Chronicle 01 14 2016

CRIMINAL PROBE No. 104431

THURSDAY JANUARY 14, 2016 Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

...SOCU questions PPP MPs, Sam Hinds

Final Salute

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…Sgt Pyle, wife laid to rest Colleagues of Sergeant Robert Pyle pay last respects to their fallen comrade who along with his wife, Stacy Pyle, was laid to rest at Paradise, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

Larry Bath murder London to suspects chair GCAA charged 14

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‘Stop begging for bribes’ …vendors tell City cops 2

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

‘Stop begging for bribes’ – Vendors tell City cops

By Telesha Ramnarine SCORES of vendors yesterday accused officers of the City Constabulary Department of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of making their lives miserable when they refuse to pay them a bribe.

The City Council had extended an invitation to all vendors in order to solicit their support on the municipality’s efforts to maintain the works being done around

Georgetown.

Heading the meeting were Mayor Hamilton Green, his deputy Patricia ChaseGreen, Town Clerk Royston King and Councillors Oscar Clarke, Ranwell Jordan and Junior Garrett.

City Hall’s compound was filled to capacity as the vendors turned out to voice their concerns.

Topping the list of their worries was the alleged harassment vendors experience at the hands of Constabulary

officers, who reportedly are always looking for bribes.

Other concerns raised included, inter alia, ‘junkies’ who go through garbage bins and make a mess of the environment, selling on the Merriman Mall, parking spots for trucks whose owners sell around the markets early in the mornings, and uncovered holes on the road which may prove fatal.

The names of several officers, who create problems for vendors who do not want to pay them,were called.

In fact, one vendor complained that the stall-owners are not able to open their businesses on occasion if they have no money to pay on that day.

But Mrs Chase-Green chided those vendors who pay bribes, but complain only when they experience a problem.

“The constables don’t push their hands in your pocket,” Chase-Green said to loud applause.

She also urged the vendors to be respectful to the constabulary officers on other occasions.

“Not because you know the Chief Constable or some other officer in authority, it means you will disrespect the constables in uniform. Don’t be no big boy or big girl and jump on your phone.”

Chase-Green also noted

A section of the huge gathering at City Hall yesterday (Cullen Best-Nelson)

that it is equally important for the constabulary officers to be respectful to the vendors and not just break up their stalls and carry away their items without a proper explanation.

NO NEW VENDORS The Town Clerk announced that for 2016, there will be no new vendors.

For the Christmas season, persons who do not usually vend were allowed to do so, but authorities will be monitoring them to ensure that they do not remain on the streets now that the said period is over.

Furthermore, vendors are to decide before this month ends, which one of the Sundays for the month they will close their businesses to facilitate cleaning.

The City Council will have to choose that Sunday should the vendors fail to make a decision.

Vendors are required to pay a fee of $1000 and they have an option whether to go in and pay at City Hall or to pay when the Markets’ Revenue Clerks visit the stalls. This, according to the Deputy Mayor, is a means of generating revenue for City Hall.

Councillor Oscar Clarke told the vendors that he was particularly interested in the food handlers and called attention to how persons who sold food in the past were clean and tidy and hygienic.

Food vendors should be equipped with gloves and hair nets, he observed.

According to Clarke, food vendors ought to be

licensed.

“If officers come and ask to see your licence and you can’t produce it, you will be closed down,” he cautioned.

As for the barbers who ply their trade on the road corners, Clarke warned that they too are being watched.

“Hair doesn’t disintegrate, so hair swept into the gutters and drains block up the system and result in flooding.” He encouraged the vendors to put such hair in a place where it can be disposed of properly.

Clarke urged the vendors not to litter and to go further by ensuring that people around them do not litter as well. “When you see people littering, tell them about it.” (tramnarine@guyanachronicle. com)

CRIMINAL PROBE ...SOCU questions PPP MPs, Sam Hinds

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Former PM, Samuel Hinds

SEVERAL high-level officials of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), including former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, have been interrogated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) as that body ramps up its investigation into allegations of fraud committed by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

The allegations stemmed from an audit report conducted by former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran, which resulted in the CEO of the unit, Winston Brassington and his deputy being sent on leave.

At a news conference on

PPP Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira

Wednesday,the PPP’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, said: “Myself along with party members Nigel Dharamlall, Irfaan Ali and the former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, were on separate occasions approached by ranks of the SOCU and summoned on separate occasions, to be questioned on issues surrounding the audit.”

While only the four have been questioned thus far, others are expected to appear before investigators of the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU). Teixeira informed the media that the officers came to her home and requested an interview

PPP MP, Irfaan Ali

PPP MP, Nigel Dharamlall

with her. “Knowing that some of the other people had appointments, I said okay can I come in today or tomorrow and they said today, so I went in,” the Chief Whip disclosed.

She stated that she went to SOCU in the company of her attorney, Bibi Shaddick - a PPP-nominated commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission. Asked what she was questioned about, Teixeira said she could not “talk about those right now,” but noted that the questions were centred on the audit report submitted by Goolsarran.

“They said it’s the first

phase of looking at the statements and issues raised in Mr Goolsarran’s report that relate to criminal activity,” said Teixeira. Goolsarran in his report stated that numerous discrepancies were unearthed during the audit.

Government back in December had turned over the report to the Guyana Police Force to conduct their investigations and Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, had confirmed that they have received the audit report and have begun investigations to determine if any criminality was involved in the management of the controversial state holding company.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in announcing the criminal probe said Cabinet had deliberated on the report submitted to it and made several directives despite the fact that the Board of Directors of NICIL had not yet deliberated on the report.

“Those were that the report and accompanying notes of the consultant and advice of the minister be handed to the Commissioner of Police and the Special Organised Crime Unit for investigations, as to whether there were any acts of criminality committed by those concerned and to take the process forward; that the said reports be submitted to the Auditor General for a more precise audit of the issues highlighted in the report; that the Minister of Finance give instructions for a transaction audit of NICIL to be conducted and to facilitate all of these things; that the CEO and the deputy CEO of NICIL be sent on administrative leave immediately pending the outcome of the actions that have to be taken,” he added.

He had explained that there will be no second guessing on what the police will unearth during its inves-

tigation or what the forensic audit by the Auditor General’s office will find. “What I can say is that there is in Cabinet’s view, sufficient information provided in that report for the agencies to which these reports are sent to use it as a basis for further action.

Cabinet is not saying that anybody should be charged.

Cabinet is saying that based on the reports brought to it these reports should be sent to the competent agencies for them to explore further and for them to dig deeper and determine whether criminality exists and where they do find criminality, they should take whatever action they deem necessary.”

Brassington had denied any illicit actions, stating, “As far as I know I have not broken any laws and if Mr Goolsarran is suggesting it, then I believe I have a clear defence on why what we did was properly done and we should not be held responsible.” “I am willing to testify but you can’t bring a charge up on the basis of a law that has been clearly contradicted by all the lawyers and there is no evidence of it being broken,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

U.S. thanks Iran for freeing soldiers

THE U.S. has thanked Iran for the swift release of 10 U.S. sailors held for entering its territorial waters.

Secretary of State John Kerry said the resolution of the matter was “testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe.”

Republican presidential hopefuls had criticised the administration over its handling of the incident.

A deal on Iran’s nuclear activities - which they also disparage - is said to be days away from implementation.

The sailors were detained on Tuesday, when one of their two vessels broke down while training in the Gulf.

The incursion was “unintentional,” a statement from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards quoted by state media said.

Iranian state media said the sailors were released into international waters after they apologised. But Vice-President Joe Biden denied this, saying the boat had simply a problem and there was “nothing to apologise for.”

The U.S. is investigating how the sailors entered Irani-

an waters.

Thanking Iranian authorities for their “co-operation and quick response,” Mr Kerry said: “These are always situations which have an ability if not properly guided to get out of control...

“This kind of issue was able to be peacefully resolved and officially resolved, and that is testament to the critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country safe, secure, and strong,” he added.

Iranian state broadcaster Irib News has published pictures of the sailors apparently being detained.

Mr Kerry called Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif shortly after the incident. The pair developed a personal rapport during the nuclear talks.

Those detained - nine men and one woman - were taken to Farsi Island, in the middle of the Gulf, where Iran has a naval base.

Conservatives in both countries have opposed the nuclear deal, under which Iran will limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

The Guards published pictures of the nine men and one woman being held In the U.S., Republican presidential candidates were among those expressing outrage at the sailors’ detention.

“Iran is testing the boundaries of this administration’s resolve,” said Marco Rubio. “[Barack] Obama’s humiliatingly weak Iran policy is exposed again,” Jeb Bush said in a tweet before the

A SUICIDE bomber detonated explosives outside a polio eradication centre in Pakistan’s western city of Quetta, killing more than a dozen people in the latest deadly assault on the campaign to fight the disease in the country.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said most of the dead on Wednesday were security forces on their way to guard the vaccination centre. “One passer-by was also killed in the explosion,” Hyder reported.

Two armed groups - the Pakistani Taliban and Jundullah, which has links to the Taliban and has pledged allegiance to ISIL -- sepa-

guards, and personnel from the paramilitary Frontier Corps force were preparing for a door-to-door polio vaccination drive as part of a three-day campaign when they were attacked.”

Medical teams brought the wounded to Civil Hospital in Quetta, capital of restive Balochistan province.

“I saw the suicide bomber running towards us, firing at us and then blowing himself up,” Samiullah, a security officer and one of the wounded, told Al Jazeera.

“Such attacks aiming to stop anti-polio campaigns have happened in the past as well, which have resulted in the deaths of many innocent people. We are trying our

Alps avalanche hits school party

AN avalanche has struck a school group in the French Alps, killing a 14-year-old boy and leaving five pupils missing, French media report.

At least two of the survivors are in a state of cardiac arrest and one more is in a serious condition, officials said.

The group of nine students and their teacher had been skiing in the Les Deux Alpes area on a closed piste, Le Dauphine reported.

Rescuers with dogs

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sailors were released.

Donald Trump said Iran was “toying” with the U.S. Iran’s deputy nuclear chief has meanwhile denied a report the Arak heavy-water reactor had been decommissioned, which would be a final step towards implementation of the nuclear deal. (BBC)

Suicide bomber targets Pakistan’s polio centre

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and helicopters are on the scene, France Bleu radio said.

The BBC’s Tim Rhodes in Les Deux Alpes tweeted that he had seen one person recovered from the snow.

Witnesses told the radio station that the avalanche was likely to have been triggered by groups skiing through the area.

The Bellecombe piste is situated on a particularly icy north-facing side of mountain, the radio station said.

It is black-rated - the most difficult level.

Large quantities of snow have fallen on the French Alps after a relatively dry spell, raising the risk of avalanches, AFP reported. (BBC)

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Suicide attack on a polio vaccination centre in southwestern Pakistan kills more than a dozen people [Arshad Butt/AP) rately claimed responsibility for the attack.

At least 14 people were killed and 20 others wounded in the blast, officials said.

“The security officials were in a vehicle outside the centre when the bomber detonated his explosive vest,” Balochistan’s Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti told journalists.

“Health workers, police

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best to stop it.”

Teams in Pakistan working to immunise children against the virus are often targeted by the Taliban and other groups, who say the campaign is a cover for Western spies, or accuse workers of distributing drugs designed to sterilise children.

The latest attack comes after the campaign against polio was relaunched in Quetta and other districts of Balochistan on Monday.

Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world that remain on the World Health Organisation’s list of polio-endemic countries. (Al Jazeera)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Gender Studies course for UG Two remanded on drug charges

By Derwayne Wills

THE Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) will this year be working in communities across the country to build an outreach course module that will later form part of the programme at the University of Guyana’s new Gender Studies institute.

Chairperson of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Indra Chanderpaul said the activity commences next week with the assistance of a York University professor. The module will be delivered through roundtable sessions and seminars at the regional level in the three counties of Guyana.

Executives of the National Toshao Council, as well as women toshaos will benefit from the initiative as well as women in parliament through special seminars. Chanderpaul said a key focus of the initiative will be women candidates contesting Guyana’s upcoming local government elections.

That first phase will seek the involvement of grassroots leaders, regional and municipal bodies, civil society, gender specialists and activists, as well as youth bodies. The WGEC chairperson added that a second phase “is anticipated with current and additional partners to build capacities for sustained actions for gender equality and women in decision-making to build a more gender equal

and gender-just society”.

This initiative is supported by the Canadian Government, through the Canada Fund of Local Initiatives (CFLI). Canadian High Commissioner Pierre Giroux presented a cheque for CDN$20,000 yesterday at the Human Rights Secretariat in Queenstown, Georgetown, where the WGEC is also housed.

The High Commissioner noted that the contribution to the constitutional body comes as Guyana and Canada celebrate 50 years of diplomatic engagement. On the role of the Canadian Government, he said women rights and gender equality is a high priority for his government within and outside of Canada.

The Canadian diplomat said his Government is committed to working with the Guyana Government and civil society to “remove barriers to gender equality, address violence against women, and advance women’s rights”.

He said there is still work to be done, but “under this project, [the] Commission and Institute for Gender Studies will develop and test a short course in gender and development for policy makers, including parliamentarians, [as well as] regional and local government members”.

Meanwhile, Chairperson Chanderpaul said the fund is intended to increase gender equality and women’s leadership in decision-making

through community outreach, workshop seminars, and development of a community outreach university course that will serve as an introduction to gender and development, which is necessary to sustainable development.

Continuing from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted at the United Nations in 2000, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was adopted in 2015.

The fight for Gender Equality remains a prominent feature in those global goals.

Outside of the work done by the Commission, the Guyana Government is still in the process of putting a Gender Policy into action. That instrument is still in its consultation phase and will form the framework for advancing Guyana’s fight for gender equality in keeping with the global goals for 2030.

At the Social Protection Ministry, there will be a Gender Affairs Bureau established as a linking of the Women’s Affairs Bureau and the Men’s Affairs Bureau.

This move was announced by subject Minister Volda Lawrence at her ministry’s end-of-year press conference last year.

The minister had said that this reflects a commitment of her Government in it’s vision for the country in keeping with global trends.

That unit is expected to come on stream sometime this year.

UG revises admission requirement

The University of Guyana (UG) Academic Board has unanimously approved that the number of sittings as a requirement for admission to the university be removed from the institution’s general entry requirement.

The previous general entry requirement was five CSEC subjects at one sitting or a minimum of six subjects at no more than two sittings.

The amended University of Guyana general entry requirement is now: A minimum of five CXC/CSEC General Proficiency (Grades I & II; and III from 1998) / five passes at GCE ‘O’ Level, including English Language, the subject(s) required for the pursuit of the major, where applicable, and Mathematics for designated programmes.

This decision takes effect from Semester II, 2015-2016, the university said in a release.

According to Registrar of the University of Guyana, Dr Nigel Gravesande, “Access to tertiary education must always be seen as a fundamental right and not a privilege. It is in this context

that the recent changes in the university’s matriculation entry requirements must be lauded as it presents opportunities for greater access to programmes being delivered by the university.”

Meanwhile, online ap-

plication is now available for the second semester which commences on January 25, 2016. Prospective students are invited to visit the university’s website at www.uog.edu.gy to view the available programmes.

City magistrate Alex Moore remanded a young man from Sophia to jail after he was charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Twenty- two- year old Collin Roberts of “B” Field Sophia was remanded after he pleaded not guilty to

the charge which stated that on January 11, 2016, in the Camp Street prison he had in his possession 294 grams of cannabis. He will appear in court on January 28, 2016.

Arnold Aaron of Critchlow Street, Tucville was also remanded by magistrate Moore after he was also

charged with possession of narcotics -20 grams - on January 12, 2016 at Arapaima Street, Georgetown.

The prosecutor’s facts stated that the mechanic had the illegal drug concealed in his crotch. This matter was also adjourned until January 28, 2016.

TWENTY-nine-year old Steven Martindale of Fourth Avenue, Bartica was yesterday placed on bail in the sum of $300,000 after he was charged with having a firearm when he was not licensed to carry it.

The charge stated that on January 11 at the backdam, he had in his possession one 9mm submachine gun without being the owner of

a license.

On the day in question the police said they were conducting a search of a mining camp and they found the gun in a cupboard next to the defendant’s bed.

Defence counsel stated that his client was a licensed firearm holder since he was attached to the security firm and mining camp in that area.

The police found several

guns and ammunition in a secured area. The gun that they found was no longer in use and it was placed in another box which was not secured. He also made an application for reasonable bail for his client.

Martindale was granted bail and the matter transferred to the Bartica Magistrate Court on January 22, 2016.

A STUDENT of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants was yesterday fined $30,000 after he was charged with the possession of cannabis.

He told the court that his stressful job and studies caused him to have to use marijuana.

Twenty-eight-year-old Christopher Kawall pleaded

guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Alex Moore.

The facts stated that he had in his possession 14 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana).

The court seemed surprised as the unrepresented man gave special reasons for having the drug in his possession.

Kawal told the magistrate that the offence was non-violent and he was not wasting the court’s time. The defendant explained that he used the prohibited substance as tea and he also smoked it.

The magistrate considered the special reason that Kawal gave the court and declined to impose a custodial sentence.

TWENTY- seven -year old labourer Delroy Boyce of 48 High and Barrack Street, Kingston was yesterday remanded after he was charged for committing robbery while he was armed with a dangerous weapon.

On Tuesday, January

5, 2016 while armed with a knife in Georgetown Delroy Boyce robbed Alvin Anthony of one cellphone valued $30,000 and $3000.

Boyce was also charged for robbing Maya Phillips who was in the company of Anthony. He robbed her of one handbag valued $12,000

Firearm charge - $300,000 bail

Student fined for having marijuana

Accused of two knife-point robberies

and a torchlight valued $15,000. He was remanded to prison after the Police Prosecutor objected to bail based on the seriousness and the prevalence of the offence.

Boyce is expected to make his next court appearance on January 20, 2016.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Swami Vivekananda’s legacy

Dear Editor,

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

Mental health

MENTAL health is generally not understood. It is ill-funded, ill-managed, and dealt with more from a reactionary standpoint.

Compounding this situation is the inadequate allocation of resources for the treatment of mental health.

The importance attached to this condition is often seen and felt only by those who are personally affected. Those with mental health concerns or issues are usually seen as a “crazy” group that needs to be locked away, ignored or forgotten; and not as functioning or valued members of society. A general premise is that persons with mental health issues do not initially seek treatment, because, when they start talking about their symptoms/feelings, they are seen as weak; trying to get attention; demon-possessed; or, depending on the culture, the family had some affliction, or had committed some evil act that was now coming back to haunt them.

The stigma attached to mental illness results in loved ones of persons with mental health issues overcompensating, and attempting to conceal symptoms because it is more acceptable to pretend that those issues do not exist. This is generally done in an effort to blend into society, or be seen as “normal.”

In instances, persons with mental health issues are viewed as the “crazy uncle” whom the family feels needs protection from the world; and they behave this way not only because of the stigma attached to the sufferer’s condition, but also to preserve their place in the society or their family’s standing in society.

The result of these variables is that, often, when these symptoms are finally confronted, the person’s condition is too advanced to obtain treatment that would enable them to regain their status as a functioning member of society. This situation is often due to the lack of understanding of the issue, or the intolerance of some members of the treating community, or personal biases which affect the ability to identify and treat symptoms early.

A contributing factor to mental health decompensation is overuse of alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant. It leads to an increase in depressed mood. If someone who is depressed consumes alcohol, it makes that person more depressed. This in itself can increase the risk of that person cultivating suicidal behaviours, including attempting or actually committing suicide.

Another prevalent factor in the society is that of intolerance to societal change, where some lack the understanding or receptiveness to persons who are getting into serious relationships at an earlier age. Compounding these factors are relationships with persons from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, and the lack of adequate coping skills to navigate complex emotional situations.

Some solutions to addressing mental stability outside of the clinical setting can be achieved with familial support, as in educating our youth on the importance of self-worth; life; and empowering this demographic to understand that, even beyond their current struggle, life is worth living. Another important factor is support for various age groups, such as teen/peer support, which allows for avenues to voice thoughts, feelings, struggles, and gain support from each other on how to deal with relationship issues and parents/family responses to those issues.

In dealing with mental health factors that are affected by alcohol use, it helps to recognise that one must first understand that the risk of addiction is increased by access

TODAY, January 12th, the 153rd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is commemorated. Ramakrishna Mission’s centres worldwide will host a plethora of activities to commemorate the day.

Universities and colleges in India will be hosting numerous events as part of their commemoration, and also as a request of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Events the UGC encouraged the universities and colleges to host include: Speeches/lectures on ideas and teachings of Swami Vivekananda; Panel discussions, seminars, conventions and presentations; Competitions for essay-writing among students; debate competitions among students; Screening a documentary film on his life and ideas; Pictorial exhibitions on his contributions; Displaying of his writings, etc.

Swami Vivekananda’s legacy is a growing and living inspiration to both the East and West, the ordinary and intellectual. It is appropriate on this anniversary to share as a tribute and a brief introduction on the life and work of this great soul. The following is taken from the preface of his biography written by Swami Nikhilananda: “Swami Vivekananda’s inspiring personality was well known, both in India and in America, during the last decade of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth. The unknown monk of India suddenly leapt into fame at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, at which he represented Hinduism. His

vast knowledge of Eastern and Western culture, as well as his deep spiritual insight, fervid eloquence, brilliant conversation, broad human sympathy, colourful personality, and handsome figure made an irresistible appeal to the many types of Americans who came in contact with him. People who saw or heard Vivekananda even once still cherish his memory after a lapse of more than half a century.

In America, Vivekananda’s mission was the interpretation of India’s spiritual culture, especially in its Vedantic setting. He also tried to enrich the religious consciousness of the Americans through the rational and humanistic teachings of the Vedanta philosophy. In America, he became India’s spiritual ambassador, and pleaded eloquently for better understanding between India and the New World, in order to create a healthy synthesis of East and West, of religion and science.

In his own motherland, Vivekananda is regarded as the Patron Saint of Modern India and an inspirer of her dormant national consciousness. To the Hindus he preached the ideal of a strength-giving and man-making religion. Service to man as the visible manifestation of the Godhead was the special form of worship he advocated for the Indians, devoted as they were to the rituals and myths of their ancient faith.

Many political leaders of India have publicly acknowledged their indebtedness to Swami Vivekananda.

The Swami’s mission was both national and international. A lover of mankind, he strove to promote peace and human brotherhood on

to alcohol and inability to differentiate casual use from dependency. Users of this substance often have a false sense of security in thinking that, because it is so easily accessible and is legal to use, the risk of dependency is less. Since it is culturally acceptable to consume alcohol to the point of being intoxicated, the assumption is that the person has a choice to continue this lifestyle.

First, it needs to be recognised that alcohol is a drug, and because it has the ability to cross the blood/brain barrier, it alters perception, judgement and mood. Usually, the alcoholic does not recognise there is a problem until it is often too late.

Support systems such as Alcoholics Anonymous (for the user), Alanon (spousal support) and Alateen (support for the children) are necessary to improve one’s ability to understand, cope with, and obtain sobriety to improve the overall family dynamic, coping mechanisms, and re-integration into society.

Mental health is a societal issue. Its management requires education, acceptance, willingness to support, and receptiveness to include the individuals afflicted with these symptoms, to ensure they are not ostracised. In absence of the foregoing, it widens the base and increases inability to identify and effectively treat individuals with mental health symptoms. Medication ought not to be seen as the only treatment option. Equally important is the society’s interaction with, and support for, individuals with complex and life-changing situations. Mental health for one is mental health for all. (Reprinted from November 23, 2014 in wake of renewed discussions on suicide)

the spiritual foundation of the Vedantic Oneness of existence. A mystic of the highest order, Vivekananda had a direct and intuitive experience of Reality. He derived his ideas from that unfailing source of wisdom, and often presented them in the soul-stirring language of poetry.

The natural tendency of Vivekananda’s mind, like that of his Master, Ramakrishna, was to soar above the world and forget itself in contemplation of the Absolute. But another part of his personality bled at the sight of human suffering in East and West alike. It might appear that his mind seldom found a point of rest in its oscillation between contemplation of God and service to man.

Be that as it may, he chose, in obedience to a higher call, service to man as his mission on earth; and this choice has endeared him to people in the West, Americans in particular.

In the course of a short life of thirty-nine years (1863-1902), of which only ten were devoted to public activities — and those, too, in the midst of acute physical suffering — he left for posterity his four classics: Jnana-Yoga, Bhakti-Yoga, Karma-Yoga, and Raja-Yoga -- all of which are outstanding treatises on Hindu philosophy. In addition, he delivered innumerable lectures, wrote inspired letters in his own hand to his many

friends and disciples, composed numerous poems, and acted as spiritual guide to the many seekers who came to him for instruction. He also organized the Ramakrishna Order of monks, which is one of the most outstanding religious organizations of modern India. It is devoted to the propagation of the Hindu spiritual culture, not only in the Swami’s native land, but also in America and in other parts of the world.

Swami Vivekananda once spoke of himself as a ‘condensed India.’ His life and teachings are of inestimable value to the West for an understanding of the mind of Asia. William James, the Harvard philosopher, called the Swami the ‘paragon of Vedantists’. Max Müller and Paul Deussen, the famous Orientalists of the nineteenth century, held him in genuine respect and affection.

“His words”, writes Romain Rolland, “are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like the march of Handel choruses. I cannot touch these sayings of his, scattered as they are through the pages of books, at thirty years’ distance, without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock. And what shocks, what transports, must have been produced when in burning words they issued from the lips of the hero!’”

Dear Mr. Editor,

evening, doing inspections on projects to ensure our monies are economically spent. This process would result in saving our administration millions of dollars, and all that officer receives is $10,000 at the end of the month.

Can this be fair, Mr. Editor, while at the same time the same councillors supported an increase for the top tier, I am not too sure Sandra did.

They are some who are of the view that we were elected to serve, and that money should not be a criterion, but they are losing sight of the fact that all services entail cost in whatever dimension in reality.

I am asking my Region 10 colleagues to withdraw the demand for cell phones and substitute it with a demand for DUTY FREE CONCESSIONS along with a substantial increase in stipend. Many times your own transportation is used to get the job done. I do hope the Minister will remember to fulfill the promise he made at the convention centre on 31st July 2015.

Yours sincerely, PT. Charranlall Nandlall

Region 10’s demands justifiable I RESPOND to an article in the daily Chronicle of 8th instant relating to demands by the Region 10 councillors for an increase in stipend and issuing of cell phones.

In that article, the Regional Chairman asserted that in no other Region such demands are made. That is not true, Mr. Editor. Region 6 unanimously passed a recent motion calling for an increase in stipend. Based on information, the subject minister is in possession of that motion. Besides, there is an article in the Chronicle news of 15th October, 2015 headlined “Great hope for correction of unjust wages in public sector”. In that article, the writer alluded to the fact that the regional officers formed the second tier of the Government and must be treated accordingly.

The writer was referring to a better stipend and duty free concessions for councillors.

Functions of the second tier are much more tedious.

For example, a works committee member sometimes leaves his home in the morning and returns in the

Yours sincerely, Samuel FRASER

Final Salute ...Sgt. Pyle, wife laid to rest

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

By Shirley Thomas

THE bodies of Sergeant 19656 Robert Lawrence Pyle of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and his wife Stacey Amanda Pyle nee Nicholson, were yesterday laid to rest at the Golden Grove Cemetery, following a hair-raising and truly moving Thanksgiving Service at the Golden Grove Seventh Day Adventist Church, East Coast Demerara.

Sergeant Pyle, who died in the line of duty was accorded a funeral with full military honours, with his last farewell being the mournful sounding of the reveille at the graveside, followed by the ultimate 21gun salute.

Throughout the service, his body, clothed in full ceremonial attire and mounted in a flag-draped casket in front of the altar, lay alongside his wife’s. She wore a pretty duck-egg green dress with silver embellishments and looked simply royal.

It was then that reality was driven home, in relation to the inseparable couple they were and what a wonderful union they shared throughout the seven years of their marriage.

The funeral was well attended. On that occasion, all roads led to the Golden Grove SDA Church. There were literally hundreds of bereaved relatives, other mourners and sympathisers, ranks of the Guyana Defence Force and others at the service. The church was filled to capacity and even the seats provided under canopies on the church yard did precious little to accommodate the overspilling crowd.

Others lined the roadway from the access road to the church.

And as the hundreds continued streaming towards the church, it appeared as though other activities in the neighbourhood were suspended for the remainder of the afternoon. At the church, the crowds of mourners literally inched their way past the two

Caskets bearing the mortal remains of Sergeant Robert Pyle and his wife Stacey Pyle at the Golden Grove Seventh-Day Adventist Church caskets to view and pay their last respects to Pyle and wife, Stacey Amanda Pyle.

Meanwhile, the ranks of the GDF made a striking impression, smartly and impeccably dressed in their ceremonial, camouflage and standard uniforms.

Also present were GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, and Lieutenant Colonel Edward Roberts, who both delivered tributes on behalf of the army.

There were many glowing tributes in honour of the couple who was remembered as devoted; of exemplary qualities; dedicated as a family; loving and caring; ambitious and both dedicated to their duties; hardworking and soaring towards upward mobility and perfect examples to their workmates and indeed in the entire work environment.

WELL RESPECTED He was well respected and appreciated by his peers, his subordinates and his superiors.Stacy was rated as an excellent nurse who had a passion also for the elderly as well as for less fortunate children.

And in a hair-raising revelation, the Matron of the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital where Stacy worked, revealed that Stacey had agreed to give the nurse a ride home in her vehicle.

However, when Stacey was ready to leave, it was not convenient for the Nursing Supervisor to leave and so the car left without her. It was that disappointment that saved her life. Or she too might have been killed in the accident.

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Roberts, in his tribute, recalled that Robert Pyle joined the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Wednesday, May 8, 2002. He served the force faithfully for 13 years, seven months and 22 days.

Touching on his service and academic achievements, he recounted that Pyle graduated as a private soldier on the basic Recruit Course 0201 in August 2002, and was rated by the Course Representative as ‘a very intelligent individual’ with ‘well-rounded performance.’

In 2004, his rating by the Officer-in-Command was that he “Pyle is a disciplined and obedient solider who has shown that he has the ability to take on the responsibility as a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer”. On such grounds he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

In 2007 another officer said of Pyle: “This soldier is professional, dedicated, hardworking and always eager to help.” The following year his rating read: “Lance Corporal Pyle has displayed very high levels of leadership

Senior GDF ranks at the funeral service for Sergeant Pyle and his wife Stacey Pyle

qualities. This soldier is very disciplined and makes use of every opportunity to improve his knowledge and skills.”

Other ratings read: “An above-average student Lance Corporal has been complete, as it relates to his training attitude. He has shown that he can achieve success under the worst of conditions.”

And incredibly, the common theme running through all his appraisals alluded to him being intelligent, dedicated, hardworking and task-oriented.

Such attributes earned him special promotion to Sergeant. Throughout his time spent in the army, he was only once disciplined, and that was for failure to attend a physical training

flag-raising parade, according to Lieutenant Colonel Roberts.

Roberts recalled Pyle carried the same work ethic to all the training courses he attended, where he always excelled. He also earned the Nobel Prize for the Skill-atArms course. Early last year, he had started Portuguese classes because he was identified to attend training in Brazil. Such was the confidence reposed in him by his superiors in the force.

“Sergeant Robert Lawrence Pyle was a well-rounded man, an excellent soldier.

I am sure an excellent husband, father, son and brother, whom I am confident is still “soldiering on.” May his soul rest in peace,” Lieutenant Colonel Roberts said.

Meanwhile, Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, said the entire GDF mourns with the family, the relatives and friends not only of Sergeant Pyle, but the relatives of his wife Stacy Amanda Nicholson, nee Pyle.

GOOD SOLDIER AND FAMILY MAN He concurred that Sergeant Pyle was not only a good soldier, but also a good husband, family man, a good son and a good son-in-law.

“As we celebrate his life and that of his loving wife, both of whom were cut down in their prime, I wish to say, God knows best, as He has a plan for all of us.”

Soon after becoming Chief of Staff in September, 2013, Brigadier Phillips came to know Sergeant Pyle personally, and he was recommended by senior officers of the force to become the security representative of the Chief of Staff. Thereafter, he accompanied Chief of Staff Phillips on his fitness walks and jogging on the seawalls for security reasons. From his personal assessment, the

Chief of Staff said he was able to determine that Pyle was very dedicated, very ambitious and a very determined young man in a positive sense.

The Chief of Staff recalled too that Pyle was very dedicated and mission–oriented. To Pyle’s credit, he was on one occasion able to resolutely apply all his skills, energies and determination in leading an operation to recover a pistol that had gone missing from a Commanding Officer (CO) when on timeoff at home.

“Pyle was the corporal who was tasked to lead the search operation, and he literally worked the entire night and apprehended the person with the pistol at about 04:30 hrs the morning.

[A] performance like that had to be rewarded and so he was promoted to Sergeant, and I will miss Sergeant Pyle.”

Chief of Staff Phillips also said that the GDF had a lot in store for Sergeant Pyle.

“I myself looked forward to seeing him grow and achieve greater things.

Whenever I miss or enquire about Pyle he was somewhere on the border doing some kind of patrol or fatigue. Pyle was a dedicated professional soldier and he liked doing his duties in the name of defence and security for all of us in Guyana,” the Chief of Staff said.

“As we celebrate his life and the life of his dear wife, let us all remember this [as] not only as a great loss to his family, but a great loss to the Guyana Defence Force and indeed to Guyana and we all mourn his passing. To his father, mother, sons, siblings, mother-in-law and other relatives, we in the GDF mourn with you and may his soul rest in peace family members,” the Chief of Staff concluded.

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Tragedy strikes Sophia resident A 22-YEAR-OLD man, Keith Junor, of 54 “E” Field Sophia, excited at the promise made by his sister to take him to Suriname, set out on foot, walking from Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, to La Grange, West Bank Demerara, after hearing that she had arrived in the country for Old Year’s.

Walking the entire length of the Demerara Harbour Bridge on Old Year’s Day, Junor had almost reached his destination when tragedy struck.

He recalled that it was just around 20:00 hrs when a car travelling in the opposite direction at a fast rate of speed ploughed into him, causing him to land heavily on his abdomen.

In the process, he sustained a deep cut which carries more than 15 clamps.

There are multiple fractures on both legs and both knees are broken. His abdomen and arms are also badly bruised.

The car was said to have turned over after it crashed into the young man. Public-spirited residents of the area, on seeing the accident, placed the injured man into a motorcar and rushed him

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

REPSOL seeks extension to continue work at Kanuku Block

President David Granger (second from left) and Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman (left) in conversation with REPSOL officials during the meeting

OFFICIALS from global energy company REPSOL on Wednesday met with President David Granger to seek an extension to continue exploratory work in the Kanuku Block.

Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman also attended the meeting, which was held this morning at the Ministry of the Presidency. In a brief comment after the engagement, REP-

SOL’s Latin America Exploration Director, Mr. Mikel Erquiaga explained that the company has to drill a well, but had been delayed by several stumbling blocks, including its legal battle with CGX Energy Incorporated in 2012 over exploration activities in the Georgetown Block.This matter was resolved in 2014.

REPSOL needs an extension to complete the necessary preparatory work for drilling

to begin.

“We want a short extension in order to continue working in the Block and eventually drill a well,” Mr. Erquiaga said. REPSOL, which is based in Spain, is one of the first oil companies to discover oil in Guyana. It commenced drilling in 2012 at the Jaguar-1 well and discovered the presence of hydrocarbons. (Ministry of the Presidency)

No Bail for accused serial burglar The injured Keith Junor on a hospital bed

to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

He was stabilised and transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he remains warded with both legs in cast.

But pathetically, while in hospital, Junor learnt that

his sister had not arrived in Guyana, as he was made to understand, but was expected Monday.

Keith Junor is the son of Lorraine Nichols and Keith Hercules and has one brother and two sisters.

TWENTY-SIX-YEAROLD Kevin Phillips of O J Street, Rosignol,West Bank Berbice, accused of four counts of burglary in the village was remanded to custody without bail by Magistrate Rhondell Weaver presiding at the Blairmount Court on Tuesday.

Phillips will remain in prison until January 26, when the charges will be brought back to court for a progress report.

Police alleged that Phillips burglarised four homes on Old Year’s night and stole quantities of money and jewellery He was accused of

breaking and entering the dwelling house of Asraf Ally, a fisherman of Rosignol, West Bank Berbice and stealing one pair gold bangles, two gold earrings, two gold chains, two gold fingerings and one cellphone.

He also allegedly broke and entered the businessplace of Deonarine Madramootoo and stole $52,000 in cash, property of Amanda Madramootoo, a daughter of the owner and a sales girl at the Madramootoo business establishment.

The third charge against him stated that during the evening, on the same date, he stole one gold earring,

property of Rozanna Singh, daughter-in- law of Madramootoo The fourth charge accused him of stealing $10,000 and a quantity of Brazilian jewellery, property of Parbati Madramootoo, wife of Deonarine.

The charges were laid indictably, so he was not required to plead.

Magistrate Weaver refused bail following an application by Court Prosecutor Corporal Raquel Mars.

The prosecutor had requested that bail be refused on the ground of the seriousness of the offence.

Phillips, who said he was a fisherman, had earlier readily admitted that he was no stranger to the court on such charges.

Modernised city parking in line up Accident spoils pensioner PLANS are apace to create a modernised city parking area as the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) acknowledges that the city has become very congested and there is need to provide areas for parking.

According to the M&CC, ongoing works at the Merriman Mall is a part of a wider plan to restore the pristine beauty of Georgetown. The area from Irving Street to Camp Street is being enhanced to facilitate designated areas for public use, including a presidential project; children play park, senior citizens square and a modernised city parking area.

The council has identified areas for free and paid park-

ing. Three locations within the city would be designated as free parking zones for citizens - two areas in Bourda and one in Cummingsburg.

The Municipal and District Councils Act empowers the Georgetown Municipality to regulate and control the Council’s roads.

“A council shall have power, subject to the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, the Road Act, and the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, to construct, maintain, repair, protect, and carry out works for the betterment of council roads in council areas, and to regulate and control traffic thereon,” states Section 274 of the Municipal and District

Councils Act. The Act also states that the council can “establish, maintain and control parking; erect and maintain parking meters; regulate the standing and parking of vehicles on council roads; erect and maintain traffic control signals and traffic signs on council roads; regulate the speed of vehicles on council roads; designate particular council roads as one-way roads or one specified direction; require vehicles to stop before entering or crossing any council road or to yield to other traffic; and restrict the use of any council roads to vehicles of specified type or weight”.

birthday bash

By Shirley Thomas A 55-year-old man was looking forward to his 56th birthday with great expectation, put aside all Christmas celebrations so as to be fully prepared for the big day on January 29th, when he would invite friends and family from around the village and have a really good time.

However misfortune struck and an accident on the San Forte Public Road last Monday changed all his plans for the grand celebration.

Around 18:00 hrs, the victim, Glendon Belle left his home at San Forte and was heading towards New Amsterdam when tragedy struck.

As he was crossing the road on his pedal cycle, a speeding motor cycle coming from

‘out of the blues’ crashed into him and sent him prostrate on the roadway.

He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where X-Rays were done and which determined that he had suffered a fractured left leg.

Belle was moments later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he remains warded at the Male Surgical Ward with steel implanted into his leg.

He is expected to be laid up for the next three months, at least.

Even though Glendon will be unable to have a social gathering of the magnitude planned, instead he will now host a moderate forum at which he will give thanks to God for his spared life.

OTHER ACCIDENT Meanwhile, still in Ber-

bice, two young men also suffered broken limbs as a result of being struck down by motor cycles on the main thoroughfare.

The accident happened at Skeldon, West Coast Berbice on Christmas Night and Ryan Singh, 16, and ‘Buddo’, 20, both suffered fractured left legs.

Even though they both have scant recollections of what transpired, Ryan recalled that they were returning home on a motor cycle.

He was the rider and Buddo the pillion rider and shortly after taking off, another motor cycle, ridden by another friend, crashed into theirs.

They were both picked up with broken legs and rushed to the hospital where they spent the remainder of the Christmas holidays.

They are currently warded at the Male Surgical Ward of the GPH, on beds next to each other.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Baby Anthony’s case spotlights poor parenting

By Shauna Jemmott RIGHTS activists in Guyana have said that the controversial case involving Roberta Browne’s baby has highlighted the fact that there is a high prevalence of poor parenting and absenteeism of fathers in the country, as well as an urgent need for sexual and reproductive health programmes for youths.

Activist Nicole Cole in an interview with Guyana Chronicle Monday, said the case clearly showed that the mother of three had been a victim of many social ills and one could assume that she was under post-partum depression when she decided to hand over her baby just days after giving birth to him.

“I think that this case highlights why young girls need to be taught about sexual and reproductive health as it relates to family planning. This case also highlights the epidemic that currently afflicts Guyana, that is, poor parenting and absenteeism of fathers,” Cole said.

She also pointed out that for a 22-year-old to have a child who is six years old also shows clearly that she had been a victim of statutory rape and sexual exploitation.

With that in mind, she said, one is left with a certain answer to a question of whether or not the young mother may have had the opportunity to complete school.

Roberta Browne is a single mother of three, and the fact that the father of the child in the midst of a battle, which attracted national attention did not come forward to give voice, tells a sad story.

It is common though that mothers are the ones upfront in battles for their families, especially children, when indeed it is written that the man is the head of the household. But worst though, is the fact that many households are without a man, which leaves the eldest male child to be the older

man in the midst and not strong enough to stand and represent his family.

In this case, Roberta Browne’s father lives in the United Kingdom, and though she is an adult with three children, the eldest male in her home is her son, just one year old.

“Three children at age 22,” Cole said, “is a clear case of sexual exploitation and statutory rape”.

At 15 she was pregnant with her now six-year-old daughter.

“This young mom needs family planning education. Teenage pregnancy is a clear and present danger to many young girls in Guyana! This case clearly highlights that fact,” Cole explained.

She further said: “It also highlights the ‘turmoil’ of single parenting in Guyana as very young girls are now ‘single mothers’. It also highlights that pedophilia is a norm in this society whereby adult men prey upon children with little and no punishment for this abominable behaviour.”

LOW CONVICTION RATE The activist also expressed concern that for over a decade now rape has carried the lowest rate of convictions within the criminal justice system here.

Meanwhile, when Guyana Chronicle visited Roberta Browne’s home last Friday, her family was concerned that her baby might have been taken away because she was poor.

Browne was unaware that she would get her baby back on Monday and had already secured a night-duty job within a security firm although she had just given birth to the baby less than a month ago.

She had already made up her mind to do all that it took legally to get her child back in hand and to secure her two older ones who were also under the protection of the Child Care and Protection Agency.

After her baby was returned, her aunt Suzette advised her to wait until

Roberta Browne and baby Anthony

the child was at least three months old before turning out to work.

Nicole Cole said the fact that Browne was poor did not give someone else the right to her child.

“The fact that she is poor does not make it right to violate her rights and the woman who has the child must return the baby to its biological mother who will need Social Security to be able to cope with raising the baby.”

When Guyana Chronicle spoke to Suzette Browne yesterday, she said the child was taken to the health clinic but Browne was asked to return to the clinic with the baby today so that he can receive his BCG vaccine.

She said though her niece had planned to breastfeed her baby until six months, he has refused to breast feed since he was away from her for over 14 days. The baby, whose name is Anthony Browne, has a chest cold and is on medication. The best option, breastfeeding, is no longer an option.

Browne’s six-year-old daughter is a pupil of the Bagotville Primary, and she has a one year-old son, who also stays at home with her.

No willy-nilly erection of signs – says City Hall BUSINESSES and private citizens must obtain prior permission in writing if they propose to erect signs on the City Council’s roads, pavements, parapets and other thoroughfares, according to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

Recently the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wrote to Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud seeking his assistance in the recovery of signs that were seized from in front of its Freedom House headquarters on Robb Street,

Georgetown.

According to the party, the signs were removed by M&CC workers without consent. The party considered the act offensive and called for the return of its property.

The council in a press statement noted that it would be unlawful to erect any sign or place anything on council’s thoroughfare without the requisite permission in writing.

The council observed also that businesses and individuals have been eluding the process, which requires them to seek permission in writing before placing or erecting

any such signs.

Before any sign is erected on council’s thoroughfares, the inspectors of the City Engineer Department are required to conduct the appropriate inspections to determine the suitability of the area.

The Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, relating to streets and other places states: “No person shall leave, place or store, or cause to be left placed or stored, any vehicle, cart, dray, barrel, box, dustbin, tree trunk, branch, limb, or any other thing upon any street, parapet or pavement,

with any vehicle, cart, dray, barrel, box, dust bin, or other thing.

The M&CC noted that the City Engineer shall have the power to remove any such vehicle, cart, dray, barrel, box, dust-bin, tree trunk, branch, limb or other thing whatsoever left, placed or stored and the cost of removing any such thing may be recovered by the Town Clerk in a court of competent jurisdiction from any such person.

Persons who are desirous of erecting signs in the city should seek permission in writing from the Office of the Town Clerk.

Broomes sweeping the internet

EVER since her re-assignment to the Natural Resources Ministry, Minister Simona Broomes has become the subject of many a conversation.

From disappointments regarding her move from the Social Protection Ministry, to questions of her current position being a conflict of interest due to her mining holdings - the subject of Broomes has appeared in many a headline over the past few weeks.

She even became the catalyst for an exchange between local blogger Sara Bharrat and a spirited citizen, who felt that Bharrat’s article citing Broomes as “The best minister in the coalition government” for reasons which she explained, was “ill-informed” and part of “a sinister plot to mislead others.” Needless to say, the subject switched from Broomes in Bharrat’s crisp and satirical response to “Anna Correia, Without Wax”but I find this all amusing, the myriad directions in which discourse can flow stemming from a single topic. Of course, Broomes - now a minister of government - can’t very well lash out the way we know she is likely to have done, had she been a regular citizen, but it would be interesting to hear her defence on all that is being said.

Are we ready?

As the country’s biggest independence celebrations draw near, one post in which Guyana was listed among the Business Insider UK’s ’12 Emerging travel destinations that you have to visit in 2016’ has gone viral, as hopes hang high that perhaps the country will finally get the attention it is meant to receive. Subsequent reports, which have captured the initial article - written by Anisha Shah, a freelance journalist, who writes for CNN, Huffington Post and other top-class news houses- have said that this augurs well for Guyana in light of our upcoming Golden Jubilee celebrations. It certainly does, but there are comments being shared that much more “fixing up” needs to be done. People believe that while our natural splendour and unmatched hospitality are both things to boast of, we do still have some cleaning up to do (in more ways than one). We’re not perfect yet, people, but should this and other good PR indeed bring tourists flowing our way, we’d better make sure that we are ready on every front. Others feel that these skeptics have little faith in good ol’ Guyana, but I can’t help but share the same views that there is much to be fixed before our guests arrive.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Mahdia Gold under fire …as Omai miners complain of illegal raids, exploitation

By Alva Solomon MEN carrying guns and pumping bullets into a sluice box were among several matters raised with a team of officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources met with a group of small miners who operate “illegally” at Omai, Region Eight.

The miners, numbering more than three dozen, are calling on the authorities to

address their concerns, including regularisation of their activities at the site known as the “Omai Mill.”

The miners have been operating mining equipment and shops illegally at the site, which is now owned by Canadian resource development company, Mahdia Gold Corporation.

Efforts to obtain a comment from Mahdia Gold Offices in the city were futile and the phone numbers

listed for the company were disconnected when dialled yesterday. According to a Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) official, there are an estimated five small operations at the site with 15 structures set up as homes and shops.

SHOOTING UP SLUICE BOX Edwin Isaacs told the team that two weeks ago, his employees were working in

the pits when security personnel reportedly attached to Mahdia Gold allegedly broke down the structure holding his sluice box. “They shoot it up and bore up the hose,” Isaacs said. He said further that he was told that he should report the matter to the company and while he met one “Mr Bacchus” on his first visit to lodge a complaint, he was given a “runaround” while trying to meet the man a second time.

He said that the security personnel had committed the act on more than one occasion.

Isaacs said that persons would visit the site and “claim” that they were working with Mahdia Gold, producing accompanying documents with signatures. Other miners also echoed similar comments, noting that they are sometimes threatened by the gun-toting security officers allegedly attached to the company.

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, told the

miners that the incident they had described is of a serious nature. “Shooting up the box is something that we would stand against,” she said, as she expressed displeasure over the issue. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said that he will try to find clarity regarding the miner’s claim.

UNFAIR In addition, the miners told the team that they are required to pay 20 per cent of their production to the Turn to page 16 ►

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, looks at a letter from miner Shavonne Justice with the names of persons who work at the site

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

PSC thanks GRA for clarity on Sattaur

THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) has said it welcomes the clarity provided by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Chairman Rawle Lucas, pertaining to the agency’s visit to Commissioner-General Kurshid Sattaur’s home.

Lucas had noted that no raid was carried out on the home of Sattaur, nor was he disrespected. Sattaur is currently on leave.

The GRA Chairman also noted that the revenue body’s only intent, on visiting Sattaur’s home, was to retrieve and protect taxpayers’ data.

“I want you to understand [that] the only thing that we were interested in is receiving from the Commissioner-General was whatever data or information he had that pertained to the work of GRA,” Lucas explained.

He adumbrated that the

removal of GRA property from Sattaur’s home was not done unknown to Sattaur, as it was the Commissioner General who had personally provided the date and time officers should visit his home to retrieve the property.

“We are happy over the clarity which he has brought to this matter. We are pleased to hear that the rights of the Commissioner General were not breached in this matter. In addition, Mr Lucas claimed that the visit to his home, which was most unusual in the circumstances, were allegedly consensual. We were, however, disappointed that in their release he sought to target only PSC and did not respond to our concerns, and also debunk the misleading news article which led to this matter being brought to the fore,” the PSC said.

It added: “The PSC

GRA’s CommissionerGeneral Kurshid Sattaur

would like to advise that we did speak with Mr Kurshid Sattaur, Commissioner-General, on this matter and we will continue to raise our voices whenever we see unfair or partial treatment being meted out to our fellow Guyanese.”

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New order in mining sector coming THE Ministry of Natural Resources on Friday will convene a stakeholders’ forum at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, during which it will unveil the “new order” within the sector, while giving miners the opportunity to air their views on some of the problems that have plagued the industry.

The forum targets small miners and will map out appropriate solutions, the ministry said in a release.

Being held under the theme: ‘Empowering Small Miners in the Green Economy’, the forum will also have the input

of other critical players in the government and the mining industry.

Some of the key players will include the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission and the Guyana Police Force.

Slated to begin at 08:00 hrs, the forum will see opening remarks by Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes.

During this period, miners would have the opportunity to raise concerns they face on a daily basis, following which the key outcomes will

be discussed and a response from the panel on how the issues would be addressed.

President David Granger back in September 15th, 2015 during a speech at the Guyana Goldfields Inc. Aurora Gold Mines first gold pour had stated that while mining has a long history in Guyana, it is traditionally poorly managed. He stressed that there is need to pay greater attention to strategic policies, long-term plans and enforcement of the law. Apart from giving the small miners the platform to air their problems and finding solutions, government will also inform miners of the new order within the mining sector and provide them with the knowledge to operate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

War on crime being won – Granger WHILE there is still a lot of work to be done, President David Granger believes that Guyana is beginning to win the war on crime.

The Head of State made these comments in response to questions from members of the media at his office on Wednesday. President Granger, also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces, said he is pleased with the progress that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is making at the moment. “There are

several measures: one of the most important things that is not visible to the naked eye, is that our CID [Criminal Investigation Department] has been strengthened. Though we may not be able to prevent crimes from occurring in all those cases, we could detect those crimes and bring those people to justice very quickly. That has been one of the achievements of the Police Force over recent months,” the President said.

Other areas of strength-

ened crime-fighting activity include the deployment of mounted police in the Rupununi and aerial surveillance of the coastland, which is having an impact on the incidence of piracy. Recently, there have been a number of arrests made soon after criminal acts were perpetrated.

Noting that his administration inherited a situation characterised by gun-running, smuggling and narco-trafficking, President Granger said that these prob-

lems did not begin in 2015.

He said that there has been for over two decades, a tradition of disorder in the country, which the government is working hard to arrest.

He said: “Early in our administration, I set up the National Security Committee.

I’ve met with the Commissioner of Police, the Minister of Public Security and the Prime Minister every week under the National Security Committee. We have committed ourselves to strengthening the police force, not only Operation DRAGNET, but also enabling the police to have greater reach.”

Prior to the launch of Operation DRAGNET,

which is currently being executed to tackle external and internal security threats, President Granger had indicated that the security of the nation’s citizens is a priority for the government. This approach includes ensuring that the police force is strengthened by putting a lot of emphasis on equipment and training, ensuring the police officers are wellpaid, deploying more police ranks to the hinterland and more patrols in vulnerable communities. Additionally, the President continues to lobby the British Government to have the Security Sector Reform Action

President David Granger

Plan restored. President Granger has said that he is committed to making Guyana safe for all Guyanese and visitors to this country.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

BIGA aiming for ‘greener’ Bartica

By Svetlana Marshall

THE Bartica Independence Green Alliance (BIGA) is set to contest the Local Government Elections with the primary objective of transforming Bartica into a ‘green town’ once voted into office at the level of the Mayor and Town Council.

BIGA, the brainchild of Holbert Knights, was established in November 2015 as a direct response to President David Granger’s call for the transformation of Bartica into a “green town.”

Today, the alliance has a rapidly growing base as new members are signing up every day at its Second Avenue location in Bartica.

BIGA Chairman Knights, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said the alliance took a decision to contest the elections in response to the cries of the people.

“BIGA [was] driven to contest the elections based on feedback received from the main demographic, who indicated that there is discontent with the current leadership in Bartica. The people are more open to the idea of choosing leaders that reflect their choice, rather than a proportionate representation that is currently being displayed,” Knights explained.

According to him, the alliance constitutes individuals who are not only highly skilled in every aspect of sustainable development, but are ready to act based on the demands of the people and not a selected few. “These individuals are dedicated to moving Bartica forward to

fluence of the Essequibo, Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers, and it is also a testament to our tourism potential,” he added.

OUT-OF-THE-BOX INITIATIVES If voted into office, Knights said BIGA will attend to the social, economic and environmental needs of the people, adding that the alliance will bring out-ofthe-box initiatives to diversify the town’s economic

BIGA Chairman Holbert Knights

Members of the Bartica Independence Green Alliance

greater heights,” Knights emphasised.

ALL NINE CONSTITUENCIES BIGA will be contesting all nine constituencies in Bartica in both components of the elections: Proportional Representation and First-Past-the-Post, once its symbol has been approved by the Guyana Elections Commission.

The symbol, which is

still awaiting the approval of GECOM, comprises a batel,a tower, a rising sun, three rivers and greenery.

“The batel and gold represent our mining history and background. It also symbolises the main economic activity driving the economy of Bartica – mining. The tower represents the shift towards newer and more efficient use of technology, especially in education and mining,” the Chairman ex-

plained.

He said further that the rising sun symbolises the dawn of a new beginning for Bartica, especially with regard to the President’s initiative towards making Bartica a model town, while the vegetation reinforces the alliance’s commitment to the environment, even in mining.

“The three rivers represent our unique geographical positioning on the con-

landscape.

“BIGA is also committed to providing social services that have never been dealt with by any previous administration before. We recognise the need to ensure that our most important resource, our human resource, is treated with the highest regard as we move forward to create a stronger and healthier society. Economically, we will be focusing on creating link-

ages, while modernising the local agricultural sector. We will be looking at the establishment of green houses and food-processing industries,” he noted.

Moreover, the alliance intends to give more attention to the elderly and physically challenged populations, while sourcing scholarships for the gifted and talented.

“We are committed to ensuring the youths of Bartica have a well-rounded education. As such, focus is highlighted on sporting activities as being an important part of their development. We will be implementing the use of newer and more efficient technology in education and business,” Knights asserted.

He said also that the alliance takes seriously, the responsibility of protecting the environment.

“We believe it is vital that everyone has access to clean water, clean air and green spaces. We want to hand our community down to the next generation in a better condition than when we were children.”

BIGA is reportedly the only voluntary group in Bartica that is likely to contest the long awaited Local Government Elections on March 18. The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition powered by the Energetic New Vibrant Youth (ENVY) group and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) are among those contesting local government elections in Bartica. Local government polls had not been run off in Guyana since 1994.

Water, health issues rectified – in Regions One and Six A NEW arrangement between the regional health authorities in Region One (Barima-Waini) and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will now see 8,500 gallons of water being pumped daily from a special overhead tank to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital.

The assistance by GWI was put in place yesterday, and the Regional Health Officer of that region, Dr Cerdel McWatt, reported that the hospital had been able to use the new arrangement as of 09:00 hrs.

This is according to Di-

rector of Regional Health Services of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Kay Shako, who explained that the new arrangement was made after efforts to rectify the problem by the technical personnel on the ground were unsuccessful.

“GWI will pump 8,500 gallons of water daily into a special overhead tank, which will supply the Mabaruma Hospital only, and the hospital will distribute the water as needed within the complex,” Dr Shako explained.

The hospital’s well stopped working on De-

cember 15, 2015, the issue being that the pump was discharging sediments which caused the water to be contaminated.

The hospital reservoir, which can accommodate approximately 54,000 gallons of water, was not full at the time of the breakdown and the purchase of water for the doctors quarters had commenced on December 18, 2015.

According to Dr Shako, the purchase of water for the entire hospital complex, which includes hospital and staff quarters, commenced on December 19, 2015.

In the meantime, the hospital reservoir was washed

and prepared to be refilled during the period of December 27 – December 28, 2015.

The private arrangement for the purchase and transport of water, which saw an incurred cost of $1,400,000 to date, has been discontinued as a result of the new arrangement with the GWI. Meanwhile, the RHS Director, in addressing the issues faced at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital in Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) asserted that there was no “true” shortage of medical supplies.

“The Materials Management Unit (MMU) had experienced some difficulties in the timely filling of

Combined Requisition and Issue Vouchers (CRIVS) which consisted of drugs and medical supplies. This should not be considered as a ‘true’ shortage, but a delay in the delivery of these important items,” Dr Shako stated.

She spoke with the Director of the MMU, who said that the (CRIVS) were due in December, but due to an emergency request from Region 1, they were delayed.

“Some (CRIVS) for the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital will be finished packing today and can be uplifted. More supplies are still outstanding and will be

given on a monthly basis to Region Six,” the RHS Director explained.

According to her, the MMU did not have Reagents and Insulin Syringes, both of which had to be outsourced The MMU is still to procure X-Ray films, not only for the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, but nationally.

Dr Shako noted that if there was an urgent need for medical supplies, authorities in that region could have made contact with the Regional Health Services Department at the ministry, where there is a bond in which those items could be procured.

14

Larry London to chair GCAA

RETIRED Lieutenant Colonel Larry London, former head of the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Air Corps, has been named chairman of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) board, a source close to the GCAA has disclosed.

London and seven (7) other members of the new board will be sworn in on Friday before subject Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson. Forming the eight-member board are former Chairman Hugh Denbow, Attorney Sadie Amin, pilot and former Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) Deputy Manager Astel Paul, retired judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice Duke Pollard , Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Ramesh Ghir, an unnamed representative of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Director General GCAA (ag), Chitranie Hiralall, who has been acting in the post since the retirement of former Director-General Zulficar Mohamed, Ex-officio member (DG) This publication understands that the board at their first meeting is set to consider “housekeeping matters.”

However, issues deemed critical to the management of

Retired Colonel Larry London

the aviation sector, including the appointment of a Director-General, Guyana’s compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, Guyana regaining a Category One status by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and strengthening the human resource capacity of the GCAA are also likely to be discussed.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that there were some initial disagreements on the composition of the board, which falls under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, headed by Minister, David Patterson, which caused a delay in the appointment.

Born in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Lt Rtd. London at-

tended Victoria High School, excelled in Track and Field and also captained the Berbice Under-17 football team.

His military career spanned some 20-odd years. He was trained in the USA, UK, France and the USSR and gained both the Commercial ‘Fixed Wing” and Commercial Rotorcraft Pilot’s Licences with Instrument and Instructor Ratings. Some of the appointments held in the GDF Air Corps were as Officer Commanding (OC) Fixed Wing, Chief Pilot, and Training Pilot, and as, Commanding Officer from 1979-1987. During his service, he played a pivotal role in the selection of students for training as pilots and aviation engineers. He holds a BSc (Professional Aeronautics) and an MSc (Aviation Management) both from the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

He is married to Donna London and is the father of six. Back in 2013, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) had renamed and dedicated its Air Corps headquarters in honour of London. The headquarters is now known as Air Station London.

Air Station London is a military facility located at Timehri, within the environs of the Cheddi Jagan international Airport.

LEN to get new CEO soon

By Svetlana Marshall A New Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to manage the affairs of the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) will be appointed soon.

The new appointee will replace Valerie Adams-Patterson who has recently taken up the position of Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing.

According to reports reaching Guyana Chronicle, the Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the vacant post. To date, six applications have been submitted to the Board.

LEN commenced full operation last December although it was established since December 2009. During the recent launch, the lending institution was able to finance 40 Lindeners who are now in the process of either establishing their own respective business or expanding existing ones.

LEN aims to provide loans for persons at the grassroots level who are unable to meet

the requirements of lending intuitions such as banks.

Operating under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, the Board had reinforced the need for adequate funding for LEN but was only granted $4 million out of the $1.5 billion requested over the years.

However, in the 2015 Budget, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government set aside $155 million for the financing institution which was starved of capital.

LEN replaces the Linden Economic Advancement Project (LEAP). The Linden Economic Advancement Fund (LEAF) had formed part of LEAP which was a Government of Guyana- European Union (EU) project established to aid the development of Linden, from the dependence on bauxite to a more entrepreneurial type of community.

LEAP, through a financing agreement, was a seven-year programme that commenced in June 2002. The

value of the project was 12.5 million Euros.

The project objectives were the creation of viable and competitive enterprises generating new long-term jobs, which would contribute to improving the living conditions of people in the community of Linden.

The project’s purpose was the development of the local market for business advisory services and financial services in order to attract new national and foreign investments.

These were expected to increase employment opportunities in Region Ten. LEAP had eight components, of which component four, or LEAF, was to provide credit for startup, and existing micro small and medium-size business. It was also intended to provide training and handson assistance to the financial institution managing the fund.

Under LEAF more than $700 million was lent to Region 10 entrepreneurs, principally Linden. In fact, 701 entrepreneurs benefited from loans which totaled in excess of $736 million.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Kuwait invites Guyana to submit project proposals for support PRESIDENT David Granger received Letters of Credence from the State of Kuwait’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Guyana, H. E. Ayadah M. Alsaid on Wednesday morning at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Ambassador Alsaidi,who brought greetings on behalf of the Emir of Kuwait, His Highness Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,committed to working to strengthen relations between Guyana and his country. He added that the two countries enjoy strong political relations, but noted that in the past year, economic and trade relations were not as strong as they could be.

The Ambassador promised that he would do his best to work to strengthen ties in these areas and indicated that his country would welcome proposals for projects that could benefit the people of Guyana.

President Granger, echoing those remarks, said that he is confident that during Ambassador Alsaidi tenure, the two countries would find practical ways of moving their collaboration further.

The Head of State said: “Your Accreditation takes place at a time of economic transformation for both our countries, albeit at different levels. Guyana, like Kuwait,

President Granger greets Ambassador Ayadah M. Alsaidi at the accreditation ceremony, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, looks on.

is striving to further develop its natural resources to accelerate economic growth and ensure the good life for all of its citizens. Guyana remains deeply committed to its efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment and to provide better social services for all. There are ample opportunities for our two countries to collaborate in this regard.”

The President noted that Kuwait and Guyana have worked closely at the multilateral level on areas such as the preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and share a number of similar positions on global issues. “We have given added life to our relations in recent years, through the conclusion of several

cooperation agreements, especially in the areas of communication, culture, commerce and investment.

We are confident that during your tenure we will be able to find practical ways of implementing these agreements,” he added.

Guyana and Kuwait established diplomatic relations in August, 1995. Kuwait supported Guyana’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nation’s Security Council for the period 2014-2015 and Guyana is currently supporting that country’s bid for 2017-2018. Both state representatives used the opportunity to express thanks for that support.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

Firefighters face big challenge sourcing water – Gentle

By Michel Outridge

water supply at a fire scene.

CHIEF Fire Officer Marlon Gentle yesterday said that the major challenge confronting the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is sourcing water supplies when there is a fire in communities, since the larger fire tenders were not designed to carry bulk water to fire scenes.

In that light, they are in talks with the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) to craft an approach to have fire hydrants active again, as access to water at fires has been a bugbear for the GFS while attracting much unfair criticism.

Gentle stated that effective fire protection calls for inter-agency collaboration in managing communities in terms of infrastructure. The Fire Chief said that although they have challenges, they remain undaunted and are always working to improve their services.

However, he explained that a large fire tender can-

FIRE HYDRANTS The Chief Fire Officer stated that they are working with GWI to have the fire hydrants fortified to give an adequate flow of water to supply firefighting pumps with their large capacity. He noted that the fire hydrants must also have the right water pressure and volume to be able to put out fires.

Meanwhile, the GFS is looking to establish fire stations in new housing schemes. Gentle said that the establishment of fire stations in newer housing schemes will see a reduction in response time to a fire call.

On the East Coast corridor, the only fire tenders that will respond to fires are from the Campbellville and Mahaica Fire Stations. They are looking for a plot of land at Paradise, East Coast Demerara, to construct a fire station to serve that section of the East Coast, he added.

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle

not travel swiftly to a fire scene with 30-40 tonnes of water to outlying areas. The GFS at present has three such tenders in the city, one in New Amsterdam and another one on the West Coast of Demerara.

In other countries, Gentle added, the large fire tender is used as a second firefighting option, where they are not the only piece of equipment for water supply, but locally it is the primary source of

Turn to page 16 ►

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Lawrence plugs protection of vulnerable – at opening of two-day sensitisation on CSME

By Svetlana Marshall “AS we envisage free movement of peoples, we must also address the fact that we need to protect the welfare of vulnerable groups such as non-unionised workers, workers with disabilities, youth and unskilled persons who may be exploited by unscrupulous employers,” Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence said yesterday as she addressed a CARICOM forum on the Free Movement Regimes of the Caribbean Community.

The two-day sensitisation forum on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is being conducted at the Grand Coastal Hotel and forms part of a series to be run in 12 CARICOM member states attracting the attention of the private sector, employers and trade unionists.

As CSME develops, Minister Lawrence said, undoubtedly there will be a growing number of nationals moving across borders, but emphasised the need to prevent any form of discrimination.

“The free movement of persons is a fundamental prerequisite for the effective operation of any market, so

as we anticipate more movement for the future, we must entertain and seek to create the mechanisms that must be put in place to ensure that no discriminatory acts are meted out to those joining our workforce or the workforce in other member states,” she said.

Paramount in the mobility of labour is the underlying principle of respect for workers’ rights, the Social Protection Minister said, while underscoring the need for member states to commit to and ensure that workers are respected, noting that there must be fair treatment of workers without regard to nationality, socio-background or race. These principles, she said, are important in maintaining a competitive and productive regional workforce.

“One must give thought to pension and retirement benefits, and what about taxation? CSME would be challenged as the labour market is liberalised to consider the issue of contingent rights – what rights would nationals enjoy as they exercise[the] option to work in another member state.”

NOT BE SIDELINED Additionally, she underscored the importance of

putting the less developed member states high on the agenda. Minister Lawrence said as the free movement of labour intensifies, the under-developed and developing states should not be side-lined. “… there must be a process of catching-up, so that there is not a polarised mar-

TWO teenage youths appeared in the Fort Wellington Magistrates Court, West Coast Berbice, yesterday, charged with the gruesome murders of West Coast Berbice businessman Arthur Rajkumar and his reputed wife Dianne Chamanlall.

Gocoul Madanpaul,18, of 175 Block B, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, also known as “Clown” and Nazamadeen Raffick, 19, also known as “Shazam” of Bush Lot, also in West Coast

Berbice, stood with expressionless faces as Magistrate Rhondell Weaver read the capital charge to them.

The charge laid by Detective Constable Doris, read that they murdered Rajkumar and Chamanlall at lot 93A Bush Lot between Friday, January 8 and Saturday, January 9, 2016, in furtherance of a burglary.

Madanpaul subsequently told the magistrate that he was a fisherman while Raffick described himself as a food vendor.

certificates were accessed.

In addition to Minister Lawrence, the Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis, and President of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Norman McLean, were among the officials present at the forum.

movement has to be guided and developed by basic internal arrangements that have the inputs of the people of the Region.

“Tremendous work has been put in place by the technicians, but we have lacked over time the political will to make sure that what has been developed has been implemented. As such, the pace is slow.”

Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence addressing the CARICOM forum on Free Movement within the Region

ket in which some member states attain the greatest level of development to the sustained detriment of the less developed,” she explained.

“I also see the need for the trade unions to regroup and seize the opportunity to develop initiatives which will seek to modernise their structure, organisation and recruitment strategies, so that they can play a more vital role for the labour movement in the creation and effective

Bath murder suspects charged

Alleged killers Nazamadeen Raffick, 19, (left) and Gocoul Madanpaul, 18, (right) being escorted to the lockups after their brief appearance at the Fort Wellington Magistrate court yesterday

functioning of CSME. In fact, they can help to shape workers’ attitudes to CSME, for its success depends on it being embraced positively by the workforce,” the Social Protection Minister added, while positing that there is need for a strong labour movement that will contribute to the modernisation of Caribbean society.

Zooming in on Guyana,

Magistrate Weaver remanded the two to jail until February 3, when the matter will be brought up before her for a police progress report.

Though one of the two youths appearing in court yesterday had confessed to the murder of Ms Anita Baichan, 49, at Bath Settlement on January 3 last, only the charge for the Bush Lot murders was read out in Court.

An official said that a capital charge for the Bath Settlement murder will soon be laid against him.

A third suspect held by police on Tuesday last did not appear in court.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that he had confessed to the killing of Ms Baichan and the destruction of her home by fire at Bath Settlement, as well as to the bloody murders of Mr Rajkumar and Ms Chamanlall at Bush Lot. He was up to yesterday being held pending charges.

the Social Protection Minister said Guyana is committed to the development of CSME. According to statistics, Guyana welcomed, from the outset up to November 2015, a grand total of 4890 persons – 2057 male and 2833 females.

Of this number, 3372 were graduates, 487 non-graduates which included musicians, artistes, sports persons and media persons, 75 nurses and 182 trained teachers. It was further pointed out that 774

ENCOURAGED Lewis said the labour movement is encouraged by the efforts made by CARICOM to realise a common space for citizens of the Region, but he said the CSME cannot be realised by only putting laws in place. He said emphasis must be placed on the people.

“We need to take the discussions in the alleyways and the byways,” he posited.

According to him, the

“Today, we speak of a green economy, a green economy is driven by laws, rules and conventions; conventions that speak to no child labour, no forced labour, freedom of association,the right to collective bargaining [and] better services… It is within that context that whatever is being written and applied, it has to respect the fundamental rights of citizens of this Region.”

Courtesy call

PRESIDENT David Granger was, on Wednesday afternoon paid a courtesy call by Founder of the non-profit organisation, Kids First Fund, Ms. Varshnie Singh and her father, Mr. Beni Singh at the Ministry of the Presidency. In photo President Granger is flanked by Ms. Singh and her father. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

16

Man escaped on stolen bike – after Old Year’s killing

By George Barclay JUSTICE Navindra Singh and a mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes yesterday heard how Jermaine Maynard shot girlfriend Carlisa Matthews to death on Old Year’s night, 2013.

The alleged killing is said to have occurred outside KFC in the vicinity of Stabroek Market.

State Counsel Siand Dhurjon, a member of the prosecution team who delivered the opening address to the jury, disclosed that the team hoped to prove its case through witnesses.

Other members of the prosecution are Narissa Leander and Michael Shahoud.

Dealing with the facts of the case, Dhurjon told the jury that evidence would be led to show that on December 31, 2013, around 21:00 hrs Carlisa, her mother, her mother’s then fiancé and others were standing outside KFC on Croal Street, when

Jermaine Maynard came up and spoke to Carlisa a short distance away from everyone else.

According to Dhurjon, no one could have heard what they were saying, but they conversed for a few minutes.

Suddenly Carlisa’s mother and the woman’s fiancé saw Jermaine Maynard pull out a gun. As Carlisa started to move away, the accused pointed the gun to her head and shot her.

She fell down and Jermaine stood over her pointing the gun at her. It clicked three times but did not fire.

Jermaine Maynard walked away towards Regent Street and there he drew the gun on a Rastafarian man and took away his bicycle. Carlisa was taken to the GPHC where she died in the early hours of the morning of January 1, 2014.

Dhurjon went on to tell the jury, “We intend to bring a number of witnesses to prove these allegations to

you. Most significantly, we will bring two eyewitnesses who saw the murder occur.

“Members of the jury, if you believe that Maynard inflicted injuries on Carlisa intending to kill her or to cause her serious injury, and as a result of those injuries she died within a year and a day, then that is sufficient and we would have proven our case.

“Finally, trial by jury is the greatest legal tradition of our time. It is hundreds of years old and to take that oath of a juror is both a privilege and a responsibility. Do not allow your sympathy or other emotions to be influenced for the accused or for the victim.

But rather, use your eyes to see and ears to hear, judging carefully the attitude and evidence of the witnesses.

“Use your lifetime of experiences and learning to decide. Focus on the evidence and avoid any distractions.The verdict that you will later return must be a fair one based only upon the evidence. Thank you.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Mahdia Gold under...

From page 10

Firefighters face big...

From page 14

mining company, a sum they opposed, noting that the mining regulations have set the figure at no more than 10 per cent. However, Minister Trotman told the group that if it is a sum agreed to, then they would have to work along with arrangements made between each party.

Earlier, Trotman had told the miners that the visit was an information-gathering one, since the miners were expected to be issued with a cease-work order by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). That order has since been put on hold. He said that in such matters, justice “goes both sides and so the government recognises firstly you are citizens of Guyana and have

Gentle explained that in relation to the Non Pareil fire on Sunday, the fire tender arrived on the scene after 26 minutes and it is an issue they have in getting there in good time. He added that in most cases wood burns faster and by the time they reach the scene, the building would be totally enveloped and there were home furnishings made of wood which is a free burner.

a right to work.” Trotman observed that it is the government’s duty and obligation to find work for the miners, while also recognising that the other party has a right to the mining area too. “So you got to find a balance in between that,” he added.

According to reports, the miners have refused to pay the 20 per cent sum being requested by persons who had approached them. They said that the persons did not provide relevant documents to show on whose behalf the moneys were to be collected.

Isaacs told this newspaper that the miners are hoping that the government would assist them.

“We glad if they [government] can help me to

BUILDING CODES Gentle said that most fires get started through the careless use of electricity, which often speeds up a fire and their response time is not fast enough, because of distance. However, he is heartened to see measures are being put in place for the Guyana Building Codes to be implemented by the relevant authorities.

access the area.” He said that the land has already been “used.” He explained that the area is called “Omai Mill,” since it is there where the company had dumped waste material from its mining pit. He added that the area is feasible for work, since as much as an ounce of gold can be retrieved over a three-day period. “Is something we can work with; we have families to feed,” he added.

The ministers invited the miners to a small miners’ meeting which will be held on Friday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal. Land and other issues are expected to be discussed at that meeting.

The Chief Fire Officer told this publication that when the Building Codes are enacted and enforced, that will ultimately regulate the construction of buildings where preventive measures will be in place.

Moreover, he said that he is pleased to see zoning taking place, which he deemed a “breath of fresh air” in terms of fire-prevention.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Gaskin emphasises sustainable, inclusive business growth

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin

By Rabindra Rooplall THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is developing more standards in response to local businesses and industries as it promotes the creation and distribution of quality products locally and internationally, Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin yesterday said.

“Standards are very important; some industries are operating without the full range of standards that would make them stronger and marketable… I do support the development and promotion of the use of standards and certification in Guyana,” the Minister of

Business noted.

Gaskin was speaking at the commencement of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) three-day Strategic Planning Session at the Grand Coastal Inn, East Coast Demerara.

Attending the event were Executive Director of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Evadnie Inniss, Chairman of National Standards Council Vishnu Doerga, Vice Chair Allison Butters-Grant, facilitator of the programme Bonita Harris and senior staff of the GNBS. FIVE GOALS Sharing the 2015-2020 strategic action plan, Gaskin outlined five goals to support sustainable and inclusive business growth. These include: (1) Significant improvement in Guyana’s ease of doing business; (2) Significantly increase foreign investments in our economy; (3) Increase the development and exports of value-added industries; (4) Increase the economic opportunities and capabilities of vulnerable groups; and 5) Expand Guyana’s capacity to develop and promote sustainable business-friendly policies.

Underscoring that the year 2016 will see the Min-

Thursday, January 14, 2016 - 09:30 hrs Friday, January 15, 2016 - 10:30 hrs Saturday, January 16, 2016 - 12:00 hrs

istry of Business making greater strides towards national development, Gaskin said that the Ministry will seek to improve the ease of doing business as measured by the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business Index’.

It will boost value-added exports by assisting manufacturers to become more export ready; increase the number of small businesses accessing services and credit through the Small Business Bureau; reform GO-Invest; and increase the transparen-

cy of regulatory policies.

AN ATTRACTIVE PARTNER Chairman of the National Standards Council Vishnu Doerga said the GNBS has to move away from being an organisation that many in the private sector fear to one where businesses see it as offering a competitive advantage by being certified and eventually accredited.

“So I’m hoping we can shift that thinking in the private sector and actually be-

come an attractive partner in the private sector,” Doerga noted.

He emphasised that the Strategic Planning Session should be viewed by participants as an avenue to further develop and strengthen the entity to achieve its objectives.

“It’s only when you address your weaknesses you will get better, because it’s not a show where we say everything is perfect so participants can say and express themselves without repercussion.”

Facilitator of the session, Bonita Harris said it is easier for the staff to come together and create a plan rather than an outsider to craft a plan that would not be suitable to the agency.

“What we will be doing is an outline and draft plan and the details of the plan the staff will fill in…. the goals for the organisation should be in the head, heart and belly, it’s not something on a piece of paper on the wall alone,” the facilitator said.

18

CELAC summit to tackle poverty, inequalities

By Odeen Ishmael

ECUADOR will host the fourth summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on January 27. The country’s foreign minister, Xavier Lasso, said in Quito on January 6 that 22 out of the 33 CELAC leaders have already confirmed their attendance, while his country was expecting to receive confirmation by some others. Ecuador is currently the pro-tempore president of the bloc.

The summit will convene in the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), located at Mitad del Mundo, a tourist resort some 15 kilometres north of the capital Quito. Lasso revealed that the summit will discuss various issues such as technology transfer, connectivity and actions to alleviate the impact of climate change.

In addition to a political declaration to be issued at its conclusion, the forum is also expected to reach agreement on some 20 documents on specific issues, he explained.

He said that during his country’s chairmanship of CELAC during the past year, efforts were made to strengthen the grouping. He agreed that strong economic challenges face the Region, but it must revitalise efforts to lower high poverty levels, especially since the area suffers from the widest economic inequalities compared to other world regions.

A main focus for discussion will be the importance of the UN 2020 Agenda in the effort to reduce poverty and hunger, and to improve the Region’s education, science and technology and environment. The Agenda, which has undergone thorough discussions by CELAC representatives over the past four months at the UNASUR headquarters, also covers objectives with respect to climate change, infrastructure and connectivity. With the expectation that it will be approved at the summit, this will enable the implementation of a regional action plan to bring more than 70 million Latin American and Caribbean

citizens out of poverty.

Also, as part of the summit’s agenda, Cuba will introduce a declaration demanding the return of the territory occupied by the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo, while Argentina will propose another asserting of its sovereignty over the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands.

Resolutions supporting Argentina’s claim to the Malvinas have also been approved at previous summits.

It is not yet known if CARICOM members of CELAC have proposed items for the summit agenda. However, it will be interesting to hear how they will respond to the Argentine proposed declaration, since some of them are unabashedly supportive of British ownership of the South Atlantic islands. Guyana, under the current postMay 2015 administration, will be participating in the CELAC summit for the first time and, no doubt, will look forward to contribute effectively during the deliberations. At previous regional summits, such as those of UNASUR, Guyana made positive interventions on issues such as climate change, poverty reduction and food production, and it is expected that this trend will continue when the CELAC leaders meet in Ecuador.

The upcoming summit will, no doubt, assess the organisation’s achievements over the past year. At its third summit held in Costa Rica in January 2015, CELAC agreed to major decisions, including a plan of action to eliminate hunger by 2025 in the bloc’s aim to reduce poverty and inequality in the Region.

It praised the decision by the United States and Cuba to restore diplomatic relations and urged President Obama to end the blockade on Cuba. But it also called for an end to U.S. “meddling” in member countries and reiterated its proclamation from its 2014 summit declaring Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace. At the same time, it called on the international community to “respect this proclamation in its relations with the member states of CELAC, including the com-

mitment to non-intervention, direct or indirect, in the internal affairs of any other state and to respect the principles of national sovereignty, equal rights, and the self-determination of peoples.”

Significantly, the regional leaders also approved 27 special declarations covering a wide range of topics affecting the Region, including a proposal to erect a permanent monument to honour the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.

Established in 2010, CELAC is an intergovernmental mechanism for dialogue and political agreement, which includes 33 sovereign nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, (with the exception of the United States and Canada.). As the successor to the Rio Group and the Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean on Integration and Development, its creation was widely perceived as a means to counter the “U.S.-dominated” Organisation of American States which does not include Cuba as an active member.

The organisation was created with a commitment to advance the gradual process of regional integration and unity and carefully balancing political, economic, social and cultural diversity of the 650 million people of Latin America and the Caribbean.

It has since helped to deepen dialogue among its members in areas such as social development, education, nuclear disarmament, food production, small-scale farming, culture, finance, energy and the environment.

By mandate of the Heads of State and Government, CELAC has become the unified voice of the Region on issues of consensus. With this directive, it now takes the lead on behalf of the member states to discuss and negotiate mutual political and economic issues with other countries and regional blocs, such as the European Union, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the African Union, China, India, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Korea, Turkey and Japan.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

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South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:25 hrs Rikitikitana 09:05 hrs Hermoso Mundo 09:45 hrs His Legacy 10:25 hrs Super Glue 11:07 hrs Penteliko Arab Emirates Racing Tips Meydan 11:00 hrs Nathr 11:35 hrs Almashooqa 12:10 hrs Rouleau 12:45 hrs Muarrab 13:20 hrs Big Baz 13:55 hrs Hunting Ground 14:30 hrs Fories Waltz English Racing Tips Southwell 08:30 hrs Jaarih 09:00 hrs Iconic Figure 09:30 hrs Tellovoi 10:00 hrs Billy Bond 10:30 hrs Independent Rose 11:05 hrs Bring On A Spinner 11:40 hrs Cape Of Glory Catterick 08:50 hrs Pemba 09:20 hrs Conquer Gold 09:50 hrs Mrs Burbidge 10:20 hrs Always Resolute 10:50 hrs Lackamon 11:25 hrs Beat The Tide 11:55 hrs Tomngerry

THURSDAY JANUARY 14, 2016

Chelmsford City 13:10 hrs Welliesinthewater 13:40 hrs San Quentin 14:10 hrs Ice Royal 14:40 hrs New Strategy 15:10 hrs What A Dandy 15:40 hrs Tasaaboq 16:10 hrs Gunner Moyne Irish Racing Tips Thurles 08:40 hrs Indien Rouge 09:40 hrs Figurative 10:40 hrs Bitofapuzzle 11:15 hrs Topper Thornton 11:45 hrs Two Rockers American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Carysfort Reef Race 2 Balqaa Race 3 Court Dancer Race 4 Mambo At the Gym Race 5 Sun and Moon Race 6 Irish Heroine Race 7 Dance Champion Race 8 Clothes Fall Off Race 9 Memory Keeper

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Scandal-plagued FIFA dumps its once-powerful secretary general

By Joshua Franklin ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - World football body FIFA said yesterday it had fired Secretary General Jerome Valcke, a move that comes amid alleged corruption involving World Cup ticket sales and a number of swirling scandals at the sport’s governing authority.

“The FIFA Emergency Committee decided, on January 9 2016, to dismiss Jerome Valcke from the position of FIFA Secretary General with immediate effect,” the Zurich-based organisation said in a statement.

It gave no reason for the dismissal but Valcke’s lawyer in New York, Barry Berke, was defiant on behalf of his client.

“Jerome Valcke is proud of all that was accomplished for the game of football during his long tenure as Secretary General, including two of the most successful World Cups in history in South Africa and Brazil,”

he said.

“He remains confident that he will be fully vindicated and history will recognise all of his contributions to the sport he loves.”

Valcke was once one of the most powerful men in FIFA and responsible for ensuring that preparations for the last two World Cups, in South Africa and Brazil, were completed in time.

An ethics investigation into the case recommended a nine-year ban for the Frenchman, former righthand man to FIFA president Sepp Blatter who himself has been banned for eight years.

Last week FIFA’s ethics judges announced they had opened formal proceedings against Valcke, who has denied wrongdoing in the past.

Valcke was placed on leave by FIFA in September following the allegations and initially suspended for 90 days in October when the ethics committee started its investigation. That suspension was extended for another 45 days last week

Cook, de Villiers lead calls for ICC to protect Test cricket

By Mark Gleeson JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - Test cricket must adapt to survive in the face of the ever-tightening squeeze from shorter, more lucrative, forms of the game, both England and South Africa’s captains said yesterday.

Calling for more structure in the cluttered cricket schedule, Alastair Cook and AB de Villiers agreed there is a growing tug on player commitments between the traditional format and Twenty20 competitions like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia’s Big Bash.

“I think it’s a growing concern for the ICC (International Cricket Council) and they’ve been talking about it for the last few years,” de Villiers, whose own workload between Test cricket and his earning potential in the T20 format has been widely debated in recent weeks, said.

He reportedly earns $1.4M playing in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore

- dwarfing his South Africa contract.

In a separate news conference yesterday ahead of the third Test between the two countries at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Cook said that while the five-day game still represented the ultimate test for a player, it could not risk standing still.

“Everyone loves Test cricket, I believe,” Cook said.

“We all know we have to protect Test cricket. As the game progresses and evolves, you can’t stand still.

“We have to always look to how we can improve the game. The people who run it must know there is a responsibility on their shoulders to look after it and try and push it forward.”

DAY-NIGHT TESTS The recent introduction of day-night Tests in Australia is seen as a positive step, but de Villiers said the Future Tours Programme, which determines bilateral cricket fixtures for the next six years, needed to be examined.

JEROME VALCKE and a ban from all football activities remains in effect.

The secretary general’s duties will continue to be carried out by Acting Secretary General Markus Kattner, FIFA said.

Valcke has now been sacked twice by FIFA. He joined the organisation in 2003 as marketing director but was fired in December 2006 for his part in botched sponsorship negotiations with credit card firms Mas-

terCard Inc. and Visa Inc. His case has been overshadowed by the turmoil which has engulfed FIFA in the last year, with criminal investigations into the sport in both the United States and Switzerland.

Altogether, 41 people and sports entities, including top FIFA officials, have been indicted by U.S. prosecutors for offences including corruption, fraud and money-laundering.

PUMA makes special ...

From back page

SPORTS Apparel giant, PUMA, is planning to give Usain Bolt a massive sendoff during what is expected to be his last time on the Olympic stage in Rio de Janiero, Brazil this summer.

According to Pascal Rolling, PUMA’s international head of sports marketing – running, while Jamaica and his organisation have a special relationship, the 2016 Olympics is all about Bolt.

“He is already a living legend, but he can really enter the history books being the first man to win three gold medals consecutively in the 100m. So most of our efforts will be around Usain Bolt advertisement and communication,” Rolling told the Jamaica Observer.

Rolling was speaking from Jamaica where PUMA is in the middle of shooting commercials with Bolt, Asafa Powell and Andre De Grasse, double bronze medallist at the 2015 World Championships for Canada.

As for Jamaica, Rolling says there will be special perks for the Jamaicans who have brought much visibility to the brand during major championships.

“You can expect great things in Rio for sure. We have a new philosophy, new strategy at PUMA, going back to performance with a new ‘Forever Faster’ motto,” said Rolling.

“We will be doing different stuff and trying to surprise the public. There will be different outfits, and for certain events there might be certain designs,” said Rolling.

PUMA does have a history of surprises at Olympics.

On a number of occasions PUMA displayed a new pair of shoes for Bolt, just for a final, though possibly the most memorable was the 4x100-metre women’s final in Athens, 2004, where the gold-medal-winning team of Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson, Tayna Lawrence and Aleen Bailey donned unique outfits that made the front page of newspapers and online magazines the world over.

(Sportsmax.com).

Windwards Volcanoes overpower ...

From back page

..Barbados Pride beat ICC Americas by six wickets

By BRIJ PARASNATH Windwards Volcanoes stunned the Guyana Jaguars and celebrated a thrilling two-wicket win in their Group B encounter at Warner Park in St Kitts last evening.

Guyana Jaguars made 209 for 9 in their 50 overs while Windwards Volcanoes replied with 210 for 8 off 49.3 overs.

Guyana Jaguars batted first and found themselves in an embarrassing position with six wickets down for only 50 runs on the board.

Asad Fudadin (0), Anthony Bramble (4), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (3), Vishaul Singh (5), Leon Johnson (25) and Raymon Reifer (3) were back in the pavilion and it was Royston Crandon who engineered a lower-order resistance and carried the Jaguars total to 209 for 9 off their allotted 50 overs.

Crandon remained undefeated on a well-played 68.

He received solid support from Steven Jacobs (27) and together they shared a 45-run seventh wicket stand, followed by Veerasammy Permaul (12) and a 45-run eighth wicket partnership and Paul Wintz (38 not out) in a unbroken 68-run ninth wicket stand in 9.3 overs.

In reply, Windwards Volcanoes lost five frontline batsmen for 68 in 25.4 overs.

Medium pacer Wintz created quite a stir after Johnson Charles had smacked him for a mighty six and four in the first over. But the lion-hearted medium pacer remained focussed and determined and prised out Devon Smith and Charles for three and five runs respectively.

Leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul made his presence felt and bowled Andre Fletcher for 19 while Gudakesh Motie sent back Miles Bascombe (5) via the run out route.

Tyrone Theophille offered Steven Jacobs a return catch and was gone for 24 while skipper Liam Sebastien was bowled by Crandon for 27.

Permaul returned to dislodge dangerman Kyle Mayers for seven and the score 152 for 7 after 44.4 overs.

The Jaguars must have felt confident of emerging victorious but Sunil Ambris changed the complexion of the match with enterprising strokeplay as he rallied the Volcanoes to a maintain their advantage over the Guyanese in this year’s series after sneaking home with a Duckworth/Lewis 1-run win in their rain-affected first round match on January 7.

Ambris raced to 56 before being bowled by Crandon bowled with the score at 156 for 8 in 45.3 overs.

The Jaguars were still ahead with the Volcanoes still behind by 54 runs and 27 legitimate deliveries to be bowled.

Inspired by Ambris attractive knock, Keron Cottoy (23 not out) and Shane Shillingford (21 not out) combined to feature an enterprising unbroken ninth wicket partnership that was worth 54 invaluable runs off 24 balls. In the process, the Volcanoes stunned the Jaguars and registered a sensational two-wicket win with

three balls to spare.

In the other Group A match, West Indies Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite displayed good composure and with disciplined application to restore some pride among his Barbadian counterparts who floundered at the start of their run-chase against the valiant ICC Americas team at the Queen’s Park Oval last evening.

Set 203 for victory, Barbados Pride were in a state of shock when medium pacer Timroy Allen bowled Dwayne Smith with the second delivery of the innings and then removed Shai Hope two balls later without any runs in the scorebook.

Barbardos Pride was two wickets down for no runs after the first over. But Brathwaite and Jonathan Carter restored sanity with a 61-run third wicket stand.

Carter was more aggressive and contributed 35 before being dismissed by Nitish Kumar who also snapped up Shamarh Brooks for 25.

Brathwaite batted right through and remained undefeated on 86 when the Barbados Pride secured victory with four wickets intact and 13.3 overs to spare.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Community Development Mayor’s 81st birth anniversary Fund Project to roll out soon seven-a-side f/ball tournament ... NSC aiming for four-year programme

By Stephan Sookram THE National Sport Commission (NSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), Department of Sport (DoS), is aiming to have its Community Development Fund Project rolled out in a fouryear programme, according to Director of Sport Christopher Jones.

Briefing the media yesterday morning, Jones stated that they are intent on revamping some of the initiatives used previously with the process expected to involve the grassroots people in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Village Councils.

The provision according to Jones will remain the same at $300M annually, but there will be changes to the amount one project can access, as those offered in the past were not sufficient to complete and maintain projects.

Christopher Jones Director of Sport “$10M is about the minimum that we can spend if we want to achieve the truly multipurpose space which caters for several different disciplines and of course priority is on lights at every one of the locations,” Jones said.

Jones already has a plan moving into this year, saying, “My first proposal (to the Ministry of Education/ Department of Sport) for 2016 is for 22 NDCs which

will speak to (on average) $220M and of course you still have to cater to those communities that do not reside within a municipality or the NDC, for example, the Amerindian communities and of course you still have to cater for school grounds.”

He noted that there is still $80M unused funds yearly which will go towards developing school grounds as well as those in the hinterland locations.

The Director said that in order for funds to be accessed, they must have a community committee that is responsible for the development of the ground and to do a needs assessment followed by a document indicating the cost of the project and the particulars.

Those documents should be submitted to the MoE DoS and copied to the NSC. Thus far, Jones acknowledged that he is in receipt of 10 proposals which missed the 2015 deadline.

Lehmann’s last-ball six clinches thriller for Strikers

ADELAIDE Strikers claimed a thrilling final-ball victory over Hobart Hurricanes to seal a home semi-final in the Big Bash League.

Jake Lehmann hit a six off the last ball to seal a six-wicket victory which ensured the Adelaide Strikers will be at home in the Big Bash League semi-finals and the Hobart Hurricanes are out.Scores: Adelaide Strikers 4 for 146 (Ludeman 57*, Milenko 3-25) beat Hobart Hurricanes 143 (Paine 45, Neser 3-26) by six wickets.

Lehmann, son of Australia coach Darren, strode to the wicket in front of a sellout crowd of 49 115 needing four to win off the final delivery of the match and duly struck Hurricanes debutant Simon Milenko over the ropes in a dramatic finale.

Victory for the Strikers earned them home advantage in the last four and they are top of the standings with one regular season game remaining, while the Hurricanes’ campaign is over.

Michael Neser took 3-26

Trayon Bobb’s helmet-trick earns him MVP and Highest Goalscorer awards

WHEN the quarter-final action in the Mayor’s 81st birthday seven-a-side football tournament got underway last Sunday at the Den Amstel ground, West Coast Demerara, Uitvlugt’s Trayon Bobb registered a helmet-trick (four goals) in his team’s 5-1 win against Haslington to secure a semi-final place.

The four goals off Bobb’s boot carried his total amount of goals in the tournament to 10.

This was enough to earn him the Highest Goalscorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP) tournament awards.

For his efforts, Bobb received the MVP award from Georgetown’s Mayor Hamilton Green who witnessed the games and assisted with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.

For scoring the most goals in the competition, Bobb will receive a threepiece suite, compliments of AH&L Kissoon.

Playing the final match of the tournament, Uitvlugt edged out Pouderoyen 2-1 in a penalty shoot-out to take the Mayor’s Cup trophy and the $200 000 first prize, compliments of John

TRAYON BOBB Fernandes Limited.

Pouderoyen walked away with the $100 000 second prize and the Youth and Sport trophy.

The third-place play-off was decided on penalty kicks when Kitty prevailed over hosts Den Amstel 1-0. With the victory they earned $70 000 and the China Trading trophy, while the hosts (Den Amstel) won $30 000 and the Business School trophy.

Ricks and Sari Agro Industry Limited was on board and donated food hampers to all the players of both Uitvlugt and Pouderoyen team members.

When the action got

underway on Sunday at 14:00hrs, Kitty defeated Lima Dam 4-1, compliments of a hat-trick from Anthony Sancho and a supporting goal from Donald McKenzie.

Uitvlugt then humiliated Haslington 5-1 with Bobb’s four goals and another from Cordell Mars. Jamal Harvey scored for Haslington from the penalty spot.

Victoria and Pouderoyen played to a 0-0 draw at the end of regulation time. However, Pouderoyen came out victorious of the resulting penalty shoot-out by a 3-2 margin to book a semi-final spot.

Mahaica Determinators and Den Amstel had to go to the penalty shoot-out route to determine the other semi-finalists and Den Amstel prevailed by a 2-1 margin.

Pouderoyen then inflicted a 2-0 win against Kitty, compliments of one goal apiece from Marvin Josiah and Dexroy Adams.

Uitvlugt then booked their place in the final, once again via a penalty shootout, this time they disposed of Den Amstel 1-0.

Crawford wins Benjamin Bakery 40-mile cycle road race One-ball hero: Jake Lehmann hits a six when the Adelaide Strikers needed four. and 21-year-old debutant Greg West claimed 2-24, while England leg-spinner Adil Rashid (2-16) starred yet again as the Strikers were bowled out for 143.

Tim Ludeman top-scored with 57 not out from 58 balls and watched on at the non-striker’s end as Lehmann finished off the job in style.

Neser struck in the third over to get rid of the out-ofsorts Kumar Sangakkara (3), promoted to open the batting, but captain Tim Paine looked set for a second successive half-century as he hit two sixes in a promising knock at the top of the order before being run-out for 45.

Young paceman West was not overawed by the occasion

as he got rid of Ben Dunk (8) and Michael Hill (32), while in-form England leg-spinner Rashid bamboozled Jonathan Wells before trapping Dan Christian leg-before as the Hurricanes collapsed.

Ludeman held the Strikers innings together after Milenko, in for the injured Darren Sammy, removed Jono Dean (15) and the dangerous Travis Head (25) before Shaun Tait yorked skipper Brad Hodge (28).

The Strikers needed 10 to win off the final over and, although Milenko claimed his third wicket from the fourth ball, Lehmann denied him a dream debut. (Sportsmax.com)

BERBICIAN Romello Crawford made it two wins in two weeks when he won the Benjamin Bakery 40mile cycle road race in Berbice last Sunday and has now established himself as the man to beat for the remainder of the year.

Crawford returned a winning time of one hour 32 minutes 47.47 seconds for the event.

The race pedalled off from outside Benjamin Bakery at Chesney Village, Corentyne and proceeded to Number 43 Village before returning to the point of origin.

With all eyes on Crawford following his win seven days before, another Berbician, Andrew Hicks, took the initiative and went out in an early break, followed closely by the ever-improving Deeraj

Gurbarran who is a relative newcomer in the junior category.

The two led the peloton about three quarters of a mile, with Crawford and Alonzo Ambrose finding themselves between the two groups.

The latter pair caught the leaders at the 18-mile mark and together the quartet rode at a slow pace allowing Paul DeNobrega, Christopher Griffith, Dwayne DeAbreu, Junior Niles and Jebon Crawford to pedal their way back into contention with ten miles still left in the race.

In the end Crawford and Ambrose escaped from leading group. The young Berbician proved that he was the better man with a final sprint that forced Alonzo Ambrose to concede well before the

finish line.

DeNobrega finished third, Niles fourth, Jebon Crawford fifth and Hicks sixth.

In the junior category, by winning the overall race, Crawford was adjudged the winner with the second place going to Hicks and third to Garbarran.

The event was organised by coach of the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC), Randolph Roberts.

The first FACC rider to cross the finish line was Wilbert Benjamin followed by his brother, Gary and Curtis Dey in the third position.

In the Under-16 category, the top three finishers were Zamal Khan, Kerri Collins and Chamsehwar Ghanie in that order.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Deonarine, Lewis help TT Red Dead fish wash Force crush Jamaica Scorpions up on shores

By Brij Parasnath PENETRATIVE bowling by franchise player Narsingh Deonarine and magnificent batting by Evin Lewis allowed the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force players to celebrate another convincing victory over the Jamaica Scorpions, in their WICB NAGICO Super50 second round encounter contested at Shaw Park, Tobago yesterday.

Deonarine put the skids on the Scorpions with an impressive spell that yielded three important top-order wickets and the shellshocked Jamaicans never fully recovered. It was a masterstroke by skipper Jason Mohammed to utilise the experienced Guyanese against the Jamaicans whom he has played against during his extended career for the Guyana team.

Bowling his off-spinners, Deonarine removed West Indies Test player Jermaine Blackwood (caught

by Evin Lewis at first slip for 9 (28 for 2); skipper John Campbell, (also caught by Lewis for 17 (34 for 3) and then scalped centurion Andre McCarthy, caught Marlon Richards for 6 (41 for 4).

He finished with impressive analysis of 10-0-34-3.

Franchise-player Devon Thomas top-scored for the Scorpions with 70 while Brandon King 32, wicket-

keeper Aldaine Thomas 14 and Sheldon Cottrell 13 were the others to get to double digits as the Jamaican Scorpions rallied back to reach 176 all out (49.4 overs).

Leg-spinner Jon Ross Jagessar ended with figures of 8.4-0-42-4 while Reyad Emrit (10-1-37-1) and Akeal Hosein (7-2-31-1) shared one wicket apiece.

Having been set 177 for victory; the T&T Red Force openers Lewis and Barbados-born Kyle Hope played contrasting roles to snuff out any chance of allowing the Scorpions to sting the homesters in Tobago.

The attacking Lewis moved like a fully chargedup Formula 1 turbo-racing machine while Hope cruised along like a luxury salon sports model car.

Left-handed Lewis set a blistering tempo in the first over with four powerful fours and gathered momentum as he raced to his career-best and maiden regional List A century. The 24-year-old retired hurt as soon as he crossed the magical three-figure mark (102 not out). He had topscored with 74 in the 84-run victory in the first-round match against the Scorpions at the Queen’s Park Oval.

He smashed six sixes and eight fours off 100 deliveries and shared in a unbroken 148-run first-wicket stand

of Rio bay near Olympic venue

Evin Lewis smashes six sixes and eight fours in his 102. with Hope who followed him back to the pavilion eight runs later with 43 runs that contained three fours.

There was a mild setback as T&T Red Force lost Kjorn Ottley and skipper Mohammed for four runs each after Hope departed at 156.

But Yannick Ottley (10

n.o.) and bowling hero Deonarine (8 n.o.) ensured that there was no more drama and sealed a convincing seven-wicket victory. McCarthy claimed two wickets for 19 from 6.5 overs.

Lewis was voted Manof-the-Match for his brilliant century.

Bonner ensures Leeward Islands Hurricanes record their first win

THE Leeward Islands Hurricanes recorded their first win in this year’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) NAGICO Super50 sponsored tournament which resumed yesterday with second round matches.

Playing at the St Paul’s Sports Complex, St Kitts, the Leewards defeated the Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners by 14 runs in a closely-fought encounter to theoretically stay in contention for a semi-final place.

Led by a third-wicket partnership of 98 between man-of-the-match Nkrumah Bonner (79) and Montcin Hodge (66), the Leeward

Islands Hurricanes reached a challenging 242 for eight in their allotted 50 overs after being inserted to take first strike.

The Marooners threatened to overhaul the total but was undone by the spin of Rakeem Cornwall who finished with the impressive figures of four for 21 from 9.1 overs. He was well supported by Daron Cruickshank who claimed three for 28 in six overs.

Bonner, who struck two fours and a similar number of sixes, came together with Hodge (five fours) with the score on 62, after opener Shane Jeffers 32, with five fours, had given his team a

fair start.

After Hodge and Bonner were dismissed, wickets fell at regular intervals but the eventual total proved enough for the Marooners who are still to register a win.

Mark Deyal ended with three for 32 from six overs while the experienced Ryan Hinds took two for 46 from 10.

For the Marooners, opener Vikash Mohan slammed a 96-ball 79 which included seven fours while skipper Chadwick Walton chipped in with 39 and Cassius Burton 23.

Nkrumah Bonner

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Thousands of dead fish washed up on the shores of Rio’s Guanabara Bay yesterday, not far from where events are being held at this year’s Olympic Games, environmental officials said.

The incident was the latest involving water quality in the bay, where sailing, open-water swimming, and triathlon races are due to take place at the Games in August.

“Officials found rubbish in the water and on the beach as well as a considerable number of dead fish all from the same species of sardine,” the government’s State Environmental Institute said in a statement.

“These fish because of their low commercial value are often thrown overboard by trawlers as we have seen on other occasions in this same area.”

Other than floating garbage the officials saw no “visual abnormalities” in the water. They took samples and will report back in five days.

When Rio bid to host the 2016 Olympics, the city said it would cut the amount of raw sewage flowing into the bay by 80 percent but has since confirmed it will not meet that target.

An independent report last year found there were dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria in the water.

NOTABLE DATES TERRENCE Alli was 31 years old when he took on Venezuelan Alfredo Rojas on January 14, 1992. The quick-fisted Guyanese junior welterweight was declared winner in the fourth round as Rojas retired.

The fight was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey and was the 48th professional victory for the son of Mahaicony.

It also started the year on a successful note for Alli who won all of four fights during that 12-month period.

In June he gave his home crowd something to cheer about when he knocked out Steve Larrimore in the fifth round at the world famous GCC ground.

On January 14, 1986 Guyanese lightweight Jeff Roberts was, after eight rounds, adjudged the winner by unanimous decision over Jocko King of the USA. The fight was staged at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.

Roberts started out as a bantamweight in 1980 and was crowned Guyana champion when he won a Unanimous Decision over Samuel Brutus. Based in the USA, Roberts ended a career of fluctuations with a record of six victories, 16 defeats and one draw.

One loss came at the hands of Michael Benjamin.

The bout took place in November of 1987 and had the lightweight title of Guyana at stake.

The result was an entertaining encounter which ended with Benjamin being adjudged winner via a majority decision.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Victor ‘Victorious’ Benjamin

– one of the most decorated local athletes HE DOMINATED Guyana’s track and field circuit for over two decades, specialising in the long jump, 110 hurdles, as well as the 400 and 800 metres.

His name is Victor Winston Churchill Benjamin.

Born May 5, 1945 at Courtland in the county of Berbice, Benjamin is considered one of the most decorated local athletes of all-time.

Internationally, by his own count, the man whom President David Granger refers to as Victor ‘Victorious’ won a total of 103 medals during competition from his 1970 debut in Suriname to his showing at the 2005 World Masters Games in Canada.

Today’s ’Sports in 50’ takes a look at the athletics career of Victor Benjamin,

as he also shares his thoughts on the state of Track and Field in Guyana.

He first burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old at the former British Guiana Cricket Club ground (BGCC) competing at the National Schools and Athletics Championships.

“Back in those days, you use to want to compete and you felt like you were doing it for something great,” the now 70-year-old Benjamin said.

After dominating the championships, at age 18, Benjamin enlisted in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) where he was the army’s male champion athlete from 1969 to 1990.

Benjamin still holds the GDF’s 110 hurdles, 400 and 800M records - something he says might remain forever, based on current state of athletics, even in the military.

Victor Benjamin on his way to gold in the 300m hurdles at the 2005 World Masters Games in Canada. (Photos compliments of Victor Benjamin)

“Imagine, we don’t even have the hurdles done now in Guyana and back in the days, those were events people use to look forward too. We used to do it (hurdles) even at the school level, so that’s something this administration will have to seriously look into,” Benjamin said.

During his interview with Chronicle Sport, where he took a trip down memory lane, Benjamin recalled that during his career only three people can boast of beating him.

Compton Martindale was the first person to upset Benjamin, doing so in the 110m hurdles at Bourda in 1972.

In 1974 at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Raphael Beaton clipped Benjamin at the line in the 800m and then in 1990 at the GDF Camp Ayanganna ground in the 400m.

“I don’t want to take anything away from the guys that defeated me in my career, but every time I wasn’t fit and forced myself to run, I ended up losing,” Benjamin recalled.

The late Col. Godwin McPherson, along with LT. Col. Laurie London, Major General Joe Singh and President Granger are some of the people Benjamin said supported his career while at the GDF and encouraged him to stay on the path of success both on and off the track.

“The Army used to care about sports then. They used to ensure that if you’re good in something, they give you as much exposure. People wanted to do things in the Army,” said Benjamin.

An outstanding all-round cricketer and a certified physical trainer, Benjamin is also the USA Cricket team’s Chief Physical trainer.

Meanwhile, Benjamin

Victor Benjamin displays his silverware from a track meet in the 1970s threw out a challenge to the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and the Guyana Government to get certified coaches in the school system to work with athletes, especially the gifted ones.

He stated that “what we should also see is steady competition on the local circuit. You have athletes doing well at the Junior Carifta Games and then when they return home, for months there’s nothing for them to do. The same Jamaicans that they would have beaten (at the Junior Carifta Games) would later go on to do great things, because when they return home (to Jamaica), there’s competition all yearround.”

“In my time we didn’t have a track but now, I’m glad that these young athletes got something to boost their training. Hopefully, we’ll get it right, because we have very talented athletes and all they need is proper guidance and more competition and exposure,” Benjamin said.

A young President David Granger presents Victor Benjamin with his first place medal at the Joint Services Games.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 14, 2016

Windwards Volcanoes overpower Guyana Jaguars see page 24

President receives book on history of cricket in Guyana from Hand-in-Hand

WICB will still look at non-contracted players for selection

DWAYNE BRAVO

President David Granger receives a copy of ‘Hand-in-Hand History of Cricket in Guyana 1865-1897’ from the insurance company’s Board member John Carpenter.

PRESIDENT David Granger yesterday received a copy of a book that chronicles the history of cricket in Guyana, from members of the Board of Directors of the Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies, during a meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The book ‘Hand-in-Hand History of Cricket in Guyana 1865-1897’ is a legacy project undertaken by the company to commemorate of its 150th anniversary.

Renowned Caribbean writer Ian McDonald explained that cricket is an important part of Guyanese history and culture, and as such, the company felt that the book would be an apt tribute, not only to the game, but to all Guyanese.

“I think it is probably the

only time such a comprehensive history of cricket (has been) written from an individual West Indian country.

So it is a very distinguished book and the Board of Hand-in-Hand is hoping that it contributes to the history of Guyana for a very long time to come,” McDonald said.

Prominent Guyanese historian, Professor Clem Seecharan researched and wrote the book and a second volume is currently being worked on.

McDonald said that in his research, it was found that the first-ever inter-colonial cricket match was played in Guyana at Parade Ground in 1865, the same year the Hand-in-Hand Fire Insurance Company was founded. That match was between the-then British Guiana and Barbados.

The officials also presented the President with a collection of their 150th

anniversary commemorative stamps which were launched in October 2015.

PUMA makes special plans for Bolt in Rio

see page 24

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THE West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) 2016 list of players, who will remain on a central retainer contract, does not rule out the selection of players like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Darren Bravo.

The WICB’s revelation about the players’ eligibility takes on added importance ahead of the West Indies’ bid to win the World Twenty20 tournament, for which it currently ranks number one in the world.

According to a release from the WICB while the players are eligible, they will have to meet the criteria put in place by the organisation’s selection panel.

The WICB has also sought to explain the absence of the players, especially West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy, from the list of players with central contracts.

“The selectors did the retainers based on where they saw West Indies cricket going and the philosophy which they wanted to encourage and adopt, principally being loyal to commitment and really build for the longer form of the game,” WICB CEO Michael Muirhead told ESPNcricinfo yesterday.

Despite the apparent snub to Sammy and co, Muirhead is urging the players not to turn their backs on the possibility of selection, especially for the upcoming series.

Three of the six players have signalled an unwillingness to play Test cricket in the future, with Bravo and Sammy retiring from the format, while Andre Russell has said he does not want to chance hurting a bad knee playing five-day cricket.

The WICB does not see Pollard as a five-day cricket player, while Narine is rebuilding his action after an ICC suspension from international cricket recently.

Gayle, however, has said he is interested in playing Test cricket again. (Sportsmax.com) THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016