Chronicle 10 19 2015

GUYANA

The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com

Baby shot dead No. 104346

MONDAY OCTOBER 19, 2015

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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- by man dumped by granny Page

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Economy to recover by year-end Page

Dead: One-year-old Ariane Gill

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- Mid-year report

New criminal gang stalking ‘Big Market’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Baby shot dead - by man dumped by granny

By Rabindra Rooplall A MAN scorned, who knows his way around guns, yesterday paid his ex-lover a visit, in spite of a restraining order against him, and made good on a threat he’d earlier made.

Twelve-year-old Ashley Wellington

A tearful Shenay Northon holding the restraining order against her attacker The now wanted Marc Angoy

Having promised he’d make her rue the day she left him, he fulfilled it by pushing his hand through a grilled window of her Annandale, East Coast Demerara home, and, taking careful aim, shot dead her infant grandchild, and injured her 12-yearold daughter before fleeing the scene in a waiting blue motorcar.

Dead is one-year-old Ariane Gill, who was shot in the back in the region of the upper left shoulder.

Her 12-year-old aunt Ashley Wellington, a student of Covent Garden Secondary, was shot twice in the left leg, and has since been admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Their assailant has been positively identified a s 4 5 - y e a r- o l d M a r c Angoy, who operates a business in the interior and is also involved in mining activities. A former member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Angoy was several years

Please turn to page 5 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Mid-year Report: Economy to recover by year-end

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ESPITE a 2.5 per cent decline in the local economy during the first half of 2015, growth is expected to reach 3.4 per cent in the second half of the year, according to a mid-year report released by the Ministry of Finance.

The decline, the report says, was as a result of the delay in the presentation and passage of the National Budget, coupled with falling gold prices and gold smuggling.

“The proroguing of Parliament in late 2014, the uncertainty that usually surrounds the electoral period and a budget being presented in the second half of the year, together have led to a slowdown in public sector spending and some hesitancy in private sector investments,” the report said.

Preliminary estimates demonstrate that the country’s half year growth rate stands at 0.9 percent. However, the report notes that the country recorded real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 0.7 percent in the first half of 2015, with non-sugar GDP recording a growth rate of 0.8 per cent.

“This delay meant that many government agencies were unable to carry out their planned programmes for the year. Many projects were held in abeyance, while only a few projects which were ‘rolled over ’ from the previous year attracted funding. At the same time, the atmosphere of uncertainty and tensions surrounding the holding of general elections, led to investors postponing decision in many cases,” the report stated.

H o w e v e r , notwithstanding the challenges faced during the first half of the year, growth

is expected to reach 3.4 per cent. “We remain sanguine that the end of year projection will be achieved,” the report said. “ H o w e v e r, w i t h t h e installation of a new government and the passage of the National Budget growth is expected to surge in the second half of 2015 and is projected to reach 3.4 per cent, as a result of measures outlined in Budget 2015.”

SUGAR Sugar production grew “encouragingly” by 1.6 percent in 2015 to reach 81, 271 tonnes. Based on the half year performance, the whole year projection remains at 219, 913 tonnes.

“Even though the industry has projected a more buoyant outcome of 227,400 tonnes for 2015 the lower estimate has been used given past experiences.”

The slight increase of 1.7 per cent in 2015 production will result with expected better weather conditions, facilitating increased harvesting of canes, coupled with the ongoing efforts to resuscitate GuySuCo including a $12 billion injection by government.

“Notwithstanding this performance, the industry’s average cost of production remains excessively high. The report from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) which is expected in October 2015 will be a critical input in determining the future of the industry,” the report added.

RICE The rice industry continued to record “exceptional growth.”

Production in the first half of 2015 was 359, 960

tonnes, 15.3 percent over last year’s record high firsthalf production of 312, 283 tonnes. “In light of that performance, the end of year output and growth projections have been revised upwards to 703,462 tonnes, equivalent to 10.7 percent over the 2014 record production level. It is lamentable that the phenomenal growth in the production of rice is unmatched by the growth in the diversification of the export market as well as the absence of value-added products,” the report added.

Tremendous support has been given to the rice industry with $9 billion being transferred to the Guyana Rice Development Board in June 2015. The uncertainty in the market following the loss of the Venezuelan market under the PeroCaribe Rice Trade Agreement has heightened but government says “it is committed to assisting the farmers to find alternative markets and will support private sector initiatives to secure the future of the industry.”

Meanwhile, the production of the other crops subsector rose by 5 per cent over the half year output for 2014. “The subsector is projected to grow by 2.0 percent in 2015.

LIVESTOCK The livestock industry recorded a 15 percent growth in the first half of 2015 compared with the same period in 2014. This comes from growth in poultry, egg, mutton and milk production.

“The sector is projected to grow by 8.9 per cent for this year, with poultry and egg production continuing to be the main drivers of this growth.”

FISHERIES There has been a 11.6 percent decline in the fisheries sector, the midyear report said. “The fisheries sector continued its downward spiral in the first half of 2015.”

“This persistent contraction in the industry has been the result of overfishing and possible under-declaration, combined with smaller fleets, lower harvesting in aquaculture, piracy and occurrence o f s a rg a s s u m s e a w e e d .

Performance is projected to improve in the second half of 2015, due to the reduction in the occurrence of sargassum seaweed, greater enforcement of fishing regulations and anti-piracy efforts.”

FORESTRY Similarly, the forestry sector contracted by 9.8 per cent in the first half of 2015 as compared with the same period in 2014. “This was due partially to unusual May/ June rains which created conditions that were not conducive to harvesting.”

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e average price per cubic meter for Wamara logs, a major forestry commodity, fell from US$196.92 in 2014 to US$176.25 in 2015, the report stated.

“Improved weather is anticipated in the second half of the year and with all annual approvals secured in the first half, growth is projected to improve significantly with the end of year performance projected to deliver 2.2 percent.”

MINING AND QUARRYING The mining and quarrying sector also declined during the first half of the year.

The sector declined by 17.4 percent as compared to the first half of 2014.

This reflected a fall in gold, bauxite and stone production by 16.2 percent, 18.6 percent and 54 percent respectively.

Since 2013, the sector has been contracting “largely as a result of declining commodity prices for both gold and bauxite, the two major industries in the subsector.”

Gold prices continued to fall, reaching a fiveyear low. “This combined with extensive smuggling of gold, estimated to be as much as 15,000 ounces per week, led to a sharp drop in declaration,” the mid-year report noted.

Closer monitoring of and enforcement within the industry along with full operationalisation of the Aurora Gold Mine is anticipated to help gold declarations improve to 390,000 ounces at the end of 2015 compared to 387,508 ounces in 2014.

The bauxite industry has also seen a decline in international prices which has contributed to 18.6 percent decline in production during the first half of the year.

“Production in the bauxite industry is expected to increase to 1,635,081 tonnes as compared to 1,563,563 tonnes in 2014, an increase of 4.6 percent.

The decline in the production of stone, the report added, is as a result of a reduction in construction activities. “Despite the contraction of the other mining and quarrying industry, in the first half of 2015, output is expected to grow by 5.8 percent this year due to expansion in quarrying production in the second half of the year. This will come

about because of an expected increase in construction, occasioned by accelerated implementation of the public sector investment programme (PSIP) and increased investment by the Private Sector.

MANUFACTURING “Manufacturing output increased by 7.1 percent,” due to a 15.3 percent increase in rice milling as a result of the bumper first crop. Sugar and “other manufacturing” increased by 1.6 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively.

“Increases in the pharmaceutical industry combined with increases in the production of rum, stout and beer, aerated drinks, juices and cereals were responsible for driving other manufacturing.”

The manufacturing sector is expected to grow by 0.7 percent in 2015 as compared to 2014.

SERVICES Meanwhile, the services sector continued to expand in the first half of 2015 growing by 2.5 percent. This was as a result of expansion in all sub-sectors, except construction. “Significant growth occurred in transport and storage, financial and insurance and information and communication subsectors, recording 12 percent, 6.7 percent and 6 percent respectively.”

The services sector is projected to grow by 3.6 percent in 2015, the report stated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Migrant backlog builds in Balkans after new diversion

By Aleksandar Vasovic and Marja Novak

BERKASOVO, Serbia/ LJUBLJANA Buses packed with migrants backed up on Serbia’s border with Croatia yesterday, their passage to western Europe slowed by a new diversion through Slovenia, which vowed to limit the influx.

Many spent the night on the buses, wrapped in warm clothes and blankets against the autumn cold, waking to dense fog and another hourslong wait around a kilometer from Serbia’s western border with the European Union.

Slovenia said it would only accept as many as are able to exit the country into

Austria.

“Croatia asked us to accept 5,000 migrants per day, but Austria told us they can accept at maximum 1,500,” Bostjan Sefic, state secretary at the Slovenian Interior Ministry, told a news conference. “ We c a n n o t a c c e p t unlimited numbers of migrants if we know that they cannot continue their journey.”

Some 3,000 migrants, many of them Syrians fleeing war, entered Slovenia from Croatia on Saturday after fellow EU member Hungary sealed its southern border with Croatia at midnight on Friday.

Hungary’s right-wing government says the mainly

Muslim migrants pose a threat to Europe’s prosperity, security and “Christian values”, forging ahead with a unilateral crackdown in the absence of EU unity.

The arrival of a projected 700,000 migrants this year to Europe’s shores, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia by boat and dinghy across the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, has exposed deep and often ugly divisions in the EU. EU members Croatia and Slovenia have both said they will not stop migrants from crossing providing Austria and Germany also keep their doors open.

But while Slovenia says it wants to limit arrivals to around 2,500 per day, upwards of 5,000 daily are crossing from Greece into

Migrants walk to the border with Hungary after arriving by train at Botovo, Croatia at the weekend (Reuters/Laszlo Balogh) Macedonia and then Serbia.

TEMPERS FRAY Aid agencies are concerned about backlogs building in the Balkans, lashed by autumn winds and rain and with winter on its way.

Sefic said he believed Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia would also have to take measures to slow the flow.

In Serbia, tempers frayed

as overstretched police officers tried to keep order around a kilometer short of the border, where some 40 buses packed with migrants were stacked up in the village of Berkasovo. On reaching the border, migrants disembark and cross by foot.

“This part of the trip has lasted 20 hours, and we’ve been here for almost 12 hours,” said Khair, 40, a former sales manager from the Syrian capital, Damascus.

“What can we do? We’re here and we have to wait.”

Some climbed over a wire fence into an apple orchard and corn field to forage for food.

“We’ve been here for 20 hours; we need water and food. There are women and babies in the bus,” said a bus driver who gave his name as Miroslav. “Who on earth

coordinates this? It’s a mess.”

The EU has agreed a plan, resisted by Hungary and several other ex-Communist members of the bloc, to share out 120,000 refugees among its members.

It has also proposed giving Turkey three billion euros ($3.4 billion) in aid and the prospect of easier travel visas and “re-energised” talks on joining the bloc if it helps stem the flow across its territory. [ID:nL8N12F5BD] Slovenia's Sefic said the problem would need to be resolved in Greece, where most migrants arrive.

In the meantime, he said, “We insist on balancing inflows and outflows of migrants on a daily basis or on the basis of several days ... and for now we will not change that decision.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Baby shot dead From page 2 ago charged for murder but was later acquitted.

Reliving the incident to the Guyana Chronicle, Shenay Northon, the woman at the centre of the tragedy, said: “It was about 1:30 pm; we were at home. The front door was locked, and the back door was locked; my

big daughter was inside cooking, and Ashley and Ariane were in the living room watching TV. I was inside taking a rest; and then I hear these shots start going off.”

Springing to her feet, she went to see where the gunfire was coming from.

“I see Ashley with Ariane in she hand, running to the back of the house; and I see

Marc at the window with the gun in his hand just shooting…

“When we run into the bathroom for cover, I see Ashley foot bleeding; then when I look at she foot, I see two shots. When I check the baby, I see a shot in her back and like she was black-out.”

Hysterical by then, the mother of six said she ran outside of the house, and

The lower flat in which Northon and her family live, and where the attack took place

was just in time to see the shooter dashing up the road, and hopping into a waiting blue car.

She then grabbed the children and ran to the upstairs apartment, the tenant of which offered her the use of their landphone to call a taxi to take the injured children to the Georgetown Hospital.

Noting that theirs had always been a tumultuous relationship, particularly in the last three years, Northon said the reason she left Angoy was because of the constant abuse she suffered at his hands. “I left him because of abuse in every way possible: physical, mental, verbal, emotional; every way possible,” she said.

At one point, she said, things became so unbearable, she was forced to take out a restraining order against him. That was back in August, after ending the relationship.

Looking back, she said he’d always threatened to get even with her. “He told me on October 7, when I went up back in the interior, that he is going to hurt the closest thing to me; when he saw me the same day at

the river corner, he had a cutlass. He told me he will hurt the closest things to me, and chop me up and kill me; and that how I will live with pain for the rest of my life.”

After the encounter, Northon said she made a report at the nearest police station, but that didn’t stop Angoy from pursuing her.

When he wasn’t abusing her verbally, he’d send her text messages saying what he’d like to do to her.

The reason she came home from the interior last Thursday, she said was because of a court matter they have pending. She also came because she knew that the children were afraid to stay by themselves in Annandale, because of the threats.

“I know my children were scared to stay at the home in Annandale, because they know he was in town; so I decided to come home, too, because I couldn’t leave them on their own,” she said. They even slept on occasions at relatives in Buxton.

They’d just come home yesterday to clean and wash up before going back to Buxton when the incident occurred.

She said the reason Angoy targeted those two particular children was because he knew how much she loved them; how close

they both were to her heart.

“I normally call her ‘Princess’; and he know I care a lot for these two...”

Northon said, adding: “ We t r i e d p a t c h i n g up the relationship many times before, but he is very abusive. He even smoke cocaine in the house, and because of his behaviour towards me, my children could not stand it and they moved out.”

Stressing that she could not live without them, Northon said she made up her mind once and for all to sever the relationship and make amends with her children.

“He called my 12-yearold daughter’s phone 17 times Friday morning; he constantly terrorises us after the separation,” she said. “I even left him with my shop in the interior, and with the help of my son, I opened a new shop recently. He even sabotaged my generator I purchased from Silvies store; he filled the oil pump with sand,” she added.

According to the tenant who lives in the apartment above Northon’s she heard three loud reports, but thought it was squibs because the Christmas season is fast approaching.

But on peering out the window, she saw a man fleeing up the street. That man was no doubt Marc Angoy.

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Guyana

EDITORIAL

The Grenadian Revolution

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HIS month our sister CARICOM country Grenada remembers the events that collided in October, 1983 to bring an end to what came to be known as the Grenadian Revolution.

Thirty-two years later Grenada and the larger Caribbean have still not come to grips with what happened. The slaughter of comrades by comrades and the subsequent American invasion of the island shocked the region. But more than that, it effectively brought an end to an era in Caribbean history that was perhaps the closest we came to realising our collective self- determination.

The Grenadian Revolution resulted from the overthrow of the then Eric Gairy government, which, like all of the immediate post-independence governments of the region, found it difficult to move the region beyond the narrow confines of a cosmetic independence. This inability to actualise an independence that privileged a democratic ethos that spoke to the aspirations of the broad masses spawned a resistance movement that rooted for a radical revolution in the politics and economics of the region. It is this challenge to the independence establishment, which was simultaneously a challenge to the prevailing western global order that would characterise our politics for almost two decades beginning with the so-called Rodney Riots in Jamaica of 1968.

The New Jewel Movement (NJM) of Grenada, a product of that radical ferment overthrew the Gairy government on March 13, 1979 and proclaimed the beginning of a revolution. Radical forces in the Caribbean and beyond embraced the revolution as part of their own struggle. Here in Guyana, all three of the major political forces—PPP, PNC and WPA—were close allies of the revolution whose leader, Maurice Bishop, had distinguished himself as a Caribbean patriot.

The Grenadian revolution occurred in an age of revolt and revolution—Nicaragua, Iran, Uganda, Dominica, St Lucia, Guyana. All over the world people and their organisations were rising up against tyranny. But these uprisings were occurring in the middle of the Cold War, which meant that they were seen by one protagonist, the USA, as dangerous. In this context, the anti-imperialist and nationalist commitment to fundamentally change Grenada’s political economy, were seen as counter

GUYANA CHRONICLE monday october 19, 2015

Let us stand up, speak out against poverty, inequality Dear Editor, THE United Nations (UN) International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on October 17 each year since 1993. It promotes people’s awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution worldwide, particularly in developing countries.

We are standing because we refuse to accept more excuses in a world where

people die every day as a result of extreme poverty and the gap between rich and poor is getting wider.

We are standing because we want our leaders to honour their promises to meet the new sustainable development goals and we ask them to exceed these goals.

To the leaders of the wealthy countries we urge you to keep your promises on poverty,

debt relief, more and better aid, trade justice and gender equality.

To the leaders of poorer countries make it your first responsibility to save the lives of your poorest citizens.

We ask you to tackle inequality, to be accountable to your people, to govern fairly and justly, to fight corruption and to fulfill human rights.

Today, and every day, we will stand up and speak out against pover-

ty. We will continue the fight against poverty and inequality and to hold our leaders to their promises.

We are asking not for charity but for justice.

We are millions of voices standing in solidarity to say, no more excuses; end poverty now.

Yours faithfully, SHERWOOD CLARKE

ACIC salutes Muslims on occasion of Islamic New Year

THE Anna Catherina Islamic Complex AA and The Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman extend to the Muslim community and the wider Guyanese community, warm greetings for the commencement of the Muslim New Year 1437AH. One of the usual ways to commence any new year is the setting of new goals and resolutions for personal transformation and improvement. It is our hope that the New Year will also usher in an era of even greater progress in our country. We call on every Muslim to contribute to the peaceful process of development in our country. We urge our political leaders to resolve to talk to each other and to find solutions at the table of consultations to the many issues which need to be addressed.

Resolutions and goals are powerful tools to help you potentially shape your destiny and therefore our resolutions and goals should include at this time, the intention to contribute in whatever way we can to the shaping of a great future for our country.

The lives of all those people in humanity who achieved remarkable successes were shaped simply by being committed to their goals. Among millions of examples, we see a powerful example in the life of Prophet Muhammad (saws) whose endless efforts and perseverance with the help of Allah, brought guidance to humanity at large. Through wisdom, hard work, commitment, perseverance, and God’s will, we can achieve anything which we set out to achieve. But you cannot be better today

to the USA’s interests.

For four-and-a-half years the revolution fought for its survival in a hemisphere and region that had begun to buckle under the pressures of the dictates of the Cold War. Caribbean politics became bitterly divided between Left and Right. Friendship with Cuba was outlawed in some countries. Guyana, whose political landscape was mostly left, was at the centre of these developments. Invariably, Caribbean politics revolved around Grenada; the universality of revolutions at work.

But internally, the Grenadian revolution was confronting its own contradictions. Despite revolutionary changes in the politics and economics, the NJM deteriorated into two antagonistic factions in which tactical differences became irreconcilable differences. The party’s executive became the substitute for the party and the party became the substitute for the revolution.

By October, 1983, the faction that controlled the guns

if you did not set out to become better yesterday and took the necessary actions for that betterment.

Remember the process of setting goals and resolutions requires that you actually take time to analyse where you stand and chart out what you want to become. Similarly, this is a strong message for all of us especially our leaders of this country. More often, we are held back because of procrastination and habits that are difficult to change. Let us start the change today – both in our personal self and in our country. Let us embark on a personal transformation that can help make us, our families, our community, our country and the world around us even stronger.

Let us start the change today – take the time to know ourselves better – identify our weaknesses

and commit to eliminate them. Assess our strengths and use them for meaningful pursuits. Make our relationship with our Creator even stronger. Because if we don’t take the step, Allah may not help us.

The lunar Islamic Calendar began its calculation after the migration of Prophet Muhammad to Medina. The first month of the calendar is Muharram, in which the 10th day (called Ashura) is significant not only to Muslims, but humanity.

Muslims and is observed with fasting, prayers and special programs at the various mosques. Use this dawn of a new year to usher in a new phase of forgiveness and tolerance in our lives.

HAKEEM KHAN President General—ACIC

arrested the Prime Minister and consequently turned them on their erstwhile comrades and their followers.

Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and some of his close comrades along with others were murdered. A few days later, American troops invaded the island ostensibly to save Americans on the island and the Grenadian people from the horrors of the revolution. Here in Guyana we had the rare sight of activists from the PPP, PNC and WPA picketing the USA embassy to protest the invasion. But even the rage against the invasion could not hide the fact that the revolution had imploded. Three decades later our Caribbean has not fully recovered from that blow. The memory of the revolution still evokes mixed emotions.

Many remember it as the October tragedy. Others remember it as that shining moment in our Caribbean experience when we stood tall and erect. In the final analysis, it was both.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Taxi driver critical after car crashes into house …was reportedly fleeing hit-and-run scene

A TAXI driver attached to the Green Ice Taxi Service is now in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after he lost control of his Toyota Allion Sunday morning and ended up on the shed of a house at Railway Embankment, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

The incident occurred at around 06:00 hrs. According to reports, the so far unidentified man was speeding in an attempt to get away from public-spirited citizens who had

witnessed him hitting down an elderly man at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) road just minutes before.

According to an eyewitness on the scene, two women had witnessed the accident at LBI and after the driver had failed to stop to render assistance, they decided to follow him.

It was during this escape that the incident occurred. James Bharrat, owner of the house, who described the accident as “movie

The ill-fated taxi under the shed it crashed into

City Hall should monitor activities of the waste disposal companies?

Dear Editor: REFERENCE is made to the two photographs, attached. One was taken on October 17 and the other on October 18. Back in September, I came up upon two vehicles, belonging to a particular waste disposal company, about to deposit their cargo at this exact location, along the Houston bypass, just after 8:00 pm. When I challenged the truck operators, they contended that “City Hall” instructed them

to deposit their cargo at this spot. I asked for the name of the City Hall official who gave them that instruction, but they just insisted that it was “City Hall.” They assured me that they would desist from doing that. Photographs with the two trucks at the site were sent to the Town Clerk, M&CC. From the photographic evidence provided here, it is clear that someone continued to use this area as a dump site.

I would, therefore, like to

appeal to the agency that hires these companies, to prevail upon them to desist from depositing their refuse along the public thoroughfare.

Maybe City Hall would want to stop going after the ordinary citizens, and take its “name and shame” campaign to those who “move Guyana’s waste” only to dump it back in the public’s face.

REMINGTON NELSON

style” said that he remains thankful for his life. He noted that he had just exited the house to head to the hospital when he saw the car heading in his direction. “I just come out my house to go to the hospital and all I see is this car flying coming from nowhere, land on my shed and with the impact, everything just come crashing down. I was just about to open the bus door to go in when he

come crashing down. I miss getting injured by an inch,” Bharrat said.

Public spirited citizens who had rushed to the scene, assisted in freeing the driver from the car before rushing him to the hospital. While the family is thankful that no one was fatally injured, they are still counting their losses. The matter is engaging the attention of the police.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE monday october 19, 2015

Ex-student and teacher ...

President’s College reduced to ‘nothing’ under PPP/C PRESIDENT’S College, once a prestigious secondary school founded

by Guyana’s first Executive President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, was reduced to ‘nothing’ under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration.

This is according to Alyne-Ann Downes, a former student and teacher of President’s College, who delivered the feature presentation during the Forbes Burnham Foundation General Members Meeting yesterday at Critchlow Labour College in Georgetown.

Downes, whose presentation was under the theme, “President’s College, Introspection and Prospects”, said the secondary level institution was starved of resources by the former government which had contended that the school was a financial burden.

President’s College

on September 11, 2015 celebrated 30 years of “shaping minds and building character,” under the theme “Quality achievements through sustained holistic education”, but Downes noted that the school has endured some challenging years with its standards dropping drastically.

She recalled that 30 years ago on September 11, 1985, President’s College opened its doors to students as the premier secondary school in Guyana, catering for the ‘cream of the crop’. “That is the top 2% of learners who were successful at the secondary school entrance examination,” she added.

Though he did not live to see the commissioning of the school, Downes said it was President Burnham’s vision to have the school mold the minds of the nation’s future leaders, providing them with the finest opportunities.

“So in 1985 this won-

derful school, which is located to the southern end of Golden Grove, was opened to about 67 learners in that year, and they were exposed to so much.”

She added that during the early years of the school, “it was a cut above the rest.” “It was of high standards…you had to get 85% in order to be promoted and so the bar was set very high.” Downes further noted that both students and parents were proud to be associated with the school and felt privileged.

“When I went there in 1997, the vision was still there but the resources and the persons who were there to carry on the vision did not hold the same ideals as L.F.S. Burnham… Nevertheless in my time, we did well both in academia and extracurricular activities.”

DRAMATIC CHANGE But comparing then to now, Downes said

President’s College has changed “dramatically.” “I don’t think it is because the foundation wasn’t set properly but I think it is because persons no longer hold the school in the highest ….and they allowed things to just go,” she opined.

She said the decision by the former government through the Board to change the structure of the school, created a number of loopholes within the system which developed into major challenges.

“L.F.S Burnham intended the school to be a resident school, now we are catering for both resident and non-resident students, and this is putting the non-resident student at a disadvantage because they are not in a position to enjoy all of the opportunities that they can enjoy,” she pointed out.

The President’s College teacher said the school was designed to

be self-sufficient with the establishment of certain programmes and projects such as the setting up of a school farm, but today the school is highly dependent on government. “ P r e s i d e n t ’s C o l lege was supposed to be self-sufficient but today what are we providing for ourselves, our farm is of no standard. It is just there…I remember as a student our rice fields were there and we could have walked along the corridors and see paddy when it was harvesting time but now the fields are there and persons from the villages come and loose their animals.”

“We had cattle, you name it… But now, most of the animals you see there do not belong to President’s College. It is a very sad situation because the school has been reduced to so little.”

She noted also that children and parents all across Guyana had lost

respect for the school, pointing out that the qualification needed to access the institution has been reduced significantly. This year the cutoff point was 491 marks when the National Grade Six Assessment (GNSA) results were announced. “So children no longer see President’s College as a school they want to attend because it is no longer rated among the top.”

Members of the Burnham Foundation during the discussion segment bemoaned the poor condition of the school, particularly the dorms, noting that the school is in dire condition and requires urgent rehabilitation.

One member, who appeared very displeased at the current state of the school, said the “entire board needs to be scrapped immediately,” contending that “the school has gone to the dogs.” (Svetlana Marshall)

New criminal gang stalking ‘round ‘Big Market’ ––in wee hours of the morning

By Alex Wayne A NEW breed of criminals has recently taken to stalking and robbing unsuspecting persons around the Stabroek Market area in Georgetown with nary a care that the Fire Service and City Constabulary are just a few rods away.

Persons who have had the opportunity of seeing the gang in operation on at least two occasions say they were quite taken aback by the fact that neither taxi drivers operating in the same area, nor vendors getting late night sales even bothered to intervene.

Just last week, the gang pounced on a

male security guard, who gave his name as ‘Mohan’ of Annandale, and using what looked like a black handgun to hold him captive, relieved him of a substantial amount of cash, a brand new wristwatch, a Blackberry cellular phone, and his wallet containing his national identification card, and other valuable documents.

Last Monday, at around 03:45 hrs, the same gang again attacked another man outside the Demico House fast-food outlet in the same Stabroek neighbourhood.

Though the poor man was too shaken to engage in much conversation, he however let on that he resides in Mon Repos, on the East Coast, and was on his way home after having a few drinks with friends at a popular bar at Timehri.

On this occasion, the gang comprising about six young males and a lone female sporting a dyed ‘boy-cut’ hairstyle.

As two males held the man at gunpoint, the others emptied his pockets of an undisclosed sum of money and a cellular phone.

The female in the crew acts as the ‘lookout person’, scouring the area for any sign of the police and alerting the rest of the gang of their coming.

Just last week, someone apparently called the police as the gang was going to work on another man, as ranks unexpectedly appeared on the scene, causing the gang to run helter-skelter in all directions.

While two gang members jumped on

bicycles and pedalled away at top speed, the others made their getaway on foot, with the police in hot pursuit. It is unclear if the police caught any of them.

And last Wednesday, Edward Perez of Integrated Security Service narrowly missed an attack from the gang.

Perez, who resides at Versailles, West Bank Demerara, was on his way to work in Queenstown, here in the city, when gang members were about to make a move on him. Luckily, he was able to seek refuge with vendors selling bread around the Stabroek Market, which is how he came to avoid being one of the gang’s latest victims.

Members of this very gang was seen twice recently loitering close to the gates of the Guyana Chronicle building, perched on bicycles, with the very ‘dye-haired’ female in their company.

It is suspected that it was this very gang which on two occasions last year robbed two female Chronicle reporters of cash and their cellular phones quite early in the night as they were making their way home.

Food vendors peddling their wares around the Stabroek Market area are in loud disapproval of the gang and are fearful to operate in the area as well.

Many are calling for more police presence around the area and the entire city, especially in the ‘wee morning hours’ when the gang prefers to operate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Regionasl Chairman reports...

Bartica power not on ‘regular footing’ yet

By Svetlana Marshall IN Bartica, Guyana Power and Light (GPL) had said that its Containerised Unit (No. 11) would have been energised by last Saturday, allowing the power supply to return to normalcy; but

residents yesterday said they are still experiencing interruptions.

“It hasn’t returned to normalcy. We had blackout yesterday (Saturday), and this morning (Sunday) it was off for one, maybe one-anda-half hours,” one resident

said.

And this was confirmed

by Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford, who said that residents would have received an uninterrupted supply of electricity from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning.

While GPL is showing signs of improvement in the supply of electricity to Bartica, which has nearing township status, Gordon said the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) as well as residents will not be totally satisfied

GTUC cautions ‘prudent approach’ to salary-hike outcry T H E G u y a n a Tr a d e s Union Congress (GTUC) yesterday cautioned the APNU+AFC administration to employ a “prudent approach” in handling the public outcry over salary increases for Cabinet ministers.

The GTUC has also written the government calling for the reinstatement of collective bargaining in the Public Sector.

In a statement to the media, the Union said a letter requesting a meeting between the government and the trade union community has been sent to Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence, who has responsibility for Labour.

Meanwhile, the GTUC warns the administration of complacency, noting that “On 11th May the citizens fired the PPP/C for their arrogance, abuse of State resources and laws, and contempt for the masses.”

The Union said too that by voting out the PPP/C from office on May 11 and electing the APNU+AFC, government needs to be conscious of the power citizens hold.

“By this single most important act the citizens sent a message that PPP’s hubris and violations will not be tolerated from the A P N U + A F C . We a r e witnessing this today in the reaction to the salary issue.”

NOT “RASH OR HASTY” DECISION On Saturday, President David Granger justified why his government moved to increase salaries for ministers of government and the opposition. He told the Guyana Chronicle that the move by Cabinet to increase the salaries of ministers was not a “rash or hasty” decision. He refuted claims that his administration was being

“selfish or greedy.”

“We took time to consider all aspects of this problem and in the final analysis we felt it was the correct thing to do to ensure a quality of governance from our Cabinet,” he said.

Granger said many of the government ministers are not “in their early careers”.

“They have established themselves in various professions and in public life, and it would have been unreasonable to demand they have a sudden or massive drop in income.”

REMINDER But the GTUC sought to remind the administration that “The last time this nation saw such outcries against government’s action was November 2014 when then President Ramotar abused his authority in the misapplication of Article 70 in the Guyana Constitution by proroguing Parliament, in order to silence the voice of the majority, through their elected representatives, to debate and cast a vote of confidence on the government’s stewardship consistent with Article 106 (7).”

The conduct of former President Ramotar and his party representatives, the Union added, “Resulted in its (PPP) downfall on the 11th May, 2015.

“2015 has seen growth in our politics and citizens’ activism. GTUC reminds the politicians the power and authority they use are vested in them by the citizens. Ultimately politicians are accountable to the citizens and must never lose sight of this principle. As this salary outcry is increasing and being sustained beyond the proverbial ‘nine days’ it requires good sense prevailing on the part of the

government,” the GTUC said.

PROCESS The Union maintains that its issue with the salary increase is one of process.

“It is our belief that if you start wrong, you will end wrong. The product from the application of a wrong process will be questionable and this in part is driving the outcries today.”

The GTUC in its call said the reinstatement of collective bargaining and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms must be seen as a matter of priority countrywide.

“Collective bargaining must commence in the Public Sector, which will ensure the resetting of relativity in the Wage and Salary Structure, from which ministers, parliamentarians and other public servants will earn wages/salary and conditions of employment as a result of the process.”

The Union believes that “Comprehensive collective bargaining will impact on income in all sectors (public, private and cooperatives) of the economy, address pensions and other remunerations, since it will be done within the developmental policies of the nation. The Public Sector sets the tone for what happens in the other sectors.”

“GTUC believes in a wage-led economy, which is grounded in the principle that a nation’s human resources must be at the centre of development and guides our call for workers to be paid a Living Wage.”

The release said the response by citizens to the increase in salaries for ministers and parliamentarians “calls for commitment from the government that would result

in a decision that society can accept and respect.”

Though there is an absence of “scientific polling to gauge overall opinion” on varying issues, “the continuous, sustained and heightened voices, inclusive of that from varied and unexpected sources, are enough to warrant the government’s judicious attention,” the Union added.

until all units within the power station are working effectively.

“Things are not on regular footing as yet and so we will not be satisfied until we have things on regular footing,” he emphasised.

Bradford said the supply of electricity in Bartica will not return to normalcy until all units within the Bartica power generating facility are in operation.

When contacted by Guyana Chronicle yesterday, the power station’s plant manager declined to comment on the situation.

However, last week GPL had said that the Containerised Unit (No. 11), when placed into operation, would have added capacity to the Unit No. 10. Currently the No. 9 Unit has been deemed unserviceable while the No. 6 Unit remains offline.

“For updates, residents

are advised to check GPL’s website at www.gplinc.net, GPL Facebook Page which can be found by searching for ‘GPL Inc’ from their individual Facebook accounts and the TARZIE Television Station.

“Our company seeks the patience of the residents while we execute the necessary corrective work to restore reliable electricity.

We extend our sincerest apologies to our valued customers of Bartica,” GPL said in a statement.

Residents of Bartica have been complaining bitterly about the unreliable supply of electricity within their community. They had also lashed out at GPL, contending that the company was silent on the s ituation, leaving residents to draw their own conclusions during the initial stages.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

LaRocque calls for review of access to concessional financing

CARICOM SecretaryGeneral Irwin LaRocque says that continued access to multilateral and bilateral concessional financing, notwithstanding the classification of CARICOM Member States as middle-income states, is critical to the sustainable development agenda.

Ambassador LaRocque raised this concern at the Forum on Small States held under the theme, “Opportunities and Challenges for Small States to finance Sustainable Development in the post-2015 Development

Landscape”, a press release stated.

Among those attending the forum, held recently in Peru, were Chairman of the Small States Forum and Minister of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy, Seychelles, Jean-Paul Adam, Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, President of the World Bank Group Jim Yong Kim, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) A d m i n i s t r a t o r, H e l e n Clark.

The CARICOM SG expressed the view that the criteria for concessional financing must not be based

CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque (front row, 2nd right) with other regional delegates - on his left is Dr. Warren Smith, President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and on his right is Rodinald Soomer, Chief Executive Officer of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF). The CARICOM team in the back row: (from right) Dorla Humes of CDB, Faye Housty of CDF and Evelyn Wayne of the CARICOM Secretariat solely on GDP per capita, and must be changed to include the economic and environmental vulnerability of SIDS. He also addressed this matter during the International Conference on Financing for Development that was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last July. He also met with the Administrator of the UNDP Helen Clark in New York recently where there was also significant discussion in relation to the issue.

The forum addressed matters such as financing sustainable development for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), considered the impact of the current global economic situation, and discussed prospects for the future.

In a summary released by the Chairman of the Forum it was noted that "the economic performance of our countries in the recent past is a reflection of the more limited availability of policy tools and resources and also the challenge that small states face in diversifying economic structures and re-orienting economic activities in new markets and sectors."

In addressing the issue of concessional financing for SIDS, the Chairman said it was important to examine important, "augmented donor support to help our countries build resilience, address inherent vulnerabilities, and break the low growth, high debt, limited fiscal space spiral, which will continue to have important and longlasting impacts on our development prospects."

He said small states were grateful for the considerable financial support that the World Bank and other partners have provided in recent years, and look forward t o re n e w e d t a r g e t e d support. He called for scaled-up global assistance to build resilience and ensure that there are no impediments to the Green Climate Fund financing reaching small island states.

The Chairman noted that the forum benefited from an extensive exchange of views on the recent conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa and the upcoming 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change (COP21/ CMP11) in Paris. He said the need for stronger fiscal positions to enable faster restoration of policy space was emphasised.

The World Bank has lauded the forum for providing an opportunity for participants to discuss the implications for small states of the emerging development architecture just after the Addis Ababa conference on Financing for Development and ahead of COP21. COP21 will be a crucial conference, as it needs to achieve a new international agreement on the climate, applicable to all countries, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C. The Small States Forum provided an opportunity for participants to share views and perspectives on how the World Bank, and other bilateral and multilateral organisations can help small states leverage and make effective use of various financing streams to help accelerate progress towards the SDGs while building resilience against and mitigating the impact of natural disasters and climate change.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

GCSM, Cuban envoy inviting businesses to Havana Trade Fair

By Rabindra Rooplall

CUBAN Ambassador to Guyana Julio Cesar Gonsalez Marchante and President of the GuyanaCuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM) Haleem Khan are seeking interested Guyanese companies to participate

in the 33rd Havana International Fair (FIHAV), slated for November 2-7 in Havana, Cuba.

According to Khan, FIHAV will have more than 4,500 national and foreign exhibitors from over 60 countries and expects to receive 150,000 visitors and

More river taxis for Berbice - given the influx of users

MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson, has indicated that more Berbice river taxis will be needed, given the number of persons using the service.

The river taxi service was introduced in light of the delay over a reduction in the Berbice Bridge toll. The Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) and the government are still to decide on a way forward.

“We have noticed a great increase in the number of commuters. The government would have to increase the number of taxis eventually given the influx of the users,” Ferguson said recently.

TIME-SYSTEM During a meeting she had on Thursday with the members/drivers of the Route 56 Minibus Association, there was a proposal for a “time system” which government suggested should be re-introduced, which meant that the Berbice water taxis would halt their service several hours during the day in an effort to facilitate the operation of the buses.

Drivers complained to the minister that since the new system was introduced, many buses “would barely get a load or two on a daily basis, and if the situation persists, as many as 49 families will be on the breadline.”

Prior to the introduction of the water taxi service, the mini-bus was the main mode of public transportation plying the Rosignol/New Amsterdam route where the one-way fare for an adult is $300 compared to $120 with Minister within the Ministry the water taxis.

The minibus operators, of Public Infrastructure however, suggested to Annette Ferguson the minister that the most viable option is to allow the buses to operate between 09:00 hrs and 15:00 hrs as was previously done when the pontoon was in operation.

Minister Ferguson assured the minibus operators that she would discuss their proposal with her colleague David Patterson, Minister of Public Infrastructure, and give them a feedback as soon as possible.

As for the difficulties drivers are facing, she said “it was never the government’s intention to take bread out of anyone’s mouth.

“We are just trying to bring relief to Guyanese who felt the pressure of paying a hefty price to cross the bridge.”

Meanwhile, the association’s members made it clear that their recent protest action was directed at the Berbice River Bridge officials and their unwillingness to accept the arrangement offered by government.

Ferguson said her ministry was not insensitive to the plight of the Route 56 minibus operators, who had been shuttling passengers across the bridge prior to the introduction of the river taxis on September 21.

The river taxis were introduced by the APNU+AFC government after the directors of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI), the alternative river crossing, had baulked at the idea of reducing the price of the crossing, even though they were offered commensurate compensation for this.

the participation of important foreign official and business delegations. The event is seen as a way of promoting “our country’s international links and relations with the entire world.”

He explained that the FIHAV is a well-established fair that has been taking place annually since 1983. It is the most important general trade fair in Cuba and the Caribbean as well as one of the most representative in Latin America.

Cuban Ambassador to Guyana Julio Cesar Gonsalez

Marchante said: “All sectors of the Cuban economy

GCSM President Haleem Khan

will take part in this event, which succeeds in putting together the most complete national and international trade exhibition in a space that enables exhibitors and visitors to establish commercial contacts, close business operations, exchange experiences and update in new technological developments.”

The Cuban envoy further said, “Our aim is to boost bilateral economic and trade relations between Guyana and Cuba…There are many reasons to attend FIHAV Havana this year. For other countries, it has been a proven entry strategy into Cuba.

“Exhibiting at your country’s pavilion establishes both brand reputation, and a level of endorsement among Cuban business interests.

Exhibiting at FIHAV has

been a proven growth strategy for international companies in Cuba.”

PAVILION INFORMATION Interested individuals or organisations can contact the Cuban embassy for pavilion information. Industry sectors include the following categories: Automotive, Chemicals, Agriculture and Processed Foods, Fish and Seafood, Ocean Technologies, Medical, Wine, Beer and Spirits, Consumer Products, D e f e n c e a n d S e c u r i t y, Oil and Gas, Mining, Transportation, Education, Life Sciences, Industrial Machinery, Forestry and Wood Products, Information and Communications Technologies, Infrastructure and Sustainable Technologies.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Minister assures Muslim community ....

Time will come when all Guyanese truly united MINISTER of Social Cohesion Amna Ally hopes that one day Guyanese will all unite, and that no geography, race or border will limit the potential of a socially cohesive society.

“I am hopeful that we all can unite under the banner of humanity,” the Social Cohesion Minister said as she gave the feature address, in place of President David Granger, at the 18th Annual Islamic New Year Cultural Programme at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) last Saturday.

She further said that the Annual Islamic New Year brings spiritual renewal, and that peace must reign in various communities and all should demonstrate love for each other while resolving to bring the Guyanese people together.

Special guests included Ustad Zaid Hosein and Troupe and Imam Inshan Hoosanay of Trinidad and Tobago.

NEW GOALS, RESOLUTIONS Meanwhile, in commemorating the occasion, President General of ACIC Hakeem Khan explained that one of the usual ways to commence any new year is the setting of new goals and resolutions for personal transformation and improvement.

“It is our hope that the New Year will also usher in an era of even greater progress in our country. We call on every Muslim to contribute to the peaceful process of development in our country. We urge our political leaders to resolve to talk to each other and to find solutions at the table of consultations to the many issues which need to be addressed,” the President General said.

He also stressed that “resolutions and goals are powerful tools to help you potentially shape your destiny and therefore our resolutions and goals should include at this time the intention to contribute in whatever way we can to the shaping of a great future for our country.”

Khan opined that the lives of all those people in humanity who achieved remarkable successes were shaped simply by being committed to their goals.

“Among millions of examples, we see a powerful example in the life of Prophet Muhammad (may God's blessings and peace be with him) whose endless efforts and perseverance

Under a beautiful night sky attendees listen to a wonderful musical interlude at the beginning of the 18th Annual Islamic New Year Cultural Programme at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC)

with the help of Allah, brought guidance to humanity at large.

Through wisdom, hard work, commitment, perseverance, and God’s will, we can achieve anything which we set out to achieve. But you cannot be better today if you did not set out to become better yesterday and took the necessary actions for that betterment,” he explained.

Further, Khan said the process of setting goals and resolutions requires that persons actually take time to analyse

step, Allah may not help us,” he added.

The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) and The Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman observed the commencement of the Muslim New Year 1437AH, (which commenced on Thursday, October 15).

“It is our hope that the New Year will also usher in an era of even greater progress in our country. We call on every Muslim to contribute to the peaceful process of development in our country.

We urge our political leaders to resolve to talk to each other and to find solutions at the table of consultations to the many issues which need to be addressed.”

- President General of Anna Catherina Islamic Complex Hakeem Khan

where they stand and chart out what they want to become.

“Let us start the change today – both in our personal self and in our country. Let us embark on a personal transformation that can help make us, our families, our community, our country and the world around us even stronger. Let us start the change today – take the time to know ourselves better – identify our weaknesses and commit to eliminate them. Assess our strengths and use them for meaningful pursuits. Make our relationship with our Creator even stronger. Because if we don’t take the

MINISTER of Social Cohesion Amna Ally during her presentation at the event

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

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New lawyer continues family tradition

ON Monday last Nirvana Singh was admitted to the Bar by Justice Diana Insanally after her petition was presented

by Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo, following in the footsteps of her sister Ravina who is an Attorney-at-Law in Toronto, Canada and her late father, Attorney-at-Law Vejai Singh.

Nirvana K. J. Singh is the youngest daughter of Fazia Singh and the late Vejai Singh. Her father graduated from the Norman Manley Law School in 1985 and practised law in Guyana for 13 years before passing away in 1999.

Nirvana graduated as an Honour Student from the Woodlands Secondary School in Mississauga, Canada in 2010. After returning to Guyana to pursue her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), she graduated with distinction from the University of Guyana in 2013. Upon graduating, she was awarded the McKay and Moore Prize for Second Best Graduating Law Student.

She went on to obtain her Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago, where she secured a Certificate of Merit for obtaining ‘A’ grades in nine courses out of eleven.

Nirvana received several academic prizes

from the law school, including the Phelps and Company Prize for Best Performance in Civil Procedure and Practice I, the Oswald J. Wilson and Company Prize for Best Performance in Landlord and Tenant, the Cameron and Shepherd Prize for Best Performance in Civil Procedure and Practice I and II by a Guyanese student, the National Insurance Property Development Company Prize for Outstanding Performance in Civil Procedure and Practice II and the Fitzwilliam Stone, Furness-Smith and Morgan Prize for Best Performance in Civil Procedure and Practice II. While at the Hugh Wooding Law School, she was elected Secretary of the Student Representative Council, 20142015. She also served as a member of the Hugh Wooding Law School Hindu Students Society. Additionally, Nirvana was a student attorney with the Hugh Wooding Law School Child Advocacy Clinic led by Magistrate Gibson. She completed her in-service training in 2014 at the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs and at the firm of Luckhoo and Luckhoo. She also worked as a volunteer at the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic in 2011.

Female ‘king-pin’ snared in Essequibo, Berbice drug bust

A SEARCH on a house last Saturday at Perseverance, Essequibo Coast unearthed three kilos of cocaine and 38 grams of marijuana, following an intelligence-led operation.

Three men and a woman have been arrested and are in police custody, assisting with their investigations. In addition, two other males were arrested in a simultaneous operation in Berbice that was interrelated.

According to reports, investigators targeted a well-known ‘drug house’ which supplies a wider drug trafficking network responsible for distribution within various communities in Guyana.

Police from Georgetown, who visited Essequibo to support ‘G’ Division ranks, saw the arrest of a woman who is known as a major player in the drug operation.

She was identified as Laurna Scott, and had been on the law enforcement radar for a long time.

The operation was monitored over several months, following which intelligence revealed that the woman

was responsible for supplying cocaine and other illegal substances to the Berbice district. Consequently, there was a simultaneous search of a house in Berbice where other persons connected to the drug operations were arrested.

The woman and her male accomplices are in custody at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Georgetown assisting with the ongoing investigations.

Last week, four Guyanese nationals were nabbed in a major drug operation by officers attached to Drug Squad of the Royal Grenada Police Force, resulting in the seizure of a quantity of cocaine, ammunition and firearms.

This year has seen a large number of drug busts with cocaine being found in a range of export commodities, Meanwhile, a long-awaited permanently-staffed United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office will be set up here by midJanuary next year.

(From l-r) Mother and sister of the new lawyer Fazie Singh and Attorney-at-Law Ravina Singh, new attorney Nirvana Singh, Justice Diana Insanally and Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo

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PPP calls for ‘immediate’ restoration of agriculture -related safeguards

THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling on the government to immediately restore the social protection measures once enjoyed by the local agricultural community.

“Since most of our rice and other farmers are from the rural areas, the loss of the Venezuelan market will set them back even further if no measures are put in place to assist them, given the vital role of farmers in a country whose backbone of the economy still remains agriculture,” the party said in a statement Saturday.

The catalyst, it seems, was the theme under which World Food Day is being celebrated this year, namely, “Social Protection and Agriculture”.

According to the PPP, the main goal of each year’s observance is to raise public awareness about hunger challenges, and encourage people worldwide to take action in the fight against the issue.

As such, the party has expressed satisfaction with this year’s theme, which it says recognises the inter-connection

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

and interaction between agricultural and social protection; the solving of the growing world population with sustainable, equitable; and inclusive solutions in the agriculture sector.

Farmers in today’s world, it says, need access to information, credit, and greater market access; they also need to have access to science, innovation and knowledge.

Referring to the publication, “Achieving Zero Hunger: The Critical Role of Investments in Social Protection and Agriculture”, jointly prepared by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the PPP says a strong case is being made for social protection measures, such as cash transfers.

Here, recognition is given that the social protection policy measures implemented by the PPP were on target, especially for residents in the rural committees.

This is why, the PPP/C contended, the $30,000 per month stipend which was taken away from the young Amerindian people is “reprehensible and insensitive”.

The party said further many of those young people have no other income since investment in the various avenues is still hard to come by. This means that they will have to move to the urban areas where they will face other challenges.

Moreover, the PPP/C continued, the $10,000 per school child comes to mind and the peripheral criticisms notwithstanding, the fact of the matter is that since the poor tend to have more children they would have benefited more in absolute terms.

In the Report, reference is made to the graduation of the poor from the transfers, but also emphasises that the elderly and the disabled must continue to receive cash transfers.

World Food Day is observed annually the world over on October 16.

Monday October 19th, 2015 - 09:00 hrs Tuesday October 20th, 2015 - 10:00 hrs Wednesday October 21st, 2015 - 11:00 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

De Kock, Morkel power Proteas to 2-1 lead in India RAJKOT, India (Reuters)- Opening batsman Quinton de Kock provided the early flourish with the bat with his seventh century while fast bowler Morne Morkel applied the finishing touch with four wickets as South Africa beat India by 18 runs yesteray to take a 2-1 series lead.

The 22-year-old de Kock continued his purple patch in ODIs against India, scoring his fourth century in seven innings against the opponents to set up South Africa’s total of 270-7 in 50 overs after they chose to bat on winning the toss.

The hosts lost opener Shikhar Dhawan (13) early to Morkel but looked well poised for a victory charge with half-centuries from Rohit Sharma (65) and Virat Kohli (77).

Opening batsman Rohit and Kohli added 72 for the second wicket before the former fell to a smart return catch from part-time off-spinner JP Duminy.

Kohli then added 80 for the next wicket with his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (47) to keep India in the hunt before Morkel returned to strike.

The South African plan of bowling short at the batsmen’s bodies while packing the leg side boundary with four fielders proved effective.

After Dhoni failed to negotiate a short delivery from the tall Morkel, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane holed out deep on the mid-wicket fence on consecutive deliveries in the paceman’s final over, which put paid to India’s hopes of chasing down the total.

India could only manage 252 for six in their 50 overs.

Earlier, South Africa sent David Miller, who had scored 13 and nought

in the series, to open the innings to help him regain form and the new opening pair gave the touring side the ideal start with a stand of 72.

India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and leg-spinner Amit Mishra stemmed the

his third consecutive 50 in the series. Suresh Raina and Dhawan dropped him twice while the right-hander was also caught when on 16 but replays showed Mohit Sharma’s delivery was a no-ball.

His dismissal to Mohit sparked a mini-collapse

Quinton de Kock made his fourth ODI ton against India in seven innings.

flow of runs while bowling in tandem and gave away 79 runs between themselves in their 20 overs, picking up a wicket each.

De Kock, who hit 11 fours and a six in his knock, added another 118 for the third wicket with Faf du Plessis (60) to set up a solid platform for South Africa for a late assault.

Du Plessis lived a charmed life on his way to

and South Africa were suddenly reduced from 205-2 to 210-5 in the space of nine deliveries.

South Africa captain Ab de Villiers and de Kock, who was run out by a direct throw from Dhawan, were the two other batsmen out during that period which robbed South Africa of momentum.

The fourth match will be played in Chennai on Thursday.

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFRICA Innings Q. de Kock run out (Dhawan, Dhoni) 103 D. Miller c Rahane b H. Singh 33 H. Amla st Dhoni b Mishra 5 F. du Plessis c B. Kumar b M. Sharma 60 A. de Villiers lbw b A. Patel 4 J. Duminy c Raina b M. Sharma 14 F. Behardien not out 33 D. Steyn run out (Raina, B. Kumar) 12 K. Rabada not out 0 Extras (nb-1 w-5) 6 Total (for 7 wickets, 50 overs) 270 Fall of wickets: 1-72 D. Miller,2-87 H. Amla,3-205 F. du Plessis,4-210 Q. de Kock,5-210 A. de Villiers,6-241 J. Duminy,7-264 D. Steyn Did not bat: I. Tahir, M. Morkel Bowling: B. Kumar 10 - 1 - 65 - 0(w-2),M. Sharma 9 - 0 - 62 - 2(nb-1 w-2) H. Singh 10 - 0 - 41 - 1(w-1), A. Mishra 10 - 0 - 38 – 1, A. Patel 9 - 0 - 51 – 1, S. Raina 2 - 0 - 13 – 0.

INDIA Innings Ro. Sharma c&b Duminy 65 S. Dhawan c de Villiers b M. Morkel 13 V. Kohli c Miller b M. Morkel 77 M. Dhoni c Steyn b M. Morkel 47 S. Raina c Miller b Tahir 0 A. Rahane c Miller b M. Morkel 4 A. Patel not out 15 H. Singh not out 20 Extras (b-2 lb-1 w-8) 11 Total (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 252 Fall of wickets: 1-41 S. Dhawan,2-113 Ro. Sharma,3-193 M. Dhoni,4-206 S. Raina,5-216 V. Kohli,6-216 A. Rahane Did not bat: B. Kumar, M. Sharma, A. Mishra Bowling: D. Steyn 10 - 0 - 65 - 0(w-1),K. Rabada 10 - 0 - 39 - 0(w-3), M. Morkel 10 - 1 - 39 - 4(w-1), J. Duminy 8 - 0 - 46 - 1(w-3), I. Tahir 10 - 0 - 51 – 1, F. Behardien 2 - 0 - 9 – 0.

Joseph needles Fruta ...

From back page

captain Daniel Wilson, Coach Wayne Dover’s was enjoying a good night.

Things took a turn when Alpha United’s Quincy Madramootoo slipped in the defence which allowed Monedderlust to press forward and to get a shot off on goal which Alpha United’s goalkeeper spilled and the ball landed in the path of Seon Jackman who made no mistake in hammering in the equaliser in the 35th minute.

The crowd erupted and immediately the momentum shifted in the game and the hunted became the hunters.

The half ended and it was clear that both sides were not playing for a draw and an exciting second half was on the horizon.

Alpha United, searching for another goal, brought in Grenadian striker Kithson Bain into the game and immediately things returned in favour of Dover’s side since the Berbicians fell deep into their half.

Bain made an immediate impact on the game and while missing a few clear goal chances, created a few for his teammates.

Wilson, Dwayne Lawrence and Lanferman were all guilty of not putting away their easy goal scoring chances and Monedderlust held on for an important draw.

The night’s opening game saw Slingerz FC reshuffling their roster following their on-going eligibility issue with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) which is yet to be resolved.

Coach Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson was without his St Vincent and the Grenadines imports (Winslow McDowall, Jolanshoy McDowall and Keith James), and former Morvant Caledonia United striker Domini Garnett; all important pieces.

But it was hard to tell that the Vergenoegen club was without some of their main players since the club, for much part of the game, had the upper hand.

Fruta Conquerors led by captain Trevon Lythcott, Eon Alleyne, Kwamie LaFleur and Jermaine Junor faced one of the league favourites that had Vurlon Mills, Tichard Joseph, Colin Nelson, Dwain Jacobs and King Solomon Austin leading their charges.

Both teams created their fair share of chances in the first half, but it didn’t result in goals, and heading into the second half goalless, Fruta Conquerors conceded a penalty after a handball was called in the 58th minute.

Joseph was tasked to take the kick and he buried it high and hard; way out of reach for the Fruta Conquerors’ goalkeeper.

It was Fruta Conquerors’ third defeat in the STAG Elite League while Slingerz FC picked up their third win to remain undefeated.

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20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Beckenbauer rejects bribery allegations over 2006 World Cup BERLIN, (Reuters)-Franz Beckenbauer, who headed the organising committee for the 2006 soccer World Cup, yesterday rejected claims that a slush fund had been set up to buy votes and bring the tournament to Germany back in 2000.

“I never gave money to anyone in order to acquire votes so that Germany is awarded the 2006 World Cup,” Beckenbauer, a former World Cup winning player and coach, said in a statement. “And I am certain that no other member of the bid committee did something like that.”

Der Spiegel magazine reported on Friday that an alleged slush fund had been set up with 6.7 million euros loaned by the late Adidas CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus for Germany’s World Cup bid committee to pay bribes to FIFA officials Former World Cup winning in order to help player and coach Franz land the tourna- Bekenbauer ment for Germany during a vote in 2000.

Der Spiegel said that among those aware of the slush fund had been Beckenbauer, who was the head of the committee, as well as Wolfgang Niersbach, the current president of the German Football Association (DFB) who was a vice president of the organizing committee, citing internal documents from the DFB. Niersbach on Saturday also rejected the allegations and said he had ordered his lawyers to take legal action against the magazine.

The DFB said on Friday its own investigation had found no wrongdoing in the process of being awarded the 2006 World Cup, but said it was investigating a payment of 6.7 million euros ($7.6 million) from the committee to FIFA for a cultural program during the 2006 World Cup and whether it was used as intended.

Der Spiegel said this payment was a return of a loan paid by Louis-Dreyfus to help it set up the alleged slush fund.

World soccer’s governing body FIFA was plunged into the biggest crisis of its 111-year history in May, when 14 soccer officials and sports marketing executives were indicted in the United States on bribery, money laundering and wire fraud charges involving more than $150 million in payments.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Wallabies squeeze through to semi-final with Pumas

By Rex Gowar

LONDON , (Reuters)-Completion of a southern hemisphere sweep of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals took some unexpected twists and turns before Australia edged Scotland in a dramatic finish at Twickenham yesterday to line up a semi-final clash with Argentina.

The Pumas, seen as the least likely to reach the last four before the weekend, scored four tries in a convincing 43-20 victory over injury-depleted Ireland in Cardiff before the Scots threatened a big upset in London.

Scotland, who had beaten the Wallabies in two of their last three tests, led 16-15 at halftime and 34-32 going into the final minute in a downpour only to lose

35-34 after flyhalf Bernard Foley kicked a controversial penalty at the death.

Both semi-finals will be played at Twickenham next weekend with holders New Zealand taking on South Africa in the other after a Six Nations team failed to reach the last four for the first time.

Scotland had a second semi-final since 1991 within their grasp but South African referee Craig Joubert would not be swayed in his decision to give Australia the last-gasp penalty in a controversial offside decision at a lineout.

Before that, Australia had scored five tries, two by Drew Mitchell who took his World Cup tally to 14, one short of joint record holders Bryan Habana of South Africa and former All Black Jonah Lomu.

Scotland’s reply in a

…New Zealand take on South Africa in the other semi-final match that swayed one way then the other included three tries and 19 points from the trusted boot of their inspirational captain Greig Laidlaw.

A gutted Laidlaw, the tournament’s top scorer with 79 points, wondered why Joubert had not checked with the TMO on his penalty decision when the ball had appeared to come off a Wallaby jersey.

“They go to the TMO for everything else. It was such a big decision, why didn’t they go to the TMO for that?” asked Laidlaw.

Despite Scottish frustration, a World Rugby spokesman said the South African had been right and that such an incident did not fall under the protocols for involving

Lady Jags to play Puerto Rico on November 18, in T&T

GUYANA’S senior national women’s football team – The Lady Jags – will face Puerto Rico on Wednesday November 18, at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago in the final round Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Olympic Qualifier.

The CFU had written the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), stating that they were having major challenges in securing a host for the Women’s Olympic qualifiers, but the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation has now agreed to host the Women’s Qualifiers Final Round.

Guyana, Jamaica and Puerto Rico had qualified for the ‘four team playoff’ by coming out on top of their respective groups.

The Lady Jags are expected to arrive in the Twin Island Republic on November 16 and should Guyana be victorious against Puerto Rico, they will advance to the finals on November 20.

In the final round, the four teams will

play a single-elimination tournament. The two finalists and the winner of the third place match will qualify for the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship as CFU representatives.

If the Lady Jags finish within the top three, they will face the likes of USA, Canada, Mexico and two representatives from the Central American Region.

The Lady Jags clinched their berth into the final round by conquering Group Four that comprised Cuba and St Kitts and Nevis, while Puerto Rico played undefeated against Haiti, Grenada and Aruba in Group 1.

Jamaica, who was placed in Group 3 with the Dominican Republic and Dominica, also qualified after dominating the group.

Group 2 winners have not yet been decided since the group is yet to be played.

Initially, St Lucia was identified as the host nation of Group 2 and also to play alongside Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and the Cayman Island.

Guyana’s Senior Women’s National Football Team – The Lady Jags

the TMO. Australian coach Michael Cheika said: “It’s a

Australia’s Bernard Foley kicks a penalty to win the gameAction Images via Reuters / Henry BrowneLivepic penalty and that’s the way it works. You’ve still got to kick it.”

That is what Foley, not at

his place kicking best earlier in the match when he missed three conversions, did from the touchline.

Cheika also admitted to Australia having maybe played into Scottish hands by sticking to their favoured running rugby, saying: “We didn’t go to a kicking game, maybe that was a bit naive from me.

Maybe we shouldn’t have opened it up for them.”

PUMAS POWER Argentina made a scintillating, almost error free start to their quarter-final at the Millennium Stadium and ran up a 17-0 lead with their first two tries by centre Matias Moroni and wing Juan Imhoff always appearing to have one and sometimes two men extra in their attacks down the wings.

Ireland, deprived through injury of top players including flyhalf Johnny Sexton and captain Paul O’Connell, fought back to within three points early in the second half at 23-20 down after tries by Luke Fitzgerald, thanks in part to a yellow card for prop

Ramiro Herrera, and Jordi Murphy.

But the last 15 minutes belonged to Argentina, with tries from fullback Joaquin Tuculet and a second for Imhoff, a sign of the progress in the last four years of Rugby Championship experience by a side who in the past failed to stay in the game for the full 80.

Imhoff, whose tries took his Argentine World Cup record to seven, said the Pumas defence had made the difference.

“Ireland played with a great intensity. We are a really good team in offence. But today we had a defence to make the difference,” he said.

That defensive effort included a fine contribution with 10 tackles by flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez, more noted for his distribution and kicking which yielded 23 points.

It was Argentina’s third win in four World Cup meetings with the Irish, a rivalry that has marked the Pumas’ progress since they reached their first quarter-final in 1999.

Indian board to invite bids for two new IPL teams MUMBAI, (Reuters)- The Indian Cricket board (BCCI) will invite bids for two new teams for the Indian Premier League (IPL) to replace the suspended Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings for the next two editions, it said yesterday.

A panel appointed by India’s top court recommended in July that the franchise owners of the two IPL teams be suspended for two years following a corruption scandal in the cashrich Twenty20 tournament.

The panel led by retired chief justice R.M. Lodha also recommended life bans on Chennai official Gurunath Meiyappan and former Rajasthan co-owner Raj Kundra.

Both were found guilty of illegal betting by another committee appointed by India’s Supreme Court.

“The Justice Lodha committee interim report will be implemented fully,” the BCCI said in a statement after a working committee meeting.

“The two franchisee

teams, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals remain suspended for two years.

“BCCI will float tenders and invite bids for two new teams to replace CSK & RR in the Indian Premier League for 2016 and 2017 (2 years).”

The decision would mean that the tournament, with a $3.5 billion estimated brand value and boasting of Bollywood stars and major conglomerates as investors, will remain an eightteam affair for at least the next two editions.

The BCCI also named Chinese phone manufacturer Vivo Mobiles as the new title sponsor of the IPL replacing global food and beverage giant PepsiCo who, according to local media reports, wanted to end its title sponsorship due to issues that have brought the game into “disrepute”.

PepsiCo bagged the IPL title sponsorship rights in 2012 for five years (2013-17) for 3.97 billion Indian rupees

($61.37 million), almost double that DLF, India’s biggest listed property developer, paid for the rights from 2008-12.

“Vivo is to give the bank guarantee in next ten days,” the BCCI said, while also announcing that Nike’s contract as the Indian team’s official apparel sponsors has been extended.

Newly-elected president Shashank Manohar had vowed to clean the image of the BCCI after being chosen earlier this month to head the world’s richest cricket board for a second time.

The board took some steps towards more transparency on Sunday by appointing Pricewaterhouse Coopers to look into how its member associations utilise the funds distributed to them by their parent body.

It also said information about all payments above 2.5 million Indian rupees ($38,644) will be displayed on its website (www.bcci.tv).

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

Guyana Jaguars play Windwards Volcanes at Guyana National Stadium in PCL opener ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Reigning champions Guyana Jaguars are expected to face a feisty challenge when they open the 2015-16 West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament against Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Guyana National Stadium.

The WICB recently announced the schedule which opens November 6, and will again be played under the franchise arrangement that was implemented from last season.

It will be a hard act for the Jaguars to follow after they became the first side to claim the Headley-Weekes Trophy, symbol of regional supremacy, in the franchise era of the R4Day. They topped the table, following victories in eight of their maximum ten matches.

Their only loss came on home soil in the third round of matches, when their long-standing

Flashback: Regional four-day cricket champions Guyana Jaguars pose with the WICB/PCL Trophy ealier this year. rivals Barbados Pride clinched a nail-biting, two-run victory, dismissing the Jaguars for a record low of 66 in the second innings on the final day at the Guyana National Stadium, where they also drew with Trinidad & Tobago Red Force in the penultimate round.

In the other first round matches during the coming season, Leeward Islands Hurricanes host Red Force at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts, and the Pride, last year’s second-placed team, welcome Jamaica Scorpions to Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

The tournament will again be contested under a round-robin format, featuring ten rounds of matches, comprising five home and five away fixtures apiece for each of the six franchises, with the team accumulating the most points being declared the Champions.

The season also includes three breaks – following the third, fifth and eighth rounds.

For the coming season, the Addelita Cancryn Junior High School ground has been brought back onto the list of approved venues to stage first-class matches in the R4Day for the first time in six seasons.

The ground, located in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the United States Virgin Island of St Thomas, will stage the seventh round match between Hurricanes and Volcanoes, following a series of inspections of the venue by a joint team from the WICB and West Indies Players’ Association.

The PCL also comprises the NAGICO Super50 Tournament which will be played

January next year in Trinidad and St Kitts. Venues for this tournament are being finalised and the full schedule will be published soon.

Match Schedule (Scheduled start 10 a.m. daily, except where indicated) Round 1 – November 6 to 9 Jaguars vs Volcanoes – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana (9:30 a.m. start) Hurricanes vs Red Force – Warner Park, St Kitts Pride vs Scorpions – Kensington Oval, Barbados Round 2 – November 13 to 16 Scorpions vs Volcanoes – Sabina Park, Jamaica Pride vs Red Force – Kensington Oval, Barbados Jaguars vs Hurricanes – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana (9:30 a.m. start) Round 3 – November 20 to 23 Volcanoes vs Hurricanes – Windsor Park, Dominica Jaguars vs Pride – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana (9:30 a.m. start) Red Force vs Scorpions – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad BREAK Round 4 – December 4 to 7 Volcanoes vs Pride – National Cricket Stadium, Grenada Scorpions vs Hurricanes – Sabina Park, Jamaica Red Force vs Jaguars – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad Round 5 – December 11 to 14 Scorpions vs Jaguars – Sabina Park, Jamaica Volcanoes vs Red Force – Beausejour Cricket Ground, St Lucia Pride vs Hurricanes – Kensington Oval, Barbados BREAK Round 6 – February 11 to 14 Hurricanes vs Scorpions – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua Round 6 – February 12 to 15 Pride vs Volcanoes – Kensington Oval, Barbados Jaguars vs Red Force – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana Round 7 – February 19 to 22 Hurricanes vs Volcanoes – Cancryn Ground, St Thomas Pride vs Jaguars – Kensington Oval, Barbados Scorpions vs Red Force – Sabina Park, Jamaica Round 8 – February 26 to 29 Volcanoes vs Jaguars – Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia Red Force vs Hurricanes – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad Scorpions vs Pride – Sabina Park, Jamaica BREAK Round 9 – March 11 to 14 Volcanoes vs Scorpions – Arnos Vale Multiplex, St. Vincent Red Force vs Pride – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad Hurricanes vs Jaguars – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua Round 10 – March 18 to 21 Red Force vs Volcanoes – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad Jaguars vs Scorpions – National Cricket Stadium, Guyana Hurricanes vs Pride – Warner Park, St Kitts

Hackett ‘wallops’ golf field to set personal record

VETERAN golfer and past President of the Lusignan Golf Club, Brian Hackett, played exceptional golf on Saturday to run clear ahead of all contestants and set his own personal Best Gross and Best Net scores in a spectacular manner.

Playing with new golf clubs, Hackett played such “crisp and precise driver, irons and chip and putt shots” (according to another veteran Hilbert Shields), that his 60/82/22 performance was nothing less than historic.

Second place finisher who also scored the day’s Best Gross prize, was Imran Khan, 62/8, while third was occupied by Parmanand Max Persaud, 65/19, who two weeks ago topped his category in the Surinam Invitational. Nearest to The Pin was won by Patanjalee Pur Persaud,

who came four inches near to the hole.

Representing CEO of the Bissessar Shipping Company Deanand Bissessar, club President Oncar Ramroop expressed the joy and willingness of Bissessar Shipping to sponsor this tournament.

Bissessar Shipping has been moving cargo in and

around the Caribbean for several decades, and Lusignan Golf Club has benefited much in recent times with the Club Grounds personally experiencing the administration of Bissessar as the former Grounds Superintendent of the current Executive. President Ramroop hailed the significant contribution being made by Bissessar, who is the

current Assistant Secretary Treasurer. “The very good scores brought in by golfers today are reflective of the greatly improved state of the Grounds,” President Ramroop said, adding “but there is room for improvement, and we trust to have even better Grounds in time for the Guyana Open this month-end.”

Brian Hackett’s very good

score – a phenomenal performance for any golfer – was achieved in a field of near 30 golfers, including previous Guyana Open champions Imran Khan and Avinash Persaud. He attributed his success

to a good Driver; “The Driver seemed to be very forgiving to me, because even when I thought I played a bad shot it seemed to correct my aim! I enjoyed the game with a very good front nine of 37.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday October 19, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

SL won by an innings and 6 runs Dimuth Karunaratne-186

Today’s Quiz:

In photo, from left to right: Pur Persaud, Max Persaud, Brian Hackett, Imran Khan and President Oncar Ramroop.

Which SL bowler took most wickets in the first Test of the current series against the WI? Which WI bowler took most wickets in the first Test of the current series against SL?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 19, 2015

GDF beat UG Wolves to be crowned Banks Beer Rugby Sevens Champions GDF’s Patrick King takes down Pepsi Hornets’ Blaise Bailey in a prelim match of the Banks Beer Rugby Sevens Tournament. (Samuel Maughn Photo)

JUST one week after being dethroned by University of Guyana Wolves in the Trophy Stall Rugby Sevens, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) returned the favour to be crowned the 2015 Banks Beer Rugby Sevens Champions. .

GDF won 17–14 in the final played at the UG rugby yesterday as Dwayne S c h r o e d e r a n d Av e r y Corbin dominated the score sheet. The eventual victors dominated the first half with a try each from Schroeder and Corbin. Corbin also scored again in the second while Schroeder converted to take the tally to 17.

On the other side of the boat, Lance Adonis recorded a try and two conversions for Wolves while Owen Adonis got a touch over the try line in the second half.

Guyana’s lone Olympic medalist Michael Parris to be honoured in Russia GUYANA’s lone Olympic medalist Michael Parris will be honoured at a special ceremony in Russia for being Guyana’s lone medalist at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games.

According to a release from the Ministry of Sports, Guyanese has tremendous talent, but in some cases those persons are not recognised for their efforts.

One such person is former amateur boxing champion Michael Parris, who will be travelling to Moscow, Russia, where he will be honoured by the World Olympic Association and the Russian Olympic Committee for winning Guyana’s lone medal at the Moscow Games.

While in Russia, Parris will also attend the World Olympians Forum (WOF).

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry met with Parris last Friday at her office and while there the minister recognised Parris’ accomplishment which dates back to 1980 when he won a bronze medal in the bantamweight category.

Minister Henry shared some of the plans for Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations which will see a special feature on Guyana’s outstanding sports person-

alities.

They also discussed Parris’ participation as a role model and mentor to Guyana’s youth. In this regard, Minister Henry assured that she will be engaging him in the promotion of positive lifestyles.

scheduled for tomorrow to Thursday brings together 143 Olympic associations, Olympians, representatives of the International Olympic committee together with the Olympic family, governments, and other key stakeholders to share best

Minister Nicholette Henry presents documents to Guyana’s lone Olympic medalist Michael Parris Earlier this year, the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) honoured Parris by naming its nursery after him.

With regards to the WOF, Parris noted that assistance will be sought for those Guyanese Olympic veterans who are in need of support to improve their wellbeing.

The WOF which is

practices and discuss the topics of greatest concern to Olympians.

The forum is also a platform that brings together the key figures from the Olympic family to promote the Olympic values and to discuss and debate the key issues for Olympians and the Olympic movement around the globe.

The teams exhibited a good display of competition with GDF being in a no-nonsense mood, playing the entire day undefeated.

GDF drew first blood in the first minute of play and commanded the game until the final whistle.

UG and GDF competed alongside Police Sports

Club, Yamaha Caribs, and Pepsi Hornets.

In other results, Caribs versus Police 19–12, GDF versus UG 21–10, Caribs versus Hornets 14–10, GDF versus Police 24–5, Hornets versus UG 7–35, GDF versus Caribs 45–0, UG versus Police 26–0, GDF versus Hornets 5–5, UG versus Caribs 12–0, Police

versus Hornets 7–12.

There were also three female matches between seasoned and not so seasoned players in the Guyana Rugby Football Union’s bid to resuscitate women’s rugby.

Rugby action continues next week with the hosting of a Schools’ Tournament.

This Samuel Maughn Photo shows a scrum battle between Police Sports Club and UG Wolves in the Banks Beer Rugby Sevens.

Essequibo’s football fraternity disappointed

By Allan La Rose FOOTBALL administrators of clubs affiliated to the Essequibo and Pomeroon Football Association (EAPFA) are disappointed that no member of the GFF’s N ormalisation Committee (NC) showed up for their scheduled elections on Saturday last at the Oasis Hotel in Queenstown, Essequibo Coast.

Instead, they were greeted by Technical Development Officer of the GFF, Lyndon France who immediately told the gathering in attendance that there will be no Elections due to the absence of a member of the Electoral Committee.

France, while not giving any explanation or apology for the non appearance of the Electoral Committee member, then instructed the members to select a date this coming week to stage the Elections.

The new date is this coming Thursday 22nd October at the same venue and already the Wakapao FC representative, Benedict Williams has indicated that his club will

not be represented because of the distance. Williams stated that he was travelling from early in the morning last Saturday so as to reach in time for the 16:00hrs meeting.

President of Henrietta FC Maxine Stewart It was a general feeling of disappointment among the members who turned out in full numbers to cast their votes for the new executive of the EAPFA The live wire of the Sport in the Region, President of Henrietta FC Max-

ine Stewart, who is tipped to take up the leadership, expressed her dissatisfaction with what transpired at the Oasis Hotel last Saturday.

“The clubs were all disappointed and wanted to stir up something but I had to quiet them down. We made every effort to be organized and be present for the elections. We had clubs there from since 4pm and it came as a shock to us when Mr. France related to us that there would be no elections” “We are calling on Mr Chairman of the NC to come and let us have our elections on Thursday. We need our elections because for too long we have been starved in this country of the real benefits the sport offers to other Associations and members” Stewart lamented In an invited comment Chairman of the Normalisation Committee, Clinton Urling revealed that the appointed member of the NC who was on the Essequibo Coast for another meeting was avoidably absent for the elections since his primary commitment went beyond schedule.

Sport CHRONICLE

The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com

See GDF beat UG story on page 23 Wolves to be crowned Banks Beer Rugby Sevens Champions

Joseph needles Fruta Conquerors ––Monedderlust and Alpha United play to 1–1 draw

S

By Rawle Toney

LINGERZ Football Club walked away as 1–0 winners over Fruta Conquerors, while Alpha United and Monedderlust played to an entertaining 1–1 draw when action in the STAG Elite League continued last Saturday night at the #5 Ground, West Coast Berbice.

The usual huge crowd was on hand at the West Coast Berbice facility to cheer their side on, and who are now undefeated at home; the only team in the league with such distinction.

Alpha United would get the go-ahead just six minutes into the contest when Delon Lanferman scored from pointblank range to give the city side a 1–0 lead.

Lanferman’s goal – the fifth so far in the league – stunned the huge crowd on hand but knowing that their team holds an impressive home record, the fans were not too bothered by Alpha United’s goal.

Kevin Cottoy, the diminutive Monedderlust forward, was a thorn in the sides of Alpha United’s defenders, who had difficulties keeping up with his speed and agility on the pitch.

However, Cottoy was lacking help on top, and on the other end, Monedderlust’s custodian was forced to pull off several critical saves with Lanferman, on several occasions, getting his way with the defence and, along with See page 19

Beaten! Fruta Conquerors goalkeeper Alex Murray beaten by Slingerz FC’s Tichard Joseph (not in picture) from the penalty spot

Fruta Conquerors defender Trevon Lythcott battling Slingerz FC striker Julian Wade for the ball during their contest in Berbice.

Alpha United’s goal scorer Delon Lanferman in possession of the ball against Monedderlust at the #5 Ground in Berbice (Delano Williams photos).

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2015