Chronicle 01 23 2016

TAX BATTLE No. 104440

SATURDAY JANUARY 23, 2016 Price: $80

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– former GRA boss denies leaking taxpayer’s information; to sue Lucas

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Look for the causes – to meaningfully address domestic violence, President says

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President David Granger (inset) addressing the opening of a two-day seminar, organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Judiciary, to tackle domestic violence in Guyana. The forum was held at the Marriott Hotel on Friday (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

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Invest oil funds wisely 9

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– expert urges Guyana

Look for the causes 2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

– to meaningfully address domestic violence, President says

President David Granger in his keynote address to the invitees at the seminar at the Marriott Hotel

Sections of the gathering at the opening of the two-day seminar on domestic violence yesterday

By Michel Outridge PRESIDENT David Granger has contended that, while laws are essential in solving crimes, it matters little how many laws are enacted if the core causes of domestic violence are not understood.

He shared the view at the opening of a two-day seminar on tackling domestic abuse in Guyana, at the Marriott Hotel yesterday.

Over the years, Guyana has promulgated a number of laws aimed at deterring domestic violence,

punishing perpetrators, and protecting victims. These, among others, include the Domestic Violence Act, the Sexual Offenses Act, the Prevention of Crimes Act, the Evidence Act, and the Criminal (Procedures) Act. President Granger argued that the law has limitations, and the law cannot deal with the impact of violence and rebuild shattered lives and broken homes.

“Laws can punish. They cannot, without an examination of the causes of the crimes, eradicate the scourge of criminal violence and its

secondary outcome, domestic violence. Legislation is essential. Explanations, however, are needed also,” he pointed out.

Domestic violence and the culture of violence, President Granger said, are by-products of the emergence, through time, of unequal relations in society and the State.

“Domestic violence should not be seen or defined as simply a set of abusive behaviour. At the root of domestic violence is the real perceived inequality and subordination of women (and children), which extends beyond the individual or family to the wider society…. Any campaign to eradicate domestic violence, therefore, must aim at nothing less than changing the deep-seated cultural attitudes and behaviour that have been learnt,” the President posited.

President Granger stressed that violence in the

home cannot be separated from violence in society and the State. The primary cause of domestic violence may not be -- as is commonly believed -- drunkenness, drug abuse, or everyday disputes. These factors may foster domestic violence, but they are not its causes, the President said, contending that domestic violence is as a result of “a complex interplay of cultural, psychological and social factors which have combined to create an imbalance of power between parties in a relationship”.

This imbalance, which can lead to domination and abuse, is at the root of domestic violence, President Granger said.

He also noted that violence is not a political inevitability or social necessity, but a human invention that is aimed at generating and perpetuating domination of one group or person by another.

Guyana is seeking to reduce and eventually eradicate the infamy of domestic violence. But this requires a sincere and serious approach to ensuring equality and respect for women, girls and

other minorities.

“It will take time to undo decades of a culture of criminal violence. The removal of inequalities, both in the home and in the State, is a start; it is a prerequisite for happy homes and a gentler Guyana,” the President said.

SECONDARY IMPACT A generation ago may still have regarded domestic violence as a private matter.

A man hitting his wife was considered a ‘family affair.’

A parent or teacher whipping a child – giving ‘licks’ –- was the conventional, even commendable, form of correction. School fights were considered a regular part of the curriculum, and were dismissed with a comment that “boys will be boys.”

President Granger posited that the everyday inter-personal violence, intimate partner violence, and other forms of domestic violence today are, however, far from normal.

The most deadly forms of domestic violence are usually characterised by arson, execution-murders, murder-suicides, rape-murders, massacres, mutilation and torture, even within families, households and villages. These constitute the most vicious, virulent and prevalent crimes of violence today.

According to President Granger, Guyanese are experiencing the ‘secondary impact’ of surviving in homes, attending schools, and growing up in communities where criminal vio-

lence persists or was recently prevalent. He noted that televised and other media images of policemen shooting to death an unarmed wanted man with his hands in the air; corpses of ‘suspects’ being dragged though yards and thrown into trucks or boats; carcasses floating in canals or washed up on the foreshore; and, in more gruesome news media, the bleeding bodies of beheaded men, have been impossible to avoid.

The President added that memories of murder and violence are difficult to erase.

Buildings are still marked with the bullet holes; children became orphans, and violence then migrated from the street to the home.

The Guyana Police Force reported that, during the 3,651 days of the decade 2005-2014, it received 39,566 reports of domestic violence.

President Granger told the forum that ‘Troubles’ is the name given to the decade between 2000 and 2009, which witnessed this country’s most intense and sustained wave of criminal violence since Independence.

There were 1,431 murders during that decade, more than at any other similar period in the modern history of Guyana.

The previous administration never bothered to account to this nation for the hundreds of lives lost through criminal violence.

Friday’s seminar was organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with the Judiciary of Guyana and the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association. The purpose of the seminar is to provide different groups in the criminal justice system in Guyana with an opportunity to discuss the major issues confronting them in domestic abuse cases, with a view to strengthening the administration of justice.

The forum aims to promote police and judicial sensitisation of gender issues and the law; create awareness of incidence of gender-based violence in Guyana; foster an understanding of the psychology of the abuser and victim; strengthen knowledge of the role of the court in domestic violence cases within the framework of relevant laws; and promote access to justice by victims of domestic abuse.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

Sattaur reportedly admits

– to leaking taxpayer’s information; allegedly had GRA safe in house…

By Ariana Gordon OUTGOING Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Khurshid Sattaur, was fired by the organisation’s Board of Directors because he allegedly disclosed a taxpayer’s information and stored GRA’s data at his home.

Chairman of the GRA board, Rawle Lucas, yesterday told reporters in the presence of Commissioner-General (acting) Ingrid Griffith; Head of the Legal Services Division, Hissaun Yasin-Nandlall; and other senior officials of the Authority that the board fired Sattaur after he admitted to breaching his oath of office just prior to last year’s general elections by disclosing a taxpayer’s information to another without authorisation.

“The board learnt that, approximately one month before the May 2015 election, Mr Sattaur divulged sensitive information of a Guyanese taxpayer to a person who was not authorised to receive such information,” said Mr Lucas.

The board, through its investigation, concluded that the “transaction had no benefit to the people of Guyana, and only for Mr Sattaur himself.”

Mr Lucas said, too, that Mr Sattaur had a safe belonging to the GRA and containing taxpayers’ data at his residence.

“The safe was supposed to be under the control of the head of the Information and technology Division of the GRA, but was found to be at Mr Sattaur’s residence. The safe was normally used for storing confidential taxpay-

ers’ data.”

The outgoing Commissioner-General reportedly told board members that the safe was at his house due to the fact that his son, an employee of the organisation, is an IT operative.

It is unclear whether the data reportedly stored in the safe that was lodged at Sattaur’s house has been compromised. Additionally, Mr Lucas opted not to divulge the reason the taxpayer’s information was provided.

Mr Sattaur’s sacking comes into effect on March 1, 2016, but Mr Lucas was not in a position to state whether the outgoing Commissioner-General would be charged and taken before the courts.

He explained that the GRA is currently examining all avenues based on the information before it. “We are still examining the options that are available to us at this particular point in time. We have not ruled out anything,” the Chairman said.

IMPLIED CONTRACT Meanwhile, Mr Lucas, at the press briefing held at GRA’s head office, Camp Street, informed the media that Mr Sattaur voluntarily retired in October of 2011, but continued to serve as Commissioner-General through an “implied contract,” even as he received some $12M in pension which he had backdated; something the GRA Chair described as a “highly irregular course of action.”

Mr Sattaur reportedly backdated his participation in GRA’s pension programme, which has resulted in $12M being paid to him. This was discovered approximately

GRA Chairman Rawle Lucas addressing the media yesterday

only one week ago by the board.

“Our Legal Service Division was asked to examine this action and could provide us with no rational or supportive basis for what appears prima facie a highly irregular course of action that created the misleading impression also that he was retained under the permanent establishment, and that he was not on contract.”

MORE VEHICLES In addition to the six vehicles which were being used

by Sattaur, an additional two vehicles belonging to GRA were also reportedly in his possession, one of which was gifted to the GRA. The outgoing Commissioner-General allegedly informed the Board of Directors last week of the two additional vehicles, but claimed he could not recall who gifted one to the Revenue Authority. However, he eventually provided the Board with what was deemed “helpful” information.

“However, we are still investigating how two vehicles belonging to GRA – the supposedly gifted one, and another vehicle of the GRA – ended up using the same number plate at the same time,” said Mr Lucas. There is a third vehicle registered to the GRA, but is being driven by someone unauthorised to possess or drive it.

“It is in the light of the foregoing factors that the Board found it to be in the public’s best interest to discontinue the working relationship between Mr Sattaur and the GRA,” the Chairman

stated.

According to Mr Lucas, the move by the Board is to ensure that the entity is a better functioning one.

GRA’S CREDIBILITY Responding to questions of the entity’s credibility after the discovery by the Board, Lucas said GRA’s staff is committed to working in the best interest of the country, the entity and the people it serves. He noted that once the staff has the right enabling environment, work would be done efficiently and effectively.

“Deviations are expected,” he said, but was quick to point out that workers of the GRA are trying their best to serve the people of Guyana.

The Board of Directors on Thursday announced its decision to terminate Sattaur’s services while he is on leave. Mr Sattaur was sent on 200 days administrative leave to facilitate an audit into the operations of the Revenue Authority. Acting Commissioner-General Ingrid Griffith will continue to act as Commissioner-General until otherwise advised.

Sattaur to sue GRA Chairman

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

-- says has done nothing wrong Ravin Singh

OUTGOING Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Khurshid Sattaur, is likely to take legal action against Board Chairman Rawle Lucas.

Mr Lucas, at a press briefing yesterday, told reporters that Mr Sattaur had admitted to disclosing taxpayers’ information to an unauthorised source.

“The board learnt that approximately one month before the May 2015 elections, Mr Sattaur divulged sensitive information of a Guyanese taxpayer to a person who was not authorised

to receive such information,” Mr Lucas was quoted as saying.

However, in a statement issued last evening, Sattaur refuted the claim.

“Those are all fabrications that I find most offensive and atrocious. This is most disgusting, as I never admitted to the board that I gave out taxpayer information,” he said.

The outgoing head of GRA offered that he did admit to the board giving information to a Diplomatic Head of Mission which the diplomat had sought, given that it was the diplomat’s information and not that of a taxpayer.

The information, according to him, was to facilitate an audit by the embassy of its records, and was done in the best interest of safeguarding the integrity of GRA’s system.

He noted, too, that it was also done to validate information received from a third party, as the financial institution routinely does as part of its work when granting large amounts of tax concessions according to the GRA’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

Further, Mr Sattaur disclosed that the Head of Mission wanted to know about his staff who was providing businesses with certifications, that were fraudulently obtained.

“This staff is not a taxpayer, and had the board sought a proper explanation from me, they would have been told that the diplomat visited my office and in my presence certified that his staff did or did not issue a fraudulent doc-

Khurshid Sattaur

ument from his mission,” he said in the statement.

And having been summoned to a board meeting subsequent to these activities, Mr Sattaur claimed that he “was put on the spot” and was not granted the opportunity to explain this episode to the board.

But while he was aware of the particular question posed by the board, he maintains that he respond-

NOTHING’S WRONG As it relates to a safe belonging to GRA being stored at his home, Mr Sattaur noted that tax agency’s data was required to be stored at a safe place offsite.

According to him, the location was chosen because his son, who was employed by the GRA and works in the IT Department in a senior capacity, was given responsibility for storing this data offsite.

“This is a situation that the previous board and government did not find offensive and distrustful, as a temporary measure,” he added.

Saturday January 23, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Sunday January 24, 2016 - 05:30 hrs Monday January 25, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

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ed in a manner that did not implicate himself in revealing taxpayer information to anyone.

Mr Lucas also accused Sattaur of utilising six vehicles in addition to two vehicles belonging to the GRA which were also in his possession.

But these statements, too, were denounced by the outgoing GRA head, who stated that he has always had two vehicles in his possession: a Camry and a Fortuna. He was recently relieved of his Fortuna.

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This storage of the data at his home was reportedly abandoned about five years ago, and his home or that safe was no longer the repository of that information, Mr Sattaur said.

“The use of the safe was discontinued years ago when a new back-up site was created at another location, but the safe continued to remain at my home to store my GRA weapon and ammunition up until recently,” Mr Sattaur said in the statement.

He also addressed the back-dating of his pension plan to 2007, when he retired in 2011, offering that he was advised by prominent lawyer Ashton Chase and the Human Resources and the Legal Department of GRA that he was entitled to those benefits under GRA’s contributory pension scheme.

These benefits, he said, were due to him from 2007, after he was made aware that he was entitled to them. He offered that the only reason he had not claimed those benefits before was because the Human Resource (HR) Department had not told him that he was entitled to them, even while other persons were receiving theirs.

“After I got the approval from the HR Department, I went ahead and claimed my benefits. Ms Roopnauth, the Director of Budget, can attest to this.

If this is so wrong why were the monies approved for payment?” the outgoing GRA head questioned.

Mr Sattaur said that ,given these allegations against him, he has given appropriate direction to his lawyers for them to act in his best interest.

Mr Sattaur is expected to part ways with GRA on March 1, 2016,when his dismissal will come into effect.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

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Berbicians rally against suicide

By Nafeeza Yahya

THE NEW JERSEY Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission (NJASHM), in collaboration with the Public Health Ministry, Department of Education Region Six, the Guyana Police Force, Ministry of Social Cohesion and other stakeholders, held a massive suicide awareness and prevention walk and rally on Friday in Region Six, East Berbice.

The approximately twomile walk, which attracted well over 1,000 participants, commenced from Dr Tulsi Street in Williamsburg and culminated at the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground. During the march, participants displayed several posters with various anti-suicide messages and shouted, “Yes to life”, “Stop suicide”, and “Throw away the poison”, among other things as they took to the streets in a united stand.

The walk and rally are part of the humanitarian mission’s action plan to help bring awareness and let people know there is help to combat the suicide epidemic that has given Guyana and Guyanese negative recognition worldwide, as being one of the leading countries with suicidal deaths.

The walk saw in attendance several high-profile individuals from the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Department of Education, Regional Democratic Council, and several other stake-holders, including youth groups from various communities, and GuySuCo Training Centre. The walk ended with a rally at the Port Mourant Community Centre ground, which was packed to capacity as various speakers took to the podium to deliver various messages.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, in her remarks to the gathering, recognised the march as an important initiative, as it aims to help individuals and organisations with a vision to mobilise efforts to save lives.

She identified the common misconceptions people have about persons who commit suicide or are suicidal, with shouts of approval

from the crowd. She also thanked the organisers and said she was there because the Government, in combating the issue of suicide, had embarked on a national effort to engage a number of ministries, international donors, NGOs and other concerned stakeholders to combine their efforts and take affirmative action against suicide.

Dr Cummings said several initiatives would be undertaken by the Public Health Ministry in response to suicidal behaviour, some being capacity-building in health centres; providing all heath centres with a counsellor/social worker, who will visit once per week; improve health literacy through public awareness; identify and train gatekeepers in communities; create a social safety net programme for vulnerable mental health patients; develop an approach whereby trained mental health workers go into regions to train a larger quantity of people, among other things. She stressed that suicide is preventable and that prevention works.

“In order to accomplish our mission and goals, we will be using the public health model along with other media campaigns and education to raise awareness of suicide. We will be utilising a strong educational approach to dispel the myths about suicide, and to let others know about the realities surrounding the national issue.”

COLLECTIVE EFFORT Further, Dr Cummings outlined the importance of working collaboratively to stamp out suicide.

“It is important that, individually and collectively, we recognise that we are in a crisis situation in our country. Let us work assiduously to reduce, and eventually eliminate as far as we possibly can, suicide in Guyana. We must work collaboratively, since no one institution can effectively stem the tide.”

Minister within the Min-

School children at the walk and rally organised by the New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission, the Public Health Ministry and several other organisations (Nafeeza Yahya photo) istry of Public Infrastructure, es in between the various pep effort to stop this scourge. will make a difference in adAnnette Ferguson, told the talks. Among the things that “We call on all to play a dressing the problem. gathering at the rally that really got the crowd going part in suicide prevention. A “Life is precious. Don’t suicide is not the answer to was a rap piece by a student person who attempts suicide you ever turn to suicide! problems. of JC Chandisingh Second- once is likely to try again. If It is not the answer. To “The good books do not ary. Her raps got the crowd you know of someone who the parents: take hold of speak of suicide. God nev- hyped up as she dished out falls into that category, please your children’s hands, don’t er ordained life that he has her lyrics, an original com- keep an eye on that person; leave them alone. We, as an blessed us with for us, as position in a free-style rap please counsel them, please NGO in partnership with men and women, to take our with a one drop beat booming give them support, talk to Government, cannot fight lives.” from the speakers. them. suicide by ourselves; and She then addressed the “Another risk factor is if you want to bring about youths directly, stating that EVERYONE COUNTS family history. There is need changes, then each one of the world statistics say that Regional Chairman David to come together as one big you here can make that approximately one person Armogan, in his remarks, also family. As students in school, difference. Each one of us takes his or her life every 40 thanked the organisers for the we need to show the neces- has choices, and the choices seconds. initiative and stressed that, as sary support, not only know we make are upon us as The stats hit home hard, a small developing country, of their problems, but show individuals. So I encouras sounds of shock and dis- Guyana needs every life and them the right direction. age you: you have a bright belief could be heard from the could not afford to lose any“Parents need to establish future ahead of you, don’t crowd when the figures were one, especially to suicide, as and open communication allow suicide to take you revealed. every life counts. links with our children and away at an early age. We “Suicide is not the answer He implored everyone to family, so that they can come are here to work with you. to your problems. There is take time out of their busy and speak to us at any time We love you, and when you help out there. God blessed schedules and lend a shoulder about anything.” cannot find love at home, we us with this special gift of to anyone who needs it. His N J A S H M P r e s i d e n t are here for you to give and life, and it’s not for man to message was that “problems Suresh Sugrim was thankful share that love with you. take his own life. Choose life, are temporary, but suicide is for the partnership in com- You are not alone. I want share life, and love your life. permanent and should never bating the scourge. He, too, to assure you, through our We can all help to celebrate be an option.” stressed that suicide was not President, ministers, and and enjoy life.”

Meanwhile, CEO of New the answer to problems, and regional executives [that] The event also featured Amsterdam Hospital, Colin called for strength, focus and help is coming to Berbice,” skits, poems, songs and danc- Bynoe, called for a unified unity, contending that these he said.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams

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

Editorial

Wales Estate closure and our future

WE HAVE known for a long time that the sugar industry was in trouble. That we had to do something about it was inevitable. The Caribbean inherited sugar from colonialism; sugar was central to slavery and colonialism. Many Guyanese families were directly and indirectly affected by sugar -- King Sugar.

Since Independence, we have continued to produce sugar in abundance, but we have never been able to determine its future or its price on the global market. In the meantime, the demand for sugar declined, as new sweeteners emerged and other more economically welloff countries found ways to produce the product at much cheaper prices than we did.

In short, we simply couldn’t compete anymore; yet our economy depended a lot on sugar, both as a form of revenue and, critically, as a source of employment for thousands.

Increasingly, the Government found itself subsidising the industry. In a relatively poor economy, this invariably had consequences for the country’s overall economic fortunes.

Some experts called for diversification away from sugar, while others touted diversification around sugar.

The previous Government invested in modernisation in the form of the US$200 million Skeldon Estate, but that did not solve the problem, as the industry continued to falter.

Another important factor for the industry is the linkage between sugar and politics. Given the ethnically polarised manner in which our economy evolved, the majority of the workforce came from one ethnic group.

It meant, therefore, that any decision on what to do with the industry had to take into consideration that politically explosive element. One major party committed itself to maintaining the status quo at all costs, given the fact that its base is located there, while the other major force had to tip-toe around the problem for fear of being charged with disempowering the base of its rival. We seem trapped.

Upon assuming office last year, the condition of the sugar industry was one of the first crises the current Government had to confront. It found the industry bankrupt; there was not enough money to pay salaries.

Government responded with the famous bail-out to ensure that workers were not adversely affected, but it also named a new board and set up a Commission of Inquiry.

It was clear that the Government intended to tackle the problem head-on.

The sugar union, meanwhile, unsuccessfully sought to mobilise the workers to confront the Government,

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

OP-ED

Bitter sugar–Who caused it?

By Government of Guyana FOLLOWING are excerpts from the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the state of GuySuCo which was commissioned by the Government of Guyana in 2015. The report has been laid in the National Assembly, and the excerpts below are relevant in light of the issues in the public domain relating to the announcement by the government about the Wales Factory operations winding up after the final crop this year and staff being absorbed in the Uitvlugt Estate system.

1. “THE DECLINE: Sugar production has been on the decline since 2005, dropping from 325,318 metric tonnes in 2004 to 216,358 metric tonnes in 2014. [GuySuCo] LOSS POSITION worsened and climbed significantly from 2009.”

Page 14, Report of Commission of Inquiry, Guyana Sugar Corporation 2. “GuySuCo worsened its liquidity problems, with the harsh negative impact on field and factory operations, when the Skeldon

Sugar Modernization Project (SSMP) came on stream.”

Pages 18-19, Report of Commission of Inquiry, Guyana Sugar Corporation 3. From the commencement of the Skeldon project in 2005, when GuySuCo had to initially contribute US$25MILLION from its European Union receivables over a period of 18 months, GuySuCo’s liquidity declined rapidly. As a consequence, GuySuCo became heavily dependent on bank overdrafts and extended credit periods to maintain the operations of the business. This was the start of the decline of GuySuCo’s financial position, leading to its present state of insolvency. The decline in liquidity resulted in a lack of capital investment in GuySuCo’s OTHER ESTATES in fields and factories. This contributed to the marked decrease in cane and sugar production.

Pages 19-20, Report of Commission of Inquiry, Guyana Sugar Corporation 4. It has been well established and known that GuySuCo’s production costs are comparatively high, with labour costs being the significant component. Yet, between the years 2010 and

which it claimed was not honouring its traditional practice of negotiating a new wage package. The latter had said it was awaiting the report of the CoI. After some speculation, the Government made its first move by announcing the closure of Wales Estate. It had been known that the estate was the most vulnerable. It was operating at a tremendous loss. According to the Government, the estate is working at 50 percent of its capacity, and is slated to lose between 1.6 and 1.9 billion dollars this year. Clearly, if one is moving in the direction of rehabilitation, then it makes sense to start with the weakest link.

The Government has given its assurance that no other estate would be closed, but this has not stopped the opposition PPP from going into confrontation mode. The Opposition Leader quickly descended on Wales and, not unexpectedly, framed the closure in the larger PPP charge of witch-hunting.

He charged that the closure was aimed at disempowering the PPP’s constituency.

Given our ethnic sensitivities, such a charge has racial overtones. The PPP has also contended that the move does not make economic sense, and warns that it is the poor who will ultimately be overly affected.

The Government, for its part, has countered the PPP’s charges with its own assurances to the affected workers. As Minister Noel Holder explained in his answer to the charge that private cane farmers would be affected: “The farmers’ cane is not in jeopardy. What is being closed is the Wales

2014, when sugar production was declining and GuySuCo’s declared loss increased every year, wages and salaries climbed markedly. Given that backdrop, it is amazing that in 2011, following a job evaluation exercise, salaries and wages were increased, with many workers receiving more than 50% increase.

This review raised the annual salaries and wages bill by $1.8BILLION. Page 26, Report of Commission of Inquiry, Guyana Sugar Corporation 5. Between 2010 and 2014, employment costs increased by $6.3BILLION, the equivalent of 43%. This was done during a period when GuySuCo was running at a loss. The question of affordability seemed not to matter. Page 26, Report of Commission of Inquiry, Guyana Sugar Corporation 6. It was quite surprising to learn that GuySuCo (employer) has, over the years 2011-2015, been sending its employees for training at the Trade Union’s college. The annual cost to GuySuCo is estimated at $4,000,000. Man days lost from 2011 to August 2015 totalled 5,890.

The course content in-

cluded: Visits to Cheddi Jagan Research Centre/ Thunder in Guyana; The importance of ideology, Marxism/Leninism as the ideology of the working class; and Capitalism – Imperialism – Globalisation.

Page 28, Report of Commission of Inquiry, Guyana Sugar Corporation 7. The Wales cane farmers expressed interest in leasing additional acreages of cultivation leading to taking over all of GuySuCo’s cultivation at Wales. This should be pursued eagerly

by GuySuCo. Page 30, Report of Commission of Inquiry, Guyana Sugar Corporation Critically, over $40BILLION were pumped into the Skeldon Factory project by the previous administration when this money ought to and could have been better served refurbishing and servicing other estates, which have now fallen into a state of almost complete disrepair.

This course of action, pursued since 2005, is the real cause for the sugar industry being in the state it was found in when the Coalition Government came to office, and which has led to the inevitable rationalisation of operations.

factory. You are dealing with a factory that is virtually 100 years old; that you can’t get spare parts for; that if you have to change the boilers, you have to buy new ones, because you really cannot get spares for those things…”

But the Opposition seems to be in no mood to listen to such explanations; it has vowed to fight the closure.

Demonstrations on Thursday moved to the Parliament. We understand the anxiety of the workers, and the uncertainty of what this means for their livelihood. We understand and defend their right to protest; but we feel that, in the interest of all involved, these protests should be accompanied by reasonable engagement.

The Government has to make its case directly to the workers. It would also have to find a way to ensure that the affected workers continue to earn a livelihood. That is the burden of Government.

Change is always difficult, especially in the context of a well-entrenched aspect of the political economy; but it’s time that Guyana confronts the problem. Many of our sister CARICOM countries have already bitten the bullet and freed themselves from the shackles of sugar; it is now our turn to do likewise. Good sense has to prevail, we cannot be blinded by the need for political advantage. This is a national situation that demands a national response that, in the end, can only benefit all of Guyana. If we fix sugar, we could go a long way towards fixing our historically vulnerable economic reality.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

Linden man charged for wife’s murder

By Vanessa Braithwaite THREE days after stabbing his reputed wife to death, 51-year-old Clarence Carter has been charged for the indictable offence, and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He was not required to plead to the offence and will be returning to court in Linden on February 2. The charge read that on January 18, at Phase 1 B Wisroc Linden, he murdered his reputed wife,Leolyn Sullivan and injured his foster daughter Shemeka Campbelle.

Shemeka Campbelle, who was stabbed thrice during the ordeal, was initially admitted to the hospital, but has been discharged and is recuperating at home as she prepares for the burial of her mother.

As she related the bloody, dark night when her life was almost taken from her, her voice began to tremble. Shemeka said that the screams of her mother jolted her out of her sleep, and she paced to the kitchen where she ran directly into her stepfather, who turned the knife on her that was still dripping with her mother’s blood. He dealt her three stabs, one to her chest, one to her back and one to her hand.

She said that even though the sounds of argument were not new, she had a “brainwave” to intervene in this one. This

decision made her witness the gruesome stabbing of her mother.

After being stabbed, Shemeka said that she returned to the bedroom as she started to experience feelings of lightheadedness. She urged her little sister, Saskeya to see what is happening to her mother.

“Me sister go outside to distract him from stabbing me mother and she run through the door and me mother jump through the window,” Shemeka related. As she continued her recollection, she said that after regaining some strength, she ran through the door to see what the fate of her mother and sister was. Her efforts proved futile, as she dropped face down to the ground from being drained of strength. “Is like I start seeing black and I just fall down, and I hearing the hollering in the neighbour yard from my mother and sister and I call me lil brother and he too start holloring after going at the neighbour home,” said Shemeka. She said that she tried assiduously to muster a little strength to get up, but the surrounding was too dark. It was about 03:00hrs.

PRAYERS FOR STRENGTH Shemeka said that she managed to raise her head and saw her stepfather coming towards her. She immediately prayed for the strength to

escape death which appeared headed in her direction. Her stepfather had the knife in hand dipping with blood.

“I start praying right away and say God, give me the strength, please give me the strength” and she began to run while her stepfather chased her. At this time, the neighbours were alarmed and ran to her rescue. Shemeka was then placed in a bus with her mother to be rushed to the hospital.

“When we went in the bus, my mother keep crying saying hold meh neck hold meh neck,” she said. Upon their arrival at the hospital,she said that she knew her mother was dead after all the attention was placed on her and her stepfather who subsequently arrived at the hospital with self-inflicted wounds.

WHERE IS MOMMY? Shemeka said that even though the older siblings are cognisant of the current situation, her little three-year-old sister is repeatedly asking for her mother.

“The other night she keep crying, “ah want mommy, a want mommy” and I does hug she up and mek she feel better,” revealed Shemeka.

Leolyn Sullivan leaves to mourn six children and will be laid to rest on Sunday. She was a vendor on the Mackenzie Wharf and was said to be a very hard-working person and a disciplinarian to her

LGE good for youths Dear Editor, LOCAL government elections present a great springboard opportunity for young aspiring leaders within communities to catapult to the higher calling of leadership within the broader sphere of the country.

I encourage and admonish all you young people within our country and communities to throw your full support behind the people who will understand you, who can reach out to you, who can give to you the real development that you would have longed for but have not seen forthcoming.

Remember, youth can change the world, and our voice is crucial to our development. Don’t be afraid, take the challenge. Leadership is a lonely road, and true democracy should reflect that. Democracy is not easily achieved, but is achieved by tirelessly working to break the cycle of control and pure domi-

nation.

Ivan Bentham, yours truly, a 31- year-old entrepreneur/cameraman currently employed at the Government Information Agency (GINA), while being a youth candidate for the coalition government, has decided to contest the elections under the first-past-thepost constituency component -- specifically North Lodge/Meadow Brook Gardens, which falls under constituency #9 within the 15 constituencies found in Georgetown.

Ivan happens to be a very active community leader and participant, specifically within the Hadfield Street, Lodge community, where, for 2014 and 2015 respectively, he has held the lead role as head coordinator for the Hadfield Street Lodge Ground Enhancement and Development Project, which is directly next to the health centre.

I therefore urge the people of Georgetown to support me as a City Councillor for the next

set of elected Councillors, to change the slow and arcane principles of local governance.

We are embarking on a new path, which requires new thinking and a different approach. Therefore, youth is the answer to the whole host of problems that exist today in our country. Let us support our youths for local government elections.

It will give them a greater level of responsibility and accountability to work for their communities, and therein earn a livelihood for themselves.

In closing, my focus is everyone, but more specifically our young people, to be the model that youth look forward to and are prepared to contribute their mental and physical abilities, which I know they have. Just take a look at the last elections in May last year, and there lies the answer to our security and development. Can we do it again? Yes, we can!

Regards IVAN BENTHAM

Not about assigning blame

Dear Editor,

I WELCOME the news that one of the darkest periods in Guyana’s history will be investigated, especially the unnatural deaths of citizens.

While establishing what happened is essential to prevent it happening again, it is also necessary to establish why it happened.

The phantom gangs did not just materialise and start killing people. Looking in from abroad, it is obvious that it all happened because of a miscommunication problem, which led to a misunderstanding. While I do not wish to usurp a CoI into the matter, I would like to share my thoughts on the subject.

The sequence of events is hard to remember:

1) Politicians said to a certain segment of population that they were being marginalised and discriminated against by the PPP/C Government. Although this was an attempt to sensitise the populace to their plight, we need to remember the type of populace in Guyana we are dealing with here.

They did not understand what the words marginalized or discriminated meant; they only knew it was bad because the politicians said so. The misunderstanding came from what the populace thought the politicians wanted them to do -- protest and make the country ungovernable.

This started a chain of events whereby the police tried to restore law and order. It was (WRONGLY)

felt by some citizens that the police force, because of its ethnic composition, was biased and not doing its duty impartially.

The out-of-control crime situation led to the formation of the Phantom Squads.

This, in turn, led by media speculation fuelling fears and distrust, led to the formation of the Phantom Gangs, who were reacting against the Phantom Squad activities.

Countless citizens have lost their lives through the illegal activities of the Phantom Squad/s and the Phantom Gang/s. Politicians, pseudo-political activists and the media are to blame for what transpired.

Yours faithfully, SEAN ORI

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

Guyana Times sinks to new low THE Office of the Prime Minister has noted an ar-

ticle appearing in Friday’s edition of the Guyana

Times under the headline: “Nagamootoo wants presidential one-term limit.”

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this article as a wicked and malicious distortion.

OPM, in a statement, said the article is part of what is undeniably an obsession with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, and is vicious campaign of vitriol by the Ramroop Media Group against him.

The statement also pointed out that it must be noted as well that the Ramroop Media Group’s unrelenting attack on Prime Minister Nagamootoo unfolds alongside a similar manic obsession in the National Assembly by the members in the Opposition benches and led by the Leader of the Opposition,

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Bharrat Jagdeo.

Mr Jagdeo is a personal friend of Dr Ranjisinghi “Bobby” Ramroop, who is the de facto head of the Ramroop Media Group.

“The context of the comments made by Prime Minister Nagamootoo was deliberately excluded from the Guyana Times’ reportage.

The Prime Minister had in fact been reporting on what the PPP’s founder-leader and his political mentor Dr Cheddi Jagan had shared with him as his thoughts on the matter as part of a broader discussion on the issue of term limits.

“It was Prime Minister Nagamootoo who had played

a central role in Guyana’s constitution reform process, and who featured in the introduction of the two-term presidential limit. As Prime Minister, Mr Nagamootoo has not advocated any change to this status quo, and the continued campaign of desperation to create fissures in the coalition government has once again come to naught, as the coalition remains strong and united and resistant to these petty attempts at mischief-making and misinformation,” the statement said.

OPM said it, nevertheless, once again, calls on members of the public not to be duped by the misinformation, falsehoods and distortions consistently published by the Guyana Times which has descended to a disgraceful level of yellow journalism.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

Invest oil funds – expert urges Guyana wisely

Here’s what was trending on Social Media on January 22: GRA Board Chairman Rawle Lucas releases statement regarding reasons for firing Commissioner- General Khurshid Sattaur.

Statement released and shared via Soundcloud.

(From L-R) UWI Economist Roger Hosein; TTEITI Chairman, Victor Hart; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes; TT’s former Minister of Finance, Energy and National Security, Conrad Enill; and Dr. Francisco Paris of EITI International

By Svetlana Marshall WITH the hydrocarbon sector in Guyana on the verge of a major evolution, the country has been warned against the “Dutch Disease,” even as it is being called upon to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Dr Roger Hosein – an economist attached to the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus – sounded this warning on Friday during a seminar held by the Natural Resources Ministry in collaboration with the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) Secretariat (Norway), the Trinidad and Tobago EITI Office and the University of the West Indies.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes; TT’s former Minister of Finance, Energy and National Security, Conrad Enill; TTEITI Chairman, Victor Hart; Head of the T&T EITI Secretariat, Sherwin Long, and Dr. Francisco Paris of EITI International were among the officials present.

Alluding to oil-rich countries such as Venezuela, Trinidad and Suriname, which are now feeling the impact of the “Dutch Disease,” Dr. Hosein said Guyana should safeguard itself from such financial turbulence, although the economy currently is doing well.

The “Dutch Disease” is the negative impact on an economy of anything that gives rise to a sharp inflow of foreign currency, such as the discovery of large oil reserves. The currency inflows lead to currency appreciation, making the

country’s other products less price-competitive on the export market.

Singling out Trinidad and Tobago, the economist said that after living “lavishly” for approximately eight years, the country’s economy is now in a fragile state, with its currency on the border line of devaluation, most likely linked to the drop in oil prices.

With Exxon Mobil Corporation announcing a significant oil discovery on the Stabroek Block – approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana, Dr. Hosein said it was important for the country to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund to protect itself from a major financial collapse in the future. According to him, the financial resources that would be garnered from this developing sector should be placed into a Sovereign Wealth Fund, also called a Stabilisation Fund.

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT “What the government at this point in time should do is to ensure that it is creating the right infrastructural development network, so that money from this resource… is spent on infrastructure development either in physical capital or human capital development, so when the oil comes to an end, the Guyanese people could still be better off in terms of better infrastructural network and human capital network,” the economist explained.

He said too that the government should also consider the establishment of other industries that would attract investment for exports abroad.

“So some of the resourc-

es from this energy sector could be used to develop other export products linking with the diaspora, for which we know the Guyanese have a large diaspora abroad.

But despite the challenges, UWI’s Rebecca Gookool said, “Several extractive industry-based economies in the Region have benefited significantly over the period 2002 to 2014 from what has become known as a commodity super cycle.”

She said for many years Guyana had been looked upon with great interest by investors, as there were significant commercial hydrocarbon discoveries in countries close to Guyana, including Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Venezuela.

Though exploration for hydrocarbons in Guyana were largely unsuccessful in 2015, hope was regained with the discovery made by ExxonMobil.

“In terms of actual resource estimates, one source places the amount of hydrocarbons in the Guyana – Suriname basin at around 12 billion barrels of oil and possibly 42bcf of natural gas (US Geological Survey 2015).”

“Indeed, the Government of Guyana is now at the doorstep of commercialising what has been regarded as one of the largest oil finds in the world,” the UWI Research Associate added.

HAS TO PREPARE However, she said the economy has to prepare itself for a macroeconomic shock, noting that policy-makers in Guyana must now navigate its development path under more un-

Khurshid Sattaur refutes claims made by GRA chairman regarding reasons he was fired from GRA.

UWI Economist Roger Hosein

certain economic conditions.

Against this backdrop, Gookool said, the forum, themed: “Promoting Natural Resource Revenue Transparency and Sustainable Resource Revenue Management in the Caribbean,” was held to discuss the relevance and efficiency of increasing transparency mechanisms in the extractive industries that exist in Guyana.

“This transparency agenda under the purview of the EITI is a robust one, allowing for the inclusion of any type of extractive industry – from those which are renewable in nature, such as the forestry or fisheries, to those sectors which are non-renewable, including hydrocarbons such as oil and gas and minerals such as gold and diamonds. The principles of the EITI are profound and impactful, resulting in a global shift in the way that sector operates, the way companies invest, and the way investment funds flow from between economies. These principles are simple in their conceptualisation, but have proven to result in much alignment requirements for economies which have so participated,” she explained.

Photo showing police ranks asleep while their firearms allegedly lay unsecured beside them. Arguments arose as to whether or not the photo was taken in Guyana.

Brothers charged with stealing cow THREE brothers were on Friday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, charged with stealing a cow.

David Edwards, 52, Cleveland Edwards, 26, and Cleitus Edwards, 18, all farmers of Annai Village, North Rupununi, are alleged to have stolen the animal, valued at $72,000, between January 18 and 19 at Annai Village. The trio pleaded not guilty to the theft of the animal, which was the property

of Randolph Wilburg.

Attorney-at-law Peter Hugh represented the siblings and made an application for his clients to be granted reasonable bail.

According to Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones, “only beef was recovered” when asked by the chief magistrate if the animal was found. He made no objection to bail.

The Edwards brothers were released on $25,000 bail each, and had their matter transferred to the Lethem Magistrates Court for March 2.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 24, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

Sattaur will not be denied benefits

By Ariana Gordon

THE GUYANA Revenue Authority (GRA) has said that it will not deny outgoing Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur his constitutional right to benefits, despite some discrepancies that exist with his tenure as Commissioner-General.

Addressing the issue of Mr Sattaur’s benefits, Chairman of GRA’s Board of Directors, Rawle Lucas, on yesterday told reporters that it was not the intention of the Revenue Authority to deny Mr Sattaur his benefits. He noted, however, that there were two types of pension arrangements under which Mr Sattaur could benefit, the Ministry of Public Service and GRA’s pension scheme.

“Mr Sattaur has satisfied the conditions to receive a pension under the Public Service Ministry arrangements.

With regard to the GRA, that is where we think there might be some discrepancies, and that is what we are looking into at the moment,” the Chairman said.

Mr Sattaur was employed by the GRA on September 1, 2003 by former President

Bharrat Jagdeo, but retired from his post in 2011. It is the period following his retirement that is contentious, as there is no contract supporting his tenure, despite the fact that he actively served in the post of Commissioner-General until December 2015. Mr Lucas said the Board of Directors and the Revenue Authority have to “acknowledge” the service provided by Mr Sattaur. He stated that “given the fact that Mr Sattaur provided services consistent with the position he held, then one has to acknowledge that through performance.”

In addition, the chairman noted that though there is the issue of an “implied contract” governing Mr Sattaur’s tenure following retirement, it can be reasonably taken that Mr Sattaur continued to be employed under the same terms under which he was initially employed.

However, the law which created the Revenue Authority was amended and transferred the power to appoint the Commissioner- General to the governing board, Mr Lucas stated.

“Our legal team has ad-

Khurshid Sattaur

vised that Mr Sattaur’s continued service following his retirement in October 2011 could have been possible on the basis of a contract agreed upon by Mr Sattaur and the governing board and supported by the Minister of Finance,” Mr Lucas added.

However, the board could not find any evidence of such a contract, which provides evidence to that effect.

PENSION Additionally, Mr Lucas disclosed that Mr Sattaur opted for “voluntary retirement” on October 31, 2011.

As such, he commenced receiving a pension for the past four years, with the most recent payment being this year.

Approximately one week ago, the board discovered that though Mr Sattaur retired in 2011, he reportedly effected the backdating of information to 2007, which suggests he was part of GRA’s pension programme since then, the effect of which cost the Government of Guyana (GoG) approximately $12M. “Our Legal Services Division was asked to examine this action and could provide us with no rational or supportive basis for what appears prima facie a highly irregular course of action

that created the misleading impression also that he was retained under the permanent establishment and that he was not on contract,” said Mr Lucas.

INIMICAL The board, he added, finds Mr Sattaur’s actions to be “inimical” to the public’s interest and “highly prejudicial” to the interest of the GRA. Meanwhile, head of the Legal Services Division, Hissaun Yasin-Nandlall, explained that Mr Sattaur had accrued leave benefits, and as such is entitled to same.

“We are choosing the option of termination, which means he would be entitled to termi-

nation benefits as well under the law.”

Yasin-Nandlall emphasised that Mr Sattaur’s leave benefits are “intact.” “[His] leave would not be affected,” she added. Because the authority opted to terminate Mr Sattaur’s service effective March 1, the head of the Legal Services Division said, “termination benefits are what he would have been entitled to under the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA), which is also his entitlement.”

Mr Sattaur, in response to the GRA’s announcement that he had been fired, said he is “relieved,” but wants his benefits.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

US equips Police Force THE Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Technical Working Group (TWG), in cooperation with the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implementing partner MetroStar Systems, concluded its three-day training and launch of the Caribbean Police Academy Regional Training Initiative at the Guyana Police Force Officers Training Centre on Thursday.

United States Ambassador Perry Holloway attended the closing ceremony and officially handed over training equipment valued at over US$23,000 to Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud.

Ambassador Holloway pledged his government’s “continued support for sim-

ilar-type activities that could ultimately lead to enhancing the security of Guyana and other Caribbean nations.”

The Caribbean Police Academy Regional Training Initiative combines audiovisual hardware, a secure Learning Management System (LMS) called CBSI-Connect, and brings together police academies from countries throughout the Caribbean.

The equipment makes it possible to collaborate and share training in a virtually secure environment built exclusively for Caribbean law-enforcement officials, as well as the ability to have virtual meetings.

Use of the equipment and the advanced technology also allows greater communication among participating countries to confront the many security challeng-

From left to right: US Embassy INL Coordinator Leon Carr III, Guyana Police Force Commissioner Seelall Persaud, US Ambassador Perry L Holloway, Guyana Police Force Training Officer Paul Williams, MetroStar Systems Programme Managers Christine Allgood and Shai Segall

es in the Region, including narcotics-trafficking, gang violence, and cross-border criminality.

Current participating countries are Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Suriname, St Kitts and Nevis,

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic and Guyana.

This programme, funded through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative

(CBSI), helps strengthen capacity and provide practical skills to relevant security officials working in law enforcement. Through such CBSI partnerships, the United States and Guyana seek to enhance the

bilateral security relationship to create a partnership to combat transnational crime, develop strong security institutions in Guyana, and advance the safety and security of the citizens of Guyana.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

warns contractors Gov’t nixes motion CHPA – says substandard work will not be tolerated on E-day violence

By Shirley Thomas

…recommends Truth Commission, CoI

By Ravin Singh AFTER VOTING against a People’s Progressive Party (PPP)–proposed Elections Day compensation motion in the National Assembly Thursday evening, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman has recommended the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) or a Truth and Reconciliation Commission into these violent activities.

He made this announcement in the House during his deliberation on why the compensation motion should not be advanced by the opposition party.

The motion, which stood in the name of PPP Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Hamilton, was three-fold.

It first sought to solicit the support of the entire National Assembly to encourage the government to compensate the victims of Elections Day violence who suffered psychologically, physically and materially due to the acts of violence which were “unleashed” on them.

Secondly, the motion attempted to get the government to agree to meet and consult with the victims and

have claims for compensation addressed as soon as possible. And finally, that the government submits a report to the National Assembly within three months with regard to what action had to be taken.

But according to Mr Trotman, the issue of violence, particularly at the height of General Elections, was not something which was new to Guyana. He noted that Guyana was born out of violence, including slavery and the horrors of indentureship, and as a result, it was not an issue to be trifled with.

And while this can be accepted as a fact, he noted that every person in the House could each cite an experience of electoral violence, either personally or anecdotally.

As such, he argued that it was not a “one-sided affair,” where only members of a certain persuasion were subjected to violence.

Minister Trotman supported his argument by referencing reports received from the Rupununi, where people who supported the now government were being harassed. “I received reports from Georgetown that people were being harassed and people were making attempts to

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

snatch ballot boxes,” he said.

And while a Stabroek News report of May 12, 2015 reported on incidents which did not suggest that only one political party was targeted, the minister suggested that there needed to be a holistic and professional approach to tackling the issue of elections violence.

Further, in maintaining his non-support for the motion, which was eventually struck down by a majority vote, Mr Trotman called for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) or a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine this issue, which he contended would be a professional and holistic approach.

Causing-death driver on $400,000 bail A TRUCK driver yesterday appeared in a city court charged with causing the death of 31-yearold Derika James of Dog Point, Bartica. James was killed in a road accident along First Avenue, Bartica, on Wednesday.

Dale Edwards, 28, of 45 Sixth Avenue, Bartica, a driver at the Platinum Mining Company, denied the charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that on January 20, Edwards drove motor lorry GRR 7351 in

a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of James.

Edwards’s lawyer, Mr. Peter Hugh, described the incident as an “unfortunate accident,” since according to an eye-witness the deceased had come into the path of the vehicle and attempted to run across the road.

Additionally, the attorney explained to the court that relatives of the dead woman and his client had already arrived at a settlement,with Edwards also opting to pay the funeral expenses.

Police Prosecutor De-

niro Jones made no objection to the accused being granted his pre-trial liberty After there was no objection from the prosecution, the truck driver was granted $400,000 bail by the Chief Magistrate and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrates Court for February 5 According to the police report, Williams was killed after she walked into the path of a moving truck while attempting to cross the road. The driver of the truck rushed the woman to the Bartica Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

CHAIRMAN of the Board of Directors of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, (CHPA) Hamilton Green, has said that the agency will no longer be accepting substandard work and contractors who fail to deliver will be branded “not good people.”

The chairman, speaking at a press conference on Friday, outlined a number of measures to be taken by the entity in its quest to make ‘change’ its new watchword.

The forum, at the boardroom of the CH&PA, included Chief Development Planner Rawle Edinboro, who addressed the board and the media on the performance of the CH&PA during 2015, while rolling out plans for the year ahead.

Said Green: “The board has been examining over the past few weeks the performance of the CH&PA and it is clear that the watchword is change, the new theme is change….When I say change, I am serious, it is a total concept.”

He concurred with Mr Edinboro that this change should be consistent with the vision of the new government and President David Granger’s vision.

Mr Green said that the CH&PA, at the level of the administration, has been doing its best in the circumstances, but the board is not satisfied that the entity has been getting value for money.

Sounding a warning about the imminent change to be made in this regard, the chairman said: “We have already put the staff on notice that the CH&PA will no longer accept substandard work and contractors who have failed to deliver will be considered not good people,” Mr Green said.

SUBSTANDARD ROADS Referring to the issue of

CHPA Chairman, Hamilton Green

roads, he cited the 0.5 kilometres of roadway built at Hope, West Coast Berbice, which the CH&PA had paid for but which had lasted only a few weeks.

“It is in a deplorable state and we will look at those contractors and that kind of work, which is not unusual.

We have some very good public officers, but my experience is that sometimes what you receive in writing is not necessarily the reality on the ground,” Mr Green said.

To this end, visits to various communities will commence shortly, to hear and see what are some of the problems, in order to come back to the board and make appropriate decisions and deal with people who are interested in performance and not underperformance.

ZONING On the issue of zoning, Mr Green disclosed that a number of licence applications for beer gardens and rum shops in communities have had to be rejected over the past few weeks, particularly along the coastal belt.

Even though guidelines have been set prohibiting any liquor establishments near to mosques, temples, churches or schools, these continue to be violated.

“Even though we are not purists, we have to save our young people and the com-

munities from this assault on family life and morals by all these drinking stores, being established quite whimsically throughout the length and breadth of Guyana,” the CH&PA Board Chairman said.

Another key area of focus will be the narrowing of the gap between urban and rural communities, Mr Green said.

In addition, at the initiative of the government and Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, the chairman said, the CH&PA will be engaging the services of new entities that would be involved in home construction throughout the country.

He outlined that the government is very conscious of the present shortcomings in terms of materials, staffing, skills, and therefore is willing to engage the assistance of external agencies.

“We are doing that because our objective is to ensure that we deliver on our promises for the next period,” the Chairman stated.

SKILLS SHORTAGE Noting that there is a serious haemorrhaging of skills to the Caribbean and North America, not only building skills but generally, he said the board will likely consider what can be done to increase the skills available in Guyana, and is looking at several training institutions.

Meanwhile, the CH&PA is ensuring that it improves its relations with all of the municipalities, and will address this at the end of Local Government Elections (LGE).

“We will engage the attention of all the new municipalities - the mayors, the chairmen of the LDCs – because I expect that we will be dealing with a new crop of leaders.”

That engagement, he said, will include all of the agencies: the Central Board of Health, municipalities, Fire and Security Services.

Motor cycle theft caught on camera TWO SIMPLE larceny suspects were on Friday placed on $150,000 bail each by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, accused of stealing a motor cycle.

Twenty-seven -year-old Emanuel Lorry, a pork-knocker of East La Penitence Squatting Area, and 25-year-old Junior Garraway of Lot 40 East La Penitence denied the charge which alleged that between January 17 and 18 in Georgetown, they stole a

motorcycle valued at $180,000, property of Andre Holder.

Police prosecutor Deniro Jones informed the court that both accused were seen on a CCTV camera removing the bike from the residence. Jones, however, made no objection to the duo being granted bail.

The two were released on bail and ordered to return to court on February 16 for statements.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

Cops hunt bank robbers Michel Outridge THE USUALLY quiet community of Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara was shattered Friday afternoon during a daring daylight armed robbery at the Bank of Baroda branch located at Mon Repos Mall in First Street.

Police in ‘C’ Division are hunting four men, who escaped in a waiting car after carting off an undisclosed

sum of money.

Reports say that the bandits had been observed in the area of the bank Friday morning before the actual robbery.

With facial disguises, they descended on the bank and held up the staff and a few customers.

This newspaper understands that the men had apparently received word that a large sum had been deposited in the bank earlier Friday morning.

Police reported that at about 12:50hrs, four men, one of whom was armed with a firearm, entered the Bank of Baroda Inc at Mon Repos, ECD, and held up the lone female private security guard on duty and took away her .32 service revolver.

During the incident, which lasted about five minutes, the men then held up the two female tellers and took away an undisclosed amount of cash, escaping

The mall that houses the Mon Repos Bank of Baroda Inc branch, where the armed robbery occurred

in a waiting white Premio motor vehicle bearing false registration plate PNN 8984, police added.

The police quickly responded to the robbery report and strategic road blocks were established and anti-crime patrols were alerted.

Crime Intelligence Units have also been activated.

Meanwhile, ‘C’ Division

Commander Marlon Chapman, who was on the scene Friday afternoon, told reporters that he could not divulge much since the investigation was an active one.

Mr Chapman noted that although footage from surveillance cameras was being reviewed, he could not say if it was of good quality.

Bank of Baroda Inc Mon

Repos branch was established a few years ago at the location and provides service on a five-day-per-week basis, but not an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) service.

The building itself is outfitted with surveillance cameras both inside and outside. The amount of money stolen was not disclosed.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

SATURDAY JANUARY 23

15

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Accused of stealing brother’s items

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016 A TWENTY-ONE-year-old seaman on Friday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged with breaking into his brother’s South Ruimveldt home.

The allegation is that Eon, on January 19, broke into the home of his brother, Junior Alphonso, of 671 Toucan Drive and stole his Black & Decker blender, a cake-mixer, can opener and a quantity of gold and silver

jewellery – totalling $123,500.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones related to the court that the brothers were living together, and it is alleged that the accused stole the items from his brother’s home.

The Chief Magistrate granted Eon $50,000 bail and ordered him to return to court on February 15 before Magistrate Annett Singh.

Swat Team cop remanded QUACY Springer, a 35-year-old member of the Guyana Police Force Swat Team, was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged for having been found with a cache of ammunition on top of his wardrobe.

Springer pleaded not guilty to the charge of illegal possession of ammunition when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

It is alleged that on December 15, 2015, in Georgetown, he had nineteen 9mm rounds, six .45 rounds of ammunition and five 12gauge cartridges among other ammunition, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence at the time.

The accused was represented by Attorney-at-Law Mr. Patrice Henry, who told the court that his client was a serving member of the Guyana Police Force for over two years and has an unblemished record.

According to the attorney, his client was framed by his ex-girlfriend, who promised to get him into trouble.

The lawyer’s case was that the woman resided overseas and Springer would stay at her Roxanne Burnham Gardens home. However, things turned sour when the woman retuned to Guyana and the officer threatened to end the relationship.

It is alleged that after a heated argument, the woman went to the police station and made a trumped-up report against his client, Henry contended in his application for bail.

Nevertheless, according to the prosecution, led by Police Corporal Deniro Jones, the accused is the caretaker of the home where the woman would stay sometimes.

The woman made a report to the police station, saying that she had feared for her life after finding the ammunition hidden on top of his wardrobe.

Jones made his objection based on the fact that the ammunition belonged to the Guyana Police Force and the rank did not book out the missiles.

After deliberation by defence counsel and the prosecution, Constable Springer was refused bail.

He was remanded to prison until February 15.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

AG holds meeting on SARU – with World Bank, UN delegations

By Shauna Jemmott MINISTER of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, yesterday met with delegations from the World Bank and the United Nations (UN) to discuss the operations and functions of the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) at a meeting at the Attorney General’s Office in Georgetown.

The meeting, according to Mr Williams, addressed the draft bill on the establishment of SARU, its structured functions, and its role in coordinating with other organisations. There was also consideration of the whole quest to recover government assets that were misappropriated or unlawfully obtained, or obtained by unlawful conduct on the part of public officers.

The Attorney General said a draft copy of the bill has already been submitted to him, and his ministry will soon publish a copy on his ministry’s website at http:// legalaffairs.gov.gy/, allowing members of the public and other stakeholders to view and to have an input.

“We are publishing bills that we propose for passage to the House, so that persons and stakeholders could read the bills upfront, make their comments and proposals, send them in to us, so that when we actually meet at the consultations we would then just clarify certain issues that we would have raised. So we will have to publish this bill on our website that people could see it, so that we would have our stakeholders’ consultations,” Mr Williams told the press in a briefing in his ministry’s boardroom just after the meeting.

RESTRAINING ORDERS He explained that the

work of the agency is intended to be civil and not criminal, and if the bill is passed, SARU will have the capacity to request information about assets being held by certain bodies, and will be given the power to apply to the court for restraining orders and interim orders in relation to property.

The agency’s intended work is based on the international convention against corruption, to which Guyana is a signatory, Mr Williams said, and though government has not yet received an estimated financial value of missing state assets, a forensic audit continues into the missing state assets.

The legislation will strengthen SARU’s investigative capacity, statutorily empowering that unit to do certain things from which it was incapacitated in carrying out its functions, other than just requesting information.

“The legislation will empower them (SARU) to be able to request information lawfully and get it. Whoever they’re requesting it from would be lawfully required to hand the information to them, which is a big step in their process,” he explained.

The process to take this legislation to Parliament requires much consultation with stakeholders, and facilitators and technical people will be invited to participate, and consultations with members of parliamentary parties are also encouraged so that all will understand and indicate early whether they support the bill.

HONOURING MANIFESTO PLEDGE While President David Granger has spoken many times against bribery within the public service and the

Durban Park Project coordinators brief PSC The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has been apprised of plans for the 50th Anniversary Jubilee Stadium and other features of the Durban Park Project by project coordinators Larry London and Basil Blackman.

The coordinators explained that the entire project would be executed in stages, with some features being in place for the Republic Anniversary in February 2016, and bleachers being erected in time for the 50th Anniversary celebrations in May of 2016. By early 2017, the Jubilee Stadium would be fully completed and ready for use.

The members of the PSC pledged their support for this national project, which will provide several opportunities for showcasing private enterprise.

“scourge of corruption,” Mr Williams said the efforts of the supporting international organisations coincide with the APNU+AFC government’s honouring its pre-elections manifesto pledge to establish an investigative commission on corruption.

The Attorney General said when the visiting delegations depart, the Guyana Government will meet with SARU. The special State Assets Recovery Unit is meant to go after assets initially belonging to the State

and “people of Guyana”, that might have found their way into the hands of private interests illegally, either through siphoning, collusion or some form of corruption.

Special forensic audits are still being conducted into a number of State institutions, among them the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), which controls a myriad of State corporations such as the National Communications Network (NCN), the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL), and Atlantic Hotels Inc/Guyana Marriott Hotel, among others.

The Privatisation Unit

(PU), which is responsible for the disposal of State assets, also comes under NICIL. NICIL was chaired by former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, and had as its Executive Director Winston Brassington, with board members including Dr Roger Luncheon, Nigel Dharamlall and Sonya Roopnauth.

Prosecutions have been started against individuals accused of the misuse and illegal possession of State assets. One high- profile case is that of former PPP/C Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford and Chief Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings, who were in July last year

arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer larceny charges.

The former minister answered to four counts of attempting to commit a felony, one of which said that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, at the Public Service Ministry, Waterloo Street, Georgetown, being an employee of the Government of Guyana, she attempted to commit larceny when she sought to have transferred motor vehicles PJJ 8113 and PKK 2175 to the name of Wayne Walker, when they were the property of the Government of Guyana.

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North Ruimveldt stu

Teacher Donna McDonald, organizer of the Special Assembly on Suicide, making opening remarks

A dramatic piece being done by students of North Ruimveldt Multilateral yesterday morning

By Leroy Smith

Attorney-at-law James Bond in smiles as he interacts with the students of his alma mater, North Ruimveldt Multilateral

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

THE issue of suicide was addressed yesterday at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School on Mandela Avenue when the school held a special assembly for its students from Forms One to Five.

Addressing the students on a preventative approach to suicide were Pastor Eworth Williams, James Anthony Bond, Dr. Dawn Stewart-Lyken, Delon Sancho and Tevonna Cole. In his address to the assembly, Pastor Williams cited Jeremiah 29:11 in the Bible as the basis for his interaction with the students and teach-

ers. That biblical text says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The youth pastor prayed with the children and, as part of the interaction, invited them by a show of hands to indicate whether at some point any of them had contemplated or may have been familiar with someone who either committed or had attempted suicide.

“A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING” The students were also advised that “in life, it matters not where you are presently,

but where you are likely to be in the future.” He highlighted, according to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, that all things have a season, and if there is hardship being experienced, that, too, will pass sooner than later.

The young people were also cautioned not to take very seriously negative talk such as rumours and gossip, since those are all considered contributory factors that push persons to commit suicide, or provide them with the tragic thought.

SEEK IMMEDIATE HELP According to Pastor Williams, young people and

Six benches for Merriman Mall

AS the beautification of Georgetown gathers momentum, the Guyana National Shipping Corporation Limited (GNSCL) has decided to boost the effort by donating six benches to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

These benches have been grounded at the Merriman Mall Play Park, and will increase seating capacity in the area, creating the opportunity for more persons to relax and take their younger ones there for an outing.

When asked what sparked their interest in making such a contribution, Project Manager of GNSCL, Eion Oudkerk, disclosed that the company is in support of the President’s notion of making Georgetown “clean, green and beautiful.”

Oudkerk noted: “This

Deputy Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick (first left) shares a moment with the GNSC officials is not our first time assisting the M&CC in the restoration of the Garden City, because when there was the Green Expo, we made a mone-

tary donation, and thus (we) thought it best to continue supporting.”

GNSCL, he said, will be looking for other ways

in which they can assist the M&CC in restoring the Garden City to its former glory.

Meanwhile, Deputy

Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick lauded the shipping company for its donation and expressed appreciation for its future support.

people in general need to be comfortable with who they are and what they have, and allow those considerations to guide their decisions; but if, for any reason, they have second thoughts of living, then they should seek immediate help.

Politician, attorney-at-law and past student of North Ruimveldt Multilateral, James Anthony Bond, also addressed the assembly. The attorney made it clear to the students and teachers that the issue of suicide is a very important and serious one, and can be addressed and effectively controlled only if there is team work.

Belizean law student shot

A BELIZEAN law student at the University of Guyana was, on Thursday evening, shot twice to his body while he stood on the roadway in front of his Cummings Lodge, ECD home.

According to a Guyana Police Force press statement, at approximately 21:00hrs on Thursday evening, 31-year- old Glenfield Dennison of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara was shot to the chest and left arm while standing on the roadway in front of his home.

Dennison was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where, up to press time, he was still receiving medical attention.

The police have so far declined to attribute a motive to the shooting, but are continuing their investigations.

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tudents educated on suicide GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

The children and students who gathered at the general assembly at North Ruimveldt Multilateral yesterday morning

Youth Pastor Eworth Williams addressing the general assembly at North Ruimveldt Multilateral yesterday

“VIBRANT COLLABORATION” According to Bond, “Team work makes the dream work.” In addressing the issue of suicide, he called for “vibrant collaboration” among all persons, including schools, teachers, politicians and other stakeholders. He also urged persons to look out for their peers, and once they sense that the person might be in a state of depression or oth-

erwise, to speak with them and ensure that they have the help that they need.

Dr. Lyken, in her interaction with the students, read them a poem which spoke to judging persons unfairly.

The essence of her poem was that persons should not seek to pass judgment on persons for their mistakes and actions if those passing judgment are unfamiliar with the reasons behind the actions of those persons.

ALL HAVE A PURPOSE She also spoke very sternly to the children and their teachers about their existence, and reminded them that they all have a purpose and their existence does not represent an accident, but rather a purpose.

The children also received a talk on the issue of depression, understanding one’s sexuality, and how the expectations and values of society can influence one’s

actions. That talk was given by Sancho, while Cole reached out to the children by way of a dance.

Drama, singing, dance, steel pan rendition, poetry and other features were all part of the special assembly at the school yesterday. The event was organized by Donna McDonald, one of the teachers at North Ruimveldt Multilateral. (lsmith@ Guyanachronicle.com)

‘Taliban’, co-accused guilty of attempted murder

Bajai Ramdass

PLANTAIN farmer Samwill Intiaz Shaw, alias ‘Taliban’ and ‘Arno’, along with his farmhand Ramsammy Angeshallam, called ‘Babs’, have been found guilty of discharging a loaded firearm at Bajai Ramdass, known as ‘Bruck Back’, with intent to murder him.

Justice Franklyn Holder, who presided over the trial at the Berbice Assizes, deferred sentencing to February 15, when Probation Department reports on the background of the prisoners are expected to be presented.

The two were found guilty of attempted murder by a mixed 12-member jury which returned a unanimous verdict after deliberating for just over two hours.

The number one accused, Shaw, stared at the twelve-member panel as the verdict was being delivered by the foreman. He was, seconds earlier, seen muttering to himself in an apparent prayer.

Co-accused Angeshallam stared ahead as his verdict was announced.

State Prosecutrix Natasha Backer had led the evidence of four persons, including the victim, who is now confined to a wheelchair and blinded in his right eye.

Ramdass had related that there was a previous incident in which he and the number one accused were involved. He

Ramsammy Angeshallam and Samwill Shaw, on the right had done plantain farming with the number one accused, but their arrangements had fallen apart and Shaw had refused to pay him, and that decision had resulted in Ramdass filing a court action.

On January 16, 2012, the victim, along with a workman, Hazrat Ibrahim, called ‘Buckman’, left his home to go to the disputed plantain farm at Crabwood Creek. They arrived at 06:00hrs, but before they had commenced reaping, ‘Buckman’ complained of sustaining an injury. Ramdass then called his brother Jagdeo, known as ‘Spraga’, for assistance while the injured man was being lifted into a boat. The boat was moored about 150 to 200 rods

away when the two men were joined by ‘Spraga’, who arrived on a parallel dam on a motorcycle, which subsequently pulled the boat along.

Shortly afterwards, the victim saw the accused men, and Shaw pointed a ‘long gun’ at him and Shaw’s hand was on the trigger. He then heard an explosion. Ramdas recalled being shot and falling helpless as blood covered his body.

However, he made efforts to move the boat, but the number two accused threw a bicycle tube in front of his boat, pulling the vessel towards Shaw, who threatened to cut out his tongue and dig out his eyes.

Further, the victim recalled, Angeshallam’s attempted to lift

him out of the boat. However, Ramdass pulled a cutlass and chopped the number two accused at the back of his neck, forcing him to flee. Shaw then fired another shot at the Ramdass’s face.

Ramdass said he pretended to be dead, and subsequently he exited the boat and saw the accused men running towards the backlands.

He was subsequently taken to the Skeldon Hospital, before being transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Meanwhile, in their unsworn statements, Shaw and Angeshallam denied the victim’s story and alleged that it was Jagdeo, known as ‘Spraga’, who had shot his brother.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 23, 2016

Guyana added to Zika warning list GUYANA, along with several other Caribbean countries, has been added to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel advisory, asking pregnant women to avoid visiting because of the presence of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus which is rapidly spreading throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. According to Reuters on Friday, this warning applies to Barbados,

Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Guyana, the Cape Verde Islands, Samoa and the island of Saint Martin, bringing the list to 14 countries and territories.

The CDC issued an advisory last week against travel to Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. The agency has cautioned pregnant women not to travel to

these areas, as it is suspected that they are infected with the Zika virus which causes birth defects.

Last week, Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, had reported to the National Assembly that Guyana had found one confirmed case of the Zika virus.

The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also known to carry the dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya viruses.

Health experts are unsure why the virus – detected in Africa in 1947, but unknown in the Americas until last year – is spreading so rapidly in Brazil and neighbouring countries.

There has been no additional case of the Zika virus reported in Guyana, even as the Public Health Ministry continues to monitor emerging cases in the Caribbean.

FULLY PREPARED Speaking to the Govern-

ment Information Agency (GINA), Dr Norton pointed out that while one case of the virus was reported in Guyana, the country was fully prepared to battle the vector-borne disease.

The minister stressed that if there was need for international bodies, it was for them to “evaluate the system here and point to what more is needed for further strengthening…but we are prepared.”

He noted that the ministry has “dealt with the mosquito before…it came with other diseases and it’s the same procedure.”

In the meantime, the ministry is fogging the city to kill the adult mosquitoes which carry the Zika virus.

Minister Norton has

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton

encouraged citizens to keep their surroundings clean, primarily drains. He said, “I’m worried about the weeds, even if it requires the usage of pesticides, we should get it out.”

Simple larceny charge A FORTY-FIVE-yearold Newtown, Kitty resident was on Friday placed on $100,000 bail after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer a charge of simple larceny.

Paul Campton, 45, of Garnett Street, pleaded

not guilty to the charge which stated that between May 28, 2014 and August 10, 2015, he stole 12 iron grills valued $90,000, twenty sheets of plyboard worth $150,000, one aluminum sink valued $15,000 and other items to the total value of $623,000.

The matter has been adjourned until February 15 for statements.

Man charged for attempting murder Aubrey Bender, 28, of Lot 54 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus charged for attempting murder.

The charges stemmed from an incident on January 16 at Lot 49 Stanleytown, where Dwayne De Jonge was wounded.

De Jonge had bought a friend’s ‘fire rage’, and had gone to the defendant to ‘settle the score’ when he sustained injuries.

In the New Amsterdam Court on Thursday, Attorney Tania Warren Clement told the magistrate that it was the victim who ap-

proached the accused, and her client acted in self-defence.

Police Sergeant Phillip Sheriff, prosecuting, noted that the victim is still hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Magistrate Marcus ordered that the defendant post bail in the sum of $500,000, lodge his passport, and report to the Central Police Station every Friday at 1800hrs until the completion of the matter.

Particulars of the charge revealed that on January 16, at Lot 49 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, with intent to commit murder, Bender wounded De Jonge.

The matter is fixed for hearing on February 17.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

TT Red Force, Barbados Pride ...

From Backpage

starting eleven for this crucial encounter and they will definitely start as pre-game favourites to lift the trophy.

But the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will be strengthened from the team that lost their winning streak to the Barbadians. Guyanese-born franchise player Narsingh Deonarine and leftarm spinner Akeal Hosein, having been rested in the second-round clash with Barbados Pride; will be in the starting eleven as they were against the Guyana Jaguars team, whom they eliminated in the first semi-final last Wednesday.

Both Deonarine and Hosein will create problems for the Barbadians and this should by a mighty contest for top honours.

Both Darren Bravo and Denesh Ramdin have been in terrific form and opener Evin Lewis, who scored his maiden List A century against Jamaica at Shaw Park in the second round; are all expected to carry the charge to the Barbadians

in their quest to retain the NAGICO Super50 trophy.

It should be noted that Ramdin loves to dominate the Barbados bowlers and created history by becoming Trinidad and Tobago’s highest scorer in regional limited-overs competitions when he scored 134 during the 2013 preliminary match at the QP Oval on April 7.

On that occasion, he faced 131 balls and hammered four sixes and ten fours. Ramdin and Jason Mohammed also shared a 170-run fourth-wicket partnership which allowed T&T to amass 264 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs.

Mohammed has not been in good form with the bat in this year’s series but he was T&T Red Force batting hero last year against Guyana in the final when he registered a disciplined 117 that was decorated with six sixes and eleven fours off 132 balls.

Surprisingly, Guyana were dismissed for a paltry 65 in 23.5 overs with finger-spinner Sunil Narine the chief destroyer with impressive figures of 8-3-9-6. Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Ravi Rampaul and Kevon Cooper are absent from this year’s line-up but this year’s Red Force team have surpassed all expectations and have shown that they are a fighting unit and will not go down without intense battle.

Medium pacers Reyad Emrit and Guyanese-born

Marlon Richards have improved immensely and their greater accuracy and seam movement through the air and off the pitch can be disconcerting for opposing batsmen. They will be supported by T&T Red Force’s new find in leg-spinner Jon Russ Jagessar who has proved his worth and ability to get wickets at crucial stages.

He has been the team’s most successful bowler and, like Deonarine and Hosein, has demonstrated that rare ability to get extra bounce or turn from docile pitches.

While both teams seem evenly matched, the Barbadians hold the edge in terms of experience and higher-calibre players in their squad.

But the Trinidadians are equally determined and they will be tough nuts to overpower in their quest to retain the trophy. The Jason Mohammed-led Red Force team would seek to demonstrate that they can rise to the occasion and win the title without the majority of their established West Indian star players.

This day-night final promises to be another mighty showdown between two arch-rivals.

Umpires are Patrick Gustard and Lennox Abraham. Joel Wilson is the TV umpire while Leslie Reifer Jr is the fourth umpire.

Match referee is Michael Ragoonath.

English Racing Tips Lingfield 08:35 hrs Bromyard 09:10 hrs Pictograph 09:45 hrs Cape Speed 10:20 hrs Runaiocht 10:55 hrs Hamelin 11:30 hrs Court Ministrel 12:05 hrs Bush Warrior

South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:45 hrs Gambol 09:20 hrs Estimation 10:05 Shea Devon 11:05 hrs Zrinski 11:40 hrs Street Flyer Irish Racing Tips Navan 08:50 hrs Gurteen 09:20 hrs Noble Inn 09:55 hrs Victory Mill 10:30 hrs Woodford Island 11:05 hrs Angus Milan 11:40 hrs Artic Skipper 12;15 hrs Flemenstorm

Ascot 08:40 hrs Connetable 09:15 hrs Bold Bachelor 09:50 hrs Vroum Vroum Mag 10:25 hrs Value At Risk 11:00 hrs Un De Sceaux 11:35 hrs Royal Regatta 12:10 hrs King Kayf Haydock 09:00 hrs Baywing 09:30 hrs Bristol De Mai 10:05 hrs Le Prezien 10:40 hrs The New One 11:15 hrs Fingal Bay 11:50 hrs Island Confusion 12:20 hrs Vintage Clouds

American Racing Tips Gulfstream Park Race 1 Change of Command Race 2 Leopardshill Road Race 3 Starship Tammy Race 4 Starshiner Race 5 Charge Race 6 Kismet’s Heels Race 7 Ousby Race 8 Racetrack Romance Race 9 Charming Kitten

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

Australian Open tennis

Djokovic, Serena lead old guard through

By Nick Mulvenney

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams reached the fourth round of the Australian Open without having lost a set between them yesterday as the grand slam establishment held firm on day five of the championships.

Tougher challenges will undoubtedly come but the untroubled progress of the two reigning champions and dominant players of 2015 has started to resemble a procession in the first week of the year’s first grand slam.

Djokovic, champion for five of the last eight years at Melbourne Park, played a rare match away from Rod Laver Arena but still proved too strong for Italian Andreas Seppi, securing his 210th grand

Serena Williams

Novak Djokovic

slam victory 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(6).

The Serbian had to work for his victory through some long rallies but always looked like he had an extra gear when he needed it.

“I served my way out of trouble several times,” he said. “But certainly I must be pleased with a straightset win because both sets could have gone a different way.”

Williams did a twirl on Rod Laver Arena after

crushing Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-1 to extend her record of wins to 71 matches, the post-match chatter quickly turning to her cropped-top outfit.

“It’s not warm but it’s built for speed,” the six-time champion quipped.

Rain washed away much of the day’s action on the outside courts at Melbourne Park, only intensifying the focus on the elite playing under cover on the three main arenas.

Roger Federer is still very much part of that elite despite having gone three years without adding to his 17 grand slam titles and he notched up a record 300th grand slam victory for a man by beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Bulgarian Dimitrov was dubbed ‘Baby Fed’ for his similarity in style to the Swiss master but after briefly troubling the four-time Australian Open champion to win the second set, he looked a more pale imitation than doppelganger.

W h e n F e d e re r w a s asked what he would write in a letter to his 18-year-old self, his answer might have been directed to Dimitrov and the other players trying to break into the top echelons of the game.

“Talent takes you only so far. But the rest of it is you have to teach it to yourself and learn it, get it right,” the 34-year-old said.

“You got to be patient.

Can’t expect to win slams at 16, 17, 18 any more these days, skyrocket through the rankings, unless you’re out of this world.”

Fifth seed Maria Sharapova also lost a set to Lauren Davis but that only infuriated the 2008 champion and she raced through the decider 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-0 to claim her

600th WTA victory.

ONE CASUALTY The 28-year-old will next face Belinda Bencic, a teenager who is expected to be challenging for majors before too long.

The Swiss was the first player into the round of 16 after overhauling Kateryna Bondarenko 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and said she would not be intimidated by playing a five-time grand slam champion.

“I’m very happy to play all these big players,” she said. “That’s what I play for.”

Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, a semi-finalist in 2014, played through the pain of a leg injury to beat Puerto Rica’s Monica Puig 6-4, 6-0.

“Pain is my second name,” the Pole said. “The spray doesn’t work, the strapping doesn’t work, I just have to get on with it.”

Radwanska next faces 21-year-old German Anna-Lena Friedsam, who beat last year’s U.S. Open runner-up Roberta Vinci.

Former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic was the one major casualty of the day in the men’s draw, going down 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-5 to Roberto Bautista Agut.

Japan’s seventh seed Kei Nishikori brushed off a wrist problem to move past Guill-

ermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 and set up a last-16 meeting with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6(7), 7-6(4).

A night after Melbourne Park bid an emotional farewell to Lleyton Hewitt, the locals noisily embraced their newest darling after Daria Gavrilova backed up her upset of Petra Kvitova by beating Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 4-6, 11-9.

“I’m just really excited and I just want to hug the whole stadium,” said the Moscow-born 21-year-old, who got her Australian passport last month.

Hewitt was back on Rod Laver Arena to watch Australia’s most promising young men’s player Nick Kyrgios lose 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to sixth seed Tomas Berdych in typically tempestuous style.

The reverberations from allegations that tennis authorities had failed to act on suspicions of match-fixing, which overshadowed the first days of the tournament, had all but faded away yesterday.

“The story that was supposed to be big is not really big,” said Djokovic, who on Wednesday angrily denied throwing a match early in his career. “I guess we have to shut it down.”

Anderson powers Kiwis to T20 series win

(REUTERS) - Corey Anderson’s all-round show helped New Zealand thump Pakistan by 95 runs in the deciding Twenty20 international yesterday and bag the three-match series 2-1.

The powerful left-hander punished the touring side with an unbeaten 82 from 42 balls to power New Zealand to 196 for five wickets in their 20 overs after Pakistan won the toss in Wellington and opted to field.

Pakistan were left to rue their decision as Mar-

tin Guptill and captain Kane Williamson gave New Zealand a rollicking start with an opening stand of 57 runs.

Anderson smashed six boundaries and four sixes in his knock and added 80 for the fourth wicket with fellow all-rounder Grant Elliott (19) to take his side to a daunting total.

Pakistan never managed to get their chase on track and were reduced to 15-3 within the third over and finally folded for 101 in the 17th.

Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed (41) showed some resistance but other than Shoaib Malik, who made 14, none of Pakistan’s batsmen notched double figures.

Fast bowler Adam Milne and Elliott picked up three wickets each while Anderson also pitched in with two before he left the field due to cramps.

The two sides will next play a three one-day international series with the first match at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Monday.

GCA tournaments continue this weekend

PLAY in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Gise/Star Party Rental/Trophy Stall 1st division two-day cricket competition and New Building Society 2nd division 40-over cricket will continue this weekend in the city.

Games in the 1st division tournament will see DCC host GYO, Malteenoes play GNIC at Malteenoes, Everest host Police and GDF tackle Transport at Camp Ayanganna.

The 2nd division fixtures for today will see MYO and GCC clash at Bourda, while UG face Ace Warriors at GNIC. Tomorrow UG will play GCC at Bourda. All the 2nd division games start at 11:00hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

Amla and Cook lead South Africa to 329-5

… Cook scores debut ton; Amla notches 25th Test century

By Mark Gleeson PRETORIA, South Africa (Reuters) - Stephen Cook became the 100th batsman to score a debut Test century and his innings of 115 helped South Africa amass 329 for five on the first day of the final Test against England yesterday in their bid to salvage pride in a lost series.

Hashim Amla scored his 25th Test century as he and Cook shared a second-wicket stand of 202 but captain AB de Villiers departed second ball, on a day of contrasting fortunes, as England 2-0 up in the fourTest series, fought back to claim four wickets after tea.

Temba Bavuma (32) and Quinton de Kock (25) were not out at the close of play at Centurion Park.

Handed his debut at the age of 33, one of five South

Africa changes from the team badly beaten in the third Test in Johannesburg last week, Cook brought his domestic form to the Test arena with a dream start to his international career.

He survived two dropped catches, two close run-out calls and an lbw appeal unsuccessfully reviewed by England before reaching three figures -- a nervous spell in the 90s exacerbated by the departures of Amla and de Villiers.

But Cook, whose father Jimmy was dismissed first ball on his debut for South Africa in 1992 at the age of 39, looked organised from the start, hitting a four off the first ball of the match when James Anderson’s delivery strayed down leg side.

He should have been out on 47 but was dropped by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow off Stuart Broad’s bowling.

He was eventually bowled after an innings of 187 balls when he got an inside edge to a delivery from Chris Woakes.

Amla, who gave up the captaincy after the second Test to concentrate on his batting, looked effortless as he raced to three figures, scoring 109 off 168 balls with 19 boundaries before he played on to Ben Stokes. de Villiers, captain for his second Test, was out for his second duck in successive innings, caught at second slip by Joe Root off Broad.

Yet another freakish catch

by James Taylor at short leg dismissed Dean Elgar for 20 for the first wicket of the day, as the short leg fielder continued a run of spectacular dismissals in the series.

JP Duminy was Moeen Ali’s second wicket, trapped lbw for 16 -- the last wicket of

Pietersen helps Melbourne Stars into BBL final MELBOURNE Stars will host tomorrow’s Big Bash League (BBL) decider after Kevin Pietersen helped them finally shed the tag of semi-final flops.

The Stars recorded a seven-wicket win over Perth at the MCG last night, hauling in a target of 140 with 11 deliveries remaining.

The franchise qualified for the finals in all four previous editions of the BBL, only to lose all four of their semis. Daniel Worrall gave them hope of ending that streak, grabbing figures of 3-25 to restrict the Scorchers to a total of 139-7.

Then the experience of Pietersen came to the fore. His composed 62 came off 36 balls and ensured his side would be

back at the MCG tomorrow for a home final against Sydney Thunder.

“It was hugely satisfying,” Pietersen said after being named man-of-the-match. “I went out with intent ... and to win the game for the team. Luckily it came off. It’s always nice to perform in the big games.”

Adam Voges, who scored 52 off 40 balls in a commendable captain’s knock, paid tribute to Pietersen. “We weren’t able to contain him and he ended up being the difference,” Voges said. “He came in at a pretty (high) pressure situation. We bowled really well in those first four overs and he just swung the momentum of the match. It’s what good players do.”

The crowd of 30 174 may have feared a repeat of past failures after the Stars managed eight runs off their opening three overs. If so, a 69-run stand from Pietersen and Marcus Stoinis allayed the fears. Brad Hogg trapped Stoinis lbw in the 12th over, but at that point the Stars’ victory equation was 58 runs off 51 balls.

Pietersen stepped up again – verbally and physically. The 35-year-old swapped barbs with fellow Englishman David Willey as he cracked 12 runs off the Perth paceman’s third over.

Pietersen finished the over with a lofted six – one of only four in the match – to leave the Stars chasing 30 runs from the final five overs.

Further powerful blows followed from Pietersen before an ungainly dismissal proved an unfitting end to the knock.

Albion, Port Mourant clash in U-19 final today

ALBION Cricket Club and Port Mourant will clash today in the final of the Elizabeth Styles Under-19 50-ovver tournament at the Albion Community Centre ground.

Albion will field a formidable batting line-up which includes Guyana Under-19 all-rounder Balchand Baldeo, who registered the only double-hundred in the competition so far and Sharaz Ramcharran. They

also have in their line-up David Latchaya, Matthew Hardyal Guyana Under-17 batsman Adrian Sukhwa.

Their spin-based bowling attack consists of Baldeo, Ramcharran, Guyana Under-19 player Daniel Lewis, Latchaya and Satesh Dookna.

Port Mourant for their part will, however, be no pushover having defeated the previous year’s losing

finalists, Rose Hall Town Pepsi and Tucber Park on their way to the final.

They have at their disposal all-rounder Arif Chan, Nicholas Cameron, Samuel Kisnasammy, Dimitri Cameron, Daniel Samaroo and Manoj Looknauth.

The match bowls off at 09:30hrs, with umpires Zaheer and Imran Moakan performing the on-field duties.

the day as England checked South Africa’s progress after they had look poised for a huge total on 237 for one.

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings S. Cook b Woakes 115 D. Elgar c Taylor b Ali 20 H. Amla b Stokes 109 A. de Villiers c Root b Broad 0 J. Duminy lbw b Ali 16 T. Bavuma not out 32 Q. de Kock not out 25 Extras: (lb-10, w-2) 12 Total: (for 5 wickets, 90 overs) 329 Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-237, 3-238, 4-271, 5-273.

Bowling: J. Anderson 21-4-70-0, S. Broad 18-1-65-1 (w-1), M. Ali 17-453-2, C. Woakes 16-2-74-1 (w-1), B. Stokes 18-2-57-1.

Stephen Cook takes in the applause for his debut century in Centurion yesterday.

34

Top golfers expected for Vish Trading tourney ANOTHER exciting day of golf is anticipated in the Vish Trading-sponsored Medal Play Golf tournament today at the Lusignan Golf Course.

Approximately 50 golfers are expected to take part in the tournament, sponsored by the Heavy Equipment Company of Le Resouvenir on the East Coast of Demerara.

Tee-off is at 12:30hrs.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers, Best Gross and Nearest to the Pin. The one-day tournament is in memory of the late Prabudial Ramdial, father of Managing Director of Vish Trading, Vish Ramdial.

Ramdial, in handing over the sponsorship package to Public Relations Officer of the golf course, Guy Griffith, expressed his desire for the tournament to fulfil its objectives, since his father was an ardent golf fan.

Griffith thanked the business entity for its continued support towards the development of the sport locally.

Representatives are expected to be on hand to assist in the presentation of prizes.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

Roy Fredericks T20 Cup billed for January 31 THE Blairmont Cricket Club will host the inaugural Roy Fredericks Memorial T20 Cup on January 31.

After naming the main pavilion after the late West Indies batsman two weeks ago; the executives decided to host a T20 tournament for the legend because of his contribution to cricket.

The one-day event will feature four teams, with the winners in the two preliminary matches competing in the grand finale.

Cotton Tree Die Hard will go head-to-head against D’Edward Warriors from 08:30hrs, while the Bath Underdogs will take on home team Blairmont Blazers from 11:00hrs. The final will expect to bowl off from 14:30hrs.

All proceeds from the day’s event will assist in the managing and development of the club.

Members of the Blairmont Cricket Club pose with the respective trophies up for grabs, at the conclusion of the Roy Fredericks Memorial T20 Cup.

Cavaliers down Clippers, Rondo stars in Kings win

Managing Director of Vish Trading, Vish Ramdial, hands over his sponsership package to Guy Griffith, PRO of Lusignan Golf Club.

THE Cleveland Cavaliers recorded their 30th win of the NBA season after downing the Los Angeles Clippers 115-102 at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday.

LeBron James stole the show as he produced 22 points and 12 assists, with all four fellow starters contributing double figures.

Kevin Love (18) and 16 rebounds made a double-double, whilst Kyrie Irving (21), J.R. Smith (22) and all helped the Cavaliers upend the Clippers.

In contrast, Los Angeles were led by Chris Paul (30), as Jamal Crawford hit 16 from the bench.

The Clippers fall to 2715 with the defeat as David Blatt’s Cleveland notch backto-back wins.

Elsewhere, the Atlanta Hawks were beaten 91-88 by the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena, as Rajon Rondo hit his fifth triple-double of the campaign, with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

The Kings’ fourth consecutive victory sees Sacramento improve their dominant record in this encounter to seventeen straight wins.

DeMarcus Cousins top scored with 24 points and 15 rebounds, whilst Paul Millsap impressed with a double-double for the Hawks.

Marc Gasol made 27 points - including a go-ahead three-pointer with 12.2 seconds to play - as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Denver Nuggets 102-101.

Mike Conley helped him-

self to 20 points for the Grizzlies to improve his team’s winning streak to four games.

Danilo Gallieri top scored

LeBron James produced 22 points and 12 assists. for Denver with 17 points but missed a 3-pointer with 3.9

seconds left.

The New Orleans Pelicans convincingly beat the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, scoring 72 points by half-time on their way to a 115-99 win.

Anthony Davis made 32 points and Tyreke Evans collected a 22-point haul for the Pelicans as Detroit fell to their 20th loss of the season.

Finally in the day’s late action, the San Antonio Spurs eased to a 117-89 demolition of the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Kawhi Leonard made 21 points and Boban Marjanovic supplied 17 in a convincing performance, as the Spurs made 38 in the final quarter to improve to 12 wins on the bounce.(Sportsmax.com).

WICB sends 95th birthday CRICKET QUIZ CORNER greetings to Andy Ganteaume (Saturday January 23, 2016) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to Thursday’s quiz: (1) 163 (WI vs NZ, Jamaica, 1972) (2) 9/95 (WI vs IND, Trinidad, 1971) Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the highest score made by a batsman on his Test match debut?

(2) What is the highest score made by a batsman on his ODI debut?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The oldest living West Indies cricketer turned 95 yesterday. Former Trinidad & Tobago and West Indies batsman Andy Ganteaume celebrated his birthday yesterday.

He is No. 60 on the West Indies Test Players list.

His best performance is a memorable 112, his only Test innings, which came against England at Queen’s Park Oval in 1948.

He shared an opening partnership of 143 with George Carew, who also made a

century.

P r e s i d e n t o f We s t Indies Cricket Board, Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron sent special birthday greetings.

“On behalf of all cricket-lovers and fans of West Indies cricket we want to wish Andy a happy birthday as we celebrate this special milestone with him,” said Cameron. “He is one of the stalwarts in Trinidad & Tobago and West Indies cricket.

Andy Ganteaume is We must always remember the oldest living West the contribution of the pioIndies cricketer. neers and forefathers of our

game.”

Cameron added: “Today we salute Andy Ganteaume, one of the patriots of our great game. His most memorable performance on the field is his 112 – and that will forever be a famous performance in our history.

Andy has contributed a lot off the field as well, especially with the development of our cricket. He has contributed immensely to the game in the Caribbean as a wonderful player and administrator.”

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 23, 2016

Grove Hi Tech collide with Soesdyke Falcons for top prize DEFENDING champions Grove Hi Tech will be going all out to retain the billing as the best Under-17 team on the East Bank when the final of the SUNBURST/ EBFA championship is contested tomorrow from 15:00hrs at the Grove playfield.

Standing in their way would be Soesdyke Falcons featuring an array of exciting players who would be led by the Khan brothers, Tyrone and Tyrell. Competing in the third place match would be Herstelling Raiders and Mocha Champs from 13:00hrs.

Grove have an exciting group of players who have also been doing well having had senior team exposure and are eager to prove that they are still the best at this level on the East Bank.

They have hammered

Defending champions Grove Hi Tech Pluck, Tevin Millington, all and sundry on their way 30 goals.

The home team attack Denzil Crawford and their to the final, their last victim being Mocha Champs in the will be centred on some po- leading marksman Kevin semifinal, a 12-1 triumph tent forwards and midfielders Dalton (8) along with goalto take their tally in the the likes of Alwyn Haynes, keeper Randy Smartt hoping tournament to a whopping Nicholai Matthews, Threvon to keep the Soesdyke boys

Wins for South Africa, West Indies Under-19s

DEFENDING champions South Africa and the West Indies rode on centuries from their respective captains to comfortably win their warm-up matches ahead of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2016, which starts on Wednesday, January 27.

South Africa captain Tony de Zorzi remained unbeaten on 100 (91 balls, 7x4) as his team crushed Fiji by 282 runs in Fatullah to give the first-timers a taste of what awaits them in the main tournament.

Opener Kyle Verreynne made 59 (67 balls, 6x4) and Rivaldo Moonsamy smashed 56 (51 balls, 8x4) as the South Africans piled up 332 for seven in 50 overs after electing to take first strike.

Fiji were shot out for 50 in 30.4 overs as no batsman managed to reach double figures. Left-arm spinner Sean Whitehead was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets for six runs in his seven overs. Seamer Luke Philander took three for 16.

Meanwhile, the West Indies brushed aside Scot-

… Hetmyer, Imlach hit centuries

Shimron Hetmyer land by 148 runs in another match in Fatullah, following centuries by captain Shimron Hetmyer and opener Tevin Imlach.

Left-handed Hetmyer made 136 off 116 balls with 16 boundaries and two sixes, and Imlach retired after scoring 100 from 115 balls with 12 fours, as the West Indies totalled 342 for four after electing to bat.

Scotland were restricted to 194 for seven in reply, with Ben Wilkinson retiring with 63 and Owais Shah making 55. Seamer Shamar Springer finished with three for 19 and left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy claimed two for 18.

The 11th edition of the biennial 16-nation tournament features nine Test-playing nations and seven Associate and Affiliate Members – Afghanistan, Canada, Fiji, Namibia, Nepal, Ireland and Scotland.

Teams have been divided into four groups with the top two in each advancing to the Super League quarter-finals and the other two qualifying for the Plate championships.

a Mocha side that will be seeking to take them out.

Both matches will be of 90 minutes duration and fans from the respective villages are expected to come out in their numbers to urge their teams on.

Marketing and Sales Manager of sponsors, Continental Agencies Limited, Mr Avalon Jagnandan, along with his team will be on hand to witness the matches and assist with the presentation of prizes.

The top four teams will all receive trophies with gold, silver and bronze medals at stake for the top three. The most disciplined team will receive the Fair Play trophy while the highest goalscorer, most valuable player and best goalkeeper will also be rewarded.

Sir Richie Richardson and Peter Nero to be honoured by WICB PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – The West Indies Cricket Board will award and acknowledge two outstanding servants on West Indies cricket. Sir Richie Richardson and Peter Nero will be recognised and honoured respectively at the conclusion of the NAGICO Super50 Tournament.

Nero will be presented with a special memento at the end of the final today at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Sir Richie, a former West Indies captain, is one of the leading batsmen in West Indies history. A dominant stroke-maker, he

Peter Nero

Tevin Imlach

at bay.

Soesdyke will not be under the level of pressure as Grove and are expected to put on a good performance ,having had some extra time to prepare for tomorrow. Apart from the Khan brothers who have been their mainstay, custodian Dyonta Grant-Stuart, Tavin Marshall, Shonan Somnauth and Shane Meusa will all have to combine efforts to topple Grove in order to lift the championship trophy.

Both Herstelling and Mocha will want to close out this competition on a high and are expected to take the fight to each other. Herstelling, beaten finalists in 2014 have not lived up to expectations in the 2015 edition of the tournament, therefore they will want to do well against

made 5 949 runs at an impressive average of 44.39 r u n s p e r i n n i n g s i n Te s t cricket. He hit 16 centuries, with a best score of 194 against Australia at Bourda, Guyana. He scored

6 248 runs in ODIs at an average of 33.421 including five centuries.

The 54-year-old was team

Sir Richie Richardson manager from 2011 to this month, before taking up a role as International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee this week. He is being honoured for his contribution as a player and an administrator.

Nero has been one of the leading umpires in regional cricket for over a decade. The 51-year-old has stood in 34 international matches. His first outing was April 21, 2011 at Beausejour when West Indies played Pakistan in a T20 International.

Tall and authoritative, he has officiated in several ICC events in New Zealand, Europe and the Americas. One of the highlights of his career was

officiating in the Twenty20 Series between West Indies and New Zealand in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2012.

President of the WICB, Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron, showered praise on Sir Richie and Nero for their excellent work and contribution to the game in the West Indies.

“On behalf of the WICB and the stakeholders of West Indies cricket we want to acknowledge the great contributions to the game in the West Indies.

Sir Richie was an exceptional batsman and courageous captain for West Indies and we owe him a debt of gratitude. As manager, he showed great leadership and was at all times an ambassador for West Indies cricket,” Cameron said.

“Peter has been an outstanding umpire in our cricket and we want to show our appreciation for his dedicated service. He is well-organised and very professional and is a standard-bearer for match officials in the region. He is an insightful individual who commands the respect of players on and off the field. He has maintained a rich tradition of quality umpires in the Caribbean and we hope to see the continued development of our officials.”

Grove Hi Tech collide with Soesdyke Falcons for top prize See Story on Page 35

Chanderpaul retires from international cricket ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Shivnarine Chanderpaul has officially retired from international cricket almost 22 years after making his debut, a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) release said last night.

The durable left-handed batsman, affectionately known as ‘Tiger’, formally notified the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in an email that he will no longer be available for selection for West Indies “The WICB acknowledges the invaluable contribution Shiv has made to the

game globally and we wish him all the best,” said WICB president Dave Cameron.

Chanderpaul was just this week, part of the Guyana Jaguars side that lost the first semi-final of the NAGICO Super50 Tournament against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force.

He has brought the curtain down on a glittering career that featured 164 Test appearances, 268 Oneday Internationals and 22 Twenty20 Internationals.

His debut match for West Indies was against England in March 1994, in his native

Guyana, where he made a half-century on debut.

The West Indies won by an innings and 44 runs. His final Test against England last May in Barbados was also a memorable occasion for the 40-year-old, as West Indies won by five wickets to level a three-Test series against Alastair Cook’s side.

Chanderpaul’s highest score in Tests was 203 not out and he finished with an average of 51.37. He also posted a top score of 150 in ODIs, finishing with an Shivnarine Chanderpaul made his Test debut against England at the GCC ground Bourda in 1994. average of 41.60.

TT Red Force, Barbados Pride battle for NAGICO Super50 supremacy

By Brij Parasnath DEFENDING champions Trinidad & Tobago Red Force must lift their overall performance to thwart the efforts of Barbados Pride in their quest to retain the NAGICO Super50 Trophy.

Both teams will wage a serious battle for regional limited-over supremacy today in the grand finale which gets underway at the famous Queen’s Park Oval from 13:30hrs.

Barbados Pride, aided with a few diabolical umpiring decisions that went in their favour; emerged victorious over the T&T Red Force in their Zone A second round clash of this year’s series that was expanded to double round-robin competition.

The WICB organised

the competition in such a manner as to provide for greater exposure and opportunities for the regional senior players to advance their careers and help to build a stronger cadre of top level performers who will form the core of the West Indies teams in the future.

Both teams contested the 2013 final with the Barbadians triumphing by 17 runs after they restricted the homesters to 235. Former West Indies attacking opener Dwayne Smith 83 (77 balls, 10x4 and 2x6) and Kraigg Brathwaite 36 (63 balls, 3x4) posted 127 for the first wicket and laid the foundation for the Barbados team to amass 252 all out in 48.4 overs.

Jonathan Carter 49 (51 balls, 5x4), Sulieman Benn 22 (18 balls, 2x4, 1x6 plus 9-0-292), Carlos Brathwaite (9 runs

and 10-1-41-4) and Jason Holder (5 runs and 8-0-302) were the other principal contributors to claiming the first lien on the NAGICO Super50 Trophy.

Smith, both Brathwaites (Kraigg and Carlos), Carter, Benn, Holder, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and off-spinner Ashley who were members of the 2013 triumphant Barbados team will also be involved in today’s fixture.

They were also members of the team that included West Indies Test player Shai Hope and Jomel Warrican as well as Shamarh Brooks that beat the T&T Red Force in the recent second-round match this year.

Barbados Pride will most likely have the same

See page 31

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Left-arm spinner Suliemann Benn was Barbados Pride best bowler in their semifinal clash against Windwards Volcanoes.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2016