2015 7 8

GUYANA No. 104244

WEDNESDAY JULY 8, 2015

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

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Administration to criminal elements...

‘WE COMING AFTER YOU’ Page 3

PRESIDENT David Granger (fourth left) in discussion yesterday with, from left, Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms Amna Ally; Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon; Minister of Public Security, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan; Prime Minister, Mr Moses Nagamootoo; Commissioner of Police, Mr Seelall Persaud; and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Colonel Kemraj Persaud. The meeting was held at the Ministry of the Presidency (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of the Presidency)

Maduro No place turns up for Ramotar or Harper the heat

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Ve n e z u e l a n P r e s i d e n t N i c o l á s M a d u r o addressing his country’s National Assembly on Monday

- issues new decree against Guyana

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- as PPP selects Members of Parliament Page 8

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‘You can make this country great’ - First Lady tells Success Elementary’s Class of 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger with three of the school’s top performing students this year at the NGSA examinations. They are, from left, Afeeah London, Solomon Cherai, and Shania Eastman. The occasion was the school’s Fifth Annual Graduation Ceremony held yesterday at the National Cultural Centre (Photo by Adrian Narine)

F

IRST Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger yesterday told Success Elementary School’s graduating Class of 2015 that the world is their oyster, and that they can do and become anything they set their minds to, as long as education remains their central focus.

She was at the time delivering the charge at the school’s annual prize-giving and graduation exercise at an elaborate ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre.

“You have excelled because of your efforts. You have excelled because of your dedication to your studies. When you enjoy your education, the process of learning becomes a lovely life experience…” the First Lady said, adding: “Our country needs

Please see page 3

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Administration to criminal elements...

‘We coming after you’

PRESIDENT David Granger yesterday convened a high-level meeting to address the recent escalation of violent crime.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, initial discussions for the development of a broad-based strategic crime-fighting approach, that will deliver short and long-term goals, were conducted with Prime Minister, Mr

Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of State, Mr Joseph Harmon; Minister of Public Security, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms Amna Ally; Commissioner of Police, Mr Seelall Persaud; and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Colonel Khemraj Persaud.

“The clear message coming out of this initial meeting,” the release said, “is that the Administration intends

to move swiftly and vigorously to arrest violent crime in Guyana.”

The Ministry said in conclusion that a more detailed report of the meeting and information on further engagements will be made available to the public shortly, as the Government intensifies its efforts to tackle the escalating crime situation.

Automatic entry to ‘Hugh Wooding’...

AG lauds CARICOM’s support of Guyanese law students IN supporting the facilitation of the top 25 law students from the University of Guyana (UG) to the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago for 2015, CARICOM’s efforts at the recently-concluded 36th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM were lauded by Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams.

CARICOM Heads at the Conference took a unani-

mous decision to call on the HWLS to make the required provisions for the automatic entry of the top 25 law students from UG for the academic year 2015/2016.

A statement from the AG’s office yesterday said, “In keeping with his commitment to urgently take up the matter with the UG administration, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General (AG) Basil Williams on Thursday July 02, 2015 convened a meeting in his chambers with Head of the Law Department Sheldon

Mc Donald, former UG Registrar Vincent Alexander and President of the Bar Association Christopher Ram.” Following this meeting, it was disclosed that the AG immediately took a decision to contact the Guyanese delegation, which was present at the Heads of Government Conference in Barbados, to amend the agenda and include the issue of the automatic entry of the law students to the HWLS for 2015.

Williams further requested that Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge seek an agree-

‘You can make this country great’ From page 2

educated people; our country needs dedicated people; and you are among those who can contribute to making our country great.”

Referencing the new administration’s commitment to modernising the education sector, Mrs. Granger said, “Our students need to be

become equipped to cope with life and work in the 21st Century. They need not only to be articulate, but to communicate, using modern technology. “They need to be aware of the world around them, and the vast opportunities for growth and development.”

Noting that in Guyana, over 50 per cent of the population is below the age of 24, and that a significant number of the young people in that demographic are jobless, Mrs Granger said poverty also contributes to many young people not reaching their highest potential, as they are

ment with the CARICOM

Heads to continue the interim arrangements made at their Intercessional Meeting in 2013. The interim arrangement was to allow the automatic entry of the top 25 UG law graduates to the HWLS for 2014, pending the conclusion of another Collaborative Agreement between UG, UWI and the Council for Legal Education (CLE).

The arrangement also provided for the completion of a study and submission of the report on the status of Legal Education in the

forced to drop out of school.

This having to curtail their education, she said, places them in a very vulnerable position, whereby they are easily lured into wrongdoings, just to make ends meet.

Mrs. Granger, an esteemed academic herself, congratulated the teaching staff of Success Elementary, and the students and their families for the dedication and commitment shown as they strive for excellence.

This year, the school’s

best graduating student is Solomon Cherai, who is also the country’s top student at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations. He copped 530 out of 535 marks, and was awarded a place at Queen’s College.

Cherai was closely followed by his classmate, Shania Eastman with 529 marks.

A total of 15,225 students sat the examinations this year, and Success Elementary had 25 students among the 188 who made up the top one per cent.

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

CARICOM region.

Following these developments, the AG lauded the decision by the CARICOM Heads to continue to press the HWLS to facilitate the students.

“The AG was also high in praise for the team effort of Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge,” the statement said, adding that the AG recognises the need for a permanent solution to this sore problem and will consult with all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of a permanent resolution.

The School’s Principal, Ms Eleanor Shivmangal called for parents and guardians to work more closely with the school’s administration to ensure that the standards as set out by the Ministry of Education are met.

This is the fifth consecutive year that Success Elementary has delivered outstanding performances at the NGSA exams, with its high-fliers placing in the country’s top 10. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Deadly car bombs hit Yemen, day after almost 200 killed (Reuters) TWO deadly car bombs hit the capital and a southern city in Yemen on Tuesday, state news agency Saba reported, a day after air strike and clashes killed almost 200 people nationwide.

One of the explosive- laden cars detonated near a hospital in downtown Sanaa, which the news agency controlled

by Yemen’s dominant Houthi group said killed and injured “numerous” people, while another killed around 10 people in al-Bayda, capital of a province in the country’s battle-weary south.

Islamic state in Yemen has claimed responsibility for a string of recent deadly attacks against the Shi’ite Muslim group which runs the capital, calling them apostates deserving death.

Saudi-led coalition air

strikes and clashes killed at least 176 fighters and civilians in Yemen on Monday, residents and media run by the Houthi movement said, the highest daily toll since the Arab air offensive began more than three months ago.

The United Nations has been pushing for a halt to air raids and intensified fighting that began on March 26. More than 3,000 people have been killed since then as the Arab coalition tries to stop the Houthis spreading across the country from the north.

The Iran-allied Shi’ite Houthis say they are rebelling against a corrupt government, while local fighters say they are defending their homes from Houthi incursions. Sunni Saudi Arabia says it is bombing the Houthis to protect the Yemeni state.

As fighting continues to rage across Yemen’s south,

Also in the south, residents reported a further 30 killed in a raid they said apparently targeted a Houthi checkpoint on the main road between Aden and Lahj. They said 10 of the dead were Houthi fighters.

Tribal sources in the central desert province of Marib said about 20 Houthi fighters and soldiers fighting alongside them were killed in air raids and gun

battles with tribal fighters, who support Yemen’s president in exile Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

On Tuesday, U.N. envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed continues meetings with Houthi officials in Sanaa to try to broker a ceasefire to allow aid deliveries. One Houthi official said Monday’s attacks had dealt a blow to peace efforts.

Al Shabaab gunmen kill 14 in night attack on Kenyan workers (Reuters) AL SHABAAB gunmen killed 14 people, mostly quarry workers, in an overnight attack on a residential complex in northeast Kenya, officials said on Tuesday.

The Islamist militant group said it had targeted Christians.

Many died in their sleep, the Kenya Red Cross said. The raid, in the town of Mandera, mirrored one in the same county in December in which 36 quarry workers died.

Al Shabaab has made a series of deadly incursions into Kenya, saying it will continue until Nairobi withdraws troops from an African Union force fighting the militants in Somalia.

The group’s military operations spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, told Reuters its gunmen killed more than 10 Kenyan Christians in Tuesday’s raid. It has in the past singled out non-Muslims for execu-

DATE: 27/06/2015 A

In the same province, about 20 fighters and civilians were killed at a Houthi checkpoint outside the main city, also named Amran, about 50 km (30 miles) northwest of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, local residents said.

Arab alliance war planes also killed about 60 people at a livestock market in the town of al-Foyoush in the south.

the conflict has taken on a sectarian tinge, pitting the Shi’ite Houthis against local Sunni fighters who in many places fight alongside hardline al Qaeda militants, who also revile the Houthis.

On Monday, about 63 people were killed in air strikes on Amran province in the north, among them 30 people at a market, Houthi-controlled state media agency Saba said.

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Kenyan police officers and Kenya Red Cross workers carry the body of a man killed during an overnight attack on a residential complex in Mandera town at the Kenya-Somalia border July 7, 2015 tion-style killings.

“The area ... is a plot where quarry workers live.

They attacked at around 1

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a.m. Most of those killed are workers from upcountry,” Alex Nkoyo, commissioner for Mandera County, told Reuters by phone. He put the death toll at 14, including a woman who had tried to plead with gunmen before being shot.

In a separate incident, al Shabaab claimed it had attacked a Kenyan military

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convoy between Mpeketoni and Lamu on the north coast, an area of previous attacks.

But an army spokesman denied there was any assault on one of its convoys.

A police commander in the region said a convoy of five civilian buses with a security escort was attacked but no one was hurt. He did not give further details

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Truck spills oil, crushes bus in nasty Port Henderson crash (Jamaica Observer) A SECTION of Port Henderson Road in Portmore, St Catherine, was closed off for hours Monday after a truck carrying fuel slammed into a parked Hiace bus and overturned, spilling thousands of litres of oil along the roadway and into the sea.

It was still unclear up to press time what caused the crash, but residents reported that about 7:30 am the truck, which was transporting fuel for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, was travelling along the busy thoroughfare when it might have got out of control.

“I just opened my door and come out to the front when all of a sudden I saw this trailer coming at a high speed; when me see what was happening I tried to go across the road,” said Orane McKoy, a 35-year-old fish-

erman.

“While the truck was speeding down the road me see the back start to wrap around to the front and from me see that me know it was going to crash,” said McKoy He said he managed to run to safety as the truck later slammed into a bus that was parked along the roadside.

Richard Lindo, the 69-year-old owner of the bus, said he was inside his shop, which is located close to the road, when he heard a loud explosion.

“When I came out to look I could not believe what I saw,” said the obviously distraught shop operator who placed his hand on his head as he looked at the mangled remains of his vehicle.

He was, however, happy that no life was lost.

“If this incident had happened on any other day it

would have claimed the lives of large groups of persons,” said Lindo. He said where the bus was parked has been a popular spot where fishermen hang out in the days.

Following the accident, several people were seen rushing from their homes to the damaged trailer to collect gas oil that spilled out of the tanker.

In the meantime, the National Environmental and Planning Agency started investigations to determine the volume of the oil which ran into the sea.

Personnel from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the police were on hand as the Fire Brigade cleaned up the oil spill so the road could be reopened to vehicular traffic.

PM outline plans to save environment - UNC to go green

WITH T&T ranked as the number two producer of carbon dioxide emissions per capita, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says plans are already afoot to use solar energy to power all schools, community centres and new Housing Development Corporation (HDC) houses.

However, her promise to transform the country to a green economy can only be realised if her People’s Partnership coalition remains in government after the September 7 general election.

Speaking at the United National Congress’ Monday Night Forum at the Gasparillo Secondary School, she said the thrust for a cleaner environment already began with the conversion of Public Transportation Service Corporation (PTSC) buses to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), adding that all Government vehicles will be fitted with CNG tanks. She said their green policy will see the introduction of hybrid and

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar electric vehicles, which will significantly reduce T&T’s carbon emissions by burning less fossil fuel.

She added that a Feed In Tariff to encourage reduced energy consumption will be established.

“All primary and secondary schools will be outfitted with solar lighting and solar installation units. This will lower the use of electricity but it will also bring a clean

and green T&T. Twenty one secondary schools now have solar lighting and we are planning to go forward with all of our schools.

“We will also have solar power community centres.

Already 13 centres have been outfitted with solar lighting and our plans for the green economy is to outfit all. There will be a renewable energy policy and a housing policy where houses being built by the HDC,” she said.

Dubbing it the national energy communication campaign, she said, this in turn will create more sustainable jobs in the services, construction and manufacturing sector, lower the demand for electricity while leaving more natural gas for the export market and provide a cleaner environment to improve citizens’ quality of life. She said this will also improve the country’s international reputation as a leader in sustainable development.

The truck carrying petrol that crashed yesterday on the Port Henderson Road in St Catherine yesterday.

Shaggy says his songs can change ISIS mindset KINGSTON, Jamaica – IN an interview the Miami Times, reggae star Shaggy said his music, including tracks such as ‘Boombastic’ and ‘It Wasn’t Me’, is so emotional that Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) would immediately stop carrying out their brutal beheadings if only the songs were pumped into jihadi strongholds.

The 46-year-old Jamaican who served as a United States

marine in Iraq during the first Gulf War suggested that Western armies should find a way to pipe his music into ISIS terror camps as a way to inject some emotion into the terror group’s dead-eyed killers.

“If you’re able to cut a man’s head off, you’re sick.

But right music evokes emotion. So if they’re listening to Shaggy music or reggae music, they’re not going to want to cut somebody’s head off,” he said.

Shaggy contended that there are two things that an individual would do when they listen to reggae music: “You want to get somebody pregnant, or you’re high.”

“High people don’t want to kill nothing; they want to love,” he explained.

“They need to bag some Jamaican weed and distribute it amongst ISIS. I guarantee there won’t be any more wars out there,” the reggae artiste suggested.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

That 2 a.m. curfew...

Balancing Law and Order IT is not surprising that the invoking of the law that mandates night clubs to close at 2 a.m. has engendered a fierce debate. After all, night life is a lucrative industry in this country. Although Guyana is not a major tourist attraction, Georgetown is one of the most vibrant after-hours cities in the Caribbean. Many Guyanese, particularly the young people, look forward to hitting the clubs, bars and other hangout spots, especially at the weekend.

But the growth of this vibrant night life has not come without the downsides. Noise nuisance has long been a problem. In any given week, one could read letters in the newspapers and hear calls on the radio and TV callin shows complaining about the discomfort caused by the loud music that often goes into the wee hours of the morning. In addition, as Minister Ramjattan has observed, there are other dangerous consequences of late partying, such as the high rate of road accidents.

Patrons have understandably complained about their

right to assemble while club and bar owners have pointed to the potential loss of earnings. These are legitimate complaints that should not be dismissed out of hand. Those by the businesspeople, in particular, are compelling. In a small economy such as ours, the night life industry helps to increase economic opportunities, not only for the bar owners, but for the small vendors who ply their products outside these spots.

The complaints of patrons, though less compelling, are understandable. There are the obvious club and bar regulars.

But there are other citizens who may want a night out after a long week, but are not able to leave home until their kids are in bed, or those who work the late shift but still want to catch that special celebration at a club.

But these concerns must be balanced with the complaints of other citizens who are negatively affected by the loud music and boisterous patrons. The former are the majority and are entitled to peace and quiet at night.

While heavy drinking at bars and clubs is not the only

cause of road accidents at night, one cannot doubt that it is a major contributory factor. In addition, clubs have become a major hub of all kinds of illicit activities, which have consequences for other aspects of life in the society.

The Government has the job of both respecting the rights of citizens and maintaining law and order. The most successful governments are those that are able to balance the two. We are satisfied that the Government, in this instance, is justified in imposing the curfew. It is a bold step in striking the balance. It is not putting an end to partying; it is merely asking patrons to adjust their hours of partying. The new measure would take some time to kick in. But in the end, everyone will get accustomed to it. In most states in the U.S., for example, 2 a.m. is the cut-off time.

The balance between rights and order is as old as civilisation and the affected citizens are not always all happy. We think that this bold move by the Government could well be the beginning of the restoration of public discipline in our country, where citizens cannot be too proud of our track record in this regard.

Whither our education system?

UNFORTUNATELY the myriad of problems facing Guyana’s education system would stay hidden behind the just-closed doors of all public schools across the nation. Those problems would greet the nation when those same school doors re-open come August 31, 2015.

On paper—in black and white, it may have been a ‘successful’ year for education; however there are severe constraints and problems on the ground, only teachers can tell.

While Guyana’s education system is more (student) performance-driven, little if anything at all was mentioned of the thousands of students who were promoted to higher classes without making the prerequisite percentage score of (an acceptable) 50 percent.

Across-the-board promotion signals the first blow to the education system, given the fact that many schools

were forced to promote students to a higher level even though those students did not perform up to standard in the former class.

The past year in education, like many others, was riddled with poor management, lack of vision, confused planning, inefficiencies, incompetence, wastefulness, carelessness, lack of concern, and lots of square pegs in round holes, from the very ‘top’ right down to the ‘bottom’ of the ladder.

Without a doubt, the cadre of education planners, seniors and officers within our system may have the academic qualifications to run one of the most complex and complicated education systems in the world; however, applying that knowledge is another story. Showing off the Post-graduate degree letters behind one’s name does not mean one can contribute effectively to making the education

system better, even though one can take for granted that post- graduate training should have stimulated a greater depth of critical thinking, creating a muchneeded impetus to drive the system forward. But surely, the education system continues to be in shambles academic year after academic year, while those at the higher levels continue to sing the praises of a system that is heavily reliant on results.

The sufferings of teachers were too much to bear.

In the seventh month of the calendar year, teachers are yet to be paid their annual increases, uniform allowances, and many without their Whitley Council leave salaries—supposed to have been paid very early in the year. This form of disrespect and unconcern for the nation builders of Guyana is most unsightly, especially after the completion of another academic year. The

situation exists that these emoluments might not even be paid when the schools re- open next month.

Guyana’s education system is a place where there is lack of management and leadership. This dearth of vision creates mistrust among its managers and administrators, filtering right down to school heads and ultimately to teachers.

A system where parents play a minimal role in the development and learning of their children, treating the school system as a ‘day care’ or ‘drop-in’ centre that would wave the ‘magic wand’ and create intelligent beings from 8:30 am to 2.30 pm daily. This lack of involvement of parents has created disaster in many schools that have become ineffective and have been labelled as ‘non- performing’ across the system.

New policies and systems are being implemented top- down without con-

sultation and feedback from the men and women on the ground in the classroom. No one takes the time to measure the effectiveness of these policies so that improvements and adjustments can be made to suit the needs and purposes of such systems.

Whether it is extra lessons in the afternoon and weekends; remediation classes in secondary schools; school welfare counsellors; corporal punishment; students writing unlimited number of subjects at CXC and CAPE exams; continuous assessment throughout the school term; homework; record-keeping; etc, Guyana’s education system lacks empirical evidence of any sort to back any stance or view on those issues.

The dozens of research work of undergraduate and graduate students of the University of Guyana go into hiding after they

are produced and compiled. Research done by students analyse many of those issues mentioned and investigate how they work, using real data from the education system. Why is it that our senior education planners do not refer to these papers when they sit in their air-conditioned offices to draft and frame education policies.

There is a breakdown of communication between crucial agencies in education. We have a situation where the nation’s university, the teachers’ training college, and many other agencies alike do not liaise or talk to one another so that there can be better coordination and effectiveness. Parents are not even talking to the schools. The only time they talk is when a teacher is involved in some prob-

See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Maduro turns up the heat

By Derwayne Wills

IN a strange turn of events regarding the territorial issue between Guyana and Venezuela, Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has issued a new decree [Decree 1859], as an amendment to his May 27 decree, which sought to extend Venezuela’s claims to Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Essequibo and Demerara.

Maduro’s position was made clear in his three-hourplus address to an extraordinary sitting of Venezuela’s National Assembly on Monday, where he denounced the recent statements made by President David Granger at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meeting in Barbados, which ended a few days ago.

In the new decree, the Venezuelan President has enabled the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB in Spanish) to operate in defence of maritime claims to the Counties of Essequibo and Demerara, as claimed in the previous decree. That area includes the Stabroek Bloc, currently being drilled for oil

by US oil giant, Exxon Mobil.

The amended decree was as a result of concerns raised

by Venezuela’s State Council to the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) on the scope of the decree, where solutions for improving and deepening the decree have been made.

The new decree, according to State-sponsored Venezolano

--issues new decree against Guyana

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro addressing his country’s National Assembly on Monday de Television [VTV Channel 8 in Venezuela], has provided maritime coordinates of the territorial limits of the country.

President Maduro has also asked for the involvement of the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to mediate between Guyana and Venezuela on the issue. The pro-tempore President of CELAC is Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, and Maduro told the National Assembly that his government will ask Correa to mediate between the two countries in the dispute.

TREATY OF PARIS 1899 In a cunning twist to the saga that has plagued Guyana’s territorial integrity for decades, President Maduro, in his address to the National Assembly on Monday, denounced the 1898 Treaty of Paris, calling it null and void.

The Treaty of Paris was a

product of the Spanish-American War waged between the United States of America and Spain from April 1898 to August 1898. That Treaty saw the Spanish Empire losing control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, parts of the Spanish West Indies, the island of Guam, and the Philippines.

President Maduro is relying on an 1822 map of Gran Colombia, a State which included present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru, north-west Brazil, and western Guyana [Essequibo] to justify his country’s Essequibo claim.

But that map, which Maduro is referencing, was made ineffective after the independence of some of the countries named previously, again after the Spanish-American War, and later redrawn following the Arbitral Award of 1899 between the United States and

the United Kingdom, which demarcated the border between Guyana and Venezuela.

The 1899 Arbitral Award was overlooked by a tribunal comprising judges from the United States, United Kingdom and Russia. Guyana, then British Guiana, was a colony of the United Kingdom, but Venezuela was represented by the United States of America under the Monroe Doctrine.

The Monroe Doctrine was crafted in the early 1800s by US President James Monroe, and sought to reduce the influence of European powers in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean. Under the foreign policy, the US represented the interests of Venezuela at the tribunal, but Venezuela is now claiming that there was no Venezuelan representation on the tribunal.

RECALL AMBASSADOR Since his address to the Venezuelan Legislature on Monday, Maduro has recalled his Ambassador to Guyana, Reina Arratia Diaz, for consultations, according to the Colombian news agency, El Tiempo. This move follows an order from the Venezuelan Head of State, which could see a reduction of operations at the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown, and a revision of relations with Guyana.

Maduro yesterday signed an enabling law for the creation of a Presidential Commission on Institutional Status of Venezuela, which will be tasked with considering all border issues relating to Latin America and the Caribbean.

Maduro told the Venezuelan National Assembly that the Commission will include

judges, magistrates, the Office of the Ombudsman, Deputies of State, and a committee of experts from the Armed Forces.

He further requested that the Commission, under the leadership of the country’s Executive Vice-President Jorge Arreaza, and Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, “be deployed immediately” in an intense move to combat what he termed as “lies that have spread” against Venezuela’s claims to Essequibo.

VENEZUELAN ARMY Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez has said, by way of his Twitter account, according to VTV Canal 8, that the country’s Army stands ready and willing to support the position of President Maduro and Venezuela as made in the National Assembly on Monday.

An 1822 map of the former State of Gran Colombia, now Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru, northwest Brazil, and western Guyana (Photos courtesy of VTV Channel 8)

Consumer rights being Whither our education ignored too often From page 6

A STORY headlined: ‘Bakewell under fire in Lusignan for mildewed products – company says it has return policy before shelf-life expires’ caught my attention in the stateowned newspaper.

It held my interest because about one week ago I purchased a packet of Apple Turnover, costing $400, from Bakewell’s main outlet at North Road and Albert Street, Georgetown. However, I failed to properly scrutinise the product at the time of purchase and when I got home just minutes later, I realised that it already had clearly discernible signs of mildew. I took the Apple Turnover back to Bakewell the next day and a young lady grudgingly replaced the item while offering a rather muted apology.

My recent experience at Bakewell becomes more significant in light of the issue currently in the public domain regarding the case of Bakewell’s wholesale customers in Lusignan.

Once again, it seems that service providers and other businesses are ignoring consumers rights enshrined under the Consumers Affairs Act 2011. Citizens ought to feel better protected with the pro-active and probably overlapping functioning of such agencies in our midst as The Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department; the City Council’s Health Department; and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards.

Moreover, customers should have the benefit of clearly visible shelf-life notices on food products put up for sale locally.

SYLVIA CONWAY

lem with their child. That, and the day of enrolment of their child is the only two occasions they would visit the school.

Yes, we have the nowand–again celebrations of student-successes and achievements, but that’s as far as it would go. Guyana’s out-of-touch education system for the large part is on the verge of collapse, if this new administration does not change the course of education in this country and very quickly. Persons with fresh ideas are needed to chart the new course to the education system, in the new and upcoming academic year.

Partnering in education cannot be a process that involves one set of individuals, rather a better ed-

ucation system in the new academic year can only be possible when the family, community, school, education officers and Central Ministry of Education work in cohesion among each other, bridging differences and building trust. I say trust since there exists a lack of trust among education stakeholders.

The ultimate aim in any education system should be to stimulate teachers to stimulate the children to learn. Every effort therefore must be made to create a place that fosters this mindset.

It’s easy to sit back and complain but getting in the mix and being a part of the solution takes courage and also effort.

Personally, I too, as a teacher, may have contrib-

uted to the current (disastrous) state of our education system. Some of my habits (on and off the job) may have been undesirable and unbecoming. I will surely take cognisance of this, as I hope the hundreds of teachers across our nation use the upcoming eight weeks to do the same. Teachers are some of the most hardworking portions of the workforce in Guyana, since their work is ten-fold, given they have to be secretaries, cleaners, judges, lawyers, statisticians, mommies, daddies, counselors, baby sitters, etc, on a daily basis.

The parents and society therefore must pull that veil of separation that exists proverbially between them and the school and truly own and embrace the process of

education in very way.

The senior education officers and planners on top must see their roles as helping and coaching teachers to be better persons, being less dictatorial and dogmatic sometimes. But it’s not easy to change attitudes.

Guyana’s education system has the people with the skills and ideas to push the nation forward.

We can get to that place where we want to be. We know what is holding us back and needs to change what has to be changed and continue what merits continuity.

But I believe many of us are afraid of changes; the first and foremost change to listen and pay more keen attention to the situation on the ground.

No place for Ramotar or Harper

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

- as PPP selects Members of Parliament

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has finally released its list of parliamentarians for the 11th Parliament but there is no place for former President Donald Ramotar or his running mate at the 2015 elections, Mrs Elisabeth Harper.

The list includes former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is expected to be Leader of the Opposition. However, former PPP Executive Ralph Ramkarran had said earlier that if this happens, it will sink the PPP into further turmoil.

But the PPP, in a statement, has said it wishes to confirm that its decision on the Opposition Leader has been fully endorsed by the Party's Central Committee.

“Full disclosure in respect of those parliamentarians who will fill the position of Leader of the Opposition and Chief Whip will take place at the swearing-in of the 32 PPP Members of Parliament,” the PPP said.

Aside from the nixing of Ramotar, former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud; former Foreign

Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; former Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker; former Minister of Human Services and Social Security Jennifer Webster; and former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh have also been excluded from the list of PPP/C Members of Parliament (MPs).

Jagdeo apart, the new faces are former Amerindian Affairs Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Nigel Dharamlall; former Local Government Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Collin Croal; PPP/C Executive Secretary, Zulficar Mustapha; and Attorney-at-Law Charles Ramson Jr. The PPP in a statement said after a series of consultations at various levels over many weeks, it concluded discussions on who shall be representing the party in the House.

“As customary and in keeping with the party’s policy, a number of factors were considered such as experience, youth, gender, ethnic composition, geographic spread, among others.

“The PPP remains proud of its democratic tradition which allows the various tiers of our party to make

contended.

NO DECISION YET However, the party has

Former President Donald Ramotar

Mrs Elisabeth Harper

meaningful inputs in the decision-making process,” the statement said.

It noted that the practically completed list of MPs represents a list of persons who have the capabilities of representing all Guyanese, more particularly, the over 200,000 persons who voted for the party.

A number of new faces are expected to be heading for the National Assembly, with a good blend of youth and experienced parliamentarians, the PPP

not made a decision regarding when these MPs will take up their seats in Parliament.

Consultations are still ongoing, the PPP said.

Observers have noted that among the PPP parliamentarians for the 11th Parliament are stalwarts such as Westford who was recently cited in an investigation into the attempted transfer of State vehicles; Ramsaran who was sacked as Health Minister by Ramotar over the abuse of human rights activist Sherlina Nageer and Nandlall who

was under a cloud of public condemnation for his infamous taped conversation with a Kaieteur News reporter.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, who were being considered for Parliament, have asked that their unavailability to serve the party in the 11th Parliament of Guyana be made public to avoid any speculations.

According to the PPP, Rodrigues-Birkett said, “I have decided to do some work overseas that will take me out of Guyana for extended periods and which will not allow me to do the required work of a Member of Parliament at this time. My new engagement doesn’t take away from my commitment to the party.’’

For Dr Singh, he said: “I wish to thank the leadership of the PPP/C for inviting me to take up a seat among its 32 Members of Parliament, and for accommodating my reasons for declining that offer. As I explained, my personal and other commitments would make it difficult for

me to discharge the obligations of a PPP/C MP in the manner I would like to at the current time. I remain firmly committed to the PPP/C, and I continue to be available to be of service to the party in other capacities.”

The members of the Geographical Constituency Electoral District are: Collin Croal (Region 1); Carnel Damon (Region 2); Irfaan Ali and Komal Chand (Region 3); Anil Nandlall, Neeendkumar and Gillian Persaud (Region 4); Priya Manickchand (Region 5); Vishwa Mahadeo (Region 6); Jennifer Westford (Region 7); and Charlie Alister Saturnius.

The National Top-Up members are Adrian Anamayah, Dr Frank Anthony, Indranie Chandarpal, Nigel Dharamlall, Juan Edghill, Joseph Hamilton, Dr Clive Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Odinga Lumumba, Ganga Persaud, Dr Vindhya Persaud, Harshkumari, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, Charles Ramson Jr, Clement Rohee, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Africo Selman, Pauline Sukhai, Gail Teixeira Gail and Dr Leslie Ramsammy.

At Seniors’ Recognition Day celebrations...

Minister Lawrence lauds Agricola caregivers - for working to bridge generation gap

THE efforts of the Agricola Caregivers Association, over its years of existence to reach out to senior citizens, and youths were lauded by Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence.

T h e M i n i s t e r, w h o graced the celebrations on

Sunday, pointed out that they have demonstrated great strength in their efforts to aid in bridging of the generation gap.

She said, “I would like you to know how appreciative I am of organisations such as yours, which have taken up the

mandate of showing concern and of taking care of our senior citizens, and for providing guidance and counselling to our youths, so that they do not become entangled in the shady activities

Please see page 10

A section of the gathering being addressed by Minister of Social Protection, Ms Volda Lawrence at the Agricola Caregivers Seniors Recognition Day celebrations

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

9

RAS

MICHAEL is

Back

Returning to a cultural shock T

By Ras Michael

HERE were two times I suffered culture shock.

The first was when I landed in Washington D.C. That night, around 8 p.m., I decided to take a walk around the block. I left my hotel in high spirits and began to saunter slowly up 10th Avenue, or maybe it was ‘H’ Street. I knew not where was east or west, but those were streets that bounded the GRAND HYATT, the five-star hotel in which I was staying. I walked slowly westerly (I presume) along the street.

I saw her coming. Cars and limousines were slowing down as they passed alongside her. I retreated into the shadows alongside the wall of a large building. She was totally naked except for a pair of stilettos that she wore and the makeup on her face. I was in shock.

A naked woman, probably in her early twenties, on a busy street in America? But that is another story to be told another time. This one is about Guyana, and the cultural shock I suffered on my return to my homeland, and the city of Georgetown.

A couple of days after my return, I began to view the town. I know this town like few people do. I know the highway, byway, and every other way around the city. I am familiar with every stone and blade of grass. Immediately I became confronted by the new mega-buildings and brilliant curry-type colours.

“Damn!” I said, speaking to myself. “There’s been a cultural invasion here!” No one had prepared me for this. Friends who had come home on holiday before my return had brought some news. “Michael,” I was told, “Guyana looking good.” I knew that was untrue; I knew they hadn’t journeyed out of the city for the two weeks of their vacation, but Guyanese always exaggerate. Well, let me put it plainly: They like to lie. I shuddered at the sight of the new colours of houses and stores, and then, as I walked the city streets, the sand began to penetrate my shoes. There was a huge heap of sand everywhere, on every street. I don’t swear, but I would ‘put me head pon a block’ that everybody an they grandmother was building five and six- storey buildings; and all had a calypso red, green or terrorising pink colour. But that is not the story. I know yuh laughing, but the story sad. I feel it deep in me stomach; a sad, sad pain. Like all dese people dead. They must be dead, and new people come and buy the land. Is when Robert pass me by Regent and Wellington that I realise that is push they get push out the city.

When Robert pass and spot me, he said, “Michael, wha’ happening?”

“I deh,” I seh. “I been out in the foreign couple mornings now, but I back.”

“I know,” he shout back over he right shoulder. “I heading home now; I got to catch a bus.”

“Same place?” I queried, intimating if he lived at the same address.

“Nah,” he seh. “I deh in Victoria.”

I knew it then that all them old one-story wood bulidings with the washout peeling paint was gone for good, and I knew what is was; was a thing them yankee bannahs in New York used to call gentrification; people getting pushed out of town.

Two Chinee man walked past me; then I notice a couple of half-scald putagee bannah dem. As I walk, I see plenty more. “Like this whole town is pure immigrants,” I seh to meself. Well, I end up by Bourda Market and get more shock. ‘CREAM’ walk slowly past me in a short, short tight, tight pants an waist-coat vest; yuh know, the type that don’t have buttons, and does open wide in front.

She bend down to pick up a piece of watermelon from a stand same time I happen to look at the front of the vest.

“Damn!” I almost cried out aloud. Was only the vest she was wearing up top, and all of her business was jutting out, an pointing straight at me. When dem bannah see me jump back in shock, they seh, “Wha’ happen, Michael?

Like yuh come back?” I couldn’t talk. I was staring in the middle of the open front of the vest. One of them boys notice and he seh, “Michael, that is common thing boy; they got plenty of them now. Some from Cuba; most from Brazil. And they even got from Dominica.

“So…so..,” I began to stutter. “Michael,” he explained, “them girls is here on business. Every night, right up the road on North Road, them girls got business. Them is them dancing girls; entertainers. Dem other girls that you know round by St George’s get knock out.”

Well me mouth drop open; I didn’t know what to say.

‘CREAM’, by this time, was across the road, buying some bananas. I try to get another peep, but she turn and walk away up the road. If I had a kerchief, I would have wiped me face.

That night, curiosity get the better of me. I head out for St George’s. I look all over for them ‘binney’ who used to do business down there. Not one was around. I walk all over; all by the Law Courts where they used to practise they trade. All them ‘binney’ was gone; not a who…. Well, to be politically correct, not a sex worker was in town. All I see was a set of ‘bannah’ with big Adam’s apples and masculine calves wearing mini dress an hot pants. One even look like if he had two of them big whole-wheat tennis rolls in he bossom.

Is then I hear a big strong-up one call out to another one. “Hey, ‘Thin Slice’, wha’ going on girl?” I jus’ put me head straight and walk ‘long me way.

The changing face of Georgetown

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

PPP/C...

LGE can’t be held in November - Gov’t giving false hope to Guyanese, GECOM not ready THE A Partnership For National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government in sticking to their “first 100 days” plan, stands committed to holding Local Government Elections (LGE) within that period, but in reality it could not proceed because the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is not ready and fully prepared to do so.

Sharing this belief was General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Clement Rohee yesterday during the party’s weekly press briefing.

According to Rohee, Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, has stated that the LGE will be held in November 2015, although “he is fully aware of the reality that Local Government Elections cannot be held in this year.

“He is throwing dust in the eyes of the electorate by making them believe that the APNU/ AFC coalition administration is sticking to its “first 100 days” commitment by holding Local Government

Elections before the end of the year,” said the party’s general secretary.

Through a sleight-ofhand arrangement, “the coalition” will attempt to “fool the people” by telling them that while they want LGE this year as was promised,it could not proceed because GECOM is not ready and fully prepared to do so.

Making reference to November of last year when Vincent Alexander, a People’s National Congress(PNC) GECOM Commissioner, had stated, “GECOM has said it needs six (6) months to deal with elections… calculations of these six months start when government says it wants elections.”

This he announced,means that government wants elections in November 2015, but according to Alexander Local Government Elections can be held in May of 2016.

2015 BUDGET Rohee alluded to the fact that the 2015 budget calculated to be presented in August and considering all the implications for the

annual parliamentary recess, the nation should be expecting the elections to be held in the second half of the next year.

the 71 National Democratic Councils (NDCs).

“All of this is contingent on information provided to GECOM as

PPP/C General Secretary, Mr Clement Rohee

GECOM Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally

Compounding the situation further is the need for GECOM to finalise the boundaries of each of the 71 NDCs; and to ensure that the electors in each of the legally demarcated NDCs are properly registered to vote.

In addition, there are certain non-assented bills that must be brought back to the National Assembly for passage. Then there is the preparation of over 500 digital ballot papers for each of the six municipalities that must be printed, not to mention those for

regards the candidates contesting the elections in the municipalities and the NDCs,” he said.

PPP/C READY However, he disclosed that the PPP/C is ready to contest these elections as provided for in the new laws whenever enacted.

Consideration must be given to the fact that an Elections Petition initiated by the PPP/C is soon to be heard in the High Court.

The petition calls for a number of irregularities to be remedied before anoth-

er election is held in Guyana. This is a legitimate expectation of the people.

“The PPP has demanded certain reforms at GECOM, the party has demanded the replacement of the current disgraced chairman; a total revamp of the machinery of GECOM, starting with recruitment of its key and critical staff; the secretariat must come under the purview and command of commissioners; polling day staff must be publicly vetted and returning officers,deputy returning officers as well as presiding officers must be acceptable to the commission and its commissioners,” said the PPP/C’s general secretary.

Apart from that, he stated that the rules under which they conduct their duties must be reviewed and agreed upon by law. Finally, there must be some internationalisation of the key and critical posts in GECOM's operational arrangements.

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY Meanwhile, in responding to Rohee’s state-

ment about GECOM not being ready and prepared for the LGE, GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally during a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle, stated that he agrees with Rohee’s statement, because they are not fully ready, but preparations are under way.

He stated that they are using a new LGE system and this will take some time to prepare, as this is the first time the method is being used and it will take a lot to get the message across the country.

However,“along with the Chief Elections Officer(CEO) and the operations team we will be meeting with the Minister of Communities tomorrow [today], where we intend to consult on how we will move forward with the LGE.” N e v e r t h e l e s s , D r.

Surujbally stated that they are working on most of the issues, as only last weekend a training session was held and CEO Keith Lowenfield has also prepared and is still preparing his action plan.

Minister Lawrence lauds Agricola ...

From page 8

of society…kudos for all the work you have done for the elderly and the youths in this community over the past eight years.”

The Minister also congratulated the organisation for recently achieving the status as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), and encouraged more groups to follow this step and “stem the trend of isolation, disregard and discourtesy, which our elderly citizens experience on a daily basis.”

Minister Lawrence also emphasised that the day’s theme: “Be willing to befriend those who are older than you” is a “powerful” one, which speaks to the need of bridging the gap between the two generations.

She added that senior citizens need to be treated equally and should not be

discriminated against. “They have been the cornerstone and pillars of our lives, and helped to shape who we are today, so rather than avoidance, neglect and scorn, we should demonstrate the fruits of kindness, love, consideration and understanding.”

Quoting the Bible, the Minister said, “With the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days understanding, for there are vital lessons that our youths can learn from interacting with our elderly.”

In closing, the Minister encouraged the gathering to continue to share their knowledge and wisdom with the younger generation, and despite the type of attitude they are met with, they should continue to pave the way for the youths and continue to shine like the precious gems they are.(GINA)

Minister Lawrence sharing a light moment with a senior citizen at the Agricola function

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Rockstone lobbies for better governance system --previous survey to guide community’s future development THE need for a better system of governance was among concerns raised by residents of Rockstone during a ministerial outreach conducted on Sunday by the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs.

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr Sydney Allicock, along with Minister within the Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Permanent Secretary, Vibert Welch, Legal Advisor, David James and Advisor on Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mervyn Williams, along with Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings-Williams comprised the visiting team.

Rockstone, a small community located on the right bank of the Essequibo River, west of Linden, has a population of about 200 people, mostly Amerindians.

The community is managed by a Community Development Council (CDC) and a Village Council. For years, this has caused a divide amongst the residents, amidst a controversial proposal for it to be demarcated and recognised as an Amerindian village.

The residents believe that in order for the community to move forward, it must be agreed upon whether it will be governed by a Village Council under the Amerindian Act, or a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) under the Local Democratic Organs Act. According to Minister Allicock, the issue of land titling and demarcation is one that the new administration will be prioritising over the next five years. He said that under the previous Administration, a survey on Rockstone was done through the Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation Project, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Ministry is in the process of reviewing the findings of that report, which will be used to guide the way forward.

Minister Allicock further explained that the ministry will be working in collaboration with the Ministry of Communities in this regard, and will be reviewing lands that were issued by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission.

Minister Allicock explained that the councils need to have a greater understanding of the Act in order to be properly guided. He said that in order for the community to develop, the residents need to work together with one common agenda. The aim, the Minister noted, is to ensure

Residents of Rockstone gathering at the community’s benab for a meeting

every citizen, regardless of ethnicity benefit from the country’s rich resources.

On the issue of governance, Legal Advisor David James explained that the CDC does not appear under any law. He explained that under the national law, there are provisions for the protection of the rights of Indigenous peoples. Further, there is the Amerindian Act of 2006 which outlines how indigenous rights are protected, and therefore provides for the establishment of a village council.

However, the residents are asking for protection under the Amerindian Act. James noted that the Act itself outlines what determines a village, it must have over 150 persons living in that area, for at least 25 years before the Act became a reality.

Rockstone has become a famous fishing community that annually hosts the Rockstone Fish Festival, a two-day event that brings thousands to the usually quiet riverain community to fish in its teeming waters.

Its tourism potential derived from the fact that it has the very best fishing grounds in Guyana, and has a rich population of birds, is a natural habitat for Giant Otters, Howler monkeys, Labbas, Iguanas, Bush Hogs and Black Caimans.

Rockstone’s main economic activity is logging, along with the traditional hunting, fishing and farming. The community has nursery and primary schools, and a village shop. There is also a health centre, and a water system in place, along with a bus providing transportation for children to go to school. (GINA)

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr Sydney Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Ms Valerie Garrido-Lowe Allicock addressing residents of Rockstone showing some of the youths beautiful sceneries of other hinterland areas

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Minister of Business declares...

Zero-tolerance for ‘contaminated’ business environment - promises ‘no fooling around with investors’

By Tajeram Mohabir GUYANA has consistently received a low rating by Transparency International on corruption, a problem perceived to be endemic here.

Corruption is a cancer to development and by virtue of this, it negatively affects the image of a country.

With the recent change in Administration, the perception of high levels of corruption would have probably dipped as there is a general acceptance that the new Government will be less tolerant of the scourge.

The cancer is widespread from top and bottom and at many different levels. To fix it would require the problem first being weeded out at the top, and then sending the signal to the bottom.

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin told the

Guyana Chronicle that changing the negative perception of corruption is a sine qua non if Guyana is to develop and maintain a healthy business environment and investment climate.

For this to happen, he said, a robust effort is needed to actively weed out corruption within all organisations.

ZERO-TOLERANCE APPROACH “This is going to be a challenge, but it is something that we have to be prepared to do. I think it is easier when you, from a point of greater moral authority, are able to address it by promoting a zero-tolerance approach to corruption. That is what we will have to do; we will have to be very harsh when it comes to corrupt practices in Government. There is no other way to do it, we cannot sit

back and allow the business environment, especially, to be contaminated and tainted by corrupt practices.”

A corrupt environment, the Minister told the Guyana Chronicle, affects not just the public purse, but legitimate businesses as it is difficult for them to compete in an environment where their competitors use crooked means to gain an advantage.

ACROSS THE BOARD “We need to fix it across the board; it’s going to take a great effort because corruption has become endemic, almost a part of our culture.

It is going to be a challenge, but we will reduce corruption,” Minister Gaskin said, expressing optimism the next Transparency International report would show Guyana in a brighter light.

There is much work to be done in removing the perception of Guyana being a highly corrupt nation. This, Gaskin said, will be a chief focus of the Administration during the next five years.

Added to the perception of corruption is the frequent complaint about the time it takes for an investor to be granted approval to set up business in Guyana. Many investors have observed that the process takes too long, even with regular follow-ups.

Go-Invest Chief Executive Officer Keith Burrows

told the Guyana Chronicle that on many occasions, the potential investors have themselves to blame. The delay, he said, is due to the long time they take to submit critical documents.

Minister Gaskin said the Ministry of Business will be examining the process to find out where the bottlenecks are, or whether there are other causes for the delay.

“I know and I think most Guyanese would have had

the experience where they sent an application in… and never hear from them again.

That has been a trend, where you have to follow-up, even though all requirements have been satisfied,” the Minister acknowledged.

He said that as long as all the requirements are satisfied, the ball is no longer in the investor’s court.

“If you tell me that these are the requirements, and I fulfil the requirements and

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin

hand the application over to you, the ball is in your court (Go-Invest). We need to get it right again, we as the Government are not here to fool around with people’s businesses, we are not here to give people a hard time; we have indicated what our priorities are in terms of promoting investment for the purpose of job creation, poverty alleviation.”

The Minister of Business said a strong line will be taken against any department or agency which through inefficiency, incompetence or any other reason is slowing down the system.

But he said attention will also be paid on examining if resources must be directed to certain agencies that are not physically able to cope with processing of applications and documentation.

“We have to examine and find out what the problem is and try to fix it. A lot of work has been put into the whole doing business aspect of things and there have been several recommendations. We do not have to re-invent the wheel; it is a question of implementation,” Minister Gaskin told the Guyana Chronicle.

The negative perception of corruption is a sine qua non if Guyana is to develop and maintain a healthy investment climate, says Minister Gaskin

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

EU Agricultural Policy Programme - but not for Caribbean put on hold scrapped

By Clifford Stanley THE European Union funded (EU) 10th EDF Agricultural Policy Programme for the Caribbean, launched in 2013, has been put on hold pending consultations with the implementing partners.

The implementing partners of the programme funded at a cost of 8.6 million Euros in grant aid are the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute and the CARICOM Secretariat.

A source at the EU confirmed that the move had become necessary because the programme

had been experiencing serious implementation problems.

Two and a half years had passed since the programme was launched in 2013 and only a fraction of the programme had been implemented so far, the source said.

“It is for this reason that the EU has launched formal consultations with IICA and its implementing partners in order to review the situation and assess the future of the programme.”

NOT SCRAPPED The consultations are expected to be completed within the next two months, the source said, adding that the programme had not been

scrapped as is being rumoured.

“We need to discuss and find a way forward.”

The Intra-ACP/APP project was launched in March 2013 with the aim of increasing the capability of Regional Agricultural Development Organisations within the Caribbean in order to address the development needs of smallholders, especially women and youths.

T h e E U g r a n t i s expected to contribute to improved policies and incentive regimes and strengthened institutional and development capacity to support productivity and profitability of the region’s small agribased producers/entrepreneurs.

This in turn is expected to also contribute to the wider development goal of household food security in the CARIFORUM countries and the eradication of poverty.

The countries which will benefit include Guy-

ana, Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Grenada; Haiti; Jamaica; St. Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; St. Vincent and The Grenadines; Suriname; and Trinidad and

13

Tobago.

The end beneficiaries are, among others, small farmers, fisherfolk, small-scale processors and traders, including organised associations and networks and women and youth.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Miners call for critical support to improve industry’s fortunes - such as reduced fuel prices, better hinterland roads

By Clifford Stanley IN light of an alarming decline in gold production this year, members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) have identified reduced fuel prices, better hinterland roads and support for improved recovery

of gold as critical for optimising the industry’s potential for national economic development.

Figures at late June indicated that the industry had produced 164,419 ounces of gold as compared to 198,000 ounces during the same period last year, or 17% less.

In an interview with the

Guyana Chronicle yesterday President of the GGDMA Patrick Harding said that the three areas of support were critical.

“What miners need is to be able to reduce their operating costs. Reduction of the price of fuel which is a major cost centre for production is as we see it a number one

priority.”

He said that the miners were looking for an implementation of the 10% reduction on the import duty for fuel promised by the former PPP Administration.

With respect to the roads, he said that the bad condition of roads leading to mining areas from the coastland was also another major problem that must be addressed.

The poor state of the roads can dramatically increase the travelling time with associated additional costs.

Bad roads also create more expenses for miners as a result of the wear and tear on the vehicles used to transport equipment, supplies and fuel.

IMPROVED TECHNOLOGIES Support for improved recovery of gold is also critical.

He said that technologies for improving recovery of gold at the level of the sluice box and through processing of raw materials would help the miners to produce more gold from one operation.

“The overall result of support in these three areas is that much more gold will be produced and declared and much more foreign exchange earned for the benefit of the economy,” he said.

The former Administration had set aside the sum of $1B to be used to help miners improve recovery of gold from the gangue (raw materials) but this sum is yet to be

accessed, Harding said, due to lack of agreement on how it will actually be utilised.

Miners had other issues but the three identified were the most critical.

He disclosed that these three had been among others recently discussed with Minister in charge of Natural Resources, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman.

He said that the Minister had promised to meet with miners again, within a week or so from now, and the GGDMA was looking forward to prompt action by the Government which will enable gold, despite the current low prices, to regain its former position as the top foreign exchange earner for the economy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Hotel owner, bartender facing prostitution charge THE owner of Hotel Benab and his bartender were yesterday brought before the Georgetown Magistrates Court for unlawful renting of a room for brothel purpose.

Sixty-four-year-old proprietor Joseph Barker of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, and his employee, 41-yearold Daniel Wilson of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, both denied the charge read to them by Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The particulars of the charge said that being the landlord and agent, respectively, of Benab Hotel and Bar, situated at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, they let a room for brothel purpose.

The duo was represented by Attorney-at-Law Mr. Adrian Thompson, who requested reasonable bail for both men, stating that the charge is not listed under custodial offences.

He further pleaded with the court citing Barker’s state of health, and stating that Barker suffers from high blood pressure and arthritis.

Both defendants were ordered to post $20,000 bail each and the matter was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrates Court for Thursday, July 16, 2015.

Hire car driver granted $2M bail

--in ‘causing death’ matter A HIRE car driver was yesterday granted $2M bail by city Magistrate Judy Latchman on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving .

Seon Greene, of Lot 58 Russell Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge that said on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, he drove his motor car in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Mohamed Khan.

He was granted bail on condition that he report to the subordinate officer in charge of the Traffic Department, Kitty Police Station.

The matter was adjourned to Monday, July 27, 2015 for statements.

Miner drowns in Pomeroon River -fell overboard while urinating from moving boat A 32-year-old miner, Rawl Boyan of Friendship Canal, Lower Pomeroon, drowned Saturday afternoon after he lost his balance and fell overboard while urinating from a fast-moving boat in the Pomeroon River.

Reports said the miner, his brother and several friends went to his uncle’s home at Friendship in the Lower Pomeroon and celebrated his birthday on Saturday afternoon. While returning home in their speed boat, Rawl, who was under the influence of alcohol, stood up in the fast-moving boat and tried to urinate in the river but apparently lost his balance and fell overboard.

According to reports, the boat stopped and turned back for him but he had already disappeared under the water. Reports said a search was immediately started for his body, which was recovered shortly in a lifeless condition.

The body was taken to the Charity Hospital. The police are investigating. (Rajendra Prabhulall)

Region 2 chairman urges farmers not to interfere with D&I structures CHAIRMAN of Region 2, Pomeroon – Supenaam, Mr Devanand Ramdatt, is calling on all rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast not to interfere with Government drainage and irrigation structures The chairman advised farmers that if they have problems with the drainage and irrigation network, they should visit the office of the Regional Administration at Anna Regina and meet with the relevant officers to have their problems/ issues addressed. Mr Ramdatt said the administration would not condone farmers opening regulators to irrigate their plots and cause flooding to other farmers’ fields.

The Essequibo Coast is a predominantly rice-growing area. More than 37,000 acres are currently being cultivated with rice, which are in various stages of growth. The Region 2 Administration is responsible for channelling water from its conservancies in a timely manner through its irrigation network to fields, so the crop can be productive.

New Chairman of Region 2, Mr Devanand Ramdatt.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Ovearse donates

ICHF set to perform 15 surgeries at GPHC

--to Mahaicony, B

A young heart patient currently recovering from Monday’s surgery

A

TEAM from the International Children’s Heart Foundation (ICHF), commonly known as Baby Heart Foundation, is once again visiting Guyana to perform surgeries on young heart patients.

During their two-week (July 4- July 18) visit, the team is expected to operate on 15 patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Two surgeries were performed Monday and two more were expected to be done yesterday.

A team from the Foundation last visited Guyana back in May, when they performed a number of successful heart surgeries which came in for high praise from the hospital, the previous Administration and the families of patients.

This initiative will also eliminate the need for young heart patients to travel overseas to receive treatment, since the foundation is also providing training to medical professionals at the hospital, so the institution will eventually have the expertise to perform such surgeries on its own.

Ms. Merlene Ferrier (centre), steward of the Barti (right) receiving one of the defibrillators THE MEMBERS of Guyana Medical Relief Inc, (GMR Inc), a charitable organisation comprising Guyanese living in the U.S.A., have donated two defibrillators to public medical institutions in Guyana to improve their capability for reviving patients stricken by heart attacks.

Chief Operating Officer of the GMR Inc., Mr. Sharir Chan, disclosed that the beneficiaries of the two heart machines, valued at US$5,000, were the staff of the Mahaicony Hospital in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) and the Bartica Hospital in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

The GMR Inc, he said, has two other defibrillators in hand for donation to the Port Mourant Hospital in Region 6 and the Linden Hospital in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice), respectively.

Chan, who made the donations to the Mahaicony and Bartica Hospitals during a brief visit to Guyana recently, said that donations to the two remaining beneficiaries will be made when he returns to Guyana later this month.

He said that the GMR Inc. also currently has an Ultrasound Machine which will be donated to an institution to be determined also later this month.

The GMR (Inc), based in Los Angeles, California, was

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

eas-based charity s heart machines

Bartica hospitals

ica Hospital, and Ward Sister, Ms Cecilia Austin s from GMR’s Mr Sharir Chan last week formed in 1984 by a small group of concerned Guyanese to provide sponsorship for urgently needed medical supplies and equipment to Guyana, for use by both public and private hospitals.

The GMR Inc. collaborates with, and gets supplies from, Direct Relief International (DRI), a California-based agency with experience in providing worldwide medical assistance for over 57 years.

The four defibrillators, valued at US$10,000 were bought with grant funds supplied by the Izumi Foundation of Japan, another partner of the GMR Inc. A defibrillator is an electrical device that provides a shock to the heart when a life-threatening, rapid, erratic beating develops.

The equipment provides shocks that cause the heart to stop, so that it can start beating rhythmically again.

Chan disclosed that as part of its support to Guyana, the GMR Inc. had recently completed refurbishing of the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Port Mourant Hospital free of cost to that institution.

This support project, he said, had cost the GMR Inc. over US$40,000.

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Duo convicted in septic tank murder trial seek probation reports

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

By George Barclay JUSTICE Roxane George yesterday granted the two men convicted in the Campbellville septic tank murder trial an application for probation reports to be considered before sentencing.

Sentencing which was expected to be passed yesterday on Ralph Tyndal, called ‘Nick’, and Anthony De Paul, called ‘Papa’, was postponed to July 15th at 1.20 pm.

But the judge warned: “I am still undecided whether I would impose the death penalty or inflict a long term of imprisonment.” The judge was hesitant to grant the application for the probation reports, but changed her mind and granted same after Attorney-at-Law Mr. Melvin Duke agreed with the judge that if the report was not ready by July 15, he would agree that sentence should be passed on that day.

According to Duke, he told the judge that Attorney Madan Kissoon, counsel for the Number one accused Tyndal, was ill and he got instructions to make the application on behalf of his colleague who also wished to have a probation report for his client.

The judge at this stage cautioned Duke to make sure that the probation officer not only seeks to have the relatives of the prisoners interviewed but they must also interview the relatives of the deceased in order to get a full report Both accused were convicted of the murder of 45-year-old Colleen Forrester of 55 William Street, Campbellville between 27th of December 2007 and the 6th of January, 2008.

Witnesses at the trial told the jury that the accused later wrapped the body and placed it in a septic tank in the yard.

The accused pleaded not guilty at the trial but were found guilty by the jury. In his request for the probation report, Duke said the prisoners were in their twenties and should benefit from the report.

But leading prosecutrix Diana Kaulesar said that in a case of this kind where the prisoners have been convicted of a gruesome crime, a probation report, whether favourable or unfavourable, could have very little effect on the sentence.

But the prosecutrix told the judge: “If your Ladyship decides to grant the application, I will have no objection.”

‘I acted in self-defence’

--says woman who allegedly killed reputed husband OMEKA Henry on Monday, October 30, 2006 at Farm, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, unlawfully killed her reputed husband, Wilkinson Halley, called ‘Wilkie’.

She is facing trial for manslaughter before Justice Dawn Gregory at the Demerara Assizes.

The woman alleged that a statement which she gave to the police and was forced to sign was not obtained by the police in accordance with the judge’s rules.

However, the judge conducted a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the issue which disclosed that the caution statement was freely and voluntarily given to the police.

The woman is saying that she and her husband had a quarrel and he attacked her with a cutlass. She said that she armed herself with a knife and he walked onto the knife and got injured.

The woman is conducting her own defence.

Conducting the case for the prosecution is Orienthea Schmidt. The trial is continuing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

American citizen gets five years

AN American citizen was yesterday sentenced to five year’s imprisonment by Providence Magistrate Leron Daley, after being found guilty of procuring a woman to traffic cocaine.

Dawn Saul-Khan, 60, of 2098 Festival City, North Ruimveldt, was found guilty of procuring Chaliqua Johnson to traffic 0.365KG of cocaine to the United States of America on October 12, 2012.

Along with Johnson, three other American citizens, Adrian Roberts, 38, of 1450 David’s Boulevard, Queens, New York; assistant nurse Melissa Gouria, 25, of 148-17 Brookville Boulevard, Queens, New York; and Gregory Hoyte, 20, of 157-18 7th Avenue, Queens, New

Another Essequibo teen dies after ingesting poison AN 18-year-old teenaged girl of the Essequibo Coast died last Sunday after ingesting a quantity of gramoxone some 19 days ago.

Reports are that the teenager drank the poison on Tuesday, June 23, after experiencing problems in a relationship with her fiance. She died at the Charity Hospital after battling for her life for 19 days.

19

--for procuring to traffic cocaine

York,were charged with being in possession of narcotics on October 12, 2012. They however told the court that Saul-Khan had given them the drug to transport.

According to the prosecution, all five were booked to travel on a Delta Airlines flight bound for the JFK Airport, in New York when cocaine was allegedly found on the four individuals during a random pat down.

Chaliqua Johnson testified against Saul-Khan, who first appeared before former Magistrate Leslie Sobers in October, 2012 and pleaded not guilty to the charge. She was granted bail in the sum of $2M at that hearing. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Stephen Telford, had prosecuted the matter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Friendship duo bailed for alleged larceny --of $1.2M worth of gold jewellery

A FRIENDSHIP man and his girlfriend were yesterday placed on $75,000 bail each by city Magistrate Ann McLennan for allegedly stealing over $1.2 million worth of gold jewellery from his employer.

Travis Mars, 21, of Lot 58 Friendship Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara and 18-year-old Colleen Boyer, of Lot 32 Friendship Squatting Area, were slapped jointly with the charge that alleged between Tuesday, June30 – Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at Tabuta Backdam, North West District, stole from Anita Phoenix 13 gold rings, three gold bands, and a pair of gold earrings, along with three gold chains- totalling $M1,273,000.

The duo had been charged indictably, but on application by the prosecution, the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) was applied and both defendants pleaded not guilty. Their lawyer, Mr. Dexter Todd explained that Mars is employed by the virtual complainant (VC) to work in the interior in her small–scale, gold-mining operation as an assistant and his girlfriend would stay at the camp with him.

Todd further related to the court that prior to the incident, Mars and his employer had an argument over pay. Mars nevertheless resumed work, which is to travel to town and the interior to transact business on her behalf. However, on the days in question, the man’s girlfriend accompanied him on the voyage with the hope of returning home to see her mom, when they were searched and the gold was found.

The lawyer argued that his client had no intention to be dishonest and take the proceeds from the sale of the items.

He highlighted the fact that Boyer was also charged, when she was a mere companion on the trip and had no access to the items, neither was she working for the VC. The prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones made no objection to bail, which the magistrate granted in the sum of $75,000 and transferred the matter to the Matthews Ridge Magistrates’ Court for Monday, July 27, 2015.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 ––– 10:00hrs Thursday, July 9, 2015 ––– 11:00hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Serena fights off Azarenka, targets Sharapova

By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - The heavy hitting shook the ground and the volume would have raised the Centre Court roof, had it been closed, as Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka traded blows like a couple of prizefighters at Wimbledon yesterday.

A women’s tournament that has seen title contenders fall feebly on the All England Club lawns, finally witnessed two grand slam champions going toe-to-toe in a thunderous encounter befitting the final, rather than the second Tuesday.

Williams eventually won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 with her best tennis at this year’s tournament so far to stay in line for a sixth Wimbledon title which would also complete the self-styled ‘Serena Slam’, that is holding all four majors concurrently.

“I feel really vulnerable.

I feel really vulnerable in a third set,” Williams, who

looked anything but, told reporters.

“At that point I kind of relax and whatever happens, happens.”

Blocking her path to a first Wimbledon final since 2012 is Maria Sharapova after the Russian fought off feisty American CoCo Vandeweghe -- the only unseed-

told reporters.

“That will be an incredible moment for me to step out on Centre Court against her again.”

NEW FACES The mayhem in the bottom half during the first seven days here gave a chance for some new faces to make their

MARIA SHARAPOVA ed player in a quarter-final lineup few would have predicted at the start.

Sharapova won 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-2 to set up another crack at Williams whom she has lost to 16 times in a row since 2004 -- the year she beat the American to win her only Wimbledon title.

“I haven’t played Serena here in 11 years,” fourth seed Sharapova, who famously beat Williams to the title in 2004 as a 17-year-old,

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mark.

Garbine Muguruza seized the chance to become the first Spanish woman to reach the last four since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1997, beating Swiss Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-3.

American youngster Madison Keys was unable to unlock the defences of 2012 runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska, though, losing 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3 with the Pole now facing Muguruza.

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After a minute’s silence on the 10th anniversary of the London Underground and bus bombings, followed by a short rain delay, play began on Court One with a one-set showdown.

Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic resumed against giant-serving Kevin Anderson after their fourth round clash had been stopped at two sets all on Monday because of bad light.

Top seed Djokovic survived some anxious moments and roared his frustration in the direction of a startled ball girl before edging his way to a 6-7(6), 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 -- only the fourth time in his a career he has recovered from a two-set deficit.

INTENSE BATTLES Williams and Azarenka have history, although not in any sinister sense. Both are fierce fighters and have contested some intense battles down the years, including two U.S. Open finals.

Former world number one Azarenka, seeded 23 but far more dangerous than that in reality, outplayed her opponent in a superb first set, absorbing the power of the Williams arsenal and punching back some spectacular winners.

When she sealed the first set with a clean-as-a-whistle forehand pass a fourth career win from 20 matches against Williams looked not only possible, but likely.

Azarenka was fired-up and raising the decibel level.

But then came the retaliation.

Williams, who narrowly escaped defeat by Briton Heather Watson in the third round on Friday, added a few clicks to her serve, beefed up her forehand and began bellowing “c’mons!” after winning big points.

Azarenka was taking some fearful punishment but somehow survived a Williams onslaught in an 18-point game at 1-2, saving three break points to level at 2-2.

The Belarussian had a break point in the next game but Williams responded with a backhand winner, held serve, and then won the next three games to level the match.

Sensing another semi-final, Williams marched ahead in the decider, banged down three consecutive aces to move 5-2 ahead and finished Azarenka off with three more in the final game.

Running Brave athletes dominate CARICOM relay

COMPETITION, coupled with friendly rivalry, culminated last Sunday afternoon with Running Brave running away with the lion’s share of the prizes at the inaugural CARICOM relay, coordinated by the Ministry of Education’s Department of Sport in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and a plethora of sponsors.

The National Park was buzzing with activity as teams comprising five persons each competed in several categories to claim the various trophies and medals that were at stake.

At the end of it all, Running Brave copped three first-place finishes and a runner-up spot in the four divisions that were contested.

The Running Brave athletes were unstoppable in the Male and Female Open categories, subjecting Police to a second-place finish in both divisions.

They also won the Junior Male competition. Linden and Police took second and third spots respectively.

However, Linden turned the table on Running Brave in the Junior Female showdown. There were also events for the Masters athletes, while the novelty race was won by comedian Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones ahead of Leslie Black and Joseph Rajkumar.

Persons from all walks of life attended the event, while there was representation by the U.S. Embassy and the Cuban medical brigade.

The event was powered by Banks DIH Limited, Payless Variety Store, Mohabeer Cambio, Star Party Rentals, Real Value Supermarket and Fullworks’ Seasoning and Blue Spring Water, and the organisers are grateful for the support of those entities, spectators and athletes who all combined to churn out a successful inaugural event.

Lady Jags to play...

From back page of whom will be returning leave a lasting impression and Rodrigues, who along on Women’s Football in with Bolton hosted a camp Guyana.” the women’s in Toronto Canada earlier head coach noted. this month, said, “The reHe added: “There is no turning players showed a difference this time around high level of maturity and as compared to 2010 - the it was very exciting to see goal is and remains the that in training and during same. The Lady Jags, simithe game in Toronto. lar to the men, are a vehicle “I was quite pleased to to bring Guyanese together see that our U-20 players worldwide. This is what (now mature) who were we have to use as a catalyst asked to join the squad were for the physical and social able to raise their level of development of the youth in play and come close to our country.” matching that of the original Meanwhile, Bolton is senior players.” of the opinion that “it is “The players, as a essential that we highlight group, have never stopped the significance of the Lady asking me what more Jags to our young playcan they do to help de- ers. They need to know velop football in Guyana. that they too can have Through that contact I al- struggles, obstacles, and ways kept abreast of play- not reach glory in the eyes ers’ achievements in the of others and still be proud game.” said Rodrigues. for giving all that they Locally, the players will have.” all assemble in Guyana for Speaking on the team’s a camp, running from July expectation, especially since 18 to 26, and according to the women’s team is GuyRodrigues “the focus of the ana’s most successful at all camp will primarily be to get levels, Bolton made it clear players to gel as a unit. The that “we have no illusions. camp will primarily com- We know that this group is prise of tactical and func- not expected, nor have they tional sessions, and with been prepared, to compete at that some fitness will be the highest levels”. addressed” However, coach Ro“Of course we are excit- drigues and every single ed to be playing in Olympic player have proudly and Qualifiers. Yet again, we eagerly accepted the chaljust do not just want to lenge. This effort can be the participate, we intend to catalyst for making certain leave a lasting impression that we never face such a on field and continue to reality again.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Johnson back to express best in time for Ashes - Clarke

By Justin Palmer

CARDIFF, Scotland (Reuters) - Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson is at full throttle and ready to torment England’s batsmen again in the Ashes series, his captain Michael Clarke said yesterday.

The left-armer almost single-handedly reduced England to shreds during the 2013-14 Ashes 5-0 whitewash, taking 37 wickets at 13.97.

Johnson has never been as impressive in English conditions but Clarke believes he will again spearhead Australia’s hopes when the first Test starts at the Swalec Stadium today.

“Mitchell Johnson is as ready as I’ve seen him. He’s

bowling as fast as I’ve ever seen him bowl in the nets and he’s swinging it too. It’s not fun to face,” Clarke told reporters.

“He’s fit, healthy and excited about what lies ahead.

There have been things said about whether he can perform in these conditions and that’s put fire into his belly.”

Johnson will be backed up by fellow fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with Peter Siddle or Pat Cummins, who replaced the retired Ryan Harris in the squad, also set to play.

Australia last won an Ashes series in England in 2001 and Clarke is expecting five hard Tests.

“It’s no coincidence that we haven’t won here since 2001 -- England are hard to beat in their own conditions.

We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

England captain Alastair Cook said that

the hosts were not singling him out as the man to fear

him in 2009 and 10/11. It’s not going to be down to one

Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke with an Ashes urn in Cardiff yesterday. while Johnson was “outstanding in that last series”,

again.

“We had the wood over

player in this series,” he said.

Cook picked out

all-rounder Ben Stokes as a player who could help win back the Ashes for England.

Stokes was the one bright light from the last Ashes series, scoring a maiden Test century in Perth and, although averaging just over 34, began this summer with a bang when he hit the fastest Test century by an Englishman for more than 100 years in the first Test against New Zealand.

“So far he’s had a very interesting career, but over the last six months he’s really matured as a cricketer,” Cook said.

“Being left out of the World Cup would have hurt him. I like the way he has gone about his business this summer. He’s trained really hard. Physically he’s in really good shape.”

Brilliant Younus guides Froome retains his grip Pakistan to 2-1 series win as Martin claims yellow

(REUTERS) - Younus Khan’s epic unbeaten 171 guided Pakistan to their highest successful run chase yesterday, the tourists easing to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka to clinch the three-match series by a 2-1 margin.

Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (59 not out) blasted Jehan Mubarak for a six to seal Pakistan’s first Test series win in Sri Lanka since 2006 as the visitors chased down a daunting 377-run target in the second session of the final day.

Shan Masood (125) was the only Pakistani batsman to fall yesterday, having added a remarkable 242 runs with Younus to turn the match on its head after Sri Lanka had seized control.

Shot out for 215 in the first innings and reeling at 13-2 in the second, Pakistan’s stunning victory also saw them jump three places up to third in the Test rankings.

“This series means a lot to me. It was a dream, after losing two-three series here,” Misbah said at the presentation ceremony.

“The way they (Younus and Masood) played, they almost took the game away from Sri Lanka. And once you have this sort of partnership at the top, it was an easy job for us,” he added.

Pakistan began the final day needing 147 for a memorable win and off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal drew Masood out of his crease with

flight and turn to have him stumped.

The opener had earlier survived a strong caught-behind appeal when he was on 120 with bowler Angelo Mathews and wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal convinced he had edged it.

Umpire Ian Gould, however, deemed otherwise and Sri Lanka moved on having exhausted both of their review opportunities.

Younus continued to play with his characteristic fluency and was unbeaten after registering his 11th 150-plus score in Test cricket, the most by any batsman from his country.

The 37-year-old batted for more than seven hours in a man-of-the-match display, also becoming the first batsman to score five fourth-innings centuries in Test cricket.

“It was not easy,” Younus said. “But I have my own expectations from myself, to do well when the team is under pressure. I take the onus on myself to take my team to victory.”

Mathews, who struck a defiant century in Sri Lanka’s second innings, did not hide his disappointment.

“I thought at 376, we were sitting pretty but that was not the case. We’ll take definitely a lot of time to digest this defeat,” the all-rounder said.

Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who claimed 24 wickets in three matches, won the man-of-the-series award.

SCOREBOARD SRI LANKA 1st innings 278 (D. Karunaratne 130; Y. Shah 5-78) PAKISTAN 1st innings 215 (S. Ahmed 78 n.o., A. Ali 52) SRI LANKA 2nd innings 313 (A. Mathews 122, D. Chandimal 67; I. Khan 5-58) PAKISTAN 2nd innings (o/n 230-3; Target: 377 runs) S. Masood stp. Chandimal b Kaushal 125 A. Shehzad b Lakmal 0

Az. Ali c Chandimal b Prasad 5 Y. Khan not out 171 Misbah-ul-Haq not out 59 Extras: (b-5, lb-10, nb-5, w-2) 22 Total: (for 3 wickets, 103.1 overs) 382 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-255 Bowling: D. Prasad 20-2-65-1 (nb-1, w-1), S. Lakmal 19-5-48-1 (nb-3), N. Pradeep 17-3-51-0 (w-1), A. Mathews 13-2-34-0 (nb-1), T. Kaushal 31-1-153–1, J. Mubarak 3.1-0-16-0.

By Julien Pretot

Vincenzo Nibali and his Astana team mate Lars Boom attacked repeatedly on the CAMBRAI, France (Reuters) - Chris cobbles hoping to shake Froome but all the Froome lost his yellow jersey but retained defending champion got was the prize for his grip on his rivals after surviving a the most aggressive rider of the day. day on the cobbles in the Tour de France Among the other top favourites, yesterday.

Spain’s Alberto Contador and Colombian German Tony Martin won the fourth Nairo Quintana could only follow, but stage with a late attack and snatched the stayed in contention as the most treacheroverall lead at the end of a body-punishing ous part of the race is now behind them.

223.5-km ride from Contador is Seraing, Belgium. in eighth spot 48 Team Sky rider seconds behind Froome was expectMartin. Nibali is ed to be tested on in 13th position the seven cobbled 1:50 off the pace sectors that pepand Quintana lies pered the course, 17th, 18 seconds as the Tour entered further back.

France for the first A f o u r- m a n time since the grand breakaway built depart in Utrecht, an eight-minute Netherlands, and he advantage but passed with flying Etixx-Quick Step rider Tony Martin of they never had a Germany celebrates on the podium after chance as Team colours.

Froome almost winning the 223.5-km (138.9 miles) 4th Sky took control fell off his bike af- stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling of the peloton just ter being slightly race from Seraing in Belgium, to Cambrai, ahead of the first elbowed by Italian France, yesterday. (Reuters/Eric Gaillard) cobbled sector, Jacopo Guarnieri, dramatically uphis front wheel hitting a kerb, but the ping the pace.

Briton regained control and soldiered on The peloton was eventually skimmed in impressive fashion. to about 30 riders after Frenchman Thibaut The 2013 champion, who crashed out of Pinot, who had already lost a chunk of time last year’s Tour just ahead of the first cob- yesterday, was ruled out of contention for bled sectors, even accelerated in the finale, good in this Tour following two mechanical showing he was in top shape as he stamped failures. his authority on the race.

Martin powered away with three km Martin leads Froome by 12 seconds left and the triple time trial world chamoverall with American Tejay van Gard- pion never looked back. eren, another contender for the overall His compatriot John Degenkolb victory, in third place 25 seconds off the sprinted for second ahead of Slovakia’s pace.

Peter Sagan.

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Regional Under-17 Tournament

Stewart spurs Windwards to victory with maiden ton

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago – Windward Islands rewarded a resolute, undefeated, maiden hundred from their captain Emmanuel Stewart with purposeful bowling, propelling them to a comprehensive, 112-run victory over reigning champions Barbados in the Regional Under-17 Tournament here yesterday.

Stewart, a Grenadian, set things up for the Windwards with 103 not out, anchoring his side to 231 for four from their allocation of 50 overs, after they chose to bat in the first round match at Canaan.

Windwards’ spin bowling trio, led by Johann Jeremiah, then bamboozled the lower half of the Barbadian batting and the chase ran out of steam when they were bowled out for 119 in 37.4 overs.

In other matches: Half-centuries from Na-

Windwards captain Emmanuel Stewart records the first century on the opening day. thaniel McDavid and Keegan Simmons carried hosts Trinidad & Tobago to a four-wicket victory over Leeward Islands at Louis D’Or, and a purposeful half-century from Jamaica captain Brad Barnes took his side past Guyana by six wickets at Shaw Park in the Tobago capital.

The result meant that Windwards, T&T and Jamaica all collected six points to share the early lead in the tournament which continues tomorrow.

In the second round, Barbados look to rebound against Leewards at the same venue of their defeat today, Guyana meet Windwards at Louis D’Or and T&T face Jamaica at Shaw Park.

At Louis D’Or: McDavid hit four fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 52 from 39 balls and Simmons collected nine fours in 51 from 59 balls, leading enterprising batting that helped hosts T&T chase down a victory target of 208 in 35.5 overs.

Simmons anchored the top-half of the T&T

batting before he became the first of 3-47 in eight overs for Zawandie Whyte, leaving the home team needing 110 from the remaining 184 balls.

McDavid and Siba Batoosingh, whose 40 not out from 50 balls included half-dozen fours, made sure it was a cakewalk.

Taking first strike in the match, Leewards’ batting fell away following 63-run, second-wicket stand between top-scorer Jerrilous Louis and opener Michael Lewis.

Louis gathered just three fours and one six in 65 from 109 balls and Lewis supported with nine fours in 53 from 75 balls, as the Leewards were bowled out for 207 in 49.4 overs.

No other batsman reached 20 with T&T captain Kirstan Kallicharran and McDavid snaring two wickets apiece.

At Canaan: Left-hander Stewart struck seven fours and two sixes from 124 balls and shared successive partnerships with Allick Athanaze, Johnel Eugene and Nick Elibox that propped up the Windwards batting.

Athanaze supported with 47, sharing a stand of 108 for the third wicket with Stewart that revived the Windwards, after they stumbled to 24 for two in the 11th over.

When Athanaze was caught in the deep off Donte Niles in the 35th over, Stewart added 56 for the fourth wicket with Eugene, son of the former senior Windwards batsman John Eugene.

The younger Eugene was dismissed with 28 balls left and Stewart needing 12 for the milestone, but Elibox joined and batted out the remaining overs to shepherd his captain to his hundred in the final over.

Barbados looked to be steadily building towards the target until Eugene removed top-scorer Limar Pierce for 42 in the 26th over and Thaddaeus Chase for one in the 28th over, leaving them wobbling at 86 for two.

Just when it appeared that the Barbadians were putting things back on track, Lee Louisy struck in the 31st over, when he had Shakib Marshall caught behind.

Jeremiah then completed the demolition job with 4-3 from 3.4 overs, as Barbados lost their last six wickets for 14 runs in the space of 42 deliveries.

At Shaw Park: Barnes, whose 74 not out included half-dozen boundaries from 108 balls, shared an even hundred for the fourth wicket with Rawin Senior that put Jamaica firmly on course for a victory target of 174.

The Jamaicans were shaky on 73 for three in the 23rd over, when Senior came to the crease, scored 45 and with Barnes put their side within touching distance of victory before he was run-out with 16 balls remaining.

Jamaica had bowled steadily after they chose to field and restricted Guyana to 173 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs.

Joshua Persaud hit the top score of 45 for the Guyanese, Ramnarine Chatura made 36 and Ian Spence was the pick of the Jamaican bowlers with two wickets.

Pakistan vault into third place in ICC Test Championship table PAKISTAN have jumped three places to third in the ICC Test Championship table following a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final cricket Test in Pallekele yesterday.

Pakistan had entered the series in sixth position on 97 points, one ahead of Sri Lanka.

The 2-1 series win has earned them four ratings points and because the middle of the table is so tightly-packed, a leap of three places.

Pakistan now trail second-ranked Australia by 10 points and lead fourth-ranked New Zealand by two points.

Sri Lanka, in contrast, have dropped four points and have slipped to 92 points, while retaining their seventh position overall.

The Ashes begins today and England will not only be aiming to reclaim the Urn but also

improve their ranking. England are currently sitting in sixth position and a series win by 3-0 or better will move them to as high as second.

ICC Test Championship table (as on July 7 2015) Rank Team Points 1. South Africa 130 2. Australia 111 3. Pakistan 101 4. New Zealand 99 5. India 97 6. England 97 7. Sri Lanka 92 8. West Indies 81 9. Bangladesh 41 10. Zimbabwe 5 Developed by David Kendix

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Shamsi, Samuels set up convincing Patriots win MARLON Samuels’ stroke-filled 71 and South African chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi’s career-best figures of 4 for 10 set up a convincing eight-wicket win for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots against Barbados Tridents in Basseterre.

The Tridents openers - Dilshan Munaweera and Dwayne Smith - began the innings solidly, adding 47 in 38 balls before the introduction of spin halted their progress.

Shahid Afridi struck with his second ball and in the eighth over Shamsi bowled Smith.

Scores: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 139 for 2 (Samuels 71*, Guptill 45) beat Barbados Tridents 135 for 8 (Pollard 49, Shamsi 4-10, Afridi 3-34) by eight wickets.

Jason Holder, batting at No. 4, struggled to find fluency during his 19-ball 17 and Shamsi’s double-strike in the 14th over left Tridents wobbling at 76 for 5.

However, Kieron Pollard resurrected the innings with a 33-ball 49, including five sixes - with two each in the 19th and 20th

overs. Tridents smashed 47 off the last three overs to end with 135 for 8 - all wickets falling to spin except for a run-out.

While Afridi took three wickets, Shamsi bettered his best bowling performance of 4 for 23 against Jamaica Tallawahs in his last match with figures of 4 for 10 - all his wickets were of the top-six batsmen.

Evin Lewis and Martin Guptill started the chase by hitting three fours and a six inside the first three overs, before Lewis was caught at mid-off. Tridents struggled to prevent the boundaries as Samuels and Guptill clobbered three sixes and two fours within the Powerplay.

The pair continued to rotate the strike with the occasional boundary before Guptill was run-out for 45 in the 15th over to end an 85-run second-wicket stand.

Samuels, however, plundered 18 in the next over and eventually hit the winning runs in the 18th over.

Chinaman spinner Tabraiz Shamsi follows up his 4-23 against Jamaica Tallawahs with an even more impressive 4-10 against the Tridents on Monday night.

Factbox on Ashes series this century LONDON, Following is a factbox on Ashes series between England and Australia played this century. The 2015 series begins today in Cardiff.

ASHES SERIES RESULTS Series: 8 England wins: 4 Australia wins: 4 2001 (in England) Australia won 4-1 2002/03 (in Australia) Australia won 4-1 2005 (in England) England won 2-1 2006/07 (in Australia) Australia won 5-0 2009 (in England) England won 2-1 2010/11 (in Australia) England won 3-1 2013 (in England) England won 3-0 2013/14 (in Australia) Australia won 5-0 The following statistics relate to players likely to be involved in the 2015 series.

MOST ASHES WICKETS England fast bowler James Anderson has taken the most wickets having struck 77 times in 23 Tests between 2006 and 2014.

Mitchell Johnson is the most prolific bowler in the Australia squad having taken 72 wickets in 14 Ashes matches from 2009 to 2014.

He was voted player of the series in Australia’s whitewash win

in 2013-14, with his most devastating spell coming in the second Test when he took seven wickets for 40 runs during England’s first innings.

MOST ASHES RUNS Australia captain Michael Clarke has amassed the most Ashes runs, 2,109 in 53 innings since making his debut in the historic fixture in 2005.

His highest score is 187.

His opposite number Alastair Cook is England’s leading run scorer against the Australians with 1,787 in 25 Ashes Tests. Ian Bell is close behind with 1,768 in six series.

Kevin Pietersen is the only player to have scored more Ashes runs than Clarke this century, 2,158 in 27 matches. The controversial righthander is not in the England squad.

MOST ASHES CATCHES The captains lead by example in the field with Clarke having taken the most catches with 29. England captain Cook has taken 28.

NARROW VICTORY Edgbaston hosts the third Test in the 2015 series. The ground in Birmingham was the scene of the narrowest victory in Ashes history when England beat Australia by two runs in the second Test in 2005.

That was also the second narrowest run victory in Test history.

President Granger ‘victory’ cycle race on Sunday

DUBBED the ‘David Granger-Coalition Victory cycle event’, the 60-mile road race will be staged this Sunday on the Corentyne roadway from 10:00hrs.

The event is organised by cycling coach Randolph Roberts and the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC) of Berbice and is open to all cyclists’ countrywide.

The feature race is set to pedal off from in front of Lewis

Mark Lewis of Lewis and Sons General Store at Rose Hall Town presents the cheque to coordinator Randolph Roberts at the Lewis and Sons Store at Rose Hall Town. Also sharing the moment is Neil Lewis.

and Sons Cycle and Sports Store at Rose Hall Town, proceed to Springlands then back to the starting point.

The female and beginners will ride from Nand Persaud and Company to the finish line.

A number of lucrative prizes put together by a number of business entities in Berbice are up for grabs.

Prizes will be awarded to the first eight finishers, first three juniors, the first three females, the first three veterans (35-40 years) and the first three beginners. There will also be ten sprint prizes up for grabs.

Last Thursday principals of the Lewis and Son General Store presented a cheque of an undisclosed sum to organiser Roberts at their business entity at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice.

President David Granger is expected to be in attendance as well as Senior Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Junior Minster Nicholette Henry and Director of Sport Christopher Jones.

Malcolm Sonoram will be the race director with Joseph Briton his assistant. Cyclists are reminded that they must participate in their club colours.

Interested participants are asked to contact coordinator Randolph Roberts.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Hing wins Practical Pistol Shoot N AT I O N A L S m a l l bore captain Dale Hing amassed 139.59 points to win last Sunday’s Practical Pistol Shoot at the Timehri ranges.

The competition comprised two stages with the marksmen engaging various targets both stationary and moving with accuracy and speed for the best score at the fastest time.

Second position was won by Ray Beharry who

totalled 92.83 points with Ryan McKinnon in third spot with 83,93, Azaad Hassan fourth with 77.51 and Gordon Richards fifth with 70.12 points.

Hing won the first stage with 100 points to beat into second position Gordon Richards who secured 66.77 points while third position went to Ray Beharry who shot 56.53 points.

The other top finishers were David Dharry 51.20

Undefeated Drayton takes CARICOM Chess tournament … FIDE approves Primary School Pilot Programme

ANTHONY Drayton played undefeated, at last weekend’s CARICOM Day, One-Day Rapid Chess tournament, at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue.

Drayton the highest World Chess Federation (FIDE)-rated player locally with 1 947 rating points was unstoppable securing seven points from seven games.

Second place was picked up by Chino Chung with five points after he suffered losses to Drayton and Errol Tiwari, while Loris Nathoo ended on four and half points to secure the final podium position. Alexander Duncan and Errol Tiwari ended on four points apiece.

In the junior category St Stanislaus College student Joshua Gopaul got the better of Davion Mars and Roberto Neto to secure the top podium position.

Gopaul and Mars finished on four points apiece, but got the win on the progressive score tiebreaker.

Meanwhile, the GCF says that FIDE has approved a pilot programme to introduce the sport at the primary school level. This is according to president of the GCF Irshad Mohamed, who spoke recently to the media. He indicated that the federation had prior discussions with the Education Ministry on the topic.

“An approval has just been given by the world chess federation FIDE to donate 200 chess boards and 20 chess clocks for our chess in schools programme. Last year we did meet with the Chief Education Officer Olato Sam and we did work out a pilot project which we are looking to start a bit later this year.”

The programme, according to the Chess boss will place a stronger emphasis on the development of the sport from the grassroots level and in the same vein aid to identify potential targets who can become future champions. He reminded that chess comes two-fold with added benefit of ensuring that academia and sport go hand-in-hand.

“It’s not only to play the game but also to help kids academically in terms of strategic thinking and problem-solving matters in terms of mathematics. Internationally, scholars have associated chess with maths but the whole idea is to get chess as part of the school programme and the way we see it is to start as a pilot project, selecting about 20 schools. But our focus will be more on the primary level because we need to get them to start as young as possible.”

Meanwhile, as part of its exposure drive, the Federation is looking to send two players to Trinidad and Tobago next month where they will match strokes with the best from that country and around the world.

The shooters pose for a photo op after the competition at the Timehri Ranges. and Azaad Hassan 48.40.

In the second stage McKinnon took the top honours with 100 points followed by Hing in second position with 87.99 points.

Third place was occupied by Beharry with 80.69, fourth Hassan 64.56 and Joshua

Ramlakhan 26.92 in the other position.

Hing said he was pleased with the turnout of shooters for the event organised over the CARICOM weekend.

International Practical Shooting Confederation

(IPSC) Regional Director Harold Hopkinson was also in attendance for the one-day event.

Results stage 1: Dale Hing - 100 points Gordon Richards - 66.77 Ray Beharry - 56.53 David Dharry - 51.20

Azaad Hassan - 48.40 Results stage 2: Ryan McKinnon - 100 points Dale Hing - 87.99, Ray Beharry - 80.69 Azaad Hassan 64.56 Joshua Ramlakhan 26.92

CONCACAF Gold Cup ...

Reggae Boyz planning to play attacking football LOS ANGELES, United States, (CMC)- Jamaica’s Assistant Head Coach Miguel Coley says the Reggae Boyz will play attacking football in the CONCACAF Gold Cup starting this week, contrary to their approach against teams in the recent Copa America.

The Reggae Boyz lost all three matches against Uruguay,

could not take many chances, because those teams we played against, once you open up, they will punish you, so we had to be playing very tight and a bit reserved,” said Coley shortly after the team arrived in Los Angeles.

“But at the Gold Cup,... with the confidence within the team, we expect us to take more chances at goal”.

The Reggae Boyz will kick-start their Group B campaign today against Costa Rica at the StubHub Center then face Canada on Saturday in Houston, Texas, before closing out the preliminary stage against El Salvador in Toronto, Canada, next week Tuesday.

“We will also be working on our finishing,” Coley added.

“While we did well at the Copa America, we were not able to score any goals, but this time around we will be working hard to create as many chances as possible.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday July 08, 2015) Reggae Boyz to play attacking football against their Gold Cup opponents Paraguay and Argentina and failed to convert during their first appearance in the tournament.

Coley says the Jamaican footballers have gained momentum and confidence from their participation in the Copa America and will be a force to be reckoned with when they compete in the Gold Cup from todayy.

“In the Copa America, we had tough games, which we

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) Darren Bravo (2) Kevin O’Brien (T&T Red Steel)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who is the coach of the St. Lucia Zouks team?

(2) To which team Robin Singh is attached as the head coach?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015

Mayweather stripped of title he won in Pacquiao fight

(REUTERS) - Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been stripped of the welterweight world title he won after beating Filipino Manny Pacquiao this year for failing to comply with rules, the World Boxing Organisation said on Monday.

Mayweather, who improved to 48-0 by beating Pacquiao in May, missed a deadline by which he had to pay a $200 000 sanctioning fee from the fight and vacate the junior middleweight title he also held, the WBO said in a statement.

The WBO said it is against rules for boxers to hold world titles in multiple weight classes and that Mayweather had to indicate which weight division he would retain.

Mayweather, who finished ahead on all

three scorecards of what proved to be the top-grossing prize fight of all-time, had until 16:30hrs ET last Friday to advise the WBO of his position.

“The WBO World Championship Committee is allowed no other alternative but to cease to recognise Mr Floyd Mayweather Jr as the WBO Welterweight Champion of the World and vacate his title, for failing to comply with our WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests,” the WBO said in a statement.

Mayweather, who earned over $200 million from the fight which generated a record pay-per-view revenue in the United States of $400 million, has two weeks to launch an appeal.

Floyd Mayweather Jr of the U.S. poses with his title belts after defeating Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their welterweight WBO, WBC and WBA (Super) title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 2, 2015. (Reuters/Steve Marcus)

Sweeping changes at CONCACAF in the wake of FIFA scandal MIAMI, USA (CMC) - CONCACAF has announced sweeping changes to the way it does business in a desperate attempt to salvage its reputation after some of its leading officials were placed at the centre of a FIFA corruption scandal.

The body that governs football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean has announced that it has approved expansive reform measures proposed by a three-man special committee.

The confederation says the reforms, unanimously

approved by CONCACAF’s Executive Committee at a weekend meeting, in Canada, aim to strengthen its management and operations.

“These reforms are intended to apply best practices for sound corporate governance to CONCACAF’s business operations,” CONCACAF said.

“This Reform Framework reflects CONCACAF’s commitment to strengthening our governance, management, and operations”.

Reforms include independent members on the

eight-member executive committee (Exco), not affiliated with any football-related activities, term limits on all members of the Exco, including the president and full publication of senior officials’ salaries.

Other changes include full publication of CONCACAF’s annual financial statements and budget, a “pre-approved” vendor system for all contracts with CONCACAF to prevent fraud, the appointment of a chief compliance officer and the setting up of a whistleblower hotline “In implementing the

Praise for umpire Wilson on the verge of his Test debut P O R T - O F - S P A I N , ranks in umpiring as he Trinidad (CMC) - Pres- has always strove for the ident of the Trinidad highest professional stanand Tobago Cricket dards,” said Bassarath.

Board (T&TCB) Azim “He must also be Bassarath, has heaped commended for devotpraise on Joel Wilson who is on the verge of making his Test debut as an umpire.

Bassarath has described Wilson as an inspiration to a new generation of umpires as he prepares to officiate in the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa from July 21 to July 25 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.

Wilson’s Test debut marks another exciting Umpire Joel Wilson is chapter in his career preparing to stand in his as a representative of the West Indies Cricket first Test in Chittagong.

Board on the International Panel of Umpires ing time to enhance the and Referees. capabilities of other um“ We h a v e a l w a y s pires through mentoknown that Joel has the ring and training procapability to rise up the grammes in his native

country”.

Wilson, 48, has officiated in 21 One-Day Internationals and 16 T20 International.

Recently he was in action as one of 20 umpires selected to do duty at the ICC World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

“Joel serves as an inspiration to the new generation of umpires coming through the ranks who will now have someone to look up to and become motivated to emulate him which we think is a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when one puts his/her mind to achieving their desired goals,” said Bassarath.

Wilson is expected to preside over a very competitive encounter between a resurgent Bangladesh playing on their home turf against the world’s No 1-ranked Test side, South Africa.

Reform Framework, the Confederation will demonstrate to its fans, sponsors, member associations and other stakeholders that CONCACAF is resilient and devoted to managing, developing, and promoting

the game with accountability and transparency,” CONCACAF said.

Former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb was among six soccer officials arrested and detained by Swiss police pending extradition at the request of

U.S. authorities in May. The case involves bribes totalling more than $100 million linked to commercial deals dating back to the 1990s for soccer tournaments in the United States and Latin America.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Running Brave see athletes Please story on dominate page 26 CARICOM relay

Lady Jags to play International ... We have no illusions Friendly on July 24 – Bolton WITH the aim of reaching the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Guyana’s senior National Women’s team are heightening preparations ahead of their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) leg of the qualifier.

The Lady Jags, placed in Group Four, will compete against St Kitts and Nevis on August 21 and Cuba two days later in the Dominican Republic.

Head coach Mark Rodrigues and technical director Claude Bolton announced that the Guyanese will have their first taste of International football in almost five years when they face an opponent still to be confirmed on July 24 at the Leonora Track and Field Facility.

With interest from Jamaica and Puerto Rico, the Guyana Football Federation’s

FLASHBACK! The ‘Lady Jags’ prior to their kick-off against Cuba in 2010 at the GCC ground (GFF) Technical Director said that decision will be made shortly with regard to the opponents the Guyanese women will suit up against.

The last time Guyana saw the Lady Jags in action was

against Cuba at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground where they won 1-0 and then travelled to Havana where they were victorious by a 3-1 scoreline and eventually qualified for the 2010

Women’s Gold Cup. At the tournament in Mexico, Guyana grouped with the home side, Trinidad and Tobago, who at the time were coached by Jamaal Shabazz, and Canada.

The Guyanese unit failed to pick up a win at the competition, losing 7–2 against Mexico, 8–0 to Canada and 4–1 to Trinidad and Tobago, but in the end, they turned out to be the darlings of the

tournament.

The Lady Jags were made up primarily of players from the U.S. and Canada collegiate systems, most see page 26

O’Neil stops Lamonakis to win UBF heavyweight title

Guyana’s Gwendolyn O’Neil poses with her UBF heavyweight title belt.

GUYANA’S first female World Champion Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil added another title to her catalogue when she defeated Sonya Lamonakis to capture the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) heavyweight title on Saturday, July 4 with at the LB Scott Sports Auditorium in Philipsburg, St Maarten.

It was O’Neil’s first time back in the ring after an almost four-year break from the sport and the 46-year-old took the title via a split decision to hand Lamonakis her second loss in the sport (10 wins, two losses and two draws).

Lamonakis, who also holds the IBO heavyweight title weighed in at 258 pounds; 45 pounds more than the ‘Stealth Bomber’.

Despite a slow start which saw O’Neil trying to shake off the rust, she came on strong in the championship to win her fifth boxing world title.

The ‘‘Stealth Bomber’ showed signs of the layoff in the early rounds as Sonya used her weight advantage to lean on O’Neil and slow up the quicker Guyanese fighter.

But from round six the tide started changing and O’Neil started to use her reach advantage to pepper Lamonakis’ face every time she tried to close the gap, followed by left-right combinations.

The tenth and final round was O’Neil’s best as the fighter seemed to find new life and rained punches from all angles on Sonya who had no answer for the warrior spirit that lifted the Guyanese to victory.

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O’Neil who is now a five-time boxing world champion while at the same time a mother of five children, thanked the fans, her management team and God for the heart-stirring win which put her back on top of the world heavyweight boxing scene.

A huge crowd favourite, O’Neil fought to chants of ‘Gwendolyn, beat and beat out’ in reference to her prefight TV-Carib interview when the quick-witted O’Neil said, “I have respect for Sonya but I come here to beat her and then beat out.”

In a statement from Gwendolyn’s management team, Basil Boyce, CEO of Golden Bow & Arrow Promotions, LLC said; “We are grateful, humbled and honoured to represent Big Red at this pivotal time in Guyana’s history as the country seeks to reconcile and unite to elevate Guyana.”

He added, “It’s a real reason to celebrate a true hero and bring home another boxing world championship belt to Guyana. The late Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis must be dancing also because O’Neil dedicated this fight to his passing and also to the late great Patrick Ford, her former trainer, and another Guyanese boxer who fought for the world title in 1981.”

With the win, O’Neil’s boxing record stands at 19-7-1 and she is expected to fight again in October and December 2015.

According to O’Neil, her goal is to have ten world titles before she retires from professional boxing - a feat unheard of in women’s professional boxing.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015