Chronicle 01 30 2016

$230B BUDGET SATURDAY JANUARY 30, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 30, 2016

Old Age Pension, tax threshold increase

– fuel prices slashed, certified artistes to be exempted from payment of income tax A RANGE of measures is being proposed in this year’s budget. A few are aimed at entrenching in law concessions which are either discretionary or granted arbitrarily. Most of the measures, however, are designed to support the thrust of stimulating the economy while rekindling hope and confidence.

These are essential ingredients for attaining “The Good Life.” It should be noted that while the late submission of the Tax Reform Committee report did not permit its wide ventilation, a number of the measures being proposed are consistent with several recommendations contained in the report.

‘GREENING’ THE ECONOMY AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT ● The removal of excise tax on motor vehicles under four years old under 1500cc. These vehicles currently attract excise tax at the rate of 30% and an effective tax rate of 118.7%. With this removal, the effective tax rate will be reduced to 68.2%. ● The reduction of excise tax from 50% to 10% on motor vehicles under four years old, between 1500cc and under 2000cc. As a result, the effective tax rate of 152.3% will be

reduced to 85%. ● Restriction of the importation of used and/or reconditioned vehicles to under eight years old from the date of manufacture to the date of importation. This restriction shall be enforced from May 1, 2016. ● Notice of intent to ban the importation of used tyres and to reduce taxes on new tyres, to encourage their use. This ban will be put into effect as soon as some procedural hurdles are

cleared. ● A ban on Styrofoam used in the packaging of beverage, food and food products, except Styrofoam containers of a type used for packaging frozen fish and seafood. ● Amendment to the Customs Act to exempt all bio-degradable containers used in the packaging of food and beverages. It should be noted that solar panels and other equipment geared towards producing clean energy, are already exempted from the payment of customs duty. ● Begin consultations for the re-introduction of a broadbased, non-discriminatory environmental tax.

Equity to the charging of excise tax on alcoholic beverages ● The Excise Tax Act No. 11 of 2005 to provide for a new basis for the imposition of excise tax on alcohol for consumption. The intent is to introduce a graduated, specific rate system for the collection of excise tax on alcohol based on the alcoholic strength. This is deemed to be the most effective way of dealing with importers and domestic manufacturers of alcoholic beverages. It will also be easier for the Guyana Revenue Authority to administer, as well as reduce significantly, opportunities for manipulating the value of goods for the purpose of taxation.

Removal of arbitrary, discretionary or undefined remissions ● An amendment to the Regulations under the Excise Tax Act 2005, the Customs Act and the Value Added Tax Act (VAT) to exempt from the payment of excise taxes, customs duty and VAT, motor vehicles when imported by returning Foreign Service Officers who have completed official duties overseas. ● An amendment to the Customs Act to exempt import duty on motor vehicles imported by eligible public officers, qualifying re-migrants and settlers. The opportunity will be taken to close existing loopholes in the law that allows the abuse of the concession. ● An amendment to the Customs Act to exempt baggage and household effects imported within six months upon arrival of a qualifying re-migrant. ● Amendment to the Financial Administration and Audit Act to exempt diplomatic, consular, international, charitable and non-profit organisations, semi-autonomous agencies, government departments and public corporations from the payment of want-of-entry charges, stamp duty and environmental tax. ● Amendment to the Customs Act to exempt computer printer ink and toner cartridges for non-commercial printers. ● Amendment to the Value Added Tax to: a. exempt parboiled rice; b. packaging materials; c. other malt extracts other than ovaltine; d. exempt the importation of personal effects, including motor vehicles for re-migrants and settlers who qualify for exemptions from Customs duties under Section 23 of the Customs Act. * amendment to Income Tax Act to: a. Provide for the income earned by artistes during festivities certified by the minister responsible for tourism to be exempted from the payment of income tax;

b. Allow the Commissioner-General to apply a refund towards outstanding taxes, levy, interest or penalties payable by any person and for the Commissioner-General to refund any excess remaining to the person.

SUPPORT OF THE ELDERLY ● The pensions payable to ex-employees of the Guyana Telecommunications Corporation. These pensioners have waged a prolonged struggle to get their correct pensions, but were denied by the past regime. The increases will be effective from April 1, 2016; ● Effective April 1, 2016 Old Age Pension will increase from $17,000 to $18,200. Nearly 50,000 pensioners are expected to benefit. Mr. Speaker, in the short space of eight months, this coalition government has been able to increase old age pension by 38.7 per cent, the largest increase in recent memory, and a testimony to our commitment to govern in the interest of all Guyanese; ● Effective April 1, 2016, Public Assistance will increase from $6,500 to $7,300. Over 9,600 persons will benefit from an almost 24 percent increase since this Government took office; ● Effective April 1, 2016 all Guyanese citizens 65 years and older will no longer be required to pay for a driver’s licence; ● Effective April 1, 2016 all Guyanese citizens 65 years and older will be exempt from travel tax when travelling overseas

on a Guyanese passport. However, they will still be required to pay the Airport Security Tax of $1,500.

The Government will continue to examine other ways of easing the burden on elderly citizens. In this regard, it will turn attention to the plight of former public servants and parliamentarians, whose current pensions neither reflect the years of service given nor the positions from which they retired.

This is because their pensions Turn to page 8 ► have been substantially eroded

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 30, 2016

Budget set at $230B

…growth rate pegged at 4.4% …series of ‘good life’ measures unveiled

By Tajeram Mohabir WITH the objective to build a platform to put the economy on a higher growth path to enable the “Good Life”, the Government on Friday presented a $230B budget and has projected the economy to grow 4.4 per cent this year.

The Administration, last year, had forecast a 3.4 per cent economic growth, but fell short of this target, registering a growth of 3 per cent. Presenting his second budget, themed “Stimulating Growth, Restoring Confidence: The Good Life Beckons”, Finance Minister Winston Jordan told the House that 2015 was perhaps the most challenging year yet.

“All of the country’s key industries -- sugar, rice, bauxite, gold and forestry -- found themselves in various states of distress. Even remittances, which have contributed significantly to income, consumption, investment and employment, and upon which so many of our people depend, was a victim of the slowdown in the world economy,” he said.

The Minister contended that Guyana’s excessive reliance on these generators of foreign exchange will continue to expose the economy to volatile external

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

developments.

“It is a tribute to this young Government’s prudent management of the economy -- including timely policy interventions -- that the economy’s growth trajectory continued; that there were no reported job losses; and, as was evident in the last two months of 2015, the business community’s confidence had been restored.”

Guyana was not the only country to experience an economic slowdown.

According to The World Economic Outlook, global economic growth in 2015 contracted to 3.1 per cent.

Growth in advanced economies was estimated at 2 per cent, slightly better than in 2014.

Minister Jordan told the

House that factors responsible for this outcome included modest recovery in the Euro Area, positive growth in Japan, declining oil prices, an accommodative monetary policy and, to some extent, depreciating exchange rates.

While emerging from a disruptive 2015, Minister Jordan said, 2016 will be a year of recovery, a platform to put the economy on a higher growth path to realise the “good life”. The economy is projected to grow 4.4 per cent, but non-sugar growth is projected at 4.3 per cent.

FIVE PILLARS This year’s budget, Minister Jordan said, is anchored on the five pillars

outlined by President David Granger’s New Year’s Speech. These are National Unity, National Infrastructure, National Institutions, National Security, and Public Services. And it includes a raft of measures to give the citizenry an opportunity to enjoy the envisioned “Good Life”. Among them are the removal of excise tax on motor vehicles under four years old and below 1500cc; reduction of excise tax from 50 per cent to 10 per cent on motor vehicles under four years old and between 1500cc and under 2000cc; income earned by artistes during festivities, certified by the minister responsible for tourism, is to be exempted from the payment of income tax; Old Aged Pension and Public Assistance are to be increased; rebates granted by GPL are to be increased; the prices of fuels are to be reduced; and the income tax threshold is to be increased to $660,000 from $600,000, directly benefiting some 68,000 workers.

AGRICULTURE Much, he said, is in store for 2016. While the agriculture, fishing and forestry sector is projected to grow marginally by 0.3 per cent, given its encouraging performance in 2015, sugar production is targeted to grow by 4.8 per cent to

242,287 metric tonnes. Not unexpectedly, the projection for rice output has been tempered, as the industry continues its efforts to synchronise production and existing stocks with domestic consumption and external markets.

As a result, production is expected to decline by 8.4 per cent from the 2015 level to 630,028 metric tonnes, Minister Jordan said.

The other crops sub-sector, he said, is anticipated to grow by a further 2.5 per cent, and Livestock by 0.5 per cent. For the first time since 2012, the fisheries sub-sector is expected to record increase in output, growing by a modest 1.5 per cent. This sub-sector will require greater policy and management intervention if it is to realise its potential, Minister Jordan told the House.

The forestry sub-sector is estimated to grow by 2.5 per cent, with an output of 392,469 cubic metres of timber harvested. The min-

ing and quarrying sub-sector is targeted to improve by 16.6 per cent.

DRIVEN BY GOLD “Once again, this growth will be driven by gold, whose output is conservatively estimated to increase by 22 per cent to 550,000 ounces. Other mining (sand and stone) is targeted to improve by 4.4 per cent, with the predictable upsurge in construction activities. As the bauxite industry continues to struggle with reorganisation and soft prices on the world market, production is expected to be maintained at just the 2015 level of 1,526,467 metric tonnes,” Mr Jordan said.

He noted that, in spite of the targeted growth in sugar and light manufacturing, the manufacturing sector is projected to decline by 0.7 per cent as a consequence of the scaling back of rice production.

The services sector is expected to grow by 4 per Turn to page 8 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 30, 2016

Govt to ramp up infrastructural development

$14.4 BILLION have been budgeted to continue the upgrade, expansion and rehabilitation of our network of roads and bridges.

The Government is finalising negotiations with the Government of China for construction of the East Coast Highway from Better Hope to Belfield.

In collaboration with the IDB, the Government will, this year, conduct studies and designs for an improved East Coast Railway Embankment Road, entailing the construction of bridges between Sheriff Street and Mahaica; the upgrade of the current embankment road from Sheriff Street to Enmore; and the extension of the embankment road from Enmore to Mahaica. * Over $5.0 billion will be invested in the reconstruction of Sheriff Street, which will facilitate improved traffic safety features, including pedestrian overhead crossings at strategic locations.

* A US$50 million loan will be signed with the Government of India to construct a new road link between Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara and Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara.

The proposed new road will intersect several communities, including Sophia, South and North Ruimveldt, Eccles and Providence, creating an alternative access route to these densely populated areas, expanding business opportunities, and opening new lands for housing development. * $2.3 billion will be spent to upgrade the West Coast Demerara Road from Parika to Vreed-en-Hoop.

The works include widening the corridor and improving road safety features.

…billions allocated for roads, bridges construction

* $6.72 billion have been allocated for the improvement of hinterland, rural and urban community roads in Bartica, Mahdia, Ituni/ Kwakwani, Puruni/Itaballi, Mabaruma and Port Kaituma/Baramita, and the Sophia ring road, among others. In collaboration with the IDB, activities will commence to facilitate complete rehabilitation of the 47-year-old Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

sis, the Government will aim to secure funding, through the UK-CIF, to purchase a dredge to be used at the Georgetown port. It is expected that the dredge will be managed and operated in collaboration with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG). *In 2016, an amount of $1.3 billion is budgeted for works to commence on the rehabilitation of the Bartica stelling and the goods wharf at Kingston; docking of dredges and ferry vessels; dredging of the Demerara and Essequibo rivers; and installation and maintenance of navigational aids.

*The Government has started preparations to access the UK–Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (CIF), to upgrade and reconstruct several facilities in Georgetown, Parika, Port Kaituma, Kumaka and Bartica, among other areas. *To avert a potential cri-

*Works will begin on a phased waterfront development programme over the next 5 years. This investment, estimated to cost over $1.6 billion, will see the development of state-of-the-art waterfront facilities, which will be on par with those in the Caribbean. This development will target Kitty, Kingston, Stabroek, Vr e e d - e n - H o o p , S u p e naam and Skeldon.

The proposed project will include boardwalks; recreational areas; modernized ramps for ferries and water taxis; and a dockyard for yachts. The initiative will serve as a recreational and tourist attraction, and will create opportunities for small business devel-

opment.

AIR SERVICES *$5.2 billion have been set aside for the continued development of the air services industry, including the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Financing is being pursued to upgrade hinterland airstrips at Eteringbang, Annai, Paramakatoi, Kurupung, Kato, Kopinang, Monkey Mountain and other locations.

The Government is earmarking over $2 billion, in the medium term, for its Airstrips and Aerodromes Improvement Programme. * Over $6 billion have been budgeted for river and sea defences.

$28B for health sector

* Funds have been allocated for a feasibility study to construct a fixed high-level bridge across the Demerara River.

By Neil Marks

will include gathering epidemiological data, demographic information, and research on driving factors contributing to designated rates per region.

Analysis will be done at the regional and country levels, and maps and profiles will be included for targeted interventions.

“We will also train secondary school teachers and students to be able to identify those at risk for self-harm. A psychiatry programme is being developed for the University of Guyana, and this year a mental health secretariat will be established to offer training

GOVERNMENT, this year, expects to spend about $28 billion, or 10.9 percent of the budget, on the health sector; and a commission of inquiry into suicides will be held and an emergency suicide prevention plan of action will be developed.

These were announced

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan when he presented the country’s $230B budget on Friday afternoon in the National Assembly. Jordan also said that data collection on the suicide inquiry and research

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and services to both professionals and those seeking mental health services.

BOOST IN MATERNAL CARE The Finance Minister also announced that over $89 million have been earmarked for the expansion of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) maternity unit. Additionally, this year’s allocation will facilitate the purchase of equipment such as table-top foetal heart rate monitors, hand-held foetal heart monitors, and portable ultrasound machines with the aim of increasing the quality of service being offered at the institution’s maternal and child care facility.

“In 2016, over $6.5 billion (have) been budgeted for drugs and related con-

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sumable medical supplies, to address the expanding range of services and coverage being given to citizens across our country,” Jordan told the House, adding that another $1.9 billion will be spent on health facilities.

This will include mobilisation for the construction of the state-of-the-art specialty surgical hospital at Liliendaal; a ten-bed cardiac theatre and intensive care unit at the GPHC; various works at hospitals at Port Kaituma, Kwakwani and Linden; and diagnostic centres at Diamond and Leonora.

Additionally, over $1 billion will be spent on the purchase and maintenance of medical equipment, double the allocation of last year. Preparatory works will begin on the modernization of primary health care facilities at Bartica, Suddie and West Demerara Regional Hospitals, funding for which will be sourced from India.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 30, 2016

$300M for Golden Education Jubilee celebrations gets $40.3B

GOVERNMENT has set aside some $300M to support activities connected with the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced in the budget on Friday.

“Mr Speaker, His Excellency President David Granger has charged the members of this Honourable House to ‘open avenues of cooperation and

agreement so that we can join hearts and hands for the common good’. As we collectively strengthen ties of unity this year, we call on all Guyanese to reflect on the journey of the past 50 years, taking into account the people and experiences that have shaped our history and the lessons learnt, while (being) mindful of the opportunities we have missed,” the Minister told the House in

his presentation.

He said this is a time of reflection and celebration, “even as we provide inspiration and tools for our young people to dream bigger and reach higher over the next 50 years.” He said the generation that pauses to reflect during the country’s Centenary Celebrations must be able to savour the legacy of the last 50 years.

“This year is the begin-

ning of the creation of that legacy. Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the allocation for the specific events surrounding our 50th Anniversary, Budget 2016 -- indeed, all future budgets -- is dedicated to ensuring the path to the good life is secured for generations to come. A sum of $300 million has been budgeted to support activities in celebration of our Golden Jubilee year.”

Happy faces! Government Ministers Dr Karen Cummings, Simona Broomes, Nicollete Henry and Valerie Patterson are all smiles just before the budget presentation

Opposition reacts to Budget 2016

LEADER of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has criticized the $230B budget for 2016 unveiled

by Government on Friday, although he has offered not positive alternatives.

Jagdeo uttered his criticisms minutes after Finance Minister Winston Jordan had, on Friday, presented the $230B Budget to the National Assembly under the theme “Stimulating Growth, Restoring Confidence: The Good Life Beckons.”

According to Jagdeo who, while being President had imposed salary increases on public servants and had refused to reduce the Value Added Tax from 16%, the measures announced by Minister Jordan will not stimulate growth, nor will they restore the public and

private sectors’ confidence in the economy.

“There is a huge disconnect between this budget, its orientation, its stated objective and the policies, programmes and measures put in place,” he told reporters during a press conference held in the Public Buildings.

However, the Opposition Leader threw his support behind the Government’s

decision to move ahead with the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Modernization and Expansion Project, in addition to the construction of the Specialty Hospital and the major road networks that will come on stream this year.

Despite criticisms of the budget from the Opposition Leader, who once served as the President and Fi-

nance Minister of Guyana under the PPP/C Administration, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge told Guyana Chronicle that this year’s budget will lay the foundation for greater developmental projects to be unveiled by the APNU+AFC Administration in the future.

$40.3B, or 17.5 percent of the 2016 Budget, will be used to strengthen the Education sector this year, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced on Friday.

He said that to ensure children are adequately outfitted for school, 28,000 pairs of footwear will be distributed in the first quarter of this year. These will be distributed primarily within the hinterland and riverine areas, and this will complement the $424.2 million that have been budgeted for the continuation of the school uniform programme. This programme is expected to benefit over 204,000 children attending schools in the hinterland and on the coastland.

Additionally, while $1.3 billion were expended on the National School Feeding Programme last year, this year’s programme has been increased to $1.9B, to cater for a hot meal which will benefit over 7,000 additional hinterland students. This year, too, a sum of $4.3B has been allocated to continue infrastructure construction, rehabilitation and repairs. Included in this programme is completion of the Kato Secondary Complex, which is intended to ease the overcrowding at Paramakatoi and provide full secondary education for many students in primary tops.

Also included is the construction of a new building for South Road Nursery, Peter’s Hall Primary, and Golden Grove and Aurora Secondary schools.

Furthermore, in an effort to ensure access to quality education in the hinterland, over $80M have been allocated for the provision of adequate accommodation for hinterland teachers, one of the key impediments to deploying trained teachers to the hinterland.

The Government also announced that under the Secondary Education Improvement Project, a total of 1,125 tablets will be distributed to seventh grade students and math teachers in eight pilot schools, facilitating better learning outcomes through the use of technology.

In the area of post-secondary education, $2.2B were allocated for equipping and upgrading the technical institutes and training centres across Guyana. This allocation will facilitate the acquisition of equipment and upgrades of these facilities, along with producing over 800 persons trained in the fields of information technology, electrical installation and air condition repairs, and motor repairs, among other key specialties.

The University of Guyana will also benefit from $3.2B, which was allocated to the institution in 2016. This represents a 52 per cent increase, and was described as a first step to making the university a true institution of higher learning.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 30, 2016

$15B pumped into water, housing

By Ariana Gordon

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams

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

Editorial

The Transparency International Report THE 2015 Transparency International (TI) Report is out.

Guyana was, in 2014, ranked as the most corrupt country in the English-speaking Caribbean. Though its fortunes have improved on the corruption index by one point (from 30 to 29) in 2015, we Guyanese must not settle for this when we are capable of doing better.

According to TI, “Corruption corrodes the fabric of society. It undermines people’s trust in political and economic systems, institutions and leaders. It can cost people their freedom, health, money –- and sometimes their lives.”

As a nation and people, we ought to be concerned about this unsavoury image, and work assiduously to correct it; 2016 must be the year when Guyana realizes significant movement away from this taint.

The United Nations (UN) deems corruption a human rights’ violation by a government against its citizens.

Corruption robs a nation of its scarce resources, which can be channelled into areas such as education, health care and decent wages -- all considered human rights.

Whenever a State diverts its resources away from activities that can improve its citizens’ standard of living, it hurts everyone. Government officials, whether elected or appointed, who abrogate to themselves the authority to dispense with the people’s resources for personal gains are betraying the public’s trust, and should be held to account.

The UN Convention Against Corruption has outlined methods and procedures for identifying and dealing with the scourge of corruption. This nation is aware that, within recent months, efforts have been directed at tackling this problem. The establishment of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) and news of plans to strengthen and deepen its scope through legislation and international outreach for technical advice and support are welcome signs. It should be pointed out that, in this regard, Guyana is heeding the guidelines of the United Nations, which sees assets’ recovery as “a particularly important issue for many developing countries where high-level corruption has plundered the national wealth, and where resources are badly needed for reconstruction and the rehabilitation of societies under new governments”.

In addition to the SARU, there is need for other institutional support to prosecute and prevent corruption.

For instance, there is need for an independent, effective and efficient judiciary through which the State will not only do its job in ensuring cases are ironclad and well presented in the courts, but will also ensure that justice is swift and decisive.

Doing otherwise would strengthen the notion among persons that they are immune from prosecution and that the long arm of the law will not embrace them.

Constitutional bodies such as the Integrity Commission, Public Procurement Commission and

SIGNIFICANT sums have been injected into the Housing, Water and Sanitation sectors, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced on Friday. In the Water sector, Government has allocated a total of $11.6B with the aim of ensuring access to potable water across the country. $4B have been allocated to improve and expand access to water across Guyana, with specific areas being targeted for water supply and line distribution improvements and expansions, namely: Paramakatoi; Mahdia; Mabaruma; Port Kaituma; Hubu to Naamless; Waiakabra; Yarrowkabra; Area ‘C’, Golden Grove; Victoria; Lusignan; Le Ressouvenir; Vryheid’s Lust; Albouystown; West La Penitence; Baramita; Parakees; Canal Bank; Belladrum; Lovely Lass; Itaballi and Tiger Pond.

“Over 18,000 persons are expected to benefit from these improvements, while another 11,000 persons will benefit from the rehabilitation of water treatment plants at Cotton Tree and Bartica,” said Minister Jordan during his maiden full year budget presentation before the House.

Over 18,000 persons are expected to benefit from these improvements, while an additional 11,000 persons will benefit from the rehabilitation of water treatment plants at Cotton Tree and Bartica.

Additionally, Vergenoegen and Lima Sands have been earmarked for new wells, and a ground storage facility is to be installed in Sophia.

“We have allocated $2.0 billion for the drilling of new wells at Uitvlugt, Diamond and Sheet Anchor. Further, a programme costing $5.6 billion is being designed that will see new water treatment plants constructed at Friendship, Hope Estate, Bush Lot, Leguan, Bartica, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and other locations in Regions 2 and 6,” the Finance Minister said.

He also disclosed that the National Water Council, the Non- Revenue Water

…several wells, treatment plants to be built

Finance Minister Winston Jordan greeting Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan as Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, looks on

Reduction Programme and the Dakoura Creek Watershed Protection Plan are to be resuscitated. He said these, coupled with the identified initiatives, will be Government’s drive to increase and improve its national water delivery coverage.

Last year, $1.6B were expended to expand and rehabilitate the water supply and distribution systems across the country. More than 1,200 residents benefited from potable water in the communities of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara; Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; and Friendship.

HOUSING In the Housing Sector, Minister Jordan announced that $644M will be spent to expand the Hinterland Housing Project. That project will provide housing subsidy for the construction of houses and the replacement of roofs in Regions 1 and 9.

The installation of electricity and the provision of potable water will be continued in existing housing schemes, along with continued infrastructural works.

“New housing developments will commence in areas such as Perseverance, Stewartville, Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Williamsburg and Amelia’s Ward,” the Finance Minister added.

An additional $4.2B have been earmarked by the Government to assist in developing Mahdia, Lethem, Maba-

Public Service Appellate Tribunal should be established; the first ensures the integrity of certain public officers, the second ensures the integrity of Government contracts, and the third allows public servants to have their grievances addressed. It may also be timely to look at strengthening and deepening the Office of the Ombudsman, and have the National Assembly treat it with deserving respect. Aside from being constitutional bodies, these institutions play an intertwining role in preventing and fighting corruption, ensuring justice in specific public organisations and institutions, and in ensuring that aggrieved persons get justice.

For TI, transparency means “shedding light on shady deals, weak enforcement of rules, and other illicit practices that undermine good governments, ethical businesses, and society at large.” To this end, it may be prudent to suggest

ruma and Bartica, the four communities identified to be townships. “This investment will realize the decentralization of key Government systems into these communities, as well as provide for the establishment and upgrading of critical infrastructure.

“The Government stands steadfast in its pledge to make these imminent towns thriving economic centres,” Jordan told the National Assembly.

Last year, Government spent $1.9B on infrastructural improvements to housing schemes. Some 74 turn-key homes were built, and 4,000 land titles were distributed.

“The high rate of possession of these turn-key homes and lots indicates that new home owners are eager to realize their dream of home ownership,” he declared.

As such, Government will “forge ahead with its programme of establishing cohesive communities” where serviced lots, other social infrastructure, and amenities including parks and recreational facilities, along with “green spaces”, will be provided to ensure “an improved quality of life,” Minister Jordan said.

SANITATION Following its injection of $300M last year for the Georgetown Restoration Programme, Government has, this year, allocated a further $200M for the programme, while an additional $319M will be expended on the Sol-

id Waste Management Programme.

“This year, we expect to finalise the National Solid Waste Management Strategy; establish an inventory of all future landfill sites; and construct a sanitary landfill site in Bartica, which will bring much-needed relief for residents of this community,” said Minister Jordan.

Upon taking office in May 2015, the APNU-AFC coalition Government “heralded the rebirth of ‘my clean space’”, said Minister Jordan, who noted that the public’s response to the efforts of the new Government was embraced.

Last year, $300M were allocated for the Georgetown Restoration Programme, which saw the transformation of several communities across the city. Since the transformation began, several recreational areas have been restored.

The Minister said, too, that apart from the aforementioned activities, it is Government’s intention to ensure that there is the execution of critical drainage and cleanup works within the local communities of the city. This will be done by community groups.

“We intend to seek financing through the UKCIF to complete Cell 1 of Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill, operationalize Cell 2, and upgrade sanitation facilities in the existing six townships,” the Finance Minister has stated.

that the Government of Guyana should establish a good working relationship with the local chapter of TI in the fight to remove Guyana from its present ignoble status. Guyanese are a resilient people, and are capable of working together and achieving whatever they set their minds to do. In the quest to put Guyana into the fold of least corrupt countries, every citizen and public institution can be a corruption watchdog. If we see something, know something, or think something does not look or sound right, we must be fearless enough to say something about it, and report it. While by design Government ought to operate in the interest and on behalf of the people, the people have a corresponding responsibility to ensure that this happens. These are goals we can achieve. Let us work together to put corruption where it belongs -- in the dustbin or in jail.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 30, 2016

$24B to boost security

DETERMINED to roll back years of deteriorating security, Government will, this year, provide over $24B to modernise and equip the enforcement arms of the State with the resources to enable them to serve citizens, engender investor confidence, and build trust and goodwill in the business community.

This was announced by Finance Minister Winston Jordan when he presented the administration’s $230B Budget on Friday afternoon in the National Assembly. Jordan told the House that in 2015, $21.1 billion were expended to support the implementation of priority actions stemming from the strategic plans that were developed for the Ministry of Public Security, the Police Force, the Prisons Service and the Guyana Fire Service.

He said public security concerns have been a dominant and recurrent theme since this Government came to office, and he noted that the public discourse and disenchantment with the spate of criminal activities that, regrettably, punctuated the security domain prior to May 11, 2015 are an unwelcome provocation that Government inherited.

“Upon our assumption to office, we resolved immediately to bring an end to this unwholesome state of affairs.

We committed unreservedly to implement policies to secure our citizens from the threat of national and transnational crime, violence and disorder. Through a series of measures and initiatives, we aim to establish an environment of enhanced human safety and public security,” he said.

CITIZEN SECURITY Jordan mentioned that,

earlier this month, the administration launched the US$15 million Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP), which will contribute nationally to reducing crime and violence through a comprehensive approach that combines preventive strategies with institutional strengthening activities.

The programme, he said, will address three specific problems: the high incidence of violent behaviour at the community level; the low effectiveness of the police to prevent and investigate crime at the national level; and the high number of repeat offenders. The CSSP activities will focus on skills training to improve community engagement, as well as systems strengthening in order to more proactively prevent and investigate crime and violence.

The programme will also finance sustainable re-entry initiatives by assessing specific needs across the prison system, developing a suitable model for rehabilitation and reintegration, and setting up a case management programme to support and track progress.

The community level crime prevention actions will target 20 communities based on homicide, burglary, robbery and domestic violence rates; while vulnerability will be addressed through social prevention interventions.

“We will focus on developing a cadre of skills and capabilities among community members to address violence, unemployment and counterproductive behavioural risk factors,” the Finance Minister said.

EXTERNAL THREATS Jordan also noted that the budget has been cast in the shadow of continued threats

to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said that in addition to re-ordering the country’s priorities in defence of our national interests, the many acts of aggression

by Venezuela have placed considerable financial strain on the country’s slender financial resources, forcing the delay, alteration or curtailment of several projects and programmes.

“We have made measured progress in repelling these hostilities as well as emerging threats and global trends that are impacting our national interest. Our focus in 2016 will be to build on our achievements of 2015 and to further expand our outreach, especially in the hemisphere and in Asia and Africa, through mutually beneficial cooperation programmes,” the Finance Minister said.

He told the House that Guyana will continue to be actively engaged in the regional integration processes, especially CARICOM, Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and MERCOSUR. “We will also continue to promote the interests and concerns of Guyana at the international level, particularly in relation to the preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity, human rights and democracy, climate change and the pursuit of the 2030 Agenda of the sustainable development goals.”

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING Touching on the issue of money laundering, Jordan said that money laundering allows individuals to disguise the origin of illicit funds, and integrate those funds into the

formal financial system, while the financing of terrorism enables terrorists or terrorist organisations to carry out terrorist acts.

Recognising that these activities can have severe economic, social and political consequences for the economy, the Government of Guyana cooperated with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) to fully comply with all outstanding deficiencies related to its AML/ CFT regime, and become compliant with the FATF Revised Recommendations which are the global AML/ CFT standards.

The Finance Minister said that the National Assembly passed legislation and guidelines on terrorism and terrorist financing. Stemming from these actions, he said, Guyana has fully satisfied five of the eight elements of the Action Plan, and has partially satisfied the remaining three.

He also noted that, in December, 2015, Guyana passed further amendments and regulations, including guidelines on freezing, unfreezing, and providing access to frozen funds. These actions should result in Guyana satisfying the three partially met elements of the action plan.

Jordan said that Guyana is among eleven countries that are currently listed in the FATF Public Statement as Improving Global AML/CFT compliance: Ongoing Process. This listing is referred to as the “Light Grey List”, and it indicates that though the country has strategic deficiencies with its AML/CFT regime, it has provided a high level of political commitment to address the deficiencies through the implementation of an action plan developed with the FATF. He said Guyana has been encouraged to execute the action plan expeditiously and within the proposed timeframe.

“Mr. Speaker, as a further demonstration of our commitment to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, we have commenced a national risk assessment exercise with technical assistance and guidance from the World Bank. This exercise will see the participation and involvement of all the major stakeholders, and will help the country to identify, assess, and understand its ML/ TF risks.

“The outcome will facilitate the implementation of appropriate risk management and risk mitigation policy measures and the efficient

allocation of financial and human resources,” he said.

Government will also be benefiting from funding from the IDB to support anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism initiatives. “In this regard, assistance will be provided to the Government in the following areas: national risk assessments and national strategies; capacity building and regulatory reforms; and knowledge and dissemination.

Jordan announced that the Administration is also in the process of restructuring the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to make it a more vibrant and effective unit, in line with the functions specified in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 29. To this end, he said, the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment is currently taking steps to appoint a director and a deputy director for the unit.

Other technical staff will also be recruited, and steps will be taken to enhance their proficiency to ensure compliance with AML/CFT laws and regulations, and facilitate the efforts of law enforcement agencies in combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism activities in Guyana.

8

Rickford Vieira fired from GGMC

THE Ministry of Natural Resources has terminated the services of Rickford Vieira as Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

In the interim Newell Dennison will continue to act as Commissioner of the GGMC. According to a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Ministry stated that it had acted on the recommendation of the Board of the GGMC. In the statement , the Ministry said that it believes the move to terminate the services of Vieira was the best approach at this time, with a new Board of Directors of the Commission soon to be inducted.

According to the statement, the new Board members have the confidence of the Ministry to charter a new course for the GGMC which it said has been dogged by corruption allegations and a beleaguered public image for years.

The Ministry said that

Rickford Vieira

Vieira would have served the Commission for some years and it used the opportunity to wish him well in his future endeavours.

Last November, the GGMC Board moved a no-confidence motion against Vieira and several senior functionaries within the Commission following three thorough assessments. Subsequently Vieira received a letter from Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman indicating that he should proceed on leave due to the filing

of the motion.

GGMC Board Chairman Clinton Williams had explained to this newspaper at the time that the Board of Directors reconvened in September 2015 after a period of four months upon the instruction of the new APNU+AFC Government.

It was subsequently given three functions to execute, starting with assessing the performance of the Commission, based on decisions and actions taken by the Board.

In addition to rating the Commission’s performance, Williams explained that approval was granted by the government to complete a System Management Review which had commenced under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

The exercise which commenced in December 2014 was designed to review the operations of the Mines Division and the Land Management and Geological Services Divisions of the Commission

Old Age Pension...

to determine the coherence of the structures and functions, and the flow of its operations.

The Board considered those review reports and subsequently passed a no-confidence motion against Vieira and some senior functionaries, Williams told this newspaper last November.

On receipt of the letter from Minister Trotman, Vieira fired back at the board, stating that the motion came as a shocker and he complained that the body never had reason to caution him.

He added that approximately three years ago the Commission had expressed its intention to digitalize its operation and as such had purchased the required equipment but the project came to halt due to a lack of support on the part of the Board.

Vieira indicated at the time that he was awaiting a substantive decision

by Minister Trotman but maintained that it should be the board on trial and not him.

From page 2

Conscious of the need to provide incentives to the manufacturing sector, in order for it to become competitive, and, as a further measure to boost incomes of households, it is proposed to increase the rebate granted by the Guyana Power and Light Company from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, with effect from April 1, 2016. because of depreciation of the Guyana dollar and inflation over the years.

TAX ADMINISTRATION ● Amendment to the Tax Act to ensure that prior to the issuance of all licences for public use, including licences to conduct forms of trade and business, the applicant has complied with his/her obligations to file annual returns and paid, or has made arrangements to pay, all taxes due and payable. ● Amendment to the Customs Act to provide for the non-grant of exemptions to an applicant, unless all outstanding tax returns have been filed in accordance with the Income Tax Act, and all taxes have been paid or satisfactory arrangements have been made to pay such taxes.

ENHANCE REVENUE A raft of legislation will be amended, the effect of which is to increase the fees paid to obtain various licences. The pieces of legislation are: i. Regulations under the Auctioneer Act ii. Regulations under Hucksters Licensing and Control Act iii. Regulations made under Miscellaneous Licences Act iv. Regulations made under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act v. Regulations made under the Rice Factories Act vi. Regulations made under the Tax Act 6.9 In addition, it is proposed to amend Section 19 0f the Firearms Act Cap 16:05 to increase the annual fee for firearm licences as follows: OTHER MEASURES Increase in Rebate Granted by GPL and Reduction in Prices of Fuels.

From February 1, 2016, the prices of fuel sold by Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) will be reduced as follows: WAGES AND SALARIES An announcement on salary increases for public servants, for 2016, has to await the conclusion of discussions with the relevant unions. The Government understands the disappointment this will create among public servants, but wishes to assure them of our commitment to their welfare and advancement. We ask that they give the collective bargaining process an opportunity to work.

RISE IN TAX THRESHOLD FROM $50,000 TO $55,000 The Income Tax Act to increase the income tax threshold to $660,000, from $600,000. With this measure, over 68,000 workers will be removed from the income tax roll, in addition to the fact that workers have additional disposable incomes, annually.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 30, 2016

Budget set... cent, with projected growth in the construction sector of 10.5 per cent, following a lacklustre performance in 2015.

MONETARY POLICY AND INFLATION With the predicted increase in growth in almost all sectors during 2016, the level of inflation is expected to be approximately 2 per cent. Minister Jordan pointed out that notwithstanding the projected expansion in the economy, in 2016, the overall balance of the balance of payments is expected to improve considerably to a surplus of US$46.26M, from a deficit of US$107.68M in 2015. This improvement is premised on positive turnarounds in the current and capital accounts. The deficit on the current account, he said, is projected to improve by 19 per cent to US$116.86M. Merchandise exports are expected to earn US$1.2B, a small increase of 2.5 per cent. Merchandise imports are projected to rise by 2.7 per cent to US$1.5B. Net services are projected to fall from US$255.8M to US$237.4M, principally on account of a reduction in net non-factor services.

After falling in 2015, transfer payments are targeted to rise by 4.9 per cent.

The capital account is anticipated to grow appreciably to US$163.1M from US$71.5M in 2015. $173B IN REVENUE According to Minister Jordan, Central Government’s current revenue is projected at $173.3B for 2016, an increase of 7.2 per cent. “This growth will be driven by the expected buoyancy of tax revenue arising from tax efficiency, enforcement and administration measures that will be announced later. As a result, tax revenue is projected to increase by $7.6B, or 5.3 per cent, while non-tax revenue is estimated to grow by $4B, or 21.7 per cent.

Value added and income taxes are projected to grow by 9.9 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively. The higher revenue from VAT will be as a result of closer scrutiny of import declarations, domestic manufacture and trading activities. Similarly,

From page 3

income tax compliance, especially among the self-employed, is expected to rise due to greater enforcement by the GRA. Both customs and excise taxes are expected grow by 6.8 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively,” he said.

Last year, Government started the gradually transfer of the accumulated funds from statutory agencies such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) to the Consolidated Fund.

This process, Minister Jordan said, will continue in 2016 with a total of $8.7B estimated to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund.

Royalty revenues are expected to amount to $3.9 Billion in 2016, based on the projected output of Guyana Goldfields Inc and Troy Resources Inc. He said total expenditure is expected to increase to $223.3B, or 25.2 per cent. This higher expenditure level will result from a significant growth of 70.2 per cent in capital expenditure consequent upon the implementation of several new projects that will aid in propelling economic growth.

Personal emoluments, other goods and services, and transfer payments will increase by 11.8 per cent, 10.5 per cent and 25.1 per cent respectively. A small increase of 4.6 per cent has been budgeted for interest payments.

The Finance Minister also noted that Central Government’s deficit is projected at 4.7 per cent of GDP in 2016.

“While this is higher relative to the previous year, it is lower than the 2014 ratio. Mr Speaker, to repeat, this administration aims to promote robust economic growth in the context of a prudent fiscal policy, and this deficit-to-GDP ratio is in keeping with this goal,” Minister Jordan said.

The overall deficit of the Public Enterprises is projected at $5B, mainly driven by significantly higher capital expenditure, while the overall deficit of the non-financial public sector is targeted at $38.2B, or 5.5 per cent of GDP.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 30, 2016

Agriculture sector gets $20.3B …to help in diversification drive, job creation Some $20.3 billion have been budgeted for agriculture as the Government moves to position the sector by 2020 as a wealth generator and entrepreneurial enterprise, producing food and non-food commodities to meet local needs and the needs of regional and international exports.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan said issues of national and regional food security mandate that Guyana must diversify into new crops and open up new lands for agriculture in areas not prone to flooding.

“The promotion of non-traditional agriculture, aquaculture, and food processing alongside the commodities that have traditionally dominated our agricultural landscape must bear fruit in coming years.

The Government, therefore, remains committed to the promotion of agricultural diversification initiatives, while also restoring the competitiveness of the traditional agricultural sectors,” he told the National Assembly during his budget presentation on Friday.

The Ministry of Agriculture has adopted a strategy which focuses on five Fs: food security, fibre and nutritious food, fuel production, fashion and health products, and furniture and craft.

“Mr Speaker, in this budget, we are putting forward a

The Government intends to re-energise the cattle industry through the development of a milk pasteurisation plant

set of practical action plans (that are) linked to measurable targets in all of these five areas. In total, $20.3 billion (have) been allocated to the agricultural sector, to create an economic environment in which farming and agro-processing operations can grow the economy and create employment. To this end, in excess of $598 million (are) allocated to enhance diversified agriculture in the hinterland riverine communities and (in) the Intermediate and Rupununi savannahs.

“Mr Speaker, diversification will make our agricultural sector more resilient to economic shocks. The Government proposes to establish several research, training and extension facilities in such locations as Ebini, Hosororo, Manari and Bina Hill, to promote sustainable food

production systems that can help maintain the ecosystem and strengthen the capacity for adaptation to climate change, drought, flooding and other disasters.

MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN “Mr Speaker, as the agricultural sector moves forward, our traditional industries — sugar and rice — must not be forgotten. Although GuySuCo surpassed its 2015 production target, the industry is threatened by weakening sugar prices, aged machinery and high production costs. In 2016, the Government will inject $9 billion to assist the industry in its recovery and modernisation programme.

Similarly, though surpassing its target last year, the rice industry remains challenged in terms of cost

of production and competitiveness. The Government will continue to support the industry to access new trade partners following the collapse of the lucrative Venezuelan market,” he said.

Minister Jordan noted that livestock production is another important industry within the agricultural sector.

The Government intends to re-energise the cattle industry through the development of a milk pasteurisation plant.

Additionally, plans are underway for the development of 4,000 acres of state lands situated in Region Nine for the purpose of constructing an agriculture station.

This station will serve as a pilot for the sustainable harvesting of surface water for agriculture in this region.

The land will be utilised for the rearing of cattle and small ruminants; aquaculture; and

“GREATEST VICTORY” – GTUC hails govt’s stance on salary hike THE decision by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to await the conclusion of discussions with unions before announcing salary increases for public servants has been hailed by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) General Secretary Lincoln Lewis.

According to Mr Lewis, it is the “Greatest victory” for unions in Guyana. In an invited comment just after Finance Minister Winston Jordan had concluded reading Budget 2016, Mr Lewis said the decision to wait on the unions is a victory for the trade union movement, since it shows that the Administration respects the

Constitution of Guyana.

“It represents the first step of the Administration’s indication to respect the laws of this country,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan told the National Assembly that Government will await conclusion of discussions with the various unions before announcing salary increases.

“The Government understands the disappointment this will create among public servants, but wishes to assure them of our commitment to their welfare and advancement. We ask that they give the collective bargaining process an opportunity to work,” said

Minister Jordan.

Mr Lewis said it is now time for the unions to “move with haste” to have their proposals finalised.

He cautioned, however, that while the Government has respected the Rule of Law and the rights of the trade unions, the outcomes of the discussions on salary increases must also be respected.

“The terms of engagement must be adhered to,” he stressed.

Asked what words of encouragement he would provide to public servants who were eagerly awaiting the announcement of salary increases, the veteran trade unionist said, “I would tell

them that they have a responsibility to ensure the Government they elected respects the law. It is also their responsibility to hold the union leadership accountable to act on their behalf.”

A representative of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) told the Guyana Chronicle that the umbrella union requested the Government to increase minimum wages to $70,000 while simultaneously increasing the income tax threshold in Budget 2016.

The representative said that consultations were held late last year between FITUG - which represents

planting of rice and vegetables.

The livestock sub-sector will be further fortified with increased focus on animal health, to address known and emerging diseases, the Finance Minister said.

BLESSED He emphasised that Guyana is blessed, not only with lush growing conditions, but also with bountiful rivers and the sea, and an increased focus in the fisheries sector will see promotion of the sustainability of the marine fishery resources through continued efforts to attain Marine Stewardship Certification for the seabob sub-sector.

This, the minister said, will be complemented with the full implementation of the Vessel Monitoring System on all trawlers and the enforcement of no-trawl zones and the harvest control rule.

The Government will also support innovation in sustainable aquaculture and inland fisheries sector with research and promotion of new marketable species.

And as Guyana prepares to celebrate its Golden Jubilee Year, Minister Jordan said, the occasion gives Guyana the opportunity to welcome visitors, new and old.

Later this year, a fourday Jubilee Festival will be held at the National Stadium, complemented by local events across the country showcasing Guyanese musical, cultural and craft trafour unions - and the Minister of Finance. FITUG is the umbrella union which represents the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

In the eight-month-old APNU+AFC’s maiden national budget, which was presented last year, a new minimum wage of $50,000 was introduced, bringing a 26.4 per cent increase from the old minimum wage of $39,540 and 17.1 per cent increase for the then minimum wage of $42,703.

Coupled with this increase was an additional $5,000 for all public servants.

Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) President Mark Lyte said he would like to see a 10 per cent

ditions.

Marketing efforts will focus on campaigns such as the ‘Home Coming Guyana’ initiative, which will be targeting the Guyanese Diaspora.

Other events planned for 2016 include the Coconut Festival, an agri-tourism event promoting coconut products and the development of their value chain.

The Government has also engaged the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) to guide the production of tourism satellite accounting to generate meaningful data about the industry, including its contribution to GDP. “Going forward, the Government will develop an operational plan to realise the intent of the recently revised National Tourism Policy, which will lay a foundation for tourism development and ensure collaboration between Government and all stakeholders.

It will focus on areas such as bird watching, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, wildlife watching, community-based tourism, sports fishing, sports tourism, yachting and cruise visits, entertainment and events and heritage/cultural tourism.

This policy and operational plan will emphasise the role of tourism in providing jobs and economic growth throughout Guyana, but especially in the hinterland, the Minister said.

GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis

across-the-board increase for all public servants.

The GTU is currently negotiating a multi-year agreement with the Ministry of Education. Lyte said that, through this process, more of the concerns of teachers are expected to be addressed, and subsequent to the conclusion of the negotiation, it is hoped that teachers will receive an additional increase.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 30, 2016

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS HINTERLAND DEVELOPMENT ● OVER $4B will be invested in support of the Plan of Action for Hinterland Development. In excess of $280M have been allocated to promote economic prosperity, tourism development, and preserving cultural identity. This sum is inclusive of grants for 211 Indigenous communities that will build village economies and fund eco-tourism projects specifically for our nation’s 50th Independence celebration. ● Some $1B have been budgeted for the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) project. This year, the project will provide training for more than 1,000 hinterland youths in areas such as garment construction,

carpentry, joinery, and entrepreneurship. ● School uniforms will be provided for over 30,000 school children at a cost of over $89M; over 450 hinterland students will benefit from the Hinterland Scholarship programme. ● Over $2B have been allocated for the establishment and improvement of physical infrastructure throughout the hinterland regions, to help narrow the gap in living standards of residents of the coastal and hinterland regions. ● Electricity systems in St Cuthbert’s Mission, Region 4; Orealla and Siparuta, Region 6; and Culvert City, Region 9, will be extended. $3.1B for E-services in hinterland ● Through the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), about $3.1 B will be allocated for the ICT Access and E-Services for the Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities Project. ● This year, the Government has allocated an initial $25B for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT). ● 400 entrepreneurs will be targeted to benefit from training under the Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED) initiative. ● GO-Invest has projected to facilitate some 160 new investments, worth a total of $11B. ● Industrial estates at Belvedere and Lethem will be built and upgraded, catering for light manufacturing, woodworking and fabrication; creating over 3,000 new jobs.

PRODUCTION TRANSFORMATION AND AGRICULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION ● $20.3B have been allocated to the agricultural sector to create an economic environment in which farming and agro-processing operations can grow the economy and create employment.

To this end, in excess of $598M have been allocated to enhance diversified agriculture in the hinterland and riverine communities and in the Intermediate and Rupununi savannahs. ● $9B will be injected into GuySuCo to assist its recovery and modernisation programme. ● The cattle industry will be energised through

the development of a milk pasteurisation plant.

Additionally, plans are underway for the development of 4,000 acres of state lands situated in Region Nine for the purpose of constructing an agriculture station.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT ● $14.4B have been allocated to continue the upgrade, expansion and rehabilitation of our network of roads and bridges. ● In addition, $5B have been allocated for the reconstruction of Sheriff Street, so as to facilitate improved traffic safety features, including pedestrian overhead crossings at strategic locations. ● A US$50M loan will be signed with the Government of India to construct a new road link between Ogle, on the East Coast of Demerara, and Diamond, on the East Bank of Demerara. ● Some $2.3B will be invested to upgrade the West Coast Demerara Road from Parika to Vreed-en-Hoop. The works include widening the corridor and improving road safety features. ● A total of $6.72B has been allocated for the improvement of hinterland, rural and urban community roads in Bartica, Mahdia, Ituni/ Kwakwani, Puruni/Itaballi, Mabaruma and Port Kaituma/Baramita and the Sophia ring road, among others. ● An amount of $1.3B is budgeted for works to

● Some $2.5B will be invested in initiatives to improve GPL’s operational management capabilities. Approximately 830km of the main distribution network will be rehabilitated, with a focus on reducing electricity losses and improving the safety and reliability of the electrical system. ● Government is negotiating a power purchase agreement with a private developer for a US$50M wind farm at Hope Beach. This facility is expected to provide an additional 25 megawatts of power to the national grid.

ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTED AREAS ● Government has committed to develop a comprehensive project, costing over $1.5B, to fund the development of the botanical and zoological parks and protected areas. ● Some $114M will be invested to improve public facilities in our urban parks. ● A sum of $200M is anticipated to provide for the construction of a new building for the EPA, $40M of which are allocated in this year’s budget to conclude the design and commence construction.

GOVERNANCE AND JUSTICE

commence on the rehabilitation of the Bartica stelling and the goods wharf at Kingston; docking of dredges and ferry vessels; dredging of the Demerara and Essequibo rivers; and installation and maintenance of navigational aids. ● Works will begin on a phased waterfront development programme over the next five years.

This investment, estimated to cost over $1.6B, will see the development of state-of-the-art waterfront facilities, which will be on par with those in the Caribbean. This development will target Kitty, Kingston, Stabroek, Vreed-enHoop, Supenaam and Skeldon. ● An allocation of $5.2 B has been made for the continued development of the air services industry, including the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. ● Government has negotiated sea and river defence programmes amounting to over $6B, to erect and strengthen our bulwarks as well as to fashion a comprehensive instrument for coexisting harmoniously with our ocean and rivers.

ENERGY ● Government is currently collaborating with the IDB to define an energy matrix that will determine the best blend of energy options to ultimately boost the resilience of the energy sector. A draft of this matrix has been completed and it is expected to be finalized this year.

One option that has been presented in the matrix is the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, which was determined by the Coalition Government to be not viable in its current configuration. ● Government proposes to prioritise the construction of four mini-hydro power stations at Kamaira, Kumu, Tumatumari and Tiger Hill, which will contribute to development efforts in the communities identified for upgrade to towns.

structed at Friendship, Hope Estate, Bush Lot, Leguan, Bartica, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and other locations in Regions 2 and 6. ● A further $200M is to be allocated to the Georgetown Restoration Programme, while another $319M will be expended on the Solid Waste Disposal Management programme. ● New housing developments will commence in areas such as Perseverance, Stewartville, Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Williamsburg and Amelia’s Ward. ● In the hinterland regions, some $644M will be spent to expand the Hinterland Housing Project. ● $4.2B have been earmarked to assist in developing the four communities identified to be upgraded to township; namely Mabaruma, Bartica, Mahdia and Lethem.

BANK OF GUYANA ● The Bank of Guyana will license cambios located outside of Georgetown; will conduct a study on implementing deposit insurance in Guyana, with the goal of rolling out a deposit guarantee scheme by 2017; will examine the feasibility of agency banking, which would allow local non-banks to provide some financial services; collaborate with the IMF and the World Bank to undertake a financial sector assessment; move towards Basel II implementation, which will strengthen the regulatory framework governing banks and also result in Guyana aligning its capital requirements with internationally recommended best practices; and enhance the National Financial Literacy Programme.

NATIONAL INSURANCE SCHEME ● Government intends to examine options for repayment of $5.24B owed by CLICO. ● Management will be targeting delinquent businesses and employers, in order to recover the $1.3B in arrears owed to the Scheme.

SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC SECURITY ● Community level crime prevention actions will target 20 communities based on homicide, burglary, robbery and domestic violence rates; while vulnerability will be addressed through social prevention interventions. ● A total of $24.6B has been allocated for the development and modernisation of the security sector.

● During this year, the Governance Office will coordinate and fast-track the process for establishing the Public Procurement Commission, and will be pro-active in enacting a code of conduct for ministers of government and parliamentarians ● Over the medium term, a $1B will be invested in strengthening the justice sector.

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ● $4B have been allocated this year to improve and expand access to water across Guyana.

Areas that will be targeted for water supply and line distribution improvements and expansion include Paramakatoi; Mahdia; Mabaruma; Port Kaituma; Hubu to Naamless; Waiakabra; Yarrowkabra; Area ‘C’, Golden Grove; Victoria; Lusignan; Le Ressouvenir; Vryheid’s Lust; Albouystown; West La Penitence; Baramita; Parakees; Canal Bank; Belladrum; Lovely Lass; Itaballi and Tiger Pond. Over 18,000 persons are expected to benefit from these improvements, while another 11,000 persons will benefit from the rehabilitation of water treatment plants at Cotton Tree and Bartica. ● New wells are earmarked for Vergenoegen and Lima Sands, while a ground storage facility will be installed in Sophia. Some $2B have been allocated for the drilling of new wells at Uitvlugt, Diamond and Sheet Anchor. Further, a programme costing $5.6B is being designed that will see new water treatment plants con-

PRODUCING A WELL-ROUNDED LIFE-LONG LEARNER ● 28,000 pairs of footwear will be distributed in the first quarter of this year, primarily within our hinterland and riverine areas, and this will complement the $424.2M that has been budgeted for the continuation of the school uniform programme that will benefit over 204,000

children attending schools in the hinterland and on the coastland. ● $1.9B to be spent on National School Feeding Programme to cater for a hot meal to be given to over 7,000 additional hinterland students. ● 415 teachers will be trained this year. ● A sum of $4.3B has been allocated to continue infrastructure construction, rehabilitation and repairs.

Included in this programme are the completion of Kato Secondary Complex, which is intended Continued on page 11 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 30, 2016

Gov’t battling Zika No-case submission sets Mohamed free from all angles

By George Barclay

– no new cases recorded to date

Members of the head table yesterday

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA’s Vector Control Unit is intensifying its efforts at combating the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which is the carrier of the Zika virus that has been classed as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). This virus has, so far, affected only one individual here.

The Ministry of Public Health has made it clear that only one case of the virus has been confirmed in Guyana, while more than a dozen samples have been returned as negative from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago.

“The Ministry of Public Health wants to make it very clear that only one case of Zika virus has been presented in Guyana…I repeat Guyana has had a single case of Zika virus,” said Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton during a press conference held in the ministry’s boardroom yesterday.

Subsequent to the case being confirmed, the Vector Control Unit swung into action, putting measures in place to ensure that the virus did not spread.

ZIKA FREE Referring to the affected person, Dr. Norton said, “In a few days we would like to declare her and her neighbourhood Zika free.”

He pointed out that information gathered so far has indicated that in neigh-

bouring Brazil, where there is an epidemic of the Zika virus, the spread is concentrated mainly in the east of the country while Guyana is on Brazil’s northern border.

“Information from all immigration sources tells us that citizens from these states hardly ever come to Guyana,” he stated.

ZIKA VIRUS NOT PREVALENT HERE Meanwhile Minister of Public Telecommunications and Tourism Cathy Hughes disclosed that there are intentions to contact embassies and high commissions to adequately update them on the presence of the Zika virus in Guyana.

“We are contacting them to let them know of the real state of Zika,” she stated.

Already, she reported, there have been calls from tour organisations enquiring about the state of Zika in Guyana, and any misconceptions have been clarified.

“I was happy to let them know that we have one case and we have put specific measures in place,” she stated.

The Tourism Ministry will be dispatching a statement to international media organizations and diplomatic missions to assure potential visitors to Guyana that the Zika virus is not prevalent here.

“The Ministry is going to prepare a release to target very specifically, to parts of the international media, some of the embassies and

high commissions that have actually listed Guyana as a place where Zika is, to let them know the real state of the incidence of Zika.

Unfortunately we are all looking at CNN and seeing what is happening in Brazil which has a lot of cases,” said the Minister.

FOGGING Head of the Vector Control Unit Dr. Horace Cox also disclosed that fogging would have commenced in six of the ten administrative regions while activities in the other regions will commence next week.

This is being done along with the delivery of treated nets, strengthening of monitoring at the ports of entry and engaging persons in the preventative measures to be taken.

‘War’ room Further, yesterday the Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow announced that a ‘war’ room has been set up by PAHO along with the aid of UNICEF to monitor information in the case of any major disease outbreak.

He said that Port Health officers are present at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Ogle International Airport as well as all other ports of entry countrywide. These officers are monitoring these points for individuals coming to Guyana who may exhibit signs of the illness.

THIRTY-THREE-yearold murder accused Shakir Mohamed was on Friday freed of the murder of Shewraney Doobay, called ‘Monica’, on a no-case submission by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay. The accused, who had given the police a caution statement purporting to show that he had assisted in the disposal of the death weapon, should have been charged with accessory after the fact, but was instead charged along with Mark Singh, the number one accused and nephew of Shewraney Doobay, the wife of Dr Ramsundar Doobay.

Shakir and Mark Singh were jointly charged with the murder of the 58- year-old woman, who was found dead in her Echillibar Villas home in Campbellville on Tuesday, May 2, 2011 after she had alleged been struck on

the head with a hammer by Mark, who subsequently died in prison while awaiting trial.

On the other hand, Shakir Mohamed, at his first trial at the Demerara Assizes, became the victim of a hung jury, hence the advent of a retrial.

The end of that trial came on Thursday afternoon following the testimony of the last witness, who testified via the Skype network.

At the closure of the prosecution’s case, Attorney Mc Kay elected to make a nocase submission, claiming that there was no evidence to show that his client had taken part in any conspiracy to kill Mrs Doobay.

Counsel pointed out that throughout the evidence, there was nothing to connect his client with the crime, except the caution statement, which gave the impression that he was trying to dispose of the death weapon.

According to counsel, his client was not charged with

accessory after the fact, and there was no such offence before the court.

When asked by the Chronicle what he thought would be his chance if the Director of Public Prosecutions carries out her plan to appeal, Mc Kay replied: “They do not have a leg to stand on.”

He recalled that before the trial began, he offered the State the opportunity to amend the charge and accept a plea of “accessory after the fact”. Counsel said that offer was rejected by the State.

It was learnt that the majority sentence for the offence of ‘accessory after the fact’ is a penalty of two years.

Prosecutors in the matter were Miss Narissa Leander, Mr Siand Dhurjon and Mr Michael Shahoud.

Justice Singh accepted the no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty in favour of the accused Shakir Mohamed.

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS to ease the overcrowding at Paramakatoi and provide full secondary education for many students in primary tops. ● Over $80M have been allocated for the provision of adequate accommodation for hinterland teachers, one of the key impediments to deploying trained teachers to the hinterland. ● Under the Secondary Education Improvement Project, a total of 1,125 tablets will be distributed to seventh grade students and math teachers in eight pilot schools, facilitating better learning outcomes through the use of technology. ● $3.2B, a 52 percent increase, will be given as a first step to making the University of Guyana a true institution of higher learning.

HEALTH FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ● $28B for Health Sector ● Government intends to mount a commission of inquiry and develop an emergency suicide prevention plan of action. ● Psychiatry programme to be introduced at the University of Guyana, as well as the establishment of a mental health secretariat to offer training and services to both professionals and those seeking mental health services. ● Over $89M are earmarked

for the expansion of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) maternity unit. ● Over $6.5 B have been budgeted for drugs and related consumable medical supplies, to address the expanding range of services and coverage being given to citizens countrywide. ● $1.9B for mobilisation for the construction of the stateof-the-art specialty surgical hospital at Liliendaal; a tenbed cardiac theatre and intensive care unit at the GPHC; various works at hospitals at Port Kaituma, Kwakwani and Linden; and diagnostic centres at Diamond and Leonora. Additionally, over $1B will be spent on the purchase and maintenance of medical equipment, double the allocation of last year.

YOUTH ● Government will work to establish a more permanent funding structure for entrepreneurship and micro-lending for persons under 30, as a special Youth Investment Fund. ● The Family Commission, in collaboration with the Child Protection Agency, will create family-friendly and educationally-interactive child-friendly spaces at which there will also be support for families with children who

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have developmental disabilities. ● the Child Care and Protection Agency will also be launching a National Early Childhood Development Sensitisation Programme for parents and caregivers, with the aim of providing the relevant knowledge and skills to support early learning.

TAX REFORM ● THE Tax Review Committee, charged with coming up with a range of recommendations to improve the system, submitted their report on January 18, 2016, which was too late for Cabinet to consider and pronounce on all of the recommendations. ● Government will lobby GRA to intensify its efforts at undertaking evaluations of tax revenues by impact of exemptions, economic centres and economic sectors. ● Where tax refunds are to be granted by GRA, the taxpayers must get them on time, unless there is good reason to delay the refund. ● Government will enable small businesses to build tax impact models into their business plans, so that they have a true sense of the cash flows needed to successfully operate their businesses.

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Interpol joins search for ex-GPL Deputy CEO

Wanted: Aeshwar Deonarine

THE GUYANA Police F o r c e ( G P F ) h a s c o ntacted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to assist in locating the ex-Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light, Aeshwar Deonarine, who is wanted by the police for charges in relation to stealing money from the GPL, and who was not present in court earlier this week when the matter was called.

President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), Carvil Duncan, and Deonarine are accused of last year robbing the power company of mon-

ey by paying themselves bonuses and transferring funds into their personal bank accounts without the approval of the board of the company. Duncan was invited last year to provide the police with statements into the matter, and he had told reporters that he was not going to repay the funds, since he was entitled to the money, having worked at the company for a prolonged period without payment.

After the Government became aware of the malpractice while conducting an audit of the company, the DCEO was sent on leave to facilitate the process of an inquiry. He subsequently left the country, and this was confirmed by Government and police seniors, who said there was no reason for the man to be barred from leaving the country, as he had not been charged.

It is unclear how the matter will proceed. Deonarine had indicated that he was willing to repay the funds taken from the power company, but that has not yet been done. Deonarine is said to be in Canada.

EDWC level dips further THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has advised that due to the further decline of the water level at the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) as a result of the prolonged dry season, customers in Georgetown are experiencing low levels of service.

The Guyana Water Authority yesterday reiterated its call on all citizens to conserve water by checking all internal plumbing for leaks, including toilet cisterns and taps; reduce the frequency with which cars and equipment are washed with water provided by GWI; desist

from washing concrete surfaces with water provided

by GWI; immediately install ‘float-valves’ in water tanks, to prevent overflows; and contact GWI immediately to report leaks detected in communities on 227-8701, 227-8703 or 227-8704.

A statement from the water company said GWI continues to collaborate with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to monitor the East Demerara Water Conservancy.

The prolonged dry season is forecasted to conclude in April.

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ExxonMobil to commence drilling at Liza-2 well soon MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, accompanied by Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin and Minister of Public Infra-

structure, David Patterson, along with a team, toured oil giant ExxonMobil’s storage yard at the Wieting and Richter Wharf in Georgetown

on Thursday, to get a closer look at the company’s drilling pipes and other equipment as it prepares to start drilling its second well here, according to

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, and other representatives pay keen attention to an ExxonMobil representative during a tour of the oil company’s storage facility at the Wieting & Richter Wharf

a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.

In 2015, ExxonMobil drilled the Liza-1 well in the Stabroek Block and found a significant amount of hydrocarbons, which indicates the presence of oil in commercial quantities. A drilling vessel arrived in Guyana’s waters a few days ago to commence drilling the Liza-2 well in the same block.

It was noted that Minister Trotman will be visiting the Stabroek Block to tour the vessel in a few weeks’ time. According to the release, Minister Trotman said, “we have satisfied ourselves that Guyana has oil, and this now will go to ascertain perhaps how much of it we really have. This well is going to be near to the first one, to see how wide and how deep the reservoir is.”

He added that both Ministers Gaskin and Patterson have a vested interest in the development of the oil and gas sector, since the presence of oil tends to have a ripple effect on the services, construction and transportation sectors.

‘LOCAL CONTENT’ “We are looking at construction, we are looking at jobs, we are looking at what is known in the industry as ‘local content’, to ensure that Guyanese are aware of what is happening, and have their fair share,” Minister Trotman said.

According to the release, while acknowledging the need to exercise cautious optimism in the oil business, Minister Trotman said that the level of preparation and investment that ExxonMobil is making is evidence of its confidence that a significant amount of oil is there to be extracted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 30, 2016

Latin American, Caribbean economies face slower growth this year

By Odeen Ishmael

LATIN American and Caribbean economies will grow by just 0.2 per cent in 2016, according to new projections made in early January by the Chile-based Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

In its annual report, “Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2015,” ECLAC reiterated its call to the countries of the region to involve more investment and productivity in order to stimulate growth.

As in previous years, external conditions have variable effects in the region, which will again show marked differences in 2016. ECLAC predicts that Central America is expected to grow by about 4.3 per cent; South America’s GDP will shrink by minus 0.8 per cent, mainly due to the expected contractions in Brazil (minus 2.0 per cent) and Venezuela (minus 7.0 per cent); while the English-speaking Caribbean will grow by 1.6 per cent.

The report indicates that, in 2016, Latin American and Caribbean countries will encounter “diverse scenarios and risks” associated with the global economy, all of which will affect their economic performance. Global growth, it forecasts, will remain slow at 2.9 per cent, while China - one of the region’s top trading partners - will slow down to 6.4 per cent.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE Further, the report states, the region will face uncertainty in its international trade, since the prices for the region’s export commodities will remain low.

This obviously means that the region, especially those countries that export hydrocarbons and minerals, will, as in 2015, again experience a deterioration in terms of trade in 2016.

ECLAC also explains that the financial volatility and uncertainty observed in 2015 will persist this year, meaning that some emerging economies will continue to face difficulty ob-

taining resources in international markets. Added to this will be the impacts from the steady appreciation of the dollar and the rise in United States interest rates.

GDP GROWTH According to ECLAC’s forecast, percentage-wise, Panama will lead regional growth with 6.2; followed by Dominica and the Dominican Republic (5.2); Saint Kitts and Nevis (4.7); Bolivia (4.5); Nicaragua 4.3; Cuba 4.2; and Guatemala 4.0. Among others, GDP growth in Guyana as well as in Peru is expected to reach 3.4; Costa Rica and Honduras 3.3; Colombia and Paraguay 3.0; Belize 2.7; Mexico 2.6; Haiti 2.5; Bahamas, El Salvador and Suriname 2.4; Chile 2.1; Jamaica and Uruguay 1.5; Argentina 0.8; Trinidad and Tobago 0.6; Barbados 0.5; and Ecuador 0.3.

VENEZUELA’S ECONOMY In contrast with these figures, the US-based Stratfor Global Intelligence, in its October 2015 analysis, said that Ecuador and Argentina would face negligible and potentially negative growth for 2016. It explained that, like Venezuela, Ecuador, which is extremely dependent on oil revenues for its economic survival, would have a marginal 0.1 per cent growth in 2016.

Argentina’s growth, it said, would be similarly negligible -- at 0.4 per cent growth in 2015 and 0.7 per cent contraction in 2016. A recent report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) goes further in stating that Venezuela’s economy will contract by 18 per cent, the third sharpest decline in the world.

GUYANA’S ECONOMY The preliminary overview provides details of ECLAC’s forecast for each country in the region. For Guyana, it says that economic growth slowed to 0.7 per cent in the first half of 2015, which it attributes largely to declines in bauxite and gold output and in construction activity, owing to

an appreciable fall in public sector spending. It adds that the country currently faces the challenge of maintaining the high levels of economic growth achieved in recent years, in the face of low commodity prices.

However, it predicts GDP growth to rise to 4.4 per cent in 2016 as a result of expected increased public sector investment and what it feels will be greater output in mining, agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors. How this expected growth will impact on real economic development will, no doubt, be determined as the year progresses.

For Trinidad and Tobago, ECLAC explains that the rapid fall in oil prices has severely affected the real fiscal and external sectors of the economy, with the result that the economy is expected to grow by only 0.6 per cent in 2016.

The report also touches on the impact of inflation on some South American economies.

Indeed, high inflation levels in some countries, such as Venezuela, Brazil and Haiti, have severely undermined household disposable incomes. Actually, inflation poses a grave concern for Venezuela, where the IMF says the rate will escalate to 700 per cent this year following an estimated rise of 275 per cent last year. The Venezuelan Government disputes these IMF figures and insists that inflation was 142 per cent at the end of September 2015.

POPULATION SHIFT Climatic factors such as heavy flooding and drought conditions will also raise the prices of agricultural produce, while at the same time influence a population shift from rural areas to urban centres in some of the higher populated countries.

As the title of the ECLAC report indicates, its forecast is “preliminary”, and it is possible that the Commission’s mid-year assessment will show some variations.

The current report does not take into full consideration the continued freefall of oil prices

at the beginning of 2016, which obviously is forcing the larger oil and gas-producing countries like Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Trinidad and Tobago to restructure their national budgets and economic planning for 2016 and beyond, unless they experience a boon of an upward trend in oil prices — a situation which remains unpredictable at

this time.

Smaller regional economies as well continue to face a decline in prices for their agricultural and mineral exports, and the effects could mean a scale back in some industries, which can lead to redeployment of workers, and even more unemployment.

On the other hand, public

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and private investment in the building industry, manufacturing and infrastructure may help to offset some of these negative aspects.

All of these factors, along with any continuation of climatic setbacks, can one way or the other have an immense influence on GDP growth in the region.

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Budget musings…

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 30, 2016

Amna’s fluorescent jacket and Jagdeo’s shoe lace

By Jasmaine Payne

IT’S always good to be present on Budget Day, to look with a third eye while the country waits with bated breath to hear of news that will hopefully better our position. There had been talks that anticipation for this year’s budget was significantly high, and judging by the relatively well behaved Opposition at the day’s proceedings, maybe persons assumed right: they were waiting to hear.

First off, Finance Minister Winston Jordan must be commended for presenting two budgets within a space of months. And while many may have missed Dr Ashni Singh’s long-windedness, Minister Jordan has nonetheless placed himself in a class of his own for managing this historical feat.

Yet, what was surprising was the relative quiet during the presentation. Even their colours -– suits and shirts chockful of earth tones and mild pinks and beige -- didn’t scream any bit of excitement as they sat and received the news.

SHOE STRAP LOOSED Or was it that they were at a loss of direction without Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo there to fire things up?

Indeed, both Jagdeo’s and Rohee’s noted absence seemingly made a significant difference in the Opposition’s disposition, although the former President was earlier seen on the corridors of Parliament with his boots straps loosed.

On the other side of things, however, the APNU/AFC Coalition Government –- the ever colour coordinated team that they are -- stood firm in their radiant greens and royal blues.

Chief Whip Amna Ally took it a step above the rest to make her presence known with a fluorescent lime-shaded jacket.

Kudos to Amna for keeping things lively, for, at very low Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, times, one could look to her to brighten things up.

Needless to say, heckling was at a minimum, and ap- kept things lively with her bright, wellplause from the coalition was abundant, reaching almost coordinated colours 70 instances in the entire presentation. But the Opposition of unity and happiness as driving factors for various allowasn’t completely hushed. Certain highlights woke them up cations within the budget. One would expect this to be a to grumble on different occasions. Pauline Sukhai, for one, major feature though, what with $300 million set aside for was very vocal during the announcement of allocations for the celebrations; they won’t be able to live it down should it hinterland regions, butting heads with Dr George Norton and fall short of people’s expectations.

Amna Ally at different intervals. The discussion on plans At the end of it all, the Government expressed its comfor major road infrastructural development was also a lively mitment to “make the tough decisions to secure a better and topic, as the opposition felt that announcements such as the brighter future”, stating that it is their hope to build a country intention to make a “new road link” from Ogle to Diamond where people can enjoy the good life. But, Jagdeo -- though was nothing new. “All the ‘last year’ roads brought over to not considering it necessary to attend the sitting -- wasn’t at this year!” Irfaan Ali clearly said, implying that plans from all sold on many of the commitments made, and took to the the PPP Administration were simply regurgitated into this media to condemn the $230 million sum as “anti-poor” and Budget. disappointing. In his books, ‘the good life’ probably won’t But Minister Simona Broomes was quick in her response: be beckoning for a while.

“But we [APNU/AFC] will deliver!” More fuel was added at But that’s his job: to oppose, so no surprise there. But the failure to announce an increase in wages and salaries for if you think his comments are harsh now, imagine when public servants, as it is still being finalised. Snickers could also the debates start; everyone knows that’s where the real be heard following the announcement of a $1,200 increase for entertainment lies. No wonder the Opposition disagreed the elderly. with the Prime Minister’s move to limit the speaking time Throughout the time, much mention was made of the Ju- during the upcoming debates to 20 minutes, clearly, they Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was too bilee Celebrations, with slick attempts to connect the themes have lots more to say. Stay tuned! busy to tie his shoe lace

The opposition wore sombre colours

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 30, 2016

Holloway, Ally discuss areas for partnership

UNITED States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, on Friday met with Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, to explore areas for partnership.

The meeting was held at Ally’s Ministry of the Presidency office, and was the first official one between the two.

Ambassador Holloway

said he wanted the opportunity to meet Minister Ally formally and to extend his support to her ministry and projects.

“The issue of social cohe-

sion and inclusion is important to us, just as it is important to this Government and to the people of Guyana; but the meeting was more to find out what her

Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, makes a point to United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, during discussions at her office on Friday (Ministry of the Presidency Photos)

priorities are, and in what ways the US Government and the Ministry can cooperate going forward,” the US diplomat said.

Minister Ally has said

she looks forward to working with the US Embassy and the ambassador, according to a Ministry of the Presidency statement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 30, 2016

Guyanese youths need more support --youth workshop hears

IDB Facilitator Branka Minic

YOUNG people in Guyana are still largely disenfranchised, according to Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Representative Branka Minic.

Addressing representatives from more than 15 youth-oriented organisations during a ‘Knowledge Sharing Workshop’ at the Marriott Hotel yesterday, she bemoaned the negative effects from their inability to effectively tap into Guyana’s growing economy.

“Guyana has recorded pos-

A section of the representatives during the knowledge sharing workshop held at the Marriott Hotel itive economic growth over the last five years; however, it seems that these young people are not able to access the opportunity in their own country,” Minic said.

SEVERE SOCIAL PROBLEMS She said that 40% of the youths in Guyana are unable to gain employment, although youths account for two-thirds of the country’s population.

Many youths are affected by severe social problems such as suicide, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse, she posited, noting that the high rate of youth crime cannot go unnoticed.

The workshop, initiated by the Ministry of Public Security and the IDB, was designed to share knowledge on mapping of technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills training provided by various training providers. Minic said the knowledge sharing workshop will help organisations to better serve the at-risk population. Bridging research, policies and practices; promoting evidence-based decision-making; faster access to knowledge, experience, tools and best practices; and the dissemination of innovative solutions are among the benefits of such a workshop, the IDB facilitator posited.

IDB Modernisation of the State Senior Specialist Mariko Russell said it is disheartening to see youths being limited with respect to opportunities available to them, but expressed hope that the workshop would help the country better serve the vulnerable population.

“My hope is that you will get to the next level -- to better support the youth and children of Guyana,” Russell told the governmental and non-governmental organisations present.

IDB FUNDING The workshop formed part of a series of activities that commenced in November 2015 under the Government of Guyana/IDB Support for the Implementation of the Citizen Security Strategy aimed

at helping youth-at-risk.

The project -- Support for the Implementation of the Citizen Security Strategy -- is a US$1.8M initiative funded by the IDB and the Government of Guyana, with the IDB providing US$1.67M. The three-year agreement was signed in March 2014, although the Youth-At-Risk component of the project was started in November 2015. As such, the project, which has three components, will wrap up in March 2017.

Project Coordinator Sattie Sasenarine; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, Daneilla McCalmon; and Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment, Aubrey Norton, were among the officials present.

The Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre, the Linden Technical Institute, the Government Technical Institute, the Sophia Training Centre, SKYE (USAID), Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre, Guyana School of Agriculture, the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), the Child Care and Protection Agency, the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of the Presidency and the Ministry of Social Protection were among the organisations represented at the forum.

The Citizen Security Programme, which closed in June 2014, saw 1,377 youths being trained in technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills in Regions 4 and 6. The endof-project evaluation report indicated that 75% of the youths trained have been employed. Under the current technical co-operation project, 700 youths enrolled in the Youth-At-Risk programme are expected to be trained. Additionally, the recently launched Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) targets about 8,400.

(L-R) IDB Facilitator Branka Minic, IDB Modernization of the State Senior Specialist Mariko Russell, and the Ministry of Public Security Permanent Secretary (ag) Daneilla McCalmon

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, January 30, 2016

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Sudoku

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday January 30, 2016

Crossword

Yesterday’s Crossword Solution

Saturday January 30, 2016 - 09:00 hrs Sunday January 31, 2016 - 10:00 hrs Monday February 11, 2016 - 11:00 hrs

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Sammy backs Windies to reclaim World T20 Trophy ... Skipper happy with the squad selected

By Rawle Toney DARREN Sammy, captain of West Indies World T20 team, believes that his side has the all-round fire power to see his side reclaiming the trophy they first won in 2012.

Sammy is currently in Guyana to play in the Unity Cricket match at the Guyana National Stadium tonight.

The sixth edition of the ICC’s showpiece will be played in India, with West Indies being grouped with 2010 winners England, defending champions Sri Lanka and 2009 edition third-place finishers South Africa.

The 32-year-old St Lucian Sammy will have Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons and Jerome Taylor as his teammates in India.

“The squad was difficult to pick,” Sammy told reporters at the 704 Sports Bar, speaking on the composition of the team.

“Because of how our players have evolved around the world but I think in the end the selectors came up with a good team that could go out and win the World Cup in India,” said Sammy...

The West Indies will enter the tournament as ICC’s number one World T20 team and Sammy, who captained the team in 2012, added, “We’re the number one T20 team in the world, so, obviously with that comes high expectations.

The last T20 World Cup (2014), we were underdogs even though we were defending champions and this will be a test of strength and once this group play to their potential, I believe we could go out and win the World Cup.” “If you’re number one or number eight you go into a tournament; you have your goals, and the fact that we have some of the best players in the world in our squad, once we put that out on the field we will be fine,” the all-rounder said.

Marathon great Radcliffe cleared by IAAF of doping claims

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Doncaster 08:30 hrs Degooch 09:00 hrs Vaniteux 09:30 hrs Red Spinner 10:05 hrs Morning Run 10:40 hrs BaRTERS Hill 11:15 hrs Buywise 11:50 hrs Queen Odessa 12:25 hrs Kalanti CHELTENHAM 08:40 hrs Clan Des Obeaux 09:15 hrs Imagine That Chat 09:50 hrs Djakadam 10:25 hrs Champagne West 11:00 hrs Yanworth 11:35 hrs Thistlecrack 12:10 hrs Clean Shetts LINGFIELD 09:40 hrs Ohsosecret 10:15 hrs Giantstepahead

With a wide smile, Sammy was overjoyed at the team selected, more so, stating “every member on our team is a match-winner and as a captain, it gives you the confidence to know you have guys you can depend on.

“Happy to have Sunil Narine!”

Despite his current status of suspension, the West Indies Cricket Board and its selectors named off-spinner Sunil Narine in the squad.

Narine was reported for a suspect action during the third ODI on West Indies tour to Sri Lanka in November. An independent assessment revealed that all variations of his deliveries exceeded the 15-degree limit.

“Sunil has been a very important member in our limited over squad, especially in India where he has done so well. When Narine comes on, no matter what the rate is, everything just slows down. Not only Narine, but (Samuel) Badree; that’s the number one and two T20 bowlers in the world,” Sammy highlighted.

Narine, 27, was seen by Sammy as a “bigger plus to us because the team has seasoned T20 players and all the guys have understood their role in the team. It’s just a few inches give and take, like a player who now comes in like Jason Holder who is playing his first T20 World Cup” The West Indies squad will assemble in the UAE for a preparatory camp between February 22 and March 6, and will travel to India on March 7.

West Indies are scheduled to play two warm-up matches in Kolkata, against India and Australia on March 10 and March 13 respectively, before travelling to Mumbai for their first league match against England on March 16.

West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt.), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons and Jerome Taylor.

10:50 hrs Pickapocket 11:25 hrs Spiritual Star 12:00 hrs Bear Faced 12:30 hrs Exalted IRISH RACING TIPS Fairyhouse 08:50 hrs Deadpan 09:20 hrs Tayto Park 09:55 hrs Morning Assembly 10:30 hrs Sunsetstorise 11:05 hrs Limini 11:40 hrs Micras 12:15 hrs Avellino SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 09:00 hrs Sail For Gold 09:35 hrs Trip Tease 10:45 hrs Futura 11:20 hrs Coltrane 12:00 hrs Supercilious

12:35 hrs Vilakazi 13:10 hrs True Master ARAB EMIRATES RACING TIPS Meydan 09:10 hrs Conquerant 09:45 hrs Alkawn 10:20 hrs Baroot 10:55 hrs Charlie Croker AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Holiday Prince Race 2 Our Luck Race 3 Fortuitous Path Race 4 Flexibility Race 5 Saratoga Charlie Race 6 Buckleberry Grey Race 7 Building Permit Race 8 Leave the Light On Race 9 Green Gratto

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 30, 2016

Tortured Murray outlasts Raonic to reach Melbourne final

By Nick Mulvenney

MELBOURNE, Australia |(Reuters) - Andy Murray went through paroxysms of frustration but seized another opportunity to break his Australian Open jinx with a four-hour, five-set semi-final victory over Milos Raonic yesterday.

Four times the British world number two has advanced to the final at Melbourne Park and four times he has been vanquished, three times at the hands of Novak Djokovic.

The Serbian will again stand in his path tomorrow as the Scot seeks to add another grand slam title to his 2012 U.S. Open and 2013 Wimbledon crowns.

“Five finals is a great achievement,” said Murray.

“You can’t take that away from me.

“I should be happy about that. There are very few players that will have made five Australian Open finals, so I have to be proud of that achievement.”

Raonic, meanwhile, was left heartbroken after suffer-

ing a thigh injury that hampered him from the middle of the third set of the 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 defeat.

Winning tennis matches never looks like a walk in the park for Murray but for much of the contest against the Canadian, he at least had some justification for the tortured grimaces and explosions of anger that followed every setback.

The 13th seed has been on fire this year and his big serve and huge forehands had one of the best returners in the game on the ropes, while his newfound net game helped him to a healthy 72 winners.

Murray said earlier this week that he would waste no more energy on the histrionics but the match was just minutes old when he returned to his chair muttering curses having been broken to love in his first service game.

That was to be Raonic’s only break of the match but it was enough to win the first set and, after Murray had pounced to even up the contest, he ramped up his 230 kilometre-per-hour serve to clinch the third on

tiebreak.

MOST HEARTBROKEN “It was tough,” said Murray. “It was frustrating ... he

Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates after winning his semi-final match against Canada’s Milos Raonic at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, yesterday. (Reuters/Jason O’Brien Action Images via Reuters) didn’t miss a first serve in the breaker and I had played some good tennis in that set.”

The 25-year-old Raonic, hoping to become the first Canadian man to reach a grand slam final, was feeling the injury in the fourth

BCB 50-over Inter-Zone commences today THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)-sponsored Jameel Mohamed 50over Inter-Zone round-robin competition is set to commence this weekend with the first two rounds.

Round one will be played today with New Amsterdam/Canje playing Lower Corentyne at Cumberland while Upper Corentyne oppose West Berbice at No. 72 ground.

Round two tomorrow will see Upper Corentyne and Lower Corentyne do battle at No. 72 ground and West Berbice take on New Amsterdam/Canje at D’Edward.

Round three is billed for February 6. Lower Corentyne will play West Berbice at Albion while New Amsterdam/Canje will oppose Upper Corentyne at Cumberland in that round.

The final is set for February 20.

The BCB youth selectors will use the tournament to assist them in selecting the Berbice team to defend their title in the upcoming inter-county championship.

The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, Albion Cricket Club, Blairmont

set but Murray had also crucially got a better fix on his serve and broke for 4-3.

Raonic almost claimed it back in the next game but Murray saved two break

Cricket Club and Young Warriors Cricket Club will each host a match to assist the

points, falling to one knee and roaring “Yes! Yes!” as he pumped his fist at the ground.

Murray served out the set to even up the contest again and grabbed two breaks early in the decider as the wincing Raonic’s level

dropped, the Canadian’s racquet feeling the brunt of his frustration after the first.

“It’s unfortunate, it’s probably the most heartbroken I’ve been on court,” Raonic said of his injury.

“I think maybe that’s why I sort of lashed out at the start of the fifth set. I don’t think that’s like myself to do, but sometimes it’s a little bit too much to keep in.”

Murray finished off his ailing opponent with a sublime crosscourt backhand volley to bring up a match point, which he converted with a handsome forehand winner.

The 28-year-old pointed both index fingers at the roof of Rod Laver Arena before slumping into his courtside chair with a look of relief on his face.

The relief will not be longlived, however, as he will be back on the same court tomorrow attempting to dethrone five-time champion Djokovic.

“I have a very good shot on Sunday if I play my best tennis,” he said.

“There’s no reason it’s not possible for me to win.”

Murray’s older brother Jamie will be bidding for silverware today when he teams up with Bruno Soares to take on Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek in the men’s doubles final.

It is the first time two brothers have reached separate finals at the same grand slam.

“You’re not going to see it very often,” Murray (junior) said. “We should enjoy it and be proud of it because it’s a tough thing to do.”

That final will follow Angelique Kerber’s attempt to knock six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams off her perch in the women’s final.

Martina Hingis has been out of the singles game for nearly nine years but yesterday the Swiss won the women’s doubles title with India’s Sania Mirza.

The pair combined to beat Czechs Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-6(1), 6-3, to add the Melbourne Park crown to the Wimbledon and U.S Open titles they won last year.

Raffik & Sons 2nd T20 cricket …

Courtland All Stars through to the final DEFENDING champions Courtland All Stars defeated Rose Hall Town Bakewell by 30 runs and in the process qualified for the final of the Raffik & Sons Construction second division T20 cricket competition.

JAMEEL MOHAMED BCB to make sure the tournament is successfully completed.

Other clubs/associations and businesses are expected to come on board.

EON GIBSON

In the game which was played at Fyrish, Courtland All Stars, asked to bat first, were reduced at 15-2, but former Guyana Under-19 all-rounder Leroy Bristol then took charge.

He first put together 70 runs with Keon Sinclair (27) and then added another 60 runs with former Berbice cricketer Eon Gibson, before he fell for 69 (10 fours and two sixes).

Gibson made 42 while Troy Mathieson chipped in with 22 in Courtland All Stars’ total of 214-7.

Bowling for Rose Hall Town, Khemraj Mahadeo took 3-25, Collis Butts 3-35 and Cylus Tyndall had 2-43.

In reply, Rose Hall Town

LEROY BRISTOL could muster only 174-7 in their 20 overs. James Fraser and Khemraj Mahadeo made 56 and 39 respectively.

Bowling for Courtland All Stars, John Percival and Troy Mathieson claimed two wickets apiece.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 30, 2016

AB de Villiers appointed South Africa Test cricket captain JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) – - AB de Villiers has been appointed as the full-time captain of South Africa’s Test team, ending speculation he could retire from the longest format of the game to ease his workload.

Cricket South Africa made the announcement yesterday after de Villiers was appointed for the final two Tests of the recently completed series against England on a temporary basis following the resignation of

Hashim Amla. de Villiers, also captain of the one-day international

side who take on England in a five-match series starting on Wednesday, believes his

AB de Villiers appointed South Africa the full-time captain

team can regain their number one Test status after losing the Test series against England 2-1.

“I am honoured to have been asked to captain the Test team into a new era,” the 31-year-old said in a CSA statement.

“I thoroughly enjoyed captaining in the last two Tests against England and although I still have a lot to learn in this role it’s a new challenge that I’m excited to take on.

“I believe we are witness-

Blatter to attend appeal hearing on February 16 ZURICH, Switzerland Disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter will return to the headquarters of football’s governing body on February 16 when his appeal against his ban from the sport will be heard, according to his adviser.

Blatter, head of football’s scandal-plagued governing body since 1998, was banned in December from all football-related activity for eight years by the ethics committee of FIFA, mired in the worst graft scandal of its 111-year history.

“Mr Blatter will attend an appeal hearing on Feb-

ruary 16, at the home of FIFA, and we expect the decision as soon as possi-

SEPP BLATTER ble,” his adviser Thomas Renggli told Reuters.

Blatter’s case will initially be dealt with by FIFA’s own Appeal Committee.

Renggli said that if he is unsuccessful, he will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

Blatter, 79, who has denied wrongdoing, was banned for ethics violations over a 2 million Swiss francs ($1.96 million) payment FIFA made to European football boss Michel Platini with Blatter’s approval in 2011.

Platini, who had been the favourite to succeed Blatter, was also banned for eight years. The election for the

new FIFA president will take place in Zurich on February 26.

A total of 41 individuals and entities, including many former FIFA officials, have been charged with corruption-related offences in the United States as part of the wider scandal.

The U.S. investigation is far from over and FIFA also faces a parallel Swiss investigation.

ing the emergence of another great team. There is plenty of hard work ahead of us; we are rebuilding and have a long way to go to being a finished product as a squad.” de Villiers had expressed doubts about his Test future during the England series, refusing to commit himself to the team beyond this month.

He was one of seven players handed two-year contracts yesterday fol-

lowing a board meeting of CSA. The others were batsmen Amla, JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis, and bowlers Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander.

Temba Bavuma, Farhaan Behardien and Rilee Rossouw were all awarded one-year national contracts for the first time.

South Africa’s next Test series is at home to New Zealand in August.

GFSCA/Trophy/DCC Stall U-13 final tomorrow EVEREST Cricket Club and Bel Air RUBiS will clash in the final of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association/Trophy Stall/Demerara Cricket Club final tomorrow at the DCC ground from 18:00hrs.

Everest defeated GYO last Wednesday night in the first semi-final. GYO batting first made 103-6 off their allotted 20 overs. Everest replied with 104-5 off 19.1 overs, with Yugister Persaud leading the way with an unbeaten 32. In the other semi-final, Bel Air RUBiS made light work of GCC. GCC were restricted to 56-7 off 20 overs. Shivanand Gosain took 4-13 off 4 overs.

Bel Air RUBiS reached 58-2 in nine overs. Shivanand Gosain led the way with 21 not out.

Admission is free for the final.

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 30, 2016

England, Zimbabwe and Namibia score wins ENGLAND Under-19 fast bowlers Sam Curran and Saqib Mahmood took two and four wickets respectively to help dismiss West Indies Under-19 for 221 and complete a 61-run victory in Chittagong.

Curran began the defence of 282 in splendid fashion, dismissing Tevin Imlach and No. 3 Shimron Hetmyer for ducks in the first over of the

West Indies chase.

The other opener Gidron Pope made 60 out of the team’s first 84 runs at a run-aball before he was dismissed in the 18th over. The only other innings of substance came from the No. 7 Keemo Paul, who made 65 off 58 deliveries. Mahmood ran through the lower order and West Indies were all out in 43.4 overs.

Dan Lawrence named Man-of-the-Match

England had relied on a collective performance to post 282 for 7 after winning the toss - their second successive imposing total of the tournament. Opener Dan Lawrence was impressive again, making 55, while Callum Taylor top-scored with 59.

Jack Burnham made 44 and George Bartlett 48.

Curran also contributed 39 off 36 balls at No. 6 before wrecking the start of the chase.

Fiji Under-19 suffered another massive defeat in their second match of the World Cup, losing by seven wickets to Zimbabwe Under-19 in Chittagong, two days after a 299-run thrashing against England.

This time Fiji batted first and were shot out for 81 in 27.4 overs, with only three batsmen making a double-figure score and no one getting past 20.

Off-spinner Wesley Madhevere began his tournament with figures of 5 for 24, while leg-spinner Blessing Mavuta claimed 3 for 13 in Zimbabwe’s victory.

Zimbabwe made short work of the chase, getting to 84 in 18.5 overs but lost three

Under-19 World Cup 2016 wickets in doing so. They were 27 for 2 at one stage.

However, opener Brendan Sly made an unbeaten 29, while Jeremy Ives scored 23 off 26 balls, to seal victory. Medium-pacer Josaia Baleicikoibia took 2 for 19 for Fiji.

The Namibia Under-19 bowlers dismissed Scotland Under-19 for 159 in Cox’s Bazar after which their top-order batsmen polished off the chase in 26 overs with nine wickets in hand.

After winning the toss, Scotland lost their opener Jack Waller to Fritz Coetzee off the first legal ball of the game and never really recovered.

They slumped from 59 for 2 to 97 for 8, before their last two wickets propped them up to 159 before they were all out in 36.3 overs.

Owais Shah’s 39 at No.3 was Scotland’s top score, while Michael van Lingen took 3 for Namibia.

Kemo Paul slams 65 off 58 balls.

Unlike Scotland, Namibia had a strong start to their chase, with their openers adding 95 in 15.3 overs. Niko Davin fell for 52 off 37 balls, while SJ Loftie-Eaton was unbeaten on

67 when the winning runs were hit with 144 balls to spare. He had added 67 for the second wicket with his captain Zane Green, who was unbeaten on 39 off 42 balls. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND innings D. Lawrence b Frew 55 M. Holden c Springer b Joseph 4 J. Burnham c & b Pope 44 C. Taylor b Pope 59 G. Bartlett b Springer 48 S. Curran b Paul 39 R. Davies run-out 1 B. Green not out 9 B. Taylor not out 6 Extras: (b-4, w-11, nb-2) 17 Total: (7 wkts, 50 overs) 282 Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-84, 3-146, 4-196, 5-263, 6-266, 7-269.

Bowling: Joseph 10-0-34-1 (w-4, nb-1), Frew 6-0-37-1, Smith 4-0-27-0 (w-4, nb-1), Springer 5-0-42-1 (w-1), Paul 5-0-24-1, Kallicharan 2-0-24-0, Goolie 9-0-45-0 (w-1), Pope 9-0-45-2.

WEST INDIES innings

T. Imlach c wkp. Davies b Curran 0 G. Pope b Lawrence 60 S. Hetmyer lbw b Curran 0 K. Carty c & b Lawrence 22 J. Goolie c Lawrence b Mahmood 27 S. Springer c Burnham b Crane 16 K. Paul c Bartlett b Mahmood 65 M. Frew c B. Taylor b Mahmood 7 O. Smith c wkp. Davies b Green 2 A. Joseph not out 4 K. Kallicharan b Mahmood 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-2, w-11, nb-1) 18 Total: (all out, 43.4 overs) 221 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-84, 4-85, 5-103, 6-193, 7-207, 8-214, 9-221.

Bowling: Curran 7-0-23-2 (w-1), Mahmood 8.4-142-4 (w-1), Green 4-0-40-1 (w-2), B Taylor 6-1-28-0, Lawrence 10-0-38-2 (w-2), Crane 8-0-44-1 (w-1, nb-1).

Points: England 2, West Indies 0.

4th Petra/Milo Schools Football tournament resumes today ... Four matches set for MoE ground THE Petra Organisation Milo-sponsored Schools football tournament will resume today at the Ministry of Education (MoE) ground on Carifesta Avenue, with four more matches.

At 11:00 hrs, Carmel and Richard Ishmael Secondary schools will collide, followed by a matchup between Christ Church Secondary and Sir Leon Lessons at 12:30hrs.

Central High is set to face School of the Nations from 14:00hrs, while Bishops’ High square off against South Ruimveldt in the day’s final match at 15:00hrs.

The 4th annual Milo U-20 Schools football tournament will feature 32 high schools in Georgetown, all vying to not only to dethrone defending champions Chase Academy, but also to collect the tournament’s first prize of $500 000, which will go to their school.

The schools finishing second through fourth will win $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000 respectively.

This year’s tournament will also focus on Suicide Prevention, with Petra Organisation teaming up with the Ministry of Health.

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 30, 2016

French Federation backs Infantino for FIFA presidency

PARIS, France (Reuters) - The French Football Federation (FFF) announced yesterday its formal backing for Swiss candidate Gianni Infantino’s bid for the FIFA presidency in a snub for French hopeful Jerome Champagne.

“Noel Le Graet, in the name of the French Football Federation and his executive committee, declares his support for Gianni Infantino,” the FFF said in a statement.

It quoted Le Graet as saying the executive committee had voted 11-1 in favour of the move.

“Gianni has all the qualities needed to succeed,” the federation head said of Infantino, who is currently general secretary of European football’s ruling body UEFA. He added that the Swiss had shown in working with France’s UEFA president Michael Platini, currently subject to an eight-year ban from football, that he had the necessary talent, experience and strength of conviction.

Le Graet said Infantino’s manifesto was a step in the right direction for the sport and the federations to restore

FIFA’s tarnished image as well as develop the sport and its values worldwide.

The FFA announcement came after a heated exchange between Champagne,

GIANNI INFANTINO one of five candidates seeking football’s top job as replacement for disgraced Swiss Sepp Blatter, and the FFF chief on Thursday.

Champagne told Reuters that he had met Le Graet to seek his support when 209 national presidents cast their votes in Zurich next month.

Informed that the FFF would be supporting Infantino, Cham-

pagne said he told Le Graet that he would protest against his decision at the highest political level.

Former FIFA deputy general secretary Champagne said Thierry Braillard, the Secretary of State for Sports, and Frederic Thiriez, the president of the French Players’ Union (LFP), had given him their backing.

Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, Tokyo Sexwale of South Africa and Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain are the other candidates vying for election on February 26.

The FIFA vote follows the end of Blatter’s mandate, with the Swiss caught up in the scandal that has engulfed the world body since last May and which has seen the arrests of 41 associated personnel accused of bribery and corruption.

Blatter and Platini, who had been a strong favourite to succeed him, were banned over a payment of two million Swiss francs ($2 million) made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter’s approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier.

TTFA pledges support for Infantino THE Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) will throw its support behind FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino ahead of next month’s elections.

Infantino addressed members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) on a tour of the region earlier this month. It would appear he had made enough of a case to convince TTFA president David John-Williams.

“We know the FIFA presidential campaign is right around the corner.

We heard presentations from the various candidates in Antigua.

We had some important discussions with Mr Infantino and we feel that his presentation, from among

all the candidates, is the one that can help Caribbean football,” John-Williams told the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

“Many people know that I come from a very strong football background.

What is important to us here is the development of the game and his presentation seems most appropriate,” John-Williams added.

Infantino had promised to do just with plans to increase funding for development in the region, and also expressed the desire for the Caribbean and other developing regions to become more involved in FIFA’s processes.(Sportsmax.com)

Infantino has become a front-runner as the campaigning picks up pace, securing

broad support from European nations as well as in South and Central America.

He will be in Qatar this weekend along with three other candidates.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 30, 2016

SCA to introduce Elite League in new season … Shiv Persaud elected new president

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – The eight top Premiere League teams in the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) will vie for supremacy in the newly introduced Elite League when the 2016 season gets underway here in May. This was disclosed at last Sunday’s annual general meeting, held at the Agincourt Community Centre, Scarborough, where a new president, Shiv Persaud, was elected unopposed to succeed Deo Samaroo, who was not eligible for re-election, based on the SCA’s constitution which stipulates that a president can serve only two terms.

The introduction of the Elite League comes in the wake of the disclosure that the SCA, a Guyanese-dom-

inated body, will also lose the services of the Ellesemere facility for the next two seasons, since the Toronto City will be carrying out major infrastructural works at the venue which normally hosts two matches simultaneously.

Outgoing president Samaroo, however, assured executives and members that strenuous efforts are being made to acquire alternative venues since the SCA will be severely tasked, as several new teams have signalled their intentions to participate in the several divisions.

Apart from the Elite League, the Premiere League will be maintained in addition to the first and second divisions, the women’s league which started last season and the boys’ under-13 and under-16. The association will also make efforts to rein-

troduce the T20 tournament.

New president Persaud, who previously served as Registrar/Statistician, thanked the members and fellow executives for the faith reposed in him, pointing out that he intends to continue the work started by his predecessors in making the SCA a force to be reckoned with.

Persaud acknowledged the tremendous work and effort by outgoing president Samaroo who, he said, was instrumental in getting the SCA to where it is at this point. “I am coming in as president at a time when the SCA is positioned for growth as we are expecting additional clubs to our league and doing so with the loss of two of our main grounds at Ellesmere for the 2016-2017 season.”

Pointing out that he was also serving on a board that now has three past presidents

SCA executive members at last Sunday’s annual general meeting. New president Shiv Persaud is fourth from left while the lone female Abigail Rajkumar is in front.

- Samaroo, Richard Ramlall and Bisham Singh - Persaud said he intends to build on the outstanding work they have done in serving the SCA over the past years. He congratulated all the executives who were nominated and elected this year and welcomed them aboard to what he termed an exciting and hardworking year The vice-president re-

Golden Jaguars captain successful at USSF National B Licence course

By Rawle Toney

GUYANA’S Senior National football team captain, Christopher Nurse, was recently successful at his United States Soccer Federation (USSF) ‘B’ Licence Course.

“Coaching is definitely an avenue I see myself progressing into in a few years and I have already started coaching a boys’ team and a girls’ team for Miami Lakes United Soccer Club,” Nurse told Chronicle Sports yesterday.

Nurse started his career playing for Kingstonian Football Club; a semi-professional team in England, but until last season, when he suited up for the North Carolina RailHawks, the 31-year-old is currently ‘club-less’.

The player, who first

donned the colours of the Golden Jaguars in 2008, said he’s “grateful to God for

playing”.

Meanwhile, Nurse though making it clear that

Golden Jaguars captain Christopher Nurse allowing me to obtain this and look forward to utilising it a few years from now, but this season I am focused on

despite aging in the game and his aim still being on lacing up his cleats, it is the right time to also think

about life after the glitz and glamour of professional football.

“As a player/coach the kids look up to you as a role model and mentor. This is something that is needed in abundance in Guyana to help develop the talent - coaches who inspire and motivate the players with their own experiences and are able to relate to the players and be able to bounce between the mindset of the player and the responsibilities of the coach,” Nurse said.

The always outspoken midfield player encouraged the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to proactively assist players in obtaining their coaching licences, “because it opens up avenues for the players, but more so creates pathways for players to develop, teach and nurture the youths in the local communities.”

WICB president speaks of re-election hopes WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron expects that the body of work during his tenure will speak for itself when it comes to the possibility of being re-elected next year.

Despite coming under pressure for issues such as the abandoned tour of India, Cameron won the last electoral contest by a convincing majority.

Cameron received eight of the 12 votes on offer from affiliates in 2015, after first being elected president of the WICB in 2012, when he defeated then

incumbent president Julian Hunte.

“My own view on things is: would the shareholders, the territorial boards, want me to continue to lead West Indies cricket (considering) where we are at today? We will be publishing our accounts in the next couple of weeks and soon we have our AGM and our accounts are published, but for the first time in recent West Indies (history), outside of the World Cup, we actually made a substantial surplus,” Cameron told Antigua Observer.

With a major point of criticism being the performance of the regional Test team, particularly after a poor tour of Australia, Cameron maintains, fixing it will be a focus of his administration.

“My objective is that by 2017 we would have a Test team to be proud of and that’s what we are working towards. We have the World T20 (women) here in 2018 and so my job is to ensure that I put the WICB in a firm and a very strong position for the future that’s sustainable.” (Sportsmax.com)

mains Bisham Singh, who was unavoidably absent from the meeting but whose position was secure, based also on the constitution while Eon Gunraj and Vish Jadunauth, who were both nominated for the post of president but declined, were retained unopposed as secretary and treasurer respectively.

Mohammed Ahmed con-

tinues as assistant secretary while Samaroo is now the Grounds coordinator with Matthew Francis as his deputy. The only newcomer and lone female on the executive is Women’s Cricket Development Advocate in Ontario, Canada, Abigail Rajkumar, while Richard Ramlall continues to serve as Public Relations Officer.

NOTABLE DATES ANDREW `Six Head’ Lewis chalked up his fifth first-round stoppage when he TKOed American Tony Saladin on January 30, 1998 at the Holiday Inn in Newark, New Jersey. It was the third consecutive KO for Lewis who improved his record to 12 victories from 13 fights.

All of the victories came through the abbreviated form. In July 1997 Lewis dispatched Gabriel Perez in the first round and followed that up with the stopping of Leon Rouse in similar time before meeting Saladin.

A member of the Guyana team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Lewis, turned professional soon after. Motor racer and businessman Compton Maycock Beckles was instrumental in getting him to the USA where he excelled to the point of becoming Guyana’s first world champion.

That feat was achieved on February 17, 2001 when the heavy-handed Guyanese southpaw TKOed American James Page in the seventh round. Lewis made one successful defence before running into a wild swinging Nicaraguan named Ricardo Mayorga who snatched the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title via a fifth-round TKO. The beloved product of Albouystown passed away in May last year following a vehicular accident on the East Bank Demerara. He was 44 years old.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday January 30, 2016) COMPLIMENTS of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to Thursday’s quiz:

(1) 239-Graham Dowling (NZ vs IND, Christchurch, 1967-68) (2) 171*-Glen Turner (NZ vs East Africa, Edgbaston, 1975)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Where in the WI the first Test match was played?

(2) Where in the WI the first ODI was staged?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday January 30, 2016

Ming in Mexico as NACAM F4 Championship resumes this weekend

Calvin Ming gets ready to test his F4 at the Autódromo Internacional de Aguascalientes circuit in Mexico.

THE hectic calendar of activities for current overseas-based racer Calvin Ming continues with the 19-year-old back into the monocoque cabin of his

Mygale f4 car ahead of this weekend’s North American Central American Motorsport (NACAM) F4 championship.

Ming, who arrived in Aguascalientes

on Tuesday, began testing on Thursday at the Autódromo Internacional de Aguascalientes circuit where the second round of the championship gets going this weekend.

Reports out of Aguascalientes indicated that testing commenced on Thursday with tune and test set for yesterday and qualification expected today.

The 19-year-old, the only Guyanese in the 17-driver championship, and the lead driver for team Ming, sits 9th in the standings on 8 points.

The series also includes Santiago Lozano of Colombia as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s Frankie Boodram as the only other non-Mexican participants.

Each of the seven rounds of the Mexican F4 championship series comprises 3 races lasting a total of 35 minutes.

Just last weekend, the Guyanese dominated the Suzuki SR3 Radical series

on debut at the Bushy Park raceway in Barbados.

Ming, who suffered car issues in the lead up to the action, provided a thrill to race fans gathered at the Bushy Park Raceway when he picked up two firsts and one fourth-place finish.

Starting in position two of the first race on Sunday, he completed the race first but was handed a 10-second penalty for jumping the start, which relegated him to fourth place.

In the second race, which features a reverse grid, Ming started in 3rd but on lap one rocketed to the front to take the race as he ran unchallenged.

Race three proved the most challenging for the young Guyanese as he started second behind the Barbadian Sean Maloney, with the later holding a stiff defensive line, but failed to keep the exuberant Ming behind him.

Rugby season ‘scrums off’ today!

THE Guyana Rugby Union (GRFU) season for 2016 is set to scrum off this weekend at the National Park Rugby Field, with its Division-1 League, 16:00hrs daily.

The league, which will see participating teams compete in two rounds of action, gets on the way from today when Pepsi Hornets tackle Yamaha Caribs.

Tomorrow, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Falcons take on the ever-improv-

ing University of Guyana (UG) Wolves.

Meanwhile, a release from the GRFU said the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) team will not be part of the league “due to several reasons”.

The release also states that tomorrow, the GRFU would be holding its Constitution Amendments Adoption Meeting, at the National Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue from 11:00hrs.

(Rawle Toney)

Flashback! Rugby action at the National Park

CPL to welcome international stars for 2016 season … CEO Damien O’Donohoe hails ‘most exciting roster of talent’ ahead of Player Draft

THE HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is set to feature a galaxy of international talent – including Twenty20 heavyweights Francois ‘Faf’ du Plessis, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara and Shane Watson – who have all been confirmed into the Player Draft which is set to take place in Barbados on Thursday, February 11.

This will be the inaugural inclusion of marquee international players in the CPL Draft and they need little introduction, having been ranked amongst the game’s leading T20 exponents in recent years.

A prolific run-getter, McCullum was the first international player to reach 1 000 runs in T20 history and the New Zealander is the only player to date to have scored two international T20 centuries having featured in 71 T20 Internationals.

Proteas batsman du Ples-

sis is currently ranked fourth on the ICC T20 Batting rankings, gripping the global cricketing public with a series of electrifying displays across all formats for many years.

Experienced Australian all-rounder Watson, a twotime ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) champion in 2007 and 2015, as well as his country’s T20 player-ofthe-year in 2012 and 2013, will also get his first taste of CPL action.

CPL is also pleased to announce the identities of the other two marquee players who will both be returning for another stint at the biggest party in sport.

Black Caps batsman Martin Guptill (who incidentally holds the world record ODI score of 237 not out achieved against the West Indies in Wellington during the ICC CWC 2015) currently lies in fifth place in the World T20 batting rankings.

Sri Lanka’s ICC World

T20 2014 winner Kumar Sangakkara is one of the most decorated and respected players at all levels in the history of the game. A former captain of his country, who scored 287 in what remains a

SHANE WATSON world record Test partnership of 624 with Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar scored over 28 016 runs in 594 games across all three formats, and boasts an impressive T20 strike rate of over 120 in 56 internationals.

The identity of the final

marquee player will be announced closer to the Draft.

All marquee players will enter the Player Draft and will each be assigned to one of the six franchises from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago.

The 2016 edition of the CPL is set to be played over a six-week period from the end of June until the first week of August, with this year’s fixtures to be announced in due course.

Each squad has been increased from 15 to 17 players (though franchises also have an option to have a current West Indies Cricket Board player as part of their squad) which must include the following; one ‘marquee’ player, one representative from the ICC Americas, one West Indies Under-19, five overseas (with four permitted to feature in any match-day starting XI) and 10 West Indies qualified players.

Speaking ahead of the Player Draft on February 11, CPL CEO Damien O’Donohoe said: “We are hugely excited about the fourth season of CPL and we believe that this is our most exciting line up of talent to date.

“For players of the calibre and international standing of Faf du Plessis, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara and Shane Watson to commit to the CPL is a significant endorsement of the growing stature of the CPL internationally.

“We are excited about welcoming them, as well as a host of local and international talent, to the Caribbean once more. Plans are well underway for this year’s competition and I know that each of the players is enthusiastic about playing to the best of his abilities for the West Indies public and in representing the franchises with pride this summer.”

CPL Director of International Cricket Tom Moody added: “With the confirmation of these marquee players, the CPL is now truly established as one of the leading T20 leagues and compares favourably with the likes of the IPL and Big Bash League.

“We are entering into a fascinating year of T20 cricket, with a number of players in this year’s Draft set to feature for their countries in the forthcoming ICC World T20 in India, as well as in other leading domestic T20 competitions.

“With the West Indies currently sitting atop the World T20 team rankings, we believe that the top quality signings of iconic and hugely decorated marquee players demonstrate CPL’s intentions to captivate the attention of both the West Indies public and cricket followers globally.”

The full list of players to be enrolled in the Draft will be unveiled on Tuesday.

Ming in Mexico as NACAM F4 Championship resumes this story 39 weekend onSeepage

Sammy promises fireworks at Guyana National Stadium tonight

By Rawle Toney

WITH the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Lendl Simmons and Andre Fletcher all set to play in today’s Unity Cricket at the Guyana National Stadium, West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy is promising ticket-holders ‘fireworks’ at the venue.

“What do you think will happen when some of the best players in the world go against each other? You will have one of the best cricket matches ever seen,” Sammy said speaking at a Press Conference yesterday, hosted by organisers of the event, 007 and Legacy Promotions.

Guyana’s Ramnaresh Sarwan will captain the Legacy All-Stars that also features the world’s most feared T20 batsman Gayle, Rajendra Chandrika, Fletcher, Narsingh De-

onarine, Jonathon Foo, Nicholas Pooran, Evin Lewis, Devendra Bishoo, Sulieman Benn, Assad Fudadin, Robin Bacchus, Gajanand Singh, Royston Crandon and Bravo.

Attorney-at-Law James Bond’s 007 Warriors will be piloted by Chris Barnwell and will have West Indies Test team skipper Jason Holder along with Dwayne Smith, Simmons, Anthony Bramble, Shemroy Barrington, Sammy, Steven Jacobs, Sherfane Rutherford, Reyad Emrit, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Samuel Badree and Gudakesh Motie.

That match gets underway at 19:00hrs.

“This should be something annual,” said Sammy, who was last week named captain of the West Indies T20 squad for the ICC’s tournament in India in March.

Sammy told the gathering at 704 Sports

Bar, that some of the players selected have a busy International schedule and named the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the World T20 event as important engagements, but, despite such, fans could expect a great game.

“We all have a busy season but that wouldn’t stop us from giving the people a great match. The guys all have a competitive nature and as such, everyone will play to win, so I can promise everyone that this will be a good game of cricket and fun for the family,” said Sammy.

Every fan in the stands who take a one-handed catch will be US$500 richer and if Gayle cuts loose they could have plenty of opportunity to do so.

Meanwhile, organisers said that the early-bird tickets ($2 000) are all sold out, and patrons will now have to pay $3 000 to enter the ground. Children under 12 years will be

admitted free providing they do not use a seat in the stands.

Five softball matches will be played by Berbice Masters and Female teams, who will oppose their Demerara counterparts.

The semi-finals of the Open 10/10 between Berbice, Essequibo, Wolf Warriors and Regal will also be contested, where the winners of the semis will clash in the final from 16:30hrs for $500 000.

Tickets are on sale at M&M Snackette (Demerara Harbour Bridge), Tiyo’s Future Store (Anna Catherina and Parika), Andrew’s Pharmacy (South Ruimveldt) GCC’s bar at Bourda pavilion, Shoppers Pharmacy (Giftland Mall), Lenny’s (Mon Repos), Deb’s Bar (East Coast), Little Rock Hotel (New Amsterdam) and Poonai’s Pharmacy (Rose Hall Town).

Sammy backs Windies to reclaim World T20 Trophy ... Skipper happy with the squad selected

FLASHBACK! The West Indies team celebrate after winning the 2012 ICC World T20 tournament.

See story on page 33

Cost of Rio’s 2016 Olympics rises by almost $100M RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - The price tag for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro has risen by 400 million reais ($99.3M) since August mainly due to rising costs of supplying temporary power and seating at venues, the head of the group monitoring spending said yesterday.

The projected total cost for the games,

including large infrastructure projects like an extended subway and reformed port area, now stands at 39.1 billion reais, about 1 percent more than forecast some six months ago.

The higher budget, which comes as Brazil wrestles with its worst recession in decades and an inflation rate of about 11 percent, gives further ammunition to critics

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9

who argue the money could be better spent on Brazil’s stretched public services.

The spending on the Olympic stadiums stands in stark contrast to financial problems in Rio’s health system, where hospitals have been forced to close units and turn away patients as money runs out.

Marcelo Pedroso, president of the Public

Olympic Authority (APO), which is monitoring spending for Rio’s Summer Games, said the cost of supplying temporary power at venues alone accounted for an additional 290 million reais and will be paid for by the federal government.

The opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics is set for August 5.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2016