state is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well- being.” This article serves as a binding instrument that will enable us as members of civil society to effectively play our roles in nation-building. However, the perceived challenges that surreptitiously await Minister Amna Ali, can only be overcome if all stakeholders objectively work together for a socially cohesive Guyana. In conclusion, please consider the following for social cohesion: firstly, we need to understand where we are as a nation and to envision the future for social cohesion, while being cognisant of the change needed which are personal, relational, social-culture, structural, etc. As Guyanese, the future of social cohesion for reconciliation and nation-building is dependent on the mental attitude we exhibit towards the subject matter. PANDIT DEODATT TILLACK Psychologist
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Hinds’ Sight
SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
If past mistakes are to be avoided, both the Gov’t and Opposition would have to show a lot of political maturity
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By Dr David Hinds
T’S now more than six weeks since the APNU+AFC Government assumed office - the second change of Government in almost 51 years. That has to be a record for multi-party democracies. In the final analysis, it raises questions about the quality of our democracy and/or the applicability of the winner-takeall system to our ethno-political circumstances. Much has been said and written about this since 1961 without any real commitment on the part of successive political elites to do anything about it. The new Government said on the campaign trail that it is committed to reforming the constitution to put in place a more democratic system. But even if the Coalition is serious about Constitutional Reform, such action would require the cooperation of the PPP, which seems to be in no mood at the moment to cooperate with the Government on anything. This brings me to the heart of today’s column - the political reality in a situation where there is change of a longstanding Government in an environment of political hostility. Our own political history in Guyana tells us that the immediate period after a change of Government is often characterised by political stridency by the political parties and by pressures from their supporters to be tough. In the end, there tends to be a period of political suspicion, sabotage, revenge and general instability. When the PNC-UF coalition came to power in 1964
in the wake of the ethnic disturbances of the previous four years, it interpreted its mandate to restore order to the country, restore ethnic balance and take the economy in a direction away from the dogmatic communism of the previous Government. The PPP, for its part, felt “cheated, not defeated” and embarked on an aggressive campaign of non-cooperation, political and economic sabotage to which the new Government responded “condignly.” By 1974, the country was on its way down the authoritarian road. When the PPP returned to power in 1992 after 28 years of PNC governance, the new Government lost no time in moving to cleanse the Government of what it saw as the sinners of the last three decades and remake the state in its own image. Public servants, most of whom were African Guyanese, were summarily rooted out without regard to their competence. The PNC responded aggressively, culminating in 1997 with the mantra of “slow fire, more fire.” The Herdmonston Accord cooled things for a moment, but by 2001 the country was galloping down the road to a form of dictatorship that surpassed anything in the past. So here we are in 2015. If the mistakes of the past are to be avoided, both the Government and the Opposition would have to show a lot of political maturity. The new Government has the task of balancing restoration of the dignity of Government on the one hand with respecting the democratic principles of fairness and inclusion on the other hand. The 1964 PNC-UF and the 1992 PPP Governments failed miserably in this regard.
Dr David Hinds The now Opposition PPP has made it clear that its attitude towards the Government would be one of noncooperation and confrontation. That is a legitimate course of action that is not new to the PPP’s political practice. But the PPP in the coming months has to draw the line between non-cooperation and civil disobedience on the one hand and open economic and political sabotage on the other hand. Dr. David Hinds, a political activist and commentator, is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Caribbean and African Diaspora Studies at Arizona State University. More of his writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www. guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com
Fourth Sitting of National Assembly set for July 9 THE second reading of two important Bills is scheduled for the Fourth Sitting of the National Assembly of the First Session of the 11th Parliament on Thursday, July 9, 2015. The Constitution Amendment Bill No. 1/2015, first published on June 18, 2015 and read on June 25, 2015, relates to 222 A of the Constitution and seeks to provide financial autonomy to several service commissions, as
Dr Barton Scotland, Speaker of the National Assembly
the Public Procurement Commission, and the Office of the Ombudsman in addition to the aforementioned. This Bill overall seeks to enhance the functioning of these entities, by guaranteeing and strengthening their administration and control of monies allocated to them to carry out their functions pursuant to the Constitution. The second Bill, also first published on June 18, 2015
Mr Basil Williams, Attorney General
well as the Chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The Bill, to be read by Attorney General Basil Williams, also seeks to amend the Third Schedule relating to Article 222 A of the Constitution, to provide financial autonomy to the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission, the Public Service Appellate Tribunal,
Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, former President
- two Bills on agenda expense of the State’s coffers. Of particular interest is the pension for the Former Presidents. The proposed Bill has not slashed the pension allocation from $1.2M. However, the Bill limits other expenses incurred for utilities such as telephone, water and electricity.
Mr Donald Ramotar, former President
and read on June 25, 2015, 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. This Bill, if passed, will slash several benefits for Guyana’s Former Presidents, Samuel Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar. The new Bill seeks to put a tight cap on the benefits that the former leaders can enjoy at the
Mr Samuel Hinds, former President and Prime Minister
There are numerous annual Reports that will be circulated at Thursday’s sitting. These include the mid-year report of 2014, and those from agencies under the former Natural Resources and Environment sector, several companies such as Guyana National Printers, and National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, Atlantic Hotel Inc., and the National Insurance Scheme.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
PUBLIC EVASION FOR WHAT IT IS!
F
By Sase Singh in Washington DC
ROM my letter writing days, regular readers would know sometimes I chose to expose “big shots” that “says one thing and does another”. The trouble with most of these people, is that they all held serious and influential jobs at one point or the other and at most time sounded serious but wisdom and the truth evaded them. I am now reading in the press that the 2013 Auditor General Report has revealed that four completed and tested fixed pumps were received and installed at Skeldon, Windsor Forest, Bagotville (West Bank) and Paradise (East Coast). Additionally, six mobile pumps were installed and commissioned at Lusignan, Pine Grove (Mahaicony), Rose Hall, Mibicuri (Black Bush Polder), Three Friends (Essequibo) and Lima (Essequibo). Now correct me if I am wrong but the arithmetic that I learnt with Mrs Shirley Greene in Primary School would lead me to surmise that four plus six would summate to ten (10). But the contract was for fourteen (14) pumps in total. That translates to four pumps not fully tested, installed or commissioned. Bottom-line - not delivered. Upon reading the document one can discern that these were four fixed pumps. Now let us back up to November 2013 and Dr Leslie Ramsammy. The then Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy was quoted in the national press in November 2013 as saying “all 14 pumps which the Ministry had bought from India-based Company Surendra Engineering in 2011 have been delivered.” According to Dr Ramsammy, some of the pumps are already in operation while others are being installed. Well isn’t that grand? I wonder when Dr Ramsammy was Minister and if he ordered a ‘Prado’ from Beharry Auto Company and the company chose to deliver a ‘vehicle’ with no wheels and no drive shaft, if he would consider that as “delivered”? The fact of the matter is that the Auditor General discovered that one of the pumps is not even in Guyana, while the other three have missing “pump shafts” which has rendered them for the moment as “high class scrap iron”.
This is a prime example of public behaviour that is not expected from public officials where the discourse on issues of public interest are camouflaged in deceitful words with no substance and respect for the truth. Can people now believe Dr Ramsammy when he said that the signature on a letter to the “Miami Spy Shop” in 2012 was not his? That letter authorised the release of a “cell phone interceptor and geographic integrator” to a convicted drug lord. Unfortunately, the evidence presented in U.S. Courts illustrated a different story. According to that letter purportedly signed by Dr Ramsammy, “Cabinet’s representative” (convicted drug Lord Roger Khan) was authorised and supported in this procurement on behalf of the Government of Guyana. The rest is now history. Over the years, our leaders have become obsessed with this national past time called “issues dodging”. In 2012, Dr Ramsammy said “he does not know anything about that letter” and in 2013, Dr Ramsammy said, “all 14 pumps were delivered”. There is enough evidence to present a different testimony, which means a different outcome. But my sense tells me there is a method to the madness and it was all about maintaining political power and positive publicity for the rulers, even if it “hit-up” the taxpayers for a few hundred million dollars, here and there. Well we all know the aftermath from such lawless, deceitful, and devious and might I add ungodly public behaviour – political meltdown. There is a lesson to be learnt from this period of our history – we, as a collective, must continue to raise our voice today and every day going forward to ensure such public behaviour is banished from the land. Just to be clear, most people are very supportive of leaders who “do as they say” and live by politics of principle and avoid the seven social blunders of the world as first published by Gandhi. I beg your indulgence for me to use this forum to re-emphasise them. The seven sins are: · Wealth without work · Pleasure without conscience · Knowledge without character · Commerce without morality · Science without humanity
Sase Singh
· Worship without sacrifice · Politics without principle So this article is not a deliberate personal attack on the former Minister but was more intended to be an expose as why Guyana still has a weak job creation infrastructure, stagnating and poverty sustaining wage rates and rising inequality. We live in a period of extraordinary technology changes but yet too many Guyanese youths lack the skill to cope in the real world because our so-called leaders conducted themselves in such a poor fashion over the years and recklessly depleting the Treasury of valuable resources. We are now at the dawn of our 50th Independence Anniversary with many significant challenges – total operational and financial meltdown in the sugar belt, falling gold prices, an under-skilled population, increasing national debt, great potential for future flooding, astonishing social issues, a runaway crime rate, lack of enough jobs, and so on. But that does not mean we must adopt a defeatist attitude. All of our problems are surmountable but these problems demand leadership and cooperation. It is time to construct a Government that truly reflects our strength – our people. We are on the cusp of turning this nation around and more than ever, we must mobilise the Diaspora, Rural Folks and the Youths to join with the political center of gravity to unleash the true potential of Guyana. Georgetown is not Guyana! As one of the quick win to attack youth unemployment across all ten Regions of Guyana, I am recommending the re-establishment of the State-owned Ayanganna Construction Company on a cash-neutral basis that will be the topic for the next time.
AG gives commitment to address current Hugh Wooding Law students concerns TWENTY-FIVE of the 27 Guyanese students currently attending the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago paid a visit last week to Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Basil Williams, raising several issues and concerns about their education in relation to tuition, discrimination and disadvantages faced in pursuit of their Legal Education Certificate. Secretary to the group Sherry Hewitt raised the issue with the Attorney General about fee payment, while other students raised concerns of immigration, course content and lateness of the Guyana students list to the Trinidad Immigration. The number one issue is tuition fees which amounts to TT$65,792 (Gy$2.2 million or USD$11,000)
Guyanese students currently attending the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago paid a visit last week to Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Mr Basil Williams (seated at centre) per student. The students are now required to pay the full tuition at the beginning of the September semester each year as opposed to 50% in September and 50% in January of the following year. The students also requested help from
the Attorney General to address the courses of Family Practice and Procedure, Legal Drafting and Interpretation for the second year law students in relation to the unique Roman Dutch system of land titling in Guyana as opposed to Trinidad laws.
These two courses have a high percentage of failure hence the students’ desire a tutor who has knowledge of Guyana laws. The issue of immigration was also highlighted because students were turned back by the Trinidad immigration due to the late submission of
the Guyana students list to Trinidad. The Attorney General shared with the students how different it was when he studied at the Hugh Wo o d i n g L a w S c h o o l . He empathised with them promising to explore the help they needed to address the
issue of fee payments and the accommodation of more Guyanese students since the top 25 students are selected out of a total of 80. The students explained that the issue is not one of space since six Trinidadian students were placed in the Guyanese class after the academic year had commenced. The AG also gave a commitment to address the course content issue with Mr Sheldon Mc Donald at the University of Guyana. The students are requesting scholarships for their final year with the understanding that they would serve for a contracted period. Of the 27 current students attending the HWLS, only one is the recipient of a Public Service Ministry scholarship.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
CONSUMER CONCERNS
PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST FOREIGN SCAMS By Pat Dial
SINCE Independence, knowledge of Guyana has grown world-wide but this also led to the country coming into the sights of international confidence tricksters who are bent on exploiting and robbing innocent and naive Guyanese. They do this by selling various fraudulent get-rich-quick schemes. The two most common and widespread of such schemes is the offer of fraudulent syndicated lottery tickets for the world's richest lotteries such as El Gordo of Spain. By clever and well-crafted letters which come from addresses all over the world, the victim is enticed to send the purchase price of the tickets. The letters would often begin by telling the victim that he was one of the select few in Guyana to whom the offer is made. The letters often carry a news report that the addressee had won millions of American dollars which will be sent to him immediately once the purchase price of the tickets is sent. Such letters usually tell the victim that the chances of winning is one in six. These letters are attractively convincing and once one sends the fraudster one's money, one is caught in the net of a gambling syndrome which would keep one sending more
and more money. One very strange thing about these letters is that the fraudster had managed to get the victim's name, address, telephone number and even e-mail. On little reflection, one would realise there is no way of knowing the authenticity of the letter-writers, whether any tickets were ever bought for the money sent or any kind of receipt for the money sent. Indeed, the addresses to which the money is sent often keep changing. Many Guyanese have been scammed millions of dollars by these fake lottery schemes. The other scam comes mostly from Africa, in PAT DIAL particular Nigeria. The writers of such letters often say that some Minister of Government or Government official has come into millions of dollars which he wishes to launder. In
this scam, the fraudster also tries to get one's bank account number or other information about one's financials so as to extend the fraud. When they use e-mails, the e-mails disappear after a few minutes. In Nigeria, there are schools in which the fraudsters are trained and not only has the victim send hard cash but also opens the victim's bank account to being robbed. Of recent years, these fraudsters have developed links with Islamic terrorist groups, and many of them, especially in French Africa, are fronts for financing terrorism. Since the fraudsters have no traceable identity and disappear at will, the only footprint which is left is the victim who has sent the money. And it is the victim who then becomes accused of financing terrorism. There are several other foreign scams floating about Guyana including buying Academic certificates of the University of one's choice and various real estate schemes. The public could protect themselves by immediately deleting or destroying e-mails and letters from these tricksters and informing friends and relatives of the scam. And it would be wise to always be reminded of two ancient adages: “You will never get something for nothing” and “A fool and his money are soon parted”.
GPF kicks off 176th ... From page 5 services,” he warned. Persaud also urged the officers to do their best and serve the force with pride, which will in turn restore its good name. To this effect, he said that standard operational
procedures were developed and a lot of officers were trained in order to deliver the quality of service that the people expect. At the end of the parade, ranks were rewarded by units for exceptional performances
on the route, with the overall best performance going to the TSU, a win that they must have been hoping for over the years. The Presidential Guard copped second place for their performance along the route. Some of the spectators who showed up along Brickdam to witness the route march
Ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department on the parade route
Police ranks on the TSU drill square giving a toast for Commander- in- Chief, President David Granger
Members of the Police Force band on Brickdam yesterday morning (Leroy Smith photos)
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
Minister Bulkan sends Sooba packing -PRO Royston King tipped to replace her as Town Clerk
By Ravin Singh HAVING been embroiled in much controversy since her appointment to public office in 2012, acting Town Clerk of the Georgetown City Council, Ms Carol Ryan Sooba, has been sent packing by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, via letter issued to her on Thursday, July 2. Sooba said the dismissal letter, which took effect on June 7, 2015, was delivered to her home by an officer attached to the Ministry of Communities, since she was still on administrative leave. Following Minister Bulkan’s assumption to office just over a month ago, the Georgetown City Council took a decision to send Sooba on 42 days’ administrative leave; but with 2 days of that leave remaining, Sooba was served with the letter, titled ‘Revocation of Service’. Signed by Minister Bulkhan and dated July 1, 2015, the letter stated: “Please be informed that your appointment as Town Clerk (ag) of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown is hereby revoked. Therefore, by virtue of the power invested in me at Section 116 (1) of the Municipal and Districts Council’s Act, Chapter 28:01, taken in conjunction with
Section 326 (4) of the said Act, your appointment as Town Clerk (ag) is revoked effective from July 7, 2015.” Section 116 (1) of the Municipal and Districts Council’s Act reads: “Any person who gives to the Commission or any member thereof any information which he knows to be false or which he does not believe to be true, or omits therefrom any material particular, shall be guilty of an offence.” A more related section of the act empowering the Minister to exercise his power was noted is Section 119 (1) of the same Act, which states: “The power to appoint a chief executive officer or persons to hold or act in any local government offices the emoluments of which do not exceed eighteen thousand dollars per annum (including the power to confirm appointments), the power to exercise disciplinary control over any persons holding or acting in such offices and the power to remove any such persons from office shall vest in the council to which such person is to be appointed or in which he holds office and, in the case of the appointment of a chief executive officer, be subject to the approval of the Minister”. Section 326 (4) of the
Act, to which Minister Bulkan also alluded in his letter, could not be found in the Municipal and Districts Council’s Act, as the last section recorded was Section
packing. Nandlall’s claim was supported by Section 121 of the Act, which states: “Where the power to exercise disciplinary control over any
114 pertaining to appeals under this section.” However, it is unclear whether the provision cited in Section 121 of the Act caters for a situation in which there
Minister of Communities, Mr Ronald Bulkan
Outgoing Town Clerk, Ms Carol Ryan Sooba
PRO of the Municipality, Mr Royston King
321 of the same Act. The letter cited no reason for the action taken, but former Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, weighed in on the issue, offering that, for Sooba to be dismissed, a reason must be provided. He also argued that, legally, Sooba can appeal this decision taken by the Minister to send her
local government officer (including the power to remove him from office) has been exercised by any person or authority other than the Commission, the local government officer in respect of whom it was exercised may appeal to the Commission from the decision of that person or authority, in accordance with any rules made by the Commission under Section
is no Commission in place, as currently obtains. In an invited comment, Sooba vows to challenge her termination saying she is unsure whether this action can be taken against her, given that legal matters relating to her appointment are still before the court. Sooba explained that after she had been forcefully sent on administrative leave on
May 25, she had requested to meet with the Minister two days later. During that meeting, she said Minister Bulkan had promised her “all benefits” that would have been earned through her appointment as acting Town Clerk and, prior to that, Legal Officer to the Council. “I served the Council for over 18 years,” Sooba told the Chronicle, adding that she has legitimately qualified for her benefits. A d d i t i o n a l l y, S o o b a disclosed that, while on leave, her monthly salary had been “chopped” in half. When she had enquired why, she was advised by the now serving To w n C l e r k t h a t w h e n employees proceed on leave, their salaries are reduced by half for that month. Also pending, she said, is 84 days’ leave which she had been unable to acquire in 2013 and 2014 because of her commitment to the job. Iterating that her benefits should be awarded to her for her years of service to City Hall, Sooba noted that she has no problem with how Minister Bulkan handles his business. Meanwhile, City Hall’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Royston King, who allegedly had been sworn in illegally last year as Town Clerk, has been tipped to be Sooba’s replacement.
DNA samples in high-profile cases returned from Brazil - Crime Chief THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) is in receipt of tests for several DNA samples which were sent to Brazil during investigations into several murders, many of which were classified as high-profile. Crime Chief Wendell B l a n h u m , o n F r i d a y, confirmed to this publication that the force recently received the samples which are approximately eight in number. He said police investigators are presently documenting the findings of the tests. The results, he said, are written in a foreign language and the Criminal Investigation Department of the Guyana Police Force
is presently in contact with a Federal Liaison Officer from Brazil, who is based in Guyana and he is in contact with the authorities in that country. Samples returned included that of former police detective Igris BobbBlackman, who at the time was attached to the Brickdam Police Station. Blackman’s body was pulled from a septic tank in January 2011 at Parfait Harmonie on the West Bank of Demerara, a day after he went missing. The police had arrested his ex-wife in that matter and the woman was freed of the murder charge in 2014. The police also received the results for DNA samples which were also sent as
part of the investigations into the murder of Sirmattie Ramnaress, a businesswoman and reputed wife of now embattled Police Sergeant Colin Bailey. The police had taken samples from Bailey and also took into their possession bottles which were at the scene and on a table when they showed up to investigate the murder. One of the bottles which was said to have been still cold, suggested that it was not long before ranks showed up at the scene that it had been taken from the refrigerator. The crime scene investigators have been working on the theory that the crime scene of the ransacked house and what appeared to be forced entry, had been staged.
Also returned were samples taken from a murder scene at the K&VC Hotel. There have been several incidents at the chain of K&VC Hotels and this publication was unable to immediately pinpoint which of the murders the police were able to receive samples for from Brazil. Samples taken in a triple murder which had occurred a t Tu s c h e n , E a s t B a n k Essequibo, in December, 2014, were also returned. A father and son had been arrested and charged for the murder of a woman, her daughter and grand-daughter, who were all chopped to death. In addition to those samples, there have been
other samples returned which included ones that were taken from a murder scene in Berbice, Region 6. On Friday, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud also confirmed that samples did return from Brazil, but was quick to point out that there were still several other samples to be returned. It was against that backdrop that he informed media operatives that the Force decided to send samples to Trinidad for testing. Presently, Guyana and Brazil have an agreement with respect to DNA testing and Commissioner Persaud made it clear that the agreement is still alive and well and nothing has changed.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum He was however, clear in pointing out that the reason they have decided to send samples to Trinidad, despite the standing agreement with Brazil, is the fact that the latter has been having issues with its testing lab and that it has been causing local investigators to move ahead with building their cases. (Leroy Smith)
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
Management officials of Princess Guyana, along with Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes and Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, pictured with some of the children whose schools were awarded by Fun City Entertainment Centre (Delano Williams photo)
Princess donates computers to five schools - in 2nd anniversary gesture By Shirley Thomas THE Princess Fun City Entertainment Centre is currently celebrating its second anniversary of serving Guyana’s entertainment needs, and is pleased to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to award five (5) computers to deserving schools which supported Fun City’s tour initiative. The computers were presented to the five lucky schools on Friday last at a simple handing-over ceremony held at Princess Fun City Entertainment Centre. Among invitees present were Tourism Minister Mrs Cathy Hughes and Chief Education Officer, Mr Olato Sam. Over the period February to May, 2015, Princess Fun City Entertainment Centre conducted a ‘free three-month school tours’ programme, facilitated through the Ministry of
Education. The five lucky schools were drawn from among 190 showing interest countrywide. They are as follows: Meten-Meer Zorg in Region Three; Cottage Nursery in Region Five; J.E. Burnham Primary in Kitty, Georgetown, in Region Four; Rose Hall Estate Primary in East Canje, Berbice in Region Six; and the Wisburg Secondary in Wismar, Mackenzie, in Region Ten. Public Relations Manager Mrs Ali Williams said: “The management of Princess Guyana believes it is our social responsibility to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of these students; and in doing so, it is my pleasure to present five computers to the much deserving schools selected by the Ministry of Education, as this will go a far way in their studies.”
SEVERAL ranks of the Special, Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are on the verge of being transferred out of the unit, after failing integrity tests which were conducted recently. This was confirmed by Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, while speaking with the media last Friday. According to the Top Cop, the Police Force has conducted only one such exercise for this year. Asked at one point if the ranks will be transferred, the Commissioner said this will be done immediately after
the results have been returned. He did confirm, however, that they were informed of several failures but when asked for a number or percentage when taking into consideration the number of ranks who were tested, Commissioner Persaud said he was not in a position to state at the time, since he needed to confirm the number. The media was told that the Police Force will not move to dismiss the officers from the force, but those transfers will be effected.
Several ranks of ‘Special, Organised Crime Unit’ fails polygraph tests
Mrs Williams said participation of so many schools and the interest of the children encouraged management to continue in this yearly programme. She assured that the entity would continue to do so. Mrs Williams also said: “This programme was very successful. We’ve received overwhelming response from over 190 schools across the country, coming from several Regions.” On behalf of the management of Princess Guyana, she expressed heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Tourism, for attending the handing over ceremony; and the schools that participated in the initiative. Further, she announced that in addition to the computer give-aways, Fun City is celebrating its anniversary by offering reduced prices to attend movie showings, and there are special offers for the month.
Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
Last call!
2AM bar curfew in effect - not applicable to regional, international shows, says Minister Ramjattan
MINISTER of Public Security, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, under whose purview the laws governing music and dance licences fall, has announced that enforcement of the 02:00hrs (2AM) closing time for bars and clubs in Guyana will not be applicable when local promoters host regional and international shows , at least not for now. Speaking with the media on Friday afternoon, Minister Ramjattan, when asked about the laxity on enforcement on the already existing law which has clearly gone without enforcement for decades, had this to say: “The regional and international shows will have its special permissions and the time period would be put on those shows too, but I don’t know necessarily if that will apply if there is a special show that can go until 4 am then fine, we will deal with that and that’s a show.” The minister added that already the women’s rights groups which he met in relation to the enforcement of the 02:00hrs closing time are all in agreement with the move, while proprietors and proprietresses of several clubs and bars have been approaching him to review his position on the enforcement. “I am getting a number of bars and restaurants already lobbying me and I will not in any way try to retract and renege
Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, Vice President and Minister of Public Security
on that; it is also a legal requirement under the licensing arrangement that they bring a halt to their activities at 02:00hrs in the morning,” Minister Ramjattan told the media. He went on to address the issue of spending, stating that people who are in the habit of drinking at those hours in the morning after 02:00hrs are spending too much money that could have been spent more wisely. On the social side, Ramjattan told reporters that the drinking practice has a direct relationship to domestic violence, while also stressing that it also contributes to the number of traffic offences. The minister added too that drinking so late into the morning also sees persons being unable to make it to work; and if they do make it to work they are unable to function properly on their jobs. These developments, he stated, have a direct impact on the economy as it were, while reiterating that he wishes to see all clubs and nightspots close at 02:00hrs. “I would want all of them, every single night, to close at 2AM,” Minister Ramjattan declared. He is adamant that the law will be upheld and there will also be sanctions, suspensions or revocation of their licences if these laws are breached or violated. (Leroy Smith)
Delay in arming fisherfolk, declaring gun amnesty - Minister Ramjattan explains why
By Leroy Smith PERSONS who are in possession of illegal arms and ammunition will still have a period within which to hand those over to the lawenforcement agencies, although much is not being mentioned about the move. Minister of Public Security, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, told reporters on Friday that his ministry and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are presently preparing operational matters with respect to the move. He admitted that Commissioner of Police, Mr Seelall Persaud, has advised him that the process is not as easy as just inviting persons to surrender the arms and ammunition as he, Ramjattan, thought initially. According to the minister, it was agreed that the process is something that needs to be properly thought through. He also stressed that while a lot of persons have criticised the move, saying that it will not stop gun violence, he believes that removing the number of guns on the streets is one of the factors that will contribute to the reduction of gun- related crimes. Minister Ramjattan stressed that he intends to work on the move seriously and very soon it will become operational, even as the logistics have to be worked out with respect to where persons
will send the guns and what are the requirements along with a whole host of other issues, before the process gets to the implementation stage. Meanwhile, on the issue of piracy and the arming of fisherfolk while at sea, the Public Security Minister said the move is another one by his ministry which needs to be placed on hold, as many of the fishermen are against being allowed to carry arms and ammunition while at sea. When asked by reporters about the Government’s position with respect to the issue, Minister Ramjattan stated that the suggestion is being criticised, not only by persons outside of the fishing industry, but by the fishermen themselves. He added that the fisherfolk have decided to lobby the Government for more marine patrols while they ply their trade. However, Minister Ramjattan said increased patrols would be costly, and that was communicated to the fishers who want the patrols while they are in mid-ocean. He stressed that they were informed that the best option the Government has at this time is to arm them. “I told them that it’s too expensive and the other alternative is to arm them and whenever anyone comes to attack them, they can take care of themselves and a lot of them seem reluctant to
do that,” Ramjattan explained. He concluded that the next best option when it comes to patrolling the rivers and seas would be when Guyana finds oil. “I don’t know what then will be the option; until such time when we find oil and we can have more patrol boats watching them while they fish, then we might not be able to.” The Public Security Minister also mentioned an anti-piracy plan, which he was told does exist and he has asked that the plan be recovered and put into place, since it had been floated since 2013. Ramjattan also spoke of the need for the establishment of a marine wing of the Guyana Police Force. Over the years, Guyanese fisherfolk have been killed, injured and even missing at sea as a result of piracy. It is something that has been a huge bugbear to the fishing industry and which has left several families devastated, some who to this day have not been able to find closure as their loved ones never returned home. There are cases also where persons were arrested for committing piracy on their countrymen, while nationals from other countries have been fingered in the acts, which would see fishermen losing their catch, engines and other resources and items which they used in plying their trade.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
Gov’t will set up…
SYSTEMS TO DETECT CORRUPTION
- says PM Nagamootoo at launch of Anand Goolsarran’s second book PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is performing the duties of President, has pledged the new Government’s full commitment to having a corruption-free Guyana, even as he reminded of the forensic audits that are being conducted, the results of which will be used to prosecute those found culpable. The Prime Minister, speaking at the launch of Anand Goolsarran’s book, ‘Public Accountability at the Crossroads: the Guyana Experience’ at the Pegasus Hotel last Friday evening, noted his amusement over Ministers of the former PPP/C Government who have a vested interest in ‘trivialising’ the extent of corruption. “They think that if they bring them down to the level of vehicles, then we would be tempted to look for the coins… but we are also concerned about missing vehicles, furniture, beds as well as large sums of monies that have been spent illegally, misspent or spent without proper procedures,” the Prime Minister said. The new Government will be setting up systems to detect corruption, and encourage reporting of dishonest acts. He noted that the Cabinet has started off by signing on to a Code of Conduct, and that the intention is to have officials even at the level of the Region sign on to this code. Corruption has been like a cancer in Guyana, and PM Nagamootoo said that in an effort to ensure that the country becomes free of this scourge, the Government needs bodies such as Transparency Institute and the work of Anand Goolsarran. He indicated his intention to act on the Public Procurement Commission, and hopes to get the support of the Opposition in this regard. Transparency Institute Guyana Inc., used the opportunity to renew its call for the Government of Guyana to implement speedily, what it termed ‘critically needed’ commissions. The Institute’s Gino Persaud noted that this was the first time in the history of the body that members of Government were in attendance at one of its event. He was referring to Acting President Nagamootoo and Minister of Public Security and First-Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jaipaul Sharma and Minister within the Ministry of Communities Keith Scott who were present at the event. Persaud renewed calls that the Transparency Institute has been making for five years, including setting up a Public Procurement Commission to provide independent oversight of public procurement, the prioritising of the appointment of members of the Integrity Commission, and for Government to implement laws to regulate campaign financing in national elections, among others. The need to guarantee integrity in public life, to ensure that all public money is placed in the Consolidated Fund, that no public expenditure is incurred without Parliamentary approval and a full review of the Access to Information, were also reiterated. Goolsarran explained that this second book is a collection of articles which were published weekly in the Stabroek News under the theme ‘Accountability Watch’ during the period
Author of ‘Public Accountability at the Crossroads’, Dr Anand Goolsarran presents a copy of his book to Prime Minister and Acting President at the time, Mr Moses Nagamootoo. Also in photo is Vice President and Minister of Public Security Mr Khemraj Ramjattan (second left) and Mr Gino Persaud of the Transparency Institute (left) Dr Goolsarran has over 28 years professional June 2012 to December 2013. The book comprises 81 articles, mostly dealing with issues experience in the fields of Accounting and Auditing and relating to governance, transparency, and have a direct bearing worked in the Audit Office of Guyana from 1985 to 2005, during which terms he served as Auditor General from on the legislature, he noted. Goolsarran’s first book was launched on October 9, 2012. 1990 to 2005. He is credited with trying to restore public It was titled ‘Improving Public Accountability - the Guyana accountability from 1992, through his effort as Auditor General of Guyana. (GINA) Experience 1985-2007’.
A section of the audience at the book launch
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Minister of Social Protection, Ms Volda Lawr at the Guyana Women’
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Minister Volda Lawrence chatting with a resident of the Hugo Chavez Centre of Rehabilitation and Reintegration
rence, checking out the physical conditions ’s Leadership Institute
Monitoring, evaluation mechanism to be established for benevolent centres - Minister Lawrence
THE Ministry of Social Protection will be establishing a structured monitoring and evaluation mechanism for the benevolent centres under its purview, specifically the Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration, the Mahaica Children’s Home and t h e G u y a n a Wo m e n ’s Leadership Institute (GWLI). Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence noted that monitoring and evaluation is a big issue within the different agencies that fall under the ministry. However, where the necessity exists for a monitoring and evaluation department, it will be established. Minister Lawrence was at the time visiting these facilities, and took the opportunity to interact with staff and occupants. At the Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration, located at Onverwagt in Region Five, Minister Lawrence pointed out that at present there is no mechanism in place to enlist occupants. “We have been looking to find some contractual arrangement between the Guyana Government and the Government of Venezuela and we have not been able to find those documents. We a re d i s c u s s i n g partnering with a number of ministries, such as the Indigenous People’s See page 19
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Monitoring, evaluation mechanism .... From Centre Affairs, Public Health, and work with the persons from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). We believe that if we collaborate with other partners we will be able to fill the place with persons who really need this type of care,” Minister Lawrence explained. With regard to the Night Shelter at East La Penitence, Georgetown, the Minister said she will be visiting the facility shortly. In the interim, the Ministry will be looking at employing a Psychologist who can evaluate persons from the Shelter and the Palms with the view to their taking up residence at the Hugo
Chavez Centre. “There is much left to be desired here…we have heard from the residents that they are here and treated like children…the residents themselves are begging for some sort of programme where they can utilise their energy and learn a skill,” the minister lamented. She said the ministry has a lot of work to do because “we cannot continue to have a building like this and not being able to fulfil the mandate in which it was setup for.” The building is well structured, she said, and the ministry now has to work to implement a plan to ensure persons are properly evaluated and reintegrated into society. The $420M Hugo Chavez
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Minister Volda Lawrence and team at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute Centre for Rehabilitation c o l l a b o r a t i v e v e n t u r e of Guyana and Venezuela. administrative building and Reintegration is a between the Governments I t i s e q u i p p e d w i t h which houses a training t w o d o r m i t o r i e s , a n centre, library, and an infirmary and rooms for and Ralph Tyndal together persons with communicable murdered Colleen Forrester.” diseases and disabilities. Meanwhile, the Ministry Other lawyers who of Social Protection will participated in the prosecution redesign the GWLI’s agenda were Ms Stacy Goodings and to provide programmes for ‘Nick’ & ‘Papa’ to be sentenced on Tuesday Ms Shawnett Austin. By George Barclay that they did not reach an The defence lawyers women, thereby, making agreement in relation to the convicted murderers. bringing friends to stay, w e r e M e s s r s M a d a n them more marketable. CONFUSION and joy number one accused, Tyndal, The prosecution had told because it was Hope and The children’s home Kissoon for Ralph Tyndal, heralded the Septic the jury, “Ours is a case his school days’ friend that at Mahaica will also be and Melvin Duke for Tank murder trial of betrayal, of lies and murdered her.” refurbished. (GINA) Anthony De Paul Hope. verdicts on Friday of cold-blooded murder. Recalling that the night, July 3rd, as Unknown to her brother number 3 accused had been spectators expressed Ulric Lucas, Colleen freed, Leading Prosecutrix their feelings of joy Forrester allowed ‘Papa’ Ms Diana Kaulesar had, in and sadness at the to stay at his house. her final address to the jury, convictions of Ralph For Forrester, this was said: “You will recall (that) Tyndal, also called a typical case of ‘yuh Kevin O’Neil was indicted ‘Nick’, and Anthony sorry for magga dog and for murder along with these De Paul Hope, also he turned round and bite two accused. He isn’t in that c a l l e d ‘ P a p a ’ , f o r ‘CONVICTED’: Murder accused yuh hand’. dock today because it was the 2007 murder of Ralph Tyndal, also called ‘Nick’, Her own nephew, found that we did not have 45-year-old caretaker and Anthony De Paul Hope, also whom she provided a enough evidence for it to go C o l l e e n F o r re s t e r called ‘Papa’ in court last week place to stay when he before you. However, our of Lot 55 William (Chronicle’s Samuel Maughn photo) had nowhere to go, evidence against these two Street, Campbellville, turned around and killed accused is capable of proving Georgetown, whose her. She probably knew murder. body had been wrapped but had reached a unanimous about his company, and that “In this case, the State is in several coloured sheets verdict in respect to the is why she didn’t want him saying that Anthony Hope and placed in a septic tank number two accused, Hope. in the same yard where she Justice George enquired had lived. from the foreman whether Sunday July 5, 2015 - 5:30hrs Some of the spectators they would need further time who appeared to be relatives to try and reach an agreement Monday July 6, 2015 - 8:30hrs or friends of the deceased one way or the other, and welcomed the verdicts, while a member of the jury stood Tuesday July 7, 2015 - 9:00hrs others, who had anticipated up and answered in the not guilty verdicts, hurled affirmative. harsh remarks at the jury as Having given a verdict they congregated outside in respect of the number the court and continued to 2 accused, who was found express their dislike of the guilty of murder, the jury was verdict. sent back to the jury room to Following a marathon further deliberate in respect to summing up to the jury by Tyndal. Shortly before 21:00 Madame Justice Roxane hrs (9 pm) that night, the jury George, who began her returned with a unanimous summing up at 10:00 hrs that verdict of guilty of murder day, with a stoppage for lunch in relation to Ralph Tyndal, and two other stoppages, the called ‘Nick’. jury was sent to deliberate at The judge thanked the 17:00 hrs (5 pm). jury for its services and the Shortly after 19:30 hrs prisoners were remanded (7:30 pm), the jury declared until Tuesday at 13:30 hrs, its readiness with a verdict, when pleas in mitigation but in delivering this verdict, would be heard and sentences the foreman announced would be imposed on the
Septic tank murder trial…
TWO ACCUSED CONVICTED
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Almost two years after tragic accident…
Trial of truck driver on four ‘causing death’ charges continues - at Providence Court
By Clestine Juan
Road when he saw two motor lorries proceeding north on the said road. Motor lorry BPP 8495 was behind the other lorry, while the bus was in the other lane. He said motor lorry GPP 8495 overtook the other lorry and came in the path of the minibus, resulting in a collision that caused him to lose consciousness; and when he awoke at the scene of the
to that hospital in motor car PKK 881, driven by Corporal Ambrose. RITESH Bhagwandin, the Sergeant Harry explained 19-year-old driver of the that he summoned a tow sand truck that took the truck to take the mangled lives of four persons on minibus BPP 3521, which the Coverden Public Road, was lodged in a nearby East Bank Demerara on trench, after which he also October 18, 2013, appeared left for the hospital. o n F r i d a y l a s t b e f o re “Upon arrival at the Providence Magistrate hospital,” he said, “I learnt L e ro n D a i l e y f o r t h e that four persons had died continuation of his trial. because of injuries Now 22, Bhagwandin, they had received in of Lot 12 Hope, East the accident.” Coast Demerara, stands The witness noted indicted for driving motor that Bhagwandin was lorry GPP 8495 in a later admitted to the manner dangerous to the Georgetown Public public, thereby causing Hospital along with the deaths of Felix Marc, four other persons. Corretta and Delroy The Police Evans, and Poolmattie Sergeant denied Samaroo. that, on October 21, He had been 2013, he had arrived remanded to prison by at the hospital after Chief Magistrate Priya receiving information Sewnarine-Beharry. The that the driver of matter was thereafter the motor lorry was transferred to the being discharged, Providence Magistrate, Ritesh Bhagwandin is on trial and he had swiftly and the trial began on for causing death by dangerous carted him off to the driving January 15, 2015. Madewini Police A total of 10 Outpost where he had witnesses have so far been accident, the bus was tucked told him of the offence of the called, including civilian in a trench, badly wrecked, incident. a n d p o l i c e p e r s o n n e l . and he was rushed to the The Police Sergeant Among them is Orson hospital. said he had requested Riley, who was in the front On Friday last, Police Bhagwandin to submit a seat of the Mahdia-bound Sergeant Harry testified statement of the accident and minibus and had suffered that he was present at the he had refused. However, a fractured shoulder and accident scene and saw an he later submitted one via other minor injuries. ambulance take away the his lawyer. Nevertheless, Riley told the court that injured to the Diamond Harry said he had taken he was in the front seat of a D i a g n o s t i c H o s p i t a l , Bhagwandin to the scene Route 72 (Mahdia) minibus w h i l e t h e 1 9 - y e a r - o l d of the accident to show him which was proceeding south driver of the motor lorry, the point of impact. The along the Coverden Public Bhagwandin, was taken measurement was recorded
and they returned to the outpost, where Bhagwandin w a s c h a rg e d w i t h f o u r counts of causing death by
that in his client’s statement, the Police had been told of a lorry that had come over to his client’s lane, causing him
Delroy Evans was one of the passengers killed in the accident
Bus driver Felix Marc was killed in the horrific accident
dangerous driving. Bhagwandin’s lawyer, Mr Bernard De Santos, during cross-examination of Sergeant Harry, highlighted
to swerve to avoid a collision. De Santos said that because his client had swerved from the lorry, his right side steering was
dislodged and he had lost control of the lorry, which ended up going into the other lane. The lawyer further highlighted that the police were unable to provide the court with model, colour or registration number of the unknown motor lorry; and he upbraided the Police Sergeant who was giving his testimony. The matter was then adjourned until 22 July. A still distraught Donna Don, wife of the deceased bus driver Felix Marc, attended court on Friday, and expressed her frustration at the pace of the trial. The widow pleaded with witnesses to be present at the trial to give their evidence, even though the tragic incident happened almost two years ago.
Donna Don (right), the widow of bus driver Felix Marc; and Natasha Willie, relative of the deceased Delroy Evans, who died in the smashup, stand outside the Providence Court on Friday
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Patriots thump Tallawahs in St Kitts THE St Kitts & Nevis Patriots bounced back from their defeat on Friday with a sensational victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs on a glorious afternoon at Warner Park. Evin Lewis struck a fabulous 82 from only 45 balls as the Patriots were put into bat by Chris Gayle and the Tallawahs and they made hay in the sunshine, Lewis and Martin Guptill (35 off 25) putting on 71 for the first wicket. Lewis was in stunning form, smashing 6 fours and 6 sixes in a brutal display of hitting, perhaps only denied a century by a run out after Shahid Afridi had come to the crease. Carlos Brathwaite pumped 3 huge sixes in a brilliant late cameo, striking 36 off 18 balls as they made 199-5, and the Tallawahs’ chase got off to the worst possible start
when the ‘World Boss’ Gayle was dismissed for only 8. Sheldon Cottrell got both openers and gave them both the ‘salute’ send-off, Mahela Jayawardena was run out for 10 and when Chris Lynn chopped Cottrell behind and was caught for 20, it was pretty much game over. Tabraiz Shamsi (423) and Shahid Afridi (2-10) made sure they never even got close to keeping up with the rate and the South African left-arm leg-spinner Shamsi destroyed the Tallawahs tail to bowl them out for a paltry 80, an extraordinary defeat.
SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Turffontein 08:40 hrs Fair Colour 09:15 hrs Fortune Fella 09:50 hrs Inala 10:25 hrs Sisters Of Mercy 11:00 hrs Cataluga ENGLISH RACING TIPS Ayr 08:30 hrs Stella Etoile 09:00 hrs Haymarket 09:30 hrs Mysterial 10:05 hrs Spokesperson 10:35 hrs Royal Duchess 11:10 hrs Obsidian 11:45 hrs Orbit The Moon 12:15 hrs Red Invader MARKET RASEN 09:15 hrs Nabucco 09:45 hrs Enchanted Garden 10:20 hrs Jackjourneyman 10:50 hrs Alderbrook Lad 11:25 hrs Tanerko Emery 12:00 hrs Thinger Licht 12:30 hrs Oneofapear IRISH RACING TIPS Limerick 09:05 hrs Bostn Oscar 09:35 hrs Valyssa Monterg 10:10 hrs Medinah Gold 10:40 hrs Flaming Dawn 11:15 hrs Sizing Platinum 11:50 hrs Protaras 12:20 hrs Hear The Thunder FAIRYHOUSE 09:25 hrs Anania 09:55 hrs Fast In The Wind 10:30 hrs Majestic Queen 11:00 hrs Curlylocks 11:35 hrs Gussy Goose 12:10 hrs Waaheb 12:40 hrs Edepour
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Jankovic sends Kvitova tumbling out of Wimbledon By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON, (Reuters)-A woman who once fumed she “needed a helicopter” to go on a Wimbledon court she called a “parking lot” could not have been happier with her surroundings on Saturday as Jelena Jankovic sent holder Petra Kvitova spinning out. A tournament still reeling from the second-round exit of Rafa Nadal 48 hours earlier, and the near-exit of Serena Williams 24 hours ago, suffered its biggest shock of this year’s championships as Jankovic emerged from the tennis wilderness to deliver the most unexpected of knockout punches. The Serbian, who had fallen in the opening round at three of the four previous grand slams, announced her return to the big stage with a heart-stopping 3-6 7-5 6-4 third-round victory over the second-seeded Czech that left Centre Court buzzing. “Oh my God! I am overwhelmed and so excited. My heart is still pumping,” said the 28th seed whose reign as world number one in 2008 feels like a lifetime ago. “I have played so poorly the last couple of years and playing on Centre Court against the defending champion was unbelievable. The crowd was really great. “Playing on grass is so difficult for me, it does not come naturally. I’m glad I was able to win against a two-time Wimbledon champion. It was amazing.” While Jankovic was rolling on to her back in delight, and showed her appreciation to the crowd by shaping a heart with her fingers, the men’s favourites made serene progress. HAIR-RAISING MOMENT A 147 mph howitzer that whistled past Roger Federer’s ears provided one of the few hair-raising moments in the men’s draw when grand slam champions old and new safely planted themselves into the second week of the championships. Sam Groth bombarded Federer’s half of the court with 21 aces, and one missile clocked a fraction short of Taylor Dent’s 2010 Wimbledon record of 148 mph, but it takes more than a “freaky serve” to flatten a seven-times Wimbledon champion. In fact the Australian did not even come close to earning a break point as Federer eased into week two for the 12th time in 13 years with a 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2 third-round victory. “I’ve played three matches now, no breaks faced, it’s great,” summed up the 17-times grand slam champion. Andy Murray also dropped his first set at this year’s event and needed on-court treatment for a sore shoulder before advancing to a fourth round showdown with big-serving Ivo
Karlovic with a 6-2 6-2 1-6 6-1 win. Joining them in the fourth round was the newest member of the grand slam club, U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic. But, unlike Federer, the Croatian ninth seed had to face loads of breaks as he survived his second successive five-set thriller at Wimbledon. A match between two missile-serving giants had the potential to go on and on, but
Jelena Jankovic of Serbia celebrates after winning her match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, yesterday.. Reuters/Henry Browne luckily for Cilic he only needed 15 minutes and two games on Saturday to complete a 7-6(4) 6-7(6) 6-4 6-7(4) 12-10 win over John Isner that was suspended at 10-10 on Friday. A contest that had featured 437 points, 159 winners and 72 aces, ended tamely with an Isner double fault after four hours 31 minutes. “It sucks,” summed up the American loser. DANCING DREADLOCKS Dustin Brown and his waist-length dancing dreadlocks also took their final bow at Wimbledon as Nadal’s conqueror
Hazlewood helps Aussies beat Essex AUSTRALIA fast bowler Josh Hazlewood strengthened his claims for a place in the first Ashes Test with four wickets in the tour win over Essex. Hazlewood took 4-42 and Mitchell Starc 3-26 as the Aussies beat Essex by 169 runs at Chelmsford for their second tour victory, following their Kent win. The Ashes begin on 8 July in Cardiff. After Australia were bowled out for 221, Essex were set 370 to win. But, despite Ryan ten Doeschate’s 61, the home side fell well short on 200. At 140-2, after a partnership of 97 with Ravi Bopara (42), Essex, although missing
injured pair Nick Browne and Tom Westley, still held on to hopes of at least avoiding defeat. But Starc struck twice, followed by three successive wickets for Hazlewood as Essex lost their last six wickets for just 60, being bowled out inside 49 overs. In the end, Australia came through their four days in Chelmsford in fine fettle, but not without a few injuries. Captain Michael Clarke suffered a painful blow to his hand, which followed Ryan Harris’s late withdrawal from the starting XI at Chelmsford with a long-standing knee injury. (BBC Sport)
was beaten 6-4 7-6(3) 4-6 6-3 by Serbia’s Viktor Troicki. Karlovic hurled down 41 aces in a 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(9) win over French 13th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. However, it was Kvitova’s sensational demise that appeared to flummox everyone, including the 2014 champion. “I’m not really sure what happened out there,” said the left-hander. No one saw the defeat coming after Kvitova had whipped her first two opponents for the loss of just three games in total. But Jankovic produced the kind of shots
not seen from her racket since she ruled tennis all those years ago and stormed back from a set and 4-2 down to pull off the most improbable of victories when Kvitova whacked a backhand into the net. It was little wonder that a woman who was left angry seven years ago when as the second seed she was forced to play on Court 18 could not stop grinning yesterday. “I cannot stop smiling. It’s a really big win for me, especially playing on Centre Court,” she said. “I just beat a defending champion. It’s unbelievable.”
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Stage winner Dennis a menace to Tour’s top guns By Martyn Herman UTRECHT, Netherlands, (Reuters)-Australian Rohan Dennis proved too hot to handle as the Tour de France began with a record-breaking 13.8-km individual time trial through the sweltering streets of Utrecht yesterday. The 38th of the 198 competitors to roll down the start ramp, the BMC Racing Team rider averaged 55.446 kph as he blasted round the cycle-mad city in 14 minutes 56 seconds. He then had to stew in the hot seat as rider after rider failed to match his searing pace in suffocating temperatures more typical of his native Adelaide. Dennis completed his white-knuckle ride in the
highest average speed for a Tour de France individual
time trial since Briton Chris Boardman’s effort over 7-km
BMC Racing rider Rohan Dennis of Australia wears the race leader’s yellow jersey on the podium after the 13.8 km (8.57 miles) individual time-trial first stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race in Utrecht, Netherlands, yesterday. Reuters/Eric Gaillard
in Lille in 1994, and it gave him ownership of the coveted yellow jersey for a day at least. “It was a huge relief and a huge goal finally achieved,” said Dennis who was five seconds quicker than second-placed German Tony Martin and six clear of pre-stage favourite Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. “So few people have actually won the yellow jersey, it’s a huge honour,” the Australian told reporters. “It was stressful waiting. I was shaking watching them come in one by one. There were a few close moments for sure. “When Cancellara didn’t beat me I finally could start to relax a bit.” An estimated 700,000 people turned out to watch as the Dutch welcomed the Grand Depart for the sixth time, and they were not disappointed as the sport’s powerhouses lit the blue touchpaper for the battles
ahead. While Dennis was enjoying his moment in the sun, the main contenders to wear the yellow jersey after the finale in Paris on July 26 avoided mishaps as they jostled for position ahead of what could be an incident-packed first nine days in northern France, with cobbles and uphill finishes in store. Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali, whose Astana team caused controversy by allowing Lars Boom to start despite him returning low cortisol levels in an anti-doping test, finished 43 seconds back in 22nd place. IMPRESSIVE PINOT Britain’s Chris Froome (Team Sky) was 50 seconds off the pace while Spain’s Alberto Contador, striving to complete the first Giro d’Italia-Tour double since Marco Pantani in 1998, was 58 seconds adrift.
Thibaut Pinot, France’s best hope for overall glory, was an impressive 18th. The feelgood story of the stage was the debut of MTN Qhubeka, the first true African team to start the Tour. Daniel Teklehaimanot, representing Eritrea and the first black African to compete in the race, had the honour of being the first down the ramp. While he did not feature high in the standings, the team did celebrate a 10thplaced finish for Briton Steve Cummings. Dennis, team mate of the more fancied general classification contender, American Tejay Van Garderen, will defend the yellow jersey on Sunday’s flat 166-km charge towards Zelande on the Dutch coast. “My long-term goal is to win one of the grand tours,” Dennis said. “I’m one step in the right direction.”
Australia’s Harris announces …Pat Cummins to replace shock retirement him in Ashes squad (REUTERS) - AUSTRALIA’S injury-plagued paceman Ryan Harris announced his immediate retirement from all forms of cricket yesterday, dealing a major setback to his team’s defence of the Ashes starting in England next week. The 35-year-old Queenslander withdrew from Australia’s ongoing warm-up match against Essex and walked away from the sport less than a week before the first of five Tests against England starts at Cardiff on Wednesday. “Given the news I received yesterday, and after talking it over with my family, I know now is the right is the time to step away from cricket,” Harris said following scans on his troublesome right knee. “I’m pretty lucky, I have had a wonderful career and nothing made me prouder than pulling on the baggy green,” said the right-arm paceman, who ends his career with 113 wickets from 27 Tests. Cricket Australia announced that Pat Cummins would replace Harris in the Ashes squad. “I played 27 more Tests than I ever thought I would and I have relished every single moment of them,” said Harris, who
also claimed 44 wickets in 21 one-day internationals. “I couldn’t have played with a better bunch of blokes and walking away from the
Ryan Harris took 113 wickets from 27 Tests team and our support staff is probably the hardest thing to stomach right now. “This is a very special team and I know they will do Australia proud in this Ashes series. I know I will certainly be watching every ball.” The Sydney Test against India in January was Harris’s last international match but he will be best remembered for taking 24 wickets in a losing cause the last time Australia
toured England in 2013, the highlight his 7-117 figures at Chester-le-street. Coach Darren Lehmann paid tribute to the lion-hearted paceman, who made his Test debut in 2010 against New Zealand in Wellington at the age of 30. “Ryan always gave it his all for his country and he epitomises everything the baggy green stands for,” Lehman said of the bowler nicknamed ‘Rhino’. “His never-say-die attitude was his signature as he left absolutely nothing on the field each time he played and I think that is something for which he should be incredibly proud.” “The team and I are certainly very proud of everything he has achieved on and off the field and we wish him all the best in whatever he decides to do next.” CA chairman Wally Edwards also lauded Harris for his outstanding career. “Ryan has been a wonderful role model and has proved to state cricketers around the nation that age is no barrier to national selection if you have talent, commitment and a burning desire to succeed,” Edwards said.
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Pakistan stutter after Shah claims five wickets (REUTERS) - Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed His team, however, found themselves deep in trouble his third five-wicket haul of the series but Sri Lanka after losing three wickets in the morning session and took the upper hand on day two of the third and final could not really recover. test by restricting the visitors to 209 for nine at Pallekele Dhammika Prasad (3-78) troubled the Pakistan openers yesterday. with his lively pace and was After Azhar Ali (52) rewarded when he trapped showed some fight in an othShan Masood (13) leg before erwise top order capitulation, with a yorker. Sarfraz Ahmed remained not Pradeep (3-26) tasted out after a gutsy 72 to take success with his third delivPakistan past the 200-mark ery when Ahmed Shehzad in the series-deciding contest. (21), caught in two minds, Imran Khan was scorewithdrew his bat but not less at the other end, having before the ball kissed an survived six balls with Pakiedge en route to the wickstan still 69 runs behind Sri etkeeper. Lanka’s first innings total Younus Khan (three) of 278. made matters worse for the Intermittent rain allowed tourists when he set off on a only 68 overs on the second Leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed his third five-wicket suicide single and could not day at the Pallekele Interna- haul of the series. beat Kaushal Silva’s direct tional Cricket Stadium. throw from short midwicket. Resuming on 272 for Azhar battled on, as wickeight, the hosts put on six runs before losing their last two ets tumbled at the other end, and brought up his 20th test wickets inside four overs. Shah (5-78) dismissed Nuwan fifty before edging Pradeep to the slip. Pradeep as Sri Lanka’s last five wickets could only add Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (6), nursing a groin in30 runs to the total. jury, came out to bat at number seven but did not last long, Having claimed 22 victims in five innings, Shah will trapped leg before by a Pradeep delivery that angled in. fancy his chances of surpassing Australia spin great Shane Sarfraz reached his fifty in 57 balls but Sri Lanka are Warne’s record haul of 26 wickets in a series by a visiting well set to take a first innings lead which might prove bowler in Sri Lanka. crucial in what could be a low-scoring contest.
SCOREBOARD
SRI LANKA 1st innings (Overnight: 272-8) D. Karunaratne st S. Ahmed b Az. Ali 130 K. Silva c S. Ahmed b R. Ali 9 U. Tharanga c Y. Khan b Shah 46 L. Thirimanne c sub b Shah 11 A. Mathews c sub b Shah 3 J. Mubarak st S. Ahmed b Shah 25 D. Chandimal lbw b R. Ali 24 D. Prasad c Shah b Az. Ali 0 T. Kaushal lbw b R. Ali 18 S. Lakmal not out 6 N. Pradeep lbw b Shah 0 Extras (lb-3 w-3) 6 Total (all out, 89.5 overs) 278 Fall of wickets: 1-15 K. Silva,2-106 U. Tharanga,3-133 L. Thirimanne,4-137 A. Mathews,5-204 J. Mubarak,6-248 D. Karunaratne,7-248 D. Prasad,8-264 D. Chandimal,9-277 T. Kaushal,10-278 N. Pradeep Bowling: R. Ali 21 - 4 - 74 - 3(w-1), E. Adil 14 - 3 - 37 - 0(w-1), I. Khan 16 - 3 - 51 - 0(w-1),Y. Shah 31.5 - 4 - 78 – 5, Az. Ali 7 - 0 - 35 – 2. PAKISTAN 1st innings S. Masood lbw b Prasad 13 A. Shehzad c Chandimal b Pradeep 21 Az. Ali c Karunaratne b Pradeep 52 Y. Khan run out (K. Silva) 3 A. Shafiq lbw b Prasad 15 S. Ahmed not out 72 Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Pradeep 6 E. Adil lbw b Kaushal 0 Y. Shah c Chandimal b Prasad 18 R. Ali lbw b Kaushal 2 I. Khan not out 0 Extras (lb-4 nb-2 w-1) 7 Total (for 9 wickets, 64 overs) 209 Fall of wickets: 1-32 S. Masood,2-40 A. Shehzad,3-45 Y. Khan,4-91 A. Shafiq,5-135 Az. Ali,6-151 Misbah-ul-Haq,7-152 E. Adil,8-197 Y. Shah,9202 R. Ali Bowling: D. Prasad 19 - 1 - 78 - 3(w-1), S. Lakmal 14 - 1 - 64 - 0(nb-2), N. Pradeep 14 - 5 - 26 – 3, A. Mathews 4 - 1 - 3 – 0, T. Kaushal 13 - 1 34 – 2.
Junior CASA squad DCC honours players selected to ups training mode represent Guyana at youth level By Stephan Sookram
-Coach Ince pleased with level of commitment THE Junior National squash team is moving full steam ahead with preparation and training for this month’s Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association’s (CASA) tournament. Chronicle Sport caught up with Coach Carl Ince who indicated that he is pleased with the level of commitment shown by youths. “Preparations started well and are going well. We started a little late this time but we’ve caught up. We’ve covered all other aspects of the game and we are now at trying to get them match prepared - like fitness, technique, and tactics and so on, we’ve gone past that. I’m satisfied so far, we’re as prepared as we were in the other tournaments” Ince, who has been training national teams for several years now and has attended several regional tournaments, noted that many teams often underestimate their opponents, but this will not be the case with the Guyanese Unit. “Competition gets harder each year, you can imagine that the other teams are fired up and motivated of
course and they want to beat a team that has been winning for a number of years. This sometimes means that in our position, teams would get complacent. But I can assure you that we are not complacent. We know that they are
COACH CARL INCE gunning for us; we know how hard they would play and we’re prepared for it.” The squad departs on the 14th for the tournament which gets going from July 17th- 26th in Barba-
dos and includes at the Under 13 level for boys, Shomari Wiltshire, Samuel Ince-Carvahal, Demetrius De Abreu, Gianni Carpenter, Justin Lilico, Quinn Lilico, and Xavier Gordon. At the Under 15 male level is Daniel and Anthony Islam while the Under- 17s have Ben Mekdeci and Alexander Cheeks. The Under19s have current Men’s & U19 as well as team captain Nyron Joseph and Alec Melville. On the distaff end, at the Under- 13 level is Kirsten Gomes, Madison Fernandes, Haley Carpenter, Aliyah Persaud and Sage Gordon while at the Under-15 level is Makeda Harding. The Under - 17’s have Rebecca Low and Sarah Lewis while the under 19’s have Taylor Fernandes, Larissa Wiltshire, Gabrielle Fraser and under 19 female champion and captain Akeila Wiltshire. Carl Ince is assisted by Tiffany Soloman (Assistant Coach), Garfield Wiltshire (Manager) and David Fernandes (Assistant Manager). (Stephan Sookram)
THE Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) on Friday honoured several of its players who have been drafted into the various national youth squads for the upcoming regional cricket season.
ball on its merit. You have to be able to read the game properly and concentrate. Lloyd, the former Guyana and West Indies captain emphasized to the youngsters, who have the option of playing at various levels, driving home the point that they have the option to
DCC youth Players pose with president Alfred Mentore, some of his executives and the West Indies Chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd During a brief ceremony which doubled as a sponsorship handing over by President of the Club Alfred Mentore, he indicated that the development of youth cricket is something high on the club’s agenda. “Even up to now, we have our cricketers playing at the first class level, in the Barnwell’s and the Griffith’s and the Paul Wintz’s and others so we still do feature at that level, but the nursery is very important for us to continue that agenda. DCC will continue to look after the nursery.” Meanwhile, Chairman of West Indies Cricket Board selectors, Clive Lloyd, reminded every player that their development hinges firmly on their shoulders. “Don’t forget that this is a thinking man’s game, the minute that you lapse, and I am saying that if you’re batting, and you say that you want to hit him over there, that means that you’re losing concentration, you’ve gotta play every
pick up possible flaws in their techniques and correct them before making the ultimate step of joining the Maroon side. Club coach Gavin Nedd, looking on at several of his players urged them to remember the basics of what they have been taught and always be focused on the task at hand. He reminded them that he has seen each player grow from strength to strength and urged them to focus on teamwork. Former players Jamaal Hinkson and Travis Dowlin both encouraged all the youngsters to have more interaction with their senior counterparts. The 12 players that have been drafted into the various teams include Ashmead Nedd, Alphius Bookie, Sachin Singh, Qumar Turrington, Robin Williams. U17 - Nedd, Sagar Hetheramani, Timothy Mclmont, Raymond Perez; U19 - Kemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, and Tevin Imlach.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
Hinds wins Malta Supreme feature 35-lap cycle race TEAM Evolution’s Orville Hinds won the feature 35-lap event of the Malts Supreme 12-race cycle programme, which was staged in the National Park yesterday and organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed. Riding in the Banks DIH sponsored feature event which was opened for school boys , novices and invitational riders, Hinds returned a time of one hour, 19 minutes 49.90 seconds to win the event which was won last year by his team Evolution team mate Akeem Wilkinson in one hour, 17 minutes 24.94 seconds. Second yesterday was Alonzo Ambrose and placing third was Stephano Husbands. Wilkinson, Robin Persaud and Jamal John placed fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. Hinds, John and Wilkinson won two prizes each while Ambrose and
Prize winners of the various categories of the Malta Supreme 11-race cycle programme that was held yesterday in the National Park, strike a pose. Persaud won one a piece. Hinds and Ambrose got the bell signalling the final lap together but as they journeyed around the circuit Hinds jumped Ambrose from around the final 300-metre mark and was never challenged and crossed the finish line alone. Ambrose who shared
the lead for quite some time with Hinds crossed the finish line some 35 seconds later. Husbands who was with the main chasing pack for most of the race and who ended third made his move for one of the top spots with two laps remaining and was never challenged as the main chas-
ing pack refused to respond to his attack at that time. In the race for the other top three positions, Wilkinson attacked the pack with 250 metres remaining, Persaud responded coming round the penultimate turn but Wilkinson held on and crossed the finish line ahead of the veteran
(Persaud). In other results from the day’s activity, Daniel Perreira won the three-lap event for BMX boys and girls 12-14 years old ahead of Casy Abrams and Marica Dick respectively. Ralph Williams was the winner of the veterans’ under 50 years of age five-lap race. Second was Jaikarran
Sukhai and third place went to last year’s winner Shameer Baksh. The veterans’ over-50 five-lap race was won by Kennard Lovell. Second was Linden Blackman. Jamal John won the 10lap race for juveniles ahead of Andrew Hicks and Christopher Griffith respectively, while Seon Budhan won the five-lap race for Mountain Bikers ahead of Oziah McAulley and Nicholas Alphonso respectively. The two-lap BMX race for riders six to nine years old was won by Alexander Leung. Second was Jesica Mohabir and third was Shay Sue-Hang. Jonathan Jagdeo won the three-lap event for BMX boys 9-12 years old. Second was Jerimah Harrison. The presentation of prizes to the respective winners was done by Banks DIH’s merchandiser Tony Ramcharran.
Powell runs second fastest FIFA’s Webb charged 100m of 2015 to win in Paris in Cayman Island’s corruption case: media (REUTERS)-Suspended FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, already facing charges in soccer’s global bribery scandal, has now been charged in a healthcare fraud case in his native Cayman Islands, local media reported on Friday. Cayman authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Webb and are expected to seek his extradition, reported Cayman 27 television. Webb is currently detained in Switzerland after being arrested and indicted by the FBI last month and already faces an extradition request from the United States in relation to the soccer corruption charges brought by the Department of Justice. Webb was one of seven powerful figures arrested in Zurich on May 27 two days before FIFA’s annual congress, stunning world soccer. The charges by U.S. prosecutors include allegations that millions of dollars were paid in bribes in FIFA’s selection process to host men’s World Cups and other major tournaments. Webb’s close associate
Canover Watson, also a football official in the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean Football Union, was arrest-
JEFFREY WEBB ed last year on five charges including fraud, money-laundering relating to the CarePay card swipe payment system at the Cayman Health Services Authority. “The Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission can confirm that in connection with the ongoing investigation into the CarePay project, further charges have today been laid at Court in relation to Canover Watson, Jef-
frey Webb and Miriam Rodriguez,” said a Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Commission statement, according to Cayman 27 television station’s website. “ A w a r r a n t f o r M r. Webb’s arrest has today been issued. We understand that he is currently being detained by the authorities in Switzerland. It is anticipated that proceedings will be instigated for his extradition to answer these charges,” the statement added. The report said that Webb faces two charges of conspiracy to defraud and one charge of breach of trust, as well as ‘conspiracy to convert criminal property’. The 50-year-old Webb was elected as head of CONCACAF, the confederation governing the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean, in 2012. Before the FIFA scandal he was viewed as a potential successor to FIFA President Sepp Blatter. The Cayman Islands Anti Corruption Commission did not immediately respond when contacted for comment.
JAMAICAN sprinter Asafa Powell ran the second fastest 100m of the year to win the Diamond League meeting in Paris. Powell ran a season’s best 9.81m to beat France’s Jimmy Vicaut, who equalled the European record of 9.86. The 32-year-old Powell beat the 9.84 he ran in June’s Jamaican national trials. American Justin Gatlin has run the fastest time of the year at 9.74. Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made it a double for Jamaica with victory in the women’s 100m Usain Bolt, who missed the Paris meet through injury, also withdrew from the Diamond League race in Lausanne on 9 July because of a pelvic injury, but the 28-year-old says he will defend his 100m and 200m titles at August’s World Championships in China. In the women’s 100m Fraser-Pryce ran 10.74, the fastest time in the world this year, beating her own
mark set at the Jamaican trials. New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams suffered her first loss in almost five years of competition as she made her comeback from a double shoulder injury at the Stade de France. It ended a run of 56 successive victories for the 30-year-old, dating back to August 2010. The double Olympic and four-time world champion had last competed in the 2013 Brussels Diamond League. She then had sur-
gery to repair her left, non-throwing shoulder and right elbow in September 2014. Adams finished fifth in Paris, behind Germany’s Christina Schwanitz, who won with a personal best of 20.31m. “I’m happy to be back,” Adams said. “I took the risk and came to compete against the best current girls. “I knew the winning streak was in danger and I lost it, but I do not feel that sorry. We can start again.” (BBC Sport)
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday July 05, 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: Steven Jacobs & Trevon Griffith 7 CPL games
Today’s Quiz:
Who was declared Man of The Match at the end of last year’s CPL final? Carl Hooper is the coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors. How many Tests and ODIs he played?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 5, 2015
Red Steel hold off Amazon Warriors to win thriller BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel held their nerve to win a nail-biter, beating Guyana Amazon Warriors by three wickets with a ball to spare, in a low-scoring second game of a Caribbean Premier League double-header at Warner Park yesterday. Chasing a 119 for victory, Red Steel were on top at 61 for one in the tenth over but lost their way to stumble to 109 for six after 18 overs. What should have been a straightforward task of scoring the remaining ten runs from 12 deliveries became a battle of jitters for Red Steel. South African seamer Marchant de Lange sent down the penultimate over which cost just five runs, paving the way for a dramatic final over by leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo who finished with brilliant overall figures of four for 24. Johan Botha scrambled a single from the first ball but Javon Searles rushed down the wicket and missed a swing off the next ball and was easily stumped by captain Denesh Ramdin for two. New batsman Kevon Cooper and Botha sneaked singles off the next two balls before high drama unfolded off the fifth delivery when Bishoo had Cooper stumped, only for replays to show the right-armer had over-stepped. Capitalising on his huge slice of fortune, Cooper promptly hoisted the next delivery – a free hit – over long on for six to end the game and ease the tension for Red Steel. Kamran Akmal had earlier led the run chase with 30 from 17 balls with four fours and a six while Cameron Delport stroked a lively 22 from 15 balls with five fours and his partner Jacques Kallis, 20 from 21 deliveries. They put on 23 before Delport was bowled by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, and Kallis and Darren Bravo (19) added a further 38 for the second wicket to steady the innings. Both batsmen, however, fell to catches in the deep in successive overs from off-spinners Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sunil Narine, leaving Red Steel on 68 for three at the end of the 11th over. Kamran Akmal and captain Dwayne Bravo (10) put on 31 for the fourth wicket but the reintroduction of Bishoo in the 16th over turned the tide. He promptly ripped his first delivery past Bravo’s defence to rattle the stumps and off the fifth ball, had Kamran Akmal caught by Dilshan, cutting. Bishoo had his third wicket when Jason Mohammed was also stumped off the final ball of the 18th as the innings headed for a nerve-jangling end. Earlier, Amazon Warriors were dismissed for a disappointing 118 with two balls remaining, after choosing to bat. Opener Lendl Simmons top-scored with 50 from 48 balls with three fours and two sixes but was the only batsman to pass 20 and just one of three to reach double figures. Medium pacer Dwayne Bravo caused most of the damage with four for 18 while fellow seamers Jacques Kallis (2-16) and Kevon Cooper (2-25) supported with two wickets apiece. Amazon Warriors slumped to six for two in the third over and never recovered despite a 35-run, third wicket partnership between Simmons and Brad Hodge (19).
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Red Steel hold off Amazon Warriors to win thriller Please see story on page 31
Chile beat Argentina to win Copa America By Phil Dawkes BBC Sport Chile secured the first major trophy in their history on home soil courtesy of a penalty shootout win over Argentina in the Copa America final. Arsenal’s Alexis San-
chez slotted in the winning spot-kick after Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain fired over and Ever Banega was denied by Claudio Bravo. Higuain had earlier missed from close range after 90 minutes of few chances. Sanchez came closest
in extra time for Chile, who scored all four of their penalties in the shootout. Where Chile held their nerve, Argentina wilted in the shootout at the end of a performance that fell well short of the heights they reached in their 6-1 semi-final win over Paraguay.
Alexis Sanchez scored the winning penalty in Santiago.
Chile footballers celebrate with the Copa trophy. It was their first Copa America win after 173 games played in this competition, dating back to the first tournament in 1916. Le Albiceleste are without a major trophy in the last 22 years since winning the 1993 Copa America in Ecuado Chile make history Chile’s victory brought an end to almost a century of competing in the Copa America without claiming a title. They were one of four teams who played in the very first tournament in 1916 in Argentina but the best they had done until this year was runner-up, which they have achieved on four occasions (1955, 1956, 1979 and 1987 The Estadio Nacional
Julio Martinez Pradanos was a cauldron of noise on Saturday, full of flag-waving red-clad home supporters, some of whom had reportedly paid up to $25,000 for tickets. They were not treated to a dazzling attacking display from their side but rather one of drive, discipline and, ultimately, composure, epitomised by the industrious and energetic Sanchez and Charles Aranguiz. How the shoot-out unfolded Both sides scored their opening penalty, with Matias Fernandez emphatically
finding the top corner for Chile before Lionel Messi sent his kick low into the bottom corner. However, after Arturo Vidal had powerfully dispatched Chile’s second, Higuain blazed his effort way over the bar. Charles Aranguiz made it 3-1 to the hosts and it remained that way as Ever Banega’s tame effort was palmed away by the diving Claudio Bravo. Sanchez showed supreme composure to chip his effort down the middle and in to win the game and the competition for his side.
Lloyd lambasts the lack of a ‘Thinking’ West Indies -‘We have constantly been outthought’ By Stephan Sookram FORMER West Indies Captain and current Chairman of Selectors Clive Lloyd has taken a swipe at cricketers across the region, noting that the mental side of their game is not up to the standard of their opponents. Speaking during a recent ceremony, Lloyd noted that the current hit and miss status that the West Indies Cricket Team has incurred is based on the fact that there is a lack on the mental side of the game. “We’ve lost
games over the last 15 or 20 years because of the superior thinking of the opposition. We haven’t really outthought the people that we were playing against. It’s not that we don’t have ability; we have some of the best players around but it’s just that they don’t think like the other people.” The controversial chairman of selectors who over the past 6 months has been the center of attention for the dropping of Guyanese Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the test side, reminded that cricket is a thinking man’s game and those who fail to remember this will always pay the price. The
West Indies have won just one match in the last three test series. In the process however, they lost the Frank Worrell Trophy 2-0 to Australia earlier this year but drew the Wisden Trophy against England after they drew the first game, lost the second and won the third. They had a disastrous time when they toured South Africa before the World Cup as they lost the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy 2-0. Lloyd has been moving steadily toward building the West Indies team from the Ground up, often saying that giving the youth much needed exposure is one way that the regional side can begin its assent to the top of the longest format of the Game.
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Former Guyana and West Indies captain Clive Lloyd.
SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2015