Chronicle 02 5 2016

‘Mobile govt’ No. 104453

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2016

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rolls into Essequibo 2

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Hundreds of Essequibians turned out at the Ministry of the Presidency's Public Day event

…fixes residents' problems …hears complaints of sabotage of D&I structures

WOMAN FREED 3

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Attendants from the Suddie Public Hospital removing the woman from the unsanitary room in which she was held

…one year after being locked in faeces-laden room

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

‘Mobile Govt’ rolls into Essequibo …fixes residents’ problems …hears complaints of sabotage of D&I structures

The Prime Minister takes notes as he and Mrs Nagamootoo listen to the concerns of residents of the Essequibo Coast

By Svetlana Marshall GOVERNMENT’s “Meet the Public” initiative rolled into Essequibo on Thursday with officials solving problems on the spot and hearing of alleged acts of sabotage of the Region Two drainage and irrigation structures.

Scores of rice farmers “poured out their hearts” as they consulted with ministers and other officials during the well-attended ‘Meet the Public Day’ at Perth Unity Park on the Essequibo Coast. The initiative was spearheaded

by Minister of State, Joseph

Harmon, with the support of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix.

Another meeting was held at Aurora, where the Prime Minister’s Regional Representative, Karan Chand, told Guyana Chronicle that Opposition forces in the Essequibo Region are allegedly sabotaging the rice industry.

“There seem to be some sabotage in the region, and this is politically-driven,” Chand alleged, noting that “rangers are not doing their work.”

According to Chand,

farmers have been complaining bitterly over the rangers’ failure to effectively execute their duties. “The rangers are the ones who are supposed to be in the fields monitoring the regulation of water,” he explained.

Chand said persons have been tampering with pumps and regulators within the district. He pointed out that, in November 2015, someone had sabotaged two pumps with sand. One of those pumps is located at Hampton Court.

Quizzed why anyone would want to sabotage the rice industry at a time when it is struggling with extreme dry weather, Chand responded by pointing out that Local Government Elections are just months away.

“Local government elections coming up, and this area is predominantly Opposition area; it is a stronghold area for the Opposition, so some people want to do all they can to see that this Government

One of the many residents of the Essequibo Coast who reached out to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during the ‘Meet the Public Day’ at Perth Unity Park

does not succeed. They have their own agenda,” he posited.

FIRE THEM Chairman of the Essequibo Paddy Farmers Association and Guyana Rice Development Board Member, Naitram, said those who are failing the rice industry should be fired. He agreed that the effects of the El Nino are further compounded by poor management of the drainage and irrigation systems in the region. “Some areas are having a free-for-all while others have no water. I have been lobbying long for implementation of a water schedule,” Naitram told reporters.

The failure of millers to fulfill their financial obligations to farmers was also among some of the other issues raised during the public forum. Reports indicate that although they have been paid in full by the GRDB, some millers are still to pay farmers debts dating back to March,

2015.

Farmers are now calling on the Government and the GRDB to take stern action against millers who continue to be defaulters.

LATE PAYMENTS Better Success rice farmer Daniel Persaud complained bitterly to the Chronicle before meeting with the Minister of State. “The rice industry is dying, and why it is dying?

Late payments from millers!

Some millers owe farmers for a year now; some, seven months,” he said.

Persaud said Government must act fast in favour of rice farmers. “I want this Government to put drastic measures in place. Either they suspend (the millers’) licences, take it away or take them to court; but it can’t go on any longer, the Government needs to do something about it,” Persaud pleaded.

Reports indicate that during a recent meeting last week, the GRDB and the Essequibo Rice Farmers Association wrote to the Government a letter requesting that action be taken against millers who fail to discharge their financial obligations to farmers.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who dealt with the issues relating to rice, said the public meeting is an indication that the Government is concerned about the challenges

facing rice farmers. “Coming here…was an act of assurance to the people of Essequibo that they are uppermost in our minds.” He declared.

He said he was pleased to have assisted farmers on the ground. “I had to make a call, during the meeting, to a miller after a rice farmer complained that he had not been paid for his rice, and that the bank had sent a letter threatening to take certain legal action against him. And at the moment while I was there, the miller assured me that he would pay this farmer today,” the Prime Minister said, noting that this Government will not tolerate millers not paying farmers.

The Prime Minister also pledged to address the other issues affecting rice farmers in the region.

At this ‘Meet the Public Day, representatives from the Ministry of the Presidency, Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ministry of Citizenship, Department of the Public Service, National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and Civil Defence Commission (CDC) addressed a wide variety of issues, ranging from land to matters relating to the issuance of birth certificates and passports.

Minister Harmon described the ‘Meet the Public’ initiative as another step taken by Government to have a system of “open governance.”

WOMAN FREED 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

...one year after being locked in faeces-laden room

The victim being taken for medical attention (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

Locked away: The room in which the 31-year-old was locked away for more than a year. The photo also shows the hole through which she was fed

By Svetlana Marshall A 31-year-old Essequibo Coast woman who had been imprisoned by her mother for more than a year and was forced to live under inhumane conditions was rescued yesterday upon the intervention of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

The victim of this bizarre detention had been padlocked in one of the bedrooms of her mother’s Richmond Housing Scheme home, and was fed through a hole. She was found lying half-naked on a wooden bed frame in a room filled with human faeces, urine, worms and garbage when the rescue team arrived.

She was removed from her place of confinement and taken to a medical institution.

Residents who witnessed the operation rejoiced, saying: “This is indeed the day that the Lord has made!” The police have since launched an investigation into the matter.

This captive’s story, which was reportedly told to regional welfare officials on countless occasions, was brought to light when a determined friend of the family made her way to Perth on the Essequibo Coast, where the Prime Minister, Minister

Anna Regina Police Station to conduct a rescue operation with the assistance of a medical team. Upon seeing the police, the ambulance and the press, the mother of the 31-year-old burst into tears.

She said her daughter,

The room in which the former nurse was made to exist

of State Joseph Harmon and Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix were conducting another round of ‘Meet the Public’ engagements.

Monica Edwards, who had known the young woman since she was a child, told the Prime Minister of the tragic story in her quest to get help

for the woman, now considered to be mentally ill.

Upon hearing of her plight, the Prime Minister instructed senior ranks at the

who had celebrated her birthday just two days ago, had developed a brain disorder approximately seven years ago. During the initial stages of her mental illness, medical attention was sought, but to Turn to page 7 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

Father of five stabbed to death

GR TAXI driver Shafeek Mohammed, 40, of 116 Marshall Street, Annandale, ECD is reportedly on the run after allegedly stabbing to death his brother-in-law Ramkarran Mohan Lall, 33, of Coldingen, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Wednesday night.

The dead man, a father of five, was allegedly stabbed four times about the body, and was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

His eldest child is nine years old, whilst the ages of his other children are six, five, two, and one year old.

Dead: Ramkarran Mohan Lall

According to the wife of the deceased, Latchminie Singh, the two men had an ongoing argument, which led to an abrupt confrontation that caused “my sister’s husband to pull out a dagger

Neo-natal ICU reopens at West Dem Hospital

and stab (my husband) four times after an argument that started in the house.”

After the stabbing, she said, the assailant, a taxi driver, boarded his vehicle and fled the scene.

She said the altercation occurred in front of her mother-in-law’s house in Marshall Street, Annandale ECD. Her reputed husband had been a mechanic by trade, she disclosed, describing him as a popular and well-known mechanic. “He was a loving father and a good man. I don’t know why this had to happen,” she lamented.

Dr. George Norton delivering remarks at reopening of the West Demerara Regional Hospital’s Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit in Region Three tributions, Dr. Norton also

Man nabbed with 255 grams of ganja

By Shirley Thomas A MAJOR advancement in healthcare in Region Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands) was realised yesterday with the commissioning and re-opening of the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

The NICU is a specialist department in a hospital where specially trained staff members care for newborns who have medical complications or babies who have been born prematurely. The babies, referred to as ‘neo-nats’ are usually kept in the NICU for days, weeks or longer, depending on the degree of prematurity.

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, said it was a great honour and pleasure for him to reopen the facility. The

A MAN was on Thursday caught with a large quantity of marijuana, police said in a statement.

According to the police release, acting on information received on Thursday, ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch conducted a search on a man at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara and found him in possession of 255 grams of marijuana. He has been arrested, and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

West Demerara NICU was initially opened earlier last year, but due to a technical snag, it had to be closed until systems to ensure quality assurance and infection control had been put in place.

DECLINE IN NEONATAL DEATHS Dr. Norton said the close cooperation between the Ministry of Public Health and the ‘Guyana Help the Kids Foundation’, a registered Canadian charity, has led to a significant decline in neonatal deaths at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. In December, 2015, the GPHC recorded a drop in mortality from 35% to 7%.

While congratulating and thanking the medical team and the Canada-based international partner for their sterling con-

came in for high praise for his initiative and his selfless and dedicated efforts to make the facility a reality.

Dr. Norton recalled that ‘Guyana Help the Kids Foundation’ has collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health over the past three years, and is committed to giving continuous and consistent support to reduce the local neonatal mortality rate.

GHKF was instituted at the GPHC and the regional hospitals for the purpose of reducing neonatal mortality in Guyana through the provision of education and technology. These provisions include physician education, nursing education, infection control, and biomedical support through a comprehensive and sustainable programme. The GHKF has already donated equipment costing approximately Cdn$30,000 to support neonatal care in Guyana.

PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN Dr. Norton said that neonatal mortality in Guyana, although decreasing, continues to be a major public health concern, and is currently a primary focus of the Public Health Ministry.

“The Ministry of Public

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

Neo-natal ICU reopens ...

From Page 4

Health, under the current administration, is committed to ensuring that the health needs of all its citizens are met. Infant mortality rate is one of the indicators for the Sustainable Development Goal, hence the ministry is looking towards enhancing its pre- and post-natal programme and services,” Dr. Norton said.

He posited that the reopening of the NICU at the West Demerara Regional Hospital will see fewer women travelling from Region Three to Georgetown for specialized health care, since it is now accessible in that region.

Doctors and nurses who would have undergone training in the areas of neonatal care and pediatrics and are now fully capable of providing better

care to all babies born at the West Demerara Regional Hospital have already been identified to run the Unit. The Unit will be headed by Consultant Dr. Ramiro Mesa, who will oversee a team of three doctors and three specially trained nurses to execute this task.

Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer Dr. Shawn Bancroft has said that the NICU was established with the sole purpose of reducing mortality -- a project which was started at the GPHC and extended to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

He expressed gratitude for the necessary training and equipment provided to eliminate maternal deaths and infant mortality, and noted also that

the functioning of such a facility is the hospital’s first step in ensuring that it fulfills some of its major commitments -– reducing maternal mortality as well as infant mortality in Guyana.

Dr. Bancroft applauded the dedication of staff in the region, coupled with the readiness and preparedness of the Ministry of Public Health and support from the Regional administration. He noted that it augurs well for the continued success of the initiative.

Others delivering remarks at the reopening ceremony included Director of Regional Health Services, Dr. A glimpse of the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit at the West Kay Shaku; Regional Chair- Demerara Regional Hospital man Julius Faerber, and Regional Executive Officer Dennis Jaikarran.

Dr. Norton listens to doctors’ concerns yesterday at the West Demerara Regional Hospital

Dr. George Norton cuddles a newborn while on a walk-about at the West Demerara Regional Hospital yesterday

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams

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

Editorial

The Zika virus

THE World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Zika virus a public emergency of international concern.

According to that organization, the virus is transmitted to humans primarily via the bite of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also carries the dengue and chikungunya viruses; often lives around buildings in urban areas; and is usually active during daylight hours (peak biting activity occurs in early mornings and late afternoons).

This recent outbreak of the Zika virus began in Brazil in April 2015. The most common symptoms of Zika infection are fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes), headache, and muscle pain; and these symptoms are known to last from several days to a week.

Conventional scientific knowledge had held that the Zika virus is transmitted only through the bite of this mosquito; but on Wednesday, the United States’ (U.S) Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the claim made by Texas on Tuesday that the virus is also transmitted through sexual contact. One such case was found of a person having sex with someone who had returned from Venezuela.

With the WHO forecasting that Zika is likely to spread to every country in the Americas where the mosquito is found -- outside of Canada and Chile, which are not home to the mosquito -- Guyanese have to be vigilant. Reuters today reported that Chile has three reported cases of Zika infection, one respectively from persons who had travelled to Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela. These persons are all in recovery.

Guyana has reported one case of Zika infection.

While persons should not be unduly alarmed, it does no harm to take all necessary precautions against contracting Zika infection. To this end, persons are asked to pay heed to travel advisories and the Ministry of Public Health’s public education outreach.

The Public Health Ministry on Wednesday issued an advisory that fogging will begin in identified communities; and admonished that persons keep their yards clean by removing all empty containers that can breed mosquitoes, and to always sleep under mosquito nets so as to prevent contracting mosquito-borne diseases.

And in the absence of abstinence, persons are encouraged to practise safe sex by using a condom, in order to avoid contracting the Zika virus through sexual transmission.

There are reportedly more than 3,000 cases of microcephaly, which is suspected to be linked to the Zika virus.

Microcephaly is a birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and neurological abnormalities.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has set aside US$9M to educate the Brazilian community about eradicating mosquito breeding sites and how to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes. WHO has also recommended that local health authorities pay close attention to pregnant women who may have contracted the virus. Countries like Colombia and El Salvador are cautioning women to avoid getting pregnant within the next six months to two years. The dichotomy here is that these countries have strict abortion laws and restricted access to contraception.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

CJIA working to upgrade facilities Dear Editor,

MANAGEMENT of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) wishes to thank the letter writers in Kaieteur News and Stabroek News for expressing their concerns over the sanitary condition of the washrooms and carpets at CJIA. Management values this feedback, and wishes to assure them that appropriate action will be taken to address those

concerns.

Management is currently in the process of upgrading its facilities and reviewing the services provided by its suppliers and contractors. About a year ago, the washrooms throughout the terminal building were upgraded, and every effort is being made to ensure ongoing maintenance and monitoring mechanisms are in place, to make sure all setbacks are corrected immediately.

Our management team has

also placed great emphasis on customer service, and is in the process of rebranding our image under the theme “Ambassadors with Integrity.”

The initial target groups will be the taxi drivers and Red Cap Porters, who have already been informed of the initiative and are enlivened by it. It is also public knowledge that, in another 23 months, the airport’s capacity will be significantly enhanced with longer and improved runways, along with a

modernized terminal building.

Our attainable goal is to make CJIA the benchmark airport of the region, one used to measure exceptional quality of service and standards.

Let me reiterate that feedback is important to us. Passengers and airport users can freely contact the CJIA Management Team on telephone numbers 261-2281, 600-7022, or 613-5117.

Sincerely, ANEKA EDWARDS

Williams performed well as BIT Chairman Dear Editor, LAST Monday’s Kaieteur News carried a letter by T. Sandiford which was critical of Mr Clinton Williams’s leadership roles in two businesses and the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). I am not in a position to comment on Mr Williams’s performance as a business leader, but I feel obliged to do so regarding his performance as Chairman of the BIT, of which I have been Vice Chairman since mid-2013.

I wish to remind readers that the success of any organisation is dependent on a number of factors and people in a variety of positions at several levels of the organisational hierarchy. The effectiveness of the chain of actors also varies,

depending on the nature of the organization, with bureaucratic, government-controlled organisations being more circuitous, if not obscure, than others. Admittedly, smart leadership can cut through contextual constraints, but sometimes even the Jack Welches, Jock Campbells and Yesu Persauds of the world can falter at obstacles in their respective path; their excellence emanating from their ability to turn these obstacles into challenges to be overcome.

The Board of Industrial Training is not a unitary outfit; it is comprised of governmental nominees representing various interests, with the prime focus being on articulating and overseeing governmental policies and objectives for industrial

and vocational training, the actual implementation of which is vested in the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and staff of the BIT, all of whom fall under the purview of the designated permanent secretary and minister of government.

I have had the pleasure of seeing, for two years, how Mr Clinton Williams wisely operated within this maze in order to achieve improvements by and within the BIT, and this despite an apparent stubbornness against necessary change in attitude, approach and programmatic priorities.

His was a refreshing style of democratic, participative and consensual leadership, without which nothing would have been achieved.

Among the top achieve-

ments during my two years was a refocus on ‘hard’, basic “industrial” training, as opposed to pressures for more marginal ‘soft’ training in things like “cosmetology, hairdressing, cooking, catering” etc. Much work was also done in monitoring and streamlining the financial and business controls, including the disciplined reporting of same.

In concluding, let me clarify that I have no personal brief or interest in defending Mr Williams, but I view an attack on his chairmanship of the BIT as an extension, tenuous as it might be, on me and my colleagues on the Board; hence this letter.

Regards, NOWRANG PERSAUD

Eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030 Dear Editor, FEMALE genital mutilation (FGM) is a violent practice that scars young females for life. It endangers their health, deprives them of their rights, and denies them of the chance to reach their full potential.

FGM is widespread. It is a global problem that goes well beyond Africa and the Middle East, where the practice has been most prevalent. It affects communities in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America.

The number of girls and women at risk will only get larger if current population trends continue. It is threat-

ening to wipe out hard-won gains.

FGM is discrimination.

It both reflects and reinforces discrimination against women and girls, perpetuating a vicious cycle that is detrimental to development and to our progress as a human family.

FGM must end. At the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit last September, 193 states unanimously agreed to a new global target of eliminating FGM by 2030. This recognition that FGM is a global concern is a critical milestone.

But the recognition, while important, is not enough. To protect the well-being and dignity of every girl, we, as

This week, in response to this dilemma, the United Nations called access to abortion a human right.

According to the WHO, there is no vaccine, cure or specific treatment for the disease, but treatment may help. Treatment instead focuses on relieving symptoms, and includes rest, rehydration, and medications for fever and pain.

The WHO notes that prevention and control of this disease relies on reducing the breeding of the mosquitoes, and minimising contact between mosquito vectors and people by using barriers (such as repellents, insect screens); reducing

a global community, need to take responsibility for ending FGM. That means we need to learn more -- improving our data collection to measure the full extent of the practice -- and do more. We need to encourage more communities and families to abandon FGM. We need to work with larger numbers of medical communities -- including traditional and medical professionals -persuading them to refuse to perform or support FGM. We need to support more women and girls who have undergone the harmful practice, and provide them with services and help to overcome the trauma they have suffered. And we need to support and empow-

er girls around the world to make their voices heard in calling out to put an end to FGM. We must all join in this call. There simply is no place for FGM in the future we are striving to create -– a future in which every girl will grow up able to experience her inherent dignity, human rights and equality by 2030.

Regards, DR. BABATUNDE OSOTIMEHIN UNFPA Executive Director, ANTHONY LAKE, UNICEF Executive Director

water-filled habitats supporting mosquito larvae in and close to dwellings, and reducing the adult mosquito populations around at-risk communities.

Thus it is encouraging news that Brazil and the United States are partnering to develop a vaccine against the virus and combat the mosquito that transmits it. The Associated Press reports that, on 20th February, U.S. technicians of the National Institutes of Health and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will meet in Brazil with technicians of the Brazilian Health Ministry and those of three biomedical and clinical research centres.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

Core homes beneficiaries not coerced, tricked – CH&PA The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has sought to clarify that no beneficiary of Government’s core homes were coerced, tricked, intimidated or deceived by officers attached to the agency, to return their documents for a refund.

The Core House Pilot was implemented under the Government of Guyana/ Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Second Low Income Settlements Programme (2009-2015), and was targeted to benefit persons of low affordability who were unable to con-

struct houses on their own.

According to the CH&PA, the beneficiaries who passed through a rigorous selection process were allowed to participate in the pilot in good faith, and defaulters failed to adhere to their side of the agreement.

The authority revealed that occupation of the core houses was a key aspect of the agreement between the Government and the IDB and was elaborated in the Operating Regulations which governed the Programme; the beneficiaries signed the Agreement which stipulated the following:

● “Possession of the property shall be given to the beneficiary(ies) who shall occupy the property within one month of it being delivered to the beneficiary(ies).” ● “Upon failure of the beneficiary(ies) to occupy the said property within one month of its delivery, the beneficiary(ies) shall be bound to give up possession of the land and building to the Authority and to re-convey Title to the Central Housing and Planning Authority.”

However, having been faced with defaulters, the CH&PA carefully reviewed

the issue of repossession of the houses, prior to the issuance of letters to the beneficiaries.

“The Authority notes that the letters which were issued to defaulting beneficiaries, prompted some beneficiaries to occupy their homes while some others elected to be refunded monies paid for the land and their equity contribution of $100,000 toward the house. The house was virtually free of cost to the beneficiaries” the agency said in its statement yesterday.

And having maintained that “no one was coerced,

WOMAN FREED

Jagdeo Bishop pointing to an area in the house where zinc sheets were placed to prevent invaders

no avail, the mother said.

RAPED However, approximately one year ago, the mother said, she decided to lock her daughter away because she and her daughter had been constantly raped by a man in the neighbourhood.

“He raped me, and when he done he go to my daughter and come back to me and raped me,” she recalled.

According to the woman, her daughter was raped more than ten times by this man, who was reportedly apprehended by the police but subsequently released.

“I reported it to the Anna Regina Police, but they just locking he up for a couple of days and them loosing him,”

she said.

Facing threats to her life, and confronting the man’s persistence in perpetrating the rapes, the woman said, she then locked her daughter in the room, and would often ‘sleep out’. “Tell you the truth, I fearful for my life, and I don’t sleep home; but when I come home, I would reach her place break,” this mother disclosed.

The woman used to feed her daughter through a hole, but the room was cleaned only “now and then.”

The mother said that due to the constant breakage, she and her eldest son, Jagdeo Bishop, had reasons to put further security measures in place.

Asked whether she was

happy that her daughter was finally getting help, the tearyeyed woman responded in the positive.

But the woman’s story contrasted totally from what Edwards had told the Prime Minister, and subsequently the press. According to Edwards, who had the support of some of the neighbours living in Richmond Housing Scheme, the 31-year-old, who had secured 13 grade ones at CXC and was a nurse by profession at the Georgetown Public Hospital, became the subject of torment after having a relationship with a Christian Afro-Guyanese man.

“She is mixed and she was in love with a black man, and the mother didn’t want

tricked, intimidated or deceived” by officers to return their documents for a refund, the authority stated that Certificates of Title issued in respect of Government land are subject to registered interests where persons are to erect buildings within a specific time. Failing to do so, CH&PA said, could result in the agency re-conveying the said lands to the Central Authority/Government.

“Beneficiaries are also not at liberty to sell, lease, transfer or part with possession of the said property transferred, within ten (10) years of transfer, without

the consent of the Minister among other conditions.

Beneficiaries who would have processed Certificates of Title on the award of the core houses are further subject to registered interests that incorporate a combination of conditions of the Core House Agreement and the Agreement for the sale of the Land” CH&PA said.

As such, having been made aware that some beneficiaries are renting and some have sold their core house, the body sought to highlight that it is well within the law to seek to reclaim these properties.

From page 3

Monica Edwards breaking the tragic story to the press

that, so she decided to lock her away,” she told reporters in the compound of the Anna Regina Police Station minutes before the rescue operation.

Edwards maintained that the former nurse had been locked away against her will.

“Yes! She was locked against her will, because many times she would try to break open…

That girl got 13 subjects, grade ones, at the school, and she masters Spanish. She was a cashier,” Edwards said, noting that she just needs to see the alleged rape victim get the help she deserves.

But the 31-year-old woman’s eldest brother, Jagdeo Bishop, refuted the claims made by Edwards, saying that it had nothing to do with a relationship she had shared.

“This thing started when she started working at public hospital. She was following a boy over there, and she start following friends and all sort of stupidness she start doing!”

He is of the view that his sister was not locked in against her will, and he contended that the action was necessary. “We had to lock her up. When we loose her out in the yard, me mother never had access to the yard when she start behaving in a ravenous manner. She a beat meh mother and all sort of thing, and I use to sleep deh one- one time, and she use to beat me too. That is why we had to build a room and put her inside so we can get access to the house and the yard,” he declared.

Admitting that his sister was indeed forced to live in a very unhealthy condition, Bishop told reporters that from time to time he would clean her room.

Hours after the rescue operation, Prime Minister Nagamootoo told reporters that he was happy that the woman who had been held captive was liberated. “When this situation was brought to me, I couldn’t allow it to persist for one more hour…It was worse than a scene of kidnapping, it was worse than a scene of putting under the ground in a situation of incarceration. It was inhumane, it was cruel,” he said.

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This Week

50 Years Ago

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

Corentyne couple charged with raping baby KULIP Latchminine, called Punwessie, and Maheshree Samaroo, known as Boujie, have appeared before Whim Magistrate Charlyn Artiga, charged with rape of a one-year-old child.= Represented by former magistrate Kumar Dorisami, the defendants were not required to plead to the joint charge which was read them in camera. Particulars of the charge are that on January 24, 2016, at Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, the defendants allegedly engaged in sexual penetration of a one-year-old child.

They were each placed

on $100,000 bail, and were ordered to lodge their respective passports with the police.

Additionally, the defendants have been ordered not to communicate with the victim or her relatives.

The alleged assault on the infant was reported to the police by the child’s mother after her efforts had failed to console her weeping daughter. The constant sobbing resulted in the mother examining the baby’s private parts, thereby discovering that the child had been violated.

The defendants are expected to return to court on February 29.

Cop crushed after falling off truck

Royal Welcome!

50 years ago, on February 5, 1966, Queen Elizabeth II was escorted to the balcony of Parliament Buildings by then Prime Minister, the late Forbes Burnham, who shortly afterwards extended a warm welcome to the Royal couple (Guyana Chronicle Archives)

POLICE Constable 22380 Ray Simon of Helena Village, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara jumped off a moving truck at Whim, Corentyne Berbice at about 19:00 hours on Wednesday, and was run over by one of its wheels.

The 27-year-old police rank who had been attached to the Whim Police Station was reportedly “hitching a ride” on his way to the Whim Station when tragedy struck. The vehicle did not stop at Whim, and Simon, in attempting to jump off the vehicle, lost his balance and fell on the roadway, where he was run over by the rear wheel of the motor vehicle. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Mourant Hospital.

Information reaching this newspaper states that it was raining heavily while Simon was on the Liverpool Public Road awaiting transportation. After none was going in his direction, he joined a truck whose driver, Nizam Khan, transports GuySuCo workers. Khan was alerted to Simon’s tragedy by workers attached to Albion Estate.

“I stopped at the spot at Liverpool for the Albion workers when the guy joined. When we reach Whim, the lorry was still moving, then them workers holler ‘Hold! Hold! Somebody fall out’,” Khan explained.

He related that the policeman thought he was going to stop at Whim, that’s why he jumped. Khan added

Ray Simon

that after he had been alerted, he came out and saw the unconscious body of Simon.

“I pick he up quick and rush with he to the hospital, and there they say he died,” Khan said.

Reports indicate that Simon had tried to exit the vehicle from the front steps of the lorry, and was allegedly run over by the rear wheels of the truck. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Mourant Hospital.

The lorry driver has been taken into police custody for questioning, but is expected to be released shortly.

Simon enlisted in the GPF in May 2014, and had been stationed in ‘B’ Division since November 2014.

One of his close friends described him as a jovial individual who was full of enthusiasm for life. He said Simon loved his job and would often talk about how he wanted to further his studies to move up the ranks in the Force.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

We’re not the least! …miners shrug off ‘least tax contributor’ tag THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) on Thursday refuted claims that mining is one of the industries that least contribute to the tax system.

The GGDMA noted that while there may be non-compliance issues in the industry, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has to do more to educate miners about their obligations to the state.

“There is also a need on the part of GRA to do much more to sensitise the miners about what is their obligation to the state, and how these contributions can be made.

We recognize the need for efficient revenue collection, and will support efforts to ensure that the state receives its direct contributions,” the GGDMA said in a statement to the media.

At a press briefing in January, GRA Board Chairman Rawle Lucas had said that, based on an analysis of tax payments by economic sectors, mimicking the national accounting framework, it was discovered that the Services sector contributed the most to tax revenue. “Services are the largest sector, and account for 66% of tax revenue.

Manufacturing is the smallest (contributor), and accounts for 30% of tax revenues. It stands to reason that we have tax problems in agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors, as well as (in the) mining and quarrying sector,” Lucas had

remarked.

The GGDMA noted that it has urged all of its members and miners across the board to make every effort to become fully tax compliant.

The GGDMA said it has written to the head of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) seeking clarification, and noted that Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his 2016 budget presentation, had stressed that the valiant efforts of miners ought to be applauded, as it is the gold industry that would continue to drive growth in the economy.

“The GGDMA agrees with this statement from the Hon. Minister, and wishes to reiterate that the direct and indirect contributions of gold and diamond mining to the Guyanese economy (are) among the largest of any industry. Unlike the manufacturing and services sectors that directly contribute to the state through a single stream via GRA, mining contributes through multiple streams. In addition to payments of taxes to GRA, miners also contribute directly via payments to GGMC and the Guyana Gold Board; the value of these contributions amounts to in excess of 300% of what is paid to GRA,” the statement said.

The GGDMA has stressed that the mining industry is “undisputedly a colossal driving force behind the entire economy of Guy-

ana”, emphasizing that the industry fuels job creation and disposable income that have the trickledown supporting effect.

“If mining was to be removed from that equation, the ensuing reduction of disposable income and, as a consequence, demand for goods and services, would have such a damning impact, particularly on sectors such as services, that their direct contribution to the state may dwindle to less than 50% of present value”, the GGDMA has said.

The GGDMA also notes that the mining industry is the most significant contributor to foreign currency earnings of the country, without which the cost of doing business in all the other sectors would increase. “It must be noted also that the industry serves a very important social role as a poverty alleviator, where many persons are given a legal means to earn an honest dollar in support of their families; not to mention the industry is the largest employer in hinterland communities.”

CONCESSIONS The GGDMA has called out the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for delaying the granting of duty-free concessions.

According to the GGDMA, the GRA has worked with it in identifying tax compliant miners who are eligible for duty-free concessions on

fuel, spares and vehicles.

“This list of compliant names has been submitted to GGMC over a couple of months now, and yet, as of today, neither GRA nor GGDMA has received a reply from GGMC as to what is taking them so long to finalize their verification exercise,” a GGDMA statement has said.

The GGDMA believes that miners’ inability to access the concessions “is a direct consequence of GGMC’s negligence.” The GGDMA said it expected the GGMC -- given its position as the regulatory body in charge of the mining industry, its knowledge regarding the hardships miners face, and the importance of mining to the country -- to act expeditiously. Given the alleged slothfulness of the GGMC, the Association has issued a call on Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael Trotman, “to intervene in this matter as the period granted for the concessions has almost expired and no miner has benefited from the concessions”.

“The GGDMA wishes to remind all miners to sell their gold only to authorized dealers or the Guyana Gold Board. Additionally, the GGDMA is urging miners to ensure that they are tax compliant. Miners can contact the GGDMA for assistance in this area”, the GGDMA statement said.

Region 10 farmers in cassava deal with Alesie rice company THE Alesie rice company in Guyana has expressed interest in having farmers from across Region 10 supply them with cassava for the purpose of export.

Representatives of that company met with Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian earlier this week to work out the modalities on how the Region 10 farmers can supply the company with sweet cassava, to be processed and exported to countries around the Caribbean region.

Embarking on a cassava production project, the company has earmarked farmers in Region 10 to be their

exclusive suppliers, being cognizant that maximum cultivation of ground provision is best done in sandy and clay soil. The Regional Chairman requested Alesie representatives to complete a proposal which would accommodate negotiation.

He would be meeting with farmers from Bamia and West Watooka who cultivate cassava on a large scale, to discuss prices and put in place the necessary systems to meet the demand of the company.

The cassava will be peeled, frozen and packaged before being bought by Alesie. Mr Morian said he

was not informed what the finished product will be, but he is aware that it will be exported. His major concern is to have a fruitful negotiation with the company, so that the farmers would get a good deal for their produce and would have a guaranteed market which has limited competition.

The Regional Democratic Council will be assisting these farmers to meet the demand relative to quality and quantity.

The Alesie Group of Companies is an international rice trading company which has branches across the Caribbean and

Region 10 Chairman, Renis Morian

North and Central America. It has been operating in Guyana for 20 years, and serves more than 40,000 farmers, resident in places such as Black Bush Polder and Wakenaam.

FREE AT LAST!

A WOMAN who allegedly for years was imprisoned in a room by her mother was yesterday freed during a government-conducted outreach on the Essequibo Coast. The article, which detailed events fit for a movie, received over 1,000 shares, as people were eager to express their disgust at the cruelty of the woman’s mother due to the deplorable state of the confines in which she had been kept.

While the details of the story remain murky, the mother claims the woman was mentally ill and had been a victim of rape, and she said this had led to her decision to imprison the woman. Neighbours claim otherwise, but one thing is for sure: it’s sad to think that this woman thought that the best decision would be to confine her daughter in a room “not even fit for pigs”, as was stated by one person.

If her mental health was at risk before, years of confinement and the threat of rape and other gory details must have certainly made it worse. At least the woman will now get the treatment she requires.

LGE MIX-UP

The Internet is still talking about the LGE mix-up following the announcement of candidates. Here’s what happened: #teambenschop expressed its concerns based on reports in a Stabroek News article which stated that the PPP/C candidate was Robeson Benn (also a GECOM Commissioner). Many others joined in the objection, stating that “Guyana deserves better” and that it was a conflict of interest for a candidate to also be a Commissioner of the Elections Commission. It looked like a ruckus would have ensued online; but, thankfully, both GECOM and Stabroek News cleared up the issue, stating that it was Benn’s son, Brindley Hamid Robeson Benn, who was in the running. #teambenschop, in a statement, expressed its appreciation for the clarification. Seems like #teambenschop is on the ball. Carry on!

Cocaine-in-rum deal brings 60 months’ jail for former airport cop CITY Magistrate Judy Latchman on Wednesday handed down a 60-month term of imprisonment to former Special Constable Jermaine Bristol, after he was found guilty on a charge of conspiracy to traffic cocaine which was intercepted in rum bottles at the JFK International Airport in New York.

Bristol, 31, of Lot 2034 Stevedore Housing Scheme Georgetown, was employed at the Special Constabulary and was assigned to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

Magistrate Latchman, after considering the case of Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt and the arguments by Defence Counsel Adrian Thompson, found the defendant guilty, sentenced him to jail, and fined him $30,000.

In delivering her ruling, Magistrate Latchman told the court that from the evidence led by Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, she believed that Bristol was part of a plan to traffic cocaine at the air-

port. Bristol, she noted, was placed in a position of trust and to protect citizens, but he “protected cocaine and served himself money.”

Before handing down her ruling, the magistrate considered all mitigating factors, as well as the need to dissuade others from contemplating committing a similar illegal act.

According to earlier reports, Bristol was, on November 17, 2014, paid to pass an American citizen who was an outgoing passenger destined for the John F. Kennedy Airport and who was carrying a quantity of cocaine concealed in rum.

The American citizen was later busted at JFK with the bottles of rum that were laced with cocaine. As a result, investigations were carried out at the CJIA, and from CCTV footage, Bristol was seen operating outside of normal functions.

He was later questioned by police, and admitted that he was paid to let the cocaine-laced rum pass.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

Bigger collaboration to fight Zika THE Ministry of Tourism is collaborating closely with the Ministries of Public Health, Foreign Affairs, and Citizenship to monitor the spread of the Zika virus in neighbouring countries, including Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname.

An aggressive public education programme has begun to inform the general public of the initiatives that have been launched, and to advise Guyanese of their responsibility to manage their environments to protect themselves from mosquito bites, the Ministry of Tourism has said.

According to that Ministry, up to the first week in February, the Public Health Ministry had treated only one single case of the Zika virus. This patient’s medical samples had earlier been sent for testing at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). The positive report was returned early

Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes

in January, and all parties sprang into action. The Public Health Ministry stepped up its collaboration with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and an aggressive countrywide public education and prevention campaign commenced.

The Ministry has said that, since mid-January, the patient and her family mem-

bers have been under medical supervision, even though all of her symptoms have disappeared.

“Since then, several batches of samples taken from Guyanese patients presenting with flu-like symptoms have been tested by CARPHA, and the results have all returned as NEGATIVE”, the Ministry has said.

The Ministry of Public Health is, in the meantime, carefully monitoring every hospital and health facility for reports of symptoms resembling ZIK-V, the release stated, adding that the Ministry of Tourism has extended its support base to include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNICEF, the Brazilian Embassy in Guyana, and the Health Development Unit at the CARICOM Secretariat.

Other regional and international agencies have given assurances of support for Guyana’s fight to contain

the Zika virus.

Additionally, the Tourism Ministry said, the Vector Control Unit has also ramped up its already intensive prevention programme in all of Guyana’s 10 administrative regions. “This ongoing exercise has been designed to eradicate Malaria, Dengue and Chikungunya, which are spread by the same species of Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Polynesiensis mosquitoes.

Vector Control has stepped up distribution of treated mosquito nets, and (there will be) intense fogging in the city and its environs, in all towns and the hinterland regions, to kill adult mosquitoes and their larvae, and destroy their breeding sites.

“Vector Control officers have begun their on-theground citizen education programme, to ensure that everyone understands the responsibility they have to dispose of every piece of debris that could hold dew

or water in and outside their homes”, the Ministry statement has said.

The Ministry of Citizenship has also joined in this fight to keep Guyana as free as possible from the Zika virus, the release stated, adding that all ports of entry are being fogged and closely monitored to identify and quarantine any person who was sick on the journey to Guyana, e.g. was vomiting, had a fever, red or swollen eyes, aching muscles or joints, diarrhea, and/ or abdominal pain.

The Ministry of Tourism said it has mandated that all arriving aircraft crew report any illnesses experienced by any passenger en route to Guyana. In addition, Vector Control will shortly begin to fumigate every vehicle that could drive or be ferried across our borders with Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil.

Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes, has said

that some persons had expressed concern about the geographic proximity of Guyana to Brazil, where the virus is reportedly spreading.

She stated that there is credible information that the Zika virus is more prevalent in the eastern states of Brazil, which include Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Bahia. Guyana is fortunately contiguous to northern Brazil, and our immigration authorities say that citizens of these eastern states hardly, if ever, come to Guyana. This minimizes the possibility of infected Brazilians transporting infected mosquitoes or their eggs to this country.

However, Minister Hughes has issued a call to all visitors currently in Guyana to use insect repellent liberally, to cover themselves well, and to generally avoid being bitten by mosquitoes during the daytime or at night.

Seaman Serial thief jailed for minibus battery remanded over ‘box of weed’ at Ekereku SEAMAN Ron Morris was yesterday refused bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan charged with trafficking cannabis at the Ekereku airstrip in Region Seven.

It is alleged that Morris, of 107 Haslington, East Coast Demerara, on January 1 at the Ekereku airstrip, had in his possession 453 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Morris has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that on the day in question, at the Ekereku airstrip, Morris was summoned to uplift several packages which were posted to him. Upon arrival, Morris cleared all the boxes, including one listed under the name of ‘Troy Hope’, and told ranks during a routine police search that it also belonged to him.

Asked by the ranks if any illegal substance was in the box, Morris replied,

“Yeah man, is some weed I got here,” and tried to make a deal with the ranks. Upon opening one of the boxes, the officers found several yellow parcels that contained the narcotics.

Morris’s lawyer contended that his client had been framed by the police.

The attorney explained that Morris was contacted to uplift some packages that were sent for him, and had no knowledge of what was in the said box under the name of ‘Troy Hope’.

However, Police prosecutor Jones objected to Morris being granted bail on grounds that the defence counsel did not provide the court with any special reason why his client should be granted bail, while the accused had already orally confessed to the crime.

The chief magistrate remanded the seaman to prison until March 21, and transferred this matter before the Kamarang magistrate.

ABRAHIM Abdul, who on Wednesday admitted to stealing at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara a minibus battery worth $55,000, was yesterday sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by Providence Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared before her to face a charge of simple larceny.

The charge stated that, on February 2, at Little Diamond, EBD, he stole a

battery that belonged to virtual complainant Shazan Deen. The 49-year-old defendant pleaded guilty as charged.

According to the facts, on the day in question, Deen made checks on his minibus, BKK 7855, and found the battery missing, the vehicle’s trunk open, and its door damaged. Deen subsequently reported the matter to the police, and identified Abdul as a suspect. Taken into police custody, Abdul admitted to

stealing the battery.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Michael Grant told the court that the facts were as specified in the charge, and that the battery had been recovered. He also related that the defendant had been implicated in four similar matters, and had been convicted as well.

The magistrate has also ordered that the battery be returned to its owner.

Judge advises manslaughter accused: ‘be careful'

By George Barclay

FREED manslaughter accused Seelall Pharbu who was found not guilty by the jury yesterday in the 2011 unlawful shooting death of Premaul Rampersaud was advised by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow to watch his steps in future.

Pharbu who was on a rum spree in 2011 was said to have imbibed so much alcohol with his younger companions that he had to hand over his car to another driver.

According to witnesses, he got into trouble that day when he shot and killed Premaul Rampersaud, a member of the drinking party.

However, Pharbu, a licensed firearm owner, had his own story. He said that

he was cleaning his weapon when his finger accidentally touched the trigger, causing the weapon to go off.

But the State case led by Prosecutrix Miss Shonette Austin had another story.

She called witnesses who testified that Rampersaud was shot twice and declared that the killing could not be an accident but the act of a person who had an intention to kill.

The accused, however, was able to convince the jury that his story was true or doubt was created in their minds.

After two hours of deliberation the jury returned to the courtroom for further directions on double-action and accidental shooting.

About 30 minutes later the jury returned with a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

Freed manslaughter accused Seelall Pharbu at court yesterday on his way to freedom (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

The presiding judge thanked the jury for their verdict, and before discharging the accused, she cautioned him to be more careful in the future and urged him to

take advantage of the opportunity given him.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Glen Hanoman along with Miss Tanicia Daniels appeared for the accused.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

Man ambushed, shot by bandits

TWENTY-ONE-yearold Caitanya Kishundyal, self-employed and living with his parents at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne Berbice, was on Wednesday night ambushed by four masked bandits who accosted him at the gate to his home moments after he had driven a vehicle into the yard, at about 22:00hrs.

One of the bandits approached the vehicle and shot him to his abdomen, then the quartet promptly ran away.

The injured man was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital before being referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, and sub-

sequently the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is currently in critical condition.

Kishundyal’s older brother, Nanda Gopaul Kishundyal, said his brother had just entered the yard when he was attacked by the four masked bandits. Nanda said video footage shows that within a minute of his brother driving into the yard, one of the four men came up to the car and shot him to his abdomen. However, the bandits strangely did not take anything from their victim, but ran away right after the incident.

“One camera picked up

the footage of (the incident), but it is not really clear. You cannot see a face or anything to help make out who shot him. It isn’t clear enough to help,” Nanda lamented.

Nanda Kishundyal also mentioned that this is not the first incident of the family being attacked by bandits.

He related that, a few years ago, the family was robbed of approximately $200,000 when bandits broke into the home. He called on law enforcement authorities to keep the pressure on criminals.

The injured Caitanya is a member of the Hare Krishna Movement. Investigations are ongoing into the matter.

Injured: Citanya Kishundyal

GENERAL REDUCTION Government announced on Wednesday that there was a general reduction in

Opposition stiff-necked on nominees for state boards – says don’t want to ‘rubber stamp’ issues THE Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is maintaining that its members will not sit on State boards unless the President gives assurance that Government will not intervene in the administration of these boards.

At a press conference held on Tuesday last at the PPP’s Freedom House Headquarters in Robb Street, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo made this assertion, and declared that the GuySuCo fiasco is testimony that the PPP had made the right decision not to participate on State boards. He explained that the GuySuCo Board had told the unions in the sugar industry that management had decided to close down the Wales estate, but Agriculture Minister Noel Holder subsequently declared that the GuySuCo Board had made that decision.

“We don’t want to rubber

stamp any issue. We made it clear (that) once there is a clear signal from the President, then we will reconsider this position. But we will not be party to this sort of thing,” the Opposition Leader said.

“Even at the GRA, I’ve heard about letters that were sent from the Office of the President to say these people are exempt from reporting to the Commissioner General and to the Board…. Letters sent from the Office of the President for people installed in GRA, who now don’t have to submit to the jurisdiction of the Commissioner General and to the Board,” Jagdeo charged.

Jagdeo said the PPP had made clear that its members will participate in some Boards which are social and humanitarian in nature, and he cited the Adoption Board and the Board of Guardians.

Public Infrastructure

(PI) Minister David Patterson had, just last week, expressed concern about the absence of Opposition members on State boards.

Patterson explained that the PI Ministry had re-

crime for the period January 23 – 29, 2016, during which there were 27 reported cases of serious crimes and 21 road accidents, but no fatalities.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, revealed at a post-Cabinet media briefing that the Guyana Police Force was responsible for the seizure of 402kg and 491 grams of cannabis, and ten persons have accordingly been charged. He also noted that 777 grams of cocaine were seized and four persons have been charged, while the police have destroyed 4,000 cannabis plants and 44kg of dried cannabis.

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) also recently seized 63kg of cocaine, Trotman said.

Meanwhile, Cabinet was informed that there has been a marked improvement in

police responses to criminal activities, whereby the police have been able to arrive at crime scenes in a timelier manner. “The police were also able to make several arrests very soon after some incidents of criminality. This has resulted in a very positive impact on the citizen/police relationships,” Minister Trotman said.

He noted that a National Security Committee was recently established and is being headed by President David Granger. Other members of that committee include Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister Ramjattan; and heads of the security forces. The committee meets on a weekly basis, where crime statistics and analysis are presented.

quested the Opposition to nominate persons to sit on various boards, but had received no response. He accordingly questioned the Opposition’s reason for withholding representation at the level of the boards.

(Ravin Singh)

Friday, February 5, 2016 - 14:30 hrs Saturday, February 6, 2016 - 14:30 hrs Sunday, February 7, 2016 - 14:30 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

CARDI officials brief President on work programme PRESIDENT David Granger, in his capacity as the CARICOM Lead Head of Government with respon-

sibility for Agriculture, met on Thursday with officials of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to discuss his vision for Caribbean agriculture.

CARDI’s Executive Director, Mr. Barton Clarke; Technical Services Manager Mr. Francis Asiedu; and the Guyana Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Noel Holder, attended the meeting, held at the Ministry of the Presidency.

In a brief comment after

the meeting, Clarke said that discussions focused on CARDI’s role in agriculture in the Region, and whether CARDI is effectively fulfilling that role in its current programme of operation.

“We spoke of what is necessary in order to be able to crystallize very clearly what is Caribbean agriculture; what is the role of CARDI, [and] what is the engagement that we are going to have with the political directorate of the Caribbean under the leadership of the

President of Guyana, toward elucidating and facilitating of [the] said role,” Mr. Clarke said.

The meeting also discussed the CARICOM Strategic Plan for Regional Development 2015-2019, of which agriculture is a significant component. This is the Region’s first ever strategic plan on agriculture. It was approved in July 2014 at the 35th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.

President David Granger is flanked at the Ministry of the Presidency by, from left: Agriculture Minister Mr. Noel Holder; Executive Director of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Mr. Barton Clarke; and CARDI’s Technical Services Manager, Mr. Francis Asiedu

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

Celebrating 50 years of Nationhood GUYANA’S Golden Jubilee Celebration is more than just a commemoration of Independence; it’s also a stepping stone into the future for the country and its people as we focus on strengthening our cultural identity.

So says Leon Saul, wellknown Guyanese playwright and cultural enthusiast who himself has much in store for the calendar of events.

First up is his annual musical event, Reggae Fest: Celebrating Bob Marley’s Birth Anniversary. This year, however, the event, which will be held at the Pegasus Hotel on Sunday, will also focus on “50 years of Guyanese Music”.

Then from May 20 - 22, Saul will stage the “Legend of Victoria Village” at the National Cultural Centre.

Apart from his planned activities, Saul, a former journalist, is eager to remind Guyanese of the cultural importance of this year as well.

“Culture,” he saiys, “is the most important aspect of our development that we should focus on, simply because of the fact that we are a variety of ethnicities. Culture is our only unifying platform. Through a Guyanese culture we can eventually appreciate the fact of 50 years of independence.”

He believes that we are not paying enough attention to

emerging Guyanese culture, because the necessary infrastructure is not in place. Should Guyanese culture truly be nurtured, this would give birth to a Guyanese Culture Industry, which would further provide youth who are not interested in traditional ways of earning money to embrace varying professions that would allow them to earn from their talents.

On that note, he added that there are not enough cultural opportunities available to help youth to hone their craft. “We have a lot of young talent, but no follow-up,” he said.

“We feel our national patrimony revolves around agriculture, gold, bauxite and those things, and we forget a main aspect, which is our human resource.”

It is in this regard that Saul has much hope for Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Celebration, as he feels that it augurs well for the cultural heritage of the country.

“I hope to see the emergence of a more defined Guyanese personality; the emergence of a framework for cultural economic undertakings, and the emergence of an environment for practical and realistic approaches to national unity,” he said.

Though admittedly an ambitious dream, he is certain that this is the time for Guyana to achieve such things. “After all this time -- 50 years of birthing

pains -- we have reached so far, so the next 50 years is growth and development. We have a

Paul Charles is Mr. Caribbean 2016

IN less than a week since being featured in ‘The Buzz’ and talking about his dream to win the Mr. Caribbean pageant, Paul Charles has awoken to find that his dream has come true.

Out of six contestants, Charles won the talent and best costume segments, all of which contributed to his being declared overall winner of Mr. Caribbean 2016.

Says he about this remarkable achievement of his, “The experience was great; the people were welcoming, and I was well received by the Dominican public...

“I represented Guyana and men throughout Guyana and the Caribbean, and I hope this opens doors for other young men to pursue pageantry.”

With his goal of being Mr. Caribbean having been accomplished, all that’s left is for Paul to do now is to open his charity: The Paul Anthony Charles Foundation.

He is due to return to Guyana next Wednesday.

Ras Leon Saul (left) and his partners in culture chance to leap into the future; this year is the launching pad for Guyana to circumvent a lot of trials and tribulations, and do a transcendental leap into the future, based on our relationships with each other,” he said.

Saul believes that one of our main problems is our relationships with each other, as such, this is a crucial time during which we should focus on cultural cohesion by using the ability of culture to unite rather than divide people.

“So, more focus should be

placed on cultural products of substance, especially in this year of Golden Jubilee. We have been playing too fast and loose with our culture and our legacy and our cultural education.”

As Saul proceeds to host his events, he states that he has made proposals to the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education and other key decision making bodies to request support. Though he is yet to receive a response, ultimately, his hope is to see his events receive support from

these bodies so as to make them “bigger, better and more official” productions.

He mentioned that his play, Legend of Victoria Village is actually based on President David Granger’s historical writings of the Village Movement and Victoria Village.

As for Reggae Fest, though not on the official calendar, Saul views it as the first “Golden Jubilee” music event of the year, and is proud to be hosting it.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

Light Town wants more potable water

By Ariana Gordon

RESIDENTS of the Region Six community of Light Town, East Bank Berbice are calling on the relevant authorities to help them access more potable water.

There are approximately 80 persons living in the predominantly cash-crop farming community of Light Town, and Grethel Thomas told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday that the situation in the community is progressively deteriorating because the current dry season is making things increasingly difficult for residents to take care of their farms.

“Drainage is a big problem for us.” Thomas said.

“We don’t have any water, we have to depend on the river water, which is salty; and that is not good for the crops.”

Thomas noted that the dry season is wreaking havoc on their crops, and the twice weekly provision of water to the community from the Regional Office is not enough.

“The Region is sending a truck in here twice per week, and you have to put a barrel on the road…. They full it, and that’s it! One barrel of water has to last you for the entire week, until they return,” she told the Guyana Chronicle.

UNHEALTHY SITUATION Thomas explained that when the water provided by the Regional Office is all used up, residents are sometimes forced to use water from the canal, a situation she describes as unhealthy.

“The (canal) water affects the skin, so we can’t depend on the canal water; we can only depend on this one barrel of water that they give you,” she explained.

Another Light Town resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Guyana Chronicle that while villagers understand the constraints in regard to providing water for the community, it would be helpful if the amount of water they get is increased.

“You see, if we could get li’l more water, it would go a long way. Remember, we living is farming,” she said, “and right now dem crops crying out for water. We can’t use the salt water, it is damaging we crops. All we want is more water.”

Light Town resident Grethel Thomas

WORRIED SICK Farmer Jermaine Thomas said he is worried about his farm. He has one and a half acres of land under watermelons, and a half-acre of land under cantaloupe. “I have no water to wet them right now,” he said. “Since I put them down, nothing striving.”

The 30-year-old father of three described the situation as stressful. He planted the watermelons and cantaloupes on December 15, and it has since not rained -- a situation that is extremely distressing to him.

“There has been no rain here. Since we don’t get potable water here, we depend on the rain a lot. All the trenches are dry, and when we use water from the canal, the plants either die or are stunted,” he explained.

Thomas said his community has been without running water for about 12 years now. “It has been a good time; over twelve years we are depending on rain water…. They bring water for us, but it is not enough,” Thomas, who also rears poultry, said.

MASS MIGRATION Unlike him, many of Light Town’s youths have migrated from the community because of the lack of such basic amenities as potable water, electricity, and proper roads.

Grethel Thomas, Jermaine’s mother, said that although the community is not large, it is becoming increasingly difficult for young people, in these modern times, to survive the daily challenges of living in Light Town. She said that after writing the National Grade 6 Assessment examinations,

students are forced to travel 12 miles every day to get to the nearest secondary school, which is in New Amsterdam, as there is none nearby.

“There is one bus here; a man who works at GTT would take the schoolchildren to school every day.

He charges them $200 one way,” she said.

She would love to see more of the community’s youths return and assist their families. “There are very few young people who stay

here,” she said. “As soon as they get li’l average education, they leave. It is only farmers and the older folks who remain here.”

DEPLORABLE ROADS Noting that the roads in the community are in a deplorable state, Grethel Thomas has called on the relevant authorities to assist the community by remedying the situation. “Right now it is loose brick, and (this is causing the environment to

be) very dusty. It also has lots of pot holes.”

Light Town’s electricity issue, for the most part, was solved approximately one year ago when the St. Francis Community Developers and Food for the Poor Guyana Inc. provided the community with solar panels.

“Each home received a solar panel,” Thomas explained, adding that neighbouring communities also received solar panels. “Before we got those solar panels,

we had no electricity; we would use lamps, and those who could afford would use generators,” she said.

The move to donate the solar panels, she explained, was a good one, as the schoolchildren are now in a better position to study at nights. “The schoolchildren now use it to study. Before we got them, we used to use what we call a flambeau; it is a lamp we make with bottles, and put oil and wick inside.”

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City Council to provide training for Linden municipality

THE Georgetown City Council is to provide training for officers of the Linden municipality in several critical areas, including city policing and human resource management, according to City Hall Public Relations Officer (ag) Debra Lewis.

Lewis said a team of senior officers from the Linden municipality, headed by Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen, met recently with Georgetown Town Clerk Royston King and other senior officers of the Mayor and City Council to discuss areas of collaboration between the two councils that would help to build the capacity of the Linden municipality to enable it to deliver better quality services to Lindeners.

The Linden Town Clerk said she had observed advancements made by the Georgetown municipality in a number of critical areas, and thought that Linden can learn from the programmes that were implemented.

King noted that the Linden municipality had previously benefited from training

An officer of the M&CC Traffic Management Unit on duty yesterday on Regent Street

staged by the Georgetown municipality for environmental health assistants and city constables. He added that the Georgetown municipality is ready to provide the necessary support to the Linden Town Council, extending City Council’s civic responsibility to its sister municipality and the citizens of Guyana.

BICYCLE PATROL The Georgetown municipality has resuscitated its Bicycle Patrol Unit and

has established a Traffic Management Unit and Anti-litter Unit within the City Constabulary.

The two municipalities have agreed to have exchange programmes wherein officers of both municipalities would do attachments in several areas, including in the City Constabulary and Personnel Section. Officers of the Linden municipality were taken on a tour of the operations of the City Constabulary Department.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

46 cancer-related deaths last year – 125 diagnosed with breast cancer

By Ravin Singh A report released by the Oncology Unit of the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation yesterday revealed that 46 cancer-related deaths were recorded in Guyana in 2015, while 125 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed. This represents the largest number of diagnosis for any single type of cancer in Guyana.

The report highlighted that cervical cancer was the second most popular type of cancer in Guyana, with 47 cases being diagnosed in 2015. This was followed by 26 cases of ovarian cancer and 15 cases of Adeno Endometriosis being diagnosed in the same year.

The number of deaths recorded from all forms of cancer was fixed at 46, while the total number of patients registered for 2015 were 314. As of December 2015, 98 patients were on treatment for cancer, while 44 women would have benefitted from the breast cancer screening programme in 2015. One positive case was recorded. The total number of treatment administered for the year was 1550, and the total number of blood transfusion for the same year was 120.

In Guyana, there was a steady increase in cases of breast cancer from 2003, peaking in 2007 with 149 diagnosed cases; after which there was a steady decrease in 2011, which was followed by a marginal increase in 2012.

Between 2003 and 2012,

it was discovered that persons of Indian descent were most affected, and that the second most affected ethnic group was Afro-Guyanese. Globally, 1.38 million new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). But with insufficient knowledge on the causes of this cancer, WHO supports the notion that early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control.

This view was supported last year by then acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall who noted that raising awareness about breast cancer is essential in convincing women of the need to get tested. “Early diagnosis is best,” he emphasised, urging women to know the risk factors for breast cancer. “Once you’re a female, be cautious if you feel a lump,” is an advice he wants women to take.

Those who feel uncertain about self-examination could access public health care facilities across the regions in Guyana. Chief Oncologist at the Cancer Institute of Guyana, Dr. Sayan Chakraborty, had also explained that all four stages of breast cancer-related treatment: the diagnosis, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, can be done at the institute.

He boasted that Guyana continues to make positive strides in addressing breast cancer and promoting awareness of the disease. “We have

been diagnosing newer patients now. Usually, in the previous months, we were having patients who were coming to us at advanced stages.”

Dr Chakraborty’s public awareness has really been working, thanks to several agencies, including non-governmental organisations. However, he sees the need for much more work to be done in this area. For Chief Oncologist Chakraborty, his favourite quote now should be everybody’s: “Know cancer; no cancer.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Americas, more than 408,000 women were diagnosed and 92,000 women died from breast cancer, in 2012. By 2030, the number of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer is projected to increase by 46% in the Americas, if current trends continue.

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), breast cancer ranks as the first cancer type both in terms of new cases and deaths. In LAC, a greater proportion of breast cancer deaths occur in women under 65 years of age (57%) as compared to North America (41%). Earlier diagnosis coupled with advances in treatment has led to better outcomes and longer survival for women with breast cancer. But according to the WHO, many LAC countries continue to have limited access to these lifesaving interventions.

GWI updates stakeholders on city water rationing …drop in level of conservancy THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) met on Thursday with certain stakeholders to update them on the changes at the East Demerara Water Conservancy and the effects on water service within Georgetown.

Those stakeholders were representatives of hotels in Georgetown, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr Balwant Singh Hospital, Davis Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Woodlands Hospital, and the Guyana Fire Service.

GWI Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Van WestCharles has said that the further decrease in the level of the East Demerara Water Conservancy has resulted in

GWI reducing service within the city from 22:00hours (10:00pm). This commenced on Wednesday, February 4, 2016.

The GWI Chief Executive has advised that, in light of the reduced service, all hotels, hospitals, restaurants, and other service-oriented entities must commence preparing to store water.

He emphasised that residents must be cautious when storing water, stating that all water intended for use in food preparation, brushing of teeth, etc. must be stored in a covered container to avoid contamination, and he said that customers must be vigilant for leaks, and must avoid wasting water.

“Leaks are a significant problem within the distribu-

tion network,” Dr. Van WestCharles has disclosed. “We urge all customers to report leaks immediately to GWI, and to ensure that all internal plumbing is functioning properly”.

He has also invited customers to contact GWI for advice regarding any aspect of their internal plumbing.

In addition, the GWI has formulated a plan with the Guyana Fire Service to ensure adequate water supply is available in the event of a fire within the city.

Dr. Van West-Charles has assured that while the level of the Conservancy has been further decreased, GWI is working with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to ensure adequate water is available

GWI’s Chief Executive, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles

for customers of Georgetown.

“Currently, several interventions are being executed.

The NDIA is pumping water from the Maduni River into the Conservancy, which facilitates adequate water supply distribution via the

Shelter Belt Water Treatment Facility at peak periods,” he disclosed.

In addition, he said, GWI is rehabilitating wells within the Shelter Belt compound to complement water provided via the Lamaha Canal. “We have also commenced drilling a new well within the Shelter Belt Compound at a cost in excess of Gy$100 million,” Dr. Van West-Charles disclosed. “This is an additional measure to ensure the security of water supply within Georgetown.”

Dr. Van West-Charles has urged that all stakeholders advise their employees and customers of the urgent need to conserve on water consumption. He has also advised that, in order to increase awareness of the urgent appeal to conserve water, GWI will provide information packages on water conservation to all stakeholders; will meet with

the public, and will broadcast a television production to highlight the situation at the Conservancy and to inform on water conservation methods. Broadcast of this production will commence from Saturday, February 6, and be shown by several television stations. A complete schedule will be posted on the company’s Facebook page.

GWI has also increased awareness on water conservation via the GWI National School Education Programme “H2O Kidz ‘N’ Action”, with several workshops being done across the country.

“We wish to assure all customers that every measure is being taken to provide adequate water supply for Georgetown,” Dr. Van West-Charles has stated.

“Customers must join the process and immediately reduce their consumption,” he appealed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

Team Legacy not intimidated by bigger parties in LGE

Ravin Singh

Team Legacy - a local community-based group contesting the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) is firmly maintaining that they are not intimidated by the larger political parties contesting the March 18 elections.

The group, which is Chair

by Youth Pastor Eworth Williams, formally launched its campaign yesterday, where four of its members weighed in on what the groups plans to bring to the citizens of their communities once they are elected to serve.

Michael Leonard, the candidate representing Team Legacy in constituency nine – Lodge/Meadowbrook Gardens outlined five pillars upon which they hope to strengthen communities.

These according to him, are community investment, youth transformation, security (Partnering with GPF), environment and health and improved distribution and delivery of community services.

He noted that the two most important of these are perhaps community investment and youth transformation which is geared towards refashioning the lives of youths in a positive way.

When quizzed on their

Team Legacy’s members (L-R) Saiku Andrews, Pastor Eworth Williams, Michael Leonard and Kelvin Bovell at the launch of the group’s campaign yesterday

plans for revenue generation given the perception that the City Council has not been utilizing all of its opportunities to do same, Saiku Andrews, another member of the group noted that ongoing citizen and community consultations are paramount in this process.

Though he did not say specifically what measures would be employed to increase revenue collection, Andrews hinted at more enhanced discussions and investment in non-traditional commercial areas in Georgetown.

“Few investments are done outside of central Georgetown and so if we can get people to invest in businesses in other areas, then the communities could benefit

directly, and indirectly for instance through training” he said.

Kelvin Bovell, another candidate of Team Legacy who will be running for constituency 11 - East La Penitence Riverview, also weighed in, offering that there exist talented youths within some of these communities who are highly skilled and could develop their art to not only benefit themselves but their communities as well. As such, he pointed to the fact that the motto for Team Legacy, which is “Forgotten Communities” seeks to tap into the hidden potentials within these communities.

But while the response

from the public has been overwhelming for this group, Andrews noted that the masses of youth are ignorant as to what Local Government Election is and what it aims to do. As such, their campaign entails more than just convincing people to vote for them. If fact, they have assumed responsibility, pro bono, for educating the masses on what the process is and how influential a role it plays in their lives.

And given this fact, that Local Government deals directly with the day-to-day affairs of citizens, Andrews posited that seasoned politicians are not the ideal ones to be competing at this level since most of them are not au

fait with what transpires at the community level.

“We don’t believe LGE was tailored for seasoned politicians. We are not focused on power-position and so most of the seasoned politicians have no clue of issues facing their communities…

We are engrained and entrenched in the issues in our communities and that is what makes us experienced” the candidate said.

It was recognized too that all of the candidates of team Legacy are males. However, Andrews defended this, explaining that women were nominated to run as candidates but for one reason or the other, they all declined.

And according to him, this

does not limit the participation of women in the group.

In fact, he revealed that some of the more experienced and educated persons are playing their role from behind the curtains, given their constraints and commitment.

The group, which according to the Chairman is a grassroots organization that has been in existence years before LGE was announced, is largely self-financed since most of the members are entrepreneurs. Not limited to self-financing though, Williams noted that donors who believe in the group’s cause have been extending their support in whatever way they can.

Region 10 state houses Guards shot by gunmen overrun by private citizens at Movie Towne worksite

…council asks chairman to investigate

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE houses owned and maintained by the Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 are reportedly occupied by persons not assigned to them, or even in the employ of the RDC. This information came to the fore when the RDC held its statutory meeting on Thursday.

Councillor Charles Sampson posited this observation at the meeting, even as he requested an explanation from Regional Chairman Renis Morian on the issue.

There are 147 state houses throughout Region 10, and according to the Regional Chairman, over 50 of these are occupied by employees of the Region who have not been assigned to them.

Regular citizens, and even retirees, also occupy these houses. This situation has been deemed unacceptable by the councilors, and a request was made for an expeditious investigation into the matter, so that these persons can vacate these homes, as millions of dollars from the state are spent refurbishing the houses on a yearly basis.

Regional Chairman Morian told the councillors that the Regional Executive Officer had committed himself to regularising this situation, and correspondences have already been sent out to the unauthorised occupants of these homes, requesting that they vacate the properties earliest. The Regional Chairman also revealed that councillors presently sitting in the room have encouraged some

of those occupants to ignore the request of the REO. He argued that he has no authority to make such a demand.

“There are councillors in here joining with those people and saying ‘don’t move’, so we blowing hot and we blowing cold, and I say without no apology that the people don’t have any right living in the house, and councillors telling them don’t move that the REO doesn’t have no authority,” he said.

He reminded the councillors that the REO has the authority to make such a request, as he is the chief financial officer of the Region.

The Regional Chairman guaranteed the councillors that systems are in place to have those unauthorised persons vacate the state houses.

By Navendra Seoraj

GUNMEN early yesterday morning opened fire on two security guards at the Movie Towne construction site at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, leaving them nursing gunshot wounds to their legs.

The guards are ranks of the Sentinel Security Services and are working with the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), which won the contract for construction of the Movie Towne Guyana complex at Turkeyen.

According to the head of the site security, Oscar David, those wounded are 50-year-old Stanley Brown of Mahaica, ECD, and 53-year-old David Barrow of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

“Guns went off early yesterday morning at the guard hut by intruders, and the two were shot on their legs,” David said.

Both security guards have been admitted to hospital nursing injuries.

David said that based on information he has so far received, the guards returned fire, but their guns unfortunately malfunctioned. The exchange of gunshots, however, raised an alarm, which led to the Chinese workers on site running towards the booth while the bandits made good their escape.

This publication understands that a similar incident occurred last week, when shots were fired, but no one was hit then.

Asked if security measures would be boosted, given that this is the second

time such an incident has occurred, the site security head said: “We are trying to fence the area with galvanized sheeting and barbed wire, and also install alarm systems on all the buildings in the compound, where the proposed Movie Towne project is under construction.”

The multiplex cinema, construction of which started last year, is in the early stages of creation.

Chinese contractor CHEC had signed a US$30M deal in Trinidad for construction of the Movie Towne complex. The agreement between CHEC and Derek Chin, Chairman of Movie Towne Cineplex, includes construction of entertainment facilities, restaurants and commercial spaces.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, February 5, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

Provotique:

By Jasmaine Payne

“

LEH we tek ah walk!”

With a slogan like that, one would no doubt expect nothing but a pure Guyanese experience, and Provotique Walking Tours will give just that to anyone who signs up for the adventure.

Let’s face it! When we hear of tours in Guyana, few of us think of Georgetown as a main attraction, and instead look to the outer bounds, where our majestic Kaieteur Falls and other natural attractions lie.

Sure! We’ve got the St. George’s Cathedral and a barrage of other historical landmarks throughout our streets!

But unless we head out and see them on our own, there’s really no one to give us that guided experience of the Garden City.

That is, until now!

While over the years, companies have offered tours of Georgetown, Provotique is a fresh spin on things, with a team of young, enthusiastic visionaries seeking to enrich the minds of tourists and locals alike with fun and interesting facts about the seeming everyday features of key parts of Georgetown.

The virgin establishment currently offers tours in two areas: Main Street and the Botanical Gardens/Independence Arch.

With only a few weeks of existence, however, the group has thus far turned heads.

So, why should Guyanese sign up for this experience? It’s simple: To know the world, you must first know your home. And, what better place to start but your Capital City? As for tourists... Well, they just love tours in general! So why not make it available first within their reach?

THE TOUR: WHAT TO EXPECT I was privileged to be given a tour by the bubbly Candasy Layne (pronounced Can-daisy, like the flower, she says), a 24-year- old with an infectious smile, and a warm, welcoming demeanour. She was accompanied by a police officer, who would be our escort for the duration of the tour. This, I was told, is a permanent feature of every excursion... For added security.

I was first presented with a delightful little package which consisted a brochure, a bottle of water, and a delicious packet of “chicken foot”; giving it a nice local touch, if I do say so myself.

The tour began in front of the Pegasus Hotel, where we were given short introductions before heading off, with a silent

A fresh spin on ‘day-touring’

From left are, Candasy, Linden “Jumbie” Jones, and Ruqayyah (Photos courtesy of Provotique)

Ruqayyah Boyer (left) and Candasy Layne, founders of Provotique Walking Tours but attentive Officer Cooper in tow.

We were given an exclusive insight into 20 historic landmarks, beginning with the Umana Yana, past State House and the Sacred Heart Church, around and inside the St. George’s Cathedral (we should all take some time to experience the ambience of that place), past City Hall and the High Court, before ending the tour at the Public Buildings, from whence we were also given a glimpse of the Stabroek Market.

Throughout the excursion, there was hardly a dull moment as the tour guide was visibly engaged in what she did, and strove to make us as comfortable as possible. And while there are minor improvements that could be made, the initiative itself is promising enough to be added to a list of “Things to do in Georgetown”.

Needless to say, one of the highest points of the tour was observing just how clean the streets were; free of clogged drains and piles of rubbish which would no doubt have been a distraction for tourists, had this initiative been launched only a year prior.

GOING FORWARD In the not so distant future, Provotique plans adding to its roster specialised tours for schoolchildren and other target groups. They also hope to introduce tours on donkey carts and bicycles, all in the name of keeping things interesting.

Soon, too, the group hopes to meet with President Granger, whom they say had expressed an interest in the initiative, so

as together they can discuss other opportunities that could help them improve their venture.

More specifically, the group has come to life at a crucial time, just as Guyana is preparing for its 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations.

Seeing that the count r y i s e x p e c t i n g a l a rg e influx of tourists and overseas-based Guyanese, Candasy says that the group will no doubt seek to fulfill the need of educating these persons about the history of our Capital City.

“We already have bookings made by persons who will be coming in for the 50th Anniversary, who are very excited to gain more knowledge about where they’re from,” she said.

“Also, many Guyanese have children who are interested in knowing where their parents are from, so we can cater to that,” she added.

But it’s not only about tourists. The group encourages locals to also take the opportunity to get to know their country more. “Believe it or not, a lot of people don’t know the history of the places right in our town, so this is a good initiative to give the locals fun facts and history while delivering and restoring that sense of nationalism in the country,” Candasy said.

Overall, it was two-and-ahalf hours well spent. Yes, twoand-a-half hours! So, if you’re signing up, do ensure that you walk with a fully charged camera battery, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen, if necessary.

Water is provided.

Either way, it is hard to deny that this is a welcomed feature to the schedule of

things in this beautiful country of ours.

So, by all means, “tek ah

walk”, and indulge in the rich history that Georgetown has to offer.

Celebrating the legendary Bob Marley music.

Bob Marley

3: An assassination attempt was made on Marley before a concert in Jamaica in 1976. Marley and his wife were injured and he left his home country for over a year after this happened.

4. Along with Jamaica, Marley’s music also had a major influence in Africa.

His album "Survivor" was filled with political commentaries and songs about the country of Zimbabwe.

He even gave a free concert there in Rufaro Stadium.

TOMORROW, many people around the world, especially in Jamaica where he was born and raised, will commemorate the birth anniversary of legendary Reggae icon, Bob Marley.

As such, we thought we’d enlighten you about five facts about the artist you may not have known: 1: Marley was born in 1945 in a small town in Jamaica called Nine Mile, but his family moved to the capital, Kingston, where his

career would later begin.

Marley’s mother, Cedella, raised him without the help of his father after he turned five.

2: Before Marley pursued music, he worked as a welder while he was a teenager. One of the groups he was a part of at an early age was called ‘The Wailing Wailers’. The band worked with Studio One, a famous record label in Jamaica, and is considered one of the early pioneers of Reggae

5. Marley passed away from cancer in 1981 and was buried in Nine Mile.

He has been honored with many achievements, many of which came after his death.

Some awards include a lifetime achievement Grammy Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a street named after him and his own holiday, called Bob Marley Day, that is celebrated in Los Angeles in his honor. http://www.iowastatedaily.com/

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‘Panorama’ 2016...

A taste of what’s to come

By Daniel Haynes

IT’S Sunday, February 28, 2016, and just as in previous years, the Cliff Andersen Sports Hall is filled with hundreds of patrons.

It’s the biggest night in steel pan here Guyana; the annual Mashramani Steel Band Competition, known by one word: Panorama.

Jovanka Williams in action

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

IN THE BEGINNING Held annually, since its debut in 2008, by the Ministry of Education’s Culture, Youth and Sport Division in February around ‘Mash’, ‘Panorama’ has grown in popularity as well as in size, adding more school bands, soloists and large bands.

The uniqueness of Panorama, however, is due to the fact that it offers Guyanese an opportunity to enjoy Mashramani away from the ‘jump-up’

and what many would call the confusion of the floats. Panorama has cemented itself in the ‘Mash’ calendar of events, and has come to be widely anticipated by the Guyanese public, especially those who have relatives that are pannists.

It is currently sponsored by the Republic Bank, which, in 2015, plugged a whopping $2.8M into the competition to facilitate its being successfully run.

The competition comes in six categories: Junior Solo, Senior Solo, Pan Duet, Pan Jazz, School Bands and Large Bands, and of them all, the most anticipated are the last two.

But Panorama is more than just music, as it offers a wealth of opportunity for the development of ‘pan’ music in Guyana. It’s also an opportunity to see, hear and experience some of the powerhouses in

local ‘pan’.

PAN’S SUCCESS STORY The Panorama world was shaken to the core, when, in 2014, newcomers to the bright lights, the GBTI-sponsored Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra took the coveted first place position and prize in the School Bands category of the competition.

The then ‘underdogs’ were to shake things up again last year, taking the title and proving in the process that the first time wasn’t just a fluke.

As one aficionado was to later observe, had Hip-Hop artiste, Drake’s song, “Backto-Back”, been released back then, it would have certainly been the Band’s theme song.

However, like all success stories, it wasn’t all fame and glory, but an arduous climb undertaken by Fitzroy Younge, who took up the mantle of

resuscitating the programme in 2010 before there was any talk of sponsorship. “Buxton did not have a steel orchestra in over 50 years,” Younge recalled. “And when I took over, I did it out of love for the community, being a native Buxtonian.”

According to him, it was former President Bharrat Jagdeo who gave them their first set of steel pans. That was in August 2010, when there were just ten members in the band.

Since then, that number has grown to 30.

The Buxton steel-band programme is an after-school one which focuses on keeping school-age children off the streets, and teaching them to channel their energies into more productive activities.

“We’re one of the poorest communities,” Younge said, “and it’s easy for youngsters to find themselves in all sorts

The GBTI Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra of trouble. The Band keeps everyone out of trouble, and teaches them a skill of music.”

GBTI came on board with sponsorship in 2013, which allowed the band to purchase their own chrome-finished pans. As any follower of the steel pan will know, this type of instrument makes pan music even sweeter.

In addition to their own development, the Buxton orchestra has been able to donate $100000 of their winnings into aiding in the revival of the President’s College Steel Orchestra, and together the two bands have been working to ensure that the latter gets back on its feet.

Younge believes that the sense of community that Buxtonians have always had, has played a major role in the band’s success.

Said he: “Parents have been fully involved, and in order for success to happen, parents have to be supportive and players; and those involved have to show a commitment to the art form.”

PANORAMA VETERAN Another ‘Pan’ success sto-

ry is that of Jovanka Williams.

If you go to any Panorama competition, you are sure to hear the name Jovanka Williams.

As a matter of fact, it’s kinda hard to talk about the new ‘school-pan’ generation and not mention Jovanka Williams. Her life is so dedicated to pan, that she plays in three bands; teaches pan at two schools; and travelled the region extensively, just playing pan, the latest such occasion being at CARIFESTA XII which was held in Haiti.

But the icing on an already extravagant cake comes with her having five awards at Panorama: Three Senior Soloist titles, and two titles she shared with a partner as duet champion.

However, if you thought the awards stopped there, you’re dead wrong. In 2014, she won the award from the National School of Music for being the most musically-inclined student; something that is not surprising, if you know her. She also captured the Youth Award of Excellence for outstanding achievements

in the field of music.

Jovanka is a 24-year-old steel pan ‘phenom’ who has been playing pan for the last 14 years.

She was first introduced to the instrument at St. Gabriel’s Primary School, where she discovered her love for it.

After writing the then ‘Common Entrance’ examination, she gained a place at The Bishops’ High School, where playing pan was to become a way of life.

From there, she joined the Parkside Steel Orchestra, and now, years later, she is one of the brightest talents Guyana has to offer.

But pan isn’t Jovanka’s sole focus; she has a diploma in Marketing, and is currently pursuing a degree in Business Management.

The dates for Panorama are February 25 at the Theatre Guild, and February 28 at the Cliff Andersen Sports Hall, and both Jovanka and ‘Buxton Pride’ will be there performing.

Steel pan in Guyana is on the move, and, thanks to Panorama, Guyanese can now experience it, live.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

‘Juke Ross’

Music’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ THE tale of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ is about this London lawyer, who, by day, is this quiet, ‘mousy’ physician, but when night comes, transforms into the polar opposite: The intimidating Mr Hyde.

We Guyanese have our own such case here, with the coming of Hubert Norville, alias ‘Juke Ross’, to the music scene.

Hubert Norville is a Guyanese-born singer, song-writer and guitarist. Born March 11, 1994, this 21-one-year-old has been slowly honing his craft over the last three years, ever since his first performance with Music Unlimited.

A budding doctor, Hubert is currently on scholarship at the Texila American University, where he is pursuing his other passion: Medicine.

This passion of his for medicine comes from seeing his mother, a nurse by profession, taking care of persons in the community in which he lives.

He also attributes his pas-

sion for music to his mother, who would play music while they did little things around the house.

He was an avid cricketer with the Georgetown Cricket Club before his music pursuits and studying caught up. He claims that he’s lost interest in cricket after picking up the guitar and focusing on the music.

He is also a poet, and this has made his transition to song-writing a success. “I’m an old soul, and I’m always teased about being soft-spoken and reserved; but that’s who I am.”

THE TRANSFORMATION However, the transformation occurs when he takes on the moniker, ‘Juke Ross’, which is his stage name. The transformation is so apparent, that anyone could see it a mile off; even Ray Charles, who happens to be one of his sources of inspiration, were he alive today.

When performing as

‘Juke’, he is captivating, and exudes a kind of confidence that is infectious. The soft-spoken person that you could be talking to a minute earlier becomes outspoken; the change that’s so instantaneous it can catch you offguard.

A week and two days ago, he released “Colour Me”, his first studio-produced single, and with its beautiful lyrics, coupled with angelic vocals and an instrumental which plucks at the strings of the soul, this newcomer has announced his arrival.

He is currently in production with his studio album, which he plans to release in another few months.

So, when you see Hubert coming your way, don’t be fooled by his soft-spoken nature, because at any moment, you can be introduced to the vehement ‘Juke’.

“Colour Me” is available for listening on Facebook and Youtube on his pages.

Rihanna goes treasure hunting

WHILE recording her new album, ANTI, Rihanna secretly travelled to Jamaica to hunt down some Dancehall material for the project.

Last week, she released her new single, “Work”, featuring Drake that sampled a two-decades-old riddim named “Sail Away”.

The Drake-assisted single was released on January 27, along with the album, ANTI. The single was produced by Sevn Thomas, Partynextdoor, and Jamaican-Canadian producer, Boi-1da.

Richie Stephens, who is the creator of the “Sail Away” riddim, was listed as a co-writer for the single.

--for material for new single

Rihanna “They contacted me last week Tuesday, and asked if I was the producer and owner of the master, and I told them yes,” Stephens said. “They

said they would appreciate if I could move fast in assisting with the clearing of the sample, because they wanted to release the song.

So I put them on to my publisher.”

The “Sail Away” riddim was a huge hit in 1998, with singles such as “Bad Man Nah Flee” by Beenie Man and Mr. Vegas; “Fit and Legit” by Sean Paul; and “Take Me Away” by Richie Stephens.

The project also featured songs from Gentleman, Nitty Kutchie, Tony Curtis, T.O.K., Frisco Kid, Chico, Roundhead, and more. (urbanislandz.com)

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Treasure Alana James...

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

More than just a pretty face

EVER heard the saying, “The name says it all, or words to that effect?” If you haven’t, then a fitting example of this assertion is 22-year-old Treasure, whose name does indeed have a lot to say about who she really is.

Born May 27, 1993, Treasure Alana James is the second of three children, all of them girls.

Born and raised in Mabaruma, in the Barima-Waini Region One area, her life, as

is commonly associated with the region, has always been a simple one.

Due to the community not having electricity during the day and only at nights, Treasure developed a liking for the outdoors and a sense of adventure that she has carried throughout her life.

A past pupil of Mabaruma Primary, she wrote the then ‘Common Entrance’ examinations in 2005, and was the best graduating student for her region that year.

That achievement saw her gaining entrance to the prestigious President’s College, and living for five years in a dormitory, an experience she credits with being responsible for her independent nature and people skills.

A serious sportswoman, Treasure dominated the field while at secondary

school in both ‘sprint’ and ‘high jump’, but her love for sports did not always translate on the track or in her training habits.

She was the third best graduating student from President’s College when she finished, and the best Hinterland Scholarship graduating student of 2010.

She then went on to Queen’s College, where she obtained an Associate’s Degree in Natural Science. She also completed her Associate’s Degree in Chemistry at The University of Guyana, and is now pursuing a medical degree a t t h e Te x i l a A m e r i c a n University.

Treasure, however, is not just about academics, as she is also a professional model, having learnt from one of the best in the n occasion for ac-

claimed local designer Donna Ramsammy James and still currently models for her.

She was also Miss Region One in 2010, Miss Amerindian Heritage 1st Runner Up in 2011. In 2014, she became Miss Texila American University.

Treasure, who is very socially conscious, calls herself a ‘feminist’, and hopes that one day she can help fully achieve equality for women.

She believes that what a man can be, he must be, and one day wants to volunteer in underprivileged societies around the world.

Treasure is a rare soul, and someone that touches your life in the short moments you know her.

Her friendly nature, winning smile and easy-toget-along-with personality makes her a dream.

Wise words from a young writer award-winning manuscript, Rebelle & other stories, out into the world of print by approaching established publishers.

As he anxiously awaits word from the esteemed Peepal Tree Press Ltd, he is still comforted by the fact that some of his short stories will be published in upcoming works by the Guyana Annual and the Walter Rodney Foundation.

Subraj Singh “BEWARE of hubris; do not let excessive pride get to your head.”

These were the first thoughts that Subraj Singh cemented in his mind immediately after being announced as the winner of the Best First Book of Fiction in the 2014 Guyana Prize for Literature.

Yet, it is hard to ignore exactly what he achieved: At 23, he is the second youngest recipient of the prestigious award, after Ruel Johnson, who was awarded the Prize in the same category in 2002.

Johnson was 22 at the time. In the local Arts industry, this is something to brag about. Yet, for fear of losing the true meaning of his art, Subraj prefers to remain grounded: “I’m terrified of becoming one of those persons,” he said. “So it has reached the point that I don’t even remember until somebody brings it up. I think it’s good to remain humble.”

Humble as he may be, however, it is hard for even Subraj to deny the increased attention he has received following his win; but he knows that his work has only just begun.

As such, the young writer is now seeking to get his

‘REBELLE’ In putting together his manuscript, Subraj admits that he drew inspiration from popular themes in Guyanese literature such as race relations and politics, but also added a new perspective on other themes. “The collection also reflects the mentality of a Guyanese millennial, by focusing on things like sexuality and where we are going in terms of the future and religion and other important themes,” he said.

Subraj says he aspired to the Guyana Prize for Literature, having viewed it as the height of achievement for a Guyanese Writer.

“It’s something I wanted to go after, but I also felt that winning the Prize would give my writing exposure,” he said.

“I think I have important things to say, and the Prize was going to give me an opportunity to get it out there; to get people more interested in reading,” he added.

WORD OF ADVICE Asked about whether he’d like to see more young writers aspire to the Guyana Prize, his answer was obvious.

Noting that the current lack of young writers has more to do with the general apathy as regards Literature and the Arts in Guyana, Subraj said,

“I think people need to understand or remember how important literature can be; it can be used as a tool for change.

Only when they understand that this is how it can be used, then can they really get back to writing.”

He also warned local writers about their tendency to be influenced largely by western culture, and writing about places and experiences that they are not familiar with. “We have our own stories here; our own language. There’s nothing wrong with it; there is nothing wrong with writing ‘Guyanese’; writing about our issues and our problems, and helping to solve those problems…

“I think we need to get back on what’s ours and focus on how to fix that.” He also spoke of the need for writers to be open to criticism, which he says is a key means to improving one’s craft.

Said he: “I like to lock myself away and write for hours, then let the work simmer for a while, then hand it over to get feedback and critique.

“I’ve come across many writers who are very touchy about criticism, but it is so important … Writers should have a body of people who they can share their work with and get critical feedback.”

Apart from winning awards, the young writer can also be found on stage, participating in various productions on the local theatre scene. Ultimately, his dream is to write full-ime, but he knows that at the moment, that may not be possible.

Until then, Subraj is content working as a lecturer at the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama, while continuing his dream of writing on the side.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

Hijab-wearing athlete on track to make U.S. Olympic history

(CNN) – She hasn’t earned an Olympic medal just yet, but fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad is already making history.

The 30-year-old Maplewood, New Jersey, native will be the first U.S. athlete to compete in the Olympic Games in a hijab, a headscarf worn by some Muslim women to show modesty.

It’s been quite a few days for Muhammad. Last week, she clinched a spot on the U.S. Olympic team during an event in Athens, Greece.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, President Barack Obama gave her a shout-out on Wednesday while delivering a speech at a mosque in Baltimore.

Obama asked Muhammad to stand up for a round

of applause and gave her some words of encouragement. “Bring home the gold ... No pressure,” he said.

Ibtihaj Muhammad The three-time All-American from Duke University was one of several Muslim community leaders who sat down with Obama for a roundtable discussion about the state of Islam and Islam-

ophobia in the United States before his speech.

“It’s a struggle to be a Muslim woman right now. For all Muslims in our country,” Muhammad told CNN. “We are at an interesting crossroads I think. It could get bad here.” She’s worried that if the negative rhetoric against Muslims doesn’t change there will be more situations such as the Chapel Hill shooting, where three Muslim students were gunned down allegedly by their neighbour in February 2015. Many American Muslims claim it was a hate crime.

Muhammad said she is honoured to be representing not only her dreams, but the dreams of fellow Americans.

She hopes she can be a role

model for future athletes, especially Muslim Americans.

“There are a lot of African-American athletes, but I can’t think of a female Muslim woman I can look to for inspiration as an athlete,” she said. Growing up, Muhammad’s source of inspiration came from the Williams sisters and their confidence on the tennis courts.

Being an athlete wasn’t something that Muslim American parents always make a priority, she explained. “In the Muslim community, there is a sense that you are always a doctor or lawyer,” she said.

The New Jersey resident started her sport when she was 13 years old when her mother came across high

school students who were who fully covered, which f o l l o w e d M u h a m m a d ’s faith.

But when Muhammad first started off, she got the sense that fencing was generally a white-dominated sport.

“Black people didn’t fence, and Muslims didn’t either,” she said. But she knew in her heart that she wanted to be a part of the U.S. fencing team when she was older.

“It wasn’t diverse enough.

Being an African-American Muslim woman, I can be that change,” she said.

Muhammad will be the first Muslim woman to represent the United States in the international fencing competitions in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.

Sport is the answer to suicide – GBL President

By Stephan Sookram

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11:40 hrs Theos Lolly 12:10 hrs Justice Lady 12:40 hrs Trending Arab Emirates Racing Tips Jebel Ali 08:20 hrs Ajraam 08:50 hrs Dairam Irish Racing Tips Dundalk 13:30 HRS Split The Atom 14:00 hrs Captain Midnight 14:30 hrs Love In The Sun 15:00 hrs The Mouse Doctor 15:30 hrs Spruce Meadows 16:00 hrs Ned’s Insian 16:30 hrs Marise 17:00 hrs Moving On Up American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Riot Worthy Race 2 Starship Pleasant Race 3 Wonder Gal Race 4 Voila La Victoire Race 5 Evolution Race 6 Surfspun Race 7 Reverend Green Race 8 Geaux Mets

WITH the growing scourge of suicide plaguing Guyana, one administrator is of the view that sport, and being involved in it, can help to curb and reduce the frequency in which these incidents occur.

President of the Guyana Baseball League (GBL) Robin Singh is of the view that most sportsmen and women are less inclined to pursue this route when dealing with issues, providing evidence from his own sport.

According to the GBL boss, “From the baseball end, we’ve had over 40 coaches report back and there has only been about three incidences where coaches have said they had to counsel somebody who was thinking of it. Most sport people don’t.”

“We’ve suggested to the Guyana Olympics Association (GOA) to do a survey of all

... GBL/GOA in survey process

coaches and administrators in sport and try to find out how many athletes over the years have attempted suicide; how many have needed counselling and that survey is underway,” contended Singh.

The aim, the GBL president says, is to show people that the incidence of suicide among sportsmen and women is so much lower than the regular population and that sport has to be a factor in a better life.

While this may be common knowledge to sport administrators, Singh is adamant about hard evidence saying, “We can all say we don’t know of any suicide of any athlete of x amount of years but let’s put it down as evidence, and let’s show parents; ‘you’ve got a choice to make with your kids’ future; you either play sport or

they are going to have a miserable life’.”

He noted that once this is completed, the GOA will be looking to submit its findings to a Non-Governmental Organisation as well as policyholders to further pursue the said findings as well as to craft suitable strategies to curb the epidemic.

Singh’s comments mirror that of Canadian Football Hallof-Famer Alex Bunbury, who was in Guyana to kick-start his ‘Alex Bunbury Sports and Academics Academy’.

Bunbury had stated: “Young people need to see people they look up to speaking up against it and trying to educate young people about not going into that direction and it’s about finding someone they can rely on to help them through the tough times.”

National Road Race and Time Trial cycling champion wings out to the USA GUYANA’S National Road Race and Time Trial cycling champion, Hamza Eastman, has left for the United States of America to prepare for the 2016 racing season.

The Team Coco’s cyclist, who plans to race mainly in the USA and the Caribbean this year, says he will return

to Guyana and defend his National Championship title in June.

Eastman, who rode with great consistency in the New York area last y e a r, i s h o p i n g t o w i n a few ‘big races’ in the U.S. this year and he also targets a crushing performance at the National

Championships.

Eastman hopes that the Guyana Cycle Federation gets its act together so that “our National C h a m p i o n s h i p re s u l t s are reported and UCI Points are allocated, so our riders can qualify for the World Championships”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

Done deal!

NAMILCO makes timely donation of gear and equipment Local boxers sign contracts for February to Fruta Conquerors FC

27 `Hostile Territory’ card

Local professional boxers put their signatures to their contracts for the GBBC’s `Hostile Territory’ card set for the Giftland Mall on February 27. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo) YESTERDAY, it was a done deal as local boxers who will appear on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) `Hostile Territory’ boxing card, scheduled for February 27 at the Giftland Mall, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, placed their signatures to their respective contracts.

The signing took place at GBBC’s president Peter Abdool office on High Street.

The feature bout on the five-bout professional card will see United States-based Guyanese and Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) bantamweight champion Elton `The Coolie Bully’ Dharry square off with Panamanian Israel Hidrogo in a 10-round contest.

The main supporting bout brings together Guyana’s Dexter Marques and Venezuela’s Freddy Beleno in a flyweight fight over 10 rounds. The opening fight on the night’s card will be a four-round ladies’ bantamweight contest between Mandessa Moses and Ansilla Norville.

Imran Khan, who made his debut as a professional last year, will match gloves with Quincy Gomes in a six-round lightweight contest and Guyana’s Revlon Lake will face Barbados’ Miguel Antoine in a six-round welterweight contest.

Speaking at the contract-signing ceremony, Abdool said he

UDFA Division-1 League football resumes on Sunday with a double-header

AFTER the Christmas break for its ‘GT Beer’ championship, the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) Division One League will resume on Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Current league leaders Topp XX will come up against triple-time champions of the GT Beer tournament, Federal Winners Connection, in the nightcap at 20:30hrs. The first game brings Eagles United and Milerock together at 18:30hrs.

Topp XX are atop the table with 10 points ahead of Silver Shattas with nine while third place is held jointly by Milerock and Winners Connection with seven points.

Botofago (six points), Hi Stars (five points) while Eagles United, Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Blueberry Hill and Net Rockers are all on four to wrap up the points standings.

is extremely happy to be associated with the Giftland Mall, citing that the venue has made a tremendous difference for the staging of professional cards. He informed that Giftland Mall wants to make the venue a home to professional boxing.

Abdool said while this card was in the making, the Commonwealth Board has made it mandatory for Dharry to fight for its bantamweight title in Guyana on May 21.

The GBC president also said that on that card (May 21), recently crowned FECARBOX junior welterweight champion Dexter Gonsalves will also be taking a shot at the Commonwealth junior welterweight title. These fights, along with a few others, will be aired on Sky Sports.

Giftland’s Marketing Manager Karen Agtarap said her company is happy to be associated with the GBBC’s card which in itself is an enhancement to the Giftland Mall.

Admission to the venue on fight night is $5 000 for ringside and $2 000 for outer ringside.

NOTABLE DATES

BARRINGTON Cambridge drew with Gustavus `Haversack’ Theobald on February 5, 1984 when the junior welterweight title of Guyana was at stake.

Cambridge was undefeated in six fights going into the contest against Theobald, which was included on a card that saw Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews knock out Ronald McBean and Charles Crawford defeat Leon `King Kong’ O’Neal.

Cambridge suffered his first defeat one fight later when he tackled Dennis Dalrymple. He was 23 years old when entering the professional ranks in 1981 with Roy Smith being the first scalp. Simeon Thomas and William Gordon followed in close succession.

Cambridge successfully defended his Guyana junior welterweight title in June 1988 following an eighth-round technical knockout (TKO) over Marcel Daniels. At the time he was a solid seven years older than Daniels.

The crafty fighter had defeated Patrick Farley by disqualification in his previous fight and later engaged in two clashes with Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews and a similar number with Michael Benjamin. He lost and won against both. All four times the Guyana welterweight title was on the line.

Cambridge had his last of 28 professional fights on December 30, 2006 in Barbados.

THE National Milling Company (NAMILCO) yesterday made a timely donation of gear and equipment to the Fruta Conquerors Football Club to assist the club in their preparation for the 2016 football season.

Speaking at a simple ceremony at the club’s Tucville football ground, Club secretary Daniel Thomas, who received the donation of training bibs, travel jerseys and balls from NAMILCO’S Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod said the club is blessed with willing donors who believe in what the club is trying to do for the country’s youths to improve and inspire the lives of both boys and girls in the area of football.

Thomas used the opportunity to express the club’s gratitude to a number of sponsors who have assisted the club in the past and who have made commitments to continue assisting in the future.

He, however, noted that yesterday’s ceremony was reserved for Bert Sukhai, CEO of NAMILCO for the company’s continued investment in the club.

Thomas noted also that the flour company has injected millions of dollars into Guyana’s football through prize money and support to the club and this he said “is a tangible gesture, and today’s donation is yet another sign of commitment to our club and sports in Guyana”.

McLeod, in brief remarks, said the collaboration between NAMILCO and Fruta Conquerors is a very fruitful one. He lauded the club for its accountability and said his company shares the same views as the club and is committed to continue this relationship. He added that NAMILCO remains undaunted in its quest for the uplift of the club.

NAMILCO’S Public Relations Consultant Hafeez Khan said the company is happy to be supportive of Fruta Conquerors and generally sports in Guyana. “Fruta is our baby and we’ll make them football giants in time”

Chanderpaul warns youngsters not to copy batting stance

RECENTLY retired West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has high hopes that a new generation of regional cricketers will copy his determination, but definitely not his batting stance.

After scoring an impressive 11 867 runs in a record 164 Tests, at an average of 51, a set of statistics only bettered

by Brian Lara (11 953 at an average of 52.88) on the all-time West Indies list, the cricketer’s awkward stance at the crease has always been a source of discussion.

The awkward posture in front of the wickets is often described as a crab-like, front-on stance.

“It’s not something young players around should imitate. It is very difficult and has got a lot to do with what I did,” Chanderpaul said.

“I think you should be more side on. I was trying to balance but was falling over a lot in the beginning; hence I opened up a little bit to find balance. Younger generation should stand side on. It was something I practised and that helped me with my balance which was good for me over the years.”

Chanderpaul still managed to be effective, saying his role in the West Indies side was always to hold the innings together.

S h i v n a r i n e Chanderpaul

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

Guyana Jaguars 3-day practice match ends in tame draw

By Rajiv Bisnauth

THE Guyana Jaguars three-day practice gamed ended in a tame draw yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda.

Resuming at 115-4, Robin Bacchus X1 made 191 in their first innings. Chanderpaul Hemraj took his overnight score of 37 to 54, while Kemol Savory made 28 and Anthony Adams contributed 29 to the total.

Gudakesh Motie finished with 5-57 from 26.4 overs, his left-arm partner Veerasammy Permaul ended with 3-40 and fast bowler Keon Joseph took 2-35.

With a first-innings lead of 192, Vishaul Singh X1 reached 130-5 when play ended. Tagenarine Chanderpaul 35, Rajendra Chandrika 29, Kevon Boodie 10, Ray-

mon Reifer 11, and Vishaul Singh 12 were the batsmen dismissed.

When bails were lifted Anthony Bramble and Permaul were the not-out batsmen on 13 and 11 respectively.

Test leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo claimed 4-33, while Raun Johnson took the other wicket.

The three-day game forms part of preparations for the Guyana Jaguars, ahead of the resumption of the Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four-day competition next week.

The Jaguars will face the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force from February 12 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

former Guyana fast bowler Rayon Griffith has expressed satisfaction with the attitude of the players.

In fact, Griffith said the attitude has been positive from players during the

POSITIVE ATTITUDE Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Selectors and

three-day game.

“I think we are heading in the right direction,” Grif-

Rayon Griffith

fith said “I think it is just a matter of the guys continuing in that vein, giving the effort, showing enthusiasm and hopefully, we can move forward from here.

“I thought the guys are putting out the effort and they cooperated, gelled and assisted each other well as a unit, and I think that was good for us,” said Griffith.

Further Griffith expressed confidence that the Jaguars will end the second half of the tournament as champions once again.

“I am always confident.

We are on top and I am confident we will remain that way at the end of the tournament.

We have Chandrika and Bishoo back with us and that is a plus so I am confident,” Griffith explained.

The Guyana Jaguars have been a dominant force after the first five rounds of the

2015-16 season. They have already rushed to the top of the table with 85 points, from five wins in an unbeaten campaign to date.

Barbados Pride lie in second position with 63 points, followed by Jamaica Scorpions (53), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (37), Windward Islands Volcanoes (29) and Leeward Islands Hurricanes (13).

After the game against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, the Jaguars will travel to Barbados to face the Barbados Pride from February 19, then to St Lucia to play the Windward Islands Volcanoes from February 26.

In the final two rounds, the Jaguars will play Leeward Islands Hurricanes from March 11 in Antigua, before returning home to face Jamaica Scorpions from March 18.

After the first half of the

tournament, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has emerged as the leading wicket-taker, capturing 34 wickets at an average of 11.73 with four five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket maul haul.

In the batting department, the diminutive left-handed middle-order batsman, Vishaul Singh, is the Guyana Jaguars leading run-scorer and the competition’s second highest run-getter behind Roston Chase of Barbados Pride.

Singh has chalked up 421 runs, 15 less than Chase, at an average of 60.14 with two hundreds.

Skipper Leon Johnson is the second highest run-scorer for Guyana Jaguars, with 275 runs at 39.28 with two fifties, while openers Assad Fudadin and Rajendra Chandrika have made a century each this season.

Chase Academy trounce Charlestown Secondary CHASE Academy, led by Dwayne Dick’s mesmerising spell of bowling, trounced Charlestown Secondary by 10 wickets.

Leguan Secondary, Annandale Secondary and Skeldon Line Path Secondary also recorded comfortable victories against Parika-Salem Secondary, Hope Secondary and Tagore Memorial Secondary respectively, as the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary Schools Cricket League (NSSCL), sponsored

by Banks DIH Ltd’s Coco Cola and Rainforest Water along with Digicel continued across the country.

At Everest, Chase Academy blew away Charlestown Secondary behind Dwayne Dick’s superb figures of 6-8

off 6 enthralling overs. Batting first, Charlestown Secondary made a paltry 52 in 16.5 overs.

Chase Academy, who needed to get 53 for victory in as little overs as possible to help boost their net run rate, did so by rocketing to 55 in just 5.5 overs behind West Indies Under-15 selectee Joshua Persaud’s swashbuckling 44 not out which came off only 16 balls.

This margin of victory helped Chase Academy to finish with a net run rate of -0.338 which was enough to top the three-team Georgetown Zone after they, along with St Joseph High and Charlestown Secondary, finished with one win and one loss after two games each.

St Joseph High finished second with a net run rate of -0.856

... Wins also for Leguan, Annandale and Skeldon Line Path Secondary schools while Charlestown Secondary were third with a net run rate of -1.581.

This means that Chase Academy would now progress to the next stage of the competition.

At Parika, Leguan Secondary eased past Parika-Salem Secondary by seven wickets.

Parika Salem were asked to take first strike but could put only 83 runs on the board before they were dismissed in the 17th over.

The only batsman to offer any resistance was Wazim Mohamed who made 25 out of the total of 83. Bowling for Leguan Secondary, Junior Bezindre claimed 4-13, Mark Rankin had 3-17 and Malcolm Caesar

took 2-14.

In reply, Leguan got to their target in 14.1 overs while losing only 4 wickets in the process.

Mark Rankin made 27 not out.

Bowling for Parika-Salem, Wazim Mohamed had 3-19.

At Enterprise, Annandale Secondary got the better of Hope Secondary by five wickets in their Inter-Zone clash.

Batting first, Hope Secondary, who are the Mahaica Zone champions, were bowled out for 101 in 25.3 overs.

Denzil Wilson made 22 not out. Bowling for Annandale, Tyrese Assanah bagged 4-21, Chandrapaul Ramraj 3-14 and Ayube Sammy 2-24.

Annandale in reply finished on 102-5 in 18 overs. Saif Sa-

maroo hit 24 and Mike Persaud made 20. Bowling for Hope, Gopaul Applesammy took 3-32.

Meanwhile, at Skeldon Community Centre ground, Skeldon Line Path Secondary defeated Tagore Memorial Secondary by 41 runs. Batting first after winning the toss, Skeldon Line Path made 158 all out off 26.3 overs.

Alex Burnett top-scored with 24. Bowling for Tagore Memorial, Mukesh Shivpersaud had 4-44 while Alex February claimed 3-14 and Andy Rohoman took 2-24.

Tagore Memorial in reply fell short of their target managing only 117, all out in 26 overs. Alex February was again among the runs as he made 46.

Bowling for Skeldon Line Path, Afseer Hussain was the pick of the bowlers with 3-21 while Navin Chatterpaul took 3-27.

The competition continues tomorrow when Chase Academy take on Annandale Secondary in a Georgetown-East Coast Demerara Inter-Zone clash at Everest ground. In the Essequibo Zone, Leguan Secondary play Wakenaam Zone winners, Essequibo Islands Secondary, at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

And the first match of the Combine Elite League Stage of the competition which comprises the better players from schools within each Zone, will be played between Mahaica and Mahaicony at Fairfield.

GFF/UDFA wraps up ‘D’ Licence coaches certification programme today FOURTEEN coaches who have been attending the one-week ‘D’ Licence Certification programme being conducted by the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Technical Development Officer Lyndon France, will be finally assessed when the clinic ends today at the Bayrock Community Centre.

France was identified by the GFF after an approach was made

by the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA), seeking to enhance the technical knowledge of its coaches as part of the development programme.

To this end, France has been conducting this clinic and among the areas covered were: what to do with the athletic abilities of players at the various ages and stages; how to understand the long-term athletic development

of players and how to use the small-sided games to transform players’ understanding of playing on attack and defence.

Speaking at the one-week clinic which began on Monday, France said that the coaches are to successfully complete the five days of training and the oral and theoretical aspects before they are eligible for classification.

GFF’s Technical Development Officer Lyndon France interacts with coaches in Linden.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Friday February 5, 2016

Losing Narine is a ‘big’ blow for us – Sarwan

By Rajiv Bisnauth OFF-SPINNER Sunil Narine has switched allegiance to reigning Caribbean Premier League (CPL) champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force for the upcoming season, which is set to bowl off in June.

The 27-year-old Trinidadian has turned out for the Guyana Amazon Warriors since CPL’s inception in 2013, but will return to his hometown for the fourth edition.

Narine’s decision is definitely a parting body blow for a team that had absorbed more than its fair share, though they managed to reach the final in 2013 and 2014 but failed to capture the title.

In an invited comment yesterday, Ramnaresh Sarwan, captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the first edition, labelled the off-spin-

Sunil Narine

ner moved as a big loss for the Warriors setup.

“He (Narine) is one of the best in the world, he is a match-winner so losing him is definitely a big loss for us,” Sarwan said.

On record, Narine is probable the contemporary game’s most effective bowler,. His cocktail of dipping off-breaks, knuckle balls and doosras has confused the finest players of the day, and his absence will significantly weaken the bowling department.

“His four-over spell is always crucial, and to replace him will be very difficult,” the former West Indies captain pointed out.

Meanwhile, the League will make a number of changes to its player draft format ahead of the new season.

The number of players that the franchises can retain before the player draft has been held has been reduced from four

Government to honour ‘Shiv’ during Golden Jubilee celebration THE Government of Guyana at Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing announced that retired West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be honoured during the country’s ‘Golden Jubilee’ celebration in May. After more than two decades and 164 Test matches, Chanderpaul, one of West Indies’ finest batsmen, has retired.

Chanderpaul finishes as the second-highest West Indian Test run-maker, 86 runs short of Brian Lara: Lara got 11 953 (11 912 for West Indies and the rest for the ICC World XI), while Chanderpaul scored 11 867 (all for West Indies).

Chanderpaul, 41, had not played for West Indies since May 2015; the West Indies selectors dropped him after a weak performance during the three-Test series at home against England.

While Chanderpaul entertained hopes of a comeback, the selection panel, headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, had provided enough hints that they had moved past Chanderpaul as they ignored him for the various series in the last eight months. Chanderpaul was also not part of the 15 play-

Shivnarine Chanderpaul kisses the pitch as he celebrates his century. ers handed annual contracts by the WICB in December.

“The unanimous view was that this is an outstanding son of the soil,” said Raphael Trotman, Minister of Natural Resources while addressing the local media.

Trotman highlighted that while there’s an avenue named after the famed Guyanese cricketer (Shiv Chanderpaul Drive), who also picked up a National Award, the Government of Guyana believes that his contribution to West Indies cricket should be commemorated.

“The Minister of Education was asked to do a review

of his achievements and see in what other ways the Government of Guyana could recognise this inspirational son,” Trotman said.

Chanderpaul is only the second modern-day player, after Sachin Tendulkar, whose career stretched over two decades. He might not have been as celebrated and revered as Tendulkar, but Chanderpaul had worked hard, quietly, to become one of the strongest pillars of West Indies cricket.

He scored 30 Test centuries and averaged 51.37 in the format, and held numerous records that are likely to last for a long time, including bat-

ting for more than 25 hours in a Test series between dismissals - he did it against India in 2002, when he faced 1 050 consecutive deliveries without losing his wicket.

Unorthodox stance and great determination aside, Chanderpaul never allowed his emotions to overpower him or overflow on the outside. Perhaps that reserved nature of his explained why he led West Indies only 14 times in Tests.

‘Shiv’, as he is also known, played 268 ODIs for 8 778 runs at 41.60 (the last of which was during the 2011 World Cup), and 22 T20Is.

to three, while squad sizes increase from 16 to 17 for the new season. The new rules also allow the six franchise teams to sign one ‘marquee’ player as a free agent before the draft process begins.

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

2015 also saw the introduction of ICC Americas players, with two being selected for the Tridents and Patriots squads.

In 2016, at least six ICC Americas players will be guaranteed a contract.

Overall, the salary cap for each team has increased to US$780 000 from US$600 000.

In all, 289 players - 157 from West Indies and 132 from overseas - have been

registered for the draft.

This total does not include the six players - Faf du Plessis, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara, Shane Watson, and one other name set to be revealed ahead of the draft - who will take one ‘marquee’ spot in each of the six CPL teams. Of the 157 West Indians, 16 have been retained by their teams ahead of the draft.

Pakistan will be the most represented overseas nationality at the CPL draft, with 37 players. There will be 34 South Africans, 23 Australians, and 20 Sri Lankans.

New Zealand will be represented by 11 players and Bangladesh by seven.

Outside the Test-playing countries, the draft will also include players from Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland and USA.

GCF distances itself from Cumberbatch being a national cyclist THE Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has distanced itself from an article which appeared on page 17 of yesterday’s edition of the Guyana Chronicle headlined `National cyclist tried to raise `quick money’.

According to a release from the GCF, Kwame Cumberbatch, who according to the article ingested a quantity of cocaine pellets and tried to smuggle it to Barbados, was never a cyclist and he was never registered with any cycling club in Guyana.

The GCF stated that “Cumberbatch never participated in any of their sanctioned events and they have no known knowledge of the individual”.

Cumberbatch, who described himself as a ‘local cyclist’, was on Tuesday sentenced to three years in jail and fined $873 000 on a conviction of trafficking narcotics by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown

Kwame Cumberbatch Magistrates’ Court.

He also appeared before Sparendaam Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul on Wednesday and admitted that on January 28, he had 518 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He was then sentenced to four years imprisonment along with a $1.3M fine.

Local boxers sign contracts for February 27 `Hostile Territory’ card See Story on Page 29

Sunil Narine bowls to Ramnaresh Sarwan in 2013

Losing Narine is a ‘big’ blow for us – Sarwan

See Story on Page 31

Government to honour ‘Shiv’ during Golden Jubilee celebration

NAMILCO makes timely donation of gear and equipment to Fruta Conquerors FC

See Story on Page 31

See Story on Page 29 Shivnarine Chanderpaul celebrates after scoring another century Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

In this Cullen Bess-Nelson photo, NAMILCO’S Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod (left) hands over one of the footballs to Fruta Conquerors Club secretary Daniel Thomas, while Public Relations Consultant of the company Hafeez Khan (extreme left) and other club executives look on.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016