Chronicle 11 19 2015

GUYANA

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

Jagdeo, Ramotar enjoyed tax-free pay No. 104377

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $80

INCLUDING VAT

– amounting to $1.7M per month P.3 GDF colour parade presents awesome spectacle, rouses P.15 patriotism

President vows to arrest crime situation

P.2

The Custodians of the colours march unto the field to the beat of drums and blowing of the trumpet (Delano Williams photo)

Women busted with cocaine in private parts P.7

Wikileaks fallout…

Gajraj sues Gail over visa racket accusations P.2

From 10 to 5 gallons per day…

Region 3 7 REO slashes Chairman’s fuel allowance P.

– says vehicle being used for political work

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

President vows to arrest crime situation – tells former President Ramotar not to interfere in GDF management

By Tajeram Mohabir PRESIDENT David Granger said it would be best for former President Donald Ramotar not to interfere with the way the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is managed, as he vowed to bring the crime situation under control.

The President said he had met with the top brass of both the GDF and the Guyana Police Force, and is confident that the plans being put into place will roll back the crime situation in six months.

Mr Ramotar, in a statement, had expressed disappointment that the army is in the barracks when the crime situation is a cause for much concern.

His comments follow the recent bandits attack on former Crime Chief Leslie James at his home in Sophia.

“This is a blatant and brazen attack on one of our most senior police officers. It is a slap in the face of the Guyana Police Force and the government as a whole,” Mr Ramotar contended.

But speaking with journal-

President Davide Granger

ists yesterday following the GDF Colour Parade, President Granger said he has given instructions to the army, and it would be better if Mr Ramotar keeps away from the matter.

“I meet the Chief of Staff every week and I am fully aware of what needs to be done in order to deal with the defence situation Guyana finds itself in at present and also the crime situation,” President Granger said.

In fact, Mr Granger said

instructions have been given to both the Police and Defence Forces, and he is confident that his instructions are in the best interest of the nation.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force, in a statement yesterday said unlike the claim by former president Ramotar, crime is not spiralling out of control based on its statistics, supported by other data.

The statistics for serious crimes had indicated that there has been an eight per cent increase for the period January 01, 2015, to October 31, 2015, when compared to the same period in 2014; and for the same period in 2013.

“Notwithstanding the eight per cent increase this year, the significant efforts of the police regarding the arrest and prosecution of several high-profile groups of criminals and the use of intelligence and investigative skills have led to the solving of a number of serious crimes, including murders and armed robberies dating back to 2013.

“The Guyana Police Force reiterates that in the recent instances when the Guyana

Defence Force was called out in support of the police, it was with the aim of giving assurance to the members of the public and confidence boosting, and not because the police was overwhelmed by the crime situation,” the police pointed out.

It noted that the most recent deployment of soldiers in support of the police was during March and April this year, prior to the last General and Regional Elections.

National elections in Guyana are historically a period punctuated with high tension and general unease.

The deployment for that period was a joint Army/Police initiative, and it served its purpose, the police said.

President Granger said some headway is being made in addressing the crime situation.

“Criminals are being arrested very soon after the commissioning of events, I am seeing greater response from the CID, and I am very satisfied with that. There are other problems which have developed over the past 23 years

which we are trying to rectify.

The Police Force was seriously degraded, the Security Sector Reform that had been agreed with Britain was never implemented and we have inherited a Force which is weak and we are now trying to make it much stronger,” he said.

Mr Granger noted that a lot of emphasis will be placed on equipment, training and ensuring that policemen are well paid, officered and commanded.

The Police Force will also be sending horses to the hinterland to boost patrols in vulnerable areas such as the Rupununi.

“I am sure that within a very short period of time, maybe half year or so, we will be on top of the crime situation,” the President said, pointing out that the country is facing problems which have accumulated over the past 12 years and cannot be fixed overnight.

NATIONAL ANTI-NARCOTICS AGENCY Meanwhile, a National

Anti-Narcotics Agency is being established and it will be headed by retired Major General Michael Atherly.

The President is confident that the agency will bring gun running and other forms of transnational crime under control.

Major General Atherly is currently the head of the taskforce on narco trafficking and illegal firearms at the Ministry of National Security.

One of his tasks is to revisit the National Drug Strategy Master Plan the government has inherited from the former administration.

Mr Granger, a retired Army Brigadier, said the plan will be modified and when implemented it will bring the scourge of narco trafficking under control.

The administration is optimistic that the plans being put in place for the GDF and the Police Force will make Guyana a safer place in the short and medium term.

Wikileaks fallout…

Gajraj sues Gail over visa racket accusations

By Ariana Gordon FORMER Minister of Home Affairs under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration, Ronald Gajraj, has filed a $40M lawsuit against his successor Gail Teixeira and this newspaper, for defamation of character and libel over statements made about him, which were revealed through a U.S. diplomatic cable released by the Wikileaks website recently.

A report carried by this publication saw Teixeira implicating Gajraj in a number of activities related to the General Register Office (GRO). Teixeira reportedly provided to the US Government information that suggested that Gajraj was allegedly involved in corrupt activities.

At a press conference held at the PPP headquarters in Robb Street yesterday, Teixeira objected to revelations currently publicised through the leaked Wikileaks, contending:

Former Minister of Home Affairs under the PPP administration, Ronald Gajraj

“I have not been able to access the Wikileaks that Chronicle is referring to; but in all of these cables and any mission, any government, foreign missions send what is called briefings to every single meeting we have….In those cables, they put their own personal assessments.

Former Presidential Advisor on Governance under the PPP administration, Gail Teixeira

“The way the Chronicle article is written, (it is) as if certain things which were the Charge d’ Affaires’ opinion are put over as if I (had) said that.

I did not.”

Teixeira has, however, admitted that there was rampant corruption at the GRO during her tenure, and she emphasised that she and former Police Commissioner Winston Felix had been inundated with reports from the U.S. Embassy of fraudulent passports and fraudulent birth certificates.

“The American Embassy was asked by me to please provide evidence of these fake documents. Now, the GRO ones were particularly disturbing, because they were actually authentic birth certificates with the watermark of the GRO, with the signatures of people

who worked at the GRO, but the information on it was false.

Those persons didn’t exist; and from that false document, it then created another false document -– fake passports.

“The passports were real, they were genuine, but the persons on (them) were not real; and it was that evidence I asked for from the Americans.

The Americans brought me also fictitious marriage certificates… As a result of this, action was taken to have investigations, and there were several police investigations under Mr. Felix as Commissioner of Police,” Teixeira said.

Appointed Guyana’s High Commissioner to India after his tenure as Home Affairs Minister had ended, Gajraj is claiming defamation of character as a result of “certain callous slanders” spoken by Teixeira and published by the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.

He is claiming $10M for defamation of character by both Teixeira and this publication; $10M from this publication for publishing the statements, which he considers libellous; and he is requesting aggravated and punitive damages in excess of $10M from both defendants.

The former Home Affairs Minister has also filed for an injunction to restrain the Guyana Chronicle from “repeating or republishing said or similar libel of and concerning the plaintiff.”

Filed on Tuesday, the lawsuit was served on both Teixeira and this publication

yesterday. The named parties to the action are required to make an appearance in court

ten days after the Writ has been served.

Festival City man shot dead FESTIVAL City was plunged into mourning on Wednesday evening as a man who is described by many as a “loving father” was executed in cold blood by two gun-toting young men.

37-year-old Christopher Wharton was sitting at home with his five-yearold son, Nashan Wharton, when two men approached his home and shouted for him.

Video footage acquired from the scene last evening show the two men approaching Wharton, and a scuffle ensuing between him and one of the gunmen.

The scuffle ended with the gunman being thrown to the yard after which he whipped out the firearm and began shooting.

The gunman fired several shots at Wharton while he was still on the steps.

After Wharton fell off the stairs, the man stood over his body and continued to

‘KILLED’: 37-year-old Christopher Wharton

shoot.

From the video, it appears that Wharton was shot several times at close range.

After shooting Wharton, the gunmen then reportedly fired two more shots in the air to ward off onlookers before making their escape on a bicycle.

According to neighbours, they heard a burst of several shots after which Turn to page 4 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Jagdeo, Ramotar received tax-free salaries THE Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (GCRG) has noted the attempts at continued distortion and misrepresentation regarding the recent salary adjustments for government officials.

The most recent is a letter which appeared in a section of the local press on Monday, November 16, 2015, under the headline: “Why is President Granger’s salary tax free?”

The letter-writer, PPP backbencher Charles Ramson Jr., asks: “How do you justify the President and the Attorney General’s salaries being tax-free?”.

A government statement issued yesterday by the Director of Public Information, Mr Imran Khan, said the records show that former presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar enjoyed monthly tax-free salary packages to the tune of

Former President Donald Ramotar

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

PPP backbencher, Charles Ramson Jr.

$1,755,935.

The former PPP Attorney General Anil Nandlall and his PPP predecessors also enjoyed tax-free salaries last fixed at a whopping $1.6 million.

“Mr. Ramson may wish to ask what justifies those tax-free salaries,” the state-

ment said.

The government wishes to also “clarify the misrepresentation that ALL senior government officials” have received a 50% increase in salary. “This is not so,” the Government declared.

His Excellency President David Granger received

a 5% salary increase. The President’s salary compares with the amount received as pension by former Presidents Jagdeo, Ramotar and Samuel Hinds who get a total of $4,508,391 monthly or $54,100,692 annually.

The pension excludes an assorted array of perks.

In the recent salary adjustment, the Prime Minister received an increase of 5.6% over the salary of the Attorney General to correct an anomaly in the pay structure.

After tax, the Prime Minister gets less pay than the Attorney General.

The government also noted that, for the first time, salaries were set for three vice-presidents in the sum of $927,922 each. The vice-presidents’ salaries are almost on par with that of the former Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, who had received in excess of a million dollars per month ($1,035,900).

The salaries of 13 senior ministers was fixed at $869,927 each, which is 50% more than the salaries of junior ministers.

However the senior ministers get far less in salaries than former Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira, whose salary package was $1,121,106 monthly (million dollar phone credit not included).

The eight junior ministers received an increase

of 20% from $579,951 to $695,541 which is within the range of a permanent secretary’s salary.

From the President, down to junior ministers, no one in the executive came close to the multi-million-dollar super salaries under the previous regime which were paid to the former chief executive officers of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), etc, or even to a former president’s son who was paid in excess of $3 million per month as head of the failed e-Governance project.

The government said it has also been noted, in passing, that the PPP backbencher Mr. Ramson, drew down and pocketed a substantial $430,196 every month for “moonlighting” on a dubious part-time attachment with the then Office of the President, while simultaneously enjoying a full private legal practice.

“Mr. Ramson may wish to ask himself what justifies that hefty slice from the taxpayers’ purse,” the statement posited.

U.S. Ambassador updated on Local Gov’t Elections – during meeting with GECOM Chairman

Chairman of GECOM Dr. Steve Surujbally, and U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Mr. Perry Halloway, during their meeting Tuesday

THE state of preparedness of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the conduct of Local Government Elections was discussed between Dr Steve Surujbally, Chairman of GECOM and H.E. Mr Perry Halloway, Ambassador of the United States of America to Guyana.

The discussions took place during a courtesy call which the ambassador paid on Dr. Surujbally on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

Ambassador Halloway was accompanied by Mr. Bryan Hunt, Chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy.

A statement from GECOM said during the discussions, Dr Surujbally highlighted specific areas in which assistance could possibly be provided through the U.S. Embassy, relative to the conduct of local government elections. The areas include Civic and Voter Education, preparation of relevant signage, procurement of equipment, establishment of a Media Centre for the elections, and the establishment of a specialised course in elections management at the University of Guyana. With respect to the latter, Dr Surujbally explained that such a course would be geared

to deliver a pool of knowledgeable personnel to which GECOM would have access when seeking to hire competent persons to work during election projects.

Responding to Dr Surujbally’s identification of the areas delineated above, Ambassador Halloway undertook to collaborate with the other members among the International Develop-

ment Partners to determine how to assist GECOM relative to the areas suggested by the GECOM Chairman.

He did point out however, that at this point in time, big projects such as the establishment of a Media Centre for the elections and the establishment of a specialised course in elections management cannot be undertaken.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Tape surfaces of rape allegations by 14-yr-old - Doctor offers to ‘settle’ matter with victims’ family to save accused brother

By Leroy Smith

A FEMALE health practitioner of the Georgetown Public Hospital could find herself on the other side of the law and also suffer sanctions by the Medical Council now that a tape has surfaced, allegedly with her negotiating a settlement with the mother of 14-year-old girl who was said to have been raped by a cop.

The 14-year-old girl from the East Bank of Demerara was reportedly raped by a police rank from the Timehri Police Station after she showed up at his home seeking assistance and protection shortly after she had freed herself

from a man who reportedly abducted her.

Yesterday, the Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) is indeed investigating both the matter of rape and abduction of the 14-year-old girl.

The young woman was reportedly abducted by a gold miner and after she managed to free herself, went to report the incident to the policeman whom she knows. The law enforcement officer sought to comfort her and reportedly raped her in the process. The rank has been transfered from the Timehri Police Station to the Tactical Services Unit as the investigation is under way.

In a secret recording which was heard by this reporter, the health worker told the child’s mother that the policeman was her brother and that he had two children and sick wife at home.

The woman could be heard telling the mother of the child that if she placed her brother in jail her daughter’s virginity would not come back, hence she should agree with the settlement.

The recording also contained sections with the health worker telling the mother that she should tell her daughter to go to the police and lie about the incident. She encouraged the woman to instruct her daughter to return to the po-

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lice and tell them that she is a child and she made up the whole story about rape and that she was sorry and no longer “wanted a story.”

In the recording, the girl’s mother was advised to encourage the child to go to the police counsellor and tell her the same story, which is that the girl made up the entire rape allegation.

The mother of the child explained to this publication on Tuesday afternoon that she decided to record the woman from the inception because she became aware that the matter was moving very slowly and she suspected that something might be amiss.

The woman said that one week before the (alleged) rape, her daughter was a virgin when she was tested by doctors at the Police ‘A’ Division headquarters.

Asked what led to that testing, the mother explained that she had sent her daughter out and the child took an exceptionally long period on the road, which was not

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usual. She said that she just took precautions and took the child for a checkup. The police doctor confirmed that she was still a virgin.

It was the following week that the child was abducted by a miner. Police had picked up the miner and detained him and three others and it was during that investigation that the details came out about the child being raped.

When the police pressed the child for additional details she reportedly told them that she was raped by the police constable (name provided).

Contacted on Tuesday, the health worker was told of the allegations being made against her but quickly denied that she ever attempted to settle any matter with the mother of the child.

She was then informed of the recording. And immediately she stated that the mother of the child and her family had been trying to blackmail her and destroy her character. She further said that she would not comment

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further on the contents of the alleged recording until she sought advice.

When the Guyana Chronicle asked the mother of the child why she refused the settlement, she said that her concerns were more about the hurt that her child suffered. She said there was a point where the doctor even allowed her to call a figure and which she was assured would be paid.

But according to the distraught mother of the child, in years to come her daughter would never forgive her for putting money above her well-being.

On Tuesday a senior police source told this publication that if indeed the recording was available, then the doctor could find herself being charged for obstruction of justice.

The newspaper has also been informed that the matter is also engaging the attention of the Child Care and Protection Agency.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Monetary Studies Conference aims to strengthen regional financial arrangements

By Ravin Singh THE Region’s financial and economic sectors are expected to be strengthened following the 47th edition of the Regional Monetary Studies Conference which is being hosted by the Bank of Guyana under the theme ‘Financial Development and Economic growth’.

Expected to emerge from the three-day event, which commenced yesterday, are robust recommendations to combat the grappling effects of uneven economic growth and fragile economic and financial fundamentals. It aims too to stimulate new insights in assessing regional financial development and the direct correlation between that and economic growth.

Acknowledging that the monetary conference, over the last 46 years, has provided an important opportunity for networking and research, Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga explained that it comes at a time when the Region is facing new risk factors from the monetary organisations in the U.S., such as U.S. interest rates hikes and strengthening of the U.S. dollar.

Additionally, it was

deemed to be appropriate and timely given the Region’s slowing growth and the efforts by most territories to improve and strengthen their financial sectors.

ALL IS NOT LOST But despite this, the Governor noted that all is not lost. In fact, he reasoned that the strengthening of the U.S. economy as well as other developed countries which are major tourist markets are expected to have a positive spin-over effect in the Region. In addition, those regional economies with more flexible exchange rate regimes should be able to adjust to the market forces, he said.

And while the theme of the conference begs to address whether financial development spurs economic growth or whether it is an inconsequential effect to the process of economic growth, Dr. Ganga posited that solid deliberations on this issue are expected to dominate the forum.

Sharing this view was Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, who noted that the conference and the Caribbean Centre for Money and Finance (CCMF) have built

up a formidable body of research and expertise in Caribbean money and finance.

This expertise, he said, is even more important given the challenging economic environment in which the region finds itself.

Revealing that two of the original researchers in the regional programme of monetary studies are Guyanese, Dr. Morris Odle and Professor Clive Thomas, whose early research in the monetary and financial realm is still relevant today, Minister Jordan hailed the conference’s longevity and the resilience of the gathering of regional economists.

Over the last decade the conference has explored a plethora of themes including regional and economic integration, economic transformation in a post-independence Caribbean, building financial sector resilience, financial stability, prices preparedness and risk management, financial stability, debt and economic growth, and macro prudential supervision - financial stability and monetary policy.

The sub-themes for this conference will cover areas such as links between financial development and

Festival City man... from page 2

they heard Wharton shouting for helping and saying “they shoot me.”

Reports indicate that the first bout of gunfire took place sometime around 17:00hrs and the second bout was less than 30 seconds later.

Neighbours responded immediately and assisted in taking the shot man to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted.

It is understood that the two men, whose names have

been given, are known to persons in the community.

Persons at the scene late last evening described Wharton as a loving father who was all for his son.

They stated that the man took custody of his son some months ago and since then has been all for his son.

According to one man, even while assistance was being rendered to Wharton, he was asking about his son and whether he was injured or not.

The 37-year-old man was

then taken to the hospital where he died while receiving treatment.

SON SHOT The drama did not end there however, as a few hours after news of the man’s death spread, his son began to complain of a pain to his leg.

Investigation by his guardians led to the boy saying that he was shot.

The lad was taken to the GPHC where he was admitted and is being treated.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan addresses participants at yesterday’s opening of the three-day regional monetary conference. Seated at the head table are, from left, Tracy Gibson, Bank of Guyana; Dr. Dave Seerattan, Officer-in-Charge, Caribbean Centre for Money and Finance; and Dr. Gobind Ganga, Governor of teh Bank of Guyana economic growth, financial development and financial stability, increasing global financial integration and financial development, the dimensions of financial development and economic structure and financial stability.

Noting that these have been the areas where policy challenges have greeted regional economies, Minister Jordan explained that the themes will focus on the

pressing issues which the region has had to grapple with in its quest for growth and development.

In light of this, he remains hopeful that the recommendations which will emerge will lead to real solutions for these real problems facing the Caribbean.

Weighing in too was the Caribbean Centre for Money and Finance, Officer-in-charge, Dr. Dave Seerattan, who opined that

these financial and economic issues are ones which the Region has had to grapple with over the last five decades.

And according to Dr. Seerattan, the conference remains one of the most important policy discussions in the Caribbean since it not only addresses the financial and economic stability of the Region but impacts policy initiatives as well.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Prayer can help in fighting suicide

Dear Editor,

EDITORIAL

The latest cricket controversy: When will it end?

THE recent report by the CARICOM committee on the state of West Indies cricket has plunged the game into yet another round of controversy. Coming on the heels of the fallout over statements by head coach Phil Simmons regarding team selection, one is left to wonder when it will end.

The CARICOM report, which was commissioned by the regional body, made some bold but not new recommendations. Among the most ambitious is the disbanding of the WICB. Both the Patterson and Wilkin reports, commissioned by the WICB itself, had made similar recommendations.

There seems to be consensus that the structure of the game’s governing body in the Region needs overhaul.

We do not think that this is an unreasonable recommendation. It is imperative that all organisations undergo reform if they are to remain relevant, and the WICB is no different.

The world has changed, and continues to change at a rapid pace; and the game itself is changing at a similar pace. Why the WICB continues to resist the need to change its structure to meet the needs of the times is beyond us.

The major problem with the WICB is its non-accountability. This is a serious problem in the Caribbean at all levels of our societies. While we support a separation between sport administration and politics, we do believe that a mechanism can be found to make the WICB more accountable to the Caribbean nation. The game is too vital to the nation, too broad in its reach and too central to the Region’s sense of self to be left to the whims and fancies of a dozen men. We simply cannot, and should not, continue in this vein.

We are sympathetic to the feelings of the WICB directors that they are being scolded by politicians whose individual track record on accountability could barely pass muster. We are also mindful that the CARICOM report seems to heap all responsibility for our cricket woes on the WICB, while failing to highlight what we feel is an equal responsibility by our players, who have become a law unto themselves. That cannot be a fair appraisal of our situation. We are concerned at the heavy dose of marketisation being prescribed by the report as a substitute for the current structure. We stand resolute in our position that the market is not the magic solution to our Region’s problems.

Finally, we find the suggestion that the WICB disband itself to be somewhat reckless, as it puts an immediate barrier to good-faith dialogue between the politicians and the WICB. But having said the above, we cannot support WICB President Dave Cameron’s refusal to have an urgent meeting with the leaders. It is distasteful, to say the least. Unlike the WICB leaders, the politicians have, at least, been elected by people at popular elections.

We therefore support the sentiments expressed in the open letter penned by the three ex-WICB presidents -- Wes Hall, Pat Rousseau and Ken Gordon. The WICB can, and should, hold a preliminary meeting with the CARICOM leaders, while its directors study the report. How could such a meeting cause harm?

Ultimately, something has to be done about West Indies

GOD is a Reality. As simple as this statement is, it is profound; all religions teach it. God can be easily reached through prayer and meditation. He grants us patience and perseverance in times of challenge -- patience when everything falls apart, and perseverance when success seems to elude us.

The physicist describes two opposing phenomina in our universe, that of Matter and Anti-Matter. Though I am not sure what all this means, I understand that Matter, by a slight margin, barely supersedes Anti-Matter in strength, and that is the basis

of a secure and sustained universe.

Our life also hangs on a slender thread. The world that we see is temporal and delicately balanced, but we tend to take it as the only reality.

In the course of time, Material Reality tends to replace God Reality, as we are constantly associated with the former, from birth to death. While in our homes, we prefer to discuss political situations rather than God. Our Freudian psychology suggests that our intellect must control our passions and moral thinking, so we come to think that what the intellect cannot perceive and analyse is not worthy of our thought.

The orthodox psychology is therefore godless. God is beyond comprehension of the intellect, and can be reached only by communication through prayer and meditation. This fact is usually ignored in practice.

What has been described constantly in letters to the Editor and so far described as causes of suicide are really some triggers -- physical or mental, or methods -- of self-execution after the thought of suicide has been conceived. The real cause is the disconnect of the soul from God by the interference of the mind (intellect) and senses, which plunge us into the mire of chaotic materi-

ations. The process of titling and demarcation takes years to complete, while a miner or forester can obtain legal ownership to a piece of land within a couple of weeks or months.

This has proven detrimental to Indigenous communities. Would it not be easier to address the extension first, and then make one demarcation? Wouldn’t this save the already limited resources available for titling and demarcation?

The work of the technical team of the Amerindian Land Titling Project needs to be reviewed. They cannot, and should not, be allowed to sit in their offices in Georgetown and make decisions for communities. Had they followed due diligence and conducted meetings with residents in the communities, we would not have been in the situation we are facing today. As it is, the process is flawed, and needs to be rectified at the earliest opportunity.

As an advocate for the rights of Indigenous peoples, I would have hoped that the likes of Mr. Persaud would have challenged the ALT team, to ensure that our rights are not being violated.

Unfortunately this is not his cup of tea. Instead, he choos-

es to LIE by saying I was present at an ALT meeting; which he subsequently apologised for, and then in the same letter asked me to show where he had lied before.

If the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) of our community was sought, there would not have been a problem with our neighbouring community.

Yes, we would like to have our land demarcated.

Yes, we would like our future generations to be sure that their lands are safeguarded in law. Our only concern is that the process by which we are being forced to have this done has proven frustrating and time consuming.

We are a people who have managed our lands from time immemorial, we have lived in harmony with nature; we have hunted, fished and gathered in these lands. You would know, Mr Persaud, that, around the world, the lands that are held by Indigenous peoples are the lands which continue to remain in a more natural state.

We expect that any process that seeks to title and demarcate out lands would have our full involvement.

We expect that the UNDP would ensure that our basic rights, as outlined in the UNDRIP, are not being violated under the project. These rights, Mr. Persaud, are being trampled upon. These rights, Mr. Persaud, we expect you and your organisation to advocate for.

As is relates to TAAMOG, I admit that there is much I am unaware of.

In this vein, would Mr. Persaud provide a list of the executives of TAAMOG? This would help to quell the perceptions out there that he runs a one-man show.

It is disheartening to know that there are organisations purportedly representing the interests of Indigenous organisations, and yet there is not a shred of information publicly available

alism to swim and die. And this disconnect is sustained by our psychology and the godless exclusive objective approaches to counselling that are often promoted for closure and self-regulation.

If we are to succeed and set the stage for improved mental health; if we are to improve the condition of the next generation, then the work of the counsellors must be augmented by spiritual interventions.

The would-be victims must learn to value their souls also, and communicate with God, the only Permanent Reality.

KENNETH DANIELS

Peter Persaud must get it right

Dear Editor,

I RESPOND to a letter written by Peter Persaud and carried in the Guyana Times (Tuesday, November 18) under the caption “Get it right, Toshao Mc Garrell”.

I humbly acknowledge his apologies, and will extend those apologies to the rest of the community upon my return there. It is my hope that in the future Mr. Persaud would verify information before putting it in the public domain like he did, and that he would not act on a mere ‘thought’, since a simple check with the ministry would have provided the necessary information.

I wish to inform Mr. Persaud that as it relates to the “five objections to demarcation which emanated mainly from the Chenapou and Paramakatoi representatives”, I am not privy to the details of that meeting. He seems to have more information on this meeting that supposedly took place; can he say who represented Chenapou, and maybe share the information he has?

The lives and livelihoods of communities are dependent on the lands which they have traditionally and customarily used over gener-

cricket. While the administration of the game must be reviewed and reformed, perhaps revolutionised, such change by itself will not revive our fortunes. Similar energies have to be expended on creating and nurturing a new nationalist spirit among our players.

More than any nation, we have a cadre of cricketers who traverse the world, selling to any buyer their talents which have been nurtured by the Caribbean. We the Caribbean people are denied access to that talent. When last have we had the pleasure of seeing Narine, Gayle, Bravo, Sammy, Pollard and Russell in a series of first-class games? They come for the PCL, earn the big money, and then they are gone.

Our increasing dependency on tourism, for example, means that we continue to produce a nation socialised to serve others, and not ourselves. Now our cricketers have succumbed to what Brother Bob Marley prophetically called “the same mis-philosophy”, and Professor Rex Nettleford referred to as “an old obscenity.”

Is anybody listening? Do they really care that we still have a civilisation to protect and advance?

that we can be aware of what they do or where they do it.

Please, Mr. Persaud, tell us where TAAMOG’s office is located. What are your telephone numbers? When was your last election for executives? Do you have a constitution? Are you a registered NGO? How can communities make contact with TAAMOG? We have a land problem, how can your organisation help to fix this?

I would like to remind Mr Persaud that, under the last dispensation, toshaos and other community members were barred from accessing the Permanent Secretary of the Amerindian Ministry, Mr. Nigel Dharamlall. A simple search online would bring up the articles in the news. I am aware that there is also the recording available online, if he wishes to listen to how Indigenous peoples were being treated.

Toshaos were prevented from sharing their concerns at the National Toshaos Conference. The last NTC was a breath of fresh air. There was more freedom to express ourselves, and I am sure the next one will be even better.

I acknowledge that there is much more that needs to happen, but we will continue to stand up for our rights; we will continue to voice our concerns; we will continue to challenge the government on its policies; we will challenge organisations like yours, which seem to be fighting against Indigenous peoples rather than for them.

As the elected leader of my community, I represent the interest of all the residents of Chenapou, which is to secure for posterity all lands that have been customarily and traditionally used to sustain our livelihoods.

Sincerely, EDWARD MCGARRELL Toshao, Chenapou Village Region #8

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

From 10 to 5 gallons per day…

Region 3 REO slashes Chairman’s fuel allowance – says vehicle being used for political work

By Leroy Smith

REGIONAL Executive Officer (REO) of Region 3, Denis Jaikaran yesterday confirmed that he has taken a decision to slash the fuel allowance usually allocated to the Toyota Land Cruiser being used by Regional Chairman Julius Faerber, but which belongs to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

The Chairman, Deputy Regional Vice Chairman and several other persons employed by the council picketed the RDC office yesterday over what Faerber said was the non-cooperation of the REO. Jaikaran, however, denied those claims and stated that the Chairman wanted him to be engaged in ac-

tivities which were not in keeping with his mandate as REO and were outside of the policies of the Ministry of Communities and by extension the Government of Guyana.

According to the REO, he will continue to act within the ambit of the law and in the interest of Region 3 to guard against the use and abuse of State resources for political purposes as the Chairman, allegedly, has been doing.

The Guyana Chronicle was told by the REO that he took the decision to reduce the gasoline allowance for the vehicle since he has come by information that the Land Cruiser is being used by the Regional Chairman to carry out work for the Opposition People’s Progressive

Women busted with cocaine in private parts RANKS from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Wednesday busted two St Lucian nationals who were trafficking cocaine out of Guyana in their vaginas.

Now in police custody, the two women, both above the age of 30, were arrested shortly before boarding a Caribbean Airlines flight. They were returning to St Lucia when they were selected for a ‘pat down’ after ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit observed them acting suspiciously.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the foreign objects were spotted in the women’s bodies as they were passing through the scanner at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. The bust yesterday was the second of its sort for the week.

Ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit also, earlier this week, busted two men with a quantity of cocaine in a hotel room. One of the men was allegedly caught swallowing the cocaine pellets at the time of the bust. Both men were arrested and charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine out of Guyana. Bail was refused in that matter.

In yesterday’s case, the cocaine was concealed in plastic wrap to form a parcel six inches long. The items were extracted and weighed. Senior officials at the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit have confirmed the bust.

REO of Region 3, Denis Jaikaran

Party/Civic and even on the council’s time.

10 GALLONS PER DAY Jaikaran said that when he came to the council he

met a system in which the vehicle for the Chairman was being allotted 10 gallons of gasoline per day but, to his mind, that amount is far too much given the little amount of driving that the vehicle is required to do on a daily basis. So he has reduced the quota to five gallons per day.

“For me the five gallons are adequate for the day based on the works to be done within the region and I am told otherwise (but) I will just leave it as that. Any additional gasoline is not to do work within the region and I will not be wasting government resources for works to be done out of the region or extra time to do political work and I stand by that,” Jaikaran told the Chronicle.

However, Faerber told this publication “he has cut

my fuel to half from 10 to five gallons of fuel per day.

Some of the days I go out in the field I run out of fuel, I have to take taxi to come to work, join the regular minibus or I have to take minibus to go home.”

Meanwhile, Jaikaran noted that all vehicles and assets of the region come under the supervision of the Regional Executive Officer who is also the accounting officer of the region who will have to give answers for the resources of the State and how those are distributed and used.

The REO warned that he also has the power to withdraw the vehicle from the Chairman and replace it with a more fuel-efficient vehicle should the Chairman continue to complain about the vehicle not having enough

fuel to do the very short runs it usually makes.

“If I find out that the vehicle is going to consume at a very high rate that we cannot maintain, I might consider the possibility of withdrawing it and placing it back into the pool to be used for near runs so to speak. In that way we would be able to maintain the level of gasoline consumption,” the REO said.

Meanwhile, Faerber said that the position taken by the REO has effectively prevented him from carrying out his duties as Chairman and more so as the representative of the people who voted for the PPP/C. “I am an elected official - I am 24/7, how can I not visit my people during the weekends so that was another issue,” he lamented.

CoI into Public Service commences in Linden – gov’t urged to review contract system

By Vanessa Braithwaite

THE much-anticipated Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service had its first hearing on Tuesday at the Watooka Complex in Linden. Giving testimony were many Lindeners, including influential personalities such as Regional Chairman Renis Morian; CEO of the Linden Electricity Company, Horace James; Deputy Regional Executive Officer Mrs. Maylene Stephen, and Manager of the GRA in Linden, Miss Desaree Parkinson.

Many persons were elated to have this opportunity to articulate their concerns on several issues needing urgent attention relative to the Public Service. Among those persons were regular public servants, self-employed residents and retirees.

Among the several concerns brought to the attention of the commissioners was the issue of the contract system that was initiated by the PPP/C government. Horace James, CEO of the Linden Electricity Company, testified that he is not in agreement with this arrangement, as it degrades the system of permanency for an individual.

“Persons are interested in long-term employment and security, and this system fails to provide that for a young

individual,” he contended. In addition, he reasoned, the 6 months’ gratuity payment given to workers can be deemed financial insecurity, since this is paid in lieu of pensions.

“Young persons offered this package will give it preference over a pension, as they are seeking immediate gratification,” he explained. “It is like offering a child a sweet instead of a book. Obviously, the child will choose the sweet, without thinking of the benefits the book will bring,” James reasoned.

Besides this issue, residents ventilated their disgust over certain attitudes possessed by public servants, and the evident lack of training portrayed in those attitudes and public servants’ work ethics.

Training in hospitality ethics for every public servant was recommended. “Public servants need to remember that the public are their bosses and the public are the ones who pay their salaries,” posited former policeman Hugh Stephen.

The dress code requirement for citizens to access government buildings was an issue also raised, and citizens said it is sometimes unfair and hypocritical to demand that they adhere to a particular code of dress when public servants are dressed more provocatively than those citizens refused entry to the premises.

Mahendra Persaud, Of-

fice Manager of the National Insurance Scheme in Linden, testified that the retirement age should be reviewed, as retirees are forced to survive on their public service pension, which is not an easy feat in this economic era. He recommended that the retirement age be shifted to 60, as persons become eligible for NIS pension at that age.

With the receipt of both pensions, he said persons would be better able to address their needs.

Having facilitated the residents of Linden in voicing

their concerns on several issues, such as corruption, salary scale, working conditions, and worker training, the commission will conclude its sitting tomorrow.

The purpose of this commission is to receive testimony from interested parties to enable it to examine, advise and report on the salaries, conditions of service, training and other matters pertaining to improving the efficiency of the Public Service and the wellbeing of public servants in the Guyana Public Service.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Linden nurses denied Murder accused gratuity payments claims police – upon embarking on maternity leave brutality

By Michel Outridge

AS the Robb Street granny murder trial continued in the High Court yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury, Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh and several other witnesses testified.

Dr. Singh told the court that on July 6, 2011 he performed a post mortem on the body of 73-year-old Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris and the cause of death was perforation of the aorta and lungs due to gunshot wounds.

He disclosed that Fiedtkou-Parris’s body bore three gunshot wounds all of which exited the body and there was blood in her mouth and nostrils. The victim died quickly given the massive blood loss and there were no visible gunpowder residue on her clothes.

Dr. Singh noted that Fiedtkou-Parris was hit from the front from slightly above the entry which meant that the shooter would have had to be a bit taller than the deceased.

Duane Baggot who is attached to U-Mobile Cellular Inc. Digicel Guyana as the Internal Security Officer testified that on November 16, 2011 a request came from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) seeking the name and cell phone number of Orwin Hinds and this was provided to the then Commissioner of Police.

He told the court that he could not say when the number was activated or deactivated, but after three months if the number is

inactive it would be recycled and given to another customer.

Sergeant Rodwell Sarabo was recalled to testify yesterday and was cross-examined by Defence Counsel George Thomas about his role when Orwin Hinds was arrested in 2011 and questioned at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Eve Leary.

He denied assaulting Orwin Hinds saying he had no interaction with the accused at that time.

After lunch when the state closed its case against the four accused, Cleon Hinds chose to lead his defence by remaining in the prisoner’s dock where he told his story.

He began from the time he was arrested while buying food at the Stabroek Market area in October 2011 after which he was taken to CID headquarters where he said he was beaten and had to endure shock treatment to sign a statement which was written by a police officer in the presence of others.

He explained that they told him he was wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of Fiedtkou-Parris but he denied the allegation. He added that blows began raining down on him when he told the police officers that, “Me ain’t signing nothing because I didn’t do anything.”

Cleon Hinds also told the court that prior to his arrest and imprisonment he did not know Kevin October and Roy Jacobs.

Orwin Hinds also led his defence standing in the prisoner’s dock where he

gave his account from the time he was arrested and taken to CID Eve Leary.

He recounted a tale of being subjected to a beating to sign a statement.

Orwin Hinds said he was in a lot of pain after he was slapped on his ears and hit on his head and could not bear the pain, that’s why he signed the statement which was told by one officer and written by another.

He said that on the night of the murder he was with his girlfriend at a birthday lime and is innocent of the crime because he was set up by the police.

Orin Hinds, called ‘Redman’, of Burnham Boulevard, Mocha, East Bank Demerara; Kevin October called ‘Troy’, of Second Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara; Cleon Hinds, and Roy Jacobs called ‘Chippie’ or ‘Black Boy’ of Evans Street, Charlestown, are on trial for the murder.

According to the indictment, the four men murdered Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris pursuant to an arrangement whereby money was to be passed from one person to another.

On the evening of June 30, 2011, two men went to Fiedtkou-Parris’s Robb Street home asking for ‘Auntie,’ a title by which she was called. They were directed up a side step and as Fiedtkou-Parris emerged from her bedroom, one of the men pulled out a gun and shot her several times to the upper part of her body.

The men then jumped into a waiting car while, the injured woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The trial continues today.

THE management of the Mackenzie Hospital which is a part of the Linden Hospital Complex is calling upon the relevant authorities to review a system that affects only the nurses attached to this institution.

All the nurses of the Mackenzie Hospital are employed under the contract system, which allows employees to receive gratuity benefits on a six-month basis.

The issue stemmed however, when nurses who go on maternity leave are deprived of this benefit which is paid in lieu of pension.

The management of the Linden Hospital, in collaboration with the Public Service Union, through the industrial relations officer of Region 10, has vigorously attempted to have the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Labour to overturn this arbitrary and discriminatory system, yet has not been given any positive response as regards this issue.

The industrial relations officer of the Public Service Union for Linden continues to voice his concern to the authorities as he describes his mandate to represent the public servants of Linden as priority.

He has revealed that the then Minister of Health Ms Gail Teixeira had urged the employees to accept a oneyear contract in the interim, pending establishment of a corporate body to manage the affairs of the hospital.

To date, this body has not materialised and the employees are still under the contract

system. The employees accepted this arrangement as it promised not to affect their service, thus keeping their benefits intact. Sadly, however, since 1996 the employees are still under the contract system. According to Mr Morris Butters, who is also a member of the management committee, the document that was submitted to corporatise the hospital was used to corporatise the Georgetown hospital.

In 2010, after the workers commenced industrial action for permanent employment and for adhering to their contract, rather than to provide a positive response to this uproar of injustice, they were slapped by the previous administration with the refusal of gratuity payment when they proceed on maternity leave. Prior to this, their payments were up to date.

To defend this claim, the ministry changed the terms of the contract which previously stated that gratuity would be paid on the basis of satisfactory service.

Presently, the terms state that the payment of gratuity should be based on residence service and should be performance-oriented. Therefore, it is reasoned by the Ministry of Public Health that if the individual is not on the job, their performance cannot be appraised, thus disqualifying them from gratuity payment.

According to the Industrial Relations Officer Mr Morris Butters, the gratuity is paid on a six-month basis, but is calculated every three months. He reasoned that the

individual can be assessed based on the three months that they have worked, since the maternity leave will encompass the other three months. “We have been calling on the authorities to have this matter sorted out and all we are getting are promises,” he lamented. “It is discrimination against the employees and I will be bringing it up to the Commission of Inquiry since these nurses are [being] unjustly treated,” added Butters.

The Administrative Manager of the Mackenzie Hospital and acting CEO Mr Trevor Vanganderan, shares similar sentiments as he is often the ears to hear the cry of the nurses. He is complaining about the slothful attitude of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Public Health that are back and forth on the issue.

What is most appalling is the fact that there is no written agreement on this issue, but just a conversation among the authorities.

Former Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Hamilton, rejected the terms. However, he did not do anything in his power to change the situation, attested Butters.

The nurses of the Mackenzie Hospital are seeking the intervention of the government and the Ministry of Public Health to remove this system which is deemed discriminatory and unfair, as they are the only nurses affected by the revised terms of the contractual agreement. (Vanessa Braithwaite)

GBTL activist robbed at gunpoint in East Berbice home invasion GAY, bisexual, trans-sexual and lesbian (GBTL) activist Miriam Edwards was on Tuesday evening robbed of a quantity of gold jewellery and a cellphone at her home at Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, East Canje Berbice.

The Director of the Guyana Sex Work Coalition had just returned from a trip to Georgetown, and

was sitting on her verandah whilst her two children were in a bedroom, when she was relieved of six gold rings, a gold chain valued at $200,000 and a cellular phone valued at $175,000.

The incident occurred around 20:15 hrs when a lad entered her yard carrying a gun. Edwards said she had at first thought it was one of the neighbours playing a prank, and she ques-

tioned what it was that his grandmother had sent him for. Instead of answering, the intruder, unmasked and about 17 years old, rushed up to her and demanded that she go into the house.

“He put the gun to my back, pushed me inside, and told me to shut up and give him everything that I got,” Edwards said. Having taken her belongings, the man walked out of the

house and, joined by another teenager who was waiting at the gate, mounted a bicycle and rode away into the night.

Edwards says she did not raise an alarm until he was out of sight. She also noted that her immediate neighbours went into their houses and closed their doors when the man whipped out the gun.

Edwards said she re-

mained quiet during the ordeal because she did not want her children involved, since the robber had a gun pointed at her.

She was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital by the police, who arrived on the scene shortly after being alerted.

One man has since been arrested as the police investigation swings into high gear.

Director of Guyana Sex Work Coalition Miriam Edwards

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Ogle Airport Inc. controversy…

Gov’t rep to sit on OAI Board

By Svetlana Marshall

MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson has announced government’s intention to have a representative sit on the Board of the Ogle Airport Incorporated (OAI).

In recent days, OAI has been accused of creating an environment that is oppressive and anti-competitive, and a group of dissatisfied operators have moved to form the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).

During a recent press conference, Minister Ferguson explained that OAI and the then Public Works Ministry would have signed a lease agreement that allows the Minister of Public Infrastructure to appoint a representative to sit on the Board.

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD Although 60 per cent of OAI is owned by the Correia Group, the Board Chairman Michael Correia Jnr is convinced that there is a level playing field at the Ogle

International Airport.

Last week, Annette Arjoon-Martins and Captain Gerry Gouveia, respective President and Vice-President of the newly formed National Air Transport Association (NATA) slammed the OAI over the alleged dictatorial attitude being displayed.

According to NATA, the Ogle International Airport is being “controlled” by the Correia Group through the board, resulting in the environment at the airport being anti-competitive and oppressive.

But on Friday, Correia lashed out at the association, saying it is “wholly irresponsible to suggest that any single airline exercises a monopoly or control in this environment.”

But Correia in rebutting the claims said the small operators who have thrown their support behind Arjoon-Martins and Gouveia are clearly misled.

CASH INJECTION He said while the Correia Group of companies is being criticised over the quantity of shares it owns, it was that same group that financed the

The Ogle International Airport

airport when others backed out at a critical time.

“Early in the life of OAI, when there was need for critical cash injection to satisfy the mandatory safety and development obligations of the Lease Agreement, the Correia Group was left alone to meet the demand, or the OAI face a the collapse of the Airport Development Project.

All the shareholders at the time had an opportunity to contribute equally. They chose not to. There was no objection then on the part of any of the shareholders to the Correia Group meeting the financial demand for the survival of the airport,” he pointed out.

NO ANTI-COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOUR He said though the failure of the other investors has resulted in one group owning the majority of shares, the structure of the conditional Operators Agreement and the strict regulation of the Airport Operations Manual and Procedure by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCIA) will not permit anti-competitive and

From left: Communications Consultant to the Ogle Airport Kit Nascimento, OAI Board Chairman Michael Correia and OAI CEO Anthony Mekdeci speaking to reporters at Ogle International Airport

oppressive behaviour.

Quizzed on the composition of the board, the Board Chairman said that while 60 per cent of the OAI is owned by the Correia Group, it has only two representatives on the seven-member board.

The members include Michael Correia Jnr., Niki Correia, Malcolm Chan-ASue, Marcel Gaskin, Tony Mekdeci, Ronald Reece and Mazahar Ally. However, the Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that only two of the board members are independent aircraft operators.

In his quest to prove its case of equality and transparency, Correia told reporters that OAI had frequently called on the previous People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government to implement the Airport Review Panel prescribed by the Lease Agreement which is intended to provide an extra layer of oversight on the operations and obligations of the airport and the government.

“We believe that this will help to improve our governance structure and prevent

any possibility of anti-competitive or oppressive behaviour or any allegations that the airport is operating improperly. We have also asked this government to appoint this Airport Review Panel.”

Meanwhile, in explaining the controversy, Captain Gouveia told the Guyana Chronicle that there is no doubt that the airport has evolved since its conception as a Sugar Estate Airfield with 21 operators utilising the Ogle International Airport, four foreign operators and 17 domestic operators including Trans Guyana Airways, Air Services Limited, Roraima Airways Limited, Oxford Aviation, Hinterland Aviation, Domestic Aviation, Phoenix Aviation, Hopkinson Aviation, Wings Aviation and JAGS Aviation, among others.

NEPOTISM AND CRONYISM But he also maintained that the environment at the airport has become unfavourable with the OAI Board loaded with family

and friends of the Correias.

“A close examination of each board member of OAI tells a story of nepotism and cronyism,” Gouveia said.

PRESIDENCY In turning back the pages of history, he observed that the Aircraft Owners Association had an agreement that the presidency would be rotated among the members to ensure equity, good governance and coordination for development of the private aviation sector.

However, it was pointed out that Correia has held the presidency for 19 years - a situation which has reportedly created serious issues for the governance and control of the airport.

“Other operators feel that they are operating in an anti-competitive environment,” Gouveia maintained, contending further that this “exercise of monopoly control and anti-competitive strategies” are attempts to take over the Aviation Services at the Ogle Airport by the Correia Group.

Volunteers give 30,000 hours of service – on ‘International Day of Service’ last Saturday

SCORES of volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last Saturday, along with members of various other bodies, came together to execute 14 service projects in observance of ‘International Day of Service.’

All told, government entities, NGOs, faith groups and community organisations donated a total of 30,000 hours of volunteer service.

This initiative was sponsored by ‘Mormon Helping

Scenes from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints volunteer activities for ‘International Day of Service’ 2015

Hands,’ a volunteer branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which along with several other organisations formed part of the combined effort to render service to the community.

In 2011, during the 75th anniversary celebration of the church’s welfare programme, Henry B. Eyring, one of the global leaders of The church issued a challenge to all Mormons throughout the world to spend one day in a massive effort to serve others and to provide help wherever it is needed.

Heartened at the response,

National Director of Public Affairs Rowena Bowen asserts: “We have found support and interest from several other like-minded organisations with whom we share an interest to help others.”

This effort, Bowen says, involved the Children’s Care Centre in Sophia, Georgetown; the Dorfolk Elderly Centre; Virtuous Young Women on a Mission of Linden; Ruimveldt Children’s Care Centre; Lusignan Women’s Organisation; GuySuCo; Green Urban Visionary Home Design and EngiTurn to page 10 ►

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Lindeners desire Small, medium-scale mining causing severe establishment of environmental damage a bitumen plant Policy expert...

By Rabindra Rooplall

– seek gov’t support

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE residents of Linden are appealing to the Government of Guyana to invest in a bitumen plant as recommended by the Regional Chairman Mr Renis Morian.

In an interview with this newspaper, Morian posited that this investment will provide adequate jobs for the people of Linden, thus reducing pressure on the government to secure jobs for them.

Presently, Linden has an unemployment rate of 70% and the regional chairman is positive that such an initiative, should it materialise, will provide jobs for over 100 persons.

“A bitumen plant will not only provide jobs for the people of Linden but for surrounding communities such as Ituni and Kwakwani,” the chairman said.

The ready availability of aggregates such as laterite in Linden will further reduce pressure on the government to provide resources to have the project on stream. The

chairman revealed that this initiative is nothing new to Linden, as a bitumen plant was previously operated which provided bitumen for the construction of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and other roads in the town.

During this period, the town benefited tremendously as it aided in the development of the region and the provision of jobs. When the Regional committee met with several communities during their regular visitation campaigns, he related that all of the residents embraced this idea and the government to refute this initiative, will disappoint the people tremendously.

“All of the people are embracing this idea of a bitumen plant and are excited for it to materialise, so it would be good for the government to provide this employment opportunity for the people of Linden,” he said.

Presently, 80% of the roads in Linden are in a state of disrepair and with the presence of a bitumen plant in Linden, bitumen can be manufactured right there in the mining town, which will

further reduce the burden on government.

Commenting on the response of the government on the issue, the regional chairman said he has received mixed responses. However, he is hoping that it becomes a favourable one and the project is expedited. Linden has been deemed a gloomy and dull town with little economic hopes, but according to the Industrial Relations Officer of the Public Service Commission in Linden Mr Morris Butters, Linden is resting on a wealth bucket but only needs the right team and vision to utilise these resources to its maximum capacity.

“The soil that is uprooted to access the bauxite in Linden has multiple resources that are used to manufacture products that are imported,” he mentioned. “If these are utilised properly, Linden will be a better place.” The regional chairman is also urging the government to embrace the petition for a bitumen plant, as this would open avenues to improve the economic situation facing the people of Linden.

Mashramani 2016 is definitely on

– costume, float parade shifted to Independence celebrations GUYANESE can be assured that Mashramani 2016 is certainly on, except for the pushing back of the costume and float parade to May, to coincide with the country’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations. The Annual Republic Lecture series will also occur in May, but outside of these two changes, all other activities are set to take place in their traditional manner in terms of timing.

According to information emanating from the Mash Secretariat, Mash 2016 will be launched on Friday, November 20, 2015, in front of the Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture, Main Street, where the 2016 logo will be unveiled, following a packed programme of activities.

Drumming, masquerade, dancing, storytelling, steelband renditions, and performances by

the calypso, chutney and soca monarchs will be among the activities with which patrons will be regaled.

Additionally, Music Unlimited, a local music institution, will perform several Guyanese songs.

Among the main activities for Mash 2016 are calypso, chutney and soca competitions, children’s competitions, which are slated to be held from February 17 to 20, culminating with the children’s costume and float parade, Bright up Guyana, and steelband and masquerade competitions.

On February 23, there will be the official flag-raising ceremony at Parliament Buildings, commencing at 07:00 hrs. All the administrative regions will celebrate Mash as well.

SMALL and medium-scale mining have caused the most of Guyana’s deforestation over several years and under a special agreement with Norway, the focus will continue to be on forest conservation as gold mining has been the primary source of the destruction.

This was disclosed at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre last Saturday during a presentation made by Guyana Policy Forum representative, Jocelyn Dow at a public consultation on Guyana’s COP 21 and intended Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDC) participation at the planned Summit to be held in Paris.

Despite the security nightmare of last Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Guyana will attend the United Nations Climate Summit in early December, Governance Minister Raphael Trotman has confirmed.

Medium and small-scale gold mining is currently practised and regulated. However, they inflict severe environmental, health and social damage on the areas and people near mining operations.

The prevalence of corruption in the mining-oversight process reduces the government’s capacity to enforce the Mining Regulations and other policies for mitigating these effects.

All land-mining operations require the cutting of forests to make way for the mine pit, processing facilities, tailings heaps, settling ponds, and access roads.

Furthermore, although there are limits on the size of individual small-scale mining claims, there are no limits on the number of adjacent small

scale parcels to which a miner may stake claim, thereby allowing for economies of scale that encourage miners to mine areas that require them to clear vast, contiguous tracts of forest.

The Mining Regulations currently in force fail to protect the environment adequately from the effects of mining operations. While certain restrictions are placed on the use of poisonous substances and the pollution of water sources with sediment, overall, there is little expectation that miners should take responsibility for harm they cause to the environment.

During the presentation it was also noted that the removal of forest cover for mining to occur is an obvious concern, since President David Granger has said that Guyanese need to diversify the economy from its historic dependence on the six sisters: rice, sugar, gold, diamonds, bauxite and timber.

However, Ms Dow noted that presently there are two new sisters: off-shore oil and forest carbon, although government is focusing on mining via increased regulation, and crucially increased enforcement of existing regulation.

She explained that Guyana’s MRVS (Monitoring, Reporting and Verifying System) is a newly created asset that gives Guyana a unique Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) plus advantage. “We are the only country in the world with a functioning national scale MRVS.” Noting the important distinction between Unconditional and Conditional Contributions at the Climate Summit, Ms Dow said if a treaty is successfully negoti-

Guyana Policy Forum representative, Jocelyn Dow

ated in Paris, Guyana could only be held responsible for Unconditional Contributions.

She explained that Conditional Contributions provide Guyana an opportunity to solicit financial and other support that the country would require to undertake additional measures, which Guyana is aiming towards.

“We need legally binding goals so to speak.”

Meanwhile, Guyana, Indonesia, Malaysia and Mexico submitted forest reference emission levels for technical assessment in the context of results-based payments for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+).

When a country implements REDD+, the results need to be measured against a starting point or benchmark.

The forest reference emission level is the starting point.

As required by the UNFCCC, each submission includes information and rationale on the development of the forest reference emission levels, including details of national circumstances and, if adjusted, includes details on how the national circumstances were considered.

Governments are expected to agree on the outline of an agreement to be approved in Paris in 2015 and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has called on negotiators to guarantee the inclusion of the forest sector in the new climate regime.

Volunteers give 30,000... neering Associates; the Hugo Chavez Rehab Centre;the Whim Nursery School;the New Amsterdam Hospital; Project Hope; and the Police Traffic Department at Rosignol.

COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP INITIATIVES Meanwhile, Bowen said that the initiative would not be limited to Guyana, but will cover the entire Caribbean Region with over 120

projects in 29 island countries. She says that in Guyana service was centred on community clean-up initiatives in Berbice, Georgetown, Linden, Diamond, Vreed-enHoop and La Grange.

The New Amsterdam branch, in collaboration with the New Amsterdam hospital, had a blood drive at Palmyra and painted the bottom of tree trunks and lamp posts to beautify the area. At Bushlot the Number 27 Village bus

From page 9

shed was painted, and there was food distribution in Corriverton, while the pedestrian crossing was painted at Best Road, Vreed-en-Hoop.

Bowen noted that organisers were amazed that the effort was not only for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but it aimed at uniting people of goodwill in a common effort on behalf of other people. (Shirley Thomas)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

STARR responds to U.S., UK envoys call to embrace renewable energy

By Rabindra Rooplall

LOCAL technology giant STARR Computers, is supporting the call of the U.S. and UK Ambassadors to embrace the harnessing of renewable energy and going ‘green’.

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway and British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn had expressed their support for Guyana’s move to a ‘green’ economy, while attending the Mayor and City Council (M&CC)’s “Green Expo” earlier in the month.

President of STARR Computers Michael Mohan is of the opinion that renewable energy could generate revenue for investors by up to 25%, and that with the help of the government, this will then reduce unemployment in Guyana by over 10%.

Most importantly, he says, renewable energy has the capacity to reduce a country’s carbon footprint, save foreign exchange and increase productivity.

Over the past nine years, he said STARR has been able to implement its own hybrid system, which incorporates the use of both solar panels and wind turbines. And, when used in combination with other

energy-efficient sources of electricity, saw the recovery of total capital cost in less than seven years, even though solar panels cost more back then.

Giving a more detailed account of what Starr has been able to achieve in those nine years, Mohan said: “July 2006, STARR installed two 1,000-watt wind turbines and an additional 8,000 watts of solar panels.

“Then, upon acknowledging the cost savings benefit, STARR decided to add Renewable Energy presentations to its monthly, free seminars to the public, whereby students, employed and unemployed personnel were regularly invited to participate and enjoy a field trip to STARR facilities to experience the energy-harnessing process.

“Even international vendor partners from Samsung, APC, Lenovo, and others were highly motivated to visit STARR facilities to share the experience and appreciate the technology in action.”

STARR, Mohan said reflective heat paint application is used to reduce heat absorption, while mini wind-generated heat extractors are strategically placed on the building’s roof to pump trapped hot air out of the ceiling. Energy-efficient air conditioners are also a must to help cut back on the use of energy.

Then, over time, old lighting fixtures were replaced with energy-efficient bulbs. By then, STARR had gotten so adept at keeping their energy consumption down that new GPL energy analysts and loss-reduction personnel visiting the facility for the first time were often aghast as to how the company was able to do it.

But the long and short of it all, as Mohan explained, was having a fair knowledge of the engineering and benefits behind energy efficiencies, and this is what helped

President of STARR Computers Inc., Michael Mohan

the company, over time, to develop the Portable Solar station and its own Green PC (iMachine) that operated on as little as 26 watts of energy (less than a light bulb).

As he explained, “Every business and individual can benefit significantly, if they decide to invest in solar panel installation...

“Sunshine is free! And in abundance in Guyana!

And the low-priced solar panel is the perfect choice

for Guyanese. “Today, initial capital cost can be recovered in five years, and electricity-harnessing thereafter will be virtually free for at least 10 years.”

He has this theory that should the government get GPL to upgrade its system to support tie-grid solar systems as is done in Germany and other developed countries to allow for energy ‘buy-back’, investors’ earnings could skyrocket from solar investment.

WIN-WIN SITUATION It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Investors with surplus cash can easily generate revenue by setting up arrays of solar panels to harness energy, then sell it back, at a discounted rate, to the power grid (GPL).

GPL can then generate revenue from the resale of discounted energy; the country can save on for-

eign exchange; and our next generation can benefit from cleaner air.

But it doesn’t stop there. A ‘green’ economy will create new job opportunities for installers, construction workers and innovators. Institutions such as the Government Technical Institute (GTI) could easily be restructured to become a self-sufficient revenue centre with earnings via tutorials for technicians and installers.

And, as demand grows for solar panels, factories can be set up here in Guyana, using our local sand to produce silicon, a much-needed ingredient in the production of panels, the surplus of which can then be exported.

STARR encourages businesses, schools, government agencies and other organisations to embrace and adapt this technology for the good of all.

BEYOND RENEWABLE ENERGY Noting that going ‘green’ goes beyond the installation of Renewable Energy components for

Thursday, November 19, 2015 - 10:30 hrs Friday, November 20, 2015 - 12:00 hrs Saturday, November 21, 2015 - 13:00 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Mother calling on authorities to – from depraved help save daughter sex maniac

By Rajendra Prabhulall AN Essequibo Coast woman is calling on the relevant authorities to intervene in order to stop the constant sexual attacks on her 28-year-old mentally unstable daughter.

The mother, whose name is being withheld to protect her daughter’s identity, spoke to the media on Monday and lamented how heartbroken she is at the advantage being taken of her only child.

The distraught woman, who broke down in tears while relating her story, said her daughter is constantly being attacked and brutally raped by a man who lives a short distance from her. She said the man is married and has a wife and children.

According to the mother, the most recent attack occurred last Thursday night.

She said that she cannot sleep in her house because the attacker has threatened her.

The woman related also that her daughter was left in a room during the night, and when she returned home last Friday morning, she was

shocked and broke down in tears when she saw her daughter in a helpless condition.

She said her daughter was lying on her belly, unable to move. The mother said despite putting steel bars across the windows in her house to keep out the attacker, he still managed to get in by removing some boards from near the ceiling of her one-flat concrete building. She said she knew that her daughter was again brutally raped.

The woman said she is confused, and did not want to go and report the matter to the police. However, while making a report recently at the Anna Regina Police Station, she cried bitterly, saying that it was advantage being taken on her helpless, mentally unstable daughter, and nobody was coming to her rescue.

The mother said the abuse is constantly taking place, and when it started some months ago, she came face-to-face with the man, who was in her house one night. The mother tearfully said that the man grabbed her from behind, forcefully

took off her clothes and ordered her to lie on the bed before also raping her.

She claimed that when he was finished, he tied her feet and hands with pieces of cloth, and said he was going over to her mentally unstable daughter’s room to rape her too.

The mother said she managed to free her hands, and took a piece of stick and started to hit the zinc of the roof of her house to alert neighbours, but the rapist came back and raped her for a second time.

She said the matter was reported to the police and the man was arrested, charged and placed before the court; but somehow, he is still walking the streets, and continues his sexual attacks on her helpless daughter.

She said further that every time she reports the matter to the police, she is always asked if she can recognise the man. She said she told them that the man had attacked and brutally raped her before he started the series of attacks on her daughter.

The woman said it is very difficult to look after her daughter, since she does not get any public assistance for her. The mother is now calling on the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Social Protection to come to her rescue.

Road fatality figures down

– but traffic lawlessness still prevails DESPITE the significant reduction in road fatalities over the first eight-month period of this year in comparison to the same period last year, the Guyana Police Force has expressed disappointment in the way minibus drivers continue to display carelessness.

This is according to a report presented by the Traffic Officer, Senior Superintendent Whitney Bacchus, during a ceremony staged last Sunday by the Traffic Department, in collaboration with the Guyana National Road Safety Council, to commemorate United Nations (UN) Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

The Senior Police Superintendent reported that, since the year began, there

have been 87 fatal accidents, resulting in 103 casualties, inclusive of 12 children; while in 2014, Guyana saw 111 fatal accidents, resulting in 114 deaths, including those of 15 children.

The report indicated that for the eight-month period, fatal accidents decreased by 24 while deaths decreased by 11, and the death of children on the roadways decreased also by three, compared to the same period last year.

Ending road deaths can become easier if all work together. So said Senior Superintendent Bacchus, while acknowledging that the Guyana Police Force had recognised that members could do better. They are expected to do everything in their power to ensure that Guyana’s roads are safe.

He also called on members of the public to develop a comfortable and friendly relationship with the police, so that together all stakeholders could become involved in making Guyana a safer country. The police are asking members of the public to make just one call whenever they notice someone making a dangerous traffic mistake or playing with the law.

“Errant drivers continue to cause loss of lives, leaving a lifetime of pain in the hearts and memories of many families. We all need to display a high level of responsibility as we use the road. If we ourselves use the road carelessly we can cause accidents,” the Officer stated. (Shauna Jemmott)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Guyana stands in solidarity with France – President signs Book of Condolence for Paris attack victims ident Granger said Guyana stands in solidarity with the Government of France and has strengthened its resolve as a member of the United Nations (UN) community, to support the fight against this type of transnational crime.

“We all feel vulnerable now and in this regard we must all respond to this attack… all states are vulnerable and we must stand together with France to bring an end to this abomination,” President David Granger in conversation with Deputy Honorary Consul, David Bartelli, Secretary at the French Consulate, Dhanmatie Goring, and Mrs. Yola Saint-Arroman, wife of late Honorary French Consul, Mr. Pierre Saint Arroman

PRESIDENT David Granger yesterday signed the Book of Condolence that was opened at the French Consulate in Peter Rose Street, Georgetown in memory of the 129 per-

sons who lost their lives after terrorists from the so-called Islamic State (IS) group executed a series of attacks in Paris on November 13.

In a brief comment, Pres-

President David Granger signs the Book of Condolence at the French Consulate in Georgetown, yesterday, in memory of the 129 persons killed in a horrific terrorist attack in Paris on November 13

President David Granger being greeted by Russian Ambassador to Guyana Nikolay Smirnov outside the French Consulate on Peter Rose Street, where they both signed the Book of Condolence, yesterday

President Granger said.

He added that the Caribbean, as a community, must oppose the forms of extremism that give rise to this type of criminal activity that threatens the peace and security of large and small states alike. The President reiterated his position on the importance of small states to be protected.

This was the President’s call at the UN General Assembly held in September

and it will be his message at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta next week.

Last Friday, a series of attacks was launched in the French capital, which included suicide bombers and mass shootings in five different locations. Terrorists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group have since claimed responsibility for the attacks.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

28 graduate from Education Ministry’s Craft Production Division - with skills to last a lifetime

By Shauna Jemmott

THE Craft Production and Design Division of the Ministry of Education successfully staged its 22nd graduation exercise jointly with that of the Carnegie School of Home Economics on Thursday, November 12, at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown.

Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes extended special congratulations to the administrator, Mrs Kim Gordon, staff and students of the school, and commented that she was unaware that the school existed as a separate entity from Carnegie.

The minister also invited the school to create “signature” craft items which Guyana could use as official tokens for foreign diplomats whenever she travels to participate in activities, such as

international conferences.

She suggested that the items must “promote and identify Guyana’s tourism product”, and urged the students to adopt positive attitudes which could enhance their prospects in life.

“Your attitude determines your altitude. Never doubt your ability as a young person to dream,” Minister Hughes encouraged, adding: “Be confident, strong and self-assured.”

Administrator of the Craft and Design Division, Mrs. Kim Gordon, explained in a report presented during the ceremony that the students have excelled in Visual Arts, Garment Construction, Surface Decoration, Decorative Craft, Fibre Arts, Leather Craft, Information Technology, and in basic academic subjects.

Gordon said the Craft Production and Design Di-

vision has been listed as one of the most prestigious technical vocational institutions in Guyana.

“It fits snugly into the national initiative, especially with the recent completion of the first National Strategic Plan for TVET. The first of its kind in the Caribbean, it forms a component of the Ministry of Education’s 2013-2018 Strategic Plan”.

“A small part of the whole”, as she perfectly puts it, the school has played major roles in development here, participating in major national and regional exhibitions, the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) being one of the greater accomplishments.

Gordon explained that the school is instrumental in making training available for early school-leavers as young as 15 years old and those interested in craft as a career

Administrator of the Craft and Design Division, Mrs Kim Gordon, handing over an award to former Chairman of the school’s Board of Directors, John Seeram (Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson) and for commercial benefits.

The school’s certificates are endorsed by the Ministry of Education.

“As a remedial institution, it quite evidently attracts predominantly young females from a wide cross-section of society,” Mrs Gordon said, adding that some of the students are sponsored by the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, the Ministry of Social Protection, and by other agencies.

The newly empowered students are now better positioned to be employed, to begin mass production of items, and to further their studies at higher institutions, Mrs Gordon explained.

STAND-OUTS Valedictorian Asenna Moonsammy, 16, received five distinction awards.

Moonsammy has excelled above 28 other students, and is now a first-year student of the University of Guyana, reading for a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Moonsammy was also named best graduating student in Garment Construction, and received distinctions in Mathematics, Reading, Social Studies, English Language and Garment Construction -- five of the eight academic subjects offered.

She received trophies and gift awards for her accomplishments, and has taken away skills and accomplishments that can last her a lifetime.

Roshana Morris, the second most-successful student at the school’s graduation, has captured the award for being best graduating student in Visual Arts. She has

Valedictorian Asenna Moonsammy being awarded at the graduation ceremony

Roshana Morris receiving her trophies also attained distinctions in Information Technology and Mathematics, and received trophies and gift awards.

The two girls were among those awarded by government in the recent Ministry of Education National Schools Awards.

Twenty-nine students have accomplished certifica-

tion status after successfully completing the one-year programmes offered through the Ministry of Education’s Technical Vocational Institute.

At the ceremony, the school also recognised its sponsors, awarding former Chairman of its board of directors, John Seeram.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

GDF colour parade presents awesome spectacle, rouses patriotism

By Tajeram Mohabir

THE playfield of Base Camp Ayanganna was yesterday the scene of an intriguing spectacle as stately soldiers, neatly dressed and aligned, marched in rhythm to the beat of drums.

The occasion was the Force’s colour parade which was part of activities to celebrate its 50th anniversary being observed under the theme: “Commemorating the past. Celebrating the present.

Carving the future”.

The parade started on time on a generally cool afternoon. Shortly after the arrival of His Excellency Brigadier (Rt’d) President David Granger, all in the crowd got out of their chairs and stood at attention. The President then strode to the dais for the presidential salute.

The soldiers who put on the show were all bedecked in white shirts, green pants with red stripes and red be-

rets. They were from the five units of the 50-year-old army - Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Battalion Reserve, Base Camp Ayanganna, Base Camp Stephenson and Engineers Battalion.

Smartly attired, some soldiers carried guns, some had drums while others had swords, but all were moving like a symphony.

President Granger, on taking the salute, was invited to inspect the guards on the tidy, verdant field, and on completion of the inspection, the custodians of the colour appeared and entered.

With the coloured flags of their units fluttering in the afternoon sea breeze, they marched elegantly, carrying the flags proudly, to the beat of drums and the blowing of trumpets.

The civilian spectators on the ground looked in awe while the soldiers in the crowd stood and saluted.

After a brief march, the drums ceased and were as-

The Guyana Defence Force Chaplain and priests of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities in prayers at the consecration of the colours

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency President David Granger inspects the guards on the field sembled at a 90 degree angle to the dais. It was time for consecretion of the colours.

The sun dimmed and cool breeze blew gently across the ground. The Defence Force Chaplain and priests from the Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities then offered their prayers. It was a warm but stately atmosphere.

When the prayers were completed the colours were handed back to their bearers and the drummers, in quick strides, marched quickly back into their positions.

And soon after, the drumming and the trumpets were heard again as the colour custodians again began their march in uniformity.

In their lively show, marching both slowly and

quickly, they saluted the President as members of the Cabinet, diplomatic corps, top brass of the security forces and the public looked on.

They were the first to march off the field and were quickly followed by the other men in white shirts, green pants and red berets.

They both departed the field to resounding applause from the gathering.

Civilians came out in full numbers to see the parade and they all left contented and with a deep spirit of patriotism.

The colour parade has a long and colourful history.

From earliest times, combatants carried into battle some token to serve as identification and a rallying point in the field. The form of token varied throughout the world.

However, in England during the period of conflict with Spain, commanders of regiments who were not noblemen and therefore had no Coat of Arms, used tokens of colours to identify their commands. These tokens took the shape of flags and became known as ‘colours’.

The colours were taken into battle by ‘Ensigns’ in positions from which they could easily be seen and recognised. They became the centre of the bitter fighting and many deeds of heroism and self-sacrifice to prevent the capture of ‘colours’ are recorded.

Colours are no longer carried into battle in response to the changing circumstances of war. However, they

remain the symbol of the spirit of the regiments, and the ceremonial tradition associated with them has been preserved.

In Guyana, the British Guiana Volunteer Force received both its own Regimental Colour and the Queen’s Colour. The Regimental Colour of the Guyana Defence Force was presented after consecration on Sunday, October 29, 1972 by then Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

The State Colour was consecrated and presented to the Guyana Defence Force on Tuesday, October 29, 1985 by then President and Commander-in-Chief Desmond Hoyte.

TIGI decries alleged preferential treatment meted out to senior officials TRANSPARENCY Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI) yesterday decried what it believes to be preferential treatment being meted out to two senior members of the country’s disciplinary forces.

Reference was made to the cases of Assistant Superintendent Terrence Brown of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Gary Beaton of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). In the case of Brown, four policemen, the assistant superintendent, a corporal and two constables were charged recently with a $6M cocaine bribe at Whim Police Station in East Berbice.

The ranks were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to allow a man to pass unchallenged with cocaine in a minibus on the Corentyne Coast, sometime between September 10 and 11.

The man, Renason Parks,

was stopped at a police roadblock. When the cocaine was discovered, the man allegedly offered the three junior officers $1 million as a bribe.

However, they demanded $6 million. They gave the man time to bring the money, and they parked the bus at the station. It was at this point that the assistant superintendent was offered a share in the bribe ($500,000) so he would keep quiet.

“According to reports, Mr. Brown was the officer-in-charge of the Whim Police Station when a vehicle carrying cocaine was interdicted by three police ranks and taken to the Whim Police Station, where it is alleged that Mr. Brown was in charge. The vehicle was released after $6M (was) paid to the police,” TIGI said in a statement.

Accordingly, the organisation said media reports

indicate that Brown and three of his subordinates were charged, but only the subordinates were taken to court, shackled, through the entrance of the court complex and placed in the prisoner’s dock. They were not granted bail, and were remanded to prison.

“Contrast this with the treatment of Mr. Brown. He was allowed to enter through the backdoor to the court, not shackled, and not required to go in the prisoner’s dock.

Mr. Brown was given bail on the spurious ground that, if he was not granted bail, he would have been put in the lockups where he would have had communication with the other three.”

The organisation argued that the rule of law which underpins the Constitution of Guyana requires that persons be treated equally before the law. “This means that ev-

eryone must have the same rights, whether of property ownership, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of movement, etc. It also means that everyone has the same obligation and duty to comply with the general laws of the country, and to the enforcement and judicial process.”

TIGI believes that the preferential treatment displayed is a “negation of the rule of law, and therefore violates the Constitution.”

“TIGI finds the explanation for the different treatment quite strange, since the magistrate could have released the three junior ranks and remanded Mr. Brown to prison. That would have been quite logical, since the higher the rank the greater the responsibility, and it surely would have been less costly to the State to have one person in custody, rather

than three.

“Alternatively, the magistrate could have ordered that the persons be placed at different stations. It is a denial of the rule of law when there is one type of justice for a senior police officer and another for junior ranks,” the statement to the media added.

The second matter involves Gary Beaton, Head of the GDF Coast Guard, and spouse of former Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford. This is one for concern by the organisation.

The organisation believes that, given the spousal relationship between the duo, a clear case of conspiracy can be established. “To any rational person, this is a clear case of a conspiracy to engage in theft of government property.

The spousal relationship between Dr. Westford and Mr. Beaton is a matter of public knowledge, and could hardly

have escaped the attention of the investigating authorities.

Instead, the Minister of State commended Mr. Beaton “for doing his job well”!

While TIGI does not believe that this statement by a high political person was intended as a suggestion that Mr. Beaton should be charged, the fact that he has not been charged causes our organisation considerable discomfort.”

TIGI believes that while the government, during its elections campaigns, spoke of respect for the rule of law and its plans to upkeep the rule of law, the failure of law-enforcement officials to investigate and charge Beaton, and the preferential treatment afforded Brown, “undermine that commitment” made by the current administration. (Ariana Gordon)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Former President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo speaking at the International Climate Conference in Russia

FORMER President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo, was one of the lead speakers at the International Climate Conference in Russia.

Mr Jagdeo, speaking at the session that included presentations from Head of the United Nations Environment Programme, Achim Steiner; and Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, Christiana Figueres, commended the outreach by the Russian government to business enterprises, civil society and the international community as part of its preparation for the upcoming COP 21 Meeting in Paris.

A statement from the Opposition Leader’s Office in Georgetown, said Mr Jagdeo shared his perspectives regarding the prospect for and essential components of, a successful agreement in Paris including the need for a global agreement that is legally binding.

Further, he spoke of the necessity of an agreement on climate financing on a scale that would allow developing countries to raise their ambition levels on mitigation action (as outlined in their INDCs), adapt to climate change and transition to a green economy.

The former President will have several bilateral meetings with various stakeholders while in Russia.

Jagdeo attends Climate Conference in Russia

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

DCYS switches on Visually impaired bandit for court today 50th Independence anniversary website – following Mahaicony supermarket robbery

THE Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport (DCYS) yesterday switched on the official website – www.50guyana. com.

“This website includes pertinent information for everyone as we prepare to commence celebrations for Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary,” the DCYS said in a statement.

Representing the modern, vibrant spirit of Guyana, it said “The website was created locally and will be continuously updated as we get confirmed information to share.”

The main focus of the website is the calendar of events which indicates the activities that are planned for next year.

The website features links to venues, accommodation navigation, volunteer registration, maps, and links to social media sites Facebook and Twitter.

“It is anticipated, as we prepare to celebrate this momentous occasion, that all Guyanese will unite to fully realise the 50GUY themes of – ‘Reflect, Celebrate and Inspire’,” the DCYS said.

It noted that 2016 is the year for all of us to: ● Reflect, on the past 50

years in the context of learning pertinent lessons from the past for our future and celebrating the history, the heritage, the pioneers and the achievements of the past. ● Celebrate the unity of our Guyanese culture including the indigenous community, our shared experiences and values. Proclaiming Guyana’s desire and commitment to move forward to a brighter future. ● Inspire the youth of Guyana to have renewed confidence by providing the tools and support for them to dream bigger and reach higher in the next 50 years.

NIGEL Innis of Broad Street, Charlestown, Georgetown is today scheduled to be arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates Court on six charges related to the alleged robbery and battering of a Mahaicony businesswoman and her supermarket staff during a robbery committed two weeks ago.

The 56-year-old accused was allegedly positively identified by the victims last Tuesday, after being discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital last Monday.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed to this

publication that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has recommended that charges be instituted against Innis as follows: four counts of robbery under arms and one count each of illegal possession of arms and illegal possession of ammunition.

According to information reaching this publication, Innis had no visual impairment until the day he committed the robbery and lost his sight after he was accidently chopped by farmers weeding their plantation, even as he lay flat among bushes, hiding from the police who were also searching the

area for him and two other accomplices.

The police have already been able to charge two persons in connection with the Mahaicony supermarket robbery; they allegedly were associates of Innis in the execution of that robbery.

One bandit was captured by residents and police on the day of that robbery, while Innis and another alleged bandit were captured on the following day. One other accomplice has allegedly managed to slip under the radar, but the police are hunting for him.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Blatter, Platini lose appeals Lady Jags in... against provisional FIFA bans From backpage

By Michael Shields

ZURICH, (Reuters)-Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter and European soccer chief Michel Platini have lost their appeals against provisional 90-days bans by the global soccer body’s ethics committee, FIFA said yesterday.

Blatter and Platini, who had been favourite to take over in February’s FIFA presidential election, were suspended on Oct. 8, engulfed by a deepening corruption scandal as the sport faces criminal investigations in Switzerland and the United States.

The decision by the FIFA Appeal Committee, which rejected the appeals “in full”, was a further blow to Frenchman Platini’s hopes of standing on Feb. 26. The electoral committee has said his registration will not be processed while he is suspended.

The former France captain and coach, who is not allowed to campaign or engage in any football-related activities until his suspension is lifted, said he would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“Michel Platini has full confidence that the CAS will restore all his rights,” said a statement issued by his spokesman. “Meanwhile, he remains a composed and

FIFA president Sepp Blatter Michel Platini determined candidate for the FIFA presidency.

“The decision comes as no surprise,” the statement said. “It confirms that FIFA, through its internal bodies, is conducting a one-sided, unfair and biased investigation against Michel Platini, repeatedly violating his right to defend himself.”

If Platini wins his appeal at the CAS, the electoral committee has said it would review his case but there is no guarantee he would be able to stand in the election as it would depend on the timing.

‘DISAPPOINTED’ Blatter said in a statement issued by his U.S. lawyer he was “disappointed” by the decision and would appeal “and looks forward to the opportunity to be heard, including through the presentation of evidence and argument of counsel, and thereby demonstrate he has engaged in no misconduct.”

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and European soccer chief Both statements complained that the Appeal Committee took more than two weeks to announce it’s decision. FIFA could not immediately be reached to comment on any delay.

Buffeted by scandals over the last few years, FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May by the U.S. indictments of 14 football officials, including two FIFA vice-presidents, and sports marketing executives for alleged corruption.

Blatter, who has been at the head of FIFA since 1998, also faces criminal investigation in Switzerland over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.1 million) payment from FIFA to Platini. Both men have denied wrongdoing.

The payment was made in 2011 for work Platini had completed nine years earlier, the Swiss attorney-general’s office has said, adding Platini was considered “between a witness and an accused person.”

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pulled off a beautiful save to keep the score goal-less.

In the second half, Alison Heydorn’s goal was disallowed after the referee called her for a hand ball.

The Lady Jags’ Head Coach’s celebration on the sidelines quickly turned into a look of being dejected.

Mariam El Masri certainly took the game to the Puerto Rico defence.

Her ball that seemed destined for the goal, was cleared off the goal line by the defence, then her header a few minutes after went just wide while she set up Ashlee Savona for a runon goal that almost scored.

El Masri almost scored from a rebound as Lady Jags hunted for a goal that would’ve seen them through to the CONCACAF round.

Second half substitute Otesha Charles should’ve converted her nicely timed run to collect a pass from Savona into a goal.

Charles, who was ruled out of the game after sustaining an injury before the qualifiers, recovered in time to come on a sub and that saw a change in

Guyana’s attack.

Charles would then bring the crowd to their feet after she collected a pass from El Masri and placed it on her gifted left foot, but Gustafson pulled off an excellent save to deny the Lady Jags the go-ahead goal.

In extra time, Charles was gifted a clear path to goal by the defender but her shot was too hard and went just inches over the cross bar.

However, sensing a penalty shootout, Puerto Rico’s Karina Socarras rose above the Guyanese defence to head home her country’s winning goal with only a minute left in extra time.

The crowd wasn’t pleased and voiced their deprecation for Puerto Rico’s goal.

Guyana could not have found an answer with the time that was given and as soon as the Cuban referee’s whistle went off, the tears begun to flow from the Lady Jags.

There’s still hope for the Guyanese women, since they would now have to face the loser from the Jamaica/Trinidad game tomorrow at the same venue and come out successful to keep their hopes of playing in Brazil alive.

All Blacks legend...

From backpage

his kidneys.

New Zealand Rugby, who arguably owe part of their huge commercial success over the last 20 years to Lomu’s performances at the 1995 World Cup, said they were “shocked and saddened” by Lomu’s death.

“We’re lost for words and our heartfelt sympathies go out to Jonah’s family,” chief executive Steve Tew said.

“Jonah was a legend of our game and loved by his many fans both here and around the world.”

ILLNESS Born to Tongan parents in South Auckland, Lomu spent some of his childhood back in the Pacific Island nation after a cousin was hacked to death in a street attack.

He was then sent to Wesley College where he quickly found his niche on the sports field and was timed running under 11 seconds in the 100 metres.

All Blacks coach Laurie Mains plucked him out of sevens rugby in 1994 but Lomu found his transition from the loose forward position he played at secondary school to the wing a challenge.

He was dropped after his first two tests against France in 1994 and barely made the Rugby World Cup squad for South Africa the following year after being deemed not fit enough for the fast-paced game the coach wanted to play.

He proved almost unstoppable at the tournament, however, electrifying the rugby world with seven tries -- four in the semi-final against England

alone, including one when he trampled over fullback Mike Catt that left many speechless.

The pace and power displayed by the 1.95m tall and 119kg Lomu changed the wing position forever, with the traditional lightweight flyer gradually all but disappearing from the test game.

The impact he made at the tournament catapulted the quietly-spoken Lomu to worldwide fame and was one catalyst for the rugby turning professional shortly afterwards.

The ravages of Lomu’s disease had begun to affect him and his performances went downhill from 1998, although he still made the 1999 World Cup squad and scored eight tries. He played his last test against Wales in 2002.

Lomu’s health deteriorated from that point and he had a transplant in 2004 when a friend donated one of his own kidneys for the procedure.

By the time of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, when Lomu featured heavily in the opening ceremony, the kidney had begun to fail and he was forced back onto dialysis.

“Jonah Lomu was a player who changed the face of modern rugby,” the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said.

“He was an icon not just for New Zealand fans but for all rugby fans around the world. It is sad that he did not live to see the sport return to the Olympics Games next year in Rio de Janeiro.”

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Troy Gobin cops First Division Player of the Year

Our Own, Reliance Lions share major awards

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada - After a season to savour, which saw him being awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in both the inaugural Toronto Cup Masters category and the First Division finals, former Guyana Under-19 player Troy Gobin was fittingly voted the Ontario Masters Softball Clubs (OMSCC) First Division Player of the Year when the association held its 15th annual presentation, dinner and dance here recently.

Dubbed an evening of fun and celebration, the glittering ceremony, held at the exquisite Queen’s Banquet

Hall, Scarborough, saw the introduction of Player of the Year awards for the first time with the other recipients being Jeetendra Harilall of Reliance Lions in Division Two and Colin Mohamid of Dirty Dozen in the Over-50 category.

Gobin, who was unavoidably absent due to Guyana Softball Cup 5 commitments in Guyana, played decisive roles in Our Own Sports Club victory over the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) in the Toronto Cup final, played over the Labour Day weekend here and was also pivotal in his team’s nail-biting onerun win over Guyana Sports Club (GSC) in the First Di-

vision Championship battle.

Harilall had a brilliant allround season for Second Division title-holders Reliance Lions, totalling 252 runs for an average of 42,00 and was also in the wicket columns, claiming 11 scalps at 3.41 runs each while the versatile Mohamid stood out with both bat and ball, scoring 226 runs at 56.50 runs per innings and grabbing 10 wickets at 3.75 runs apiece.

Apart from Gobin, the other MVPs were Rakesh Dyal for his masterful allround performance for Reliance Lions in the Second Division final where he blasted 108 and also took four wickets, OMSCC president Jai Singh for his match-winning

Our Own players and supporters pose with their winnings. Jubilant Reliance Lions players and supporters display their winnings. half-century in the Over-50 final and Azeez Baksh for ensuring Essequibo’s fourth consecutive success in the Inter-county tournament.

GSC’s Richard Driffield copped awards for scoring the most runs (361) as well as achieving the best average (72.2) in the First Division while Amarnauth Sukhoo of Reliance Lions did the same in the Second Division, aggregating 471 with an average of 78.5.

In the bowling department, the evergreen Mahendranauth ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth took top honours with 13 wickets and for the third year running captured the Most Economical Bowler prize with an average of 2.04 runs per wicket.

Rakesh Dyal (Reliance Lions) and Sasenarine Panday (Seatown) tied for the most wickets (12) in the Second Division while Gavin Glasgow (Reliance Lions) was the most economical bowler (3.41 runs per wicket).

Mark Luke of KC Stalwarts was the main run-getter (239) in the Over-50 category while Mohamid’s 10 wickets topped the division and Naseer Baksh (Our Own) had the best average (2.25 runs per wicket).

The season also saw Our Own Sports Club retaining top honours in Division One for the fourth successive year with Reliance Lions emerging tops in the Second Division and Caribbean Sensation winning the Over-50

Second Division Player of the Year Jeetenda Harilall collects his prize from Renata Singh, daughter of OMSCC president Jai Singh category after doing the same the previous season.

In brief remarks, OMSCC president Jai Singh described 2015 as a fantastic year for masters cricket, taking into consideration the staging of Toronto Cup 1. “As you can imagine, Toronto Cup 1 requested a concerted effort and I would be remiss if I did not recognise the committee members, sponsors and volunteers. To all of you, we owe a depth of gratitude and are equally grateful for your generous contributions.”

According to Singh, the OMSCC intends to build upon the successes of 2015 and is aware that questions will be asked about the introduction of the white ball during the regular season or whether the organisation will

host Toronto Cup 2 in 2016.

He alluded to the fact that the feedback from the foreign teams was that Toronto Cup 1 “was the best in all their tours and they are eager to come back to Toronto in 2016.

All decisions pertaining to whether the white ball will be introduced on the staging of Toronto Cup 2 have been reserved for the OMSCC annual general meeting early in the new year.

The Norman Sue Spirit Award, given annually to a worthy individual who has played a big role both on and off the field was presented to founding-member Dharam Lall by the late businessman’s daughter Kim Sue. The citation read: “Your selflessness and charity is an inspiration to all.”

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

No. 69 Vikings wins 4 R Twenty-20 final

LAST Sunday was a most memorable day for cricket fans in the Upper Corentyne area. It was the final of the 4R T/20 competition organised by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association and played at the Crabwood Creek Sports ground.

Watched by a vociferous crowd of approximately two thousand persons, the No. 69 Vikings defeated No. 70 A by 6 wickets.

The final was a thrilling encounter and fans had to wait until the penultimate over to celebrate or grieve.

No. 70 A was sent in to bat, and rattled-up 134 in the 20 overs. Harrit top-scored with 34 to see his team through to 134. No 69 Vickings got off to a slow start; however,

Tameshwar Persaud with an attractive 58 not out pushed his team home with 1.1 over to spare.

The winning team collected $100 000.00 and a trophy while the losing finalist carted off $25 000.00 and a trophy.

There were many other prizes up for grabs: MVP of the tournament, centurions, and those with five-wicket hauls.

The tournament was sponsored by 4 R under the blessings of its managing director of 4 R Bearings, Ricky Deonarain. Twenty teams participated in the competition which was played on a home and away basis, which saw 166 matches played before the finals.

Thirty gate prizes were

also given away, compliments of 4 R and Mikes Pharmacy. Rohan’s Auto Spares also chipped in with cash incentives. The prizes included T-shirts and clocks.

The final was preceded by an exhibition match featuring Crabwood Creek and No. 48, which was won by Crabwood Creek.

Romeo Deonarain, the son of Ricky Deonarain, bowled 6 deliveries and faced 6 balls to see the final off. For his fearless play, the 9-yearold contributed 28 T-shirts to both teams.

T h e U p p e r C o re n tyne Cricket Association thanked Mr Deonarain and family for their generous sponsorship. The day was a great success.

Sachin Ramrattan captain of No. 69 Vikings together with teammates receives the winning 4R T20 trophy from sponsor Mr. Ricky Deonarain.

Four teams advance to Round of Eight in Mayor Green seven-a-side football VICTORIA, Mahaica, Haslington and Buxton Youth Developers secured places in the final Eight of the Annual Mayor’s Cup Seven-aSide Football tournament when play in the competition continued on Sunday last at the Victoria ground, while the final Four team will be decided on Sunday at the Den Amstel ground, West Coast Demerara.

Playing at the Victoria ground, East Coast Demerara last Sunday, home-side Victoria registered a 2-0 win against New Amsterdam, and Mahaica brushed aside Golden Grove 3-0.

Haslington and Buxton Youth Developers secured victories via the penalty shoot-out route after Haslington and Ann’s Grove were tied 0-0 at the end of regulation and extra time, and Buxton Youth Developers were tied 2-2 with Lima Dam after the same periods.

On Sunday, when action in the annual competition continues at the Den Amstel ground to determine the final Four team for the final Eight final which is scheduled for November 29 at a venue to

be named, Grove will face Goed Fortuin in the opening game scheduled for a 14:00 hrs start.

Uitvlugt will then engage Pouderoyen, after which, Kitty will oppose Stewartville, and the final match of the day will bring together Agricola and home-side, Den Amstel.

The final round of Eight is expected to be played at Banks DIH’s Thirst Park facility with quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals all happening on that day.

Tournament organiser and former national player and coach Lennox `Mulloen’ Arthur said he is currently in negotiations with the persons responsible for the administration of the Thirst Park Facility but is still to get conformation whether or not the venue will be made available for the round of Eight.

The winning team in the final will walk home with $200,000 and a trophy, compliments of John Fernandes Limited.

The runner-up team will receive $100,000 and a trophy, compliments of the Department of Sport which falls under the umbrella of the

Mayor Hamilton Green Ministry of Education.

The third and fourth place teams will earn $70,000 and $30,000 respectively, compliments of China Trading and The Business School respectively.

Other major sponsors of the tournament are: Banks DIH Limited, Beepat and Sons, C.B.R. Mining, MACORP, Guyana Beverages, Massy Group of Companies, International Pharmaceutical Agencies, Muneshwar, E-Networks, CIDI, BEV Processors, EV Vieira, and Cummings Electrical Company.

NOTABLE DATES

LOCALl boxing icon Clifford (Cliff) Matthew Anderson collected his fourth professional defeat on November 19, 1946 in his adoptive homeland of London, England. Anderson lost by point decision to Frenchman George Mousse in an eight-round event.

It was one of 13 fights that the Guyana-born featherweight had that year, winning 11 and losing two.

The defeat at the hands of Mousse dropped Anderson’s

record to 22-4-2.

In November of the following year, Anderson was disqualified in round seven of a scheduled 10-round fight against Englishman Hat Bagwell. The Guyanese was found guilty on not “trying” during the contest, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The scandal following this fight led to the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), Southern Area Council holding a meeting on November 17, 1947.

After sifting through evidence presented by Anderson, his manager John Harding and the promoter, it was decided that the Guyanese fighter be suspended from all boxing for a period of three months.

Born on October 1921, Anderson died in December 1998. The Government renamed the National Sports Hall, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in his honour. He secured 48 victories, 28 defeats and 11 draws in a 13-year career.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Stag / EBFA 7 A-Side KO

Grove Hi-Tech and Agricola Red Triangle set up semi-final showdown GROVE Hi-Tech and Agricola Red Triangle will renew old rivalry when the semi-finals of the Stag / East Bank Football Association (EBFA) are contested. The two clubs’ A and B teams were winners of their respective quarter-final matches on Sunday last at the Grove Playfield.

Grove A were pushed to the hilt in order to book their spot. Kuru Kururu Warriors were the ones that almost denied them [Grove A] that opportunity as the latter lost the exciting match 2-1 on sudden death penalty kicks after a 0-0 stalemate in the 20 minutes of regulation time.

The Linden Soesdyke Highway-based Warriors scored their first shot on goal to which Grove responded in like manner; but the Warriors next shot hit the bar. Cordel Johnson tried a power shot that rocketed against the cross bar to hand Grove A their passage to a date with Agricola A

CAPE TOWN, (Reuters)- South Africa will focus on fixing their batting ahead of the third Test against India starting in Nagpur on Nov. 25 after escaping the second match with a draw as the final four days were completely washed out by rain.

The Proteas, who trail 1-0 in the four-game series, have managed just 507 runs in three completed innings in the first two tests as they repeatedly failed to find a way to counter India’s spin threat.

Captain Hashim Amla offered no excuses as rain again washed out day five in Bangalore and said that the previous four days of no play at least offered the chance for reflection on what has gone wrong.

Kuru Kururu Warriors (green and white) and Grove Hi-Tech in action at the Grove playfield on Sunday last who did not have to break a sweat as Soesdyke B failed to put in an appearance.

Agricola B did not have such an easy passage and had to overcome a game with Diamond United B team 1-0, thanks to a 17th minute effort from Collis Samuels.

The game saw both teams striving for early goals but not being successful. Just when it seemed like the game

was headed for sudden death penalty kicks, based on the rules if a game ends without a winner, Samuels saved his team such blushes by rocking the back of the net.

Grove B will be Agricola B’s semi-final opponent; they too did not have to burn any energy since their intended quarter-final opponent, Timehri A, did not keep the match date alive.

The winner of this competition will pocket $100,000 with the losing semi-finalist taking away $75,000. In the third and fourth place battle, the winner will receive $50,000, with the loser and fourth place finisher taking home $25,000.

The highest goal scorer, most valuable player, and best goalkeeper will all pocket $10,000 each.

National Secondary School Cricket League…

Queen’s and St. John’s contest North G/T semis today QUEEN’s College and St. John’s College booked semi-spots in the North Georgetown zone with easy victories over Marian Academy and The Bishop’s High School in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) sponsored by Digicel and Banks DIH. These two sides will meet today at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground for a spot in the final.

Queen’s hammered Marian Academy by 10 wickets at the Everest Cricket Club ground. Batting first, Marian Academy were dismissed for a paltry 38 runs in 12.1 overs as the Queen’s College bowlers took advantage of winning the toss on a damp pitch.

They replied with 39 runs without the loss of a wicket as they completed their mission in 11 overs.

No positives for Amla as S Africa’s batting woes continue

At DCC, The Bishop’s High went down to St John’s College by 34 runs in a low-scoring affair. Batting first, St John’s College were limited to 111 all out in 23 overs, with only Odida Douglas putting up any resistance, but he was dismissed for 21.

Lakeram Narine led the bowling attack with 4-23 from six overs while Daniel Singh pitched in with 3-17 and Campton Seepersaud, 2-26.

In reply, The Bishop’s High could only muster 77 runs in 27 overs. Christopher Campbell was impressive with the ball, picking up 4–11 from his 6 overs.

Meanwhile, Central High School registered a crushing victory over Freeburg Secondary also at the Everest Cricket Club ground. Central High amassed a massive 222-6 in 25 overs which was constructed on foundations

South Africa Test captain Hashim Amla “From a team point of view I don’t see a lot of positives to take to be honest, but every time there is a disappointing session or a disappointing day of cricket it is the reflection that happens afterwards that is more valuable than most things,” he told reporters yesterday.

South Africa were dismissed for 214 in their first innings with India relatively untroubled as they raced to 80 for no loss in reply at the close on day one.

“It was a very good wicket. We didn’t get going with any partnerships, AB [De Villiers] was exceptional as always and unfortunately nobody stuck around with him long enough to post a big total.”

Amla said despite the precarious situation he was confident his side could have turned the tables on their hosts.

“Test matches are not always won on the opening day, there was a lot of time left for us to claw our way back into the game. You never know what could have happened but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

“It would have been great for us to get some confidence after the poor starts with the bat but Nagpur is a different test and hopefully that is when it starts.”

Amla will be hoping the Proteas can call on Dale Steyn for the third test after he sat out in Bangalore with a groin problem, but said he is not sure how far the number one ranked fast bowler is in his rehabilitation.

“I’m not sure, I haven’t touched base with the physio as yet. I didn’t want to until this game is done, which it is now. In the coming days, we will probably have a better idea.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday November 19, 2015)

Lionel Holder laid by Lionel Holder (55) and Reaz Ally (54), while Clinton Redmon was the pick of the bowlers for Freeburg with 3-32 and was supported

by Junior Simon (2-14).

In pursuit of the target, Freeburg were blown away for just 53 in 13.2 overs.

Omar Harry led the charge with 3-3 along with Deonarine Nwon who had 2-10 and returned with the ball to claim 2-2.

Charlestown Secondary battles Central High School today at the Banks DIH Ground, Thirst Park.

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: (1) Sachtihra Senanayake-4/46 (2) Dwayne Bravo-4/28 Today’s Quiz: (1) How many fours were struck in the recent WI/SL two-match T20 series?

(2) How many sixes were struck in the recent WI/SL two-match T20 series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

Jeffrey still humble after successful title defence

By Stephan Sookram

AFTER confirming his second Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) group four title, overseas-based Guyanese Kristian Jeffrey is still as humble as he was when he opened his contest.

Speaking to the media following Sunday’s CMRC final leg at South Dakota, the Guyanese indicated that he is still the same way as when he won his first race in Jamaica last year.

He said, “Well, it feels like any other day to me, I don’t want to let this get to my head. Yes, I am a twotime champion but my work doesn’t stop there, I want to pursue my racing career as a professional racer.

“I only hope that with this win I can secure some sponsorship in North America to hopefully get a drive in one of the exotic car series, I think that is the next step for me,” continued the professional squash trainer.

Jeffrey noted that the Caribbean will always be his home and racing here holds

a special place in his heart.

“This year, I enjoyed the competition with Kristian (Boodoosingh of Trinidad and Tobago). He’s a really good racer and unfortunately he had some difficulties, but next year I am sure he will be back strong,” added Jeffrey.

During the race weekend he confirmed that he had set his eyes on the lap record but came into traffic during qualifying which led him to being .2 of a second off the feat.

He concluded, “This is the first time since we‘ve got the car in Guyana that it’s done 33’s.”

The Guyanese two-time champion picked up 225 points from an almost perfect season leaving his nearest competitor and only competition Trinidadian Kristian Boodoosingh in second place on 152 points.

Way down in third was Trinidad’s Gerard Carrington with 58 points.

Eight points separated Guyana (936 points) from the returning Tigers’ team of Trinidad (924) who had a strong showing throughout the Caribbean this year.

Barbados, 660 and Ja-

Kristian Jeffrey poses with his many accolades. (Rohindra Mahase Photo) maica 269 were the other countries in the champion-

ship while the lone contender for the Cayman Islands

of her competitions, including the world title in China.

She also became the first woman to throw beyond 80 metres, setting a world record of 81.08 metres in Cetniewo in August.

An international panel of 10 experts assembled the finalists from a long list chosen by the IAAF family.

The awards are normally presented at a gala in Monaco but it was cancelled this year in the wake of the recent doping scandal and investigation of former IAAF chief Lamine Diack by French authorities on suspicion of corruption and money laundering.

NIGHT two of the 2015/16 Guinness Greatest In Da Street Futsal Competition continued on Wednesday at the East Ruimveldt Community Centre tarmac, California Square with another eight matches.

All 32 teams have now gotten a taste of the turf in their pursuit of becoming the two top qualifying teams from the Georgetown leg of the competition.

In match one, Jamoon Drive sank Albouystown A 2 – 1. Albouystown drew first blood in the sixth minute through an Osafo Peters goal but the opposition equalised two minutes later, when Wesley Greenidge scored. However, Andre Webber’s 20th-minute goal was enough to give Jamoon Drive the victory.

Match two ended in the same result with Back Circle emerging victorious over Gold Star. Nick Williams (2nd) and Devon Harris (12th) scored for the eventual victors, while Samuel Dey had the lone equaliser for Gold Star in the third minute.

West Front Road followed with a 3 – 1 victo-

Bolt, Eaton, Taylor up for Athlete of the Year award

By Rob Hodgetts

LONDON, (Reuters)-Usain Bolt, Ashton Eaton and Christian Taylor are the finalists for the 2015 World Athlete of the Year award, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said yesterday.

Jamaican sprinter Bolt retained his 100, 200 and 4x100 metres titles at the world championships in Beijing in August.

The 29-year-old brushed off the challenge of American rival Justin Gatlin to win the 100 in 9.79 seconds and clocked a world-leading time of 19.55 to clinch the 200.

American decathlete Eaton, 27, won his second successive world gold with a world record 9,045 points, including a world decathlon best of 45 seconds for the 400 metres.

Triple jumper Taylor, 25, won the world crown with a North American record 18.12 metres, the second best jump in history.

Genzebe Dibaba, Dafne Schippers and Anita

Wlodarczyk were nominated as the three finalists in the women’s category.

Ethiopia’s Dibaba won the 1,500 metres title in Beijing, having set a world record of three minutes 50.07 seconds for the event a month earlier in Monaco.

The 24-year-old also set a world indoor 5,000 metres record of 14:18.86 and took 5,000m bronze at the worlds.

Dutchwoman Schippers clocked a European and championship record of 21.63 seconds to win the world 200 metres title after clinching silver in the 100.

Polish hammer thrower Wlodarczyk, 30, won all 11

Gary Barrett racked up 158 points and Suriname’s

Oliver Tjin Leip Shie, 25 points.

Guinness Greatest In Da Street Futsal heats up on second night

A total of 17 goals was scored on the second night of the Guinness Greatest In Da Street Georgetown leg at the East Ruimveldt Community Centre tarmac. This was part of the action. ry over Castello Housing Scheme. Hubert Pedro led with a double (9th & 18th) and received support from Michael Pedro who accounted for the other goal. Rawle Jones’ 13th-minute goal was Castello’s only moment of celebration.

Bent Street needled Shopping Plaza in game four with Ryan Hackett scoring the decider in the 17th minute.

C h a n n e l - 9 Wa r r i o r s schooled Old School Ballers 4 – 0 in game five. Joshua Fiffie led the way with a

brace (15th & 20th) while Kemo Lawrence and Kevin Barrow each scored once.

Leopold Street and Stevedore Housing Scheme also claimed 1 – 0 results over Young Ballers and Festival City Warriors. Anthony Charles scored for Leopold in game six while Dorwin Filter scored for Stevedore in the final match of the night 25 seconds in.

In the penultimate showdown of the night Laing Avenue and Upsetters romped to a nil all draw. (Kizan Brumell)

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 19, 2015

By Rawle Toney in Trinidad and Tobago

Sport CHRONICLE

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

By Greg Stutchbury W E L L I N G TO N , ( R e u ters)-New Zealand rugby legend Jonah Lomu, who revolutionised wing play to become the sport’s first global superstar, died yesterday in Auckland at the age of 40, prompting a global outpouring of grief.

Lomu had suffered from kidney disease for two decades and had a transplant in 2004 but former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew said his death was a complete shock.

“It was totally unexpected,” Mayhew said. “Jonah and his family arrived back from the United Kingdom last

night and he suddenly died this morning.”

Lomu, who was awaiting another transplant and undergoing dialysis treatment, had undertaken commercial obligations at the recent Rugby World Cup in England, won by New Zealand.

His death took the rugby-mad country by surprise and triggered a flood of messages of condolence from around the world.

New Zealand’s parliament expressed their sorrow before they began proceedings yesterday Wednesday.

“Anyone who was living in New Zealand in the 1990s would not have failed to notice

the massive impact Jonah Lomu had not only on sports fans but the wider community in this country,” Sports Minister Jonathan Coleman said.

“He was a man who came from humble beginnings in Mangere, South Auckland and rose to become rugby’s first global superstar.”

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset led the international tributes: “Jonah’s contribution to rugby cannot be overstated,” he said in a statement.

“He was the first superstar player and, through his sheer brilliance and love of the game, he brought much joy to the rugby family and took our sport to a new level of profile.”

Lomu’s record of 37 tries in 63 tests was an impressive haul, all the more so considering he played much of his career with nephritic syndrome, the disease that attacked

see page 23

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Not often do you see an unbiased crowd stand to cheer the losing team, but the crowd in attendance at the Ato Bolton Stadium in Couva Trinidad, gave the Lady Jags a standing ovation despite them going down 1 - 0 to Puerto Rico last night.

It was the semi-final of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Olympic Qualifier and apart from a spot in the final, the winner gets an automatic berth to the CONCACAF playoffs against the USA, Mexico and Canada to see who will represent the confederation at the Olympic Games next year in Brazil.

Guyana played what Coach Rodrigues said was their best football all year but the best performance in football doesn’t guarantee you a win; and the Lady Jags couldn’t find one goal on the night.

Guyana started with Chante Sandford, Alison Heydorn, Briana DeSouza, Kayla DeSouza, Justine Rodrigues, Ashley Rodrigues, Aslee Savona, Brittany Persuad, Olivia Gonsalves, Mariam El Masri and Julia Gonsalves.

For Puerto Rico, Karly Gustafson (GK), Jacqueline Marie Cruz, Delyaliz, Selimar Pagan Rivera, Karina Socarras, Laura Suarez Ayala, Annie Lee Mendez, Ashley Marie Rivera Suarez, Adriana Font, Nicole Rodriguez and Brittany.

Ashley Savona created several early chances, playing down the left wing, but Puerto Rico’s defence is holding their own.

Guyana’s Chante Sandiford, the former UCLA standout keeper, was called upon to make a few stops but none to threaten her goal.

Justine Rodrigues’ free kick from approximately 20 yards out looked certain to find the net, but Puerto Rico’s Karly Gustafson

see page 23

New Zealand’s Jonah Lomu tucks the ball under his arm as he sprints for the line to score the All Black’s first try against Tonga during their Rugby World Cup Group B match at Ashton Gate in Bristol October 3. Reuters/File THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015