2015 7 6

GUYANA No. 104242

MONDAY JULY 6, 2015

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $80

INCLUDING VAT

CARICOM declares...

Guyana’s borders cannot be compromised – Commits to maintaining peace in the region

Page

7

Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President David Granger in discussion with Colonel Khemraj Persaud (right) of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF); Commissioner of Police, Mr Seelall Persaud (second right); OIA Chief of Security, Mr George Vyphuis (left); and other security officials upon his arrival at the Ogle International Airport yesterday afternoon (Photo by Adrian Narine)

Foreign Minister reports...

Venezuela promises to ‘facilitate’ resolution to territorial dispute 3 Page

– proposal expected to take effect this week

Regent Street businessman shot dead at 3 La Jalousie home Page

Ganesh Ramlal, a/k ‘Boyo’

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Foreign Minister reports...

Venezuela promises to ‘facilitate’ resolution to territorial dispute – proposal expected to take effect this week

By Ravin Singh THE latest twist on the Guyana-Venezuela territorial rift is a proposed resolution, expected to take effect later this week, as promised by the Venezuelan delegation at the 36th Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Conference ended yesterday.

Topical during the fourday meet, held from July 2-5, the border dispute garnered support in favour of Guyana from the regional bloc. This followed President Granger’s pleading with CARICOM to reaffirm its collective support for the principles enshrined in international law for safeguarding territorial integrity, sovereignty and national independence.

Upon arrival yesterday at the Ogle International Airport, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Carl Greenidge, in an

invited comment, described the Heads of Government meeting as having been successful, in that the regional body is now fully aware of the implications of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro’s May 27 decree.

The decree seeks to claim sovereignty over Guyana’s territorial waters in the Essequibo, where a significant oil find was recently announced

by ExxonMobil, the American-owned deep-water exploration company currently drilling for oil here.

According to Minister Greenidge, CARICOM has acknowledged the fact that the decree issued by Maduro threatens the economic zone of the region, and that it carries the power of the Force of the Venezuelan Navy which translates to being a threat to the region, as well as a threat to the region’s security and peace.

He explained that in light

of Maduro’s failure to attend the Conference on Friday, the Venezuelan team which availed itself had promised that they would facilitate a resolution to the problem.

He said: “The resolution is supposed to take effect this coming week, and we are still awaiting the outcome of the follow-up to those discussions.”

He also noted that CARICOM has agreed, and issued a statement indicating that it recognises that the decree was both illegal internationally, and that it is an attempt to grab land and marine resources belonging to the Caribbean.

Underscoring the importance of the support of CARICOM in this regard, Minister Greenidge said that when dealing with maritime resources, if a country fails to indicate that they are challenging, rejecting or objecting to claims that

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge

are unjustified, their rights are lost.

As such, he noted that while the regional body cannot be directed on how they should operate, Guyana will continue to lobby their support. “We can’t make the Region do what it doesn’t want to do, but as far as I’m aware, in addition to Colombia, Suriname and Trinidad have

also written to the Venezuelan Government, protesting this action on their part,” he said, adding: “For Guyana, if it is not resolved, we will continue to exercise our right. It appears that one of the problems is that there are people who believe that we don’t have a right to say anything; that we are so small and insignificant, that we should accept what is being done.”

Important too, the Minister said, is the support of the international community, and the need for bodies dealing with international maritime zones to express a view on the matter.

“It can’t be that a country believes that because it is not a signatory to an agreement, no law binds it; that can’t be,” the Minister stressed, while adding that there’s no point in making laws and then saying that only certain people have to live within those laws.

During his address to Heads-of-Government at the

Conference, President David Granger, who returned on the same flight with Minister Greenidge, had offered that, “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 condemned.

Our national boundaries have been recognised internationally.”

With respect to the implications of this act of aggression by Venezuela, he further said: “That country [Venezuela] 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.”

Regent Street businessman shot dead at La Jalousie home – relatives condemn slothful police response

By Shirley Thomas THE owner of the Regent Multiplex Store on Regent Street, Georgetown, was killed early yesterday morning when four unmasked gunmen opened fire on him moments after he entered his West Coast Demerara home.

Ganesh Ramlal, 48, also called ‘Boyo’, of ‘C’ La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

His deeply distraught

DEAD: Ganesh Ramlal, a/k ‘Boyo’

relatives told the Guyana Chronicle that Ramlal had left home earlier in the evening to attend a wake at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara and, on his way home, apparently met some friends and they went to a Bar-B-Cue at Cornelia Ida. Tragedy struck shortly after midnight when Ramlal returned home from the BarB-Cue and was confronted by four gunmen. It would appear that the men had been staking him out and arrived at his home where they awaited his arrival.

When the businessman arrived home he entered the building through a door on the lower flat of the house, took his shoes and shirt off, then exited the living room through a back door, and was heading to the lavatory area on that floor when the men ambushed him and opened fire.

He received about seven gunshot wounds to the head, chest and elsewhere, a relative said. After realising that he was under attack, Ramlal screamed, shouting “Thief, thief!” loud enough to alert

his wife Monica and their 18-year-old daughter that he was in danger so they should not venture out.

On hearing him scream his wife and two young adults who were in the home began shouting frantically to a relative who lives just across the road from them, and word quickly went around. But they dared not venture out of their homes at the moment.

Calls were hurriedly made to nearby police stations and 911. One relative, recalling the response from the police, yesterday expressed disgust

at the response and general attitude of the police. She said that when the police rank finally answered the phone and the caller indicated what was happening, the police woman said: “Wait leh me get a pen and something to write on.” That, of course, took her quite some time.

“Well, that was the last thing I expected to hear in such an emergency, and I thought, ‘How hopeless’,” the woman said.

Meantime, the gunmen relieved the businessman of Turn to page 6 ►

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Greeks defy Europe with overwhelming referendum ‘No’

By Karolina Tagaris and Lefteris Papadimas

AT H E N S , ( R e u ters)-Greeks voted overwhelmingly yesterday to reject terms of a bailout, risking financial ruin in a show of defiance that could splinter Europe.

With nearly half of the votes counted, official figures showed 61 percent of Greeks rejecting the bailout offer. An official interior ministry projection confirmed the figure as close to the expected final tally.

The astonishingly strong victory by the ‘No’ camp overturned opinion polls that had predicted an outcome too close to call. It leaves Greece in uncharted waters: risking financial and political isolation within the euro zone and a banking collapse if creditors refuse further aid.

Crowds gathered to celebrate in Athens as results began to come through

But for millions of Greeks Greece can longer accept the outcome was an angry repeated rounds of austerity message to creditors that that, in five years, had left one in four without a job.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has denounced the price paid for aid as “blackmail” and a national “humiliation”.

Hundreds of Greeks began pouring into the central Syntagma square in front of parliament to celebrate, after a week of building desperation as banks were shut and cash withdrawals rationed to prevent a collapse of the Greek financial system.

“This is an imprint of the will of the Greek people and now it’s up to Europeans to show if they respect our opinion and want to

DATE: 27/06/2015 A

01 03 08 04 17 22 13

02/07/2015

02

09

14

help,” said Nikos Tarasis, a 23-year-old student.

Officials from the Greek government, which had argued that a ‘No’ vote would strengthen its hand to secure a better deal from international creditors after months of wrangling, immediately said they would try to restart talks with European partners.

“I believe there is no Greek today who is not proud, because regardless of what he voted he showed that this country above all respects democracy,” Labour Minister Panos Skourletis said.

“The government now has a strong mandate, a strong negotiating card, to

20

22

02/07/2015

1

bring a deal which will open new ways.”

But euro zone officials shot down any prospect of a quick resumption of talks.

One official said there were no plans for an emergency meeting of euro zone finance ministers on Monday, adding the vote outcome meant the ministers “would not know what to discuss”.

Many of Athens’ partners have warned over the past week that a ‘No’ vote would mean cutting bridges with Europe and driving Greece’s crippled financial system into outright bankruptcy, dramatically worsening the country’s economic depression.

The result also delivers a hammer blow to the European Union’s grand single currency project. Intended to be permanent and unbreakable when it was created 15 years ago, the euro zone could now be on the point of losing its

3

1

02/07/2015

first member with the risk of further unraveling to come.

“I believe such a result can be used as a strong negotiating tool so that Europeans can understand that we are not a colony,” said Nefeli Dimou, a 23-yearold student in Athens.

Greek banks, which have been closed all week and rationing withdrawals from cash machines, are expected to run out of money within days unless the European Central Bank provides an emergency lifeline. Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis is due to meet top Greek bankers later on Sunday and State Minister Nikos Pappas, one of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s closest aides, said it was “absolutely necessary” to restore liquidity to the banking system now that the vote is over.

However the European Central Bank, which holds a conference call on Monday morning, may be reluctant to increase emergency lending to Greek banks after voters rejected the spending cuts and economic reforms which creditors consider essential to make Greek public finances viable, central bankers said.

First indications were that any joint European political response may take a couple of days. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande will meet in Paris this afternoon.

The European Commission, the EU executive, meets in Strasbourg on Tuesday and will report to the European Parliament on the situation.

19 11 16 10 08 14 20

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Regional leaders end `successful and productive’ summit

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart (Centre) flanked by his regional colleagues (CMC Photo)

By Peter Richards BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, ( CMC) – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders ended a three-day summit here on Saturday night, warning Venezuela that its action regarding the border dispute with Guyana could “poison relations” with the regional integration grouping and also condemned the action of the Dominican Republic in deporting people of Haitian descent and making them stateless.

Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who is also the CARICOM chairman, acknowledged that the leaders had not agreed on a candidate for the position of Commonwealth Secretary-General, but said moves are afoot to have that matter settled as quickly as possible.

“There is no doubt that we have had a most successful and productive engagement over the past three days. We focused on policy positions and strategies for getting the best out of the negotiations in

the three major policy setting global conferences, how to ensure our education system bolsters our efforts at building our social and economic resilience, securing our energy future (and) border issues in particular recent actions of one of our neighbours as they affected Community,” Stuart told reporters.

He said the decree issued

by Venezuela in May which laid claim to much of the coastline and most of the exclusive economic zone of Guyana and a number of member states, had been discussed at the meeting.

“This decree has created great concern for us and could poison relations between the Community and Venezuela,” Stuart warned.

Stuart confirmed that a delegation of regional heads of governments had met with the Venezuelan delegation that was headed by Executive Vice President, Jorge Arreaza and included Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodriquez, on Thursday and that while “CARICOM stands very

firmly behind Guyana” it is also aware of the “good relations” Caracas has with the Region.

“We aren’t about to disrupt that relationship or to pollute it in any way by anything that we as a Community say or do. At the same time we have to insist that Venezuela plays by the rules and there is no evidence available to us that Venezuela is not so committed,” Prime Minister Stuart said, adding that Venezuela “has committed itself to maintaining peace and tranquillity in this region.

He said both Venezuela and Guyana belong to regional organisations “so there are number of organisations, membership of which both Venezuela and Guyana share, so we think there is scope for an amicable resolution of present difficulties….”

President David Granger, who at the start of the conference on Thursday night called on his regional colleagues to send a strongly worded message to Caracas, said he was pleased with the position arrived at by CARICOM on the matter.

He said he would be informing the Guyana population that CARICOM “is committed to ensuring that the Region remains a zone of peace and will do everything possible to ensure nothing happens to disrupt peace in the Region.

“I compliment the chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister Stuart, who actually led a small team and engaged the Venezuelans last evening and demonstrated leadership in stating CARICOM’s position to the Venezuelan team.

“So I would tell them

(Guyana population) that CARICOM is united, is solidly behind ensuring that there is no disruption to the peace and stability of the Region, that it is in support of the sovereignty of states of the Region and that as far as the specific decree is concerned that is the fly in the ointment that is what has brought us to the present situation…”

“I think the news will be good and I will take back to Guyana, I think the Guyanese people could be satisfied in the solidarity of the Caribbean Community,” Granger said.

Maduro issued the decree on May 26 that includes all the Atlantic waters off the Essequibo Coast.

The purported annexation of the waters off Essequibo now takes in the oil-rich Stabroek Block, where American oil giant Exxon Mobil in May found a “significant” reserve of high quality crude oi.

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

Prime Minister Stuart had also taken an opportunity to review the situation in the Dominican Republic, adding “we are very concerned at the actions of the Dominican

Republic government which have resulted in a looming humanitarian crisis in our Region”.

He said the regional leaders will issue a full statement on the matter, but St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told reporters that CARICOM would maintain the pressure on the Spanish-speaking Caribbean country to reverse its policy of deporting people to a country where they have no links.

Gonsalves said he was also disappointed that commitments made by the Dominican Republic during a meeting in Brussels had not been kept and said the Caribbean had also been under pressure by the European Union not to have a political discussion on the matter during the meeting in Brussels.

But he said the Region did not adhere to such a request.

Prime Minister Stuart said that the regional leaders had also discussed the decision by the European Union to name 13 Caribbean countries on a blacklist, labelling them tax havens, saying “this is a most unfair decision which is damaging to our economies which had been pointed out to the Commission in a letter

by Prime Minister Perry Christie (of the Bahamas).

“We are demanding that the EU rescind that decision immediately,” Prime Minister Stuart told reporters.

6

EDITORIAL

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

GUYANA

Dr Roopnaraine’s challenge --and the National Youth Policy SCORES of youths and other concerned Guyanese attended the recently concluded two-day working session aimed at finalising the long awaited National Youth Policy.

The event was organised by Presidential Adviser on Youth Empowerment, Aubrey Norton, who reiterated the Government’s commitment to forging a new relationship with the country’s young people.

From all reports, the exchanges among the young people and the recommendations were of a high quality.

Norton should be congratulated for moving with some degree of haste on this project. In the final analysis, Guyana’s overall developmental policy would be incomplete if due regard is not paid to the role of the youth. But the youth would have to redefine their collective role and perspective.

This was recognised by Education Minister Dr Ru-

pert Roopnaraine who charged the youths in attendance to make national reconciliation the centrepiece of their thrust.

This call by Dr Roopnaraine is most timely. While the fractured nature of the Guyanese polity is widely acknowledged, the extent to which it has stifled the country’s socio-economic development is not always appreciated by the young people.

Despite their progressive rhetoric on race relations, their political culture has not differed much from the rest of the country. The result of the recent elections is a vivid testimony to this. By charging them with the task of leading the movement for reconciliation, Dr Roopnaraine is challenging the youth to assume the primary responsibility for the future of Guyana.

Dr Roopnaraine also makes the linkage between youth empowerment and national reconciliation. In other words,

the notion of youth empowerment would be meaningless if it is not situated in the larger national context. A National Youth Policy outside of national healing would eventually flounder.

This points the youth in a different direction, away from the traditional attitude that has tended to situate youth issues as almost autonomous from the rest of the society. It also challenges them to confront the hard political and economic issues of the day; something that youth organisations other than the ones affiliated with the political parties have tended to shy away from.

If the Roopnaraine prescription is to be followed, then a national youth policy would be located within the larger national thrust.

Towards this end, we urge the youth to take up Dr Roopnaraine’s challenge and reach for a more enlightened perspective on their collective role in the society.

They must move beyond simplistic notions of nationhood and politics. They must also turn their faces away from the rabid individualism that threatens the idea of the nation. The youth must assume leadership in the widest sense and at all levels of the society. Only then would a National Youth Policy be truly national.

Regent Street businessman shot ...

From Page 3

his jewellery - a chain and a ‘fat’ gold band he was wearing and also took away a ‘grey bag’ that he had thrown down in the kitchen before heading for the washroom. Contrary to information appearing in a section of the media that the men made off with Ramlal’s weapon, they did not, the relative said. The weapon was retrieved and handed over to the police, the woman said.

After shooting the target and relieving him of his jewellery, the men scaled the fence and beat a hasty retreat across a nearby plot of rice land and disappeared into the darkness.

When Ramlal’s family and other villagers felt sure that the men had gone, they rushed to the scene, where they found his lifeless body on the ground just outside the door. He probably succumbed instantly as he bled profusely. There were also bullet holes in the washroom door, and two on the side of a cupboard.

News of the tragedy swirled with ‘lightning’ speed and there was loud wailing from family members and neighbours as they arrived on the scene. Relatives said that friends and relatives from other villages hastened to La Jalousie on receiving the message.

“But the disappointing part of it is that it took the police one hour for the first two ranks to get here from Leonora Police Station. People from Herstelling, Georgetown, Parika, all over, reached here before the police. What they were doing, I don’t know,” the distraught relative related.

In response to the Chronicle’s question as to whether there were security cameras installed in the home, the relative replied no. She said, however, that just about two weeks ago, Ramlal had brought some surveillance cameras but had put the boxes down in the kitchen and never had them installed. To date the boxes are in the kitchen unopened.

Ramlal is survived by his wife Monica Ramlal, daughter Christine and other relatives A relative points to the spot on the ground outside the door where and friends. An autopsy is to be performed on the body tomorrow.

Boyo fell after being hit (Photos by Adrian Narine)

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

CARICOM declares...

Guyana’s borders cannot be compromised --Commits to maintaining peace in the region

THE new Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Freundel Stuart, announced on Saturday evening that the Caribbean Community stands in solidarity with Guyana as it relates to the border dispute with Venezuela.

At a press conference at the closing of The 36th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, Prime Minister Stuart said that CARICOM will do everything in its power to ensure that Venezuela “plays by the rules.”

The new CARICOM Chairman added that while the territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela is not new, CARICOM will do all it can to ensure that peace and tranquility is maintained in the Region. Stuart said both countries are committed to a process, and it is the Caribbean Community’s hope that the process will “work itself out.”

“What one has to aim for, as the dispute continues, is a cooling of tempers. We do not think that there can be any compromise so far as Guyana’s territorial border is concerned. It is part of a process, and that process has to

At Saturday’s press conference at the close of the 36th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Seated from left are: Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller; Guyana’s President David Granger; Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart; St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves; and CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

work itself out.” He however reiterated that given the fact that Guyana is an original signatory to the Treaty of Chaguramus, CARICOM has to stand firmly behind Guyana even as it tries to maintain a good relationship with Venezuela.

In this light, Prime Minister Stuart said that CARICOM is not prepared to pollute in any way their good relations between other CARICOM Member States and Venezuela. However, he said, thus far, both Guyana and Venezuela have committed to maintaining peace, and that scope exists for an amicable resolution to the dispute.

Going forward, Prime Minister Stuart said, “We have to make sure that the situation does not spin out of control, and ensure that level heads are held on both sides.”

Meanwhile, President David Granger, in response to questions about what message he will be taking back to the Guyanese people on the issue, said he will assure President David Granger taking questions at them of CARICOM’s support and their commitment for the press conference maintaining peace.

At the opening ceremony of the conference, on Thursday, President David Granger presented Guyana’s position to CARICOM in his inaugural speech to the Heads of Government, clearly making the case for regional involvement, and support for maitaining regional security.

CARICOM has now joined the growing chorus of voices which have come out in support of Guyana.

Trinidad’s Prime Minister, Ms. Kamla Bissessar stated that her country will not sit idly by and watch Guyana be dispossessed of its exclusive economic zone. In addition, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who also attended the Conference, has indicated that a mission will be deployed to Guyana with the aim of addressing the issue. The Commonwealth had long signalled its support for Guyana following the May 26, 2014 Decree by Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, which claimed most of Guyana’s economic zone. (Office of the Presidency)

Guyana’s representatives hold ‘strategic engagements’ at Commonwealth Education Ministers Conference in The Bahamas MINISTER within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry and Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, along with three youth representatives attended the 19th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) in The Bahamas from June 22 to 26.

The theme of the conference was ‘Quality Education for Equitable Development: Performance, Paths and Productivity’ – 3PS.

Through a number of forums and caucuses for Ministers, Senior Education Officials and Youth, the team was exposed to discussions aimed at establishing priorities in the education sector in the context of the post-2015 development framework for education.

Great emphasis was placed on devising strategies for delivering quality education, minimizing differences in learning outcomes between more and less advan-

taged groups, and expanding the scope of post-basic education provision and opportunities for all youth and adults.

In addition, the team was able to have strategic engagements with representatives from various institutions such as the Commonwealth of Learning, the Caribbean Development Bank, UNESCO, UWI and other Ministries of Education within the Commonwealth.

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Social Protection Minister visits Region Three post offices

--interacts with pensioners

MINISTER of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence on Wednesday visited several post offices in Region Three in order to have a firsthand view of the working conditions of the employees, as well as to interact with pensioners.

The Minister, during her tour of the facilities used the opportunity to find out what are some of the challenges faced by the employees, as well as customers.

While addressing pensioners at one of the facilities, she said, “the president has given me the task to take care of you, and I’m very very happy to do so, so today I’m going around to several post offices so that I can see what you go through ...there are definitely some changes that will have to be made, but before we make that change, we don’t want to sit in the office and make that change, we got to get on the ground, and see what’s happening, what you are experiencing and at the same time what the staff of the post office is experiencing, so that we can make informed decisions.”

She added that it would be difficult to announce what changes will be made because the situation will have to be properly analysed before a conclusion can be made. “I cannot tell you what we are going to do now, as I said this is an inquiry stage that I’m at, and so we will work towards

bettering this condition of how you receive your pension,” she said.

Minister Lawrence also pointed out that there will be some sort of increase in pensions, but government is looking at a holistic improvement of services for the elderly.

“We want to ensure that all of the facilities from which you have to get your service, the post office, where you are getting your pension, the health centre where you have to go so that our people can take care of you, to ensure that you have your medication… that you are being treated as one of our prime categories of people because that is how…we see you… one of the things we want to look at too is the kind of service that is meted out to you…,” she noted.

The Minister further urged the senior citizens to share their knowledge with the younger generation.

She also strongly emphasised the need for courteousness and respect to be shown to pensioners by the staff at the post offices. She said that she will not accept excuses.

The Social Protection Minister stressed, “If you tell me to come here for 7 ‘o’ clock, then when I come here at 7 ‘o’ clock , I expect you to be ready to serve me….when I come you must be ready to do business…the post office must ensure that they provide a quick and efficient service.” (GINA)

Pensioners being addressed by Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence at the Vreeden-Hoop Post Office

Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence receives a hug from a pensioner

Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence takes note of a Post Office employee’s concerns

Toddler, parents homeless after fire A FIRE of unknown origin on Thursday gutted a house at Lot 54 Castello Housing Scheme, leaving three persons including a two-year-old baby girl homeless.

This newspaper learnt that the child’s mother was

home sleeping at the time the fire started.According to reports, the woman was sleeping in the lower flat of the home and the fire reportedly started in the upper flat.

The upper flat of the home was said to be sleeping

quarters and the young lady could not confirm if any electrical appliances were plugged in.

When this publication arrived on the scene, the surrounding streets were filled with persons who went as spectators to the fire.

Residents and persons who filled the streets when the fire broke out

The rear of the house and the room at the upper flat where the fire is suspected to have started

Residents said that the fire tenders arrived without water to the fire scene.

Two tenders responded initially and while one went into operation with water from the tank, another tender arrived and began

using water from the canal; a third tender then arrived and provided back -up service to the first tender, which by that time was out of water.

The firemen, while battling the blaze, also ensured

that the fire did not spread to the two nearby wooden buildings located to the north and south of the burning house.

Two adults had to seek medical attention at the nearby health centre.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Ramkarran: Jagdeo has effectively undermined Ramotar

– in lopsided contest to become Opposition Leader

FORMER Speaker of the National Assembly and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) stalwart Ralph Ramkarran has described the trouncing of former President Donald Ramotar by his predecessor, Bharrat Jagdeo for the post of Opposition Leader as quite embarrassing and a bitter pill for Ramotar to swallow.

In the recent contest, the ‘Champion of the Earth’ prevailed over Ramotar at the Central Committee, gobbling up 35 votes to Ramotar’s 9.

The immediate past President was allegedly fought down by Jagdeo, but it was reportedly through Jagdeo’s efforts he was made Presidential Candidate in 2011, even though it did not happen through popular sentiments.

Worse, Ramkarran, in his weekly informative blog, Conversation Tree, said it was the virtual abandonment of Ramotar by the Central Committee, of which he was General Secretary for 15 years.

“Mr. Ramotar ignored the fact that Dr. Jagdeo’s insatiable ego cannot be satisfied by fraternal considerations or rational calculations,” Ramkarran said, adding: “In any event, Mr. Ramotar apparently did not realise that with the loss of two elections and Dr. Jagdeo’s grip on the leadership, his political career was over.”

The former PPP Executive also revealed that Mr. Ramotar had long ago ceded authority to Dr. Jagdeo, and

Former PPP Executive, Ralph Ramkarran

Former President, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo

Former President, Mr Donald Ramotar

has no one but himself to blame for his loss of influence in the Central Committee.

He said Mr. Ramotar may accept the humiliation of rejection, and soldier on with diminished influence, likely without a Parliamentary seat, as he would have to bear the embarrassment of an immediate past-President sitting at third place behind Dr. Jagdeo and Mr. Clement Rohee.

But he pointed out that Ramotar would justify continued low-level activism by deluding himself that he is maintaining party unity.

“This has always been the answer to his failure to respond to Dr. Jagdeo’s most egregious behaviour. This silent approbation allowed serious schisms to arise within the party, which remained unaddressed. The worst was the resignations of Ramjattan and Nagamootoo that led directly to the PPP’s loss of power.

This damage to the PPP, Mr. Ramotar’s ill-fated decision

to seek the candidacy for President in 2011, despite Dr. Jagdeo’s support and the ruling clique’s rejection of a national-unity Government have together brought the PPP to its knees,” the former PPP stalwart explained.

bers of Parliament (MPs) and a sprinkling of new faces to Parliament would be mere window dressing.

This new generation of leaders, the highly respected Attorney-al-Law said, stands no chance of influencing policy to rebuild the PPP or unite Guyana.

Buttressing his claim, Ramkarran pointed out that the recently expressed views

by PPP Member of Parliament, Dr. Vindhi Persaud as to the way forward for the Party in her recently published email, and its rejection, symbolise the impotence that this group will face.

Knowing Jagdeo, who is in his early 50s, Ramkarran said the power-obsessed former President will retain his hold on the leadership for at least the next 20 years, while still trying to secure a third-term.

A DISASTER The selection of Jagdeo by the Central Committee as its nominee for the Opposition Leader post, Ramkarran said, has sealed that Party’s fate in Opposition for decades to come, unless the APNU+AFC Coalition underperforms or unravels.

The PPP has been shattered by defeat, its leadership disgraced by corruption, and it has lost the sympathy of the international community through abuse, corruption and the refusal to hold Local Government Elections.

The former Speaker noted that with no intention by the ruling clique, headed by Jagdeo, of giving up power, the return of its younger Mem-

DENUDE “He never intended to stand aside,” Ramkarran

said, “despite his promises.

It means that an entire generation of younger leaders will have no chance of aspiring to leadership, or influencing the Party’s direction.

Since the spoils of office are no longer available to be granted or taken away, there would be a limit to the success of his methods of leadership. In any event, his continued grip on power, and greed for the limelight will smother younger leaders, and denude the PPP of talent, leaving it with sycophants, and as an ineffective Opposition force. Eventually, he will again choose the next leader.”

He said by electing Dr. Jagdeo, the Central Committee seems prepared to abide by his methods of abuse, control and sycophancy.

Jagdeo sees himself as the most gifted and charismatic intellect and strategist who will save the PPP and Guyana.

But Ramkarran said Jagdeo and the leadership’s vision is of a ceaseless ‘struggle’ against the ‘PNC’ and ‘rigged elections’, and no compromise with the ‘de facto Government’.

Primary to the strategy, the former PPP stalwart said, will be a defence of his record; what he would pompously refer to as his ‘legacy’.

He said Jagdeo will also try to convince supporters that they were robbed, thereby perpetuating a sense of ‘victimhood’.

And by this, he will ensure the persistence of the national ethnic contest, which was exploited so effectively by the PPP in the recent elections campaign.

STRATEGY OF CHOICE The PPP, Ramkarran said, no doubt now sees this move as the strategy of choice.

He also informed that the PPP has made, arguably, the most egregious blunder in its entire history by failing to implement Dr Cheddi Jagan’s ‘shared governance’ or ‘winner-does-not-take-all’ policies in political conditions in 2011, where it could have been easily sold to its supporters.

“The PPP would have had to make fundamental concessions and share power in circumstances of equality, where it would not ‘dominate or be dominated’, a policy also advocated by Jagan.

The national unity thereby created would have transformed Guyana and revolutionised our politics. Our nation would once again have been able to aspire to 1950 and bring within reach our motto of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’. But President Ramotar had made it plain in 2011 that power sharing ‘would not happen.’ The ruling clique of the PPP has deliberately killed the dream of unity and is on its way to Parliament to bury it,” he said.

‘Top Cop’ clarifies report on polygraph tests – explains implication of SOCU COMMISSIONER of Police, Mr Seelall Persaud yesterday sought to clarify a report carried in the Guyana Chronicle, saying that several ranks of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) have failed

their polygraph tests.

The article was carried in yesterday’s edition of the newspaper under the headline, “Several ranks of ‘Special Organised Crime Unit’ fails polygraph tests”.

According to a state-

ment issued by the Guyana Police Force early yesterday, the Top Cop was apparently “misquoted” during his interaction with media representatives at Police Headquarters last Friday.

The statement further noted that both the headline and the information con-

tained in the article were “misleading.”

“The Police Force is clarifying that the Commissioner did tell the press that ranks from certain units are polygraphed each year, but he made no mention of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), even though the ranks from SOCU are

polygraphed as well,” the statement said.

Asked to comment on the issue, Commissioner Seelall explained that there are implications for the Special Organised Crime Unit, when reports of this nature are disseminated.

He noted that SOCU is connected to international

bodies, and their credibility can be tampered with when information such as that conveyed in the article yesterday reaches these international bodies.

As such, he maintained that the report was not a reflection of his words, although SOCU ranks are polygraphed.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Gov’t removes veil on billions in PPP/C contracts THE Guyana Government will this week make public a number of agreements and contracts which the previous PPP/C administration entered into, including the Petro Caribe initiative with Venezuela, disclosing for the first time the details involving the billion-dollar arrangements.

In addition to the 2014 Mid-Year Report for the nation, slated to be presented to the House on Thursday

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, the Government will also make public the “Compensation Agree-

ment under the Framework of the PETROCARIBE Energy Cooperation Agreement.”

That agreement, dated March 13, 2014, between PDVSA Petróleo, S.A. (PDVSA) and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is for the cancellation of the oil debt in compensation for the white rice and paddy shipments under the Guyana/Venezuela Rice Trade Agreements in the amount of US$55.5M. The Coalition government will also make public a loan agreement between the Caribbean Development

Bank (CDB) and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana for US$25M for the Sea and River Defence Resilience Project.

According to the Order Paper for the sitting of the House on Thursday, Government, ahead of any debates, will also make public a Financial Agreement between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the International Development Association and another for SDR6.5M for the Secondary Education Improvement Project.

Also to be made public is the Financing Agreement

between Guyana and the International Development Association for SDR7.7M for the Flood Risk Management Project.

Finance Minister Jordan is also expected to lay over in the House, two loan contracts, dated October 10, 2014, between Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank for US$16.8M for the Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure Improvement Programme.

Another loan contract to be made public by Government is between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Inter-Amer-

ican Development Bank for US$37,6M for the Power Utility Upgrade Programme.

Also to be made public in the House this week is the Debt Relief Agreement (E-HIPC Debt Initiative), dated March 14, 2014, among the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the Bank of Guyana, the Board of Directors of the Caricom Multilateral Clearing Facility (CMCF) and the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (as agent) to write-off 100 percent of Guyana’s total outstanding debt to

creditor participants in the amount of US$36M. Minister Jordan is also expected to make public another Compensation Agreement under the Framework of the PETROCARIBE Energy Cooperation Agreement dated September 12, 2014 between PDVSA and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

And this is for the cancellation of the oil debt in compensation for the white rice and paddy shipments under the Guyana/Venezuela Rice Trade Agreements in the amount of US$69M.

CARICOM calls on ‘Hugh Wooding’ to facilitate Guyanese Law students

By Ravin Singh REGIONAL integration facilitator, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has called on the Hugh Wo o d i n g L a w S c h o o l (HWLS) to make provisions to accommodate the top 25 Guyanese law students for 2015.

Making the disclosure yesterday was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, upon his return to Guyana from the 36th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Barbados.

According to the Minister, CARICOM Heads made a decision on Saturday last to render support for the top 25 law students from the University of Guyana (UG) to be facilitated at the HWLS. He explained that while C A R I C O M “ c a n n o t i nstruct” the school to accommodate the students,

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

the regional body remains optimistic that a favourable response will be forthcoming from ‘Hugh Wooding’.

In terms of what the future holds, and a permanent resolution to the annual issue, Minister Greenidge posited, “It has to be resolved.”

As he explained, “There is a specific mechanism put in place to report and advise on the whole issue of legal

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Carl Greenidge

education and the role of the law school and that has not finished. So in the meantime this is the continuation of a temporary measure.”

Two weeks ago, Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams had said he was unsure if the arrangement for automatic entry of 25 Guyanese students to the HWLS will continue in 2015.

Williams had told the National Assembly, during

the second sitting of the 11th Parliament, that he was in receipt of a correspondence from the Council for Legal Education (CLE) on June 24 regarding the status of the agreement for the automatic entry of 25 Guyanese law students based on their Grade Point Average (GPA).

“I have been informed,” Williams said in his address, “that there is a negotiation going on in relation to the collaborative agreement between the University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Guyana (UG), and the Council for Legal Education (CLE), but they are claiming that a new proposal put up by the University of Guyana is stalling the negotiations.”

With the new academic year at the HWLS beginning in just two months, Williams gave his word to the National Assembly that he will take up the matter with the University of Guyana administration, since it is “of utmost urgency.”

While participating in the 25th Inter-Sessional CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines last year, former Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall had revealed that there had appeared to be a resolution towards the issue of accommodating the students.

During an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Nandlall related that the then Chairman of CARICOM Dr. Ralph Gonsalves will be writing to the Council of Legal Education informing them that the 25 Guyanese students should be admitted for the academic year 2014.

Nandlall added that the letter will also call for a review of the provision of legal education in the region to address the expanded need for accommodation and education.

Just last month, during a meeting with the Attor-

ney-General, 25 of the 27 Guyanese students currently attending the HWLS in Trinidad and Tobago raised several issues and concerns in relation to tuition, discrimination and disadvantages they faced in pursuit of their Legal Education Certificate at the regional institution.

Concerns regarding immigration, course content and the lateness of the Guyana students’ list to the Trinidadian immigration authorities were also raised with Williams during the meeting last month.

But of these, the most important issue was that of the TT$65,792 (G$2.2 million or USD$11,000 per student) tuition fee, which the students are now required to pay in full, in September, at the beginning of the semester, as opposed to a 50 per cent of the total. The additional 50 per cent was required

by January the following year.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Arrowpoint showcases scenic, tranquil sections of Guyana’s rainforest SHOWCASING the scenic and tranquil sections of Guyana’s rainforest, Arrowpoint Nature Resort is aptly described as “such a relaxing place.”

One of the finer examples of Guyana’s eco-tourism product, Arrowpoint coexists with its interior setting without ruffling the natural environment. Biking, bird-watching and quiet, reflective strolls along its winding trails are just part of the “eco-adventure” product that it offers.

Flowing past the resort, the serene waters of the Kamuni Creek kiss a small, inviting expanse of white sandy beach.

The guest is in for an experience of a lifetime from relaxing in a hammock to kayaking along the black waters of the Kamuni Creek or mountain biking through the rainforest. The fun never stops as guests can play some beach volleyball or go on a Wabani jungle expedition.

The Guyana Chronicle was afforded the opportunity to visit one of Guyana’s most talked about nature resorts and the experience overshadowed any ‘word of mouth’ description that was offered.

EARLY START The day started very early for some, at 06:30 hrs, when tourists boarded the bus to Arrowpoint in Georgetown. Sixteen persons with eager expectations enjoyed the ride to the marina at Timehri where the Kayaking along the black waters of the Kamuni Creek

team boarded the boats for the second leg of Arrival at Arrowpoint the journey to ArrowNature Resort point.

The boat ride started across the Demerara River into the mysterious meandering Kamuni Creek. This left all in awe, with its many twists and turns.

Deep within Guyana’s rainforest the lovely chirping of birds and ‘monkey noises’ and the sudden falling of leaves from trees added to the plendour.

Captain Gerald Gouveia, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roraima Airways was there to brief visitors on the history of some of the areas along the Kamuni Creek. He paid specific attention to what he calls ‘China Town’. During his extour and a visit to planation, he related that some wealthy Chinese immigrants the craft shop. fled their country due to war and After some shopsettled in Guyana. He noted too that ping and exciting many Chinese today can find their sightseeing, it was off to Arrowpoint ancestors’ tombs still intact. which is some 10 minutes away.

MISSION STOP At ArrowAfter about 45 minutes by boat, point, guests were the team arrived at the Amerindian Village of Santa Mission for a brief met by the staff and guided to the

The boat ride along the Kamuni Creek

Some of the guests being led by Captain Gerald Gouveia as they go mountain-biking (Photos by Adrian Narine)

upper deck for light refreshments.

The tour guide then spoke on some of the safety measures to be observed and highlighted the Wabani jungle expedition and then the kayaking along the black waters of the Kamuni Creek.

Captain Gouveia noted that the resort was established over 20 years ago and over the years both locals and overseas-based tourists would visit. On this visit, he noted that the team was made up mostly of Canadians as well as Guyanese residing in Canada.

Speaking with the Phillippe family, they related that they had heard many good stories about Arrowpoint but the experience surpassed their expectations. One of the most exciting, Mr Phillippe stated, was the dip into the black water. This, he said, was beyond his wildest dreams.

Another family that was holi-

daying in Guyana explained to this newspaper that they are originally from Canal Polder and have been living in Canada for a number of years. “This place is so relaxing,” the most senior member of the family noted as they applauded the management for their excellent service.

BEYOND EXPECTATIONS Most of the guests readily acknowledged that they would recommend the resort to others.

One young lady explained that she visited the online site and found out some of the details about the resort but was mesmerised by the description of the black water in Guyana and told herself she had to visit this place to see for herself. “It is beyond my expectations,” she said enthusiastically.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Ministry of Finance debunks Three Essequibo labourers Kaieteur News story on remanded over break-in at ‘oil debt to Venezuela’ Anna Regina Market THE Ministry of Finance has said that the Kaieteur story of July 3, 2015 headlined “Guyana’s long term oil debt to Venezuela at US$580m – Report”, regarding Guyana’s debt to Venezuela is “clearly incorrect and grossly overstated.”

The Kaieteur News story cited a report in Venezuela’s El Diario Nacional of July 2, 2015 which stated

that Guyana’s “Long-term” debt with Venezuela under PetroCaribe was about US$580 million.

However, the Ministry of Finance in a release said that “as at March 31, 2015, Guyana’s total debt to Venezuela was about US$194 million. This debt would be reduced further by another US$45 million shortly when the Debt Compensation Agreement with Venezuela

is signed. This Debt Compensation Agreement relates to rice and paddy shipped by Guyana to Venezuela under a Rice Trade Agreement done within the framework of the PetroCaribe arrangement.”

The Finance Ministry said further that so far, Guyana has repaid more than US$550 million of the debt to Venezuela through the rice trade arrangement.

ESSEQUIBO Magistrate Dylon Bess last Friday remanded three men to prison when they appeared before her in the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court to answer to a charge of robbery under arms.

The three accused, Nelron Beaton, Anthony Bess of Suddie Housing Scheme and Keron Racharran of Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast, were

not required to plead to the indictable charge.

According to the charge on July 1st, 2015, at about 1:00 am the trio broke into the Anna Regina Market and armed with knives they tied the security guards and proceeded to break into Zalim Khan’s stall. They carted off flat screen televisions, an equaliser and DVD players valued approximately

$500,000.

Prosecutor Haimarj Ramsewack objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offence. He told the court that the police had recovered most of the stolen items at a house at Suddie. Bail was refused by Magistrate Bess.

The three men who were unrepresented will make another appearance in court on July 21.

Bartica’s Syline Griffith wrestles ‘Princess Karaoke Star’ top spot – from the city’s Lashaun Charles

By Alex Wayne IT was ‘molten musical lava’ when the third leg of the ‘Princess Karaoke Star’ showcase kicked off on Saturday last.

Some eighteen singers battled inside Club Next at Princess International Hotel, and they all showcased magnificently as they faced off at the ‘Boot Camp Week’ segment of the event which will see the eventual winner representing Guyana in Trinidad at the international leg of the competition.

At this leg of the contest, Bartica’s Syline Griffith who was in the third spot last week, unleashed ‘musical hell fire’ to put Georgetown’s Lashaun Charles into the third position. Charles who is a crowd favourite led the field from the initial auditions on June 20 but with gusto Griffith who was well supported by her fellow Barticians wrestled the top spot from her, forcing Charles into third place.

In the second position was the talented Dameon Apple of Barticia who continues to get better every week according to the judges. He maintained his second place position he secured last week.

In fourth place again this week was Georgetown’s Aaliyah Maria Rushuvelle who did a splendid reggae selection, ‘I m Waiting’, by

Jamaican artiste ‘Cecile’.

Some judges felt that she would have placed better if she had stuck with her customary soulful renditions which they say brings out the best in her.

Victoria’s Michael Spencer who had missed elimination by inches last week, brought out his ‘A’ Game this week to climb to the fifth position. He won a 10% gift voucher, compliments of Red Entertainment, while Rushuvelle won a gift token from Renaissance Gems which will be presented at the next leg of the competition slated for Saturday, July 11, 2015 at the same venue.

DJ Mongo Slade who was suffering from influenza nevertheless delivered a creditable show that saw him nabbing the sixth position. He shared this position with Georgetown’s Iodelle Gilbert who took the judges to church with a gospel rendition.

Some very disgruntled seasoned karaoke performers from Georgetown got scared of the steam coming from the fresh young faces and dropped out of the competition. These include Georgetown’s Sharon Martin, Sharon Jacobs, Junior Corbin and a few others. They were replaced by persons who auditioned in several other areas and were listed as hopefuls by

Dameon Apple of Bartica maintained his second place position

Bartica’s Silyne Griffith was the queen of the night at last Saturday’s competition

the judges.

One such person was Azharuddin Lallje whose sterling performance saw him placing seventh and being awarded the ‘Golden Ticket’ which has fasttracked him two rounds forward into the competition.

Gino Fullington who placed sixth last week messed up his performance when he finished a good performance and committed ‘theatrical

suicide’ when he chose to launch into an ‘Acapella showcase’ that was not needed at this leg of the competition. This performer messed up his act even further by pausing during his act to give instructions to the DJ to ‘tun up de volume’.

Nevertheless, officiating chief judge Dexter Mc Lennon felt he has great potential and awarded him the only existing ‘Lifeline Save’ which has earned him a spot in the next leg of the competition.

Marriot Hotel’s Lisa Walcott is loved by the judges for her constant fashion flair each week and upped her game last Saturday to move into the eighth spot.

She shares this position with Jonathan Bastion who was dubbed the ‘short and sweet performer’ by Judge Candasy Layne.

Georgetown’s Lashaun Charles had to settle for third spot last week

Jamall Benjamin took the next spot with Oconelle Morgan who ‘swagged his way’ back into the limelight to take the eleventh spot, which he shared with newcomer O. Hazel. Others making it to the next round were members of the ‘Nation Collide’ and newcomer Romeschelle Brummel who unleashed a melodious rendition of Pink’s ‘Family Portrait’ with guitars. She is regarded as one of the dark horses in the competition.

Those who sadly received the whiplash of elimination by the judges were Oquela Jones and wild card save, Sandra King who failed to impress the judges.

The judges were certainly not impressed since she

came back with no fire to her performance and forgot the words of the simple song, ‘Sad Movies’.

Petal France who was first dubbed as consistent brought to the stage Celine Dion’s ‘If you asked me to’.

One judge was overheard saying “If you ask me to I will have Celine Dion sue this woman”. According to most of the judges her performance lacked the customary sizzle associated with such songs.

The next leg of the Princess Star Karaoke Competition is slated for Saturday, July 11 at Club Next. While the show kicks off at 9:00 pm, all contestants are asked to be seated by 8:30 pm.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Legalisation of gay marriages not on SASOD’s agenda

– calls for end to discriminatory laws against LGBT community

By Shivanie Sugrim THE Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) says that samesex marriage is not a part of their advocacy agenda, but they are calling for an end to the discriminatory laws and policies against the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.

In light of the recent ruling in the United States and other countries legalizing gay marriages, observers here have said that Guyana is not ready for such a movement since the country is profoundly built on an array of religious beliefs that do not countenance gay marriage.

SASOD, however, is fully focused on what it sees as the pressing needs of LGBT people in Guyana to access their basic rights.

SEXUALITY EDUCATION Managing Director of

SASOD, Joel Simpson, when contacted by this publication maintained that there should be systems in place to address homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools so that the LGBT children do not become school drop-outs, but are able to complete their academic development.

“We would like comprehensive sexuality education in schools to teach all children in age-appropriate ways about sexual and gender diversity,” stressed Simpson. This, he said, will help in eliminating bullying in schools and will ultimately minimise the likelihood that the next generation will grow up to be ‘homophobic’ adults.

JOB SKILLS Moreover, Simpson is calling for more job-skills training along with job placement and entrepreneurial programmes for the ‘sidelined’ LGBT youths, so that the LGBT community has other means of attaining an income rather than relying on sex

work for survival.

Though it is a dawn of a new era, gays are still greatly discriminated, especially in the Caribbean, including Guyana. Many are not given equal health care while some are subjected to disrespect in their work environments. The use of public transportation without being harassed also adds to the list of discriminatory acts.

Meanwhile, Simpson noted that the new administration had campaigned on platforms of national unity, social cohesion, equal rights and gender equality. In that light, the LGBT community is holding high expectations that the new Government will join in their fight by taking legal and policy measures to ban discrimination against them in Guyana.

BLOOD DONATIONS This would include sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited categories in the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997

Gov’t aiming to make ports of entry vector-free AS the Ministry of Public Health continues to fight against vector-borne diseases, more emphasis will be placed on boosting health facilities at ports of entry to reduce chances of these diseases spreading when persons enter the country’s borders, according to Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle last Friday, the CMO said: “Currently, we are looking to expand the integrated vector management because we have acquired new vector equipment which could be used to develop health facilities so as to ensure that they are adequate enough… as we will also look to make the various ports of entry vector free, so even if someone comes with the disease there isn’t modality to transfer it.”

Following a recent committee meeting, he said, there were recommendations to improve surveillance so that measures will be in place to prevent the diseases from spreading in Guyana, as they

are also continuing efforts towards vector control by means of protecting around homes, etc.

And they’re also discovering new ways in which individuals can protect themselves, in terms of eradicating breeding sites for mosquitoes and engaging in more cleanup exercises which have proven effective over the past few months.

REDUCTION IN MALARIA CASES Dr. Persaud disclosed that they continually monitor the cases of malaria being recorded in the country, and by way of the ‘malaria information systems’, with the support of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), they have been able to contain vector-borne diseases to some extent.

Furthermore, “all the sites from across the various regions which make up the malaria information system submit a periodical report which shows the number of recorded cases and from 2013 to 2014 there has been

a reduction in the number of cases recorded,” said the CMO. USING MOSQUITO NETS He also noted the increased use of mosquito nets and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), and other firms so that they could receive a quantity of nets for all members as well as persons who reside in communities where malaria is prevalent.

Moreover, the rapid malaria tests and the quarantine treatment have proven effective and to date there have been no real challenges. “I think that the programme is very useful because there has also been a decrease in the numbers of smears in 2014 as compared to 2013…therefore we will continue to fight against these vector-borne diseases to the best of our abilities.”

and the Guyana Constitution, to repeal laws forbidding same-sex intimacy and cross-dressing. Lastly, Simpson called also called for the end of the discriminatory policy against gays and lesbians donating blood at the National Blood Transfusion Service.

Guyana’s current laws prohibit cross-dressing and one can be imprisoned for two years while buggery holds a lifetime sentence.

SASOD is simply calling for such laws to be abolished since they do not fit well with the LGBT community as Guyana is the only jurisdiction in South America that prohibits homosexual activity.

The APNU+AFC manifesto in the section on Gender Equality states clearly: “We commit to putting in place measures which will ensure that all vulnerable groups in our society, including women, children, persons with disabilities, rural and Indigenous wom-

We would like comprehensive sexuality education in schools to teach all children in age-appropriate ways about sexual and gender diversity … to help in eliminating bullying in schools and ultimately minimise the likelihood that the next generation will grow up to be ‘homophobic’ adults’ – SASOD Managing Director, Joel Simpson en, youth, the elderly and the sick and pregnant and those marginalised because of sexual orientation are protected and not discriminated against.”

Although President Granger holds strong religious beliefs, he has recently vowed to not impose his views on society.

The United States recently joined with nearly two dozen countries around the world in legalising gay marriages. On that note, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt shed light on this development at the Embassy’s July 4 Independence Day reception last Thursday evening.

“With this landmark de-

cision, the United States is ready to take yet another journey down the path towards equality for all, following in the footsteps of many of our allies such as South Africa, Brazil, Canada and Ireland, who are already well ahead of us on this particular journey,” said Hunt.

Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds had proposed to the National Assembly of the 10th Parliament that the country should repeal the discriminatory laws.

Thereafter, a committee was set up with assistance from the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2010 to revise these laws.

However, much has not been done since then.

FITUG calls on relevant authorities to contain ‘spike’ in crime rate THE Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) last Friday called on the relevant authorities to pay greater attention to the rise in the crime rate, so as to “stamp out the menace from our midst.”

“While we recognise that our law enforcement personnel are hard-pressed by today’s criminal enterprise, we hold the view that much can be done within the existing parameters to make a greater positive impact on crime fighting,” FITUG said in a press statement.

According to FITUG, media reports over the past few weeks have indicated that the country is experiencing yet another spike in the crime situation, which has raised concerns in various sectors of the population.

FITUG said that, as a social phenomenon, crime has a global presence and everywhere is posing challenges to all societies but it must not lull us into a state of acceptance in our lives. Indeed, the maximum

knowledge of this menace ought to require the appropriate security bodies primarily to fashion effective and enduring responses.

Therefore, according to the statement, the systems which are effective and give assurances to communities like the patrol systems too often become irregular and lose its effects.

“The situation today again calls for an increase and intense police activities to be pursued within our legal framework...

More activities, to be sure, would require resources, and training, with this in mind, we would support at this time that the Ministry of Public Security would make reasonable resources as required available,” FITUG said.

This ministry may additionally want to take initiatives beyond law-enforcement to complement the policing efforts. Importantly, the workable efforts must be sustained and not be employed in fits and starts.

FITUG said further that its concern over the crime situation stems from the

anxieties it is causing in the various layers of the society, including among its membership and their families. Such concerns can only aggravate the oppressive climate in which many must live.

Moreover, “we are of the firm view that no society can promote national development to the fullest if the population feels insecure.”

NATIONAL EFFORT Guyanese homes and businesses must always be safe havens, as the prevalence of crime can very well discourage investment, local and foreign. Seemingly, crime is widespread and may require a national effort today.

FITUG stressed that it stands ready to offer its assistance in crime prevention and crime-fighting. “We have high expectations that the perpetrators of crimes will be brought to justice and that soon we will see the unmistakable indications that the situation has significantly improved,” the FITUG statement added.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

FFTP donates medical supplies to MoPH

– equipment will boost Moleson Creek Port Health Facility IN an effort to improve the ability to prevent diseases and virus from entering Guyana’s territory, Food for the Poor (FFTP) has handed over to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) medical equipment which will be used to better develop the Moleson Creek Health Facility.

FFTP senior representative, Jimeel Davis said Friday that the medical supplies were presented to the MoPH for the Port Authority in Moleson Creek, as this is just the start. The equipment donated included two filing cabinets, one dresser, five sitting chairs, one Examination Table, two hospital beds with mattress-

es, one wheelchair, and two bedside tables.

Davis said that as FFTP gets stocks, its staffers will try to get things out to the various health institutions, in order to better help the people of Guyana.

And in brief remarks, C h i e f M e d i c a l O ff i c e r (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud disclosed that this is not the first activity, as this donation is supplementing previous donations, especially those in relation to the response to the Ebola threat.

He said: “Moleson Creek is one of the major gateways into Guyana, therefore we ought to have an adequate facility so that they can attend to the needs

of persons entering into our territory until we could ascertain whether they have an appropriate health status.”

The facility at Moleson Creek was built by the then Ministry of Infrastructure, and is expected to be launched soon by the MoPH, while there is an intention to develop an office there, so that a permanent Port Health Officer could be housed at Moleson Creek.

The CMO thanked FFTP for its support, stating “The support from Food for the Poor is very welcome and timely, and I hope that the relationship continues onwards.” (Navendra Seoraj)

Dr. Persaud sharing a moment with FFTP’s Jimeel Davis in the presence of other officials and members of the MoPH and FFTP

FFTP launches wheelchair programme

– needy persons and institutions urged to apply IN a collaborative effort with three wheelchair missions from the United States of America (USA), Food for the Poor Guyana (FFTP) would be embarking on a wheelchair programme in which disabled persons across Guyana will be applicable for a free wheelchair.

FFTP Senior Representative Jimeel Davis said,

“We have a total of 550 wheelchairs that need to be distributed throughout the length and breadth of the country.”

FFTP is, accordingly, appealing to people and institutions in need of wheelchairs to formally apply for same, including in their application a doctor’s report or a photograph showing the disabled person.

Afterwards, the entity will call and visit the persons, so as to determine whether a small, medium or large wheelchair would be suitable for the person.

Meanwhile, the FFTP has made in-roads in its quest to partner with various hospitals, but Davis said discussions pertaining to that are still at a management level.

Record number of corneal transplants done at GPHC by U.S.-based team A TEAM of experts from the United States-based Subraj Foundation visited Guyana last week to perform a series of corneal transplant surgeries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Arriving on June 30, the team spent the day at GPHC seeing over 35 patients in the ophthalmology clinic, and on July 1 and 2, the surgeons performed 11 transplants, one cataract surgery, and one removal of corneal foreign body.

Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, generated the list of patients to be seen by the team on June 30 and from that pool of patients, the team decided the suitability for transplant surgery.

The team brought the corneas with them, along

with special micro-surgical ophthalmic instruments to perform the surgeries. The donor corneas came from three U.S. eye banks: Eastern Virginia, Texas Lions and NE Pennsylvania.

The team, headed by Dr. Rahul M. Jindal, has been coming to Guyana since 2008, and already has a record of performing twenty-six kidney transplants and six corneal transplants in Guyana. The previous six corneal transplants were successfully done by the same team in Guyana in August, 2014, and the corneas were donated by the N.E. Pennsylvania Eye Bank.

Dr. Jindal, team leader, thanked Michael Khan, CEO of GPHC, nurses and Dr.Sugrim for the superb arrangements in the operating rooms and clinics. And

Drs. Waller and Pasternak thanked George Subraj, President of Subraj Foundation, based in Queens, New York, for facilitating the humanitarian mission.

Subraj also promised to fund future missions to perform kidney and cornea transplants at the GPHC. The visiting team commented that their aim is to sustain these procedures in the public hospital where the procedures are free.

The U.S.-based team is working with Dr. Sugrim to generate a list of patients who may require corneal transplants on the next visit, likely in September this year. Patients are urged to contact Dr. Sugrim at the GPHC where all the procedures will be performed completely free of cost.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Lamaha Park elects new executive of Community Policing Group

By Shirley Thomas THE Georgetown community of Lamaha Park in East La Penitence now has a new Community Policing Group (CPG), and this group is reportedly ready to get on with the business of working collaboratively with ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to service the security and other social needs of the community.

After a period of dormancy, the eventual resuscitation of the group has come as welcome news to residents of the community, particularly in light of the many robbery attacks (some of them armed) committed on homes by intruders over the last several months.

Last Saturday, community policing icon Ms. Beverly London, Liaison to 2nd Vice President and Minister of Public, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan, met with residents of the community at Kennedy’s shop for the purpose of holding the elections. Ms. London presided over a very smooth and efficient election process, which saw all residents present expressing satisfaction with the outcome.

Deviating from the norm, the executive, for the first time, has on board a band of fearless, dynamic and visionary young members who are determined to mobilise others and lead by example, while applying zest and vigour and going the extra mile to make the Lamaha Park Community Policing Group a success.

The executive body is as follows: * Chairman Lancelot Glen * Vice Chairman Calvin Hector * Secretary Jacia Marcus * Treasurer Deon Fraser * Asst/Sec Treasurer - Chrystel Kennedy * Public Relations Officer - Marcia Marcus Committee members: * Pastor Timothy Norton (with responsibility for youth) * Eric Richards (with responsibility for Sports) * Walter Charles * Derek Erskine * Jan Hector Ms. London also performed the duties of Returning Officer in the absence of a police rank identified to perform such duties. Ms. London installed and congratulated the newly elected executive, briefed them on their responsibilities, and pledged to offer support to the group wherever possible.

15

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

17

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Recipients of presidential pardon enrolled in USAID SKYE programme

U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Mr Bryan Hunt, speaking at the U.S. Embassy-hosted reception marking the 239th Independence Anniversary of the USA at Guyana’s Marriott Hotel in Kingston To this end, Hunt said, the partners have collaborated

By Derwayne Wills with Guyana’s Magistracy UPON entering office, Presi- and the Probation Departdent David Granger offered ment of the Social Protection amnesty to some 70 youths Ministry to ensure that alterin the penal system accused native sentencing was given of petty crimes; and while to more than 70 youth, thus those youths were released diverting them from incarsome weeks ago, United ceration and into receiving States Charge d’ Affaires, support to reform their lives.

On a high note of the Mr Bryan Hunt, disclosed that 40 of those youths are project, Hunt declared, “Over currently involved in the 1600 youth have been linked Skills and Knowledge for to long-term employment.

Youth Employment (SKYE) Our work to empower youth and support improvement of programme.

The website of the U.S. their lives through this proEmbassy in Georgetown said, gram continues, partnering “The USAID SKYE Project with government, private is working with at-risk youth sector, and the non-governbetween the ages of 15 (and) mental community to achieve 24. They are mainly males, objectives.”

Meanwhile, Vice-Preswho are school dropouts, youth who completed formal ident and Public Security education but do not have Minister, Khemraj Ramthe necessary skills to find jattan, invited by this pubemployment, and youth in- lication to comment last volved in the juvenile justice June, plugged the need for long-term solutions to resystem.”

Speaking at a reception habilitating and reforming at Guyana’s Marriott Hotel at-risk youth.

Ramjattan said that while in Kingston on Thursday evening, Hunt gave assurance the Government has no rehathat the Embassy remains bilitation centres, the Cabicommitted to the programme, net would have to work out which exists in collaboration financing for a facility of with the United States Agency that nature, as well as other for International Develop- particulars, including the employment of staff and cases to ment (USAID).

“Our mutually beneficial be admitted.

Ramjattan also disgoal is to reduce youth crime closed that there are rehab and violence by development-enhanced skills and centres privately owned increased economic oppor- or controlled by non-govtunities,” Hunt said, while ernmental organisations adding that the programme (NGOs) all across Guyana, aims to “deter and reduce but he is considering the youth involvement in crime option of a state-sponsored rehabilitation centre. and violence.”

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Ramjattan announces...

Increased resources for police through bilateral relations

By Leroy Smith THE Guyana Police Force, in this its anniversary month, has been reassured that the new Coalition Government will ensure that the law-enforcement body gets all the necessary resources it needs to execute its mandate and render a higher level of service to the public.

This reassurance was given by Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan on Friday, while handing over 11 vehicles to the Guyana Police Force.The vehicles were initially purchased for Community Policing Groups.

Minister Ramjattan stressed that he wished to

see the vehicles being used to better patrol the various divisions, even as the organisation is expected to receive an additional set of vehicles, which are being prepared for handing over.

“We are working on a number of equipment, and luckily, I had the good fortune of meeting the Chinese Ambassador who said they are going to help fast-track a number of equipment. A list was given since February 2014, which they will like to see us peruse for our priority as a new Administration, and a number of new items which are going to take care of our list and hopefully we get it shortly,” Minister Ramjattan said.

He added that other local

bilateral connections have also seen the need to address the issue of additional radio sets and vests among other items for the Guyana Police Force. He stated that the list is a very long one, and that better training and supervision and all other aspects that will make the Force a better place were also mentioned.

Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, who also commented prior to the handing over of the vehicles, stated that since the new administration has taken office, all discussions that he has had with senior Government officials suggest that there will be efforts to boost the capacity of the force.

He however made it clear

The 11 vehicles which were handed over to the police to aid in their delivery of service (Photos by Leroy Smith)

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)

‘Top Cop’ Mr Seelall Persaud receiving the keys to one of the vehicles from Public Security Minister, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan that once the force’s capacity is boosted, then it is only natural that there will be a higher demand for improved and increased performance.

“We will have to deliver, meaning that we have to take the crime statistics down and we have to take control of crime; we have to take the road deaths down, we have to develop public trust and we have to engage our communities in a way that persons engage us, not with fear but [with] accommodation,” Commissioner Persaud stated.

Speaking directly to the handing over of the vehicles, Seelall said the delivery

of the vans on many terms indicates that the promises of the vehicles which were thinking outside of the box, an initiative which proves the promises were not empty ones.

According to the commissioner, the vehicles were channel led to the police force after the minister was briefed on the resource needs of the organisation.

He spoke of no police patrol vehicles in ‘D’ Division, while in ‘B’ Division there are presently two patrol vehicles for the entire region, as he stressed that the vehicles will go a long way in addressing those weak-

nesses.

With regard to the care and proper hand–over/ take-over systems with respect to the vehicles, Commissioner Persaud called on Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine to ensure that there is strict enforcement of a recently implemented vehicles-management system for the force to ensure compliance.

He said the system will see the vehicles lasting longer and will be better able to serve the communities and meet the mandates and to some extent the expectations of the members of the public.

Minister Ramjattan addressing Commissioner Persaud and Divisional Commanders on Friday

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Happy CARICOM Day to all Guyanese

--from GAWU THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has extended greetings and well wishes to all Guyanese and other CARICOM citizens as CARICOM Day 2015 is observed.

The union says that the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) -- which now stretches from The Bahamas in the north to Guyana and Suriname in the south, and encompasses some 14 million people --demonstrates the growth and enduring fraternity we have experienced since its establishment.

This institution, now in its forty-second (42nd) year, in our view continues to have a relevant and important role with respect to the integration of the Caribbean, and also to confront the several challenges that currently beset our Region and still others that threaten us.

“We are also of the view that two of CARICOM’s important pillars -– the free

movement of people and unhindered trade among members -– at this time require more attention, as the meeting of the Heads of Government always provides an opportunity to explore, review, and make decisions to set up mechanisms to pursue the objectives of CARICOM,” GAWU has said in a statement.

The union also disclosed that with militarization and military adventures going on apace in the wider international arena, we cannot feel insulated from its consequences, or isolated from the schemes of certain countries.

“This day offers a timely reminder that, at the 2014 meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), an organisation in which CARICOM nations are members, there was the declaration for Latin America and the Caribbean to be a “Zone of Peace”.

In keeping with this

sentiment it is implied and expected that disputes should be peacefully resolved, and dialogue and negotiations be the preferred tools to arrive at settlements of disputes between and among nations.

“Though we have many critical issues that require our collective attention and cooperation – security, economic, en-

ergy, climate, and yet others -- GAWU looks at the tomorrows of our Region with optimism. Gradually, but surely, we are forging ahead; and all the while, essentially, we have stayed united while zealously safeguarding our democratic institutions and promoting democratic norms and practices, the union opined.

For Monday July 6, 2015: 08:30hrs For Tuesday July 7, 2015: 09:00:00hrs For Wednesday July 8, 2015: 10:00hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

23

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

25

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Lloyd hat-trick inspires U.S. World Cup...

From back page for non-Japanese at least, was an entertaining finale to what has been an excellent tournament.

No team had ever scored more than two goals in a Women’s World Cup final but the brilliant Lloyd went one better all by herself -- and within just 16 minutes.

The opener came in the third minute when Megan Rapinoe drove a low diagonal ball across the area and Lloyd timed her run to perfection, meeting the ball with a powerful, first-time drive past Japan keeper Ayumi Kaihori.

Japan were stunned further just two minutes later when Lloyd doubled the lead -- again from a set-piece.

Another low ball into the box did the damage, this time from a Lauren Holiday free-kick which the Japan defense failed to clear and the ball fell to Lloyd, who gleefully slotted home.

Japan had barely time to regroup before they found themselves 3-0 down in the 14th minute with an awful attempted headed clearance from Azusa Iwashimizu falling to Lauren Holiday, who blasted in a volley from inside the penalty area.

Japan had conceded as many goals in the opening 14 minutes as they had in the entire previous six games of the tournament.

However, one of the most remarkable goals ever witnessed in a Women’s World Cup arrived just two minutes later when Lloyd, gathering the ball in her own half, saw Kaihori far off her line and shot from 50 yards out, with the scrambling Japanese keeper only able to palm the ball onto the post and into the net.

Japan restored a little bit of pride in the 27th minute when Yuki Ogimi turned Julie Johnston in the area and fired past Hope Solo to make it 4-1.

The Japanese have been widely praised for their short-passing game but it was an old-fashioned route that brought them, temporarily, back into the game early in the second half.

Aya Miyami’s long free-kick into the box was aimed at Sawa and Johnston rose for the ball but could only deflect a header past a helpless Solo.

The glimmer of hope flickered for just two minutes, however, when a U.S. corner fell to Morgan Brian beyond the far post and she did well to find Tobin Heath, who confidently fired home to make it 5-2 and effectively end Japan’s hope of a comeback.

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Fairview 08:50 hrs Fredrick Fox 09:25 hrs Lotus Lily Lake 10:05 hrs Shake And Bake 10:40 hrs Set Me Free ENGLISH RACING TIPS Ayr 09:05 hrs Donjuan Triumphant 09:35 hrs Opt Out 10:05 hrs Captain Scooby 10:35 hrs Harwoods Volante 11:05 hrs Elusive Gent 11:35 hrs Lady Clitico 12:05 hrs Lexington Place 12:35 hrs Pitt Rivers WORCESTER 09:20 hrs Patricktom Boru 09:50 hrs Marie Des Anges 10:20 hrs Klaazia 10:50 hrs Jayo Time 11:20 hrs She’s Late 11:50 hrs Little Pop 12:20 hrs Canicallyou back

Windsor 12:55 hrs Hardy Black 13:25 hrs Ornate 13:55 hrs Nouveau Foret 14:25 hrs Storm Lightning 14:55 hrs Lady Marl 15:25 hrs Lemoncetta 15:55 hrs Biotic IRISH RACING TIPS Roscommon 12:45 hrs Haraz 13:15 hrs Pontificate 13:45 hrs Cruidin 14:15 hrs Van Schaick 14:45 hrs Panama Hat 15:15 hrs Social Climber 15:45 hrs Macnicholson AMERICAN RACING TIPS Parx Racing Race 1 Search N Destroy Race 2 Broad Lover Race 3 Arecibo Race 4 Saturday Storms Race 5 San Cristo Race 6 Zig Zag Race 7 Shezaghostslayer Race 8 Forge Ahead Franki Race 9 Burning Mandrake

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

Mathews puts Sri Lanka in driver’s seat

(REUTERS) - Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews led by example, hitting an unbeaten 77 to help his team overcome a

Skipper Angelo Mathews strokes one through the off side in his unbeaten 77 in Pallekele on the 3rd day. top order wobble and take a 291-run lead against Pakistan at the end of the third

day’s play in the third and final Test at Pallekele yesterday.

At 35-3, Sri Lanka looked in deep trouble but Mathews added 81 runs with Jehan Mubarak (35) for the fifth wicket to steady the innings.

He and Dinesh Chandimal (39 not out) then added 67 runs to stretch the lead before bad light forced early stumps with Sri Lanka in firm control of the series-deciding contest.

Having claimed the last Pakistani wicket in the morning to bowl out the visitors for 215, Sri Lanka wobbled early in their second innings with Rahat Ali troubling their batsmen in a brilliant display of swing bowling.

The left-arm paceman first pegged back the off stump of Dimuth Karunaratne, a first innings centurion, then repeated the feat against Lahiru Thirimanne to wreck the top order.

His new ball partner Ehsan Adil got in on the act when he coaxed an edge from Kaushal Silva to claim the other Sri Lanka wicket to fall in a stop-start morning session interrupted by several rain delays.

Upul Tharanga (48) looked the most fluent of the Sri Lankan batsmen, hitting six boundaries in his nearly run-a-ball knock as he counter-attacked with ag-

Du Plessis leads South Africa to easy win in Bangladesh DHAKA, (Reuters)-Faf du Plessis led from the front as South Africa flexed their bowling muscles to thrash Bangladesh by 52 runs in the first Twenty20 Internationals yesterday to go 1-0 up in the twomatch series.

Opting to bat first, the visitors lost their talisman AB de Villiers in the very first over but du Plessis struck an unbeaten 79 off 61 balls to power the Proteas to 148-4.

Their bowling attack contained more firepower than Bangladesh could handle and the Proteas shot out the hosts for 96 inside 19 overs to cruise to an easy victory.

“It’s the beauty of the team,” du Plessis, adjudged player-of-the-match, said in a pitchside interview.

“We’ve got world class players like AB but we don’t rely on one. There are so many other players in the team who can be match-winners.”

Arafat Sunny gave Bangladesh a rousing start, dismissing de Villiers in the very first over and the left-arm spinner sent back JP Duminy as well as South Africa kept losing wickets regularly to find themselves in trouble.

Du Plessis hit eight fours in his unbeaten knock and found an able ally in Rilee Rossouw (31 not out), adding 58 runs with him in 6.4 overs to take the team close to the 150-run mark.

Defending the total, the South African spinners got more purchase from the wicket and did not allow any partnership to prosper, frustrating the hosts who were hoping to replicate their limited-overs form having beaten Pakistan and India in recent home series.

Kyle Abbott dismissed Tamim Iqbal in the first over to draw first blood and the hosts capitulated, failing to withstand the relentless hostility.

Shakib Al Hasan topscored for them with 26, while debutant Litton Das managed 22 as only three Bangladeshi batsmen managed double digits.

Duminy, David Wiese and Kagiso Rabada claimed two wickets apiece for South Africa.

“Our batters played too many shots but it’s not a worry. We can fix it in the next match,” Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said.

The teams return to Mirpur’s Shere Bangla National Stadium for the second Twenty20 tomorrow.

gression.

The southpaw, however, fell short of his fifty with Azhar Ali taking a smart bat-pad catch at forward short leg off Yasir Shah.

Back in the Test squad after nearly eight years, Mubarak joined his captain in rebuilding the innings but was dismissed for 35 by Shah, who claimed his 24th wicket in the series.

Chandimal ensured Sri Lanka kept pil-

ing on runs, hitting five boundaries in his innings.

Earlier, Sarfraz Ahmed remained not out after a defiant 78 as Pakistan conceded a 63-run first innings deficit.

Spinner Tharindu Kaushal deceived the scoreless Imran Khan with a straighter delivery that hit the off stump, leaving Sarfraz stranded as Pakistan could only add six runs to their overnight 209-9.

SCOREBOARD SRI Lanka 1st innings 278 (D. Karunaratne 130; Y. Shah 5-78) Pakistan 1st innings (Overnight: 209-9) 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 78 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 b Kaushal 0 Extras (lb-4 nb-2 w-1) 7 Total (all out, 66 overs) 215 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-ulHaq,7-152 E. Adil,8-197 Y. Shah,9-202 R. Ali,10-215 I. Khan Bowling: D. Prasad 19 - 1 - 78 - 3(w-1), S. Lakmal

14 - 1 - 64 - 0(nb-2), N. Pradeep 15 - 5 - 29 – 3, A. Mathews 4 - 1 - 3 – 0, T. Kaushal 14 - 1 - 37 - 3 SRI LANKA 2nd innings D. Karunaratne b R. Ali 10 K. Silva c Misbah-ul-Haq b Adil 3 U. Tharanga c Az. Ali b Shah 48 L. Thirimanne b R. Ali 0 A. Mathews not out 77 J. Mubarak c Az. Ali b Shah 35 D. Chandimal not out 39 Extras (b-4 lb-9 w-3) 16 Total (for 5 wickets, 69.4 overs) 228 Fall of wickets: 1-12 D. Karunaratne,2-22 K. Silva,3-35 L. Thirimanne,4-80 U. Tharanga,5-161 J. Mubarak To bat: D. Prasad, T. Kaushal, S. Lakmal, N. Pradeep Bowling: R. Ali 15 - 3 - 58 - 2(w-1),E. Adil 14 - 4 46 - 1(w-1), I. Khan 10.4 - 2 - 27 - 0(w-1), Y. Shah 25 - 4 - 70 – 2, Az. Ali 5 - 1 - 14 - 0

Froome and Contador back in control on Tour de France

By Julien Pretot

a crash.

“This a huge advantage for us to sit in this position after one flat day out on the road,” Team Sky rider Froome told ZEELAND, Netherlands, (Reuters)-One year after crashreporters. ing out of the race, Chris Froome and Alberto Contador “This is a three-week race and things do change on a daily were back in control of the Tour de France, hurting their basis.

We’re ahead today but who knows what’s in store for main rivals in a hectic second stage won by German Andre us for the rest of the week,” Greipel yesterday.

Contador, of the TinCrosswinds and crashes koff-Saxo team, said: “There caused several splits as the are days like this when peloton made its way through you’re very happy to have heavy rain on a 166-kilometeam mates like mine.” tre ride from Utrecht, with Froome is 10th overall, 48 Froome and Contador ending seconds behind Cancellara, up in a small leading group who is wearing the yellow that also included American jersey for the first time since Tejay van Garderen as they 2012, while Contador sits in finished one minute 28 sec14th place one minute off the onds ahead of the main pack. pace.

In that pack was de“It was almost like a onefending champion Vincenzo day classic race,” CancelNibali, Colombian Nairo lara, whose season had been Quintana and France’s Thihampered by a severe back baut Pinot, who could only injury, told reporters. limit the damage after being Van Garderen, one of the trapped behind on a stage main contenders behind the that went along the North Andre Greipel wins stage 2 of the 2015 Tour de Big Four of Froome, ContaSea. France. (Getty Images Sport) dor, Nibali and Quintana, is Greipel was the fastest eighth -- four seconds ahead in the finishing straight, outof Froome. sprinting Slovakian Peter Sagan and Fabian Cancellara, with Pinot, the most impressive pre-race favourite in Satthe Swiss taking the overall leader’s yellow jersey from Ausurday’s opening time trial, is now 2:07 behind Cancellara tralia’s Rohan Dennis.

Pre-stage favourite Mark Cavendish of Britain could only with Nibali (2:09) and Quintana (2:27) further behind.

“The race is still long, with surprises every day, it was the manage a disappointing fourth place.

Briton Froome, the 2013 Tour champion, crashed out case today,” said Pinot.

They will all have a chance of revenge in today’s third of the Tour on the fifth stage last year, while Spain’s Constage, which finishes up the short but punishing climb to tador, who is attempting a rare Giro d’Italia/Tour double, abandoned his 2014 race after breaking his shinbone in the Mur de Huy.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

England bank on Bayliss to douse Australian fire

By Ed Osmond LONDON, (Reuters)-A callow England team with a new coach take on a bullish and streetwise Australia in an intriguing Ashes series which should provide plenty of drama and aggressive cricket.

Michael Clarke’s touring side will attempt to win the urn on English soil for the first time in 14 years and Alastair Cook’s hosts will try to win back the trophy following their crushing 5-0 defeat in the last series Down Under.

Two years ago Australia went into the Ashes with a new coach in Darren Lehman and lost 3-0, but it was a victory margin which flattered England.

This time around the hosts will be led by Australian coach Trevor Bayliss who will aim to build on the feelgood factor generated by England’s impressive resurgence in the

recent one-day series against New Zealand.

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson believes hav-

Australia coach Darren Lehmann ing the 52-year-old Bayliss at the helm will give England an advantage.

“He knows a lot of us very well,” Watson said. “He’ll

Blatter says political pressure behind Qatar & World Cup votes FRENCH and German presidents applied political pressure prior to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes, according to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

He alleges ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his German counterpart Christian Wulff sought to influence voting before Qatar and Russia were chosen as

SEPP BLATTER respective hosts in 2010.

Blatter, 79, said: “That is the reason why we now have a World Cup in Qatar.”

The voting process is now under investigation by the Swiss prosecutors.

He added: “Those who decided this should also take the responsibility.”

Blatter announced on June 2 he would step down from the presidency at world football’s governing body at an extraordinary congress to be held between December and March.

His decision followed

an investigation into alleged corruption at FIFA which has seen 18 people indicted in the United States. Blatter said he has “nothing to fear” on a personal level.

Speaking to Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper, Blatter said: “Before the World Cups were awarded to Russia and Qatar, there were two political interventions. Messrs Sarkozy and Wulff tried to influence their vote-makers.

Blatter also claimed that the German football association (DFB) “also received such a recommendation that Germany should vote for Qatar due to economic interests.”

He added: “Just look at all the German companies.

The Deutsche Bahn (German railways) Hochtief (construction) and many more already had projects in Qatar before the World Cup was awarded there.

“I act on the leadership principle. If a majority of the executive committee wants a World Cup in Qatar then I have to accept that.”

Former DFB president Theo Zwanziger had previously written that Wulff had asked about Qatar’s chances but he denied it had had any influence.

Blatter has also confirmed that he does not intend to stand for a sixth term in office at FIFA (BBC Sport).

have these ideas about how he doesn’t quite feel in charge. he can try to expose our team.

“Alastair Cook is not a The edge will be the inside in- big extrovert. He’s not someformation he will have. But we body who is going to change know that if we are at our best things in dramatic ways.” we will be very hard to beat.”

England stagnated under former coach Peter Moores, drawing a test series in West Indies this year before being held by New Zealand on home soil under Paul Farbrace.

After two barren years Alastair Cook has rediscovered his batting form but doubts remain about whether he has the captaincy acumen to outwit the Australians.

“I’m not sure how much flair he has,” said former England captain Mike Brearley who masterminded three Ash- England coach Trevor Bayliss es victories.

“It will be difficult for him if things don’t go well to start with -- and if he doesn’t feel SIGNIFICANT he’s got the same spirit that ADVANTAGE the team have had in the oneBrearley thinks Australia day matches recently, and if have a significant advan-

tage in their bowling attack spearheaded by Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Ryan Harris.

“Australia are a very tough team,” Brearley said. “On paper, they’re a better team than us. They’ve certainly got better bowling than we have.

“But we’re playing at our home grounds, which makes a difference. If we can get that spirit going, and people play to their best, then we’ve got a chance.”

England were lifted in the New Zealand series by positive and match-changing innings from their middle-order batsmen.

“One of the exciting things is the flair in the young players from number five to number eight -- Joe Root is a terrific player, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali,” Brearley said.

Cook will need major contributions from his experienced opening bowlers

James Anderson and Stuart Broad and will be desperate for Gary Ballance and Ian Bell to rediscover their form at numbers three and four.

England could be tempted to play leg-spinner Adil Rashid in the first Test in Cardiff starting on Wednesday but it would be a gamble given the prolific form of the Australians.

Steve Smith is the topranked batsman in the world after a phenomenal run while David Warner, Chris Rogers, Clarke and Watson are proven run-scorers in English conditions.

The first Test usually proves to be pivotal.

Two years ago England won a thrilling and fluctuating game in Nottingham by 14 runs and in 2009 the hosts’ last-wicket pair Anderson and Monty Panesar survived for 37 minutes in Cardiff to secure the draw which set up a 2-1 series win.

Happy Hamilton a home winner again

By Alan Baldwin SILVERSTONE, England, (Reuters)-Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton soaked up the energy of a roaring home crowd to win the British Grand Prix for the second year in a row yesterday and forge 17 points clear of Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg.

Germany’s Sebastian Vettel finished third for Ferrari, behind Rosberg, with Williams driver Felipe Massa bumped off the podium after leading for the first 20 laps following a blistering start.

On a tricky afternoon of safety cars, sunshine and showers Hamilton timed his tyre strategy to perfection to chalk up his 38th career win and fifth of the season -- and get his hands on a ‘proper’ gold trophy.

The victory in front of an estimated 140,000 fans -- a timely reminder of the sport’s enduring appeal despite doom-laden headlines -- made Hamilton only the third Briton, after Jim Clark and Nigel Mansell, to win three times at home.

“I really wanted to do it for you guys,” he told the crowd from the podium. “I am so thankful for all the support.

I could see all the fans on every lap in the corner of my eye and it spurred me on.

The Briton, who had complained about poor grip on his way to the grid, made a sluggish start from pole position as Massa roared through from the second row to lead into the first corner.

“I am so elated you cannot imagine,” he said after a day that could so easily have gone badly wrong.

Rosberg, who was fourth at the end of the first lap, said his team mate had timed it exactly right in pitting

for intermediates just as the rain began to come down hard.

The German stayed out for another slippery lap before also pitting.

“I was pushing hard to try and catch Lewis under difficult conditions but he made the better call and that is where I lost it. Fair play to him,” said the German, who now has 177 points to Hamilton’s 194.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates his win on the podiumReuters / Phil Noble Mercedes, with their sixth one-two of the season, took another massive step towards retaining the constructors’ title and have 371 points to Ferrari’s 211.

TROUBLED SEASON The safety car was deployed for two laps after Lotus drivers Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean collided on lap one, with McLaren’s Fernando Alonso also spearing into

his team mate Jenson Button.

Button retired but Spaniard Alonso stayed in the race and finished lapped but 10th for his first point of a troubled season.

Bottas passed Hamilton for second at the re-start when the safety car came in and the unexpected possibility of a first Williams one-two since 2003 turned the race into a rare thriller.

While the pit wall told Bottas initially to hold position to help the Williams duo pull away together, the Finn was determined to race.

“I’m going to overtake,” he said. “I can do it on the back straight.”

Massa still held him off until the first stop, with Mercedes trying in vain to fool their rivals into pitting early by deploying their own mechanics in a dummy run that came to nothing.

When the Brazilian did come in, it was with Rosberg in tow and the pair left side by side with Massa just squeezing in front at the last moment.

“This is a straight fight to the end, we are racing all cars around us,” Massa was told, but in the end it came down to the weather and tyre choice with Rosberg passing for second place on lap 41.

Only 13 cars finished, with Sauber’s Brazilian Felipe Nasr retiring before the start when his car was stuck in sixth gear on the track as he headed for the grid.

A virtual safety car also came into play on lap 34 when the Toro Rosso of Spaniard Carlos Sainz stopped on the runoff and had to be removed with a tractor.

Bottas finished fifth, ahead of Red Bull’s Russian Daniil Kvyat, while Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was eighth and sandwiched between the Force Indias of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez in seventh and ninth.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

ECCB, GCA on board with CARICOM Championships

TWO prominent cricket boards, East Coast Cricket Board and Georgetown Cricket Association have come on board with Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) organised CARICOM Championship.

The one-day tournament will now be played on Sunday July 19 at the Albion Sports Complex.

Proceeds from this event will be used mainly to organise a three-day first division cricket competition for teams in Berbice.

At a simple ceremony held in Georgetown recently, president of East Coast Cricket Board Bissoondyal Singh and former vice- president of the Guyana Cricket Board said that he had a discussion with Roger Harper and other members of the Georgetown Cricket Association and they willingly agreed to help the Berbice Cricket Board in its effort to play three-day cricket for first division teams in Berbice.

In a joint statement, both cricket boards said that they are aware that no subvention was given to the BCB for over five years, and as a

He emphasised the importance of the longer version of the game for proper development of the young players. He said that this

Bissoondyal Singh hands over sponsorship cheque to Malcolm Peters in the presence of former West Indies vice-captain, Roger Harper, former national selectors Claude Raphael and Albert Smith and others. result, they thought it fitting to assist. They themselves are suffering the same faith, the release said despite the

National Hockey teams double up training sessions

Will not be affected by weather THE Junior and Senior National Hockey teams are enjoying the use of the National Stadium at Providence for training and practice sessions ahead of several International events.

Speaking to the media recently, President of the Guyana Hockey Board Phillip Fernandes said that the weather, however, is playing a factor that has hindered some training time as well as some facilities that are not up to standard.

“The weather has been a real challenge for us, we also have the additional hindrance of not having the use of the gymnasium because of the poor lighting so even though there might be a little bit of hockey training from time to time, unfortunately a proper national session cannot be done because that facility is not readily available.

So we have been luckily getting the use of the national stadium and a small area at GCC and those guys have been putting in a lot of work,” Fernandes noted.

He stated that the units have added a morning session in an attempt to double up on training and he is pleased with the efforts of

fact that ICC provides monies for cricket development around the world.

In response, Malcolm Peters speaking on behalf

the unit.

The GHB boss said they are sending a junior and senior team to two tournaments in the coming months and he is pleased with the effort they are making, despite the obvious shortcomings.

They are two situations where there is a junior team scheduled to depart in a few weeks.

That team is going to Trinidad and Tobago for an interim training tournament, where they are going to be teams coming from elsewhere in the world and they are going to be competing there but that is a makeup tournament to give them experience for the Pan American championship and next year’s junior championships.

The senior team is also in training with the juniors and they are actually going to Peru in September so they have got a bit more time.

In closing, Fernandes noted that administratively, the sport has been pushing forward with trying to garner as much exposure as possible for both teams as they move closer to the deadlines for their respective tournaments.

of the Berbice Cricket Board thanked the ECCB and the GCA for their generosity.

form of cricket will help players to concentrate for long periods thus toughening their mental strength;

and that the competition will not only help Berbice but Guyana and West Indies as well. Peters hopes that the new government will act swiftly and bring an end to the cricket fiasco in Guyana.

Eight top T20 First-Division teams in Berbice will compete in a 10-over knockout competition with the final of 20 overs to be played under lights for a top prize of $80,000 and a trophy.

The runner-up will receive $40,000 and a trophy with the losing semi-finalists copping $15,000 each.

The Man of the Match in every game will be rewarded. Action will commence at 10:00hrs sharp.

The participating teams are Upper Corentyne/ Skeldon, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Albion, Young Warriors/Rose Hall Centre, Police/Bermine, Blairmont/West Berbice and Bush Lot/D’Edward.

The Board said that the teams were selected in such

a manner that all the top players in Berbice will be on show.

Young Warriors/Rose Hall CC/Edinburgh Combined will tackle Upper Corentyne/Skeldon Combined in the opening.

Game two will see Albion CC taking on Bermine/ Police Combined. Game three is Port Mourant versus Bush Lot/D’Edward Combined Game four will see Blairmont/West Berbice Combined playing Rose Hall Town.

The winner of game 1 and 2 will play in the first semi-final while the winner of game 3 and 4 play the other semi final.

Many gate prizes will be up for grabs for fans, with a well-stocked bar and musical entertainment.

To promote the game, 15 passes each will be given to eight schools in the Lower Corentyne area.

Entrance is $300 for adults, children under 12 free.

Nedd upbeat ahead of Regional U-17 tournament HEAD Coach of the Guyana Under-17 cricket team, Garvin Nedd has expressed optimism that his team can win the fourth edition of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional tournament which is scheduled to bowl off in Tobago tomorrow with three matches.

The six-team tournament will be played from July 7 to 14 and will comprise five rounds and fifteen 50 over matches.

The participating teams are the traditional regional

teams: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago and Windward Islands.

“I am confident that the squad can make Guyana proud. I am confident we will win the title,” Nedd told Chronicle Sport on Saturday.

He continued “Overall we have a very a good all-round team. We have players with the ability to perform at this level and win matches. The main strength of this side, however, is the team unity and self-belief.”

Nedd further stated that during the nine-day encampment period the players have all displayed a positive attitude.

He also noted that the team spirit and the level of discipline among the players are very high.

Guyana will be in action tomorrow against Jamaica.

The Guyanese will then play the Windward Islands on July 8, Barbados on July 10, the Leeward Islands on July 12 and hosts Trinidad and Tobago on July 14.

Barbados are the defend-

ing champions after winning the tournament last year.

Guyana full squad reads: Ronaldo Mohamed (Captain), Bhaskar Yadram, Ramnarine Chatura, Raymond Perez, Ashmead Nedd, Timonthy Mc Almont, Sagar Hathiramani, Adrian Sukwah, Steve Deonarine, Asif Ally, Richie Looknauth, Sylus Tyndall, Joshua Persaud, Kevin Sinclair, Joshua Jones, Gavin Boodwah, Tameshwar Motiram and Romain Muniram.

Under-19 WC qualifiers..

US crush Bermuda by 136 runs in opener

S O M E R S E T, B e r m u da, (CMC) -- The United States, propelled by a century opening stand, thrashed Bermuda by 136 runs in the opening fixture of the three-nation Under-19 World Cup qualifying tournament here yesterday.

Mohak Buch, who struck 14 fours in his 83-ball 76, and Yadunandan Polisetty (37) laid the foundation for an imposing US 50-over total of 255 -- including 34 wides among the 50 extras -- by adding 129 for the first wicket before the visitors turned around to skittle out hosts Bermuda for a paltry 119 in just 22.3 overs.

Srihari Dasarathy (24) and Kushal Ganji (23) added useful runs for the US, who passed 200 with only four wickets down.

Chare Smith was the pick of the Bermuda attack with

…Suriname pull out because of visa problems four for 43 from his 10 overs, while skipper Delray Rawlins polished off the innings with three for 37 from nine.

In reply, Bermuda lost wickets at regular intervals and it needed 28 from number 10 Smith for the hosts to reach three figures, their total including 37 extras. Besides Smith, only Azende Furbert (14) reached double figures.

Keifer Phill, who opened the attack, was the visitors’ most successful bowler with three for 25 from seven overs, while Alexander Shoff, Karan Patel and Sahil Patel chipped in with two wickets apiece.

The qualifying tournament was reduced from four teams to three when Suriname were forced to pull out because of visa problems flying to Bermuda via the US.

Teams will play each other twice. The third team, Canada, take on Bermuda at St David’s today.

Winners of the Bermuda tournament will not only win a place at next year’s Under-19 World Cup finals in Bangladesh but have the added incentive of earning a spot in this month’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Under-19 tournament.

In previous years a combined ICC Americas side have played in the Caribbean tournament, with Bermuda players Rawlins, Alex Dore, Onias Bascome and Micah Simons appearing for the team last year.

This time, however, with the Under-19 World Cup to be played in Bangladesh next January and February, the

ICC decided that the region’s qualifiers would benefit from playing as a team against the best the West Indies have to offer.

The WICB event starts within days of the Bermuda qualifier ending, and while ICC Americas regional development manager Ben Kavenagh acknowledged the quick turnaround, he has said it was too good an opportunity to miss.

Summarised scores United States 255 in 50 overs (Mohak Buch 76, Yadunandan Polisetty 37, Srihari Dasarathy 24, Kushal Ganji 23; Chare Smith 4-43, Delray Rawlins 3-37), Bermuda 119 in 22.3 overs (Smith 28; Keifer Phill 3-25, Alexander Shoff 2-9, Karan Patel 2-16, Sahil Patel (2-27)

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

National U-17 cricketers wing out for T&T

NATIONAL Under-17 captain Ronaldo Mohamed has urged his teammates to play as a unit during the fourth edition of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional tournament.

The six-team tournament will be played from July 7 to 14 in Trinidad and Tobago and will comprise five rounds and fifteen 50 over matches.

“We must play as a unit that’s the only way the team can excel,” he said, prior to the team’s departure for the Twin Island Republic yesterday.

The talented all-rounder further pointed out that the team is a promising one and he is confident of doing well in the tournament.

Speaking about the players in the squad, Mohamed said: “We have a talented

…captain urges teammates to play as a unit

A confident Guyana Under-17 team before they boarded the bus for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday squad with capable batsmen and wicket-taking bowlers.”

The captain affirmed the team’s all-round ability, stating “the batsmen

have the ability to build an innings and occupy the crease.

He added, “The bowlers are good enough to restrict

oppositions, we have a variety to choose from.”

Meanwhile, manager Nazeer Mohamed said the squad has had adequate preparation

leading up to the regional championships and he is confident that Guyana would perform outstandingly in the tournament.

The participating teams are the traditional regional teams: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago and Windward Islands.

Tenelec Inc. of Washington, USA pumps US$ 6,000 into Berbice cricket THE Tenelec Inc, based in Washington, USA has renewed the sponsorship of Under-15 and Senior’s 50 over cricket in Berbice for the 2015 season.

At a simple but significant ceremony held at the Albion Sports Complex, Bobby Deonarine, uncle of former West Indies all rounder Narsingh Deonarine, said that he is delighted to be part of the development of young cricketers and cricket in general in Berbice, Guyana, and the West Indies.

Speaking on behalf of himself and partner in business, Tom Gruntzel, Deonarine said that they have been involved in Berbice cricket for over 15 years and will

Inc emphasising that both ends of cricket is covered, referring to Under- 15s and seniors. Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Brandon Bess, Royston Crandon, Shimron Hetmyer, Gudakesh Motie and many others too many to mention are direct products of these competitions, Beharry added.

He told the gathering of cricketers to take full advantage of these competitions and advance their careers and thanked them for attending.

Special mention was made of the print and electronic media for their role in making the public aware of the work

Bobby Deonarine of Tenelec Inc, Washington presents sponsorship cheque to Gurvy Harry and Angela Haniff in the presence of other representatives of the sponsor, officials of BCB, representative of Regional Administration and cricketers who have participated in these competitions over the years. continue to do so.

He added that when they invest in the game, the only reward they are looking for is for the development and growth of the cricketers.

They take pride and joy when they see Berbice cricketers excelling around the world.

Berbice Cricket Board executive, Anil Beharry, who chaired the programme and spoke on behalf of the board, thanked Tenelec Inc for coming on board once again.

He said that this surely shows the level of confidence the company has in the cricket board. Beharry promised that the running of the board’s business will always be above board and accountability and transparency will always be priority.

He advised that the board’s monthly financial statements are available in the office for public scrutiny along with all financial records. He has attributed the success of many cricketers to the sponsorship provided by Tenelec

of the board.

Imran Ally, Deputy REO, Regional Democratic, Region # 6, pledged the administration support to the development of sports in general, cricket in particular. He said that more grounds and playing facilities will be upgraded in the coming years.

Former vice-president of the Guyana Cricket Board, Malcolm Peters also spoke and called on the new administration to quickly complete the implementation of the Cricket Administrative Bill which was passed in August last year.

He emphasised that this has to be done quickly to rescue the game in Guyana and by extension, West Indies. He added that when Guyana cricket is strong, West Indies cricket is strong too.

Gurvy C Harry, Administrative Officer, National Sports Commission, Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, spoke on behalf of the Minister

of Education. He fluently spoke of sports in general and then specifically on cricket. He thanked Tenelec Inc and said that his Ministry and The Regional Administration will also have to play their part to make sure that our national game is kept alive and move to the next level.

He said that the government is fully aware of the crisis cricket in Guyana finds itself and is committed and will act swiftly to fix it and bring back normalcy. He also congratulated and commended the BCB to stay the course despite all the challenges they faced.

Addressing the over twenty young cricketers, all who have benefitted from the Tenelec Inc sponsorship, Harry spoke on the need for cricketers to know the history of the game; the discipline, commitment and hard work that is required for success.

He also spoke about the role of parents in the success of their children and made reference to a very sad story when a father refused to buy a bat for his son who was spotted as one of the best young batsmen by Lance Gibbs, Joe Solomon and others.

The father instead used the money to satisfy his drinking habits and the child eventually became one of the most notorious criminal. He encouraged all to make sure that there is a perfect balance between cricket and education for both compliment each other.

Former national Under- 19 captain and all rounder Shawn Perriera thanked Harry for his informative and inspirational speech and Tenelec Inc for helping to mould and fashion the lives of so many cricketers in Berbice.

He added that the sponsorship brought hope for the young cricketers.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday July 06, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Shoaib Malik (Tridents v Warriors, St. Kitts) (2) 102 Tests; 227 ODIs

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who is the first player to cop the Man of the Match Award in Hero CPL 2015?

(2) Who delivered the first ball in a CPL game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 6, 2015

31

Sport CHRONICLE

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

National U-17 cricketers wing out for T&T See story on page 30

10th National School’s Basketball Festival bounces off

Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnarine meeting the youngest member of Marian’s Academy basketball team. (Adrian Narine photo).

THE 10th National Youth Basketball Festival development.

Guiana Games (IGG). off,” Dr. Roopnarine said. opened yesterday following a gala ceremony “Monies allocated to sports will first and Hinds said that players should strive for According to the minister who also has at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. foremost benefit the athletes,” Dr. Roopnarine responsibility for sports, “I believe that for excellence beyond the sport, stating “the time Thanks to Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) said, after which loud cheers erupted from pa- children at school, school and the classroom, is now, in all of our endeavours, this is the time and their corporate partners - Digicel, Banks trons and competing schools. much more enrichment than simple academ- that we must plant the seed, do the hard work DIH Limited and the Beharry Group of ComThe Education Minister added “my grat- ic achievement can offer. and then we will benefit from the harvest.” panies, over 50 schools across Guyana par- itude goes out to the corporate sponsors to Meanwhile, YBG honoured several of their This coming vacation, we’re organising a ticipated in the regional zone championships, this event for their strong tangible support music workshop for our teachers for music in top players from the past - National Captain where the Nation’s top school now congregate for basketball, this module of corporation the schools and for me putting music back in Akeem Kanhai, point guards Shelroy Thomas at Guyana’s premier indoor facility for what is between the Government, NGO’s and the the schools and stimulating sporting activities and Dominique Vincente and female national promised to be an epic showdown in basketball. private sector, towards the goal of developing are all part of what I believe a more complete player Ginelle Ifill.

In officially declaring the week long a sector.”

The aforementioned players would’ve school education entails.” championship open, Minister of Education “To the young players and someone who President of the Guyana Amateur Bas- used the YBG National School’s Basketball Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, while expressing his had the distinct pleasure and privilege of rep- ketball Federation (GABF) Nigel Hinds not Championship as a launching pad of securGovernment’s willingness and commitment resenting my own school and the county of only endorsed the championships, but said ing an opportunity to represent Guyana at in returning sports to the education system, Demerara in sport, I know the excitement you that the Federation’s plan is to scout players the Caribbean Basketball Confederation spoke profoundly of some of his plans for must now be feeling as this completion takes from the tournament for the upcoming Inter (CBC) Championship.

Lloyd hat-trick inspires U.S. World Cup victory

By Simon Evans VA N C O U V E R , ( R e u ters)-The United States won the Women’s World Cup for the third time, crushing Japan 5-2 yesterday with striker Carli Lloyd scoring the tournament’s fastest ever hat-trick, including a spectacular goal from the

half-way line.

The American captain struck three times inside 16 minutes as the U.S. stormed into an unexpected and unsurmountable 4-0 lead over their shell-shocked opponents.

Japan, winners four years ago, were utterly stunned as the U.S’s deadly finishing

ensured they added to their 1991 and 1999 titles, and became the first nation to win the Cup three times.

The game, played in front of 53,341 spectators at a packed BC Place, was the highest-scoring Women’s World Cup final ever and, See page 26

United States midfielder Carli Lloyd (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Japan during the first half of the final of the FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup at BC Place Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2015