2015 9 12

GUYANA

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

'No axe to grind' No. 104310

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $80

…PM says has nothing against PPP

INCLUDING VAT

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Murder toll climbs to 108 PetroCaribe alternative:

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Guyana looks to T&T for fuel supplies Berbice River taxis to sail off next week

Tumbling gold prices

Miners Miners call call for for Govt Govt support support Page

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Passionate miners at the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association’s (GGDMA) 32nd Annual General Meeting yesterday (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

Granger: Round-table discussion was not rushed – urges respect, tolerance in moving Guyana forward

By Tajeram Mohabir CONTRARY to the views of some, President David Granger said the social cohesion round-table discussions were not rushed, but some chose to pretend that they were not aware what social cohesion meant.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle and the Stabroek News after the weekly programme ‘Public Interest’ at the Ministry of the Presidency, the President said all were invited to participate at the forum.

The occasion, he said, was aimed at bringing Guyanese together to discuss issues that affect them, from marginality to inequality.

The People’s Progressively Party/Civic (PPP/C) did not attend the opening of the discussion held

last Thursday at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre, criticising it as “mere window dressing”.

But the President said the round-table was an excellent opportunity to discuss barriers to social cohesion and solutions for the way forward, but the PPP decided to stay away.

“They were certainly asked and they made a choice. There is no point sniping at the outcome…we put some issues on the table on social cohesion to reduce inequality. Once you have unequal relationships you have job domination, discrimination and the whole idea is to reduce these problems by providing better access to public services,” the Head of State explained.

Granger related that the forum was attended by per-

“So, social cohesion is not a staged ministry,” President Granger said, pointing out that Guyana should have had such a ministry a long time ago.

sons both near and far who came with their knowledge, research and advice on how to make Guyana a cohesive society.

NOT HEALTHY The divisions, he said, are not healthy for Guyana.

“Forty-nine years after Independence, we still have ethnic division, class division…all we are saying is that we cannot proceed into the future with all of these divisions and we need to have a formula; we need to have progress…people want to come together and we have to find a way around these road blocks to get people to talk to one another,” the President emphasised.

And on that point, he noted that crime, suicide, poor treatment of women and children, traffick-

President David Granger

ing-in-persons and many other problems are human in nature, as they did not come about by bad roads or stellings.

“It is about attitude and respect that we have for one another,” he said, contending that most of the negativity is entrenched in the political system.

The President said Guyana cannot move forward if there is going to be conflict.

PROPER TREATMENT “What matters is intelligence. The way you see one another, whether we have access to education, whether when you go to the public service and you are treated properly and respectfully, that is the society I am trying to build,” the President said.

A two-day roundtable discussion themed ‘Social Cohesion for Lasting Unity and Peace’ held last Thursday was part of a national effort to garner the input from stakeholders to formulate a five-year strategic plan to tackle social cohesion.

The event, financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

and the British High Commission, was organised by the Ministry of Social Cohesion to get the views of citizens to enhance togetherness at both the community and national levels.

President Granger told the forum at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre which included groups from a wide cross-section of society, that his administration will be placing attention on reducing extreme poverty; eliminating gender and geographic inequalities; fostering greater participation of political parties in national development; creating opportunities for fair employment and safety in the hinterland; and ensuring equal access to education.

“Cohesiveness cannot be nurtured in an unequal environment,” the President had said.

IDB approves climate-smart agriculture fund – to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions

By Rabindra Rooplall THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has announced that approval has been granted to have a US$5M Climate-Smart Agriculture Fund (CSAF) for the Caribbean and Latin America to encourage private sector companies in the Region to invest in projects that increase farmers’ incomes while

addressing climate change.

Created in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the goal of the CSAF is to unlock greater private-sector investment in sustainable land-use and climate-resilient agri-businesses.

“Our efforts thus far have produced solid results on climate mitigation,” said Kelle Bevine, Head of Strategy in the Structured and

Corporate Finance Department of the IDB. “This new initiative complements those achievements with a first-of-itskind fund to pursue equally ambitious results on climate adaptation,” she said.

“Concessional financing tools like this help to unleash the innovation of firstmover projects and shift from business as usual,” she added.

Climate-smart agriculture is a business model that increases agricultural output while maintaining or lowering amounts of inputs, such as land, water or fertiliser. It increases total productivity while reducing environmental impacts and building resilience to threats to production induced by the effects of climate change.

Kelle Bevine, Head of IDB’s Strategy Unit

Climate-smart agriculture investments, however, face a number of hurdles to access finance, including lengthy payback periods, as well as significant barriers to information on sustainable practices. As a result, climate-smart investments may be put off indefinitely, perpetuating poor landuse management, additional greenhouse gas emissions,

increased vulnerability to climate change and lower incomes for small producers.

The fund addresses these barriers by offering risk-tolerant capital with long tenors to catalyse private investment by cushioning early losses and providing a concessional tranche of resources that can transform projects into sustainable business investments. Associated technical assistance will enable IDB to build the necessary capacity for project implementation and to disseminate lessons to other

private-sector investors.

The fund’s investments will focus on restoration of degraded lands through reforestation and other measures to increase productivity and profitability and enhance carbon stocks. They will improve agricultural management, including sustainability certification of agricultural products and water efficiency investments.

Across the Region, the forestry and agriculture sectors are already affected by climate change.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

PetroCaribe alternative – Guyana looks to T&T for petroleum supplies

By Ariana Gordon ACCESSING Trinidad and Tobago’s petroleum as an alternative to Guyana’s PetroCaribe arrangement is high on this country’s agenda for discussion with the newly elected administration of the twin-island republic.

On Thursday, President David Granger told reporters of the Guyana Chronicle and Stabroek News that Guyana is eager to work with the new administration of Trinidad and Tobago. “Trinidad is a very important partner within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and we want to see greater progress on the Caribbean Single Market and Economy,” he said.

He noted that government wants to see Guyana’s agenda with respect to agriculture being discussed with the new administration of Trinidad and Tobago.

“As you know our community food import bill is very large and we expect that Guyana particularly would be able to use this opportunity to export more agricultural commodities to

Trinidad and Tobago and to Barbados.”

President Granger stressed that though Guyana relied on the PetroCaribe arrangement since 2005 for the supply of oil from Venezuela, “we cannot depend entirely on PetroCaribe for Venezuelan petroleum”.

“We would be sourcing petroleum from Trinidad as well,” he told reporters.

VENEZUELA’S CLAIMS Recently, following ExxonMobil’s discovery of oil in the Liza-1 well in the Stabroek Block, approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana, Venezuela has expanded its claim to include Guyana’s Atlantic front.

This new area claimed

by Venezuela includes Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and also intrudes on the EEZ of Suriname, French Guiana, Barbados and a chain of other Caribbean islands.

ExxonMobil is a U.S.based oil and gas company.

Venezuela’s latest claim came in the form of decrees by that country’s President, Nicolas Maduro. The first

President David Granger

decree claims the waters that include the area where Exxon is drilling, in addition to the earlier claim of the Essequibo, which is two-thirds of Guyana’s land mass.

The second decree, which replaced the first, does not specify any coordinates in relation to boundaries, but makes clear that Venezuela is ready to use military force to defend its new maritime boundary.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge had contended that the claim by Venezuela to this country’s

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley

EEZ has no basis in international law, pointing out that the 1899 Tribunal Award had put to rest that country’s claim to the Essequibo.

FRIENDLY RELATIONS Meanwhile, the President added that Guyana has enjoyed friendly relations with the government of Trinidad and Tobago over the years, and as such, he expects no difference with the newly elected Prime Minister of the twin-Island republic.

“Friendly relations be-

tween Guyana and Trinidad have been traditional and we expect that under Dr Rowley these relations would continue,” he said.

President Granger could not state what percentage of oil Guyana hopes to access from Trinidad and Tobago.

“That would be a matter for the Trinidad and Tobago government,” he said, noting that “the concessions offered by Venezuela were part of a bigger arrangement under the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALGA) and I am not sure that Trinidad will want to have a similar deal”.

Over the past few weeks, the Guyana Government has defended its move to source oil from Trinidad and Tobago, stating that it has to ensure there is no shortage of fuel here.

“It is the government’s commitment to ensure that there is a reliable and regular supply of fuel, to drive industry in this country, and we as a government will do what is necessary in the public interest, to ensure that the wheels of industry continue to turn,” said Minister of State Joseph

Harmon.

Since 2005, Guyana has been purchasing fuel from Venezuela under the PetroCaribe arrangement, but on occasion there have been late shipments.

As a result, government said it must have an alternative arrangement in place to ensure that Guyana does not experience a fuel shortage.

“We have both arrangements in place, a standby arrangement, which we will utilise from Trinidad and Tobago, and the PetroCaribe arrangement, which is in place by contract,” Harmon told reporters.

PetroCaribe is an oil alliance of several Caribbean states and Venezuela whereby oil is purchased on condition of preferential payment.

In 2005, at the signing of the PetroCaribe arrangement, former Prime Minister of Guyana Sam Hinds questioned whether states that signed onto the PetroCaribe arrangement were required to source oil solely from Venezuela.

At that time, Guyana was sourcing oil from Trinidad and Suriname.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

65 dead in Mecca mosque crane fall

Dozens were killed in Mecca’s deadly crane collapse (CNN photos)

(BBC) - AT least 107 people have died after a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, the Saudi Arabian government has said.

More than 150 people were injured in the accident, the country’s civil defence authority said on Twitter.

It is not known what caused the accident, but images from the scene showed part of a huge red crane had crashed through the mosque’s roof.

Mecca is currently preparing for the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to arrive in the Saudi city from all over the world later this

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Saudi authorities began a major expansion of the site last year to cope with ever-growing numbers of worshippers.

The crane that collapsed on Friday was part of the construction work taking place at the site.

Reports suggested the crane fell during high winds.

The Arabian peninsula has been hit by strong sand storms over the past week.

A video posted on YouTube, which could not be independently verified, appeared to record the moment the crane fell, with a loud crash heard in the background followed by panic and shouting.

Images circulating on

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Twitter appeared to show numerous bodies and blood on the floor of the mosque.

The mosque is Islam’s most sacred site and the destination for millions of Muslims undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage every year.

At the heart of the mosque, the oldest parts of which date to the 16th century, is the Kaaba, a black cube-shaped building which Muslims all over the world face when they pray.

Islam requires that every Muslim capable of doing so performs a pilgrimage to the site at least once in his lifetime. Once at the mosque, pilgrims perform “tawaf” - walking seven times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

Cuba to release 3,500 prisoners ahead of visit by Pope (BBC) - CUBA has said it will release more than 3,500 prisoners in a goodwill gesture ahead of a visit by Pope Francis.

The government in Havana says those to be freed include inmates due for conditional release next year, as well as a number of foreign prisoners.

Those found guilty of crimes against State security will not be eligible, seemingly ruling out several high-profile political prisoners.

The Pope will make a three-day visit to the island next week. According to Cuba’s state-run newspaper Granma, prisoners were chosen for early release depending on the severity of their crimes, amount of time served, and good behaviour.

Cuban President Raul Castro met Pope Francis during a private Among those to be freed are a number of inmates over 60, prisoners under 20 years old with audience at the Vatican in May no prior criminal records and inmates with chronic health conditions.

No prisoners with sentences for murder, other violent crimes or drug trafficking will be released, the paper said.

Pope Francis is expected to meet with Fidel Castro if the former Cuban leader’s health allows.

The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff is credited with helping bring about last December’s diplomatic thaw after the decades-old enmity between communist Cuba and the U.S.

Brazil cut to ‘junk’ credit rating by Standard & Poor’s

Venezuela opposition leader jailed

Mr Lopez’s supporters arrived early in the morning outside the courthouse to protest as they have dozens of times since his arrest 19 months ago

(BBC) - PROMINENT Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez has been sentenced to 13 years and nine months in prison.

He was found guilty of inciting violence during protests in 2014 in which 43 people - from both sides of the political divide - were killed.

The 44-year-old had been held in a military prison since February 2014.

While the court verdict was being awaited, fighting broke out between his supporters and pro-government activists outside the courthouse in Caracas.

Lopez’s supporters said one of their number had suffered a heart-attack during the disturbances.

‘RIGHTS VIOLATED’ The court ruling was revealed by Lopez’s Voluntad Popular (Popular Will) political party and later confirmed by his lawyers.

His defence team earlier said there had been serious irregularities in the trial, with the judge hearing 138 witnesses for the prosecution but only one of the 50 witnesses and pieces of evidence submitted by the defence.

(BBC) - BRAZIL has lost its investment-grade credit rating following a downgrade

by Standard & Poor’s to “junk” status.

The U.S. rating agency said mounting political turmoil and the difficulties faced

by President Dilma Rousseff’s government in tackling growing debt was behind the decision.

Brazil was awarded an investment-grade rating by S&P in April 2008, when the country’s economy was on the rise.

However, sliding commodity prices and austerity have created a recession.

Ms Rousseff’s left-wing government had imposed austerity measures in a bid to avoid such a downgrade.

S&P downgraded Brazil - Latin America’s largest economy - sooner than had been expected.

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Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

Could Venezuela’s socialists lose the coming elections?

By Federrico Fuentes

EDITORIAL

Suicide prevention

THE issue of suicide has bedevilled Guyana in the past few years and it cannot be more encouraging to see the administration putting forward a five-year plan to eliminate, if not bring the problem under control.

From the news reports to the many unreported incidents, the scale of the scourge has pointed strongly to the need for urgent action. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), with a rate of 44.2 deaths per 100,000, Guyana is way above the global average of 11.4 per 100,000. And closer to the Region, Guyana is a runaway train as the average rate in Latin America and the Caribbean stands at 6.1 per cent per 100,000.

These statistics paint a worrying picture of Guyana, but importantly, point to the need for all to join the fight to end the problem.

Equally important is the need for early intervention through the family to identify and encourage affected members to seek treatment. Many cases of suicide can be avoided if affected persons have a family member to whom they can openly speak or go to in times of crisis.

It is the absence of this channel of communication that leads to a state of loneliness and hopelessness. From the plethora of reports in the public domain, these situations are generated by a number of factors and among them are broken relationships, depression, acute emotional distress, mental disorder, impulsivity, aggressive tendency and adolescent maladaptive disorder, and alcohol abuse.

Reasonably speaking, these are all issues which can be identified by family members, who at a very early stage should encourage the affected member to seek help, but without using strategy to belittle and embarrass. In no way should there be the belittlement of a friend or family member with a bad drinking habit or hurling insulting remarks at a teenager who gets pregnant would help in addressing his or her problem. What will help is the offering of guidance and support. Affected persons do not need insults and belittlement; they need to get out of their trap and for someone to help them identify their weaknesses and the solutions to stand them in good stead. At the level of the family, this is an approach which should be adopted as strong and united families are unlikely to be saddled with issues of drug, alcohol and other social maladies.

Guyana is not a perfect society; in fact, it is one with too many single parents and absentee fathers. So fixing

WHEN it comes to elections in Venezuela, there are at least three things you can usually count on.

The upcoming December 6 elections for the National Assembly are no different — even if the result is far from certain.

The first is that much is at stake. In a country where the poor majority has sought to advance radical change through popular mobilisations and votes, every election since Hugo Chavez’s successful 1998 bid for president has been transformed into a referendum on the future of the country’s “Bolivarian revolution”.

Before Chavez’s rise, elections were dominated for four decades by two big parties of the wealthy elite.

With both parties backing the same basic anti-poor programme elections were more akin to popularity contests. Now, nearly two decades into the process of pro-poor revolutionary transformation, elections in Venezuela are heavily polarised and politicised battles.

Elections pit supporters of the Bolivarian revolution (known as Chavistas) against candidates from the U.S.-backed counter-revolutionary opposition.

In December’s elections these two sides will face off to see who wins the parliamentary majority now held by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and its allies. But the importance of this vote goes beyond the government’s potential loss of its majority, and with it the ability to pass radical laws.

A victory for the right wing would no doubt lead

Nicolas Maduro

the opposition to try to use its newly-acquired majority to impeach President Nicolas Maduro, or possibly rally supporters behind a push for a presidential recall referendum next year.

Although Chavistas have won every national election since 1998 bar a 2007 constitutional referendum, there is a sombre mood among revolution supporters leading up to December. This is largely due to the impact of a second common factor of Venezuelan elections.

WAR BY OTHER MEANS Each election period has involved intensified destabilisation tactics, which have increasingly borne fruit. It is not just the domestic opposition pushing these tactics. The lead-up to this year’s election has involved greater external pressure applied to Venezuela. This year, U.S. President Barack Obama announced his government was placing sanctions on several Venezuelan state officials and declared the country to be a threat to U.S. national security. In the face of international outrage, with Latin American governments uniting to condemn the moves, the Obama administration

the family structure is not a task that can be accomplished in a short space of time, but this is not to say that stronger enforcement cannot be made to reduce incidents of suicide. It is no secret that the majority of victims who commit suicide do so by ingesting a poisonous liquid, and as such, it cannot be over-emphasised that strong attention needs to be paid to the sale of pesticides. The government’s move to restrict the sale of harmful substances is indeed an encouraging step to addressing the problem of suicide, but ways should be examined to keep these substances out of the reach of farmers.

It might be useful for the authorities to consider the possibility of banning farmers from administering dangerous chemicals in their fields and institute a system where this

retracted its declaration.

However, the sanctions remain in place.

More recently, tensions escalated between Venezuela and its eastern neighbour Guyana. These tensions centre on an unresolved, century-old dispute over the territory of Essequibo.

In June, the newly elected Guyanese Government of President David Granger announced it would allow ExxonMobil to drill for oil after the discovery of a huge deposit in the disputed territory.

The U.S. government was quick to strongly back Guyana and the U.S. oil giant. It campaigned for Caribbean nations - many of whom enjoy good relations with Venezuela and benefit from cheap oil deals with the South American country – to do the same.

Venezuela objected to Guyana’s announcement and called on the United Nations to mediate the dispute. Maduro said ExxonMobil - which successful sued Venezuela for US$1.6 billion in the World Bank tribunal after Venezuela nationalised some of its assets - was trying to stoke a conflict that could “bring war to our border”.

On the other side of the country, Maduro announced the closure of the border between Colombia and the state of Tachira on August 20. The move came after Colombian paramilitaries attacked three Venezuelan soldiers involved in operations against contraband smuggling. Within Venezuela, Maduro has had to contend with what his government has dubbed “an economic war” waged by powerful business interests allied with the opposition.

Recent moves to rein-in Venezuela’s crime problem — including police and military operations as part of “Operation Liberation and Protection of the People” — have caused crime to drop down the list of citizen’s most pressing concerns. But economic issues remain, by far, the biggest priority for most.

Spiralling inflation, combined with increasingly bare shelves and long queues at supermarkets, have had a big impact on peoples’ support for the government. The situation has reached such a critical point that, in reaction to rising prices, riots and looting broke out on August 3 in San Felix, a city in Venezuela’s south-eastern state of Bolivar. So far, this has remained an isolated incident. But as with every other election period, the problems of shortages and rising prices are likely to worsen as election day approaches. Faced with this scenario, the Maduro government has tried to crack down on hoarding and contraband. However, it has not been able to turn the situation around nor stem its declining support.

Falling oil prices have also cut state funds, limiting its room for manoeuvre.

Perhaps most importantly, the Maduro government has struggled to regain the political initiative and set the terms of national political debate as Chavez had done. Some former Chavez ministers have referred to this as a “loss of hegemony”.

ABSTENTION Some government supSee Page 9

service is provided to them but is factored into the cost when they purchase agro-chemicals.

The arrangement will see agents of licensed pesticide store going into the fields of farmers to administer the chemical, rather than farmers doing it themselves. Such an arrangement can be facilitated through vibrant community farmers’ extension groups, which can pool their resources to purchase the chemicals in bulk to reduce cost. As a pilot, the banning of farmers from the purchase of chemicals should be implemented in suicide hot spots such as Black Bush Polder, Mibicuri and Baramita where the majority of victims commit suicide by downing a poisonous substance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

International Literacy Day….

757 million adults cannot read, write

– UNESCO

By Rabindra Rooplall

GLOBALLY, the number of people unable to read and write a simple sentence continues to fall, but trends vary considerably across Regions and countries, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics (UIS), on the occasion of International Literacy Day on September 8.

In Guyana, International Literacy Day was held under the theme: ‘Literacy and Sustainable Societies.’

According to Chief Education Officer Olato Sam: “Research is abundantly clear; the more literate the population, the greater our output will be in all sectors.

The more literate our workers, the more amenable they will be for further training and higher education; the greater value they will ascribe to education and pass those values on to their children. The more literate our citizens, the more receptive they would be to higher ideals such as social cohesion and issues of equity and equality.”

Meanwhile, the international community has pledged to reduce adult illiteracy rates by 50%, compared to 2000 levels as part of the Education for All (EFA) goals.

“While the number of illiterate people has fallen over the past 15 years, UIS data show that 757 million adults – two-thirds of whom are women – still lack basic reading and writing skills…

UIS projections also show that most countries failed to reach the EFA literacy

GBTI awards bursaries to NGSA scholars

“DO not give up, the race has just begun, keep pushing for excellence; and, as such, I encourage you to continue your enthusiasm and self-discipline.”

Mrs. Shirley Madray, District Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, so exhorted the young awardees yesterday as the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) held its Annual Early Savers Club Bursary Awards presentation ceremony at the GBTI Corporate Office in Kingston, Georgetown.

Bursaries were awarded to members of the GBTI Early Savers Club in recognition of their successes at the recent National Grade 6 Examinations. The students selected to receive bursary awards represent the top 15 of the club’s members, who each achieved a minimum of 503 marks.

Mrs Madray also told the awardees that there are still miles ahead in their journey, while their successful passage at the examination was just the first page in their book of academic achievements.

The education officer urged parents present to keep supporting their children, to keep them focused on the tasks ahead, and to forge with them a tight bond through communication.

Mr. Sean Noel, Manager in charge of Administration, was present at the occasion, and he urged the awardees to be able to build a good educational platform to launch them into their future; to develop positive attitudes of self-esteem and a sense of achievement, and to cultivate a love for learning.

The students awarded this year were Ishmael Tang with 512 marks, Rachel Bissoondial with 503 marks, Ridhwaan Kassim with 513 marks, Tarico Henry with 519 marks, Ruth Benjamin with 503 marks, Dequon Burnett with 522 marks, Renique Nelson with 512 marks, Reanell Holder with 507 marks, Afeefaj London with 525 marks, Hansvahini Maraj with 516 marks, Omkar Persaud with 513 marks, Ashantie Singh with 522 marks, Maria Erica Benjamin with 516 marks, Yoshoda Hansraj with 517 marks, and Shivesh Mohamed with 523 marks. (Clestine Juan)

goal, underscoring the need for the new literacy target, which is even more ambitious in its current framing within the Sustainable Development Goals.”

According to UNESCO: “The latest data show that the global adult literacy rate was 85% and the youth literacy rate was 91% in 2013. This represents an increase compared to estimates for the reference year 2012, when the adult and youth literacy rates were 84% and 89%, respectively.”

By 2015, UNESCO noted that the international community pledged to reduce illiteracy rates by 50% compared to 2000 levels as part of the EFA goals and the related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Yet according to UIS projections, most countries have missed the deadline. The global adult literacy rate it is estimated will reach 86% by 2015 and the youth literacy rate, 92%.

It might interest the literate amongst us to know that there are some United Nations-recommended

initiatives that society can take, either as individuals or groups, outside the formal school system to improve literacy levels in our country.

Persons can contribute to enhancing literacy levels by donating books and other reading materials to your local school, library or community centre; setting up a Reading Club in

your community; volunteering to teach a literacy class in your community; and mentoring one or more non-literate persons - because in the final analysis, literacy is much more than an educational tool.

It is an instrument – and a critical one at that – that helps to craft the quality of life in our neighbourhoods, our communities,

our country, our Region and in the world as a whole.

In Guyana, whether we are within or outside the formal education system, we must commit ourselves to the furtherance of the noble goal of raising the levels of literacy in our country. It is not only about raising the standard of education, but also about improving the quality of life in Guyana.

Housing developers get up to February to complete works MINISTER with responsibility for Housing Keith Scott, has set a deadline of February 2016 for private housing developers to complete infrastructural works on their East Bank Demerara housing projects.

Minister Scott met on Thursday with representatives of several private housing projects after visiting several sites which were mostly under- developed, contrary to previously signed agreements, on September 9.

Those engaged included representatives of Bai Shan Lin, Courtney Benn Construction, Bradford Enterprises, Dax Construction, Sunset Lakes and Odinga Lumumba. He expressed his disappointment at the failure of representatives of the BK Group of Companies to attend the meeting, saying that it shows “great disrespect to the government. It is the Government of Guyana that speaks on behalf of the people of Guyana and I shall not countenance

Minister with responsibility for Housing Keith Scott meeting Housing developers begin works would be met, as These will include the buildthat from Tiwari or anybody.” were apologies by delinquent ing of drains, electricity According to Minister representatives, the minister supplies and roads. MinScott, “amicable agreements” revealed. He explained that ister Scott said that it is were reached with several government was “not about important that revised conof the housing developers putting people out of business struction schedules be set who explained the reasons but to help them along the and progress maintained, for delays in their construc- way, ultimately to the benefit in keeping with the new agreements, “I can safely tion of homes or prelimi- of all Guyanese.” nary infrastructural works.

All of those engaged say that movement has now Commitments were given to gave commitments to com- begun. I will not be satisfied ensure that new deadlines to plete long overdue works. until I can see deliverables.”

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Truck carrying smuggled chicken detained A LEYLAND DAF Truck bearing Suriname licence plates was intercepted at # 5 Village on the West Coast of Berbice after 400 boxes of smuggled chicken, with an aggregate value of over $2.8M, were discovered.

The truck and its contents were detained by officers from the Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRAs) Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) after an encounter with officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at the location on the afternoon of Sunday, September 6, 2015.

The quantity of chicken was then escorted to Georgetown where it was lodged at two secure locations for safe keeping pending further investigation. The boxes bearing the brand Rockingham, also carried the production date 27/05/15 and expiration date 27/05/16.

Meanwhile, two of the couriers, the driver and porter, were issued with Notice of Seizure/Detention for the chicken and motor vehicle after submitting voluntary statements to the authorities.

They failed to produce the relevant documentation to show legal importation for the said commodity, and both stated that the supplies were given to them as hire by an unknown individual, to be transported to Georgetown. The motor vehicle was lodged at the GRA’s Warehouse Facility.

Actions is pending in view of the offence committed under Section 218 (d) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01 which states “every person who knowingly ac-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

Police donate musical instruments to Albouystown community

Junior and senior ranks pose with the instruments before they were handed over on Monday at Brickdam Police Station

By Leroy Smith

The quantity of smuggled chicken being offloaded

quires possession of or is in any way knowingly concerned in carrying, removing, depositing, concealing, or in any manner dealing with any goods with intent to defraud the revenue of any duties thereon, or to evade any prohibition or restriction of/ or applicable to such goods, shall be liable for each such offence to a fine of triple the value of the goods or $10,000 at the election of the Commissioner-General; and to imprisonment for one year and all goods in respect

of which any such offence shall be committed shall be forfeited.”

Additionally, given the perishable nature of the commodities, directives will also be given regarding disposal. This latest "bust" adds to the ongoing efforts

by LEID in conjunction with other law enforcement entities to tackle smuggling and the concomitant loss of State revenue, not to mention potential threats to human safety and the environment.

THE Guyana Police Force has handed over to the Albouystown community a music band worth more than half a million dollars, as part of the Police Impact Albouystown project.

The items were gifted to the police for the community by the charitable organisation Food for the Poor Guyana Inc. The instruments will be used by the three main religious organisations in the community -- Christians, Muslims and Hindus -- according to the representatives of the community who received the donation earlier this week.

Among the items were a complete drum set, saxophones and other components that make up a musical band.

Delivering the items on behalf of the Guyana Police Force was the ‘A’ Division Commander Assistant Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, who said the instruments are a significant boost to the work the police have been doing with the community.

Geared to keep the young people of the community gainfully occupied, in addition to the already existing programmes the police are running in the community, the musical items will go further in

denying children and teenagers the wrong models, something the Police Force is very passionate about, according to Commander Hicken.

He pointed to the cookery classes, vocational skills training, cosmetology programmes and block making and other initiatives started in the community since the police started working extensively with the community in April of last year.

Speaking on behalf of the Mercury Marching Band, which presently conducts music lessons in the community, was Joseph Vigilance of Albouystown. In outlining the focus of the band, and the potential use of the instruments for the benefit of the community, Vigilance spoke extensively on what has been happening since the music lessons started, and where the community envisages the band to be in a few years’ time.

He told the Chronicle that at the moment, the band focuses on engaging the community’s young people who have an interest in music to play the various instruments. He said what has been found in the months that classes have been in progress is that the young people have moved away generally from the fine art of playing instruments, and it is

that art that the band is looking to revitalise among the young people in the community.

Vigilance explained also that his band has been working to bring back the essentials, such as reading and playing music fluently. This publication was told by the music instructor that because some of the children would have to now be introduced to use the new instruments, including its assembling, dissembling, care and efficient use, the classes would be split into two groups.

The older persons, who have been attending classes over the past months, will now be focusing more on the reading and playing of music, as well as learning the new instruments; new entrants to the school will be receiving training in drill marching.

The band, which is a drill-marching band that takes to the streets, will now see the young entrants and the existing members providing the full complement of the band, a development long being looked forward to.

The musical instruments and training in their use will also be extended to persons who are associated with the Muslim and Hindu bodies in the community. They will be joining classes at the facility, Vigilance told the Chronicle.

Land Registry trims back-logged cases

By Ariana Gordon A SIGNIFICANT number of back-logged cases have been completed by the Land Registry since new Land Registrar Rosalie Robertson and her Deputy Wendella Austin took office a few weeks ago.

Robertson, in an interview with the Chronicle, said during the first few weeks of her appointment she sought to familiarise herself with the systems, staff and all other things that “would expedite the approval of conveyances.”

While familiarising herself with the systems and processes at the Land Registry, she recognised that the amount of work to be done was “significant.”

“The workload is significant…probably more than

I anticipated,” she told this publication. But the workload did not deter her and she is coping well with the cooperation of the staff at the Registry.

SATISFACTORY FEEDBACK “Strategies have been developed for dealing with the workload and they are working out well. In fact, the feedback we have been receiving suggests that those who visit our office daily are usually satisfied by the service we provide.”

The attorney noted that her office has been able to “deal with longstanding matters on a case-by-case basis when persons visit the office.

If we are not in a position to deal with them immediately, we give them a date to return and we generally keep the

date.”

Over the years, there have been many complaints by lawyers and other persons visiting the office regarding the slothfulness in the processing of transactions there, but former Land Registrar Juliet Sattaur maintained that she was fulfilling her duties according to her mandate.

She has since been the subject of an investigation with respect to the management of the Registry.

“We are dealing with the daily increases in the number of persons seeking matters that have been in the system for a lengthy period, while at the same time, we are trying to keep current matters current.”

RETURNING TO NORMALCY The Registrar of Lands

noted that the system is returning to one of normalcy where “titles would have been issued within two days and two weeks and no longer.”

“My settling in period is going well. We have made significant inroads at the Berbice Land Registry as well,” she said, noting that across the board the number of cases are “very significant.”

The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that there is a backlog of more than 5,000 cases at the office of the Registrar of Lands but when probed, Robertson would only say “maybe in the thousands.”

RELOCATION Asked of plans to relocate to the former New Building Society building at Avenue of the Republic, Robertson said

efforts are being made to occupy the premises as soon as possible as they are anxious to provide better service to the public. However, there are some constraints as items belonging to the Deeds Registry are temporarily stored in the building.

“We have got to wait for the building to be cleared.

We have been promised that it would be cleared in two weeks,” she said.

Robertson said she inspected the building and feels “that we would be able to accommodate the public and members of staff in a much more comfortable environment.” She believes it would be easily accessible to the public at large. “We look forward to delivering the best possible service that can be expected.”

She is hopeful that her

Newly appointed Registrar of Lands Rosalie Robertson

office will be relocated as soon as possible in the interest of delivering the best professional service. Asked to provide an average number of persons who frequent the Registry daily, Robertson said, “many, very many.”

Robertson was sworn in at the end of August, just shy of two months after Sattaur was sent on leave pending an investigation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

BERBICE RIVER TAXIS NEXT WEEK – Minister Patterson

By Rabindra Rooplall THE Berbice River taxi service will commence operations by mid next week with vessels provided by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and private operators, according to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson.

The Berbice Private Sector representative bodies have already expressed their support for the implementation of the river taxis.

Minister Patterson, along with Minister within the Ministry Annette Ferguson, had met with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, of both Regions Five and Six to explain the way they intend to introduce the river taxi service.

Minister Ferguson revealed that they will also be meeting with the minibus and taxi associations and other stakeholders to ensure that the taxis are reintroduced and “savings being passed on to the vulnerable groups.”

With the introduction of river taxis, persons would now have a choice between two modes of transportation.

Government will also provide a subsidy for the elderly and the children which would benefit families residing in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

MARAD is also in the process of examining the crossings at Rosignol and Blairmont to ensure they are safe and to determine if any works needed to be executed

Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson

before the river taxis begin operations.

Government is also investing in the development of the Stellings and ancillary facilities to be brought up

to standard to facilitate the return of river traffic.

Mr Patterson said that although he was met with proposals to use the MARAD fleet of river vessels, the Government is seeking to solicit vessels owned by the residents of Region Five and Six to provide the service.

“It is not only looked at as transportation, it is looked at as the revitalisation of a community,” he said. The minister mulled over starting off with the MARAD fleet, and letting the residents groove into offering the service.

This decision was made following the delay in the implementation of reduced Bridge tolls even though the Government had announced a subsidy in the national 2015 budget that would ensure that the company lost no revenue as a result of the reduction.

But the company did not

budge. As the September 1 (the date for implementation) approached, Directors of the US$40M bridge said government had not consulted with them and it wanted its shareholders to have the final say.

It then insisted on a toll increase or an extension from the 21 years it had to manage the facility, to 40 years. The company was insisting that it racked up accumulated losses of $1.5B up to the end of last year and could face insolvency unless it can restructure its financing.

The government was arguing, however, that with the subsidy the bridge would still receive its money and the people who traverse the bridge will be relieved.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has been mandated

by Cabinet to continue his engagements with the Berbice Bridge Company to ensure that the toll is reduced in ac-

Could Venezuela’s socialists lose...

-porters fear that this situation could lead to a defeat for the government in December. This would probably not be due to a rise in votes for the right, but because sections of Chavismo will abstain from voting. Abstention, which brought Chavismo its only electoral loss in 2007, has become a third recurring feature of elections in Venezuela. There are several reasons to indicate this could be a big factor once more.

Pro-government websites such as Aporrea have been filled with articles warning of declining enthusiasm among Chavistas. They warn that popular sectors have been worn down by the opposition’s constant campaign of economic sabotage and the seeming inability of the Maduro government to adequately respond. These views have been echoed by several former high profile government officials and PSUV leaders. Perhaps most revealing, however, were statements made by Colonel Jose Martin Raga Garavito in an August 17 Newsweek article.

Raga Garavito was at pains to point out that “I am Chavista, I believe in the project”. But the serving officer publicly raised many of the same concerns — corruption, inefficiency, lack of new faces in the government — that many others have expressed in political discussions and online forums. In response, many took to the internet to express their support for Raga’s comments, with the

hashtag “I am Chavista, I support Raga” trending on Twitter. “The economic war exists, it’s a reality, but part of the economic war is a result of our own inefficiencies,” the colonel said. “We as the military are part of this war … Who is responsible for the country’s borders? The military. “[Yet] the basic produce we need is crossing over to Colombia … As long as we are unwilling to accept our reality, our internal corruption, our weaknesses; as long as we don’t tighten our discipline and sanction those responsible this thing is going to become a disaster.”

When asked if the upcoming elections could provide a way out of the situation, Raga Garavito said: “Look at the PSUV internal elections [in which over 3 million participated on June 28], the people showed they still believe in the process. “Look at the march of the opposition [on August 8], it is evident that they [represent little] in this country. “The way forward will emerge from within the Chavista people. We need emergent leaders to come forward and take the reins of the institutions.”

IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE With more than three months to go until the elections, a lot can — and will — happen. Only a month out from the 2013 municipal elections many, including some PSUV leaders, were raising the real possibility that the opposition could win

the popular vote.

In the end, the PSUV and its allies won almost 10% more votes than the opposition Democratic Roundtable of Unity (MUD) coalition on the back of an extensive series of co-ordinated raids on shops involved in price gouging. For many voters, this demonstrated the government’s willingness and ability to fight back against the counter-revolution’s sabotage.

It is unlikely that Maduro will be able to rely on oil money or short-term measures this time to turn around an extremely difficult situation. The election result, and with it the future of the revolution, is — more than ever — in the hands of the people. Although some Chavistas seem to think they have already lost the vote, there are signs that the popular sectors will not go down without a fight.

Speaking on public television, Maduro said on July 28 that communes minister Elias Jaua had phoned him, crying, the day of the PSUV primaries, saying: “We underestimated the people.”

Jaua was referring to the impressive turnout for the primaries, in which a large number of women and youth were elected to stand as PSUV candidates for the first time.

The PSUV had set out fewer voting tables than in the past, expecting a low turn-out — leading to long queues at voting booths. Jaua told Maduro that at one booth, a 40-year-old man grabbed

him by the arm and said: “Don’t underestimate us again, tell President Madu-

cordance with the provisions of the 2015 Budget.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had disclosed that the Government will be reviewing the contract, which was signed between the then Government of Guyana and the Bridge Company since it is widely believed that it is not exceedingly beneficial to the travelling public.

“The agreement is one which we have been looking at very closely…the Berbice Bridge contract was never made public and so the terms when you look at it, it is not favourable to the country. It is favourable to the investors. The conditions are super favourable to the investors. It does not take into consideration the travelling public and we would want to take a look at that,” Minister Harmon said.

From page 6

ro to not underestimate us.

“We are here, we might be pissed off about something,

but we are here with the revolution.” (Green Left Weekly)

10

Tumbling gold prices

--Miners call for Govt support President noted that persistent issues of heightened criminal activities, impassable roads, increased mining accidents, and smuggling of gold as some of the many challenges plaguing the mining community.

By Ariana Gordon OUTGOING President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Patrick Harding on Thursday demanded that the current administration and all other stakeholders lend more support to the mining industry as gold prices continue to drop.

“There has been ineffective support to the mining industry, ineffective support from the government, the Guyana Gold Board, and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission,” he said. Gold prices have fallen from US$1800 an ounce to US$1100 an ounce over the past few months.

Speaking at the 32nd Annual General Meeting, Harding told a gathering of miners that the former administration failed to lend enough support to what he deems a “struggling industry”.

According to him, the last two years have not been “calm” for the industry. “We did try unsuccessfully in negotiating with the [former] government for assistance to steady the ship.”

But he said, with the new government, the GGDMA is hoping to see the way

Outgoing president of the GGDMA Patrick Harding (centre) addressing miners at the Annual General Meeting yesterday forward.

“We had good discussions with them while in Opposition. Now that they are in government, we will certainly hold them to the promises,” Harding told fellow miners.

He lamented that with the falling price for gold on the international market, the industry is “struggling”.

“While we still have the falling gold prices, we still have high operational costs, the cost of fuel and spare parts are still high….With those prices, everybody is tight; we don’t know what is next,” he said The outgoing GGDMA

GOLD DECLARATION Aside from falling gold prices on the international market, gold declaration also experienced a drop this year.

Harding announced that “this year has not been that good; production declaration from January to August this year is 224, 544 ounces compared with January to August last year’s 265,553 ounces; a difference of 40,008 ounces or 15% decrease.”

He said with the falling gold prices and declarations, the industry is in a “crisis.”

“We are in a crisis. We are not begging the government for handouts; we are seeking concessional support from the government so that we can remain afloat and continue to play a pivotal role,” Harding said.

The outgoing president noted that the association has requested several things from the former government including the waiving of duty and taxes on mining equipment and spares.

At the moment, there is a tentative arrangement and

it is expected to be finalised with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in the new week.

“That arrangement will allow for the waiver of duties and taxes on 4*4 vehicles,” he informed miners.

He said too that while the GGDMA has obtained a licence to import diesel fuel and lubricants, the 10% decrease received from the previous administration in 2014 still does not make small and medium scale miners competitive.

“We are in discussion with the government for us to have the same concessions as the large scale mining companies.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015 The association has also requested a 50 % reduction on the rental of mineral properties, a reduction in royalty from gold sales from 5 % to 4 % while the price for gold is under US$1400 on the international market.

A c c o r d i n g l y, H a r d ing believes that with the granting of the many concessions requested by the association, the mining industry would stand on firmer ground. “We would be able to reduce our operational costs,” he said.

Notwithstanding the failures of the previous administration, the GGDMA is committed to working with the new administration. “We are prepared to work handin-hand with government,” Harding said.

With respect to the mercury-free technology, he said

the association is working with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission but that process is slow. “We agree with technology that will reduce the use of mercury.”

The issue of marginal returns given that miners have been working and reworking the same properties is a major issue according to Harding. He noted that the association has requested 20 mineral properties from the GGMC, but to no avail.

However, the association remains optimistic that the current administration will assist small and medium scale miners in keeping the industry alive.

The mining industry in Guyana creates over 60,000 jobs directly and about 200,000 indirectly.

Intoxicated man plunges to death in Mahaicony INTOXICATED, Gajpaul Mahase, also known as “Yago”, yesterday plunged to his death in the Mahaicony Creek.

The 55-year-old had reportedly been using a series of profanities before he plunged into the creek to swim across its width in search of his wife, Krishna Kumarie, also known as “Yamen”, who reportedly was not at home at the time of the incident.

It is unclear whether the man had been aware that his wife was out of the area, and not over at a friend’s house, where she would usually go sometimes.

Speaking with this publication via telephone yesterday afternoon, the man’s widow said she was out of the area when she received a call that her husband was dead. And when she reached home, no one could really give a clear answer as to how the man had met his demise, although some persons related that he had taken off his clothes and had plunged into the creek and disappeared.

A search launched for the man recovered his remains sometime later. One relative said she does not know the man to behave in the manner he had behaved yesterday, and it was strange to her. She said he had not been someone who would usually go into the water to swim.

This newspaper was told that the man had married his wife only six years ago, although they had been living together for twenty-eight years. From a very tender age, the man used to work with some persons in the area as a caretaker, and that was the job he had been doing at the time of his death.

Gajpaul Mahase is survived by his wife and two children, aged 23 and 27. The police were, up to late last evening, not informed of the drowning, and that the body of the man had been recovered.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

Herstelling murder link Adams heads new GGMDA to property dispute Executive Committee being probed – Police arrest ex-wife of deceased

By Leroy Smith RANKS of the Criminal Investigation Department were, up to late last evening, questioning Gwendolyn Persaud to extract any vital information she may have in relation to the death of her ex-husband, 46-year-old Nathan Persaud, who was murdered in his Herstelling, East Bank D emerara h ome on Thursday while home alone.

Police sources have confirmed that the man’s exwife has been arrested for questioning because she just might have a motive to influence the death of her former husband.

The police were yesterday fed with information, that after their separation, the two people had not been on terms, as the woman had wanted the man’s property but that was not something the man was willing to give up so easily. As such, their dispute had begun to engage the court’s attention.

Picked up from her home on Friday, the woman was, up to late last evening, not cooperating with the police as they questioned her. Persons close to the family had informed the police of the couple’s dispute over the property.

Up to late last evening, police had received no word or information on the man who had been seen walking away from the home of the deceased shortly before his dead body was discovered sprawled on the floor of his home.

The police were told that the woman had reportedly contracted the suspect, who is thus far unknown, to eliminate her husband so that she can inherit the home which they once shared as husband and wife.

A post-mortem yesterday found 20 stab wounds on the man’s body, which actually caused his demise. Police sources indicate that the man had sustained 13 wounds to the head and another 7 to the back, all of which confirmed

he had received blunt and sharp injuries.

The Herstelling community was plunged into a state of mourning yesterday when word got around that Nathan was found murdered in his home. His son had earlier left their home for the road.

Relatives are disputing any theorising that the killing was robbery-related, as nothing in the home was ransacked. On Thursday, the man’s sons, who lived at the home with him, told police and reporters that they have no problem with anyone.

They said that the only thing taken from the home was a laptop, and that the persons who had entered the home had gained entry from one point and had left using another.

There were reports in other sections of the media that the man who had reportedly committed the act had been spotted by persons as he left the crime scene very calmly and composed, as if nothing had gone wrong.

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Simona Broomes (seated centre) with members of the newly-elected members of the GGDMA Executive Committee

THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) on Thursday night elected a new Executive Committee to manage the affairs of small and medium scale miners at its North Road headquarters.

The management team comprises Terrence Adams (President), Andron Alphonso (Vice President), Mahendra Persaud (Secretary), Azeem Baksh (Treasurer), Charles Da Silva (Organising Secretary) and Committee Members Sean Hopkinson, Hilbert Shields, Alfro Alphonso and Conrad

St Romain.

Newly-elected President in brief remarks expressed gratitude to the members of the association, noting that he stands ready to work for the rights of small and medium scale miners.

“Thank you for having faith in us… to take the industry forward,” he said.

According to him, he plans to commence work on Monday. Members of the GGDMA have been invited to a meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman.

“We have a meeting on Monday, so I will be taking

it from there,” he told fellow miners.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Simona Broomes, who herself is a miner and has been fighting for miners rights over the years, said she stands ready and willing to support the association.

“Despite I am a minister, my DNA is mining… I want to be part of you… I support you and I feel the GGDMA has been handed over into great hands,” Minister Broomes said while wishing the association well.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

IICA promotes optimal use of water for agriculture

By Clifford Stanley

THE Inter American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) will be training Regional agricultural and land use officials on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and adaptation of family farming to climate change, in a fourday programme in Guyana

starting from Monday.

Local IICA representative Mr Wilmot Garnett disclosed that the specific objective is to strengthen the technical capacity of public and private institutions responsible for the promotion of integrated water management towards sustainable development of family farming and its better adaptation to climate change.

The venue will be the Boardroom of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The beneficiaries of the training will be representatives from agricultural, water management and land use agencies in Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Vincent.

Mr. Garnett; Mr Fred Flatts of the National Drain-

age and Irrigation Authority (NDIA); IICA specialists from Costa Rica Dr Muhammad Ibrahim and Ms. Karen Montiel; Dr Kevon Rhiney of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and Dr Javier Ramirez of Mexico will be the main resource persons/ facilitators.

The training is expected to address three modules.

The first one will focus on setting the context, definitions, and basic concepts; the second on climate risk management in family agriculture with emphasis on adaptation and water resources; and the third module on the

utilisation of useful technologies to the management and conservation of water.

A field trip to the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) as well as visits to farms where water management practices will be observed will take place on the third day of the programme and will be representative of the different concepts introduced and discussed during the class room sessions.

Participants will be given certificates for successful participation in the programme at the closing ceremony on Thursday.

IICA disclosed that during the celebration of the ministerial meeting and seventeenth regular session of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA) in 2013, the Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas encouraged the Agency to lead, coordinate and support a technical cooperation programme to promote integrated water management in agriculture.

IICA said this programme was one of the priority issues of technical cooperation in its 20142018 Medium Term Plan and for achieving its strategic objectives by 2020.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

Lawrence calls for restoration of family structure – to address suicide THE Ministry of Social Protection held a march and rally last Thursday at Black Bush Polder on the Corentyne, in Region 6, to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day. Addressing attendees, Minister of Social Protection Ms Volda Lawrence, declared: “I empathise with families who have lost loved ones. And the community…it is imperative that we spare no effort…we have to let our voices resonate across Guyana, more so in Region 6…we need to say a loud ‘No!’ to this social ill and a resounding yes to life.”

She opined that the family structure must be restored, and youths must find persons with whom they could share their problems without fear. In so doing, she said, suicide could be avoided.

She explained further that trained counsellors need to interact more within communities, and experienced healthcare workers need to provide a forum for persons suffering from depression and abuse.

She expressed that forums must be created to encourage depressed and suicidally-inclined persons to leave their friends and communicate with trained counsellors their problems and difficulties in an atmosphere of confidentiality.

Acknowledging that the Ministry of Social Protection was unable to undertake this mammoth task single-handedly because it lacks the manpower and skills to fight this social ill, the minister said plans are currently on stream to host a two-day workshop with non-governmental organisations across the country, so as to formulate a plan to fix the broken fabric of society.

It is envisaged that any legislation or security measure which needs to be established to support The Prevention of Suicide Act will be endorsed

by Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who was unavoidably absent from the forum because he has contracted the flu.

Moreover, she informed the audience that during the sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday, ministers, inclusive of Public Health Minister Dr George Norton, began reviewing the Pesticide Act and they are expected to bring an amendment to ensure that persons who use pesticides take more care with them and are more responsible for such items.

Earlier, representatives of the secondary schools in East Berbice/ Corentyne had braved the intense heat of

being independent. During that period, there are a lot of changes…it is a period of time when they expect people to reach out to them…. Young people need spaces…they need spaces where they can express themselves freely,” he declared.

U.S. Embassy HAP Director Mr Matthew Radram high-

Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence, advocating for stronger families to combat suicide

the mid-morning sun as they shouted: “Say no to suicide, yes to life,” whilst making the half- mile trek to the Black Bush Polder Secondary School, where the annual rally was held under the theme, ‘Reaching out, saving lives.’

The Black Bush community has one of the highest rates of suicide in Guyana, and the incidents always leave survivors traumatised and stigmatised. This is not confined to suffering families only, but the entire community which would have lost the valuable skills and expertise of the deceased.

Organised by the Mibicuri Community Developers (MCD), an 18-year-old non-governmental organisation (NGO), it is expected that all efforts would be intensified so as to remove the stigma and taboo of suicide.

The NGO currently focuses on suicide prevention and promotion of community development in the agriculture-based community situated off the Corentyne coastline.

Ms Verma Jadunath painted a grim picture of the situation after conducting personal research in her home village over the last nine months.

That research revealed that thirty-seven (37) persons had attempted suicide and were hospitalised at the Mibicuri Cottage Hospital.

Further, July had the highest recorded cases of suicide -- eight (8) -- with January having six (6), August and June five (5), April and May four (4), February 1, and the current month September, two (2). Of those hospitalised, two had died.

Referring to the 2012 survey by MCD, which was researched by Michael I.J. Fallahay, a Peace Corps Response Volunteer, Judunath said no particular reason was given for committing suicide; however, the act was aided

by easy accessibility of agro chemicals in the community.

In her remarks, Minister in the Public Health Ministry Dr Karen Cummmings, reflected that the dilemma is a serious public health concern, which she said has both immediate and far- reaching effects on families and communities.

“Globally, the suicide rate is 10.3 per 100,000, but in Guyana the rate is 44.2 per 100,000, making it the highest in the world,” Dr Cummings said.

“It was Dr. Bernadette Theodore Ghandi, a PAHO representative in Guyana, who said that suicide in Guyana reflects a chronic state of unhappiness and poor mental health that requires urgent action,” she declared.

It was noted that the problem has since worsened, resulting in the government “not sweeping the fact under the carpet,” but are rolling out a national strategy on how to deal with mental health problems. Referring to a study dubbed “A Shadow of Death” by psychiatrist Dr Beckles, who looked at the causes, incidence and solutions, for suicide; and another conducted

by Dr Ken Danns, a former University of Guyana Professor, it was observed that suicide was committed by young males under age 35 who were poorly educated, had been in the same communities all their lives, and were not likely to have children.

Further, she highlighted that the study undertaken by Fallahay noted that East Indians exposed to pesticides are more likely to commit suicide.

In his brief remarks, youth representative Mr Norville Hinds highlighted the suicide of a 12-year-old boy and the challenges faced by an adolescent who experiences periods of tremendous crises.

“It is a period of transition between being dependent and

lighted failure as the common denominator in suicides. Nevertheless, he said, each person has the calibre to provide hope and purpose for someone else.

The three-hour march and rally was also attended by Region 6 Chairman Mr. David Armogan; Regional Executive Officer Dr

Veerasammy Ramayya; Director of Health Services Dr Jevaughn Stephens; education officers and special invitees. It was further punctuated by poetic pieces from six secondary schools, along with messages from all the participating institutions of learning.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

Journalist Ursulla given moving send-off THE body of former journalist and television news anchor Ursulla Persaud Ramdayal was yesterday cremated following a moving thanksgiving service for her life, held at the Memorial Gardens Crematorium in Plantation Le Repentir, Georgetown.

Ursulla died at age 53 on August 18 following a period of illness.

In the many tributes made in her honour, relatives and friends remembered Ursulla

as a person whose life was worthy of emulation.

She was described as a very humble, sharing and caring personality who had always been polite, peaceful, and of calm demeanour. But beyond that demeanour, she had been a ‘fighter’ who worked hard and dedicatedly to achieve what she set out to do, her former media colleague Beverly Alert recalled.

“If there is anything I can emulate in her, it is her ability not to be sad…and she was Veteran journalist Shirley Thomas of the Guyana Chronicle pays tribute to the late Ursulla Persaud Ramdayal

always thinking ahead,” Alert recalled.

A past student of North G e o rg e t o w n S e c o n d a r y School, Ursulla’s best friend down through the years, Debra Yaw (who read the eulogy) spoke of the wonderful teenage years they had enjoyed together. Debra said Ursulla had a voracious appetite for reading, and delighted in going to the cinema to watch the latest Hollywood drama when not engaged in singing with her close friends and strumming the guitar.

Above all, Ursulla was eulogised as a wonderful, caring and dedicated person among her relatives, with her parents and siblings, and especially among her husband David Ramdayal and three children: Sara, Tiffany and Jon Paul.

The late Ursulla resided at Canal Number 1, West Bank Demerara.

Hers had been a flexible personality. Although she had studied Business, she took a bold decision, at age 32, to enter the media, where she had spent the remainder of her life – for better or worse, in sickness or in health.

As a journalist, Ursulla

had made her name in the media fraternity, moving from proofreader through the ranks to editor-in-chief, Ursulla had enjoyed a brilliant and promising career, and had stamped an indelible mark at the CNS Channel 12/6.

Ursulla’s former boss, Mrs Savitri Sharma, Co-Director of CNS Television 12/6, eulogised Ursulla in a moving tribute as not only a trusted and dedicated worker who had had a passion for the job, but as one who had proved to be a ‘tower of strength’ to the Sharma family at a time when that company had suffered losses through fire.

And in a statement, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) said Mrs. Ramdayal had a longstanding relationship with the media, which had started with her being a proofreader at the Guyana Chronicle during the period 1986 to 2009. “During that time, she also served as a free-lance writer for the Sunday edition of the newspaper, and worked as a legal clerk/ secretary to the Programme Manager of the then Guyana Broadcasting Corporation.”

Her posts after that had been many, and had included being a freelance operator/ producer for the GBC, as well as a trainee operator/video editor at Channel 12. She has also been editor of video production and programme producer of CNS 12, where she also served as news editor, anchor and producer at Channel 6.

Mrs. Ramdayal had later moved to the Evening News at VCT Channel 28, where she had been employed as senior reporter and newsroom editor, before she moved on to GWTV Channel 2, where she had served as editor-in-chief.

Her last post had been that of communications officer at the Government Information Agency (GINA) in 2011, where she had remained working until July 2015.

Mrs Ramdayal had a ready smile, and had never been too busy to help a colleague. She had been beloved in the media fraternity.

It was the consensus that Ursulla will be sorely missed, but that her works and memory will forever live on.

A section of the gathering at the Memorial Gardens Crematorium, Plantation Le Repentir yesterday (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

Stakeholders meet to formulate Wildlife Import, Export Bill – Legislation to be tabled in Parliament by October THE Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, under its Wildlife Management Authority (WMA), held its National Stakeholders Consultation yesterday to discuss the final draft of the Wildlife Import and Export Bill, which is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly by Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, in October.

The WMA, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of the Presidency Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, organised the event with the aim of revising the Wildlife Import and Export Bill, which is intended to create a national framework and mechanisms for governing wildlife management and conservation in Guyana.

The event was held at the Grand Coastal Inn and was attended by Minister of Governance with responsibility for Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman; Permanent Secretary of the NRE, Joslyn McKenzie; Advisor on Sustainable Development at NRE, Clayton Hall; Head of the Wildlife Division, Alona Sankar; Wildlife Protection activist, Annette Arjoon-Martins and Consultant to the Department, Teni Housty.

Representatives from various organisations including the United States of America Embassy, Conservation International Guyana (CIG), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Iwokrama International Centre, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), among others, were also present.

Minister Trotman told participants of the session that it is important that the draft be completed and become a reality for Guyana. “We believe that this is one of the very worthwhile endeavours of the last administration, which must be seen to completion and so we have gathered to ensure that we see that process through to reality.

I’ve gone through the Bill and so far, I am quite impressed with the work done,” Minister Trotman said.

He related that he is hopeful that when the Bill is tabled in the National Assembly, it will receive the support of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), as well as all national stakeholders.

“Once it is tabled in the National Assembly, we will take it to the Special Select Committee and we want it to receive the support of the opposition and the stakeholders so that by the end of this year, Guyana can say it has an Act and not a Bill,” the minister told the participants.

Head of the Wildlife Division, Aloma Sankar, in brief remarks, said the consultation was another step in the legislative process as it provides a new approach to protect and conserve wildlife in Guyana.

“In July, 2014, a consultative meeting was held on the Wildlife

Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, delivering brief remarks at the event

Import and Export Bill and concern was expressed about the apparent disjointed approach to wildlife management and conservation in Guyana. This consultative meeting seeks to present the new approach to wildlife management and conservation in Guyana and to obtain feedback from the stakeholders on the way forward.

In today’s session, there will be heavy focus on the areas of the Bill which have been amended to reflect the new framework,” she said.

Adviser on Sustainable Development at NRE, Clayton Hall said this approach was born out of the new administration’s thrust to ensure Guyana’s national patrimony and natural resources are sustainably protected. “…under this government, wildlife is recognised as part and parcel of our natural resources and patrimony. There is a new approach to how we deal with how these are used by the people and for the people. We want to ensure that whatever happens, it happens in a way that provides benefits for all Guyanese and also that we leave that which we have inherited for future generations to enjoy,” Hall told the participants.

He noted that the Bill will also ensure that participants and stakeholders in the management of the conservation of Guyana’s wildlife are of the highest rectitude and integrity, while ensuring that the future safeguards are in place for those involved in conservation and trade to operate under strict rules and guidelines.

Head of Guyana’s Wildlife Division Aloma Sankar

Adviser on Sustainable Development at the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Clayton Hall

Participants at the Public Consultation on the Wildlife Import and Export Bill, yesterday

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‘No axe to grind’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

…PM says has nothing against PPP

By Ravin Singh AMID the hostility being displayed against him, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo says he has “no axe to grind” with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and stand willing and ready to lead talks on national unity with his old party.

Just recently, it was announced by government, their intention to engage the opposition PPP to push a national unity agenda. However, the Prime Minister was agreed upon by the coalition government as the lead negotiator to engage the PPP – a party which he previously served as a member for more than 50 years. The PPP rejected this, however, offering that the National Unity talks with the government would go “nowhere” if Nagamootoo was to lead the government’s ticket in this regard. “The PPP wishes to state that if such a move is part and parcel of the so-called ‘fresh approach’ by the APNU+AFC then it is clearly a non-starter and will end up dead in the water. Knowing the dim view the PPP holds of Moses Nagamootoo, the APNU+AFC by insisting that he is their ‘best man’ who will head its team must know that that initiative will go nowhere,” the opposition party said in a statement recently.

USEFUL PARTNER However, in an interview with National Communication Network (NCN) earlier this week, PM Nagamootoo reasoned that the PPP could find in him a very “useful partner” since he has been a staunch and consistent advocate for a government of national unity for many years. “I have worked with Cheddi Jagan - the late president in the 70s, on the issue of a national front and a national front government. I worked with the late Dr. Walter Rodney to put a programme in place for a united Government and later on it was morphed into what the WPA

Opposition Leader Prime Minister Bharrat Jagdeo Moses Nagamootoo had called a caretaker government” Nagamootoo told the NCN. Against this backdrop, which details his credentials, Naga- the leadership of the two parties enter into what is called a mootoo noted that he has “no axe to grind against the PPP” even bipartisan committee. while the issue remains one of personality and not one based According to him, a few members from the PPP sharing on issues affecting Guyana. “I would believe what is important space with a few members from the APNU+AFC, described now is not personality; we need to move away from that and go as a bipartisan committee, can build consensus between into the arena of policy. We need a clear policy objective that these two blocs before they approach the National Assemsays political parties can, and must work together and therefore, bly. That way, the culture of “fighting on the floor of the when I was named head of the coalition team to meet with the Parliament” will be eroded, he said. Explaining that this PPP; I wasn’t doing so because I have any animusity or any process would be required to be executed in stages before hatred or hostility for the PPP” the PM assured. it can be operationalised, Nagamootoo related that it canIn fact, he revealed that he assumed those responsibilities not happen overnight. “In the beginning former President because it was thought by his colleagues in the APNU+AFC Bharrat Jagdeo recognised that we need to build trust; he camp that he would be a suitable facilitator to work with a was the one who enunciated the issue of trust and he is the party that he had worked with for over 50 years. But the issue one who is turning around to emphasise distrust. So I beof personality clash, he opined, has been one of the effects of lieve that the decision to set up a team from the coalition to Guyana’s biggest problem, which is the lack of “political unity” meet with the PPP is a forward movement. I think President and the will to bring about that unity.

Granger ought to be complimented and celebrated for the This ill, which the PM described as having evaded Guyanese fact that he is someone who has been in opposition leader for 50 years of political life as an independent country, should for 23 years and will come forward and say it is time; it is not be a repeated narrative in the next 50 years. As a result, he time that we turn a new page and evolve a new attitude that reasoned that attempts to stymie any move towards national will define the relationship between political parties” Prime unity, because one might not agree with the selection of a person Minister Nagamootoo said. in the process, reflects the glaring need for political and national Underscoring the immediate need for “functional counity. But according to him, the solution to Guyana’s problem operation” in this regard, he referenced the “false claims” remains a political one. made by Venezuela with regards to Guyana’s territory, He reasoned that it may not be possible to achieve this goal which demands the need for unity in the country. “You of national unity without constitutional changes which the Gov- don’t need to know who you’re sitting with to talk, you ernment has set out a steering committee to spearhead. need to know that by the fact of sitting, you’re sending a Apart from this, Nagamootoo explained that national unity message” he said. Other members expected to be part of cannot be achieved if the two opposing parties refuse to work government’s negotiating team includes; Vice Presidents out a programmatic unity approach, which would create space Khemraj Ramjattan and Carl Greenidge, Attorney General for the two blocs to agree on what are national priorities. Basil Williams, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and MinThirdly, he suggested that national unity will not result unless ister of Governance, Raphael Trotman.

AG, stakeholders discuss Juvenile Justice Bill

ISSUES affecting children and their rights were ad- society,” she said. and England where our citizens go and marry people and The Attorney General said other issues discussed per- make children and return home with their children will dressed yesterday when Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG) Basil William met with stake- tained to private international law and family rights. bring issues of child abduction, custody, maintenance and “As a cross-border country between, Venezuela, Brazil those things which are situated in the Hague Conventions holders to discuss the Juvenile Justice Bill.

The Juvenile Justice Bill is set to deal with issues of and Suriname, even countries farther afield like the U.S. and the questions of their rights in that context.” sentencing pertaining to youths.

Attending the meeting at the AG’s office were UNICEF Country Representative for Guyana and Suriname Marianne Flach, Learning and Developmental Officer Audrey Michele Rodrigues and Child Protection Officer Pat Gittens.

According to the UNICEF Country Representative, there is a draft of the bill which is being discussed with various ministries and stakeholders, and it is the hope that it will be introduced to Cabinet soon.

Adding that issues surrounding the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) were discussed, Flach said “the NOC in itself is a good institution and an open institution that provides for children in the manner of a correctional facility and not a prison”.

She continued: “We should not regard students there as prisoners. But, we are concerned that 75 per cent of the young people there are locked up for wandering for instance and we think that should not be the case and there should be other correctional type of facilities for that type of children and they should be much closer to the family.”

The UNICEF representative noted that there should be a solution within all the Administrative Regions to house youth offenders who commit minor offences closer to their relatives.

“We need to think of solutions in the regions which are much closer to the families. Then there would be a reduced number of children in the NOC then we can pay much better attention to their special needs and reintegration into The AG in discussion with stakeholders at his office

Murders climb to 108

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

…but 81 illegal firearms recovered

MURDERS have climbed to 108 so far this year and some 81 illegal firearms have been seized, police said in their monthly crime statistics update on Friday.

According to the police, at the end of August 2015, they recorded a 12% increase in serious crimes in comparison to the same period in 2014.

Among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping. A total of 104 murders were recorded at the end of August 2015 in comparison to 98 murders at the end of August 2014, an increase of 6%. As of Thursday, 4 more murders had been recorded.

Besides, at the end of August, robbery under arms overall increased by 3% in comparison to the same period in 2014.

The statistics indicate an increase of 4% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; while the number of armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators is similar.

There has been an increase of 65% in the number of reports of rape with 271 reports at the end of August this year compared

S om e 8 1 i l l e g a l f i r e a r m s h a v e b e e n recovered the police say in their monthly report on Friday tion through its police-com-

to 164 for the same period last year.

Break and enter and larceny and burglary have shown an overall increase of 13%. Unto the end of August this year, a total of 81 illegal firearms have been recovered by the police comprising 1 sub-machine gun, 46 pistols, 21 revolvers, 6 shotguns, 6 rifles and 1 pen-gun. This compares to a total of 53 illegal firearms that were recovered unto this time last year.

In relation to the firearm amnesty, another 2 16 gauge shotguns and 2 matching cartridges were handed in to “F” Division; 2 air rifles and 1 .32 pistol with 2 matching rounds were received in “A” Division; and a .22 air rifle was surrendered in “E” Division (Linden/Kwakwani).

The police force said that it is continuing in its efforts aimed at crime preven-

munity partnership programme, along with social crime prevention interventions in the Policing Divisions, with special emphasis on empowering youths.

POLICE-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP During last month’s interaction between the police and youths attached to Police Youth Clubs in “A” Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara), a number of children were involved in a spelling bee competition, educational talks focusing on motivation, nutrition and healthy living, visits to places of interest such as the National Park and the Zoo, softball cricket and other recreational activities and training sessions in information technology, fire prevention and first aid.

The division also held its inaugural Ms Youth Ambas-

sador Pageant 2015 on August 15, 2015 at the St Stanislaus College, Georgetown, where Miss Onica Lynch from the Albouystown Group was crowned Ms Youth Ambassador 2015.

In “B” Division (Berbice), the police donated sports gears comprising two prefab football goals along with nets and a football to the community of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, in further efforts to boost police community relations.

The division will also be making efforts to assist with the improvement of the playground in the community. On August 27, 2015, the police in “D” Division (West Demerara/East Bank Essequibo) launched its “See Something, Say Something” initiative under the Divisional C-PETS programme in its quest to reduce crime.

The initiative is in collaboration with the faithbased leaders attached to the Cops and Faith Community Network. During the launching of the initiative at the Tuschen Car Park, East Bank Essequibo, the police conducted a back-toschool distribution exercise where a number of children received backpacks with school stationery and water bottles.

In “E” Division (Linden/Kwakwani), a football tournament among 14 teams from Police Youth Clubs was held at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground, Wismar; a day of sports

Ramjattan, Canadian envoy discuss justice reform project VICE President and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan on Friday met with the Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Pierre Giroux to discuss critical matters of national security.

The High Commissioner’s visit was to also discuss the government of Canada strengthening of the Guyanese Criminal Justice System Project, to be implemented by the Vancouver-based Justice Education Society (JES). The JES delegation would be meeting

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

with the minister very soon.

According to a release by the ministry, the High Commissioner updated the minister on the objectives, project activities, scope and structure of the project, as well as noting October 2015 as a possible date for the commencement of the training. Also noted was that a Coordination Committee for the project will be created.

It was also recognised that the project would enhance cooperation among participating agencies, namely the Magistracy, the

Director of Public Prosecutions and Ministry of Legal Affairs. Minister Ramjattan expressed his gratitude in highlighting the immediate outcomes being competencies in crime scene investigation, strengthening skills of prosecutors to organise and present cases, and enhancing legal knowledge of magistrates. The minister noted the desire to see the project being replicated in other parts of the country and was looking forward for the project to be a success.

was also held at Silver Hill, Soesdyke/Linden Highway; and the youths were involved in first aid training and a workshop on Peer Pressure as well as a cheese straw making competition.

In “F” Division (Interior Locations), a 3-week community project was conducted at Itabali, Mazaruni, between August 02 and 23. The project involved 64 youths from the Purple Heart Police Youth Group where they were engaged in skills training, craftwork, sports and educational talks.

EMPOWERMENT PROJECT On August 03, the police in “G” Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands) launched a 4-week empowerment project for 23 youths from the Dartmouth community during which they will be exposed to home economic skills at the Essequibo Technical Institute.

Upon the successful completion of the programme, the youths will be certified by the Carnegie School of Home Economics. Divisional Commanders also held a number of community outreach meetings where issues and concerns raised by members of the public were addressed.

During August, there were a total of 24 interventions

supported by the religious community in the Cops and Faith Community Network which treats with juvenile first offenders for minor crimes as a pre-emptive intervention to the New Opportunity Corps.

Since the launch of the Cops and Faith Community Network in September 2013 and unto August 31, 2015, there have been a total of 210 such interventions. In all cases, the youths were counselled by the religious leaders and following the involvement of parents/guardians, and the victims where necessary, the majority of them were warned and sent away.

In relation to the Family Liaison for victims of serious crimes and domestic violence project, which is also under the Cops and Faith Community Network, there were 17 interventions by members of the religious community in response to attempted suicide, and several cases of serious crimes including armed robbery and murder where the affected persons, victims and relatives were counselled.

A number of police ranks who were involved in incidents and came under fire while responding to reports were also counselled by the religious leaders.

10% drop in road fatalities EIGHTY road fatalities from 66 accidents have been recorded at the end of August 2015, in comparison to 89 fatalities from 82 accidents for the same period in 2014, a decrease of 10 % police said on Friday.

There have also been decreases in all other categories of road accidents – serious, minor and damage. Pedestrians have been the main category of road users affected so far in road fatalities with 28 such persons having lost their lives at the end of August, 2015. In addition 6 pedal cyclists, 21 persons in motor vehicles, 11 motor cyclists, 10 drivers, 3 pillion riders and 1 person who was being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives. Speeding has been the major contributory factor to fatal accidents, having been the cause of 31 of the 66 fatal accidents unto August 2015.

Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 37,545 cases for this year being made against errant motorists at the end of August 2015; of this total 15,640 cases were for speeding, 1,251 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 398 for using cell phone while driving and 1,034 for failing to wear seat belt. Up to Thursday there has been one road fatality for September.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 12, 2015

Morian wants ‘win-win’ solution – in talks with Toucan Connections call centre REGION 10 Chairman Renis Morian is currently in talks with senior representatives of the St Kittsbased call centre Toucan

Connections in relation to the 90 workers that were laid-off.

“I spoke with a very senior representative of the

company today…talks have begun with them at the level of the Region,” Morian told Guyana Chronicle.

The Regional Chairman said, “I want to give them ample time to correct” the situation. According to Morian, he is working towards a “win-win solution.”

“We are trying to have

an amicable solution to this problem…” he declared.

He also said that the issues of non-payment of National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions and Pay as You Earn (PAYE) tax deductions over to the relevant agencies despite their being taken out of the employees’ salaries would constitute a critical part of the discussions.

“I want to give them enough time,” Morian stressed, while noting that he intends to meet with the displaced workers next week.

The Regional Chairman is optimistic that discussions with the company will bear fruit, but from all indications, the dislodged workers may have to wait a little longer to receive their severance packages.

The laid-off employees were denied their benefits from the company when they were informed by the company that it would be closing down. The company has thus breached this

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian

country’s labour laws which state that employees must be adequately informed before a company’s closure, and must be provided with a severance package.

Toucan Connections has said it was unaware that the severance package was the company’s responsibility.

Attempts to contact Minister Broomes on the matter have proved futile.

(Ariana Gordon)

Saturday, September 12, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Sunday, September 13, 2015 - 05:00 hrs Monday, September 14, 2015 - 05:00 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

Final round of CFU Women’s Olympic Qualifiers postponed GUYANA’S senior national women’s football team – The Lady Jags – will have to wait a little longer than anticipated for their clash against Puerto Rico, in the final round Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Olympic Qualifier, after the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) received communiqué of the match being postponed.

The CFU Women’s Olympic qualifiers Final Round was scheduled for October 2-4 at a venue that was still to be determined, after Guyana, Jamaica and Puerto Rico had qualified for the ‘four-team playoff’ by coming out on top of their respective groups.

The ‘Lady Jags’ clinched their berth into the final round by conquering Group Four that comprised Cuba and St Kitts and Nevis while Puerto Rico played undefeated against Haiti, Grenada and Aruba in Group 1.

Jamaica, who were placed in Group 3 with the Dominican Republic and Dominica, also qualified after dominating their group.

Information reaching the GFF stated that part of the postponement was due to the fact that the Group 2 winners have not yet been decided since the group match is yet to be played.

Initially, St Lucians were identified as the hosts of Group 2 and to also play alongside Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and the Cayman Island.

Unfortunately, according the document, the CFU is yet to also find a host for the final four-team playoffs. The GFF had shown interest in hosting the matches, but the steep cost attached was a factor in the Lady Jags not having a chance to make history in front of their home fans.

However, the CFU said that they have received communications from interesting parties who have shown some willingness to host the Group.

As such, according to the CFU, a final decision will be determined shortly which will see the Group being rescheduled for late October or the first week of November.

In the final round, the four teams will play a single-elimination tournament. The two finalists and the winner of the thirdplace match will qualify for the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship as CFU representatives.

Should the Lady Jags finish within the top three, they will face the likes of USA, Canada, Mexico and two representatives from the Central American region.

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Durbanville 08:30 hrs Pegasi 0-9:10 hrs Chester’s Wish 09:45 hrs Guest Of Honour 10:20 hrs A Time To Kill 10:55 hrs Laurie’s Gold 11:30 hrs Mount Fuji ENGLISH RACING TIPS Chester 08:40 hrs Stamp Hill 09:15 hrs Marcret 09:50 hrs Secret Number 10:25 hrs Ejaazah 11:00 hrs Berrahri 11:35 hrs Hoofalong 12:10 hrs Brittleton DONCASTER 09:00 hrs Emotionless

09:45 hrs Kimberella 10:10 hrs Safety Check 10:45 hrs Fields Of Athenry 11:20 hrs Captain Morley 11:55 hrs Peril 12:30 hrs Mansfield BATH 09:10 hrs Top Cop 09:45 hrs Regal Miss 10:20 hrs Pixeleen 10:55 hrs Meetings Man 11:30 hrs Mikandy 12:05 hrs Cosmeapolitan 12:40 hrs Pyla IRISH RACING TIPS Leopardstown 10:30 hrs Coolmore 11:05 hrs Sanus Per Aquam 11:40 hrs Pyromaniac 12:15 hrs Fascinating Rock 12:45 hrs Gleneagles 13:20 hrs Legatissimo 13:50 hrs Lightning Spear 14:20 hrs Rummaging AMERICAN RACING TIPS Belmont Race 1 Richiebythelinks Race 2 Camelot Kitten Race 3 V. E. Day Race 4 Wild Man Race 5 Holy Invader Race 6 Dekalb County Race 7 Startwithsilver Race 8 Dark Roast Race 9 Santiero Italia

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

Morgan, Willey on fire as England level ODI series

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Eoin Morgan and David Willey shone as England held their nerve to beat Australia by three wickets in a tense fourth one-day international in Leeds yesterday and level the series at 2-2.

Captain Morgan hit 92

Skipper Eoin Morgan was named Man-of-theMatch. and Willey launched John Hastings for six to take the hosts to their target of 300 with 10 balls to spare, setting up a deciding match in Manchester tomorrow.

Glenn Maxwell was Australia’s stand-out player, plundering 85 off 64 balls and sharing a fourth-wicket partnership

of 137 with George Bailey (75) after Willey had taken three early wickets.

The touring side slumped to 215 for seven before Matthew Wade (50 not out) and Hastings (34 not out) clubbed 84 in the last eight overs to lead Australia to a competitive total of 299 for seven.

Wa t c h e d b y B r i t i s h Prime Minister David Cameron, England lost Alex Hales early but Jason Roy (36), James Taylor (41) and Ben Stokes (41) helped Morgan keep up with the required run rate.

Morgan struck two sixes and eight fours and looked to be leading his side to their

target until he was brilliantly caught one-handed by Maxwell at backward point off Pat Cummins.

Jonny Bairstow chipped in with 31 and Liam Plunkett 17 off 10 balls before he fell to another superb piece of fielding from Maxwell, who knocked the ball up before falling over the boundary, and took it one-handed as he leapt back on to the field.

Moeen Ali (21 not out) and Willey (12 not out) kept cool in mounting tension at Headingley, the latter ending the match in spectacular style with a powerful strike over longon to complete a triumphant return to the side.

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA innings J. Burns b Willey 2 A. Finch c Bairstow b Willey 15 S. Smith lbw b Willey 5 G. Bailey c & b Plunkett 75 G. Maxwell b Ali 85 M. Marsh c Willey b Plunkett 17 M. Wade not out 50 M. Stoinis c Rashid b Ali 4 J. Hastings not out 34 Extras: (lb-8, nb-1, w-3) 12 Total: (for 7 wickets, 50 overs) 299 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-25, 3-30, 4-167, 5-210, 6-210, 7-215.

Bowling: D. Willey 8-0-51-3 (w1), M. Wood 9-0-65-0 (nb-1), L. Plunkett 8-0-47-2 (w-1), B. Stokes 5-0-25-0 (w-1), A. Rashid 10-0-630, M. Ali 10-0-40-2.

ENGLAND innings

J. Roy c Finch b Cummins 36 A. Hales lbw b Cummins 0 J. Taylor c Wade b M. Marsh 41 E. Morgan c Maxwell b Cummins 92 B. Stokes b M. Marsh 41 J. Bairstow c Wade b Maxwell 31 M. Ali not out 21 L. Plunkett c Maxwell b Cummins 17 D. Willey not out 12 Extras: (lb-3, nb-2, w-8) 13 Total: (for 7 wickets, 48.2 overs) 304 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-73, 3-89, 4-180, 5-238, 6-261, 7-282.

Bowling: J. Pattinson 9-0-73-0 (nb-1, w-2), P. Cummins 10-0-49-4 (nb-1, w-2), J. Hastings 6.2-0-56-0, M. Marsh 9-0-52-2 (w-2), G. Maxwell 10-0-54-1 (w-2), M. Stoinis 4-0-17-0.

Black Caps bank on all-rounders for Australia tour WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has included recuperating all-rounders James Neesham and Corey Anderson in his squad for the three-Test tour of Australia later this year.

The duo, who have both been battling back problems, were named yesterday in a 15-man party to face Australia in Brisbane and Perth, as well as the first-ever day/night Test in Adelaide.

Hesson is banking on the all-rounders being fit enough to supplement the bowling of the pace attack, allowing him to name only four seamers in Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and Matt Henry.

“A lot of our recent success has been based on the value of our number six batsman bowling some overs and we’re comfortable continuing in that vein,” Hesson said.

“Rather than having an extra fast bowler not playing in Australia, we thought it more prudent for those in contention to remain in New Zealand and be playing domestic cricket.”

Hesson said he was confident both Neesham, who was rested from the final two one-dayers on the recent tour of South Africa, and Anderson, who was diagnosed with a double stress fracture in his spine in June, would be available.

“We’ve been very conservative with them and we wouldn’t have picked them if we didn’t think they would be fit,” Hesson added “Most countries are struggling for one and

we’re lucky to have two good ones.”

Otherwise, Hesson has selected an experienced squad led by Brendon McCullum to try and extend New Zealand’s run of seven consecutive series without defeat.

Mark Craig, who with Kane Williamson bowled the Black Caps to a series-tying victory against England at Headingley in June, was the sole specialist spinner named in the squad.

Luke Ronchi will remain as back-up for the middle order and wicketkeeper BJ Watling, while Hamish Rutherford retained his place in the squad ahead of Dean Brownlie as cover for the top order.

Perth-born Brownlie, who scored 198 runs in two Tests the last time New Zealand toured Australia in 2011, was named in the ‘A’ squad for matches against their Sri Lankan counterparts next month.

New Zealand, who will play three warm-up matches before the first Test starts at the Gabba on November 5, drew the 2011 series 1-1 after winning the second Test in Hobart.

“History suggests it is a difficult place to win,” Hesson said. “They know the conditions so well. But we’re playing some good cricket and we’ve got a good team so let’s see.”

Squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

WADA responds to Radcliffe call for help

LONDON, England (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has responded to marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe’s call to “help clear her name” by saying it is committed to protecting the confidentiality of all athletes’ blood data.

The Briton, who retired from competitive running this year, complained this week that a parliamentary committee hearing into wide-ranging accusations of blood doping in athletics had “effectively implicated” her.

A statement yesterday from the agency’s director general David Howman noted that media reports had included an appeal to WADA by Radcliffe who has faced calls to release her data and denied cheating “in any form.”

Her husband and coach Gary Lough had also told

the BBC that WADA must “protect clean athletes”.

The WADA statement emphasised that no information dating from before 2009 “could ever be considered as doping, legally or otherwise.

“Tarnishing an athlete’s name based on values from pre-2009 would be wholly irresponsible,” it said. “Even athletes’ data from post-2009, when the ABP (athletes’ biological passport) had been introduced, is not necessarily indicative of doping.

“WADA is committed to protecting the confidentiality of athletes. In particular their private medical information,” read the statement.

Radcliffe, 41, was not mentioned by name during the hearing at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport but a question was asked about the validity of the performances of British women in the London Marathon, an event she has won

three times.

The hearing took place following recent reports

by Britain’s Sunday Times

PAULA RADCLIFFE newspaper and German TV station ARD of alleged blood-doping in athletics.

Radcliffe set her marathon record time of 2:15:25, which remains nearly three

minutes faster than any other time clocked by a female runner, in 2003.

“If any athlete feels their rights are being eroded or inappropriately challenged as a result of the ARD and Sunday Times reports they must refer those concerns to the Commission,” said WADA. “This is the correct channel versus trial by media.

“It is very unfortunate that any athlete should feel implicated and that they have to defend their reputation as a result.

“WADA has a clear and established process set out in the World Anti-Doping Code that protects athletes,” the agency added.

“If any athlete were to have a case to answer it allows them a full hearing and an opportunity for their voice to be heard.

Our actions must remain impartial.”

De Gea agrees new four-year United contract LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has signed a new fouryear contract, the club said yesterday, a week after a proposed transfer to Real Madrid collapsed.

The Spain international, 24, almost joined Madrid on transfer deadline day, but the deal fell through as the necessary paperwork was not filed in time and the clubs blamed each other for the bureaucratic failure.

His previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season, and he had been widely expected to join Madrid on a free transfer next year.

His decision to commit his future to United will give the club a timely boost ahead of today’s clash at

home to rivals Liverpool.

“I am delighted to be

DAVID De GEA starting this new chapter in my United career,” De Gea said in a statement on the club website (www.

manutd.com).

“I have always enjoyed playing with these great players in front of our fantastic fans. Manchester United is a special club and Old Trafford is an ideal place for me to continue to develop my career.

“I’m looking forward to putting a difficult summer behind me and concentrating on working hard to improve and help my team mates to be successful.”

De Gea was left out of United’s opening games of the season, with manager Louis van Gaal openly questioning whether the player could deal mentally with the ongoing speculation.

Argentina international Sergio Romero was installed as first-choice keep-

er and kept three clean sheets in the league before being criticised following a 2-1 defeat by Swansea City. van Gaal has yet to confirm whether De Gea will be brought back into the side for today’s home clash with Liverpool.

He was the man-of-thematch when the sides met last year, making a string of superb saves as United won 3-0, the first part of a league double over the Merseysiders.

“I am absolutely delighted David has signed a new contract. He is one of the best goalkeepers in world football,” manager Louis van Gaal said.

“I am very pleased that he will be part of the team for many years to come.”

TENELEC first division 50-overs competition starts today in Berbice STARTING today, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will commence its premier round-robin 50-overs first division cricket competition, the Tenelec Tournament.

This very important tournament is sponsored by Bobby Deonarine, the uncle of West Indies all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine and his business partner Tom Gruntzel, both based in Washington, USA. Many top players are products of this tournament with names such as Deonarine himself, other Guyana and West Indies cricketers Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin and Royston Crandon.

Many other West Indies junior cricketers and national players are also products of the TENELEC Championship.

The fixtures are as follows: GROUP ‘A’ Round 1 - Saturday September 12, 2015 Blairmont Community Centre vs Police at Blairmont Bush Lot Rising Star vs West Berbice at Bush Lot Round 2 - Saturday September 19, 2015 Police vs Bush Lot Rising Star at Cumberland Blairmont Community Centre vs West Berbice at Blairmont Round 3 - Sunday September 27 Bush Lot rising Star vs Blairmont Community Centre at Bush Lot West Berbice vs Police at Blairmont GROUP ‘B’ Round 1 - Saturday September 12, 2015 Edinburgh vs Tucber Park at Edinburgh Young Warriors vs Port Mourant at Cumberland Round 2 - Saturday September 19, 2015 Port Mourant vs Tucber Park at Port Mourant Edinburgh vs Young Warriors at Edinburgh Round 3 - Sunday, September 27, 2015 (NOTE DATE) Young Warriros vs Tucber Park at Cumberland Port Mourant vs Edinburgh at Port Mourant GROUP ‘C’ Round 1 - Saturday September 12, 2015 Upper Corentyne vs Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets at Crabwood Creek Skeldon Community Centre vs Albion Community Centre at Skeldon Round 2 - Saturday September 19, 2015.

Albion Community Centre vs Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets at Albion Skeldon Community Centre vs Upper Corentyne at Skeldon Round 3 - Sunday September 27, 2015 Albion Community Centre vs Upper Corentyne at Albion Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets vs Skeldon Community Centre at Area ‘H’! Rose Hall Town All matches start at 09:30hrs.

Aussie opener Warner ruled out of Bangladesh Tests SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Australia will be forced to blood an entirely new opening partnership in Bangladesh next month after David Warner was ruled out of the two-Test series with a broken finger yesterday.

Warner, whose opening partner Chris Rogers retired after the recent Ashes defeat, sustained the injury in a one-dayer against England last week and a hand specialist in Sydney has confirmed he will not be fit

to make the trip.

“It’s really disappointing,” said Warner, who was recently appointed vice-captain under new skipper Steve Smith.

“I never want to miss a match for Australia but I’ll be doing everything I possibly can to get back as quickly as possible.”

The 28-year-old is, however, expected to be ready to face New Zealand in the three-match series on home soil in November, which includes the first

DAVID WARNER

ever day/night Test at the Adelaide Oval.

“David has been told that the fracture will take at least four weeks to stabilise and a further two weeks before he can start batting and catching again,” said Cricket Australia’s Pat Howard.

“He will be reviewed by the specialist at the end of the month to determine when he can resume playing. Ideally we’d like him to play the Sheffield Shield round beginning on October 27, as prepara-

tion for the New Zealand series.”

With the Test retirement of all-rounder Shane Watson and the death of Phillip Hughes at the end of last year, Australia have a dearth of experienced openers at their disposal.

Joe Burns, who played two Tests against India in the middle order last season, and the uncapped Cameron Bancroft are contenders, while 18-Test veteran Ed Cowan has continued to score runs after

being dropped for Rogers in 2013.

The trip to Bangladesh was always going to be a transitional series for Australia after the retirement of captain Michael Clarke, stalwart wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, Watson and Rogers.

The tourists play a warm-up match in Fatullah on October 3 before Tests against Bangladesh in Chittagong (October 9-13) and Mirpur (October 17-21).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

Beaten Serena fails to crack Vinci code at U.S. Open

By Steve Keating NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - Roberta Vinci delivered one of the biggest upsets in tennis history with a U.S. Open semi-final win over Serena Williams yesterday that ended the American’s Grand Slam bid and set up a surprising all-Italian final.

Two match wins from becoming the fourth woman to win all four majors in one

the beginning.”

The day got off to an ominous start when Flavia Pennetta stunned Romanian second seed Simona Halep 6-1, 6-3 and the upset trend continued as an inspired Vinci soon followed her Italian compatriot out onto Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

Vinci, a 300-1 long-shot to win the U.S. Open when the two-week tournament began, remarkably pulled

slam champion who had only lost two matches all season and never dropped a set against Vinci in their four previous meetings.

‘LIKE A DREAM’ Forced to wait a day to get on court after rain wiped out Thursday’s semi-finals schedule, the weight of expectation appeared to weigh on the muscular shoulders of a 33-year-old who was chasing the first Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988.

Everything was going according to script as Williams easily took the opening set but things began to unravel quickly after a composed Vinci registered a key break in the fifth game of the second set that allowed her to even the match.

With the contest slipping away, Williams tried to will herself back into the match, screaming and fist-pumping after each point and feeding

off the support of the crowd.

But with nothing to lose, an undaunted Vinci continued to pressure Williams, who could not pull off the great escape like she had done so many times before scowling as she exited a stunned stadium.

“This is an incredible moment for me,” Vinci said after needing time to compose herself for the on-court interview. “It’s amazing.

It’s like a dream. I’m in the final. I beat Serena.”

Lost in the drama of the Williams match was a brilliant performance by Pennetta, who needed less than an hour to dispatch Halep.

Pennetta, 33, entered the contest as the clear underdog but the 26th seed showed her experience and was not overwhelmed on the big stage having reached at least the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows in six of the last seven years.

Roberta Vinci of Italy reacts after beating Serena Williams of the USA on day twelve of the 2015 U.S. Open Championships tennis tournament in New York, yesterday. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports) Aside from her U.S. Open resumé there was little to hint at a U.S. Open final by Pennetta, who by her own admission had an unimpressive run-up to the

year’s final grand slam.

“It’s amazing. I didn’t think to be so far in the tournament,” said Pennetta. “Today I think I played really well.”

Will Mayweather’s career end with Berto bout?

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

Serena Williams of the U.S. gets up slowly from the court in the third set against Roberta Vinci of Italy during their women’s singles semi-final match at the U.S. Open Championships tennis tournament in New York, yesterday. (Reuters/Mike Segar) year, a nerve-racked Williams crumbled as unseeded Vinci, playing in her first grand slam singles semi-final, battled to an improbable 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.

“I don’t want to talk about how disappointing it is for me,” a grim-faced Williams told reporters. “I told you guys I don’t feel pressure. I never felt pressure.

“I never felt that pressure to win here. I said that from

off one of the wildest scenes ever witnessed on a tennis court by ending Williams’ streak of 33 consecutive match wins in the grand slams.

A five-time doubles grand slam winner, Vinci, 32, arrived at Flushing Meadows having never before been beyond the quarter-finals in singles play at 43 majors.

In the other corner stood Williams, a 21-time grand

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday September 12, 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 Thursday’s quiz:

Alf Valentine (WI vs ENG, Old Trafford, 1950) Desmond Haynes-148 (WI vs AUST, ARG, 1978)

Today’s Quiz:

Where and when the WI won a Test for the first time?

Where and when the WI won an ODI for the first time?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Reuters) The ‘will he, won’t he?’ doubting game continues as Floyd Mayweather Jr prepares for what he has said will be the final fight of his career while most boxing pundits shrug their shoulders in disbelief.

Five-division world champion Mayweather will defend his WBC and WBA welterweight titles against American Andre Berto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena tonight and throughout the build-up he has repeatedly insisted that this will be his swansong.

However, Mayweather has long been a consummate self-promoter and the doubters can point to the American’s unexpected U-turn when he came back from a 21-month retirement to fight Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September 2009.

Should Mayweather win today, as is widely expected, he would match the 49-0 record of former heavyweight great Rocky Marciano and it would seem most unlikely that he would not be tempted to return to the ring for a 50th fight.

“I came to say I’m going out 490,” Mayweather told reporters while preparing for today’s scheduled 12-round bout. “I’m happy with how my career went. Number 49 is my last fight.”

Asked whether he might ‘get that itch’ to come back for another bout, as he did in late 2009, Mayweather replied: “No, I’m going to just push the limit for this fight and see what I

can accomplish.

“My health is more important. If you stick around anything too long, anything can happen. You can make a lot of money, but you still want to be able to talk, walk, and have a sharp mind.”

INITIALLY DOUBTFUL Stephen Espinoza, executive

Undefeated WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr speaks during a news conference at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Wednesday. (Reuters/ Las VegasSun/Steve Marcus) vice-president of cable giant Showtime Sports whose lucrative six-fight deal with Mayweather will end with the Berto bout, was initially doubtful but he now believes that the American will call it quits today.

“Like many people, I had my doubts about whether this would be his last fight,” Espinoza told Sports Illustrated. “I say that in the past tense because over the course of the last four weeks, I’ve changed my mind.

“I hear the tone of his voice and the way he sounds and some of the very candid concerns he has voiced about his own health.

“I think that he’s sincerely reached a point where he sort of feels like he has done everything that he needs to do in the sport.”

However, Mayweather’s trainer and father, Floyd Mayweather Sr, expects his 38-year-old son to fight again, though he has cautioned him to make a decision for no more than six months after today’s fight because of his advancing age as a boxer.

“I can’t say he won’t quit and then come back,” Mayweather Sr told the New Jersey Star-Ledger. “I fought too may fighters, trained too many fighters, watched too many fighters not to know how many of them do come back - a year later, two years later.

“If he thinks it over and he wants to go after that Marciano record, I’m saying, ‘I don’t think he needs it.’ But if he thinks he does, there is just one way to do it.

“That’s to go do it right away.

Don’t wait and be out there a year or two later ... rusty, reflexes gone ... because that’s the way it happens. If my son (is) gonna fight anymore, I hope he fights in five or six months.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday September 12, 2015

CMRC Guyana cars arrive late (By Stephan Sookram in Barbados compliments of Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies, National Sport Commission, A&R Jewanram Printers, Renta-Tent, GMR&SC and Buy Me Auto Sales) THERE was no practice yesterday for cars and bikes ahead of the third leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship after the containers in which they were packed and shipped arrived late at the Bushy Park Raceway, Barbados.

The containers arrived in Barbados at approximately 13:04hrs Thursday and, according to chairman of Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc., Sean Maloney, the rate at which the cars were cleared was ‘unprecedented’.

He added, “The only thing I’ve seen cleared this fast was Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 car” (during the BCC top Gear Festival Barbados last year). “We really appreciate the work that Customs has done. We are very grateful.”

However, the lack of any practice yesterday meant that there would be an even

limited time for those overseas riders and drivers to get familiar with the layout, elevation and depression of the track.

Officials of the BPMSI have confirmed that they will be on site from 06:00hrs to facilitate practice for drivers and riders until 08:30hrs when their marshals will take to the track to assume positions and test further equipment.

Official free practice has been set at 10:30hrs today following the completion of the tests by marshals with qualifications expected to commence from 14:00hrs.

Guyanese competitors were relieved to see their machines finally when the first seal was cut at 17:05hrs yesterday and started right away with their various works in an attempt to catch early morning practice.

The team includes at the Group 4 level, Mark Vieira, Kristian and Kevin Jeffrey and Danny Persaud, the lone competitor to run in Groups 4 and 3.

In Group 2 there is Nazim Gafoor while the bikes have Stephen, Matthew and Elliot Vieira, Joel Neblett and Kevin Persaud.

Gibbs says pitches not helping with proper development of spinners BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Legendary former West Indies off-spinner, Lance Gibbs, says poor pitches in the Caribbean are inflating the ability of spinners in the region and compromising their development.

“I believe the wickets in domestic cricket are too under-prepared and spinners are being made to look better than they are,” ZIZonline quoted the Miami-based Gibbs as saying.

“In my day for example when we played in Barbados or Guyana, spinners had to work hard for their wickets, because they were very good batting surfaces.

DEVENDRA “The wickets in Guyana now and at times in Trinidad turn too excessively, which is not helping in proper development of spinners or batsmen and their ability to play spin.”

Gibbs, who turns 81 at month-end, remains the finest spinner to ever emerge from West Indies.

In 79 Tests between 1958 and 1976, he snared 309 wickets at an average of 29, with 18 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket

hauls.

Gibbs also said the technique of many regional spinners needed to improve, noting Sunil Narine, Devendra Bishoo and Shane Shillingford as the only stand-outs.

“When I was taught to bowl spin, it was to be done with a high arm action and delivering the ball at shoulder length where you literally would touch your ear,” Gibbs contended.

“This is one of the reasons why I believe those three (Narine, Bishoo and Shillingford) have had success (internationally).

He continued: “Other slow bowlers in the region I don’t see this and it’s a big handicap for them because a high arm action allows a spinner to get bounce, which is key to trouBISHOO bling batsmen at the highest level.”

However, Gibbs advised Narine, in light of the ongoing problems with his action, to abstain from bowling the controversial doosra.

“I might suggest Narine should stop bowling the doosra or any other deliveries that may complicate his action and just focus of perfecting the off-break and other line variations, because in my time spinners didn’t bowl that delivery.”

... Free practice; qualification on today

The Evolution of current Group 4 Championship leader Kristian Jeffrey is being unloaded at the Bushy Park Raceway. (Photo compliments of S.E.A.G. Productions)

Sprint queen Schippers beats Felix in marker for Rio

By Philip Blenkinsop

“I think there’s just a lot of new talent in the 200 metres and that’s something BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - World cham- exciting to have,” added Felix, who hopes pion Dafne Schippers proved she will to compete in both the 200 and 400 metres be the sprinter to beat over 200 metres in Rio. at next year’s Rio Games with victory In the men’s sprints, controversial over Olympic champion Allyson Fe- American Justin Gatlin, who has been lix at the Diamond banned twice for League athletics doping, narrowly finale in Brussels won the 100 meyesterday. tres in 9.98 seconds, The Dutchwomdipping at just the an, a former hepright time ahead tathlete who took of Qatar ’s Femi the 200m world title Ogunode, who was in Beijing with the given the same time. fourth fastest time in Gatlin had also history, showed she agreed to race the has finishing speed 200 metres an hour to pull clear and finlater after world ish in 22.12 seconds. and Olympic Felix, who won champion Usain the 400 metres in Bolt withdrew earBeijing but did not lier in the week, run the 200 metres citing a need to redue to a scheduling charge. clash, was a fur- Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands However, after ther 0.10 seconds presents her gold medal as she pos- feeling a twinge in back, but did at es on the podium after the women’s his thigh towards least have the con- 200m event during the 15th IAAF the end of the 100 solation of winning World Championships at the Nation- metres, Gatlin too the season-long Di- al Stadium in Beijing, China, August decided his season amond Race and its 29, 2015. (Reuters/Damir Sagolj) was at an end, leav$40 000 cash prize. ing Ogunode to win Schippers, 23, the 200 metres in an said she was delighted to have settled Asian record time of 19.97 seconds. any lingering debate about who is the Unbeaten until the world champifastest for now. onships, Gatlin described his season as “If you can win everything it gives bittersweet. you a good feeling. It’s a fine way of end“I was poised to go out there (in ing the season,” she said.

Beijing) and win. To be able to come Felix said her final 100 metres was away with two (silver) medals, though, is lacking, perhaps a result of focusing on sweet,” he said. the 400 metres for most of the season, In another highlight at the Diamond but commended Schippers on an in- League finale in Brussels, Tunisia’s credible year.

Habiba Ghibri set a season’s best time “That’s a big confidence-booster and and African record of 9 minutes 5.36 you expect her to do well,” she said. seconds in the 3 000m steeplechase.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Will Mayweather’s career end with Berto bout?

See story on page 30

Historic GT Beer Champs to be crowned tonight THE curtain will come down on the GT Beer Futsal Tournament tonight when the inaugural champions are crowned after the final is contested at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Bent Street and Sparta Boss who both had an impressive run to the final will lock horns for the top prize of $500 000 and the GT Beer trophy. The runners-up of this event take home $250 000.

The undefeated Sparta Boss side are led by the experienced Travis Grant who has been the deciding factor in their five-win streak. He has been supported by Sheldon Shepherd and Eusi Phillips in the playmaking section.

On the other side, Bent Street have produced a different level of futsal since entering the final-eight. Bent Street’s goal tally entered double figures in consecutive matches. In the quarter-final stage Sophia were humbled 12-5 then Festival City were on the end of a 13-5 whipping in the semis.

The feature promises to be an intriguing one as both teams have repeatedly displayed immaculate futsal performances.

Prior to this showdown, West Front Road- Gold is Money are billed to take on Festival City in the third place match.

The team that emerge victorious will cart off $125 000 while the losers will have to settle for $75 000.

These two sides were also performing in the top bracket in the prelims and quarterfinals but were bettered by the finalists on Wednesday evening.

Kick-off time for the Petra-organised event is 19:00 hrs. (Kizan Brumell)

Floyd Mayweather

Part of the semi-final action on Wednesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. (Samuel Maughn photo)

Final round of CFU Women’s Olympic Qualifiers postponed

Beaten Serena

See story on page 27

Serena Williams of the U.S. listens to a reporter’s question during a post-match press conference following her loss to Roberta Vinci of Italy in their women’s singles semi-final match at the U.S. Open Championships tennis tournament in New York, yesterday (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton) Guyana’s Lady Jags will have to wait a little longer for their clash with Puerto Rico Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

(See story on page 30)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2015