2015 8 21

GUYANA No. 104288

FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2015

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $80

INCLUDING VAT

Motorists hurry to cash in on new fuel prices Page 3

––say drop ‘negligible’ but ‘workable’

Rohee raps Gov’t on 3 ‘100-Day’ promises Page

––claims audits a burden on the country

Nagamootoo, Jagdeo to 8 square off today Page

A Lethem-bound vehicle fuelling up for the long haul around 18:30hrs at the GuyOil station at Regent and Wellington Streets (Photo by Shirley Thomas)

Consideration of budget estimates, expenditures Page 9 reduced to three days Wall St. tumbles on Page 4 global slowdown concern

––Disney slumps

Brigadier Phillips outlines 2 vision for GDF reservists Page

Blind-folded weapon assembly at Base Camp Seweyo yesterday

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Brigadier Phillips outlines vision for GDF reservists

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

--two-week camp ends on high note at Seweyo

Chief of Staff Mark Phillips recommends a book authored by President Granger for reservists who are serious about serving their country (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

By Leroy Smith CHIEF of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF),Brigadier Mark Phillips and the Guyana Defence Board are aiming to make

the Infantry Battalion Reservists very visible and equipped to provide strong support to the army.

The Chief of Staff made this disclosure yesterday afternoon in an address at

Male and female reservists put on a drill display for the Chief of Staff and other senior GDF officers looking to ensure that it deGDF. of the GDF’s operations at the closing of the annual velops reservists who will In his address, he reLethem, the Chief of Staff camp for the Second Infantry be able to support the Arminded the reservists of the noted.

Battalion Reservists at Base my’s Air Corps, Coastguard, Defence Act which speaks to It is hoped that the reCamp Seweyo, along the Artillery, and Engineering the need for the GDF to conservists can be regrouped Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Corps, among the other arsist of a regular force and a in such a way that they Brigadier Phillips aceas of the army. reserve force, with the latter can provide services in the companied by senior ofThe Chief of Staff also being charged with supporthinterland locations through ficers, paid a visit to the charged the trainers and ing the work of the army in programmes of the governlocation to express his gratiorganisers of the camp not defence and maintenance of ment, such as contributing tude to those volunteers who to restrict the reservists to order in the country their skills of engineering, underwent the two-week training at the two main At the moment, some masonry, etc. training that prepared them reservists from previous Already the GDF is to be a reserve force in the training stints are in charge

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Motorists hurry to cash in on new fuel prices –say drop ‘negligible’ but ‘workable’

MOTORISTS were late yesterday hurrying down to city gas stations to be among the first to cash in on the recently announced reduction in fuel prices.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced Wednesday that effective yesterday at GuyOil stations countrywide, the price for diesel will now be $168 per litre, down from $174.77, while the price

of gasoline will also see a reduction of $11, taking it to $199 per litre or $985 per gallon.

Asked how they felt about this reduction, some motorists considered it negligible, although they expressed appreciation.

“It’s small, but we are still willing to work with it,” they said.

As late as last evening, some mini-

bus operators were still unaware of the reduction in the price of the commodity, and openly showed appreciation when apprised, reasoning that whereas previously it cost them between $12,500 and $13,000 to fill their tanks, it would now cost just $11,500. This would mean a saving of about $1,000 each time they fill their gasoline tanks, they said.

Some bus operators reasoned that, in effect, given the reduction announced on Wednesday, for say a South Ruimveldt minibus, which charges a fare of $100 per adult, each time that bus has its tank filled, it would be gaining the same financial value as if it had ferried 10 additional passengers.

(Shirley Thomas)

Rohee raps Gov’t on ‘100-Day’ promises ––claims audits a burden on the country

By Tajeram Mohabir PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Clement Rohee yesterday lashed out at the government for the upsurge in crime, and not doing the things it said it would within its first 100 days in office.

Though he did not go into full details,

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan Rohee said that of the 21 promises made by the coalition, two are partly completed, eight are in the process of being completed, and nine are in the advance stage of completion.

In other words, he was saying that the coalition government has failed to fulfil one single promise it made in the first 100 days in office. And on top of that, he claimed that the budget is a large-scale copy of the plans and projects of the former Administration.

The former Home Affairs Minister informed the House that of some 34 projects under infrastructural development, 27 have their origins in the PPP/C Manifesto.

Painting a dire picture of the government, Rohee said in light of the slowdown in the economy, Guyana has become a haven for audits, reviews and investigations.

He said that all told, nine audits are being conducted, two probes, 12 investigations and two Commissions of Inquiry. He is of the opinion that the time and money invested in these exercises have been very costly to the State, and went on to suggest that this is one of the contributing factors to the slowdown of business in the country.

The Administration has indeed launched a series of audits into several State agencies to weed out corruption and ensure greater accountability and transparency, but the Opposition is challenging the Government to declare the costs of these investigations, in the interest of transparency and accountability.

Rohee went on to say that Minister of State Joseph Harmon had said that the Administration will punish the PPP/C, a claim that provoked the minister at reference into springing to his feet and denouncing it as false.

COMMENDATIONS Visibly charged and firing on all pistons, Rohee amid loud heckling from the government benches eased up on the hostility and commended rice farmers, sugar workers, gold and bauxite miners for keeping the wheels of production in the nation turning, and for their contributions to the economy.

The Opposition, he assured the House, will not falter in giving its full support to the workers, including those in the rice and sugar sectors. And on that score, he said the Opposition will strongly fight any attempt to sell out or close down the sugar industry.

He also said the assertion that the budget provides a good life is a misnomer, in that “the good life” was started under the PPP. Rohee said the high crime rate and slowdown in business are in no way reflective of the good life being touted by the

government, since the small man is feeling the squeeze.

The taxi drivers, coconut and street vendors and small-hotel owners, among others are feeling the squeeze, the said, and challenged the government side of the House to go into the streets and hear about their suffering.

Rohee warned that the government will not get the respect of the Opposition unless it demonstrates that it can govern fairly and effectively.

In lamenting the crime situation, he informed Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan that the former Administration had crafted a policy to deal with piracy and he (Ramjattan) should utilise it in addressing the problem.

The rise in crime, he said, has driven fear into many Guyanese, and many feel unsafe in light of all that has been happening.

On Wednesday, Minister Ramjattan said the government recognised some good projects by the former Administration and chose to continue with those and discontinue those that were opposite.

He also said that deflating the upsurge in crime will take time, but he pointed out that the situation did not begin under the current government, but under the former Administration.

While acknowledging that there has been an upsurge in crime, he suggested that members on the Opposition benches have no moral authority to blame him.

this among other things will boost the morale of officers and encourage them to give of their best.

He also said strong emphasis will be placed on building capacity in the Police Force and strengthening the criminal justice system.

Ramjattan also informed the House that greater attention will be placed on

PPP/C Member of Parliament, Clement COMPLICIT Former Minister of Public Service Rohee Jennifer Westford, who is now a member of the Opposition, he said, has been strengthening the police administration, charged with committing a crime -- the training and identifying crime hotspots and fraudulent transfer of State vehicles to conducting regular patrols. her family and friends.

Ranks will also be deployed in areas He said crime is fuelled by high un- most in need and more vehicles, bicyemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and cles, motorcycles, All Terrain Vehicles, illegal guns in the streets, among others. and boats among other equipment will He said the Administration will be im- be given to the police to fight crime. plementing social programmes to create And added to this, over 100 surveilemployment, so as to address this worrying lance cameras will be installed in and situation. around the city to aid crime-fighting The Administration of the Police Force, there. Some 50 per cent of crimes are the minister said will be strengthened, and committed in the city.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Wall St. tumbles on global slowdown concern; Disney slumps

By Rodrigo Campos THE S&P 500 tumbled to a more than six-month low yesterday, closing in negative territory for the year, on concern a decelerating Chinese economy will translate into slower global growth.

Consumer stocks led the decline on Wall Street with Disney down 6 percent after a brokerage downgrade, while Apple fell 2 percent after a report that overall smartphone sales in China fell in the second quarter.

Concern about the Chinese economy was underscored by a near 8 percent slide in the Shanghai stock index . SSEC so far this week and after the Commerce Ministry said Wednesday exports could continue falling in coming months.

“The largest issue is certainly the fact that we don’t know how much the Chinese economy is slowing,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities in New York.

“That’s manifesting itself

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Reuters/Brendan McDermid 2.82 percent, to 4,877.49.

The drops in the S&P 500 in lower oil prices,” he said, between the S&P 500 and pointing to the correlation Brent prices is at a five- and Dow were the largest daily percentage declines between stocks and crude month high. futures.

The Dow Jones industri- since Feb. 3, 2014, while the U.S. crude CLc1 edged al average .DJI fell 358.04 Nasdaq fell the most since higher after earlier hitting points, or 2.06 percent, to April 10, 2014.

The S&P 500 is now its lowest since March 2009, 16,990.69, the S&P 500 down 1.1 percent year-towhile Brent LCOc1 dropped .SPX lost 43.88 points, or 2.3 percent to its lowest 2.11 percent, to 2,035.73 and date. It also traded below its since January. the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC 200-day moving average for The 14-day correlation dropped 141.56 points, or the full session, for the first

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time since last October.

At its session low on Thursday, the S&P 500 was down 4.6 percent from its record intraday high set in late May. “We’ve had a lot of things go wrong today both fundamentally and technically. Fundamentally, there’s continued concern about global growth slowing and weakness in the price of oil.

The market was unable to hold the 200-day moving average from a technical standpoint,” said Bucky Hellwig, senior vice president at BB&T Wealth Management in Birmingham, Alabama “For tomorrow, ideally we could see some stabilization and a move back toward the 200-day moving average.

The risk is if there’s something that investors don’t like, it will be really easy to sell going into the weekend.”

The CBOE Volatility index .VIX rose 25.5 percent to close at 19.14, the highest in six weeks, as traders paid more for protection against a further slide in the S&P 500.

Disney (DIS.N) slumped 6 percent to $100.02 and Time Warner (TWX.N) fell 5 percent to $73.90, leading a rout in media stocks after a Bernstein downgrade that cited a massive structural upheaval in the industry.

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“ T h e p a t t e r n d i d n ’t change overnight, but it got called by Disney for the first time on their earnings,” said Hogan.

Disney shares have fallen 17.8 percent since the company reported earnings earlier this month.

Apple (AAPL.O) fell 2.1 percent to $112.65 after a Gartner report said China smartphone sales fell in the second quarter for the first time ever on a quarterly basis. Apple counts China as a key growth market.

One bright spot in tech stocks was NetApp (NTAP.O), up 3.4 percent to $30.78 after the data storage equipment maker’s results beat expectations.

NYSE declining issues outnumbered advancers 2,612 to 457, a 5.72-to-1 ratio; on the Nasdaq, 2,396 issues fell and 437 advanced, for a 5.48-to-1 ratio favoring decliners.

The S&P 500 had four new 52-week highs and 40 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite had 16 new highs and 208 new lows.

About 8 billion shares changed hands on U.S. exchanges, above the 6.7 billion daily average so far this month, according to BATS Global Markets data.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Confident opposition party launches candidates PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – The main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) Saturday launched its 41 candidates for the September 7 general election, confident of victory and telling supporters of plans to reform a number of institutions when it gets into office.

In addition, the PNM has also said it would want to deal as a “matter of urgency” the need for internal self government” in the sister isle of Tobago.

PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley told a mammoth crowd at the Woodford Square in the heart of the capital that a PNM Government would among other things reform the Local Government system, the Integrity Commission as well as the process by which budgets are brought to the Parliament on an annual basis.

In addition, he is also promising a reform of the parliamentary system and the introduction of a code of ethics to government legislators that would also allow for them to be ejected from the Parliament if they are found in violation of the code.

Rowley told supporters that the election is about the “future of the young generation” and he was pleased to see the number of young people who were at the rally that was also addressed by former New York Governor David Paterson and former United States Congressman Adolphus Towns.

“The campaign is about the young ones and the future,” Rowley said accusing the coalition People’s Partnership Government headed

by Prime Minister Kamla

PNM supporters at Woodford Square (CMC Photo) Persad Bissessar of spending tegrity Commission had by billions of dollars over the its actions over the years past five years with nothing showed that “it is not workto show for it”. ing” making reference to “After five record bud- a letter sent to him by the gets, the state of play in Commission requesting Trinidad and Tobago is further information on an about economic instability opposition claim that the and economic stagnation as Government had used state well as political instability,” resources to assist a canRowley said, adding that a didate of the ruling United PNM victory would allow National Congress (UNC) to for “decency in the corridors contest a by-election nearly of power. two years ago.

“You want stability in “What exist now is not Government and that’s what working. We will reform the you will get,” he said, adding Integrity Commission,” he “we say elect the PNM and said, adding also that talks you will get a smaller focus cabinet”.

He said the parliamentary reform would allow for the better management of the affairs of the state and that the current budget process had outlived its usefulness.

He said the new process would allow for the establishment of a General Accounting Office that would be a supervising body that would monitor every aspect of expenditure and allow for the Government to bring requests to Parliament for funding based on competent data.

Rowley said that the In-

would be held with the trade unions here on a wide range of issues relating to the labour movement.

Regarding Local Government reform, Rowley said it is a proven fact that when people are given the opportunity to govern themselves at the local government level, it has resulted in significant improvement in the lives of the community.

He said the new reform would be based on the system introduced in Tobago where a data base system would be established providing information on unemployment levels at the community levels as well as assisting in directing government policy.

He said the new system would allow for the Ministry of Finance to providing funding to the Local Government bodies that would be responsible for issues such as dealing with the payment of old age pensions, adding “I am not inventing anything new at the local government level”.

Rowley said that the PNM Government would seek to expand the industrial

base of the country making it clear that a smelter plan was not on the cards.

He said the industrialisation process would allow for Trinidad and Tobago to be able to export material such as wood and lumber to Caribbean as well as North America.

He said there would also be changes to the education system to reflect more human development.

In his address, Rowley said it was surprising that the Government was ashamed of its record in office and that the coalition was promoting only Kamla

Perssad Bissessar as a candidate “for all 41 constituencies”.

He said apart from the prime minister, no other person or party was being promoted and that with less than three weeks to go before the elections, the coalition is yet to outline its full slate of 41 candidates.

The coalition is expected to launch its candidates at a rally on Sunday, with a number of government ministers not expected to get the nod to contest the polls.

Nomination Day is today.

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EDITORIAL

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Guyana

Parliament is about serious business, not trivial chats THE budget debate in Parliament is in full swing. But is it really a debate? Do Parliamentarians really discuss the budget proposals during their presentations? We are not satisfied that they adequately do so. With very few exceptions, the presentations thus far are more like campaign speeches. And this is on both sides of the House. While the decline in the tone of the discourse has been happening for a very long time, it has become more pronounced over the last few years. When one adds the incessant heckling and shouting across the aisle, the Parliament is reduced to a comedy show.

Something has to be wrong when elected officials choose the highest deliberative body in the country to display less than polite behaviour. We are aware that politics is a very contentious undertaking, but there has to be a limit to what is said in the Parliament. We also concede that some light banter is to be expected, but what we have witnessed these last few days far exceeds that. The behaviour of many of the honourable members suggests that

they do not have much regard for the seriousness of the institution in which they serve. Somebody has to let them know that their job is first and foremost to represent the interests of their constituencies.

We are disappointed with the level of the debate on the budget proposals. Many presentations by Members of Parliament suggest that they have not properly read or listened to the budget speech. Our understanding is that members are supposed to use their presentations to discuss the merits and demerits of the budget as a whole and their particular subject area. With the exception of a few excellent presentations by certain members from both sides of the House, there has been little of that.

The budget debate is not the time to talk about why a member switched parties or was removed from his or her position or to threaten the other party. It is certainly not the time to level personal accusations or to boast about what your party did when it was in office. No, that’s not the time and place for those discussions. The political parties still have access to the street corners where that kind of

discourse may be accepted.

A lot of this less than satisfactory performance comes from senior and seasoned elected officials who ought to know better. This is not a good example for young and new members. It is certainly not a good example for the children and young people who may be watching the proceedings.

No wonder our youth either have little interest in politics or think public cussing down is acceptable behaviour.

We call on our politicians to clean up their act. Use the People’s House to set a standard for the rest of the society. And take your job more seriously. If members read and study the budget, there would be little time left in their presentations for trivial chat. We have a nation to mould and a country to save and build. And you, the Members of Parliament, are our leaders. We expect that you lead by example as we, together, work in harmony to chart a bright and successful future for our beautiful country, Guyana.

Call on new GPA Executive to educate young Media workers about their rights under the labour laws PRIOR to the election of a new executive of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) in March this year, news had circulated of a culture of abuse entrenched in a local newsroom.

Although the issue never made it to the floor of the GPA Annual General Meeting, journalists across the board are victims of what I call “expected exploitation.”

Journalism, as understood, is “not a nine-to-five” job.

But knowledge of the extended and uncertain hours aside, the responsibility of media houses to respect and provide fair and decent work conditions and wages cannot be abdicated.

It is hardly news that journalists in both the private and State media are dissatisfied and unhappy with working conditions and wages as was recently reported. The majority of local journalists are working class, but the decision to serve in the profession should not have to include a vow of poverty or silence in the face of abuses. Also, I rather suspect that if

journalists were to document their experiences within the last 10 years, labour authorities would have a catalogue of abuse and exploitation to probe.

I have been out of the system for a few years, but I remember that overtime often went unrecognised and people hardly claimed it back; I certainly never did, having accepted that we work long hours.

While media houses largely respect labour laws and offer protection for staff, low wages, unpaid overtime, and in some instances, limited maternity protection are persistent problems.

For young media workers fresh out of school, the willingness to work is often greater than the willingness to question unfair wages and limited protection. And while journalists are toiling the extra hours and failing to log overtime, management in many newsrooms across the country log and claim overtime dues.

The growth of the media industry has to be underpinned by an enabling environment that promotes fair wages, suffi-

cient benefits, training, and improved working conditions. It is against this backdrop that I support the move by minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Simona Broomes to bring Media houses in line with our labour laws.

I urge Minister Broomes to investigate company policies in keeping with the relevant labour laws, but specifically: * Maternity protection * Paid overtime * Work-related injuries * Disciplinary procedures Further, I call on the new executive of the GPA to educate young media workers about their rights under the labour laws, and to actively advance the professional and social interests of those so categorised.

IANA SEALES

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Ex-GNS members for August 22-30 reunion

PRESIDENT David Granger is scheduled to deliver the feature address at the second reunion of ex-members of the Guyana National Service (GNS) billed for August 22-30 here in Georgetown.

Most of the events are scheduled to take place at the Carifesta Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue, and exGNS members and their families are expected from North America, the Caribbean and all across Guyana, according to a release from the Association of ex-GNS Members.

The reunion activities will commence with a religious service on Sunday at 09:00hrs at the Carifesta Sports Complex.

The highlight of the week of activities will be a symposium on Wednesday, August 26 from 17:00hrs at the Carifesta Sports Complex, under the theme: ‘Youth development strategies; problems and solutions, then and now.’

Other scheduled items on the programme will include tours to places of interest, such as New Amsterdam, Skeldon and Corriverton, in Berbice; the New Opportunity Corps at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast; the famous Kaieteur Falls; and the Baganara Island Resort. The grand finale will be a gala dinner and dance at the Impeccable Banquet Hall

on Brickdam on Friday,August 28.

The organisers of this year’s event, along with all the participants are joined by a deep conviction that national service is relevant today, the release stated.

They shared a unique experience of the geography and cultures of Guyana, lifting a veil on the diversity, beauty, and vast opportunities of their native land.

“For so many of our members, the national service experience was a transformative one that changed their lives for the better in terms of their education, skill set, civic values, physical and mental agility, and arguably a winning attitude that ‘we can do it’ in all our pursuits,” according to the release.

“Perhaps the major asset and blessing of the institution was that after school there was an avenue for betterment for our most valuable resource - our youths, a door that is closed today.

“The second reunion of ex-GNS members is our strong statement to Guyana and the world that the national service experience is one that we treasure as a unifying force that empowered us and has the potential to empower Guyana’s youth,” the release concluded.

Gov’t pathologist to testify at manslaughter trial on Monday GOVERNMENT Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh will testify at the Gavin Tower manslaughter trial next Monday.

The pathologist who did an autopsy on the body of Samantha Marques of Middle Road, La Penitence, is expected to testify as to the cause of death.

Tower is accused of having between the 13th and 19th of October,2009 in the County of Demerara, unlawfully killed Marques.

Tower, who is unrepresented by counsel has pleaded not guilty and a jury was empanelled to determine his guilt or innocence.

The matter is being heard by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a mixed jury.

One of the witnesses who testified yesterday was Corporal Elkiena who took participated in the investigation.

Brigadier Phillips outlines...

Chief of Staff Mark Phillips takes the salute after his arrival by air at Base Camp Seweyo yesterday afternoon From page 2 bases identified, but also allow them to see their country and other areas where the GDF provides active service, especially in interior locations.

At the moment the reservists who completed the recent training are mainly from the coastland areas, but Brigadier Phillips noted that there is a need to work tirelessly to ensure that reservists from the border

locations such as Regions 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 8 (Potaro-Siparuni)and 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) should also be part of the camp next year.

Meanwhile, reservists who will be heading out from the camp this weekend were assured by the Chief of Staff that their stipends will be ready for delivery.

It is expected that next year, the camp will be better as such issues as inadequate

uniforms, expansion of the course, mobility and training materials are presently being addressed.

The Chief of Staff, in concluding his charge, called on the reservists to stick to their weekend training programme and to be ready to be part of another exercise in jungle training which comes up later this year.

And in his remarks, Colonel Patrick West, who served as Camp Commander,

said that the exercise was not without its challenges as he pointed to the dropping out of a small number of reservists and some health complaints that were treated at hospitals in Bartica and Linden.

He also expressed appreciation for the support which was given to the management team at the base from Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown.

The camp brought

together reservists from Regions 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 4 (Demerara-Mahaica), 5 (Mahaica-Berbice), 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), and had a strength of 10 officers, 24 staff, and 230 other ranks.

Now that the camp has officially completed its core training, those who are willing to stay on as regular

soldiers will be given the opportunity to do so. They were required to submit their names and on Monday they are expected to report to the GDF Headquarters where they will be processed to join the regular ranks of the GDF. The reservists yesterday put on a display for the Chief of Staff, showing newly acquired skills in weapon proficiency, drills and patrolling techniques.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

In the House yesterday...

PPP accuses Gov’t of attempting to muzzle it

By Derwayne Wills THE Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has accused the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government of not only attempting to muzzle them in the National Assembly during the 2015 budget debate, but of also having an agenda against Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat

Jagdeo.

Tension ran high in the House yesterday as Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo moved a Motion to have the days dedicated to the questions on the estimates of this year’s budget to be reduced to three days.

“We are opposed to the three days that the estimates are being cut from what is the maximum of seven days, to three days. This is unacceptable to this side of the House, and we will oppose

this on that ground,” Opposition MP and Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira told the House yesterday.

The Prime Minister, responding to the concerns raised by Teixeira, maintained the ability of the House majority to set a period for the debates.

The objection of the PPP is that the Motion attempted by the Prime Minister is one to be considered by the Business Sub-Committee of the National Assembly.

That committee could only be set up if a Committee on Selection has been set up in the National Assembly to consider persons for that Sub-Committee.

Yesterday, in the National Assembly, both Government and Opposition MPs made their nominations for members to that committee.

The committee comprises five members from the Government side, four members from the Opposition, and the Speaker of the National

Assembly as the Chairman.

Things again heated up later in the session as the PPP MPs left the Chambers just as Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence was about to present in favour of the 2015 budget.

The opposition leader then led a meeting in the lounge reserved for MPs, after which PPP MP Dr Vindya Persaud made a lone re-appearance into the Chamber. Persaud was followed by her colleague in the Opposition Dharamku-

mar Seeraj, and later by all the members.

Persaud spoke soon after, and she challenged the decision of the Government, which had passed the motion limiting the remaining budget debate days to three.

“How can you do this?” she said, “when the very same members, most of you, were in the last Parliament and you requested of the PPP/C Government not only five days, not only six days, but 12 days!”

Nagamootoo, Jagdeo to square off today

By Derwayne Wills IN what has been the most anticipated exchange thus far in the 11th Parliament, both Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo are expected to address the National Assembly today on budget 2015.

There is some uncertainty among the Chief Whips of the Government and Opposition as to the order in which the two leaders will speak.

Customarily, the list of speakers, including the order of speakers and time given to each speaker, is decided by the Chief Whips. The last three speakers in the debates are the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, and then the Finance Minister closes the debate, since it is his budget that is being debated.

The A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition Government in the National Assembly has opted to change the arrangement, placing the Opposition Leader before the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, whereas the order in previous years was Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, then Finance Minister.

“We are putting the Prime Minister to be the last person

Government Chief Whip Amna Ally makes her speech to the House to speak for us,” Government Chief Whip Amna Ally told reporters yesterday, adding: “The Opposition Leader [Dr Bharrat Jagdeo] will be before the Prime Minister [Moses Nagamootoo]. This arrangement gives the Prime Minister the right and leverage to respond to any statements made during Jagdeo’s presentation.”

Ally is convinced that there is nothing strange about this arrangement, but Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira has a different view. She said during a press conference held by the

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira during her budget speech

PPP in one of Parliament’s committee rooms that she had received a list from her counterpart, Ally, indicating the order of speakers for today’s session.

According to Teixeira, the order presented by Ally in the document was for the Opposition Leader to speak before the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. She also bemoaned the fact that the Opposition Leader had been limited to 45 minutes for his address.

The Opposition Chief Whip deemed the Government’s actions as “disrespect to the Leader of the Opposition” especially since, according to her, no such restrictions were placed on other Opposition Leaders, including President David Granger who served as Opposition Leader in the 10th Parliament (2011-2015).

Teixeira said Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, has been asked to go through documents of the last budget speeches to see which of the Chief Whips is correct, and also for the Speaker Dr Barton Scotland to verify whether the three final speakers

are customarily constrained by time.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo took to the media yesterday to call the Government out for what he said was their backpedalling on promises made recently to work along with the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

“I was here in the past and sat on the other side and saw the Leader of the Opposition Mr Desmond Hoyte speak for two hours, and we… voted on the other side to allow him to continue until he finished his speech,” Jagdeo recalled. Jagdeo served from 1992 to 1999 as Junior Finance Minister and then Finance Minister. He ascended to the Presidency in 1999.

Jagdeo accused the Government of attempting to steer away from the traditions in the National Assembly. “They are not only seeking to limit my speech to 45 minutes, but also to move away from the tradition where the Leader of the Opposition is the second-to-last Speaker.”

The Opposition Leader was convinced that the attempt to

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo “muzzle” him came as a result of what he said was the Government’s fear of a number of inconsistencies being exposed from the budget presented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who served for some time as Budget Director for some years under the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic

(PPP/C) Government.

“If I can’t speak in the Chamber, I will speak outside of the Chamber, and if we can’t expose the problems associated with the estimates here, we will do it outside. But I will never allow this Government to muzzle us,” Opposition Leader Jagdeo said.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo briefing members of the press corps yesterday outside the Chamber of the National Assembly

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Consideration of budget estimates, expenditures reduced to three days –members appointed to Committee of Selection

By Tajeram Mohabir

THE Government yesterday passed a Motion to reduce the number of days for consideration of the Estimates and Expenditures of Budget 2015 from seven days to three days.

The Motion was moved by Prime

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who explained that Standing Order 73 (1) of the House allows members of the august body a maximum of seven days to consider the Estimates and Expenditures of the national budget.

He said three days are within the seven days mandated by Standing Order 73

(1), and as such the Motion is in order.

But Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira objected to the Motion, contending that it violates parliamentary traditions and conventions on consideration of the estimates and expenditures of the national budget.

She noted that in the past, various Speakers kept the consideration within the scheduled time allotted for the various ministries and agencies, and completed the exercise which stretched to the seventh day.

In some cases, she said, the exercise was completed within the last minute on the last day.

With the renaming of ministries and the expenditures of the old ministries, she said, the Opposition will have to double up its work to meet the new timeframe the government wants.

NO FAULT This, the Opposition Chief Whip said, is unacceptable, but the Speaker, in his ruling said there is no fault in the Motion presented, since Standing Order 73 (1) allows consideration of the estimates and expenditures of the national budget to be completed within seven days.

Following the ruling of the Speaker, a dissatisfied Teixeira shouted, “Division!” But when the Motion was put to a vote, the PPP/C was out-voted, with 32 in favour of the government, and 28 in favour of them.

The consideration of the estimates and expenditures begins on Monday.

The exercise, on each day, will begin

Inebriated man hacked to death in brawl ––with woman’s husband, brother

THEY appeared yesterday before city Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer a murder charge alleging that on August 16, in their home village of Masana, North West District, they unlawfully murdered a man called ‘Andrew.’

Twenty-year-old Eon Scott and his 19-year-old brother-in-law Junior Henry were not required to plead to the charge, and the matter was transferred before the Matthews Ridge Magistrate for November 2.

The prosecution also revealed that not much is known about ‘Andrew,’ and the police have been seeking to contact his relatives to confirm his identity and advance

the murder investigation.

According to reports, ‘Andrew’ was drinking at a shop in the village when Mrs Scott and her mother entered the shop. Inebriated, Andrew proceeded to force himself upon Mrs Scott, and even tried to fondle her and her incensed mother hurried home to alert her son-in-law and son about what was going on.

When the two men turned up at the shop, ‘Andrew’ became involved in an altercation with them, during which he was chopped about his body. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Kaituma Health Centre, while the two accused were subsequently arrested.(Clestine Juan)

at 13:00hrs. The first session begins at 13:00hrs and ends at 16:00hrs. This will be followed by a one-hour break and on resumption, the second session will end at 19:30hrs. At this time, the National Assembly will break for 30 minutes, and the final session will start at 20:00hrs and conclude at 23:00hrs.

PERSISTENT Notwithstanding the Speaker’s ruling and being out-voted, the PPP/C remained persistent and continued to pile pressure on the government to withdraw the motion.

PPP/C Member of Parliament Dr Vindhya Persaud in her contribution to the budget debate said while the motion brought by the Prime Minister is in order, it has disregarded established parliamentary conventions.

She said the reduction in time will not allow the Opposition to adequately question the government on its programmes and policies.

This, she said is a slap in the face of transparency and accountability, which the government says it will champion.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, in a comment to the media, said the government is afraid of defending several elements in the budget estimates and appears to want the House to hurry through the consideration.

The PPP/C has also criticised what it said is an attempt to muzzle the Opposition Leader by limiting his address on the budget to 45 minutes.

The main Opposition party is also upset over an attempt by the government

to break away from the parliamentary tradition of having the Opposition Leader be the penultimate speaker in the budget debate.

Meanwhile, the members of the Committee of Selection have been selected. Government’s Chief Whip and Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally,

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes are the members on the government’s side.

Representing the Opposition on the committee are the Opposition’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, Juan Edghill, Gillian Burton-Persaud and Neil Kumar.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Minister Allicock charges...

PPP closed the CSO programme ––Not the gov’t, as is being claimed

VICE-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, on Wednesday, sought to

clear the air on “false allegations” made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) that the

Government has dismissed some 2000 Community Support Officers (CSOs).

According to Allicock, it was not the Government that dismissed the CSOs but rather it was the PPP/C which had “shut down this programme without letting them (CSOs) know. It is clear from the evidence that the former PPP Government had

Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock severed or cut loose the CSOs,”Allicock said.

Clearing the air, Minister Allicock said, “I wish to place on the record that my Government has not fired or dismissed the estimated 1,972 CSOs, as is being falsely alleged by the PPP

Opposition. The former PPP Government had made no financial allocation for CSOs beyond April 2015.”

According to the minister, Cabinet had to arrive at a decision to provide a subsidy to the CSOs. “By Cabinet decision, dated March 18, 2015, the sum of $234,240,000 was approved for 1,952 Community Support Officers as stipends for the period January to April 2015,” the minister stated.

He noted that the CSOs were recruited under a political scheme called Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP).

They were not contracted employees or public servants. “All they were offered, on a periodic basis, was a stipend of $30,000 each month,” Minister Allicock highlighted.

In addition, he said, “It appeared that the PPP Government had shut down the programme, and left the CSOs exposed after using them as political activists in the so-called ‘Red Shirt Brigade’ to join picket lines and campaign for the PPP.” YOUTH DEVELOPMENT The minister noted that from September 1, 2015, YEAP will be replaced by the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service.This programme is a new scheme, which will provide sustainable jobs for youths in hinterland communities.

This initiative will also ensure that persons who were employed as CSOs undergo training so that they can be re-employed.

It is also expected to train thousands of other youths, while paying them stipends, so as to ensure that they receive relevant skills, allowing them to pursue sustainable livelihoods and a good life. (GINA)

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National Museum turns out 46 aspiring taxidermists ––as annual children’s camp comes to an end

THE 8th annual Taxidermy Children’s Camp at the Guyana National Museum came to an end yesterday with a simple graduation ceremony.

The participants of the camp, which was held in two phases, saw 46 children being presented with certificates of participation. Two of them were also presented with tokens of appreciation for their outstanding performance. They were Kamilah Lambert and Shakeel Edwards.

While at the Museum, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry commended the participants for attending the camp, and spoke at length with them about their experiences while in training.

Minister Henry presenting young Kamilah Lambert with a token of appreciation

The taxidermy camp was created to enlighten and educate students about museums and Guyana’s wildlife, and to establish an awareness of the present environmental issues regarding monuments, heritage and archival records.

In addition, the camp allows participants to be able to create simple museum exhibits, and learn the preservation techniques in taxidermy.

This year’s camp was held in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Iwokrama, The National Trust, The National Archives, the University of Guyana’s Biodiversity Centre and the Environmental Protection Agency. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Social Cohesion Minister urges...

Give full support for a united Guyana

By Tajeram Mohabir

TOUTING cohesion as an imperative for national development, Minister with the portfolio Amna Ally said the Administration will put an end to all discriminatory practices, and embrace equal opportunities for all.

Addressing the House yesterday, Ally said the Government will adopt a national consensus to development, and all stakeholders, including members of civil society and faith-based organisations will be given the opportunity to participate.

The goal, she said, is to reduce, if not end, ethnic conflicts, and for Guyanese to overcome other social challenges so that they can co-exist in a peaceful and just society.

Ally urged that all give their support for a united Guyana, contending that it will be

move forward in building an inclusive Guyana, where all can contribute to the national decision-making process.

But this aside, Ally said the Administration will focus attention on fostering socio-economic development, education and cultural development, building a professional and reliable public sector dedicated to serving the people and enforcing fiscal discipline.

She said greater attention will also be placed on gender equality, fair distribution of resources to the various regions and education, especially in the hinterland regions.

The Administration, she said, will be providing boat transport to help children in these communities get to school.

A bus service will also be provided to students in Berbice to take them to school. Politicians, she said, have a role to play in building national social cohesion, and contended that

--Chandarpal counters that gov’t off to a bad start congratulated the Government members of the House on their appointments, but noted that within the first 100 days in office, the public is already beginning to see ominous signs of a dictatorship.

She lamented the arbitrary firing of some 3000 persons, whom she said, the government perceived to be supporters of the PPP/C. Many of these persons, Chandarpal told the House, have been replaced with persons loyal to the current Government.And from all appearances, it seems as though persons perceived to be supporters of the PPP have no right to a government job.

This, she told the House, is not a good start to the good life for all the Government wants for the people of Guy-

PPP/C MP Dr Vindhya Persaud on her returnto the Opposition benches after the other members walked out during Minister Lawrence’s presentation slipped into the Parliament designed for that purpose.

On this score, she said the Opposition would not want the Ministry of Social Cohesion to become a Ministry of National Mobilisation.

PPP/C Parliamentarian, Indranie Chandarpal counter-productive for Guyanese to allow partisan interests to be a hindrance to national progress and development.

She informed the House that the Ministry of Social Protection, apart from hosting national consultations, will also be hosting round-table discussions on the way

the country has the capacity to enjoy a good life, but all have to work together for the national good.

NOT ENCOURAGING People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Indranie Chandarpal, who spoke after Minister Ally,

ana, as it is beginning to show intolerance to differences.

She commended Minister Ally for her vision for a united Guyana, but pointed out that the process of building social cohesion should not be led by a government ministry, but the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), a constitutional body

Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence

WALKOUT Chandarpal’s address was followed by the presentation of Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence, but as she rose to speak, the Opposition calmly walked out of the House for “a little meeting,” as one member put it.

Nevertheless, Minister Lawrence said the coalition is committed to providing a good life for all Guyanese, and supporting the growth and development of Guyana.

She said the government will work diligently to ensure every woman, elderly, the disabled and those in need enjoy a safe and secured environment, and every child realise his/her full potential.

The minister informed the House that special training will be implemented in the hinterland regions, as the Government wants to do away with hand-outs and empower the people there to be indepen-

dent so that they can take their rightful place in society.

She commended the increase in Old Age Pension and Public Assistance in the budget, noting that it will bring some relief to those really in need. The Public Assistance, she said has been of great help to many vulnerable persons, many of whom are teenaged mothers. And on that score, she said the Ministry of Social Protection will be holding irresponsible men accountable for their actions.

GENDER EQUALITY Lawrence also said the Government is committed to ensuring gender equality at the workplace and has started the process to craft a gender policy for the public sector, which will also serve as a guide for the public sector employers.

Women who get dismissed because they become pregnant on the job, she said, will become a thing of the past. Emphasis, she said will be placed on building strong and healthy families, and to weed out child abuse, sexual abuse and other forms of abuses.

On completion of her presentation, the PPP/C members

Chambers in time for the address of its MP Dr Vindhya Persaud.

Dr Persaud said the Government has inherited a Guyana that was far better off than the one the PPP/C inherited from the PNC in 1992, and must work to build on the gains made.

But she said from what the Opposition has seen thus far, the developments are not encouraging. She lamented that man, woman and child are robbed, beaten and murdered practically every day and this is coupled with the government’s arbitrary dismissal of persons it perceived to be PPP/C supporters.

She called for the establishment of a Social Protection Fund to help the families of lone breadwinners who have been cut down by violent crimes.

Dr Persaud also reminded that the Government has fallen short of its promise to double Old Age Pension and is yet to reduce VAT, which it had also promised.

These, she said, have not given the people a good first impression of the Government.

PPP/C Parliamentarian, Dr Vindhya Persaud

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Change of gov’t brings ‘renewed ––says coalition’s Jermaine hope’ for Region 10 Figueira in maiden address

By Sherah Alleyne JERMAINE Figueira, the new APNU+AFC Government Parliamentarian for Region 10, in his maiden address to Parliament on

Tuesday was full of praise for the proposed national budget, which he described as one “with a human touch.”

Figueira declared, “The citizens in Region 10 are now breathing a breath

Region 10’s Jermaine Figueira in full flow during Tuesday’s budget debate

of fresh air,” indicating the renewed optimism in the region brought about by the change of Government after the May 11 elections Commenting further on the impact of the change on Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), Figueira noted that the new Government has already started to demonstrate by its action that it is a serious Government.

Region 10, he said, now has a “renewed hope and unrelenting aspiration towards their development, where the shackles of bondage have been removed and replaced with a spirit of optimism…

For the first time in 23 years the citizens would have their budget requests honoured by Government.”

LIFE UNDER PPP This, he said, was in contrast to the bad governance of the PPP while in office, especially as it related to Region 10.

He went on to describe life under the PPP in graphic terms. “The citizens of the region were in a chokehold by the previous Administration and they felt the brunt of their arrogance,” he declared to much applause

from fellow Government Parliamentarians.

He reminded the House that under the PPP, the people of Region 10 suffered injustice, marginalization, unemployment and stifled development.

BITTER AND ANGRY PEOPLE The 32-year-old MP from Linden chided the PPP for pretending to have the answers to the country’s problems only after they had squandered the opportunities they had when they were in office. Accusing the Opposition of gross mismanagement while in office, he described its members as “bitter and angry” people.

Figueira noted that the people of Region 10 do not wish to be dependent but “prefer their region to be the leader in creating employment opportunities for Guyanese, providing a skilled workforce to meet the demands of the vast development that Guyana will be experiencing this year and the years to come under this rainbow of hope, coalition Government.”

Figueira also praised the Government for achieving quite a lot in its first 100 days in office.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Digicel dental care outreach to target eight locations across the country

DIGICEL Guyana yesterday launched their annual dental-care outreach which is geared towards promoting the oral health of children in time for their return to school.

The first dental outreach started at the Digicel office at High Street, Kingston, Georgetown, with the dental bus being fully equipped to cater to the dental needs of children and there was a good turnout of children from the surrounding area.

Digicel Communications Manager Vidya Brijlall-Sanichara told the media that they have partnered with the Rotary Club of Central Georgetown for the dental outreach project for the past four years and this year they will be going to eight locations across the country.

She explained that the project is well received and this year will be no different, in that the services provided are free of cost and the children will be given a back-to-school gift as well.

Brijlall-Sanichara stated that today they will be at the Timehri Police Station, East Bank Demerara and will also go to Tuschen, Hararununi Soesdyke/Linden Highway, among other places as part of their corporate responsibility to give back to the community.

Meanwhile, Andrew Boyle of the Rotary Club of Central Georgetown said the organisation has once again collaborated with Digicel Guyana in the dental outreach initiative, which he deemed as very good in going to far-reaching areas and not only in the city.

He added that the dental bus was acquired by a group of Rotarians from the U.S., but observed that the bus needs some repairs since it is an aged vehicle and it would be appreciated if other companies get on board to assist.

Boyle noted that on the dental bus they have staffers from the Dental School, including a doctor, a dental surgeon, a dental assistant and a dental nurse.

He said further that they will see as many children as possible with a possible cutoff time at about 17:00hrs daily until the outreach is completed.

Digicel Communications Manager Vidya Brijlall-Sanichara (right) looking on yesterday while dental staffers tended to a schoolboy

Top Cop confirms...

OPR to probe Linden assault report --to obtain murder confession

FOLLOWING a Stabroek News report yesterday alleging that the police in Linden assaulted a man to force him to confess to a murder, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud has directed that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) conduct a probe.

A female relative reported that her nephew was beaten into submission while in police custody in Linden and forced to confess to a murder he did not commit.

The police, in a press release, said yesterday that pursuant to an article published in the Stabroek News of August 20, 2015, under the caption “Woman says Linden police beat nephew to confess murder,” Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud has directed the Police Office of Professional Responsibility to conduct an investigation into the allegation.

The dental bus (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Mining company donates computer THE operations of the Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Helpline which was launched by the Guyana Police Force on August 6, 2015, was yesterday further enhanced by the donation of a complete desktop computer by management of the Innovative Mining Company of Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

The Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Helpline is based at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, and is in operation on a 24-hour basis.

It is an avenue through which depressed persons or their relatives or friends, can call so that the affected person may receive psychological assistance by way

of counselling.

The Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Helpline can be accessed through the following telephone numbers: 223-0818, 223-0009 and 223-0001 and Mobile: 600-7896 or 623-4444

Email: guyagency@yahoo.com BBM: 2BE55649 or 2BE56020 Twitter: @guyanaagency Whatsapp: 600-7896 or 623-4444 Facebook: Guyana Interagency Suicide Prevention Help Line

Commission from Innova the Helpline

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Armed bandits rob Enterprise grocer, customers

By Leroy Smith

ENTERPRISE businessman Hardat Kisseur was up to late yesterday afternoon counting the losses he incurred after three bandits, armed with a gun, cutlass and hammer, invaded his business place on Wednesday evening.

He and his customers were terrorised and robbed.

Kisseur told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday morning that the bandits struck a mere 10 minutes before the store closed for business for that day. He said the establishment, “Kisseur Grocery Store,” has been in existence for several years now, but was initially closed down after the original owner migrated following a similar incident.

He explained that on Wednesday afternoon, he observed that two strange men had ordered a bag of feed from his shop. Since the men were strangers, he did what he usually does: keep a close eye on them.

However, another accomplice had placed himself at the delivery entrance, and the businessman was unaware of his presence.

Kisseur said that after his employee opened the door to deliver the feed, the third accomplice, whose name was given as Mervin and who is familiar with the businessman, forced his way into the shop by placing a gun to the employee’s head.

The two strange men then made their way into the shop, and Kisseur saw that one was armed with a cutlass and the other was making use of a hammer in the shop, which also operates a semi-hardware department.

Mervin, reportedly on bail for several robberies-under-arms offences, began demanding cash and a firearm.

The known character, ac-

cording to the businessman, is familiar with him and his brother. He said Mervin knows that he has a brother who carries a firearm, but that brother is not in the country, so the firearm has been lodged at the police station.

Mervin then ordered one of his accomplices to empty the drawer of the day’s sales. Dissatisfied, the men demanded more money, even as they began brutalising the man and his staff to tell them where the rest of the cash was.

The bandits could have accessed the upper flat of the house from inside the shop, but they chose to stay in the lower flat, which the ransacked as they looked for additional cash. The entire ordeal lasted for approximately 30 minutes, and has left Kisseur and his family and workers traumatised.

The bandits were able to make off with the day’s sales of more than two hundred thousand dollars, plus dozens of phone cards valued at more than $250,000 dollars and an undisclosed sum of cash which the businessman had in an attaché case, since he had earlier in the day returned from purchasing stocks and had other monies to purchase more stocks for his business.

After the robbery, the bandits walked Kisseur and his staff to the front of the store and onto the roadway before releasing them as they walked a distance to the corner and joined a waiting car in which they fled the area.

Up to late Thursday evening, police from the Vigilance Police Station had failed to uplift any fingerprints from the scene of the crime. This is even as the businessman had informed them that one of the bandits was a known character and someone who was presently

--police fail to lift fingerprints 24 hours after robbery

Kisseur points to the money drawer which the bandits emptied during the robbery on bail for robbery under arms.

Kisseur is of the view that with him being able to identify one of the men and because the bandits had ransacked his place without using gloves, the police would not have had problems lifting prints from the scene and connecting the known character to the crime.

When this publication last evening contacted Divisional Commander Marlon Chapman on the issue of the ranks’ failure to uplift prints from the scene, he sounded very appalled.

He said the development was both embarrassing and disappointing, and he promised to look into the matter immediately after discontinuing his telephone conversation with this publication.

ner of Police Seelall Persaud as he received the desktop computer ative Mining Company official Mohini Heera, flanked by members of e’s Steering Committee

The Kisseur Grocery Store, located at Lincoln Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

Businessman Hardat wars in the lower flat of the home were ransacked by the trio who invaded the premises

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Tel: 619-1952

Claws unsheathed as Princess Karaoke Star show moves into semi-finals -Vizion Sound Records to award contracts at event

THE show was electric last Saturday, as the singers in the Princess Star Karaoke Showdown took centre stage to battle at the quarter-finals.

While two lucky contestants won recording contracts, complements of Kross Kolor Studios, the performers will be upping their game this week to secure the same offer from Vizion Sounds Recording Studio this time around.

The crowd whooped in delight as Bartica’s Silyne Griffith stormed the stage in a silk robe and delivered a scorching performance. The judges almost toppled from their seats as, half way into her song, she whipped off the robe and flung it at the poor MC, Alex Wayne, who almost went into a coma.

The singer continued her acting in the skimpiest of lingerie, emitting loud catcalls from the audience.

Georgetown’s Lashaun was hot on her heels with powerful vocals and her customary drama, but she should be warned to certainly drop her male counterpart, who takes away lots of sizzle from her performance. While she is a powerhouse on stage, her ‘male prop’ is just lacklustre and acts like he is somewhere else in the universe.

As expected, Gino Fullington, fearing demolition from rapper Jamal Benjamin, dropped out and took his other half, Iodelle Gilbert, with him. According to one judge, Iodelle feigned that she was being cheated at every performance by the judges.

Benjamin had brought on stage a coffin in which to bury Fullington, but in the end had to throw his black and pink roses at an empty coffin, since the ‘would be corpse’ was just missing.

Romichelle Brummell and Daniel Dondrake delivered sterling performances, earning them Kross Kolor recording deals.

Azzaruddin Laljie was good, but many felt that he and

Lashaun Charles

Silyne Griffith

Naya Zamana celebrates 20 years with “When Fates Collide” THE Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s 20th edition of its popular production, Naya Zamana, will be held at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday, August 29th, from 8pm.

Presented under the theme “When Fates Collide”, Naya Zamana 20 promises to be a rollercoaster trip filled with hilarity, a touch of mystery, fairytale romance, cutting edge choreography, and grandeur. The audience is encouraged to grab their life jackets, luggage, cameras and that box of tissue, because one cannot predict where fate will take them!

Boasting a diverse star cast of Dr. Indhira Harry, Aryan Masi, Farzaana Khan, Travez Piaralall, Nazim Hussain and Ananda Latchman, along with some 60 talented dancers of the Dharmic Nritya Sangh, Naya Zamana 20 is not to be missed.

It will be magical from the very first moment.

Over the years, Naya Zamana has transitioned from a successful dance production to a theatrical presentation, seamlessly blending dance, drama, music and song. As its name predicted, successive generations of artistes kept the production growing in numerous ways -- new faces, new styles of dance, additional skills on stage; but what remains as the constant formula which makes this production incompa-

rable with any other in Guyana is the team work which exists between Dr. Vindhya Persaud and her sister Trishala Persaud.

Dr. Persaud’s choreography, scenes and moments are complimented by Trishala’s signature sets and costumes, crafted with meticulous attention to detail and perfectly exuding the glamour and spellbinding magic that this production is known for.

This is further augmented this year by spectacular lighting from Cloud Nine Inc. Tickets for the production are on sale at the National Cultural Centre, Red Mango on Robb Street, Bhagwans on Water Street, E-Networks on Camp Street, and the Dharmic Kendra in Prashad Nagar; or the interested can call 227-6181 for more information. Tickets cost a mere $3500, $3000 and $2000.

Patrons are encouraged to get their tickets early, so as not to miss this milestone production. The Sabha would like to thank Digicel, I-CEE, Maggi, Hand-in-Hand, E-Networks and Cloud Nine Lighting for generously supporting the production.

Another year, an overwhelming milestone, and a gift from the heart, coming from us to you is how to best describe NayaZamana 20.

Jonathan Basteano will have to boost their acts to move forward to the next leg of the contest.

Louis Ebenezer continues to get better and better, according to the judges…

The competition is this week dubbed ‘Ultimate Challenge’, and singers were taken out of their comfort zones and given songs chosen by the judges. The rappers are complaining that the songs are out of their music genre, but they all promised to deliver scorching acts to signal to the field that they are here to stay for a long time…

This is certainly a show worth watching…

Four singers will be eliminated when the singers face off tomorrow night at 9 pm inside Club Next (Princess Hotel), and we strongly suggest you do not miss out on the action.

Admission to the show has been set at $500.

A whopping after-party will follow in honour of the contestants.

Trophy Stall (Bourda Market) will provide trophies for the top three winners in the competition.

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Bombshell’s

Entertainment Lineup…

Premium Pink presents ‘Suds’ Foam Party EVERY girl loves to be decked out in her frothy pink apparel, and maybe float on a cloud of heady fantasies.

Premium Pink will be allowing those hotties to do so tomorrow night when it hosts its ‘Suds’ Foam Party (Summer Edition) at the Palm Court Nightclub on Main Street, Georgetown.

You are cordially invited to come out and be smothered in neon bubbles as you dance the night away to hot sounds by Selector Carl. Tickets are being pre-sold at $2000. Don’t miss this pink, frothy affair; it’s created with you in mind.

Pulse Entertainment set to unleash their

‘Mug Shot Party’ GUESS what folks, this is just a party concept, and it’s called ‘Mug Shot Party’….

Now, don’t get me wrong, fans. This party is the perfect crime party for the ideal ‘party criminals’, and by that we mean the ‘hot shot event’ for the regular fans who revel in wild abandon.

It’s all going down at the Palm Court Nightclub on Saturday, August 29, 2015. So put on your mug shot costumes and have a rollicking time for only $2000.

The doors to the ‘Mugshot 2015 Edition’ revelry will open at 9 pm, and ladies will be admitted without charge before 10pm. Music will be supplied by DJ Ryan, and Pulse Sounds and Lighting will be in effect.

Westside Auto Expo 4 reloads

HOT, posh and sleek vehicles will be the order of the day, with sultry models posing behind wheels and on bonnets. As for the sounds, they will be reverberating for miles around on the Westside when the Westside Auto Expo 4 is staged at the Tuschen Ground, East Bank Essequibo.

Set for Saturday, August 29, 2015, this mega event will see a fairy clash of the country’s hottest vehicles as they compete in over twenty different categories for trophies and prizes. While tickets are being sold for $1000, the gate price has been set at $1500.

Vehicle passes are being sold for $1000.

To enter the competition, entrants are required to pay $5000 per vehicle, and tickets and entry forms are available only at Westsiderz Entertainment Centre (Vreed-en-Hoop).

Music will be supplied by TRS Sounds, Big Life System, and DJ Magnum, while the MC for the event is DJ Golden Child. For more information, please call Ravi on telephone number 690-3210

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday August 19, 2015

THE JAMZONE 2015 SHOWCASE…

W

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HEN the Miss Jamzone 2015 Pageant kicked off last Saturday at HJTV’s spanking new WATER World location, patrons certainly got their money’s worth of rich, intoxicating entertainment.

While it was the pulsating Miss Trinidad and Tobago who won the top honours in the show, one has to agree that all the girls shone like diamonds. Taking the second spot was Miss St. Kitts, while Miss USA raked in the third position. Let the pictures tell their story.

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Bombshell’s

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Entertainment Lineup…

Natural Black All Summer Party’ set for 704 Club IT’S the party of the year, and it will unfurl tomorrow night at the 704 Nightclub (Albert and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown).

This event is one hyped forum, in that Guyanese reggae star ‘Natural Black’ will be launching his hot single, ‘All Summer’, there. The excitement will reach fever pitch as Guyanese artiste ‘Ilaman’ will also be launching the video for his hot hit, ‘Guitars’. So it’s a double inferno for fans who are attending this event.

The ladies will, of course, be admitted free of charge before 10 pm.

Natural Black You certainly can’t go wrong with all the whopping all-night Guinness specials, especially since music will be supplied by DJ BREEZE, DJ Puffy, and DJ Akim.

Admission is just $2000.

‘Endless Summer’ for Gravity Lounge THE vibes will continue to escalate and will certainly never end as the blistering summer party frenzy continues tomorrow night at the Gravity Lounge (Regent and Camp Streets, Georgetown).

Well, what I can say for sure is that this event will reek of scorching ‘Caribbean Flava’ and revelling intensity that will spiral to alarming degrees of excitement.

Make sure you are there to soak up the fun for only two thousand dollars as the 2nd Year University of Guyana medical students stage yet another fantastic event.

Guyana’s Heatwave band continues to shine…

HEATWAVE band has reinvented music in Guyana, France, Suriname and the rest of the Caribbean for the past seven years. Its members have been wowing the music arena with their performances. The band always delivers energizing and mind-blowing performances.

The Heatwave band returned to Guyana on Sunday last from its tour to French Guiana. The Band was booked to perform at the Lafayette Celebration in Cayenne on August 7th, and its performance was so impressive that it was booked to perform again at another Lafayette Celebration in Apaitu, French Guiana, on August 14th. Hence it spent another week in French Guiana.

The band is now back home and preparing to hit the sky again.

It is booked to perform at the Guyana Day in Brooklyn, New York on August 30th. As always, the band is expected to put on a great show, with lead singers Calvin Burnett and Mark Batson, Keyboardists Earl Bishop and Joshua Dennis, Bass guitarist Anthony Johnson aka Basey, lead guitarist Jason Hinds aka Isan, drummer Devon Roberts and Road Manager Chenille Bowen.

Under the management of Vizion Sounds Promotions, the Heatwave band is embarking on a new project. The band is known for backing artistes and performing covers, but it is now recording its first album. Once completed, the band will be going to several countries to promote the said album.

Heatwave made its name by backing several international and local artistes, and by providing backing music for the Carib Soca Monarch for the past six years.

As the band continues to strive for higher achievements, its members are making positive strides in the music industry, and putting Guyana on the map.

Heatwave Band

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Bolt ready to defend sprint titles in Beijing BEIJING, China (CMC) Usain Bolt says he is ready to defend his 100m and 200m sprint titles when competition begins in an eagerly anticipated World Championship in Beijing, China this weekend.

The Jamaican sprint sensation told 300 journalists at a news conference yesterday that his training has helped to erase some pre-race concerns and now he is ready to execute.

Bolt, known as a slow starter, says as a result of his training, his slow starts are expected to improve significantly.

“The training is good, everything will come together. The coach is happy and once he is happy, I know I am in good nick. So I am ready to go,” Bolt told a news conference. “(All) I need to do right now is to execute. We have worked on that and in my last stop-start session on Wednesday, coach was smiling. So thumbs up to me.

But I am happy with the way everything has been going, so I am happy with that.”

Bolt, who turns 29 today, told reporters that a joint problem in his left hip has been preventing him from getting to full power on his stride this season.

He has raced in only one meet all season, where he ran a 9.87 in the 100.

Bolt’s main competition is expected to come from American sprinters Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay and Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell, all of whom have served doping suspensions over their careers.

According to Bolt, it is sad that questions about doping in athletics have been grabbing the spotlight on the eve of the World Championships.

“It’s really taking centre stage. All I have been hearing over the past couple of weeks it’s just doping, doping, doping,” he said.

“The majority of the questions are about doping.

Trophy Stall among...

From back page bean Sensation and a team from the OMSCC. The latter three are based in Toronto.

The Open category comprises six - NYSCL, N e w Yo r k E n f o r c e r s , Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) X1, Caribbean Sensation All Stars, Dant Sports Club and Masters/Cove Sports Club.

The welcoming ceremony will be held at the Tropical Nights Restaurant and Lounge, Morning-

South Africa Racing Tips Fairview 08:40 hrs Grand Lodge 09:15 hrs Crackpot 09:55 hrs Tour De Var 10:30 hrs Murmuring Sky 11:05 hrs Rosslyn Chapel English Racing Tips York 08:55 hrs Curbyourenthusiasm 09:30 hrs Mizzou 10:05 hrs So Beloved 10:40 hrs Mecca’s Angel 11:20 hrs Very Talented 11:55 hrs Talyani

side Avenue, (at Sheppard), Scarborough, starting at 19.00hrs on Thursday, September 3, setting the stage for the commencement of the tournament the following morning. The final will take place at the University of Toronto ground, Scarborough.

Meanwhile, in her message to the OMSCC, MPP of Pickering-Scarborough East, Tracy MacCharles declared that it was her pleasure to congratulate the OMSCC on the staging of the Toronto Cup.

Bangor 09:10 hrs Sacred Square 09:45 hrs According To sarah 10:20 hrs King Muro 10:55 hrs Lilac Tree 11:30 hrs Pena Dorada 12:05 hrs Carrigeen Lantana Sandown 09:20 hrs Sahara 09:55 hrs Rocket Rob 10:30 hrs Masarzain 11:05 hrs Stormy Atlantic 12:15 hrs Inke 12:50 hrs Freight Train Irish Racing Tips Killarney

So it’s sad that this is at the forefront of the championship and not about the competition. It’s sad. I can’t do anything about it.”

A recent report from German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times in Britain claims that 146 Olympic and world championship medals in middleand long-distance races were won by athletes who have recorded suspicious tests.

The report has been strongly condemned by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Gatlin, who has this year’s best time at 9.74 secs, is considered Bolt’s main rival going into the Championships.

“The rules are there for a reason,” said Bolt who appeared to be avoiding the debate around Gatlin’s presence at the games.

“If the rules say you can get back into the sports, that’s not my call.

He still has to line up and I still have to compete against him. I abide by the rules and that’s pretty much all.”

The text of her message reads: “Over the last 15 years, the OMSCC has grown the sport of softball cricket throughout the province. We are grateful for your contribution to sport. As we celebrate this milestone, we are reminded that through the power of sport people are able to unite together from different languages and cultures for a common interest.

“It is a pleasure to welcome teams from both North and South America to our great province to take part in friendly international competition.”

11:50 hrs Dancing On Air 12:55 hrs Gelenschik 13:25 hrs He’s Our Man 14:00 hrs Millstream Ned 14:30 hrs Modem 15:00 hrs Mighty Concorde American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Surfspun Race 2 Tachiello Race 3 Pangburn Race 4 Fourstar Crook Race 5 Saratoga Dreamer Race 6 Carrumba Race 7 Manoffire Race 8 Monster Mash Race 9 Bruised Orange

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Defiant Smith puts Australia in control … Michael Clarke gets standing ovation in final Test

By Ed Osmond LONDON, England (Reuters) - Steve Smith made a brave unbeaten 78 to lift Australia to 287 for three on the first day of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval yesterday.

The touring side, 3-1 down in the series and bid-

ding for a consolation victory after losing the Ashes, made a solid start after losing the toss with David Warner scoring 85 and Chris Rogers 43.

England, however, removed both openers and captain Michael Clarke for 15 to expose the fragile Australian middle order before Smith batted with

calm authority in a partnership with Adam Voges that put their side in control of the match.

Voges will resume on 47 not out and Australia will look to build a large total to put England under pressure in their bid to win four home Ashes Tests in a series for the first time.

Rogers, playing his last

Adam Voges and Steven Smith congratulate each other.

Test, and Warner had ad- spinner Moeen Ali and showed he had touched the opted a risk-free strategy nicked the ball to Adam ball and he left the field to in overcast conditions with Lyth at slip, swishing his more warm applause from memories of their collapse bat in frustration before the crowd.

Smith, who will succeed to 60 all out on the first trudging off. morning of the last Test Clarke was given a Clarke as Australia captain, fresh in their minds. standing ovation by the had started cautiously but he They scored only 19 runs crowd and a guard of hon- broke the shackles by lifting in the first hour and the first our by the England players Moeen for six over long-off boundary came in the 15th as he walked out to bat in his before reaching his fifty off 84 balls. over, the pair trying hard to 115th and final test.

Voges also played sensilay a platform for their team He hit one flowing bly and the pair had added after England regained the straight drive for four off Ashes last week in Notting- Moeen and had survived 69 when rain forced the ham. for 42 minutes when he players off the field.

They extended the Australia took lunch on edged a short ball from 82 for no wicket and the Ben Stokes to wicketkeep- partnership to 101 in the last hour to give Clarke openers increased the scor- er Jos Buttler. ing rate after the interval.

Clarke reviewed the um- hope of a swansong victory They looked in control pire’s decision to give him and a more respectable 3-2 until Rogers was surprised out but television replays series defeat. by a lifting ball from Mark Wood, edging a catch to first slip which Alastair Cook took at the second AUSTRALIA 1st innings attempt to end a stand of Total: (for 3 wickets, C. Rogers c Cook b Wood 43 79.4 overs) 287 110.

D. Warner c Lyth b Ali 85 Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-161, 3-186.

Warner, closing in on S. Smith not out 78 Bowling: S. Broad 15-3-43-0, M. M. Clarke c Buttler b Stokes 15 Wood 18-5-41-1 (w-1), B. Stokes his first century of the seA. Voges not out 47 16-5-59-1, S. Finn 20.4-2-78-0 (nbries, pushed forward to Extras: (b-1, lb-16, nb-1, w-1) 19 1), M. Ali 10-1-49-1.

FIFA reform committee to hold first meeting on September 2

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - FIFA’s new reform committee will hold its first meeting in Berne on September 2, world football’s governing body said yesterday.

“The first meeting of the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee will be held in the Swiss capital of Berne on September 2-3 2015. No further comments on the meeting will be provided at this time,” said committee chairman François Carrard in a statement.

The committee was set up as part of FIFA’s response to U.S. authorities indicting nine football officials and five sports marketing executives.

The committee includes two representatives from each of the regional football confederations, along with Carrard and two representatives of FIFA’s commercial partners, who are yet to be named.

The body is likely to consider a series of reform proposals from FIFA’s Audit

and Compliance chairman Domenico Scala, who last month outlined to the executive committee a series of plans for changing the governance of the scandal-hit organisation.

Scala has proposed splitting the executive committee into two bodies -- a management committee and a governing council -and also wants to see term limits introduced throughout FIFA and the administration of the sport as a whole.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Best of enemies: Blatter-Platini rift to shape FIFA election

By Simon Evans and Brian Homewood

ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - An increasingly bitter rift between FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini looks set to define the campaign to elect the next leader of football’s corruption-plagued world governing body.

The tense relationship between the Swiss and the Frenchman, once described

by Blatter as being “like father and son”, has descended in recent days into open conflict.

“Blatter will do whatever he can to stop Platini becoming president of FIFA,” said a former senior official with the organisation. “He hasn’t yet found the candidate he thinks can beat Platini, but you can be sure he is searching for one.”

An acrimonious and divisive contest is the last thing FIFA needs as it picks a new leader to succeed Blatter and clean up a bribery scandal in which U.S. authorities have indicted nine football officials and five sports marketing executives.

U.S. and Swiss prosecutors are investigating corruption at the highest levels of the world’s most popular sport, including in the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, in a saga that has dismayed fans and worried

Michel Platini

Sepp Blatter

powerful sponsors like McDonald’s Corp, Coca-Cola and Visa.

In a sign of the deepening rancour, Blatter said in an interview with Dutch newspaper Volkskrant on Saturday that there was an “anti-FIFA virus” at UEFA, the European governing body headed by former French star Platini.

He further alleged that Platini had intimidated his family before May’s FIFA election, in which Blatter defied the growing corruption scandal to get himself returned for a fifth term -- only to announce four days later that he would step down.

Platini’s camp dismissed the charge as “ridiculous”.

In turn, UEFA said it had complained to FIFA’s ethics officials about a dossier it suspects was distributed from FIFA headquarters in a “smear campaign” against

the 60-year-old Frenchman.

PERSONAL ADVISER Platini, one of the most elegant midfielders the game has seen, teamed up with Blatter in 1998 when he became his personal adviser at FIFA, a role he held for four years.

“Blatter loves to be around famous people, whether it is heads of state, politicians or players.

While Platini was at his side, it worked perfectly for him, but when Platini gained power himself, that changed the dynamics,” said another former FIFA official, who knows the 79-year-old well.

In 2007, Platini became president of UEFA, defeating an old rival of Blatter’s, Lennart Johansson of Sweden.

Gradually, as he imposed his own authority, clashes broke out with Blatter over policy issues and sources say the

alliance became strained.

One source said the rift was partly to blame for the fact that UEFA and FIFA now use different refereeing systems for their competitions.

F I FA h a s a d o p t e d goal-line technology while UEFA employs two extra assistant referees, one on each goal line, to help the referee make penalty area decisions. Platini once jibed that Blatter did not like the system “because it was not his idea”.

When the corruption scandal erupted in May, the relationship reached breaking point. Platini took a belligerent tone, hinting at a possible UEFA breakaway, and demanded Blatter quit.

“Blatter was already furious with the open criticism, but after the very aggressive press conference from Platini, the day before the May congress, that was the end,” said the source.

The sense of bitterness at the breakdown of their rapport was evident in Blatter’s comments in the Volkskrant interview.

“He has changed, I haven’t,” said Blatter, “You will have to ask him about his character. I don’t know what goes on in his head.”

POSSIBLE RIVALS What’s in Platini’s head at the moment is how to take Blatter’s job, and

whether the Swiss can conspire to stop him.

Certainly, there appears to be room in the election field for a candidate who could take advantage of lingering loyalty to Blatter among some national federations and defeat Platini, whose support does not look as solid as some observers expected.

When Platini launched his campaign last month, his team indicated he had support from four of the six regional football confederations, suggesting an easy march to power.

Weeks later, the picture is far less clear. The African and Oceania confederations and CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean, have all yet to state who they will back, and collectively control 100 of the 209 votes.

While Platini’s camp are confident of support from South America, Europe and Asia, the picture is complex. The head of the Asian confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, has said he will back the Frenchman, but it is by no means clear that all of Asia agrees.

While South Korea’s former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon appears a rank outsider, Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein is also considering running and

could pose a bigger threat to Platini’s support base in Asia.

Even within Platini’s own confederation, support may not be unanimous, with Blatter still enjoying influence in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe.

But all those calculations presume there will be a viable alternative to Platini.

So far, the field looks thin, with only South African Tokyo Sexwale, an apartheid-era political prisoner turned businessman who is weighing up a possible run, looking like the kind of candidate Blatter might back.

Those who know Blatter say the future of FIFA after he has gone weighs heavily on his mind.

“He is more worried about the change of FIFA president than he is about the FBI investigation,” said another source.

“The two things he wanted at the end of his career were the Nobel Peace Prize and honorary president of FIFA. He has lost any chance at the first, of course, and the second looks less likely too.”

Whoever wins, Blatter, who joined FIFA as a development officer in 1975 and often spends his weekends working at its bunker-like headquarters, may find the transition to retirement a difficult one, said the source.

“It is going to be extremely difficult for him to adjust. He knows lots of people but he has no real friends.”

Rahul hits second Test ton as India post 319-6

(REUTERS) - Opener Lokesh Rahul struck his second Test century and combined with skipper Virat Kohli to help India recover from a shaky start and reach 319 for six at stumps on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Dhammika Prasad’s early burst reduced India to 12-2 in the fifth over, as the visitors’ decision to bat first in Sri Lankan batting stalwart Kumar Sangakkara’s farewell Test had threatened to backfire.

Dropped on 11, Rahul (108) teamed up with Kohli (78) to take the fight back to the hosts with a 164-run third-wicket partnership providing the bedrock of their innings.

Batting at number five, Rohit Sharma shrugged off early discomforts to hit three sixes

Lokesh Rahul celebrates after completing his second Test century in Colombo on the first day. and five boundaries in a fluent on 19 at the close.

79 before being dismissed by Paceman Prasad jolted InAngelo Mathews in the 88th dia early, trapping Murali Vijay over. leg-before-wicket and getting His partner in a 52-run Ajinkya Rahane, promoted to stand, Wriddhiman Saha, was number three, caught in the

slips.

India could have slumped to 20-3 but Jehan Mubarak spilled Rahul at gully off Dushmantha Chameera with the batsman on 11.

It proved costly as Rahul, who struck his maiden Test century in Australia earlier this year, went on to compile his second hundred in 180 balls.

Kohli signalled his positive intent by stepping out of his crease to hit Herath, who destroyed India in the second innings of the opening Test, over his head for the first six of the innings.

The visitors seemed determined to not let Herath dictate terms as Rahul and Rohit both used their feet to also hit him over the rope but the tricky spinner did have some success.

Herath ended Kohli’s 107-ball knock with Mathews showing great anticipation in the lone slip position to pull off a low, one-handed catch.

Rahul fell after top-edging a Chameera bouncer but Rohit scored freely to take India past the 300-mark.

India made three changes

INDIA 1st innings M. Vijay lbw b Prasad L. Rahul c Chandimal b Chameera ` A. Rahane c Karunaratne b Prasad V. Kohli c Mathews b Herath Ro. Sharma lbw b Mathews S. Binny c Chameera b Herath

W. Saha not out

0 108 4 78 79 10 19

to the team which imploded at Galle to allow the hosts to take a 1-0 lead in the threematch series, bringing in Vijay, paceman Umesh Yadav and all-rounder Stuart Binny.

Those missing out were Shikhar Dhawan, who has been ruled out of the series with a fractured hand, Varun Aaron and Harbhajan Singh.

Extras: (b-8, lb-8, nb-3, w-2) 21 Total: (for 6 wickets, 87.2 overs) 319 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-12, 3-176, 4-231, 5-267, 6-319.

Bowling: D. Prasad 20-5-72-2 (w1), A. Mathews 10.2-4-17-1, D. Chameera 13-0-59-1 (nb-2, w-1), R. Herath 21-2-73-2, T. Kaushal 23-282-0 (nb-1).

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Richards links low Test totals to good bowling, poor batting

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC) - Former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards says a combination of outstanding bowling and short-tempered batting are the reasons low totals are being produced in Test matches lately.

Richards, considered one of the greatest batsmen of all-time, also says batsmen’s failure to adjust their style from T20 cricket to Test has also been a contributing factor.

The Ashes series in England has been identified as a prime example with all four Tests finishing inside four days, the last two inside three.

The Australians have been shot out for scores of 60 and 136 while the Englishmen too have been dismissed for 103.

“You can point your finger at both (good bowling and poor batting). You have T20 and that also plays a part in some of the shots batsmen play. You see guys play the same shots in T20s and Tests

Linden frustrated at delay in implementation of Cricket (Act) Law (Letter to the Sports Editor)

Sir Vivian Richards and are sometimes lucky to get away with it,” Richards told Sport360.

“Guys are playing a lot of limited overs cricket and not making that adjustment when it comes to the longer version and pay a price for that.”

So far this year, eight totals below 150 have been recorded in 23 Tests.

While 17 matches this year have produced results, Richards argues that poor batting has played its part in determining those results.

“If you take the West Indies or recently Australia, some matches have been short. Techniques have played a part in some of the shots played, making the same mistakes over and over again,” Richards pointed out.

“At some point, individuals have to play according to the situation. Recently in Birmingham, the ball was swinging in the air, moving around. For some reason we see batsmen not having the same technique to cope.”

University of Guyana blown away by Panama at Championship Games ... Guyanese suffer second heavy loss THE University of Guyana (UG) Trojans’ disappointing run in the University Games Championship continued on Wednesday, as they lost to hosts Panama by a 72-49 score line in their second encounter of the event.

Akeem Kanhai was the top scorer for the Guyanese side with 16 points. In the opening period, the Trojans took the early lead as they outshot the hosts 17-11.

However, Guyana’s lead was quickly obliterated in the second stanza as Panama outscored them 28-5 to take a 39-22 lead into the half.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Akeem Kanhai Panama then increased their advantage in the third

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday August 21, 2015)

Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Deryck Murray-14 (all catches) Jeff Dujon-9 (8 catches/1 stumping) Today’s Quiz: How many teams have played Test cricket to date?

How many teams have now played ODI cricket to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

period, netting 22 points while restricting the Trojans to 13 points to enter the final quarter with a 61-35 lead. With a huge 26-point lead at their disposal, the hosts outscored in the final period 14-11.

On Tuesday, the Guyanese outfit went down to Guatemala by a 63-39 margin in their tournament opener. Emmanuel Archibald top-scored in the loss, with 16 points, while Kanhai supported with 13.

The first quarter saw Guyana take an early lead, outscoring the Guatemalans 20-10. The Guyanese then saw their lead cut in the second period, as Guatemala netted 12 points while reducing the Guyanese to nine points to go into the half, trailing 29-22.

Guatemala took the lead in the third stanza, scoring 21 points, restricting the Trojans to a meagre four points, to go into the final period ahead 43-33.

They then completed the win in that final period as they outscored the Trojans 20-6.

WE refer to an article in the Stabroek News of Tuesday, July 28 2015 headlined ‘Roopnarine promises to work with WICB to find a solution’, and wish to make the following comments: 1. While the Government, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) have decided to meet, why are the stakeholders of Guyana Cricket namely: Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) and the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) continually being ignored? This is the basis of problems since the GCB is illegally elected into office and cannot represent the majority members of the cricket fraternity.

2. The Cricket Administration Act 2012 (CAA) evolved from a countrywide consultation process that utilised contributions from all cricket stakeholders throughout Guyana including the GCB, BCB, GCA, ECCB, UDCA, WDCA and EBCA, and yes, the WICB, and was not imposed on anyone.

One must remember that legislation was recommended as a permanent solution to our cricket crisis by Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang and the Bill was subjected to twenty (20) meetings of the Parliamentary Select Committee representing all stakeholders, and comprising at least four (4) highly respected lawyers.

There was total consensus on the part of all parties at the Parliamentary Select Committee level to pass the Bill. There was no opposition when the Bill was passed into law.

It is misleading for the President of the WICB and Director Anand Sanasie to say that the CAA was imposed on the members. The present Government was the Opposition during the process of the CAA and it fully supported the Bill. We now expected that the Government will ensure that the Bill is implemented in order to resolve the cricket crisis.

The members of the UDCA and, in particular, the residents of Linden are anxious to see this Act implemented now that the glimmer of hope provided by the Act for our youngsters seem to be fading fast with each passing day, as national cricket teams, junior and senior, male and female, are being selected without any consideration for youngsters from Linden. This is an injustice and is totally unacceptable.

The CAA will restore democracy and order, accountability and integrity to our woeful cricket climate so let’s implement this Act now. We cannot continue to prepare our young cricketers within the present climate of discrimination, racism and illegality.

With regard to the WICB town-hall meeting, this could only be described as a flop. It was quite evident from the start that WICB president Dave Cameron came to hoodwink the Government into supporting his friends on the illegal GCB instead of listening to the constituent members of Guyana Cricket. His entire demeanour was one of talking down to the participants by telling them that he had not come to solve Guyana’s cricket problems and that they will have to do that themselves.

He also said that the problems cannot be resolved in the courts, totally oblivious of the fact that his local representatives were instrumental in self-servingly having the cricket matters locked up in court by injunction of the principal members in our cricket viz: Berbice Cricket Board, Georgetown Cricket Association, East Coast Cricket Board, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Parliament, the Attorney-General, the Minister of Sport and the Cricket Ombudsman.

The entire town-hall meeting was stage-managed and did not provide the climate for interactive discussions that could have made it meaningful. It became a question-and-answer charade that was not helpful and was truly disappointing to all who attended as the WICB president failed to answer the questions addressed to him in relation to the crisis in Guyana Cricket.

It is important to note that for the 2 ½ hours of that town-hall cricket meeting, not one of the 120-odd attendees spoke in favour or in support of the GCB. The one and only support for the GCB came from President Dave Cameron himself; and that probably tells the whole tale of the complicity on the part of the WICB in the wrongdoings and shenanigans of the GCB. Mr Cameron refused to answer the question from the floor relating to why the WICB refused to investigate the serious and well-documented charges of illegal elections and financial irregularities of the GCB. On the other hand, it was indeed surprising to see that the media was very lax in the coverage of this event. After a week there was limited reporting and nothing at all on the picketing exercise that expressed the concerns of young persons associated with our cricket.

As we said before, the entire town-hall event seemed to be orchestrated for the benefit of misleading the Guyanese people including the Government.

Certainly it did nothing to bring us any nearer to resolving our Cricket crisis.

In my opinion only free and fair elections through implementation of the CAA would.

The Upper Demerara Cricket Association

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday August 21, 2015

Lady Jags to tackle St Kitts and Nevis in Olympic Qualifier

GUYANA’S senior National Women’s football team – Lady Jags – will begin their quest of 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil today, when they come up against St Kitts and Nevis at the Estadio Panamericano in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic.

Guyana are drawn in Group Four in the Caribbean Zone of the 2015 Women’s Olympic Qualifiers, playing against the hosts and Cuba.

Having seen success against both countries in 2010, Guyana will now look to replicate their performance today against St Kitts, and Cuba on August 23.

Group One will be hosted by Puerto Rico and fields Aruba, Puerto Rico, Haiti and Grenada. Group Two features St Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda, the Cayman Islands and Trinidad & Tobago, to be staged in Trinidad & Tobago.

The Group Three games will be played in Suriname and the teams in this group are Dominica Republic, Dominica and Jamaica.

While the tournament has an age-limit of under 23 for men born on or after January 1, 1993, there is no age ceiling for the Women’s Qualifiers.

Three teams will advance from the female category into the CONCACAF Women’s Summer Olympic Tournament for 2016.

The Mark Rodrigues-coached squad arrived on the Spanish-speaking Island on Wednesday focusing their attention on getting out of Group Four

Some members of the ‘Lady Jags’ before heading to the Dominican Republic. and advancing further in the said he was excited to have the fact that everyone’s exqualifier, hoping to become a wide pool of players to pectations are based on our the first team from Guyana to select from, with a few achievements in 2010 and higher-level identified play- rightfully so. It was a great, play at the Olympic Games.

Goalkeeper Ruth George ers still not in attendance historical achievement for is the lone locally based but who may be available Guyana Football.” player selected, with Ro- for later rounds depending He added, however, drigues turning to players on Guyana’s advancement. “While it’s great to reflect According to Rodrigues, and rejoice on the past and from his historic 2010 Gold Cup squad and from his 2012 “This is a much more ex- the legacies created back U-20 group who are from the perienced squad than 2010, then, we must now first and but we must remember that foremost remain focused on US, Canada and the UK. Ashley Rodrigues will other countries have also what we have to do on Auwear the captain’s band and been developing their female gust 21 and 23, and that is will have the De Souza sis- players, while also reaching to win our group to advance. ters Kayla and Briana, along out to their Diaspora for The squad: Ashley Rowith Ashlee Savona, Calaigh higher-level players; so we drigues (captain) Kayla De Copeland, Otesha Charles, do not know what to expect Souza, Briana De Souza, Mariam El-Masri, Olivia from our competition until Ashlee Savona, Calaigh Gonsalves, Alison Heydorn, game day” Copeland, Otesha Charles, The women’s head coach Mariam El-Masri, Olivia Kailey Leila, Chantal Lynch, Kelly Pelz-Butler, Brittany is of the opinion that along Gonsalves, Alison HeyPersaud, Leah-Marie Ra- with his staff, their focus is dorn, Kailey Leila, Chantal malho, Justine Rodrigues, what Guyana will put on the Lynch, Kelly Pelz-ButMartyne Alphonso, Derienne field with the intention and ler, Brittany Persaud, LeBusby and Chante Sandi- hope of dictating the game. ah-Marie Ramalho, JusThe head coach says that tine Rodrigues, Martyne ford.

As compared to the he welcomes the high expec- Alphonso, Derienne Busby, first time the girls were tation of the team, noting, Ruth George and Chante grouped, coach Rodrigues “The team has embraced Sandiford.

Guyana’s CMRC team to Barbados ready for shipping!

GUYANA’S vehicles for the third leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships in Barbados next month are locked, loaded and ready for shipping.

The cars and bikes for the Barbados leg were loaded into containers at the John Fernandes Wharf, Mandela Ave where the championship’s title sponsor Seaboard Marine will transport them to the host country.

The team is being led by the Group 4 champion and current point leader, Kristian Jeffrey, and his father Kevin, and includes Mark Vieira and Danny Persaud.

Among the other vehicles loaded today were Nazim Gafoor’s (Group 2), and Trinidadi-

an Group 3 representative Paul Vieira’s.

The other team member, Rameez Mohammed, explained to Chronicle Sport that he will be unable to make it because his car is not yet ready.

Meanwhile, late inclusion Nikhil Seereeram will foot the expenses to send his bike to Barbados after repair works have not been completed before the shipping date.

Seereeram will be joined on the superbikes by Matthew, Elliot and Stephen Vieira as well as Joel ‘GM’ Neblette and Kevin Persaud.

The second leg of the CMRC will take place September 11-14 at the Bushy Park Circuit in St Defending CMRC Group 4 champion Phillips. (Stephan Sookram) Kristian Jeffrey loads.

GT Beer Futsal Tournament continues tonight

FOUR more highly anticipated matches will be contested tonight as the Petra-organised, GT Beer Futsal Tournament continues at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue.

The event which got under way on Tuesday night will see Showstoppers battle Sophia in the opening match at 19:00hrs then Bent Street take on Beterverwagting (BV) in the second match of the night.

Queen Street of Tiger Bay will tackle Leopold Street at 21:00hrs in the penultimate match before the night wraps up with West Front Road versus Broad Street from 21:45hrs.

On the opening night of the tournament Agricola sank Kitty Weavers, Albouystown beat Globe Yard, Sparta Boss squeezed past Alexander Village and West Back Road defeated North Ruimveldt.

Sixteen teams are competing for the grand prize of $500 000 and the championship trophy while the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will receive $250 000, $125 000 and $75 000 respectively.

No fairytale finish for captain Clarke

AUSTRALIA captain Michael Clarke was given a standing ovation by the crowd and a guard of honour by the England players as he walked out to bat in his 115th and final Test at The Oval, yesterday.

He hit one flowing straight drive for four off Moeen and had survived for 42 minutes when he edged a short ball from medium-pacer Ben Stokes to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Clarke reviewed the umpire’s decision to give him out but television replays showed he had touched the ball and he left the field to more warm applause from the crowd.

FIFA stops funding ...

From back page and other FIFA development programmes.”

The TTFA audit, according to FIFA, should have been up to December 2014 and ought to have landed in Zurich by March 31, 2015.

However up until May 22, 2015, the football body had only done audited statements up until 2008.

“Yes, we have not been able to pay the staff for July because our funding has not come through from FIFA as yet,” said Sheldon Phillips, general secretary of the TTFA. “Also we were forced to spend $650 000 that we had not budgeted for.”

FIFA’s decision to withhold funding to Trinidad comes amid a war of words between president Raymond Tim Kee and Sports Minister Brent Sancho over the TTFA’s failure to supply audited reports to the Ministry as well as account for their expenditure.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Flashback: Usain Bolt celebrates winning the 100 metres at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.

…Pickering-Scarborough MPP sends greetings

TORONTO, Canada -- As the countdown intensifies for the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) inaugural Toronto Cup, set to be staged during the Labour Day weekend here, the tournament has attracted sponsorship from, among others, Trophy Stall out of Guyana.

Already involved in sponsorship of both hard and softball cricket in Toronto, Trophy Stall is once more spreading its wings in the Toronto Cup. According to Trophy Stall’s proprietor Ramesh Sunich, he had no hesitation in joining the list

See story on page 31

See story on page 27

Trophy Stall among sponsors on board Toronto Cup

By Frederick Halley

Lady Jags to tackle St Kitts and Nevis in Olympic Qualifier

of sponsors and towards this end, his entity will be putting up the trophies for the winning and runner-up teams in both the Open and Masters categories as well as the man-of-match prizes.

Sunich, himself a member of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), which will be fielding two teams in the competition, disclosed that he’s delighted to be involved in the tournament both as a player and a sponsor and expects the tournament to be highly competitive.

Apart from Trophy Stall, the OMSCC has also been assured of sponsorship from Kawall Narain of

Trophy Stall proprietor Ramesh Sunich Jemetex out of New York who will be taking care of the uniforms for the host team.

In addition, Ray Seecharran, First Class Printing in Toronto, is printing and providing the score sheets for all the teams and

is also making available special T-shirts for the officials and volunteers at no cost to the organisers.

The tournament, which will also serve as a dress rehearsal for the fifth edition of the Guyana Softball Cup, set to be staged on September 30, 31 and October 1 in Georgetown, has attracted teams from New York, Guyana and the hosts.

Among the eight set to vie for supremacy in the Masters division are two teams from the GFSCA, New York Softball Cricket League (NYSCL). New York Muslim Softball Cricket Association, Our Own Sports Club, CaribSee page 27

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FIFA stops funding to T&T PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) - Football’s world governing body, FIFA, has confirmed that it has halted funding to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) over its failure to produce audited statements.

TTFA receives an annual subvention of US$250 000 every year in four instalments but payments have not been wired to the association’s account, officials have said.

“Financial assistance and approval of new programmes to the TTFA are currently on hold awaiting full compliance,” said a FIFA spokesman in an email response to Wired868.

“In accordance with the General Regulations for FIFA Development

TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee Programmes, all member associations including the TTFA have to comply with certain standard procedures, such as internal financial audits in order to receive funds corresponding to the Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) See page 31 FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015