Chronicle 01 28 2016

ALL-OUT PUSH THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 2016 Price: $80

No. 104445

(VAT Inclusive)

…high-level team in major effort to tackle El Niño

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No bail for ‘Baroda’ bandits 8

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From L-R) 39-year-old graphic artist Eon Campbell; Taxi driver, Sean Anthony Aaron and Kennard Jabar were not required to plead to the indictable charges (Delano Williams photos)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Man killed, dumped in bush at Mahaicony

By Rabindra Rooplall

THE body of a father of four was found in a clump of bushes in Mahaicony yesterday morning, with the lower right leg severed and several chops about his slim figure.

Dead is 41-year-old Curt Burke of Drill, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The mutilated body was partially wrapped in tree vines when it was discovered.

The police in a press release yesterday stated that

they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Burke whose body was found at about 09:30hs yesterday on the main road at Drill with injuries suspected to have been caused in a hit-andrun accident.

However, relatives dismissed the police statement as mere speculation, maintaining that the father of four was murdered.

“His head had a large hole in it like someone shot him and his leg was chopped off his body, there

was no blood or skid marks where they said the accident occurred. There was blood nowhere, it appears as if he was killed and brought to that place to make it look like an accident,” his aunt Carmen Burke disclosed.

Other reports disclosed that a car had struck Burke’s bicycle on Drill Public Road and the driver upon checking to see what had happened was told by a man nearby to return to his vehicle and go away since staying and looking around may put him in problems.

The driver on the dark roadway decided to heed the man’s advice and left the scene. Burke’s bicycle was found with only a minor bend to the wheel.

According to one relative, “they found him with his arm in the air like if he was blocking chops and lashes. His leg was found a far distance away from the body.”

Other reports reveal

Dead: Curt Burke

that Burke was drinking Tuesday night and never returned home as usual to assist his relative with work around the yard.

“Is a very dark area he living in and I don’t know if anybody do him anything when he was coming home or if he was drunk,” one resident said.

“He lives with his 10-yearold son, but the boy is by his aunt, so we didn’t see him Wednesday morning as usual.”

Curt was described as a jack-of-all-trades, and would usually work as a mason, carpenter and vendor at the Bourda Market.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

…high-level team in major effort to tackle El Niño AMID deepening concerns over the prolonged dry-weather conditions, government on Wednesday convened a high-level meeting with stakeholders aimed at bringing relief to affected farmers countrywide.

The multi-sectoral approach in dealing with the effects of El Nino will not only see efforts being made to pump water on land; but will also look at ways in which water can be retained in a controlled manner, to be used during the long dry seasons, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reporting on the meeting said. Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, in delivering opening remarks gave an update on the ongoing national response by Government to tackle the effects of the cur-

rent El Nino situation. As it stands, water-supply levels are low and many farmers are affected. The weather pattern which has been persistent is anticipated to continue throughout the first quarter of 2016. “This prolonged dry weather has impacted on our water resources and has been most seriously felt in the farming areas along the coast and within our hinterland communities,” he said.

Additionally, he said the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), in conjunction with the Mahaica-Mahaicony Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) is aware of the situation and is working vigorously to assist farmers with their drainage and irrigation needs. “Steps will have to be taken to pump water into the conservancies

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

through other sources by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority. While this has already commenced with the assistance of the MMA, we

are now looking at pumping water from the Torani canal to assist GuySuCo. The 2017 first-crop production will be affected if the situation continues.”

Rice farmers are the ones heavily hit as their production was not only affected by the drought -like condition, but also by the intrusion of salt water. General Manger of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Nizam Hassan, has disclosed that of the 177,734 acres sown thus far,39,601 acres have been affected by the El Nino situation, while an additional 27,800 acres have been affected by salt-water intrusion.

The Ministries of Public Health and Communities, the Civil Defence Commission and the Guyana Water Incorporated are also actively involved and are looking at

alternative ways in which water can be conserved.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, while echoing the Agriculture Minister’s sentiments, spoke of the need for safeguarding water supplies, especially in hinterland communities. Recognising the imminent threat of El Nino, the Government of Guyana has since established a national task force to deal with irrigation issues across the country.

Dr. Cummings added that recently there has been a gastro outbreak at Baramita, however, the situation is under control.

A team of officials is still in the area, to educate residents about the illness and to look at measures they can take to avoid it. Representative of the nation-

al task force and Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission, Col Chabilall Ramsarup, has disclosed that if the situation continues until the end of March, Government will be looking at providing aid to those affected. The meeting which was held in the boardroom of the Ministry of Agriculture, also saw in attendance Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan; Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Public Health, Mr. George Jervis; and Ms. Collette Adams, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Inc.; Mr. Richard Van-West Charles; senior representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Executive Officers.

Berbicians receive land titles, transports SOME 130 persons received their Titles and Transports for houselots in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Tuesday last.

Some 200 persons are to be given similar documents for lands in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) on February 2nd and 3rd next.

The documents for the recipients of lands in Region Six were handed over by Ms. Oma Haripersaud, Regional Housing Officer for Regions Five and Six. It was she also who made the disclosure about a similar exercise upcoming in Re-

gion Five early next week.

The handing-over was witnessed by Regional Executive Officer of Region Six, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister in Region Six, Gobin Harbhajan.

The beneficiaries received Titles and Transport for lands at Fort Ordanance Housing Scheme, East Canje, at #76 Village housing scheme and Kilcoy/Chesney housing scheme on the Courentyne and Glasgow housing scheme on the East Bank of Berbice.

Ms. Haripersaud disclosed that the handing over to 130 persons in East Berbice had served to ease the

Recipients with their Titles and Transports with Ms Oma Haripersaud and to her left, Mr Gobin Harbhajan and at extreme right is Dr Veerasammy Ramayya

backlog of Titles and Transports to be completed, somewhat. She said that a recent reorganisation of the Registry which provides support for such documentation had

led to a faster processing of applications and the backlog was being gradually reduced.

She urged the successful applicants to expedite construction of homes on

their lands, so that they can get full benefits of their Titles and Transports. The presentation of Titles and Transports for lands in Region Five next week

will be done at the RDC’s headquarters at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, beginning from at 9 AM on February 2nd and 3rd next.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Mahaica cash-crop farmers worried

…water level at all-time low Story and Photos by Alva Solomon HANDSOME Tree, Mahaica cash-crop farmer Roopnarine Gangaram stood Tuesday in his dying patch of 900 sweet-pepper seedlings and watched helplessy as the dry El Ni?o weather conditions continue to severely impact farming activities in the communities there.

While the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) has been providing assistance to farmers in the area via irrigation pumps near Big Baiabu and north of the area, the cash-

crop farms have been bearing the brunt of the dry weather phenomenon, with some farmers already foreseeing severe losses, even as the crops stand on the beds.

At the moment, several farms and rice fields have dried up, while farmers are optimistic that the rains would ease their woes. Ironically, the communities have in the past felt the effects of flooded waters through waters released from the East Demerara Water conservancy (EDWC) whenever that water holding area reaches its optimum. However, in recent weeks the situation has completely swung, as dried weather conditions have re-

sulted in a drop in fresh water supply for the plants there.

Gangaram told this newspaper during a visit to Handsome Tree Tuesday that he has lost large amounts of bora and sweet peppers since the weather conditions changed in mid-2015. He said that there has not been any persistent rainfall in the area for a number of weeks.

“We had rains around Christmas-time, in-and-out, in-and out,” he said.

SALT-WATER FEAR He noted that while water was being released to the area via the highlands near the Mahaica Creek passing through Handsome Tree,

A tractor-driven pump in operation Tuesday near Big Baiabu, Mahaica

Roopnarine Gangaram stands next to his patch of bora plants which he is hoping will survive the current dry-weather spell

Dry rice lands at Mahaica, signs of the severity of the current El Ni?o weather when the tide changes, there is a fear among farmers that the salt-rich sea water may enter the waterway. “I have some pipes which run to

the farmland, and they are connected to the Creek. But right now, we think it ain’t safe to use,” Gangaram noted.

He said that he dug a reservoir near his farm, which collects rain water; and this is what he uses to water his crops. Gangaram said that his rice lands, see page 5

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

President attends CELAC Summit

…Cuba says summit will strengthen regional bloc President David Granger on Wednesday participated in the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Ecuador.

The Summit was held under the theme “Reduction of

inequalities and Sustainable Development of the region”.

CELAC was created on December 3, 2011, in Caracas, Venezuela.

THE Fourth Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), is expected to help strengthen the regional bloc, according to Cuba’s

Ambassador to Guyana, Julio César González Marchante.

President Granger is representing Guyana at the three-day event, which ends tomorrow.

Among its objectives, the Cuban envoy said, is “to strengthen political dialogue between States and translate,

President David Granger pictured (centre) with other Latin American leaders

President David Granger and Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audrey Waddell in a meeting with Ecuador’s Minister of Interior, José Serrano

Mahaica cash-crop farmers... from page 4 which lay across the public road, passing through Handsome Tree is feeling the brunt of the dry weather. “Right now, over deh dry,” he said. He noted that some of the rice plants have already indicated signs of dryness.

Further down the road at Big Baiabu, Ramkarran, an elderly farmer, was awaiting a buyer who was passing through the communities, purchasing vegetables and other perishables from the farmers to re-sell at the city markets.

Ramkarran said he has lost a number of plants, including calalloo, carilla and bora. He said that his squash plants have survived the prevailing dry conditions; however, the quality of the crops may not be 100%. “I have the normal squash and the hybrid; the hybrid losing to the weather,” he noted.

Ramkarran said that he has replanted crops in another section of his farmland and he is counting on those crops to reach their optimum growth levels. “The carilla

over in that section should grow enough to sell “, he said, as he pointed to another section of his farmlands.

were calling on the authorities to put more effective measures into action to assist their fading crops.

ROUND-THE-CLOCK Meanwhile, several tractor driven pumps were operating overtime as the rice farmers were working around-the-clock to protect their crops along the Mahaica Creek. Along the roadway, swathes of rice lands bore dry cracks, evidence of the dry weather’s severity.

One rice farmer at Little Baiabu told this newspaper that he has been monitoring the water conditions in the area, and he is optimistic that conditions will change in the coming weeks. “We have some rains now-and-then; so I hoping for the better,” he said.

The communities in the Mahaica /Mahaicony area have been essential providers of cash-crops to the city markets. Rice farms in the area have also contributed to the national rice quotas over the years.

However, unfavourable weather conditions have been the major bugbear facing the farmers in those communities, and on Tuesday, farmers who spoke to this newspaper

MARKED DROP The El Ni?o dry weather conditions have resulted in a marked drop in the water level in various parts of the county. Rainfall figures indicate that the weather pattern changed significantly around July-August last year and regional reports have indicated that the trend can stretch into the second quarter of this year.

Last week, the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) issued a call for citizens to conserve water, with the levels in the water conservancies dropping due to the prolonged dry season. At the moment, the EDWC which stores water to irrigate farmlands on the East Coast and water for GWI’s Shelter Belt location in Georgetown is at a critical level.

The EDWC is replenished by rainfall, but with the current dry spell the drainage authorities have begun collaborating to commence 24-hour pumping of water from Maduni – another surface water canal – into the EDWC.

through political cooperation, our principles and values in consensus.”

The raison d’être, he said, is that “the Region requires an instance of political agreement that strengthens its international position, and could result in prompt and effective actions that promote Latin American and Caribbean interests against the new issues on the international agenda.”

The meeting, González Marchante said, has seen the gathering of the Heads of State and Foreign Ministers of CELAC’s 33 member countries to address issues of regional interest.

Together, they will evaluate the eradication of poverty and inequality reduction, issues on which there was a planning proposed by Ecuador when it took up the pro témpore presidency at the summit held in Costa Rica.

“The approved document,” Ambassador Marchante said, “covers five areas of work in addition to the eradication of extreme poverty and inequality; it includes

others such as education, science and technology, the fight against climate change and development financing.

“It is also expected to seek ways for political cooperation to continue growing stronger, particularly in international organisations. These debates were evident in the common position that the block took to the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP21) held in France.”

Adding that absolute consensus was expected to be achieved for a regional agenda, the envoy noted that the challenge of the summit would be to preserve and further strengthen the CELAC. It was reported that in preliminary meetings the importance of the block for the Region was ratified.

He said on the issue of migration, there would be a statement rejecting the attempts of some countries to establish policies of selection of migrants according to their country of origin, this being related to the Cuban Adjustment Act, US legislation that favours citizens of the Carib-

bean island who seek shelter in the northern nation.

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) emerged as a regional integration mechanism. Since its launch in 2011, the block has contributed to strengthening the dialogue between countries of the Region on issues such as social development, education, nuclear disarmament, family agriculture, culture, finance, energy and environment.

CELAC member countries are: Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Cuba; The Dominican Republic; Dominica; Ecuador; El Salvador; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; St. Lucia; Saint Kitts and Nevis; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Uruguay; and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams

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

Editorial

The motion on Election Day violence

LAST Thursday the National Assembly heard a motion brought by the PPP that called for the State to compensate residents in Sophia for injury and destruction to property on 11th May, 2015, i.e. Election Night. Stories of political violence, real, perceived, contrived or instigated, have been with this nation for quite some time.

Accusations and counter- accusations have been made by the various political parties throughout our massbased political history.

Violence, regardless of who it is committed by ought not to be countenanced. Any citizen caught engaging in such acts ought to be subjected to the rule of law. Given that the motion sought compensation, in order for such to be done a case has to be established regarding responsibility and guilt, which requires investigation and examination within the parameter of the laws.

In this specific instance, it would have been necessary for the law to take its course by allowing the police, without political interference, to investigate the complaints and lay charges on the alleged perpetrators, have these persons placed before the court, and those found guilty, face the brunt of the law. In the real world, compensation can only be determined and awarded after the necessary investigations are conducted and culpability is established. It is not unreasonable to assume that the PPP knows this and this brings into question the intent and seriousness of the motion.

Failure to ensure this due process, it is clear that the intent was not to seek justice for those the motion had named. The absence of bringing seriousness to a matter deserving of seriousness must not escape attention. While PPP Member of Parliament (MP) Odinga Lumumba, in his presentation said that he did not believe that the attack was centrally directed by the APNU+AFC, at the same time the MP was implying that the attack on the person was because the individual is a PPP supporter/member. The MP proceeded in saying, “There will come a time in Guyana where the PPP, like any other revolutionary organisation, will have to be physical and stand up against violence and such a step is not in the interest of Guyana and democracy.”

This is astounding.

On one hand, there exists a failure to proceed with the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Nagamootoo not a Traitor

Dear Editor

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo was picketed by Guyanese nationals at events held in Richmond Hill, Queens, last week and called “a traitor” (neemakharam) among other derogatory names for joining up with the APNU/AFC to unseat the PPP in last May’s general elections.

Nagamootoo may be many things but not a traitor, but he did not betray the PPP. On the contrary, many people feel that the PPP betrayed him when it failed to live up to the expectations of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and when it failed to democratise decision-making and leadership selection in the party. The New York picketers and PPP supporters should give serious thought and analysis on who really betrayed the PPP and its supporters.

Nagamootoo gave nearly 50 years of his service to the PPP and in those years he fought the dictatorship for 28 years, during which period he was brutalised and persecuted as were many of us who actively opposed the PNC; no traitor would make such a meaningful contribution. He was excommunicated from the party he helped build; only traitors would excommunicate someone who contributed so much to a party.

He served Cheddi and Janet’s government with distinction, and he deserves the highest national awards for his contribution to the anti-dictatorship movement and good governance.

There is virtually no one in the current PPP leadership who contributed more than Nagamootoo in fighting the dictatorship and in building the PPP. Nagamootoo was alienated from the PPP government he helped to put into office in 1992 and was virtually pushed out, because it was felt he had too big an ego and no support among Indians. It was others who betrayed the party by not protecting the interests of their supporters or meeting their needs.

Before he left the PPP, it was revealed by reliable sources that Nagamootoo made every effort to work with the PPP leadership to meet his simple and humble requests. Many felt his demands were not unreasonable and that his presence in the party was critical for a victory. In several surveys I conducted, it was found that if Nagamootoo were not with the PPP, it would not win the election; those findings were published. The party was advised to do whatever was necessary to retain Nagamootoo, but it rejected wise advice and sound political analysis.

Initially, Nagamootoo requested that the PPP’s membership be offered the vote in selecting the Presidential candidate in 2011. When that was denied, he called for a secret ballot among Central Committee members to choose the Presidential candidate pledging to accept the outcome. When that was denied, he called for rotating Presidency among a few towering personalities. When that was denied, he asked for a necessary means to ensure justice and on the other hand, a situation deserving of seriousness was used to send a subliminal message of retaliatory violence. This form of political discourse and engagement has no place in our society and political leaders must deliver the requisite leadership.

What was being displayed in the National Assembly was political grandstanding to pit groups against each other, which can see the arming of communities against communities. The motion, while its content and structure may have followed parliamentary procedures, the utterances by its proponents leave much to be desired.

While the National Assembly grants elected officials some level of immunity in their presentations, it is not unreasonable for the society to expect our Members of Parliament to respect this august house and exercise this immunity judiciously. In the next two months, this nation will go to the Local Government Elections. The campaign has already started and the society expects a spirited and violence-free process that leads to the elections of our local government representatives. The society is counting on all the political parties, contesting groups and individuals, including the PPP, to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the peace desired.

raffle among the leading candidates to choose the Presidential candidate with the others being made Vice-Presidents or Deputy Prime Ministers. When that was denied, he asked for a deputy PM slot in exchange for supporting the presidential candidate. All of Nagamootoo’s ideas and suggestions that would give him a face-saving graceful way to remain with the PPP were closed off. He was virtually thrown out. He was rejected because it was felt by elements in the leadership that he had no support among PPPites. The PPP leadership mistakenly believed Nagamootoo would not get Indian support.

The PPP calculated badly (with poor survey data from UG analysts) and paid the ultimate price.

Nagamootoo left the PPP and joined the AFC, which was a dying party in 2011. Nagamootoo brought life to the AFC enabling it to win 11% support in the November 2011 election. Almost all of the AFC support came from the PPP. It was because of his departure from the PPP that it lost its majority in the election. It was because of Nagamootoo that AFC got a renewed lease on political life as Khemraj Ramjattan admitted after the election. Without Nagamootoo and defected PPP supporters, the AFC was unlikely to win more than a seat. Almost all the voters who defected from the PNC and supported the AFC in 2006 returned to their natural-base party.

Nagamootoo was able to hold on to much of his 2011 support, after he formed a coalition with the (APNU) in 2015. It was because of him that so many people (distrustful of the PNC) supported the coalition allowing it to win the election. Without Nagamootoo, the coalition could not have won a majority of votes and form the government.

Had Nagamotoo been made deputy PM for the PPP in 2011, or Foreign Minister or Home Affairs Minister or Ambassador to Washington or if his other requests had been considered, the PPP would have won a landslide in the 2011 as well as in 2015 elections.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

The Public Purse: Pay and Patronage DR. Henry Jeffrey has written in his SN Column (27/1/16) about the 4 PS: Public Purse, Pay and Patronage. This brings to mind the other notorious Ps under the Bharrat Jagdeo regime when it was all about Perks, Privileges and Pensions.

We recall the indecent haste by that administration to set Presidential Pensions, whilst Jagdeo was winding down his second term, at some $3 million monthly, in both cash and kind. The new Government has since amended the law passed by Jagdeo, to cap and limit the pay bonanza -at the expense of the public purse.

The new Government has established what it described as the Hunch-man Can Mission to restructure and re-align salaries payable to public servants. It is hoped that the recommendation would cover salaries to ministries and MPs so that a sitting Government does not technically set salaries for its own Ministers, as Dr. Jeffery advised.

But it may belabour the point that it was all pure petty politics-another dimension of the P syndrome, when Jagdeo complained that ministers of the coalition gave themselves “humongous” salary hikes. He did not say anything about bumping up his own salary as Leader of

the Opposition to the level of the salary of the Prime Minister, when he chose to take his pension rather than a senior minister’s pay as his salary. He did not complain, not even express a whimper of protest, when a block vote in excess of $20 million yearly was allocated for the Leader of the Opposition’s office, which was a 100% increase above that given to the former Opposition Leader, Brigadier David Granger.

As I understand it the salary of a junior minister is lower than that of a permanent secretary and that of a senior minister is on a similar level as the salary paid to the former Head of the Presidential Secretariat as well as the presidential advisers. The salary of former Attorney General Nandlall, which is tax-free, remained higher than that paid to the current Prime Minister.

So, the bellyache about what ministers get in salaries ought to come to an end, and not continue to engage self-serving debates. We need to look to the future, and hope that all wages and salaries of persons who hold public office are set along specified guidelines, that include qualifications, experience and strategic positioning.

Yours faithfully James Jagroop

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Porter blames supervisor for leg amputation

By Shirley Thomas

CONSUMED with grief, a Region Two (Essequibo Coast & Islands) hospital porter whose leg was amputated on Sunday night at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) is bitterly blaming his unfortunate circumstance on his workplace supervisor.

Surendra Dhanrajie, 43, of Suddie New Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, claims he is a diabetic who, during last year, had two toes on his right foot amputated.

He said the doctor strictly cautioned him not to wear boots.

He recalled that, one day during the month of December 2015, his boss, although aware of his health condition, arbitrarily took him off his portering duties and put him to manually weed and chop small bushes around the hospital compound for an indefinite period.

Dhanrajie said the supervisor instructed him to wear a pair of long boots, because

there were pot holes with dirty water in the hospital compound, in addition to occasional hospital waste lying around.

He said he was forced to wear the boots for as long as five to eight hours each day, even in the blazing heat of the sun. Within a few days, he spotted what looked like water blisters on his left upper instep, and the friction from the long boots caused the blisters to rupture.

He said he soon developed a high temperature and would vomit often, thus his wife Shirmattie took him to see the doctor. The doctor had the foot dressed, and told him to wear only sandals.

FLARE UP On his return to work, a few days later, the supervisor put him to sweep the yard.

The foot became infected as the condition flared up, and he was admitted to hospital on Christmas Day. Thereafter, he was in and out of hospital. Towards the end of December, he was eventu-

ally transferred to the GPH, where he remained for the next 20 days.

Dhanrajie claimed the doctors tried their level best, but the foot had become badly infected, and so a decision was made to amputate it because it had become gangrenous.

The father of two claimed he knew all along that what the supervisor was ordering him to do was detrimental to his health, but he was afraid to refuse, for fear he would be sent off the job, and knowing that “job hard fuh get these days”.

He was transferred back to Suddie Hospital on Monday evening. His wife Shirmattie, even though ‘drained’, was busy getting him set to join an ambulance coming out of Suddie and returning today (Tuesday).

There, he will have dressings done to his leg.

His wife has accompanied him from Region Two, and has been daily trekking back and forth between Timehri and the GPH, to

25 trained to operate MACORP excavators

TWENTY-FIVE persons graduated on Friday last after completing an excavator operator training programme put on by Machinery Corporation of Guyana Limited (MACORP).

The programme lasted for seven weeks, and now they are able to carry out, among other things, basic operation techniques, identify excavator components, and carry out maintenance procedures. They were also schooled in safety.

“This batch marks a total of 739 trainees who graduated from the programme,

which started in 2008 with the aim of equipping technicians and operators with skills to service and operate Caterpillar equipment and machinery, while creating a future for young Guyanese,” MACORP said in a statement.

The best graduating trainee was Rasheed Harrison, while Bisram Ramrattan placed second and Kwame Sinclair third. They were each awarded for their outstanding performances.

MACROP said it continues to play a pivotal role in

the country’s development, by contributing directly to technical support and supply of equipment to related sectors –- mining, agriculture, road construction, basic industry, marine, forestry, and electrical power generation.

Branches have been established at Bartica and Port Kaituma, in addition to operations at its head office at Providence, East Bank Demerara.MACORP is the only authorised Caterpillar dealer in Guyana, and has been operating for over 20 years.

Graduates sharing a moment with the officials of MACORP on Friday

In deep grief: Surendra Dhanrajie, after having his leg amputated take care of him. The cost of daily transportation to and from Timehri alone ranges between $640 and $1280, which proves very taxing on this couple, but she has no other place to stay.

From his hospital bed, Dhanrajie is appealing to the Ministry of Social Services

to set up a hostel centrally located in the city, where at least one relative of persons hospitalised can be accommodated at a cost when their loved ones are hospitalised.

“At Suddie we have such a facility, but it is only for the indigenous people. I think Government should

consider it and set up a place that could cater for people, regardless of race.

After all, we have the same needs,” Dhanrajie pleaded, even as he sat up in the hospital bed trying to visualise what his days ahead would be like without one leg.

More bikes for President’s ‘Three Bs’ initiative

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, is flanked by from left, Lt. Col. (Ret’d), Ms. Yvonne Smith, from the Office of the First Lady; Universal Group of Companies’ Administrative Manager, Ms. Nevica Wray; and Operations Officer, Ms. Toanna Greene, at the presentation ceremony. The donated bicycles are also pictured (Ministry of the Presidency photo) SUPPORT continues to pour in for President David Granger’s “Boats, Buses and Bicycles” (‘Three Bs’) programme, with a donation of 10 bicycles, yesterday, from the Universal Group of Companies.

The company’s Administrative Manager, Ms. Nevica Wray, and Operations Officer, Ms. Toanna Greene, presented the bicycles to First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger at a simple ceremony, held yesterday morning, at State House. As she accepted the bicycles, the First lady expressed her gratitude to the donors and noted how beneficial the gift will be to the recipients. Though she could not say definitively in which area the bicycles will be distributed, Mrs. Granger assured the company that they would be given to those most in need.

In an invited comment, Mr. Ian Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of the company, told the Ministry of the Presidency that he was compelled to make a donation after seeing the initiative publicised on numerous occasions, and knowing the benefits that would accrue. “An initiative like this is very near and dear to me, being able to help a child get to school; and coming from a teaching background, I think assisting children to get an education is very important,” Mr. Edwards said.

Since the launch of the ‘Three Bs’ initiative, which is administered via the Ministry of Social Cohesion, with support from the Office of the First Lady, corporate Guyana and private citizens have thrown their weight behind the initiative to ensure that school-aged children are given assistance to access education. Last weekend, at the commissioning of a boat donated for the children of Region 10, President Granger announced plans to add breakfast and books to the initiative, which is seen as another vital component to ensuring that children have the basics for a sound education. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

GSA to discipline No bail for ‘Baroda’ bandits ‘getaway’ students CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday denied bail to three men who were recently charged and made their appearance before her for the robbery committed at the Bank of Baroda Mon Repos Branch last Friday.

Thirty one-year-old Sean Anthony Aaron, who is a taxi driver of 317 North-East La Penitence; 28-year-old Kennard Jabar, of 88 Freeman Street, East La Penitence who is self-employed; and 39-year-old graphic artist Eon Campbell of Campbellville, were not required to plead to the indictable charges.

The charge that was read stated that on January 22, 2016 at Mon Repos, being armed with a gun together with others, the trio robbed Raywantie Lall and Latchmie Mohabir, two tellers who were on duty, of $2.75 million and Shirley Lucas the female security guard of her. 32 Taurus revolver, property of RK Security service.

Campbell was represented by attorney-at-Law, Paul Braam, while the other two men were unrepresented.

Campbell’s lawyer requested bail for him on the grounds that he was not a flight risk and was married with three children. He further stated that the accused has been a businessman for in excess of

By Leroy Smith

15 years.

Police prosecutor Deniro Jones opposed bail on the grounds of the nature and gravity of the charge, and the penalty the offence attracts and the fact that the offence occurred during the day, which threatened the safety of innocent citizens.

He stated that there was credible evidence against the accused men - two caution statements and an oral confession. The prosecutor also mentioned that one of the accused had given conflicting addresses.

The magistrate denied bail.

The matter was transferred to the Vigilance Magistrates Court for February 9.

Last Friday afternoon there was a daring daylight armed robbery at the Bank of Baroda branch located at Mon Repos Mall. 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 the cash, escaping 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.

FOUR students of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) at Mon Repos who ignored the institution’s curfew in order to attend a party at Paradise were unfortunately mistaken for bandits and got a thrashing from a vigilante group last Saturday.

Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, Brian Greenidge, is of the view that the institution will now have to work to regain the trust of the surrounding communities on the East

response to the vigilante-style beating of four GSA students who were mistaken for bandits last week Saturday.

According to the CEO, based on the initial findings of an internal investigation by the GSA, it was found that the six young men were in breach of the school’s policy and code as it relates to leaving and entering the compound.

They scaled the northern fence of the premises, and made their way out of the GSA rather than use the official entrance and exit

Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, Brian Greenidge, makes a point during the interview

Coast of Demerara and rebuild the relationships they once shared.

He made the comment during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, in

tween the ages 18 and 20, and are part of a one-year certificate in forestry programme.

According to senior GSA personnel, what angered the residents was the fact that the students were observed walking through the yard of a resident at nightfall and although they were called on to identify themselves they ignored those calls and continued walking.

It was then that an alarm was raised, and the residents mobilised and caught up with the men a short

Director of Administration of the GSA, Dr. Dexter Allen speaks with the Guyana Chronicle (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

point. They also left the compound after the curfew time had passed, and so they will be disciplined, the CEO explained.

Greenidge said that while he is not sanctioning vigilante-style justice, he expressed some sympathy with the residents of the community who were on high alert, given the recent Bank of Baroda robbery less than 24 hours earlier. Moreover, in the past, there have been several break-and-enter incidents at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), with the perpetrators escaping via the same route that the students took on Saturday when they got away from the institution.

He said that according to the students, they were heading to a party at Paradise farther up the East Coast on the night of the incident.

The students at the centre of the incident are be-

distance away. After they were attacked, it was then that the students related that they were from the GSA, something that the residents found hard to believe.

The school was made aware of the development only when one of the students who was among the six managed to escape the beating, and made his way back to the campus, where he alerted the senior staff while another made his way to the police station.

The police, who were patrolling in the community as part of Operation Dragnet, went to the rescue of the young men.

They were escorted to the police station, booked and subsequently taken for medical attention. Several attempts yesterday to get from senior police officers whether the affected students were able to identify any of the persons who had beaten them were unsuccessful.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

This Week

50 Years Ago

Human torch A TWENTY-five-year-old mother of five who was turned into a human torch last Sunday night died at the Georgetown Hospital yesterday.

She is Sheila Mahadeo of Delph Street, Campbellville.

Relatives told the Graphic that Mahadeo was about to light an oil stove when her night-dress caught fire and she was badly burnt.

Her 50-year-old mother, in an attempt to rescue her, had her left arm burnt.

Mahadeo was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious condition, suffering from burns all over her body.

The police were last night working on information that Mahadeo had poured kerosene oil on her garments and set herself ablaze shortly after returning from a film-show on Sunday night.

Man killed, dumped in bush at Mahaicony THE body of a father of four was discovered with the lower right leg severed along with several chops decorating his slim figure which was found in a clump of bushes in Mahaicony,East Coast Demerara, yesterdayday morning.

Dead is 41-year-old Curt Burke of Lot 20, Old Road, Drill, Mahaicony. The mutilated body was partially wrapped in tree vines when it was discovered.The police in a statement said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Burke, whose body was found at about 09:30hrs.

The lawmen said that the injuries are suspected to have resulted from a hit-and-run accident.

However, relatives dismissed what the police stated as mere speculation, noting that the father of four was murdered.

“His head had a large hole in it like someone shot him and his leg was chopped from his body, there was no blood or skid marks where they said the accident occurred. There was blood nowhere, it appears as if he was killed and brought to that place to make it look like an accident,” his aunt Carmen Burke disclosed.

Other reports disclosed

that a car struck Burke’s bicycle on Drill Public Road and the driver upon investigating what he had hit, was told by a man nearby to return to his vehicle and leave, since staying and looking around may put him in problems. The driver on the dark roadway decided to heed the man’s advice and swiftly left the scene. Burke’s bicycle was found with only a minor bend to the wheel.

According to one relative: “They found him with his arm in the air like if he was blocking chops and lashes. His leg was found a far distance away from the body.”

Other reports revealed that Burke was drinking Tuesday night and never returned home as usual to assist his relative with work around the yard. “Is a very dark area he living and I don’t know if anybody do him anything when he was coming home or if he was drunk,” one resident said.

“He lives with his 10-yearold son, but the boy is by his aunt, so we didn’t see him Wednesday morning as usual,” the resident related. Curt was described as a “jack of all trades” and would usually work as a mason, carpenter and vendor at Bourda Market.

RESIDENTS of the indigenous people’s community of Siparuta, a satellite community of Orealla, Region 6, have complained about being harassed by Surinamese police whenever they carry out simple “hook and line” fishing in the Corentyne River.

This has been going on for several weeks, leading the residents to lodge a complaint with The Amemindian Association of Guyana. (TAAMOG).

The Siparuta residents claim that the men, dressed in uniform, have ordered them to desist from fishing in the Corentyne River, saying, “The Corentyne River belongs to Suriname.”

Through this form of intimidation the residents have become very concerned,

claiming that it is affecting their very sustenance, since they use the fish they catch to provide food for themselves and families.

As for the farmers on the river banks, they are even afraid to come out of their homes to make complaints to the Guyana police, since they are afraid of being arrested by the Surinamese police when they venture out of their homes.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Chronicle understands that a former administrative functionary regularly interacts with Amerindians of Apura, Suriname. This has caused heightened fears among the indigenous people of Siparuta, especially in light of the territorial controversy between Guyana and Suriname.

harassment Cheaper houselots coming Surinamese raises concerns NEWLY appointed Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Patterson, has said that she will advocate for and ensure that the current prices for high, middle and low-income houselots are reduced.

The minister’s disclosure was made on an A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU’s) weekly television show, “Nation Watch,” which is hosted by Malika Ramsey and was aired last weekend.

Commenting on the current state of the housing sector, Patterson said that it was sad that Guyana was by far larger than all the Caribbean islands and even England, but had the lowest population, and could not provide houselots for every eligible Guyanese.

“My vision is to give every eligible Guyanese a piece of land or a home” she said, adding that the vision of President David Granger and the government was not just to give people houselots, but to equip them with access roads, water and electricity.

Quizzed by Ramsey on what were her thoughts on the current prices for houselots, the minister noted that they were too high, and she would not only advocate a reduction, but she would ensure that it took effect.

She r e a sone d t h at a low-income piece of land was approximately $300,000, but in Guyana, there were people who still could not afford that price. Coupled with that was the fact that successful applicants were required to pay at least half the total cost, some within a

week and others within the first month.

“How can a person who works for $75,000 a month pay for a $1.5M house lot in a month?” she asked.

Further, she questioned the rationale of allocating lands for over $1M to people earning less than $100,000 a month, when there were less expensive lands available which those people could access. And to add to the burden, those applicants were usually required, within a week or two, to make a down-payment of at least half the total cost.

This, according to Minister Patterson, was difficult for low-income earners, and as such those policies needed to be revised. Consequently, she will be leading the way at a board meeting scheduled for January 28, to propose

the reduction in land cost.

Further, she will be seeking to revise one of the criteria which states that a young person must be married and have children before receiving a houselot.

Meanwhile, the minister commented on the unbecoming attitude of some staff at the Department of Housing which has resulted in numerous complaints to authorities. Acknowledging that there was an existing issue in this area, Minister Patterson noted that she has since spoken to the staff directly and expected that this “attitude” which is unprofessional, be abandoned.

Also, she noted that the one hour break for lunch by the cashier at the department, which resulted in persons having to wait, would be changed from this week.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Jagdeo wants Charged with rape cut in 16% VAT of 14-year-old

…but had resisted lowering regime as President OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who during his tenure as President never voluntarily raised public servants’ salaries by more than 5%, wants to see a substantial increase in salaries for public sector employees reflected in the budget to be presented on Friday.

He is also calling for increased subventions for pensioners, a reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT)--which he had introduced--from 16 per cent to 10 per cent, the reinstatement of the “Because we care” programme, reduced electricity rates and a reduction in vehicle taxes all reflected in the 2016 budget to be read by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

Jagdeo, responding to a question from the Guyana Chronicle at a press conference held at Freedom House on Wednesday, said that his party is willing to accept a reduction in all taxes should those be announced by government. “We have seen the proposed reduction in vehicle taxes; we support any reduction in taxes that is an election promise,” said the former President. Under the PPP administration, both Jagdeo and his successor, Donald Ramotar, had resisted lowering VAT;did not substantially increase public servants pay,and did not reduce electricity tariffs among the other demands being made now.

But while the proposed reduction on vehicle taxes is a good initiative, Jagdeo believes that there is a possibility that it would lower “revenue overall.” He said if there is no increase in demand for new vehicles due to affordability, then there would be no increase in revenue. “A poor person still would not be able to get the acquisition cost of a new vehicle, forget the taxes.

We hope, there would be reduction in taxes on re-con-

ditioned vehicles too… if [they are] looking to help the ordinary people. Another class of people, ordinary people, could benefit,” he added.

The Opposition Leader noted that his party will throw its full support behind the government should it fulfil its promise to reduce taxes, as lower taxes can be seen as another stimulus and “that is what we need in a time of hardship.”

“Any taxes that the government will reduce, we will support them on, especially the VAT, which was part of their campaign [Promise]. They said they needed a bit more time, now we are hoping they’ve made a decision and we’d see the VAT coming from 16% to 12%. This is very important and it is part of their election promise,” he stressed.

It was under Jagdeo that the 16% VAT regime was introduced.

Additionally, Jagdeo expressed hope that within this year’s budget, public servants will receive a “substantial increase in wages and salaries.” He argued that the one-off $50,000 grant that was provided to public servants at the end of the year was not part of their salary base and as such, government now has to provide a large cushion to public servants.“…they just got it as a grant; it will not be added to their salaries.

You now have to have a huge salary increase to compensate for that,” he said at the media briefing. Under the PPP administration, both Jagdeo and Ramotar had consistently imposed a 5% pay hike on public servants without negotiating with their unions.

Likewise, the Opposition Leader believes that pensioners also need to receive a substantial increase. “We have calculated that the pensioners are worse off last year after the budget

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

than they were. For many of them, the cost of water and electricity subsidy was greater than what they got in their increase in pension.”

On the issue of reinstating the “Because we care” cash grant into the budget, Jagdeo said his party doesn’t necessarily want to see an increase in the grant. He said he wants the programme to be restarted as many persons stand to benefit once again.

While he lauded the President’s Three Bs initiative, the Opposition Leader said that alone is not sufficient.

“Even if they don’t want to give $20,000 or more, but they should put back the $10,000 in the budget.” He disclosed that his party will be submitting a list of questions relative to the Three Bs initiative as he said most of the vehicles provided are labelled “David G.” “These donations made by private individuals, are they personal donations to the President? Because I see his name on them. If [they are] personal donations would they form part of his declarations to the Integrity Commission or are they donations to the Government of Guyana… if so, will they be recorded in the government register of assets? We would also like to see who donated--names, how much and whether any individuals have any contracts or supply the government,” Jagdeo said.

CONSTABLE Ganesh Rajcoomar of Grove, East Bank Demerara appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after he was charged for allegedly raping a 14-yearold child.

The 25-year-old accused had the charge read to him

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, whose chambers had been engaged in the matter for some time.

The charge alleges that during the month of October, 2015, he sexually penetrated a 14-year-old child at a hotel in Georgetown. He was not represented by an attorney during his first court appearance, but reporters were blocked from entering the courtroom as the matter was held in-camera.

The officer was ordered to post $200,000 bail and return to court on February 24.

The policeman who is attached to an East Bank Demerara station is being accused of raping the teen shortly after she went to him and reported that she had been abducted and had managed to escape.

It was the Guyana Chronicle newspaper which first reported on this matter and has been in constant contact with the victim, her mother and

the relevant agencies who are engaged in the matter.

The mother had visited this publication’s office on numerous occasions seeking updates on the status of the investigation on numerous occasions.

Earlier last week, when the mother of the child came to this newspaper we reported that she was crying out for justice, knocking on all doors to ensure justice for her 14-year-old daughter.

Since the incident the mother has been visiting the Police, Child Care and Protection Agency and even the Chambers of the Director of Public prosecution for updates on the matter. Each time the woman visited the Chronicle she broke down in tears. She would often say that while her child might have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, the policeman who allegedly took advantage of her ought not to have done so since she went to him for protection when the incident took place.

The problems for the child and her mother began after the child went missing from home for a few days.

She was later found and the police and the child care protection agency were immediately called.

The initial investigation involving the teen started

with a case of investigating her abduction as she was reportedly being held against her will. But when the matter of the alleged rape committed by the policeman came up, there was no other mention of the investigations into the abduction which was being conducted by the Timehri Police Station.

The teenager was proven to be a virgin before she went missing and that information is with the police as that test was conducted at the Brickdam Police Station.

It was also confirmed that the Brickdam Police clinic did another test on the child after she resurfaced after being missing and it was then that she was found to no longer have her virginity. In her statements to the police she reportedly cleared her abductor of rape but did place him at the center of her disappearance which amounts to abduction as she was being held against her will.

Days after the policeman who reportedly raped the girl was picked up and placed under close arrest, his sister who serves as a doctor at the Georgetown Public Hospital, reportedly approached the mother of the teenager to settle the matter.

That conversation was caught on tape and provided to this publication.

No spectacles, no Facebook CITY magistrate Faith McGusty on Tuesday placed a couple on bail, after they were charged and made their appearance before her.

Forty-five year old Mark Bradford, of Tucville, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, he unlawfully assaulted Odetta Fogenay on Main Street, Georgetown.

According to the facts stated, the two had a misunderstanding as a result of

which Bradford dealt Fogenay two slaps across her face.

The matter was not reported to the police at the time, but was reported four days later when the two had another altercation.

On January 23, Fogenay was charged with larceny, after she allegedly stole from Bradford one pair of spectacles. That day, Fogenay was on the virtual complainant’s Facebook page when she observed messages which were sent by another woman to Bradford.

She became annoyed and asked him to leave the house and he complied.

While he was walking along Main Street on that said night, she came up behind him in a Jeep she was driving and demanded that he enter the vehicle. After he resisted, she took his spectacles and drove away.

The two were later charged after the matters were reported. They are expected to return to court on February 15, 2016.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

By Akola Thompson

Religious superiority and the public school system A FEW months ago, I was a journalist attached to Kaieteur News, with most of my work being focused on education. Frankly, there is not much one can do with an education beat, unless interviews are set up and questions are asked.

So there I was, three weeks on the job and no idea of what I should ask the Minister of Education. Thinking of things which had affected me during my years in high school, it was not long before I came up with a list of questions for Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine. At the top of my list, was this question: “Seeing that most public schools across the country recite Christian prayers to the exclusion of others, what are the implications for religious tolerance with respect to the government’s commitment to social cohesion?”

Many are of the opinion

that changing the prayers in schools to a universal one is “silly”, as they cannot fathom why children cannot continue to say the same prayers they have been praying all along.

It is interesting to note that the people opposed to the removal of Christian prayers in schools are Christians.

When I first brought the issue up, there were several persons who branded me a “heathen” and accused me of having the sole motivation of trying to remove prayers, because of my position of being an atheist.

Honestly, while I have felt annoyed at having to listen to people pray in school or in social settings, I must say that prayers have not negatively affected me, and I realise that in a country where the majority of the population are religious, people will want or need to pray.

My problem with it is that

too often people fail to realise that we are a multi-religious country, and while Christianity is the most popular religion, we are not a Christian state.

Many are of the opinion that the removal of Christian prayers within schools is an encroachment on basic human rights and an attack on religious freedom and free speech. I believe this reasoning to be highly ironic, as the Christian prayer constitutes religious indoctrination, as it promotes the absence of religious choice in the “onesize-fits-all” school system.

Prayers in schools seem to be a matter of relevance as regards education. It often leads critical thinkers, believer or non-believer, to wonder about the purpose that praying serves, especially in schools, where prayers seem to have become a mere recitals rather than meaningful dialogue with a deity.

I understand that religion has its benefits, as it is effective in creating communities, giving insight into the meaning of life, and aids in the belief of goodwill. However, religion still remains a private matter, while education remains a public one.

Despite our Constitution stating that the practice of having Christian prayers in public schools is in contravention of laws set out in relation to the separation of church and state, in Article 145 (3), I still see persons from other religions having to mutter their prayers under their breaths while the Lord’s Prayer is loudly recited.

There are a fair number of persons who are in support of the removal of Christian prayers within schools.

Both religious and irreligious persons interviewed stated that having to participate in praying and singing hymns

in school often resulted in feelings of isolation and confusion for them as children.

The practice was said to make them feel as if their freedom of belief/disbelief had been compromised; and due to the fact that they are a minority, would ultimately be taken away.

This feeling of alienation can often foster depression, as it can cause the minority religions to believe they do not belong in public society, as their beliefs are not given the same credence in the public sphere.

While the minister’s acknowledgement of the problem must be commended, there remains cause for concern, as there cannot be a true representation of faith in interfaith settings. The practice will most likely cause a never-ending cultural and religious debate, ultimately abandoning the purpose it was

supposed to serve.

Decades after, and while it is time for our country to move away from colonial religious imperialism, it is also time to treat all aspects of society the same when it comes to religion and lack thereof, regardless of whether they are a minority or a majority.

I do believe that a suitable alternative would be a moment of silence; or, as I like to call it, structured personal reflection, as the private voluntary student prayer does not interfere with the school’s mission with regard to education.

While the initial anger must be expected, Guyana, if left unattended, will soon no longer see the importance of keeping apart church and state. As such, we may very well become a permanent victim of the practice of religious superiority.

Cuyuni miner cries ‘bullyism’ over seizure of diesel

By Shauna Jemmott A MINER within the Cuyuni mining district has complained that drums of diesel which he had purchased along the Essequibo River tributary have been confiscated by individuals who claimed that they are representatives of the Guyana Energy Agency, leaving him to suffer a tremendous financial loss.

The miner, who prefers anonymity, said last week he had travelled out of the Fish Creek mining area when he received a telephone call informing him that the GEA along with Guyana Police Force ranks had visited his camp and confiscated thirty drums of fuel, claiming that they did some testing and discovered that the fuel was illegally obtained.

He told Guyana Chronicle that while the police and the GEA officers had

GEA Chief Executive Officer Mahender Sharma

the right to do their job, his mining business has suffered tremendous setbacks and financial loss of over $3.8 million.

“They confiscated 30 drums of diesel and then dictated that we had to transport the diesel for them.” The miner said he has a joint operation with another miner whose excavator was used to transport the drums of diesel to the landing a mile away.

He explained that they usually would travel to Bartica to purchase diesel and then transport the fuel by boat or truck. However, the Cuyuni River is low because of the dry season and has been shut off from boat travel from Bartica.

“When the river is dry they have people who have trucks and boats who would buy diesel and carry up to Waimu Landing, further up the Cuyuni River, but through a different route on the other side of the river.

The diesel would then be shuttled by boats for sale to different mining communities along the river.”

SMUGGLED DIESEL “They (GEA and police) came in and said the diesel was illegal diesel from Venezuela. We have no way of knowing where this diesel come from, because it’s not, per se, a Spanish guy come and sell you diesel; is

Guyanese people coming on cargo boat and they selling diesel,” he pointed out.

He said for over ten days, boats had not travelled in the area from Bartica because “the river shut down,” and it is far more expensive for them to travel to Bartica, purchase diesel there, and charter a truck to transport it.

“You gatto look at the fact that your operations will cease, because you gatto go out and then come back in,” he explained. He added, “A charter with a truck from Bartica to where

we are is $600,000 and that is twenty drum. So when you do the maths to bring twenty drums from Bartica plus $600,000 for the charter, and they (diesel boats) come with $60,000 a drum, you better off getting your fuel right there.” The miner stated that at Bartica they pay at least $36,500 per drum of fuel. The seizing of the fuel, he noted, happened at a time when his camp had not so long started working again after the year-end holiday break.

“Mind you, it’s the beginning of the mining sea-

son for the new calendar year and at this point they just left us stranded, can’t work. It’s just bullyism in full extent because you confiscate my product and then you’re forcing me to then help you to take it away.”

“We gatto work! With this here now, the operation is at a standstill,” the distraught man told the Guyana Chronicle.

Meanwhile, efforts by this newspaper yesterday to contact GEA Chief Executive Officer Mahender Sharma for a comment on the issue proved futile.

No bail for security officer A 33-YEAR-OLD security officer was on Tuesday refused bail after being charged for having an illegal gun and ammunition.

Rico Daniels, of 77 Norton Street, Lodge, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that he had a .32 pistol with 10 matching rounds in his possession without being a legal firearm holder

or having a license to do so.

The Prosecuting Officer did not reveal the facts to the court but opposed the accused being granted bail on the grounds of the nature and gravity attached to the charge.

Chief Magistrate denied bail, remanding Daniels to prison. The matter will return to Court on February 22.

12

City ‘day care’ closed after kids’ hair cut off

The sign posted Tuesday on the gate at the day-care facility

FOLLOWING closely after the recent Guyana Chronicle article about two children whose hair had been cut off at a city day-care, the facility has now been shut down, but not before three more toddlers had suffered the same fate.

This newspaper was urged to hurry down to the day care centre and the publication arrived there around 14:45hrs on Tuesday. It was found that the building was tightly shut, and the gate was padlocked with a sign posted saying that the day-care facility was “closed until further notice.”

Initially, the supervisor did not respond to this newspaper’s calls, but after a while, she peeped out of a window.

The Guyana Chronicle made its concerns known, and she replied that her lawyer had told her not to speak with anyone. She asked for our phone number, but we told

her that we were already there, and would prefer face-to-face communication.

We asked if she was the supervisor, and what was her name. She replied in the affirmative, and gave her name as ‘Miss Denise’. She went on to volunteer: “I personally closed it myself.” Asked where were the infants that were placed in her care, she replied that they had all gone home. We asked her when, and she replied: “This morning.”

Asked from through the grilled window what would become of those children, and whether she had considered the parents’ predicament when she arbitrarily closed the facility, especially since fees are payable in advance, she merely replied that some of them don’t pay in advance.

It was then that an infant was heard crying inside of the house from behind heav-

ily-grilled windows. This prompted us to ask who was the child crying, if, as she had already claimed, they had all gone home, but she did not reply, and hurried deeper into the house.

Based on information received by this newspaper, the first infant’s hair was cut off her head on Thursday, January 14. The second one was cut off on the 20th , and at a similar spot on her head as the first. There were also two other incidents. Unconfirmed reports Tuesday stated that three more toddlers had their hair shorn, which would bring to seven the total number of infants suffering the same fate.

Parents were indignant, and the matter was reported to the police and the Childcare and Protection Agency of the Ministry of Social Protection. Investigations are continuing. (Shirley Thomas)

Ice-pick robbery accused remanded ORCEINO Benn, along with his 15-year old associate, were on Tuesday remanded after they appeared before city magistrate Faith McGusty charged with robbery under arms and attempt to commit a felony.

Benn, who resides at 181 Providence New Scheme, East Bank Demerara and the lad, both pleaded not guilty to charges which stated that on January 12, 2016 at America Street, being armed with an offensive weapon (an ice pick), robbed

Manisha Singh of one Samsung Galaxy phone valued $30,000 and $5,000 cash.

They were also charged with attempting to commit a felony on that same day, using a weapon in an attempt to rob Anisah Rohaman of one shoulder bag valued $3,000 and one laptop computer valued $230,000.

According to the facts, presented to the court by Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman, on the day in question both victims had just turned onto America Street when Benn, who was on a bicycle,

rode up to Singh, pointed an ice pick at her and relieved her of her articles.

The Number Two accused is said to have done the same thing to Rohaman, pointing an ice-pick in her direction, and attempting to take her bag away. A city policeman came to her rescue.

Benn then stabbed the policeman with the ice pick, and he also rode away. Public-spirited citizens apprehend both defendants.

The matter was adjourned until February 12, 2016.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Tight LGE race expected in Berbice SEVERAL independent groups and individuals have signalled their intention to contest Local Government Elections (LGE) in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), although some of them are not yet known by their constituents.

This was revealed when they filed their papers at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Nomination Day centres early Tuesday morning.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is contesting in the three municipalities, namely New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and Corriverton But no List of Candidates for the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition was on the display Board of GECOM at its sub-office at Corriverton.

However, an independent group, the New Dawn Development Association, whose leaders are drawn from the Interim Management Committee of the Corriverton municipality, is contesting in that area.

Businessman Mohamed Zaladin and Ms Shurla Scott presented their List of Candidates with the aim of representing every citizen in their township. They want morality to be restored in the town and discomfort for law-breakers.

But as the candidates and their supporters thronged the various GECOM centres across the region, many citizens with whom the Guyana Chronicle spoke were not aware that Tuesday was LGE Nomination Day. And while some showed

A resident of Rose Hall checking the list posted outside the Rose Hall Town Council office

no interest in the upcoming elections, others clamoured for change.

At the Tagore Memorial High School, where candidates are contesting the Number 52 to Number 74 Neighbourhood Democratic Council, three independent contestants submitted Lists of Candidates.

At the Kildonan Primary School, the candidates were drawn from the Adventure / Bushlot NDC. That area was represented by only PPP candidates.

And at Auchlyne Primary school, which covers the Whim/ Bloomfield area, GECOM staffers were yet to post the Candidates Lists at 16:30hrs, as many had errors which had to be corrected.

At Rose Hall Town, the main political rivals APNU+AFC and the PPP, along with the independent group Peace and Love, headed by Sandra Chisolm, presented their Lists of Candidates.

Chairman of the Rose Hall APNU+AFC coalition,

David Fraser said the process was “good”, however, after submitting his list, he was still awaiting verification of the Constituency List at 16:50hrs.

At Fortlands/ Ordinance, two independent groups: Guyanese for Guyana headed

by Karmanand Ramesh, a teacher and Development Association of Fort Ordinance led by Somallie Saylange, a librarian, also submitted List of Candidates.

There was a lone independent contestant in the New Amsterdam municipality for the Smythfield/ Tucber/ Queenstown/ Fort Canje constituent.

According to that contestant Vincent Lonke, the major political parties have done nothing for the township and he is optimistic that with support from his constituents, the township can be restored to its former glory.

“The only way to bring restoration is through an independent party,” he opined.

Jury hears how Pharbu killed IN DELIVERING her opening address in the Seelall Pharbu manslaughter case on Tuesday, Prosecutrix Tamieka Clarke told the jury that witnesses heard two bangs that left Rampersaud a dead man and the accused armed with a gun.

She said Pharbu had been indicted by the State for manslaughter -- the unlawful killing of a human being by another without malice aforethought.

She said it was the prosecution’s burden to prove that the accused is guilty as he sat in the prisoner’s dock; he has nothing to prove.

She reiterated: “So, as you listen to the evidence, you are to bear in mind that the prosecution has to prove the following elements or ingredients of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt:-

i. The accused inflicted the injuries on the deceased, Premaul Rampersaud. ii. The deceased died as a result of those injuries. iii. The deceased died within a year and a day of receiving the injuries. iv. The incident was not an accident, it was not done in self-defence, nor was there any provocation.

“These ingredients will be proven by the evidence of the witnesses the State intends to call,” she declared.

“Because you have to decide what you believe happened, you are entitled to ask every witness questions -- perhaps about things you are unclear about or things you want additional details on, which you think might assist you when the time comes for you to decide whether or not to find the accused guilty.

“They will tell you a

story that the deceased, Premaul Rampersaud, was in the front passenger seat, along with three other persons. Earlier, they were at a shop, where they had something to drink; then they were at a wedding house.

On the way from the wedding house, they heard a loud bang and then another.

“After that, two witnesses observed the accused with a gun in his hand and the deceased was not moving. They got out of the car to see what was wrong with Premaul.

The accused got into the driver’s seat and drove away. They followed in another car, [and] they met Premaul and the accused at the GPHC, where Premaul was pronounced dead on arrival.”

The hearing into this case is continuing.

Bush Lot CDC reactivated GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

– to help tackle social issues

By Clifford Stanley RESIDENTS of Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice, have resuscitated their Community Development Council (CDC) in a bold move to address the social and economic challenges facing the village.

The election of new officers for this CDC, which had been defunct for the past five years, was done with support from the National Community Development Secretariat (NCDS) at a community meeting at the Bush Lot Sports Club Pavilion last Thursday.

The residents also elected sub-committees for cash-crop farming and sports in the village. These committees had been previously hijacked by individuals, who have acted in an arbitrary and undemocratic manner over the past five years.

NCDS Assistant Director Donald Ainsworth and Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) Community Development Officer Carol Nurse observed the elections.

After the elections, Mrs Nurse urged the group to get registered as quickly as possible, in order that it will have the legal author-

ity to address the issues affecting the community.

Mr Ainsworth, responsible for supporting CDCs in East and West Berbice, told the new CDC members that only the residents of Bush Lot can effectively resolve the issues affecting the village.

“If you depend on other people to do so, then they will do it at their own sweet time, and that may not be in the very best interest,” he said. He added: “If you leave your issues to the politicians, they are going to cherry pick.

They will choose what is important to them. If per chance you see life a bit different from them, whatever programme you have will never see the agenda any time soon; and while that is happening, people [would be] experiencing difficulties.”

Mr Ainsworth also made it clear that the work of the NCDS was not merely to give hand-outs.

“We want you to be self-reliant, but if you encounter issues that you need help with, we will be there for you,” he said.

The NCDS, he said, will support the newly established CDC through business training; speedy

access to loans for micro projects; new technology for agro-processing, and access to markets for its products.

But he urged the new members to “Get registered!” and “Take back your community!”

According to the NCDS Assistant Director, “Everyone wants to sleep well at nights; to walk the streets at any old time; and feel comfortable where you live, without fear of crime or criminals. For that to happen, you will have to meet as often as you can, and discuss issues and resolve these issues or seek/ get help where necessary.”

The Bush Lot CDC, like any other CDC, must be able to improve the quality of life in the village, he said.

Members of the newly formed CDC are Latchmin Azeez (Chairman); Lochan Mooklall (Vice-Chairman); Christopher Bissoon (Secretary); Sarojnie Ramjit (Treasurer); and Azimoon Ullah (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer).

Those elected to serve as committee members are Shirley Quintyn, Jagdeo Ramotar, Rajpaul Singh, Dynenand Chinatombie and Dianand Bachan.

Charged with having a gun A D’URBAN Backland resident was on Tuesday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with unlawful possession of a gun.

It is alleged that Leroy Williams, 24, was found with an illegal .32 revolver on January 23 at his home.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, telling the court that three masked men in a car were kidnapping him. But before he could further explain his defense, the Chief Magistrate interrupted him to say that he was being denied

bail.

She, however, noted that on the next court date, February 15 before Magistrate Alex Moore, he would be given the chance to apply for bail.

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Public Health clears air on returned $600M

– denies knowledge of countrywide drug shortage PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Trevor Thomas, has cleared the air following reports of over $600M being returned to the central government by health authorities in the 10 administrative regions.

He said those authorities traditionally return money so that the ministry could procure medical drugs for the various centres, but they had failed to do so in a timely manner in December 2015.

Reports had surfaced yesterday that, at the end of 2015, more than $600 million had been returned to central government by health authorities in the administrative regions, but Thomas told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament that the report was not quite accurate.

During a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday,

Thomas declared: “We are currently carrying out an assessment in the various regions, to see which region is currently lacking drugs and supplies. Given that, because of the late submission of finances by the various health authorities, we were unable to purchase the drugs in December.”

Central government, he said, had sent money by a warrant, but by the time that money arrived, the regional authorities had been unable to procure the drugs; thus the money had to be returned to central government.

He made it clear that central government had not received any report of a nationwide drug shortage, and declared that assessments are ongoing. The assessment at Region One (Barima-Waini) has been completed, and, so far, there is no shortage of drugs there, Thomas emphasised.

Thomas declined to comment on the alleged shortage of drugs and medical supplies at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He would only say he was unaware of that, and would not be able to comment.

During the PAC meeting, it was reported in various sections of the media that officials of the GPHC had spoken of a dire crisis at the country’s premier state-run health institution, brought on by a shortage of medical supplies, with aspirin being among a list of other basic supplies.

Efforts to contact the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alan Johnson, to confirm whether or not there was a shortage proved futile. Officials of the hospital said they were in discussion with the Budget Secretary at the Ministry of Finance.

IDB pushes transition from cash to digital payments THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced yesterday that it has joined the “Better than Cash Alliance,” a partnership of governments, companies, and international organisations that works to accelerate the transition from cash to digital payments in order to drive inclusive growth and reduce poverty, according to the IDB website.

Membership in the Alliance will contribute to the IDB’s efforts to promote the financial inclusion of low-income peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with the aim of improving their economic security and enabling them to increase savings and assets by harnessing innovative payment technologies.

According to the IDB, the new partnership will promote knowledge-sharing and the development of digital payments ecosystems, by bringing together key public and private-sector actors. These efforts will expand the access and use of quality and affordable financial products for previously excluded and underserved populations, and safeguard the stability of the financial system. “We are delighted that the IDB has become the first regional development bank to join the

“Better than Cash Alliance,” because we share the organisation’s commitment to promoting financial inclusion as a way to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives,” said Bernardo Guillamon, manager of the IDB´s office of Outreach and Partnerships.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES The IDB has worked with a number of countries throughout the Region to help them transition to digital payments for government transfers to low-income families. In addition, the IDB has encouraged governments to use new technologies such as tablets and ATM machines, to provide financial education and simplify bill-paying for consumers who previously did not have access to banking services. Such policies not only promote financial inclusion, but result in cost savings and greater efficiency for governments.

The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the IDB Group, through its Technology for Financial Inclusion Programme, TECIN, has partnered with more than 15 institutions in the Region to develop business models -including the use of mobile technology and the development of merchant networks - to expand the access to payments, savings, and

microcredit services, which for some individuals represent a first-time experience.

MIF’s partnership with a major telecommunication company in Paraguay has, allowed more than a million Paraguayans, over a quarter of the country’s adult population, to use their mobile phones to make person-to-person money transfers and pay for services.

Through a countrywide network of merchants, they can also access cash and make deposits in a more efficient and secure manner.

“We are very pleased to welcome the Inter-American Development Bank to our Alliance,” said Dr. Ruth Goodwin-Groen, Managing Director of the Better Than Cash Alliance. “Its work has been a driving force in the promotion of digital payments and financial inclusion in the Region, and particularly the work of the Multilateral Investment Fund is an example from which other regional development banks can learn.

Most governments in Latin America and the Caribbean are realising the incredible potential in the transition from cash to digital payments, led by Mexico, Peru and Colombia, which already are members of the Alliance,” she added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Gov’t pledges support to help Lusignan overcome massacre

Ms. Amna Ally offers comforting words to two survivors of the massacre, Mrs. Gomattie Thomas and her son Roberto Thomas, following the inter-faith service

ON the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the Lusignan massacre, which had claimed the lives of 11 persons, including five children, Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms. Amna Ally, pledged Government’s support and resources to promote healing and reconciliation, at an inter-faith service held Tuesday afternoon, at Grass Field, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

At the service, which was hosted by the Indian Action Committee (IAC), formerly known as the Indian Arrival

Committee, Minister Ally told the gathering that as they reflect on the senseless loss of lives, their aim moving forward should be to restore peace and harmony and to make their neighbourhoods, communities and country, places that they would be proud to call their own.

“Lusignan, I want to encourage you today to remain as resilient as you have been.

You are a model community and have demonstrated that strength can be born out of adversity,” Minister Ally said. She also underscored

Thursday, January 28 2016 - 08:30 hrs Friday, January 29, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Saturday, January 30, 2016 - 09:00 hrs

the importance of teaching children the value of a peaceful and cohesive society. Alluding to Mahatma Gandhi, she said, “If we want to reach real peace in this world, we should start educating our children”.

In committing Government’s support, Minister Ally said in the new week her ministry will create avenues to work with the community to foster social cohesion and to promote healing and reconciliation. “I am prepared to make the expertise and officials of my ministry available to organise workshops, to speak to the various groups in the community about what social cohesion is, and your roles as individuals, groups and as a community, in fostering cohesion,” she said.

She also commended the community for the strides they have made over the past eight years and urged them to continue moving forward with hope. This tragedy, Minister Ally said, is not

Residents attended the service in support of the survivors and relatives of the deceased

inter-faith service, because it means that the IAC and those invited to participate understand the role of religion in promoting peace, healing and reconciliation in Guyana,” she told the gathering.

Meanwhile, opposition Member of Parliament, Mr. Anil Nandlall, in his remarks spoke of his expectations of the newly formed Ministry of Social Cohesion.

Mr. Nandlall expressed hope that the many factors that may have contributed to the massacre, some of which still linger today, would be addressed forthwith. He too underscored the need for all members of society to cooperate to address problems in communities throughout the country. Executive Member of the IAC, Mr. Neaz Subhan, expressed similar

Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms. Amna Ally, addresses the inter-faith service

only a reminder of what occurred in one community, but it should serve as a note of caution that societies can experience real destruction when persons fail to comply

with the rule of law, order and those norms and values which define a civil society.

‘DIFFERENCES NOT A HINDRANCE TO COHESIVENESS’ Even as she expounded on the need for cohesive communities, Minister Ally said that although Guyana is a country with many races, cultures and traditions, these differences should not be a hindrance to cohesiveness.

“We want to use these differences to build Guyana; we can pool our ideas, skills, talents and resources for the benefit of our country.

There is no place for anyone in Guyana to think that his or her race, ethnic group, religion, culture and, so on, is better than another,” she said.

This type of mentality will have an adverse effect on nationhood and nation-building.

The minister also commended the Indian Action Committee for organising the event, which has been held annually since the incident.

“I am glad that this is an

sentiments, even as he called on the community to remain resolute in hope as they continue to support each other and garner strength.

Before the close of the service, prayers and more words of encouragement were offered to the community by religious leaders of the three main religious groups in Guyana. On January 26, 2008, gunmen stormed into Grass Field, Lusignan, opening gunfire on sleeping residents and raiding their homes.

At the end of the 15-minute ordeal, Shazam Mohamed, Clarence Thomas, his son, Ron 11, and daughter, Vanessa 12; Mohandai Gourdat, 32, and her two children; Seegobin, four years old, and Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Shalem Baksh, 52; Rooplall Seecharan, 56, his daughter Raywattie Ramsingh, 11, and his wife, Dhanrajie, called ‘Sister’, 52 were all dead. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Triumph residents bemoan police arrests after bank robbery

By Leroy Smith RESIDENTS of Triumph are upset over a police operation on Monday that saw several persons, including four females, being thrown into lockups on the East Coast Demerara.

The arrests were part of an operation by the police who were investigating the Bank of Baroda robbery at Mon Repos last Friday.

LOOKING FOR SUSPECTS On Monday around noon the police visited an apartment building in Triumph and carried out a search, saying that they were looking for some suspects, one resident told this publication.

According to the woman, the police tumbled up her home and came up empty handed and did the same to several other rooms in the apartment building but found nothing of evidential value.

Later in the afternoon, the police returned to the area and rounded up several persons, including the women, and placed them in police vehicles and took them down to the Criminal Investigation Department.

Throughout the operation, residents said that they were unaware of why exactly they were being taken down to the police station.

According to one resident, the police even detained a woman who had come from the interior to seek medical attention.

Eleven persons were booked at Sparendaam, Beterverwagting and Vigilance Police Stations where they spent Monday night before being asked to post bail in the sum of $30,000 each.

It was reported to this publication that it took several calls from one police station to the next, and from one police officer to the next before the persons could have been told that they were all being booked for robbery under arms.

Police sources indicated that the operation on Monday resulted from information received that the suspects who had robbed the Bank of Baroda had some contact with persons at the location, and that one of the bandits was even dropped off there.

Meanwhile, the police so far have two persons in custody over the Bank of Baroda robbery, and they reportedly provided the police with details of their crime. They are expected to be charged shortly and placed before the courts.

The apartment building where the police picked up eleven persons on Monday afternoon in the course of investigations into the Bank of Baroda robbery (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

Some of the residents who were arrested speaking with Guyana Chronicle reporter Leroy Smith on Tuesday afternoon

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Kwakwani group unveils manifesto for LGE icle that he is very optimistic of winning the votes of the electorate.

THE two main political parties and one community group in Kwakwani on Tuesday submitted their lists of nominees to contest for seats in the Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

All three competitors have already commenced their campaigns while the independent group, Kwakwani United for Progress, has already completed their manifesto which is being publicized via social media.

Leader of the People’s Progressive Party Group, Sachi Parvaton told the Guyana Chronicle that she is anticipating the local government elections as this would give the residents an opportunity to practice democracy since her appointment as chairman of the Interim Management Committee in 2012 did not bring a favourable response.

She said that her appointment resulted in a series of protest actions and even vandalism to the NDC building although her installation came through the legal procedure and there was also a petition.

IMPOSITION As a result of these constraints, Parvaton said that her office was not in a position to serve the residents as they saw her appointment as an imposition.

To this end, Kwakwani is without a regular garbage collection system, the drains are unkept and the roads are in a deplorable state. She also disclosed that there was an insufficient accumulation of funds since the market vendors were encouraged by residents who were supporters of the then opposition APNU to desist from paying revenues to the NDC. Parvaton said that she is confident of winning the votes of the electorate, especially for the constituency she represents as the people will now have a chance to say who they want as leader. “I find that there is full cooperation from the people and I am optimistic of being victorious,” she declared.

In addition, Parvaton is calling upon the Minister of Communities to appoint an overseer immediately after the local government elections and a committee has been selected.

She said that the NDC is without an overseer since March 2013 and this has stymied the efforts of the NDC as it cannot function effectively without an overseer.

The duty of an overseer is to give guidance and consent with regards to financial matters and to deal with the administrative issues of the NDC. “They need to appoint an overseer as early as possi-

ble after elections because the committee will be dysfunctional without one, it is just to say we have a committee but nothing else,” she said.

Parvaton said that once elected she will be focusing on the things she was hindered in doing as chairman of the IMC. These include the repairing of roads, the garbage collection system, drainage and the situation with the unoccupied lands.

APNU+AFC GROUP Member of the APNU+AFC group, Kelvin Daily told the Guyana Chronicle that he is very optimistic about gaining a landslide victory as the party has submitted nominees for all constituencies. He said that he has been involved in community work even before being nominated and will continue to do so on a larger scale.

Some of the projects on the APNU+AFC agenda include the cleaning of drains since their current state has resulted in the breeding of mosquitos. In addition, the party will be focusing on job creation, especially for the youths, upgrading facilities at the schools, and beautifying the community in an effort to boost tourism.

“Our aim is to bring Kwakwani back to its former

glory as no attention was paid to this community by the former regime,” he maintained.

His inspiration, he said, has come from his father who was a former chairman who worked assiduously to serve the people.

The independent group of 33 persons, Kwakwani United for Progress, will be vying for seats in all six constituencies.

The group that was formed last December is open to the residents, and the leader, Charles Thom, told the Guyana Chron-

INDEPENDENTS Thom said that he will not be intimidated by the two major political parties who are telling the residents that they should not vote for them as the government will not support independent groups.

To tackle this constraint, he said, his group will be bringing awareness to the people by visiting their homes, hosting public meetings, and using social media as well as hosting social events.

“We are not intimidated by this deception in which these parties are trying to get people on their side,” he stated.

The group is currently raising funds to print their manifesto to share to residents as they hold consultations.

Thom said that his group will not only be looking at infrastructural issues as the other two parties but will also be focusing on economic and developmental issues. The last chairman of the NDC was Edgar Mendonca who served from 1994 to 2003 when the IMC was appointed.

Regional Vice-Chairman Elroy Adolph, who hails from Kwakwani, told this publication that he is anticipating the upcoming LGE in Kwakwani as there needs to be a change in leadership that will bring vigour and enthusiasm to the NDC.

CROSSWORD

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Gayle joins Somerset for NatWest T20 Blast West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle will once again ply his trade for Somerset in the NatWest T20 Blast this summer.

Gayle is expected to play six matches in the English T20 competition, which is scheduled to bowl off in mid-May. The big left hander found himself in the midst of controversy last month following a widely criticised interview with a female television reporter during the Australia Big Bash League.

Gayle was fined for the incident, but the English club had immediately stated that the incident did little to dampen their enthusiasm for the T20 star and are happy to

have secured his signature for the club.

“We are absolutely delighted to have secured the services of Chris Gayle once again. He is a genuinely world class player and was absolutely phenomenal for us last year,” said the club’s Director of Cricket Matt Maynard.

“He is probably the biggest name in the sport at the moment and his performances in the Big Bash recently have only underlined his status as one of the most explosive players that cricket has ever seen.”

For his part the 36-yearold batsman expressed delight at the prospect of returning to England.

CHRIS GAYLE “I really enjoyed my time at Somerset last year,” Gayle said. “It’s a great club and the supporters were absolutely incredible.

I’m looking forward to seeing the fans again and

to scoring some more runs.

Hopefully I can help the club make it through to the later stages of the NatWest T20 Blast.”(Sportsmax,com)

Sport (CAS), which sits in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The GFF was contending that James was not the holder of a St Vincent and the Grenadines Passport at the time the game was played, as was required by Article 19(3) of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Regulations.

Reports say that at the time of the game, James was the holder of a United Kingdom Passport. He had a stamp inserted in the passport indicating he was a citizen of St Vincent and the Grenadines by descent.

This, according to the

GFF, is a violation of the said Article 19(3), which recognises a passport as the only form of valid proof.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Code Article 55 (1) states: “If a player takes part in an official match despite being ineligible, his team will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match and paying a minimum fine of CHF 6 000.”

After assessing the matter and looking at all the evidence, Professor Fumagalli found the case put forward by the GFF to be flawed in a number of ways.

In his (Professor Fu-

magalli) conclusion to the matter his ruling is that: (1) The Appeal filed on September 3 2015 by the Guyana Football Federation is not admissible; (2) The cost of the arbitration, to be determined and served to the parties by the CAS Court office, shall be borne in their entirety by the Guyana Football Federation; (3) Each party shall bear its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with this arbitration; (4) All other motions and prayers for relief are dismissed.

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GFF loses case...

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FIFA’s Appeals Committee, but was once again notified that it was not a party to the relevant proceedings, and would therefore, not be eligible to appeal.

FIFA further added that an appeal was lodged against a letter issued on July 29 by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and not against a decision of the Committee.

The GFF then, in September last year, took its case against FIFA and the SVGFF to the Court of Arbitration for

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

Anderson leads RHT Farfan and Mendes to Tenelec U-15 title A BRILLIANT all-round performance by Kevlon Anderson spearheaded Rose Hall Town (RHT) Farfan and Mendes team to an easy 112-run victory over Blairmont in the Berbice Cricket Board-sponsored Tenelec Under-15 cricket final, played last weekend at the Blairmont Community Centre ground.

The richly talented Anderson, with support from Bhaskar Yadram rescued their team after they were bowled out for a mere 67 in the first inning.

Batting first after losing the toss, the visitors found life difficult on a wicket full of moisture and fell inside 34 overs. Anderson and Yadram made 22 and 16 respectively.

Bowling for the home team, Noel Deodat took 3-9, Samuel Glasgow 3-15 and Javid Karim 2-17.

In response, Blairmont were bundled out for 42 in 18.3 overs, as Yadram successfully attacked them with a series of short-pitched bowling to bounce them out.

Albion crowned Elizabeth Styles U-19 champions

N AT I O N A L U n d e r- 1 9 a l l - ro u n d e r B a l c h a n d Baldeo single-handedly led the mighty Albion Cricket Club to a massive eight-wicket win over Port Mourant in the final of the Elizabeth Styles Under-19 cricket competition last Saturday at the historic Albion Sports Complex.

Port Mourant won the toss and took first strike. The decision backfired as they were bowled out for 127.

Dimitri Cameron was the only batsman to offer any resistance with 26. Off-spinner Daniel Lewis was the leading bowler with 3-18. He received solid support from Sharaz Ramcharran with 2-4,

David Latchaya 2-14 and Baldeo 2-8.

In reply, Albion lost Adrian Sukhwa without scoring, but that did not cause any panic in their camp.

Sharaz Ramcharran went for a well-played 37, while Baldeo ended on 71 not out to cap a good all-round performance. David Latchaya was unbeaten on 17 as the champions ended on 129-2.

At the presentation ceremony held immediately after the game, Vicky Bharosay, speaking on behalf of the Berbice Cricket Board thanked Elizabeth Styles for its continued support towards the development of the sport in Berbice.

The winning RHT Farfan and Mendes team S. Denal was the only Blairmont batsman to reach double figure, as Yadram claimed 7-22 from 9.3 overs.

Left-arm spinner Keith Simpson supported with 3-15 from nine overs. With a vital lead of 25 runs, RHT Farfan and Mendes led by a superb unbeaten 108 from Anderson reached 180 all out in their

second turn at the crease.

Anderson faced 208 balls for his crucial innings and struck five boundaries. It was the third century in four innings for Anderson. He received support from Yadram 20, Keith Simpson 15 and Quinton Crandon 16.

Left-arm spinner Nigel Deodat claimed 7-78 bowling

for the losing team.

Set 206 for an outright victory, Blairmont were bowled out for 92. Opener Javid Khan offered the only resistance with an aggressive 48.

Anderson returned with the ball to take 5-14. Anderson was later named manof-the-final.

The victorious Albion team pose with representative of the sponsor Bissoondyal Singh and BCB representative Vicky Bharosay

Rule Britannia in Melbourne as Murray, Konta through

By Ian Ranson

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - British hearts swelled with pride at Melbourne Park yesterday as Andy Murray battled into the Australian Open tennis semi-finals after compatriot Johanna Konta swept into the last four of the women’s tournament.

Murray won a typically attritional slog against Spaniard David Ferrer 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3, while Konta eased past Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-1 to become the first British woman in more than 30 years to reach a grand slam semi-final.

The pair gave Britain two players in grand slam semi-finals for the first time since 1977 but they will need to muster more bulldog spirit to reach the final.

Second seed Murray, who booked his sixth semi-final in Melbourne, will face Milos Raonic with the Canadian 13th seed in the form of his life.

Raonic’s 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Frenchman Gael Monfils made him Canada’s first male semi-finalist at Melbourne Park.

Konta will face seventh seed Angelique Kerber, who stunned twice former champion Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5

in the opening match at Rod Laver Arena.

The fall-out from match-fixing allegations that rocked the tournament’s opening day continued to rumble.

Officials launched an independent review into the Tennis Integrity Unit after accusations the watchdog had failed to adequately investigate suspicious matches in the past.

Former players angrily demanded proof of wrongdoing.

“There is no evidence. We are talking about algorithms and mathematics and some computer spits your name out like a serial killer and everyone is chasing you,” fumed former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.

There was nothing suspect about the commitment of the combatants in the third singles match, however, as Ferrer and Murray engaged in a taxing three-hour and 20-minute dogfight.

A classic baseline hustler, Ferrer stunned all with a rare dash to the net and a volleyed winner that conjured a set point during the second set tiebreak.

Murray surrendered the set with an unforced error but from there the match turned in the Scot’s favour.

The weather turned thoroughly British as rain clouds gathered, and after a break in

Johanna Konta Andy Murray play, Murray ended the match under a closed roof.

“I like playing indoors,” Murray, who has lost four finals in Melbourne, said courtside. “I grew up in Scotland and the weather is not as good as here so I grew up playing most of my tennis indoors.”

Australians woke groggily a day after celebrating their national public holiday, and Sydney-born Konta reminded locals of what they had lost.

The 24-year-old closed out the first set after an epic game at 5-3 and ran away with the match to end Zhang’s own

fairytale run as a 133rd-ranked qualifier.

Konta is the first British woman to reach a grand slam semi-final since Jo Durie at the 1983 U.S. Open and just the third to reach the last four in Australia in the professional era after 1972 champion Virginia Wade and Sue Barker.

“I’m just so happy that I’m enjoying what I’m doing.

That is me living my dream,” said Konta.

With Murray’s brother Jamie also reaching the last four of the men’s doubles with Brazilian Bruno Soares, Brit-

ain could have three finalists at the same tournament.

Kerber poses a formidable roadblock to Konta, the German having floored former world number one Azarenka in their quarter-final.

The 28-year-old faced three set points when trailing 5-2 in the second set, and another two at 5-4, but stormed home to book her maiden semi-final at Melbourne Park.

Nearly 17 years have passed since Steffi Graf won Germany’s last grand slam title, and Kerber said she had sought inspiration from the 46-year-old in Las Vegas last year.

“She taught me actually

that I’m on a good way and try to believe in myself,” said Kerber.

F o r m e r Wi m b l e d o n semi-finalist Raonic also enjoyed playing Monfils under a closed roof, having been raised on indoor tennis during the Toronto winters.

The clinical Canadian needed only two hours and 17 minutes to crush the Frenchman’s flair and set up the semi-final with Murray, an opponent with whom he shares a 3-3 head-to-head record.

“A great challenge ahead of me. A challenge I believe I have within myself to find a solution to,” the 25-year-old said courtside.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016

GCB/Banks DIH/DIGICEL’s NSSCL

Hope, Cummings Nazmul, spinners lift Lodge, Annandale Bangladesh to comfortable win and LBI Secondary

...England beat Fiji by 229 runs won by 43 runs, with SaifudGROUP A: A half-century from Nazmul Hossain Shanto steered Bangladesh U19 to a total of 240, which their bowlers defended with ease despite a century from the South Africa U19 opener Liam Smith.

Smith was sedate at the start of his innings, and South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals, with seamer Mohammad Saifuddin firing in pinpoint yorkers and Bangladesh’s impressive assortment of spinners strangling the run rate expertly.

Smith picked up the pace as he approached his hundred, but South Africa’s challenge effectively ended when he was caught brilliantly in the covers by the Bangladesh captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz in the 45th over of the innings.

Bangladesh eventually

din and off-spinner Mehedi picking up three wickets each.

Having opted to bat first, Bangladesh made steady progress, with Pinak Ghosh and Joyraz Sheikh scoring 40s before the left-handed Nazmul guided them through the middle and late overs with an 82-ball 73.

South Africa chipped away at the wickets, with seamer Wiaan Mulder picking up three, but there were useful contributions right through the Bangladesh order, ensuring they reached what proved an amply defendable total.

By Mark Gleeson

turned into Mr Dependable during the series, scoring at least a 50 if not better in each of the four Tests.

But Cook insisted England are “nowhere near the finished article” after they ended the series on the receiving end of a 280-run defeat by the hosts -- which ended South Africa’s yearlong wait for a Test victory.

Looking ahead to home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Cook said: “We still have a lot of work to do with our batting and catching.” England suffered plenty of woes in the field throughout the tour and Jonny Bairstow’s wicket-keeping skills were also not up to the mark.

However, even more vexing is the question of a reliable long-term opening partner for Cook, who has walked out with eight different players in 39 Tests since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012.

The latest incumbent, Alex Hales, offered little evidence that the search is

Group C: Dan Lawrence and Jack Burnham’s centuries led England U19 to a massive win over Fiji U19 in their game in Chittagong. After opting to bat, England piled up 371

schools in winners’ row

Liam Smith century was in vain for South Africa. for 3 and then bowled out Fiji for 72 to complete a 299-run win.

Cakacaka Tikoisuva removed Max Holden early, but Lawrence (174 off 150) and Burnham (148 off 137) combined for a 303-run second-wicket stand in 265 balls. Callum Taylor struck a brisk 21 and the last six overs yielded 89 runs as England raced to 371. Fiji were never in the chase from the start,

losing five wickets within the first six overs, with Sam Curran and Saqib Mahmood doing much of the damage.

Both picked up three wickets each, with Mahmood’s figures reading 5-4-2-3. Peni Vuniwaqa provided brief resistance with a 74-ball 36, but it was nowhere near enough. He was the last man out in the 28th over. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Victorious England still searching for answers

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - A trio of match winners in Stuart Broad, Joe Root and Ben Stokes, offer England a bright future in Test cricket but unfortunately for Alastair Cook, there seems to be no end in sight in his long search for a worthy opening partner.

Knocking South Africa off the top of the Test rankings following the 2-1 series triumph comes close to the drama of last year’s Ashes success over Australia, captain Cook said.

The victories achieved in first and third Tests “ticked a box” for a relatively new generation of stars. Broad’s bowling decimated South Africa in the third Test in Johannesburg to secure the series triumph. Stokes, 24, was an unstoppable force with the bat in the second Test in Cape Town, where he raced to the quickest 250 runs in Test history. Root, 25,

England all-rounder Ben Stokes about to end.

The 27-year-old opened in all four Tests but returned an average of 17, top scoring with 60, and there is every chance he could be dispensed with by the time the first Test against Sri Lanka starts at Headingley on May 19.

England coach Trevor Bayliss said he wanted to see a more aggressive top order, which might end Nick Compton’s tenure at number

three.

But there are plenty of things that are working in perfect harmony in the England set-up.

On the man-of-the-series Stokes, Cook said: “I think he has thrived under pressure and thrived working under Trevor Bayliss.

“They get on really well and have this strange relationship where they swear at each other.”

A MAGNIFICENT display of spin bowling by Cordel Martins helped Hope Secondary to victory over Bygeval Secondary while Cummings Lodge Secondary, Annandale Secondary and La Bonne Intention Secondary also recorded victories as the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL), sponsored by Banks DIH Ltd’s Coca Cola and Rainforest Water, along with DIGICEL, continued this week.

At the Fairfield ground in Mahaica, Hope Secondary, batting first were dismissed for 85 in 20 overs. The only batsman to offer any resistance was Rovin Ramsarup with a top score of 27. Doing the damage for Bygeval was Shoaib Shaw, who claimed 3-22.

Bygeval in reply squandered a chance of victory along with the right to represent Mahaica zone in the second stage of the competition. Their batsmen were bamboozled by Cordel Martins, who bowled with excellent control, claiming 5-12.

His spell broke the backbone of the Bygeval batsmen’s limp run chase. He was ably supported by Gopaul Applesammy with 4-18 as Bygeval folded for 70 in 18.2 overs.

Over at the Enterprise ground, Cummings Lodge came up against Plaisance Secondary, who batted first but found the going tough and were bowled out for 70 in just 10 overs.

Trion Hendricks top-scored with 11.

Bowling for Cummings Lodge, Heranjan Ori took 5-23 from three overs. Cummings Lodge in reply made 71-2.

In another East Coast Demerara District match, Annandale Secondary took on International Business School (IBE). IBE, batting first, were bowled out for a paltry 103 off 20.4 overs.

Avinash Ramsaywack top-scored with 19, while Kendard Amsterdam contributed 11. Tameshwar Motiram grabbed 4-15, Ayube Sammy 2-24 and Damuko Nguend 2-25. Annandale, in response, reached 104-7 in 26.4 overs.

Mike Persaud made 23, while Punishwar Amsook chipped in with 15. Bowling for IBE, Kendard Amsterdam grabbed 2-31 and Damul Motto 2-16. Annandale won by three wickets.

In another match, La Bonne Intention (LBI) took on IPE. IPE batted first and struggled to 54 all out in 19.2 overs.

Ravin Singh top-scored with 17. Bowling for LBI, Nandkumar Krishna grabbed 3-22 and Kumar Persaud 5-31. LBI in response made 56-2 in 7.3 overs. Nandkumar made 23.

Hope Secondary will now face Mahaicony Secondary tomorrow at Fairfield ground. In Georgetown, Chase Academy will take on St Joseph High at Everest ground from 10:00hrs, while Linden Foundation will play against Dora Secondary at Bayroc.

Seven-race horse meeting for Mocha Arcadia on Sunday

THE Georgetown Turf Club (GTC) in its effort to promote the sport in the city will be staging a seven-race horse meeting on Sunday at its Mocha Arcadia facility.

According to a release, over $3M in cash prizes and trophies are up for grabs.

The feature event is for J1 and Lower racehorses and most of the country’s top horses in this category will be in action. The likes of Red Jet, Little Red, Regent, Liquid Lion, Plane Land, Blue Lighter, Noble Import, Miss Regena and others will compete for top honours.

Other events on the card are the J3 and Lower, JK and Lower, the L1 and the L2 and Lower, the Unclassified, the L3 and Cart horses.

For further information contact can be made with Michael Sims on 669-8163 or Compton Sancho on 690-0669.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

David Warner wins Allan Border Medal

By Brydon Coverdale

DAVID Warner has capped off a year in which he was named Australia’s vice-captain by winning the Allan Border Medal for the first time.

Warner also won the Test Player-of-the-Year title at the award ceremony in Melbourne, and finished clear of captain Steven Smith and fast bowler Mitchell Starc in the Allan Border Medal count.

Glenn Maxwell was named ODI Player-of-theYear.

Smith had won the Allan Border Medal last year and scored more runs than Warner across all international formats during the voting period, but Warner finished with 240 votes to Smith’s 219, with Starc in third place on 183.

Warner was Player-ofthe-Series for the home wins against New Zealand this summer having scored twin hundreds at the Gabba and 253 at the WACA; he finished the series with the remarkable return of 592 runs at 98.66 from three Tests.

Warner finished the voting period with 1 334 Test runs at 60.63, behind only Joe Root and Alastair Cook in Test cricket in that time. In the count for the Test Playerof-the-Year Award, Warner finished on 30 votes, clear of Smith on 24 and Starc on 18, with batsman Adam Voges finishing fourth on 16 in a year that saw him become Test cricket’s oldest man to score a hundred on debut.

In his acceptance speech, Warner paid an emotional tribute to his wife Candice, a professional ironwoman and mother of his two daughters, whom he said had played a significant role in helping

him turn the corner after a disappointing 2013 in which he was suspended over his altercation with Joe Root in a pub in England.

He also said he had expected Smith to win his second Allan Border Medal.

“My heart is racing, I honestly thought Smudge had a terrific year and he would have taken this out,” Warner said. “People said to me I can be one of the greats of the game but you just sit there and let that go through both of your ears. You can only control what you control and for me that’s being the best person I can be on and off the field.”

Warner ’s progression from T20 cricketer - he made his international debut in the format before playing firstclass cricket - to vice-captain and now Test Cricketer-ofthe-Year and Allan Border Medallist suggests a maturing of him both on and off field.

He said he was proud of the way he shrugged off the initial perceptions that he was just a T20 slogger.

“That means a lot to me,” Warner said. “I look back and look through the Twenty20 cricket that I came through, to put myself into the New South Wales Shield team and then giving myself the opportunity to put my hand up for selection for an Australian baggy green.

“Something that I really will cherish for the rest of my life, getting that baggy green presented to me by Slats (Michael Slater), similar way we played, aggressive, try to take it to the bowlers, it’s something I’m really grateful for.”

Starc might have considered himself unlucky not to take home any silverware

David Warner poses with the Allan Border Medal, Melbourne, yesterday. during the evening, given that he was Player-of-the-Tournament in Australia’s World Cup triumph last year and during the tri-series that preceded it. He ended up on 25 votes in the ODI Player-ofthe-Year Award, three votes behind the winner Maxwell on 28, while Mitchell Marsh finished third on 23.

Maxwell scored 644 ODI runs at 46.00 during the voting period, third on Australia’s run tally behind Smith and Warner, but his cause was helped by his presence as the lead spinner for much of the year in the 50-over format. He was Australia’s third-leading wicket-taker during the voting period with 19 at 29.52, behind Starc on 41 wickets and Pat Cummins on 21. No T20 award was presented this year as Australia played only one game during the voting period.

The Belinda Clark Award, for Australia’s best women’s cricketer across the international formats, went to Ellyse Perry for the first time, having been won by Meg Lanning for the past two years. However, there could hardly have been any other

winner this year given that Perry was Australia’s leading run-scorer and wicket-taker during the voting period.

South Australia batsman Alex Ross was named the Bradman Young Cricketerof-the-Year, having scored 416 Sheffield Shield runs at 32.00 in the Sheffield Shield and 237 at 59.25 in the Matador Cup during the voting period. He finished with 31% of the vote from fellow players, ahead of Victoria opener Travis Dean on 24% and Western Australia fast bowler Joel Paris on 21%.

Voges was the Domestic Player-of-the-Year for the first time, collecting 32% of the player vote, narrowly ahead of his Western Australia team-mate Michael Klinger on 30%, while South Australia batsman Callum Ferguson finished third on 12%. Voges made 1 232 runs at 64.84 across all three domestic formats during the voting period, compared to Klinger’s 1568 at 52.27. (Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo@brydoncoverdale.)

New Zealand stadium announcer reprimanded for Amir taunt NEW Zealand Cricket has admonished a stadium announcer for taunting Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir during the third T20 on Friday.

Long-time announcer Mark McLeod, who is contracted by NZC, had played a cash register sound effect during one of Amir’s spells during the match at Westpac Stadium. NZC CEO David White said he has since apologised to the Pakistan team, and has now publicly reprimanded McLeod.

Amir is playing in his first international tour since being suspended for spot-fixing in 2010.

“I think (playing the sound effect) was inappropriate and disrespectful, and has the effect of trivialising one of the biggest issues fac-

ing cricket at the moment,” White told Fairfax New Zealand. “I’ve contacted the Pakistan team management to apologise, and to assure them there will be no repeat.”

Amir has had a lukewarm response from New Zealand crowds upon his return.

There were cheers for him during his first match in five years, at Eden Park, though a much smaller chorus of boos was also heard.

Pakistan’s team management also confirmed there was a spectator who flashed money and jewellery at Pakistan players during the first ODI. On that occasion, Mohammad Hafeez had brought the fan’s behaviour to the notice of the team’s security personnel, who then sought out the fan and asked

him to stop. A team spokesperson said that jibe was not particularly directed at Amir, and that Amir had been largely unaware of it.

The spectator had not been ejected from the ground.

White said NZC were content to give spectators a degree of freedom, as long as their behaviour did not constitute Mohammad Amir abuse.

“A member of the public in the stands having a bit of banter and humour - it’s different,” he told Radio Sport. “We can’t direct people how to behave all the time.

“There’s a line of drunken disorderly abusive behaviour but stadiums are full of people in groups together; around the world there is banter. I guess there is the line that people need to stay within.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

West Indies umpires participate in exchange programme

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Two umpires from the West Indies will participate in a reciprocal Umpire Exchange Programme (UEP) with the Bangladesh and England Cricket boards.

West Indian and Trinidad and Tobago umpire, Zahid Bassarath will officiate in the upcoming Bangladesh first class league scheduled to run from February 19 to March 7.

Bassarath began umpiring in 2009 and was promoted to the senior panel in 2012.

In the UEP, the umpire from Bangladesh (yet to be named) will be assigned to round two of the WICB’s Professional Cricket League (PCL) in rounds 8 to 10 scheduled for St Lucia, Antigua and Trinidad and Tobago.

The other umpire in this exchange will see Jamaican, Verdayne Smith visiting England in March for three rounds of first class matches while Martin Saggers from the English Cricket Board (ECB) will officiate in Rounds 9 and 10 of the PCL in Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts respectively.

Smith has been an umpire since 2000 and is currently a member of the WICB senior panel.

The UEP is among member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the WICB has been involved since 2009.

Project Officer at the WICB, Rawl Lewis, says “this programme has been and continues to be an integral part of our umpire development as it provides opportunities for the umpires to experience different conditions and to follow the protocol of other leagues which is vital for their advancement.

Lewis noted that six out of 12 umpires currently on the senior panel, including Peter Nero, Gregory Brathwaite, Joel Wilson, Nigel Duguid, Leslie Reifer and Patrick Gustard, have participated in the programme in England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Nero was the first to participate in the exchange programme in England back in 2009.

The WICB hosts at least two umpire workshops per year and focuses on a series of topics to include changes to the laws and playing conditions, developing group culture amongst umpires, leadership and match management.

The workshops are held prior to the age-group and first-class tournaments for both senior and second tier panel umpires. The WICB will look to have similar workshops in 2016.

Dwayne Bravo replaces Evin Lewis for Unity cricket

DWAYNE Bravo will replace fellow Trinidadian Evin Lewis for the Unity Cricket feature game, billed for Saturday evening at the Guyana National Stadium.

The 32-year-old Bravo is a batting all-rounder and with his T20 experience he will definitely strengthen the pace attack of Ramnaresh Sarwan’s Legacy’s All Stars team when they face-off with the 007 Warriors.

The game involves a galaxy of overseas and local stars. Fans are reminded that no glass bottles, firearms, large coolers or large umbrellas will be allowed into the venue.

The concept of Unity Cricket is to unite Guyanese through sports, regardless of

DWAYNE BRAVO race, religion, political affiliation or social status.

In addition to the T20 game, five softball matches will be played.

For information on hospitality booths and concessions, call 693-7366, 6859194 or 600-0007.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

IAAF ethics board to look at 2017 vote

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON, England (Reuters) - The IAAF’s ethics committee is to investigate the bidding for the 2017 and 2019 world athletics championships after accusations of possible corruption, the head of the sport in Britain told a parliamentary committee Tuesday.

The 2017 event will be held in London and the 2019 in Doha, which lost out to London for the 2017 event.

UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner was appearing before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee as part of its wider investigation into blood-doping in sport.

The doping scandal involving Russian athletes came to light in a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Former IAAF head Lamine Diack, who stepped down as president last August, faces criminal corruption charges in France over allegations he extorted money from athletes to cover up the issue.

Warner told the committee yesterday: “I have had a number of discussions with the IAAF and they have told me the 2017 and 2019 bids

by Doha have been referred to their ethics commission.”

He declined to identify who had told him, saying it

would be inappropriate to do so before speaking to the ethics commission.

Earlier this month, Warner said he had been told

by IAAF officials that representatives of the Qatar bid had been giving “brown envelopes” to members of the IAAF Council, which decided on the host.

The London bid by UK Athletics agreed to pay $7.2M to cover prize money, matching the offer Doha made, and Warner said he felt this cost might not have been incurred if they had not feared their bidding rivals were seeking to gain a voting advantage through underhand means.

Earlier this month, the second part of an independent commission report for WADA also cast doubt on the bidding process for all world championships since 2009.

“The process by which those decisions were made, who made them, why did they make them and why did other cities not get selected, needs to be investigated,” said Richard McLaren, a co-author of the report.

Qatar has denied any wrongdoing in its bid for either championships, and an IAAF spokesman confirmed yesterday that, on the request of the Qatari Federation, IAAF president Sebastian

THE player draft for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 has been scheduled for February 11 in Barbados.

This year’s competition will see a number of changes. The number of players that a franchise can retain before the player draft is held has been reduced from four to three, while squad sizes increase from 16 to 17 for the new season.

The new rules also allow the six franchise teams to sign one ‘marquee’ player as a free agent before the draft process begins.

UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner Coe had referred the 2017 bidding process to the ethics commission, currently being rebranded as the ethics board.

The award of the 2022 Soccer World Cup to the Gulf state is also under investigation by Swiss authorities.

The IAAF were unable to say whether the board was investigating the 2019 event, or 2021, which was awarded to Eugene, Oregon, in the United States without a formal bid process.

Eugene has close links to

sportswear firm Nike. At the time of the award, Coe was acting as a paid ambassador for Nike while also an IAAF vice-president. He has denied there was a conflict of interest but has relinquished his Nike role.

In the latest blow to the IAAF’s standing, sportswear firm Adidas AG, its biggest sponsor, is to end its deal four years early as a result of the doping and corruption scandals, the BBC reported.

Notable Dates

Guyanese-born Howard `The Battersea Bomber’ Eastman won the vacant European Boxing Union middleweight on January 28, 2003 after the ringside doctor ruled that his opponent was not physically fit to continue the fight.

The doctor refused to let Frenchman Christophe Tendil go out to start the fourth round due to and injured and eardrum.

The bout was held at the Ice Arena in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom. Eastman had only lost once in 35 fights and was heavily favoured to lift the EBU crown.

The orthodox boxer who hails from New Amsterdam, Berbice challenged American William Joppy for the World Boxing Association middleweight title in November 2001 but lost by a Majority Decision, despite controlling most of the fight and dropping Joppy in the last round.

Eastman had another shot at a world title four years later but this time he lost by Unanimous Decision to Bernard `The Executioner’ Hopkins. Tendil on the other hand won the lowly rated International Boxing Council (IBC) super middleweight title in January 2007.

In a distinguished career that is still in progress, Eastman, won the Guyana, European and Commonwealth middleweight titles. He has a total of 62 fights with 49 victories (38 KOs) and 13 defeats.

CPL player draft set for February in Barbados

SUNIL NARINE Even before a pick is made there are rumours of a major shake-up with Sunil Narine, a key player for the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the last few seasons, expected to represent home team the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel this season.

Further changes to the rules include the number of players who must live in the franchise territory being reduced from four to two, while the limit on overseas players has increased from four to five.

Last season also saw the introduction of ICC Americas players, with two being selected for the Tridents and Patriots squads. (Sportsmax.com)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday January 28, 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)

Howard `The Battersea Bomber’ Eastman

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jack Blackham (AUST vs ENG, Melbourne, 1877) (2) Rodney Marsh (AUST vs ENG, Melbourne, 1971) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first player to hit a double-century on his Test captaincy debut?

(2) Who is the first player to score a hundred on his ODI captaincy debut?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

HE was considered one of the best players in the Caribbean. His flamboyance, sniper-like aim and ‘wicked’ ball handling skills made him an attraction wherever he played.

Today, ‘Sports in 50’ salutes Lugard ‘the legend’ Mohan.

In 1994 behind captain Ulric Tappin, Guyana finished second in the-then CARICOM Basketball Championship to Jamaica, when the tournament was hosted at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

It was Lugard’s first taste of ‘balling’ against players from the Caribbean region and the 22-year-old ‘fancy’ point guard from the Ravens Basketball Club was hometown favourite.

So good was his showing at the tournament that he was named on the CARICOM All-Star team - something not many players before or after him had accomplished as a rookie.

In fact, the tournament which is now known as the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship had its origin in Guyana in 1981.

Mohan, unlike some of our players today, had to work to get into the team.

Tappin, to many, was seen as the best player Guyana had ever produced and a young Lugard was always measured against some of the talented players before him.

At 19, he was among a squad of 28 called to trials for the 1991 CARICOM championship in Jamaica and although he failed to make the final 12, the experience gained later proved invaluable.

After the exodus of Ray Williams and Dave Trotman from Ravens the man running things was Neville Alert’s, protégé Lugard Mohan.

The following year 1992, Lugard was dominant at the

point and shooting guard position for Ravens, leaving many in dismay when the selectors bypassed him for National selection against the touring TTL Bombery professional team from Germany.

July 1993 will always remain fresh in Lugard’s memory because he had a fantastic debut against Barbados at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The year 1994 Guyana hosted its third CARICOM Championship and this was the moment Lugard Mohan was waiting for. He was spectacular from the opening victory against Suriname but the performance that really took the Caribbean by storm was the way he mesmerised Trinidad and Tobago.

In both victories against the Twin Island Republic en route to the final, Lugard was the mastermind; he was the man setting up the elusive Steven Nurse.

Although he failed to reproduce the same form in the final that Barbados won handsomely, he was an automatic choice when the CARICOM All Star Team was selected. His biggest disappointment in 1994 was Guyana’s failure to attend the prestigious Centro American basketball championship they qualified for by placing second to Barbados.

His next CARICOM championship the following year, 1995, in the Bahamas remains fresh in his memory, not because he was selected to the CARICOM All Star team again, but because Guyana failed to win a single preliminary game and he was co-captain with Leon Christian.

In 1996, his first taste of National captaincy, he celebrated the appointment by sweeping DC Jammers 3-0 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Guyana, playing under Lugard, won game one 99-

85. The skipper led from the front with 20 points, game two Guyana won 115-96 and wrapped up the series 97-93, Lugard top-scoring with 23 points.

After conquering the lads from Washington DC, Guyana, with Lugard Mohan at the helm, deplaned at Piarco International Airport in search of the Land of Many Waters’ first CARICOM title.

The Mission was nicknamed ‘Search and Destroy’.

The first casualty was Barbados. The boys from ‘Bimshire’ succumbed 84-78; the skipper top-scored with 22 pts. They followed up with the Mighty Bahamas who surrendered 86-104. Lugard and Wayne Bristol shared the top score with 17 points each.

Hosts Trinidad halted the Lugard show with a 111-88 victory, the skipper and Remington Ram top-scored for Guyana with 13 points each.

Jamaica, playing with former NBA Pros Rumeal Robinson and Andrew Kennedy, edged Guyana in a thriller 106-98, Captain Mohan top-scored with 19 points.

After the heartbreaking loss to Jamaica, Lugard’s men regrouped and outclassed St. Lucia 86-63, Dominica 86-73, but were edged in the semi-finals against Jamaica 100-97.

Centre Lorenzo Withrite topscored with 27 points and 7 rebounds, Wayne Bristol 23 pointts and Mohan 20 pointts, Rawlwyn Loncke 21 pointts and Remington Ram 18 pointts. Both skipper Mohan and centre Lorenzo Withrite aggregated over 100 points at the end of the 1996 championship.

In his next international series in charge, he led Guyana to a 3-0 sweep of Trinidad and Tobago, June 1997.

Injuries prevented him from playing Guyana’s next series against Barbados.

Lugard returned to the

National team the following year 1998 with a bang and led Guyana to a 4-0 thrashing of DC Jammers at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, winning game one 90-81, Game two 100-86, game three 88-83 and the final game 89-83.

Now with 14 victories from 18 matches Lugard was touted as the man who will end Guyana’s Regional drought, but the National team were a no-show in Belize and this was probably Lugard’s saddest moment since he made his International debut in 1993.

The senior team played no International matches in 1999 so Lugard had to settle for Division one, Inter-ward and Inter-Sub Association action.

The next year (2000) Guyana returned to CARICOM Championship action and Lugard was the man wearing the captaincy armband.

Guyana loss in the semi-finals to the U.S. Virgin Islands 9675, despite Lugard’s spectacular performance scoring 26 points, inclusive of six three-pointers from seven tries. In the thirdplace game he ensured Guyana brought home the bronze medal, top-scoring again with 26 points.

Unfortunately this was Lugard’s last outing at the CARICOM Championship level. He finished the (2000) Bridgetown showpiece with 103 points from six matches. In the process he became the only Guyanese player to aggregate over 100 points twice at the CARICOM level.

The 2000 CBC tournament was the last time Guyana finished in the top five of the championship and Mohan would later joined Cecil Chin as former National players who became FIBA Certified Referees.

Today, Mohan spends his time as an advocate for youth development, as part of the Youth Basketball Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, January 28, 2016

George delighted with setting national 300m record

The group, alias ‘Cricket Stakeholders’, during their meeting with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Basil Williams.

(Cullen Bess-Nelson photo) AN 18-member delegation representing the Georgetown Cricket Association, Upper Demerara Cricket Association, East Coast Cricket Board and also concerned ‘Cricket Stakeholders’ from Essequibo, East Bank Demerara, West Demerara and Berbice visited the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Basil Williams yesterday and presented a compelling case for Government’s intervention to bring a final resolution to the illegality and chaos in the administration of cricket in Guyana.

The delegation argued that the Court order which prevents

the holding of elections by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and its three County Board Members must be dismissed in order for the holding of free, fair and transparent elections.

The meeting was described as “extremely fruitful, according to a release issued, and a course of action was discussed about the holding of proper elections for the first time in five (5) years.

Prior to meeting the Attorney General, the cricket stakeholders met with the Hon. Minister of Education with responsibility for Sport, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and also the National Sports Commission.

GFF loses case against FIFA THE Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, has ruled in favour of FIFA and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) in the dispute with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), putting to rest the near eight-month-old matter.

On Thursday, January 14, a copy of the judgement, handed down by sole Arbitrator, Professor Luigi Fumagalli, Attorney-at-Law of Milan, Italy, was delivered by courier to the office of the SVGFF in Kingstown.

Guyana had lodged a complaint with FIFA in June last year, claiming that the

Professor Luigi Fumagalli

SVGFF had used an ineligible player, Gavin James, when the two teams met in a Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifier at the Guyana National Stadium on June 14, 2015.

The GFF filed the complaint to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee on June 16 and was informed on July 29 by the Disciplinary Committee that, “after careful examination of all the requested information and documentation, it was considered that no further intervention was necessary in such context,” according to reports.

The GFF then followed up with an appeal to SEE PAGE 26

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WINSTON GEORGE OLYMPIAN Winston George has expressed delight with setting Guyana’s first 300 metres indoor record on Sunday in Manhattan, New York.

George competed at the New Balance sponsored indoor meet at the Armory Track Club facility. The 400 metres specialist clocked 33.5s to set the record while finishing second in the event.

“It was a really good race I was comfortable and I just reacted to my competition, I was not doing any speed work so for my coach it was really about seeing where I am at the moment and I think It was great, I have no problem with the time or the race I just felt comfortable,” George told Guyana Times Sport.

“Man it feels good to be in the record books, I like making my country and myself proud and that’s what I want to continue doing, I just love putting my name in the books and it feels good to be honest, I am just comfortable right now,” George said.

George is currently in the United States preparing for the Rio Olympics. (Sportsmax.com) THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016