Chronicle 11 26 2015

GUYANA

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

New pact signed for Specialty Hospital No. 104384

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

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Hundreds say farewell to Raschid Osman 16 P.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo offers words of comfort to the widow of Raschid Osman, Yvonne Osman during his visit to the Merriman’s Funeral Parlour for a viewing of the body (Samuel Maughn photo)

Cops halt Celina’s expansion

…arrest four workers for P.4 flouting cease order

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Specialty Hospital...

Pact signed for construction

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and Fedders Lloyd representative, Ajay Jha signing the MOU on Tuesday

THE Government of Guyana (GOG) and Fedders Lloyd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday that will see the construction of the proposed Specialty Hospital restarting soon.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, as part of the MOU with the GOG, Fedders Lloyd will review the works already started on the Specialty Hospital; conclude a design of the Hospital that is acceptable to the GOG; and commit to fully equipping the facility on completion of its construction. The Indian company will commence work immediately after the

signing of the MOU. HALTED Work on the Specialty Hospital was halted after allegations of impropriety and fraud were leveled against the contractor, Surendra Engineering Company, who won the bid for its construction in 2012.

The former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration had terminated the contract, and moved to the court to seek redress. It was successful, as the court ruled in its favour and the future of the Line of Credit (LOC) was threatened.

“Following the APNU+AFC government’s ac-

cession to office, it reviewed the project, and concluded that since there was no existing contract that could be enforced, it was impractical to continue to keep the LOC in its existing form, especially since it was attracting commitment fees,” the Finance Ministry said in its statement yesterday.

Government, recognising the need to have the LOC for the Specialty Hospital re-examined, requested that the EXIM Bank of India cancel the LOC for the Specialty Hospital and reallocate the balance of funds to a project aimed at modernizing three Primary Healthcare Facilities.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and Fedders Lloyd representative Ajay Jha shake hands following the signing of the MOU (Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Finance)

However, the Government of India (GOI), in its response, while indicating its no objection and support for the modernisation of Primary Healthcare Facilities suggested that GOG should consider salvaging the Specialty Hospital, as it will complement primary healthcare facilities here.

THE SEARCH “GOG, having examined the merits of the proposal, began searching for a will-

ing partner to complete the Specialty Hospital, using the remainder of the LOC,” the statement added.

Taking the suggestion of the Indian government into consideration, the GOG approached Fedders Lloydone of the original biddersto explore the possibility of them completing the project.

“Fedders Lloyd expressed continued interest and was prepared to complete and fully equip the facility,” a joint press state-

ment said.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan in brief remarks said, “The signing of the MOU represents a tangible expression of Fedders Lloyd interest and commitment to move the project forward.”

He added, “The MOU is also testament to Government’s commitment to advancing health care delivery in Guyana.”

Jordan emphasised the approval given by the Government of India’s for an additional LOC for the upgrade and modernizing of Suddie and Bartica hospitals and the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Ajay Jha signed on behalf of Fedders Lloyd, and thanked the GOG for the opportunity to work on the project and more specifically, the opportunity to work in Guyana.

“The Specialty hospital will be a model not only for Guyana but the rest of the Caribbean,” said Jha. The Specialty Hospital is intended to cater for high risk surgeries and other health care demands.

While in opposition, the now administration had voted against the use of funds for the project. They had cited several concerns.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Celina’s construction men arrested 28 fishermen

FOUR construction workers-three operators and a mechanic - attached to Celina’s Atlantic Resort at the Kitty seawall were arrested yesterday afternoon after the resort owners failed to abide by a cease work order issued by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

A statement from the ministry yesterday said a formal complaint was filed with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and as a result the four workers were taken into

police custody when officers visited the location on the Kitty foreshore.

The ministry has been expressing concern with the ongoing construction at the site due to the risk it poses to sea defence. “Today, November 25, 2015, MPI lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the construction work underway at CAR. For quite some time now, MPI has been concerned with the ongoing construction due to the risk

it poses to sea defence,” the release stated.

Following advice from the police legal advisor, the owners of Celina Resort can be prosecuted under the Sea Defence Act. When law enforcement officers went to the resort site at about 16:30hrs, employees were observed working. Three persons were arrested on the spot and the fourth was subsequently taken into custody.

“A police official has confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the extensive and detrimental work undertaken by CAR. The official also shared that the employees have all singled out the same person as their employer,” the statement said.

It is hoped that the arrest of the construction workers will “send clear messages to both employees and employers at CAR and will act as a deterrent in the future,” the statement added.

Meantime, subject minister David Patterson applauded the police for their swift response. “I must commend the police for doing their job. The ministry takes the protection of the sea defence and the preservation of our protection extremely seriously and we

will continue to monitor the situation,” said Patterson.

No permission granted for extension Meanwhile, Patterson yesterday discredited claims by the CAR’s spokesperson, Bobby Vieira that permission was granted to the entity to expand their operations. “I know nothing about that; we at the ministry are the only persons who can grant permission for such an enterprise to be expanded.”

The resort came under the microscope by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure after the commencement of what is believed to be expansion works.

“At least three cease orders to halt construction taking place there have been issued; they have been ignored. As such, we will be filing the injunction today,” the minister said.

Vieira was quoted in another section of the media as saying that Celina Atlantic Resort has a lease that allows for the property to be developed. “We have the lease here which allowed the property to be developed.

We have the restaurant and liquor license paid up-todate. You can’t have that unless you had permission in the lease that allowed you to build in the first place,” Vieira said according to the media report.

sacked by PI

…call discharge ‘heartless move’

By Shauna Jemmott SOME twenty-eight employees, including four captains and their entire crew, say that they have been arbitrarily dismissed by their employer, Prettipaul Investments(PI).

According to the workers, their discharge was a heartless move by their employer. Guyana Chronicle made several attempts to solicit a comment from the company but was unsuccessful.

CAPTAINS and fishermen employed with the fisheries department of Prettipaul Investments took industrial action on Monday against the company. They were alleging that they had been robbed by the company on the weight of shrimp delivered, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars being deducted from their

paychecks.

About 196 of the workers had assembled outside the gates of the McDoom, East Bank Demerara facility, declaring they had no alternative but to take strike action as their employers showed no regard for them.

One of the discharged captains, Harold Lewis told Guyana Chronicle yesterday that management met them Tuesday and singled out four of them for dismissal.

“Yesterday (Tuesday) we went down there and just like that they told four of us, ‘We don’t need you anymore’,” Lewis told Chronicle, and the men left while others were asked to stay.

He said further that after the men were not paid their salaries Tuesday they returned yesterday morning expecting to receive the monies owed them but many were told that they owed the company instead and received “not one dollar”. However, a few others had monies deducted for what they owed the company from a loan which they had received.

“We didn’t get pay and when we went there this morning, they told us we can’t enter the compound.

When I told them I am here for my salary, they told me wait at the gate, the guard gon bring it… I just got the pay sheet but not any money,” he lamented.

The captain explained that at the beginning of the season the company would see page 17

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

PM warns Texila graduates against professional malpractices Graduates of the Texila American University have been warned against “professional malpractices” by Acting President Moses Nagamootoo on Wednesday.

Nagamootoo was at the time addressing the University’s second graduation ceremony at the Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara. Nagamootoo, in his remarks said “We are not allowed to indulge in professional malpractices.

We are not allowed to be negligent. We could, but it is too costly for practitioners and institutions.”

He explained that as medical practitioners Rules of Engagement, by Oath, by codes of conduct and the like are constraints but it is important to be aware of the role of the media. “You must be aware that the media have become all intrusive and also more helpful in what we do and more particularly, how we do what we do.”

“The biggest court awards for damages flow from malpractice and negligence. In the old days, we had journalists following ambulances after accidents.

They were the ambulance chasers. Today, they raid morgues to find out why and how patients died which is why in some places, doctors practice what they call “defensive medicine,” said the acting president. He urged the graduates not to hold back. “You must not curtail your skills. Do what you are educated and trained to do with diligence, with competence with confidence!”

Speaking of the need to develop the human mind, Nagamootoo said Money, Might and Mind are usually on the front burner but it is the mind that “holds inexhaustible, renewable power.”

“Knowledge today is becoming accessible by all. We too can enrich our mind, renew our knowledge-base, make a difference in who we are and what we are capable of doing. The mind is a democratic source of power. We are ALL endowed with it,” he said.

With respect to money and might, the acting president said some believe that money is limited and does not guarantee sustainable success, while others feel that “might is everything”.

Nagamootoo congratulated the graduating class of 2015 that comprised of Guyanese and foreign citizens and urged them to “remain in Guyana, to live out your vows and sacred commitment to duty and service.

“Today came about as

a result of dedication and sacrifice on the part of the students and their families, on the one hand, and on the other, dogged perseverance and steadfast commitment to academic excellence by the University’s leadership and staff,” he said. He commended those graduates who would have come to live in Guyana for a number of years just to complete their respective courses but singled out the Nigerian students who he said “took the initiative to form an Association and to organize several cultural activities, thereby not only keeping close to heart their rich culture and traditions, but also sharing them with, Guyanese with whom they share ancestry.”

Public -Private Partnership The acting president noted that the establishment of a private Medical University here is “further evidence of open partnership in both the health and education sectors.”

“While it is easy to say that private-public partnership is here to stay, I am aware that, TAU in past years faced problems associated with Government bureaucracy and red-tapes and non-responsiveness to requests for concessions to expand. Yet it moved from a school of only 7 students to an enrollment of 450 from over 38 countries, all of whom live and study in Guyana. Of these, I am told, 120 are Guyanese nationals, who benefit from a 50% concession and who, in time, would certainly join the ranks of the medical profession in Guyana.”

The University, Nagamootoo said represents the “first education-tourism initiative” in Guyana and with its new campus, can accom-

modate over 1600 students.

“This will certainly give a boost both to Guyana’s economy and the country’s reputation in the international community as a health-educational center, and I applaud this bold and innovative venture.” The Government of Guyana he added recognizes the benefits of such investments. “It would allow for the expansion of quality medical education and research, at a time when our own Medical Faculty at the University of Guyana has been allowed to decline in academic standards that are necessary for recognition as an institution for medical education.” Texila American University he said is filling a void for certifiable medical education.

Honorary Doctorate Degrees Meanwhile, founder of the Texila American University, Saaju Bhaskar has extended an offer to both President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (acting president) to be conferred Honorary Degrees from the Central University of Nicaragua. “It may please you, Mr Saaju Bhaskar, as Founder of TAU, to know that His Excellency has assured that he would, at a convenient date, accept your offer of conferral of an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Central University of Nicaragua, your partner university,” said Nagamotoo who extended best wishes on behalf of President Granger who is currently attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Malta.

The acting president expressed gratitude for the recognition of his academic, literary and professional journey over the past 50

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo addresses the graduating class of 2015 years. “I am emotionally overwhelmed by this magnanimous gesture, for which I thank you. However, I am unable, at this time to accept your offer, and that you keep same “on-hold” as I hope to return when you commission

your new University Campus in Providence,” he said.

Nagamootoo explained that during his public life he has never asked nor expected accolades or rewards for his work. “However, without asking, I have

had more than my fair share of attacks, which is part of the political terrain.

I have declined offers of National Awards in the past as I had felt that others were better endowed than me for such honour.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Time for a sweep of private security firms, Minister Broomes

Dear Editor,

EDITORIAL

Development through diversity WHEN one hears the term ‘diversity’, several images are conjured in one’s mind; but when one is asked how diversity is seen through the individual’s lens, answers evoked can range from beauty to ugliness.

The truth is that some of these answers are informed by perception and prejudice, both of which can influence intolerance for the other; putting up the proverbial wall of discrimination and hindering development.

None of this helps in building a nation when it is recognised that positive human relations are forged and sustained through learning and benefiting from each other.

Out of recognition that ours is a nation whose frame has been constructed from different peoples; who, for reasons within or out of their control, have made this land their home, our Constitution calls on us to celebrate our racial and cultural diversity as a process of eliminating discrimination in our pursuit of happiness.

Race, though a physical and not a biological construct, has played a pivotal role in this nation’s formation, development, and inter-relationship. Out of this physical construct, Guyana is seen as a land of six peoples, and each group carries within its unique culture. Culture, in this sense, speaks to the experiences that shape the value system, artefacts, actions, progress and challenges of each group.

The definition of diversity recorded on the University of Oregon Multicultural Advocates’ page probably best captures what Guyana is, and what Guyanese strive every day to represent. The institution advances that “The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognising our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other, and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.”

And where UNESCO declared that “The cultural wealth of the world is its diversity in dialogue”, making it “clear that each individual must acknowledge not only otherness in all its forms, but also the plurality of his or her own identity within societies that are themselves plural” open, rank and honest conversations on diversity must be had, in

KINDLY permit me space in the letter column of your daily newspaper to publish this letter in the hope that we, security guards, can be treated better in this Republic of Guyana.

With only six months in government, the present administration has seen it fit to increase the wages and salaries of all workers in Guyana, starting from the President, Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, and including all public servants right down to the sweep-

er cleaners; with increases ranging from 54 percent, 50 percent to 17 per cent etc.

And up to the present time, no mention has been made nor consideration given to security guards working with the private security services, guarding government offices, schools, hospitals, etc and protecting the lives of all class of workers, right down to, and including, the sweeper cleaners, all of whom received big increases in their wages and salaries while we have to face all forms of abuse, including murder and rape, and verbal and physical

abuse.

Added to the above, many of the locations do not have a proper guard hut, and in many cases, no guard hut and sanitary facilities are available, much to the contravention of the Health and Safety Regulations of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security and the Laws of the Republic of Guyana.

Now that the minister with responsibility for labour has finished sweeping Mabaruma, Lethem, Bartica and Regent Street, I hope

she will start sweeping the private security services, so that we can be considered for, and receive, what is legally due to us. The last time we receive a wage increase was in 2013, when our wages/salaries were adjusted upwards to $202 per hour, or $35,000 per month.

Your usual and kind cooperation and consideration is being anticipated so as to highlight our plight and problems, so that we can get what we deserve.

Respectfully, Affected Security Guard

Dharmic Sabha should do something about suicide Dear Editor, WITH horror, I read the news about the suicides of several young people in our country, the names of most of whom are Hindu names; and I waited and waited to read or hear about the concern and, most of all, pledges by Hindu groups, especially the one claiming to be the largest group, to address this disease.

None has been forthcoming. Yesterday, one read about the outrage by the same ‘largest’ group regarding Diwali 2016 observance, one whole year away.

What is wrong with these people? Are they fighting over a date while youths are taking their lives? Swami Aksharnanda

keeping with universal principles that uphold human rights and development.

As this nation aspires to live up to its motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”, such aspiration has not been without achievements, challenges, optimism and pessimism.

An achievement Guyanese can be proud of is that inasmuch as racial conflict and hostility have shaped our experiences, outside of the early 1960s, there has been no open racial warfare among the ordinary man and woman. What this nation has suffered within recent time -- and which ought to remain in the past -- is the conceptualisation, development, and execution of national policies and programmes to sustain an environment of racial distrust and hostility, to the benefit of a few.

This practice not only hinders development, but creates a situation where diversity is loathed and the other despised, posing potential for endless problems, with dire consequences of war and want.

Appreciation for development through diversity will respect that, though the path to wellness and fulfilment for everyone will be different, it does not have to mean that this difference translates to inferiority or superiority, with attendant treatment. What it means is that the pursuit of happiness can be had traversing different paths, in an enabling environment that treats all as equals and ensures the pursuer of that path is guaranteed his/her dignity.

Compared to many nations approaching 50 years, Guyana is still a relatively young nation. But relativity in age ought not to be taken as acceptance that the path of intolerance and disrespect for the other is deserving of pursuit. In this scenario, age ought to mean having experienced bigotry, the country being well positioned to learn from the mistakes of older societies, emulate best practices of other societies, and to have the energy and thirst to push new boundaries and aspire for higher heights that come with youthfulness.

is the only Hindu leader who has done anything to address suicide. Diwali is one year away, what is this great Hindu Dharmic Sabha doing to address suicide? Or are they waiting to see my letter before they act?

Yours truly, P. Singh 116 Surat Drive Triumph Village, ECD.

Not Persaud and Gopaul

Dear Editor,

WE recently receiveed major government appointments. I am pleased that Minister of State Joseph Harmon subsequently dispelled the rumours and made it clear that no such plan is in place. The report appeared on an online news website as an exclusive. It appears therefore as though the story was floated, either by Persaud or Gopaul, or perhaps by someone from the Coalition government to get a sense of how such a move would be received by the public.

From the outcry seen since the mood of the public for such a move is unanimous. It is not that the public is averse to the Coalition government offering noteworthy positions to credible persons from within the PPP ranks in an effort to be demonstrably inclusive. It is that the public will be deeply offended should either Persaud or Gopaul be offered any such position. These two former PPP diehards are seen as deeply divisive. There are well known allegations of corruption and under no circumstances whatsoever will any government appointment for them be palatable.

These men allegedly used

the power of government to oppress and suppress when they were sitting pretty on the inside of the PPP. It would be a slap in the face of the public, and particularly APNU+AFC supporters for the Coalition to now offer them cushy jobs. Compounding the issue is that there are many who are qualified, credible and competent and who laboured tirelessly for the Coalition who are still without jobs. How can the Coalition government think it is right for PPP diehards like Persaud and Gopaul to jump the queue? It does not withstand the test of logic or good sense.

I am among those who toiled for the APNU+AFC. I stand resolutely with my government but if there are persons in the government who believe that offering Persaud and Gopaul jobs would be a demonstration of inclusivity, then they are sadly mistaken. Such a move will precipitate a rising up not only of young people but a wide cross-section of the Coalition’s own supporters who will be insulted. Our government must tread carefully on this matter.

Yours sincerely, Abel Seetaram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Fighting domestic abuse an uphill task, says Min Lawrence

By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA, like many nations across the world, continues to face an uphill task in its fight against domestic violence, particularly violence against women. Already, for the period January-October, 2015, seventeen women have been brutally killed, many by their jilted lovers.

But the Social Protection Ministry has pledged never to give up this battle. In observance of the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” — November 25 — the Ministry yesterday launched 16 days of activism, starting with an exhibition on the Avenue.

During that exhibition, persons from all walks of life were educated on the negative impact of violence on the society, and the need to bring an end to violence against women. In an interview with Guyana Chronicle, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence said major attention will be placed on the family. She explained that many victims opt to re-

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence backed by a group of men, calling for an end to Domestic Violence

main in abusive relationships because they lack the support of their families.

“Our family system is broken, and many times, persons who are in abusive relationships do not have that family support, so they remain silent,” she opined.

Through the Commission on the Family, the Social Protection Ministry will reintroduce the concept of family as a support mechanism, thereby creating an avenue for women to walk away from abusive relationships,

knowing that they will be supported.

Minister Lawrence warns: “It is not going to be a quick-fix.” The Commission, she explained, will not only discuss the issue, but based on its assessment, will establish programmes specifically for communities that have high incidences of domestic violence.

“That Commission will work with the communities and NGOs in those communities to understand the challenges that are causing peo-

ple to remain silent. Base on the findings, the Commission will formulate programmes to address the issues affecting families,” she said.

In the coming days, the Commission will be gazetted and, according to the Social Protection Minister, its members have already been identified.

“In identifying those persons, we looked for persons with varying backgrounds and experiences, who will be able to bring a holistic approach; those who would

have had experiences from the justice system; persons from faith-based organisations; teachers, social workers, persons who will bring their experiences to bear in the communities,” the minister said.

Once gazetted, Minister Lawrence said, “it will roll into operation.”

In sending a direct message to women who continue to live in violent relationships, the Social Protection Minister said, “Life is Precious,” as she urged them to value their lives. She said it is time women stop putting material things and their relationships in front of their lives.

“Many of our women put a relationship or commitments in front of their very lives, so I want to ask them today to put premium on their lives. Just think about tomorrow; the problem is here today, but it will go tomorrow,” the minister advised.

She is also urging victims of domestic violence to consider the damage being meted out to their children.

Studies have shown that

approximately four million children between the ages of three years and 17 years are exposed to domestic violence. Even if they are not physically abused, they often suffer emotional and psychological trauma, having lived in violent homes.

Meanwhile, during the ‘16 Days of Activism’ programme, the Social Protection Ministry will be moving into at-risk communities.

“We are going to widen the scope in terms of meeting new people, in terms of people whom we would not have interacted with prior to today,” Minister Lawrence explained.

In addition to the exhibition, the Ministry held a football match at the Eve Leary ground in an effort to raise awareness. Another match will be held in Region Nine. “We are also reaching out to the New Opportunity Corps to speak to the young people there,” she disclosed.

She noted that a string of workshops will be held across regions Four and Five in areas where there are high incidences of domestic violence.

Courts Linden Branch holds children’s “light up” parade SCORES of excited faces entered the courts Linden Branch as the Spin the Wheel promotion took centre stage in the town yesterday. Eligible customers were given the chance to win luxurious prizes, and even up to 100% off of their purchases.

Hosting the programme was popular DJ Akelo Elliot, who did an excellent job at uplifting the atmosphere with his electrifying chants.

Pandemonium reigned as persons won 100% off of their purchases, and this encouraged them to make another purchase so as to be eligible for another chance at spinning the wheel.

The wheel provided opportunity to win prizes such as Sumsung Galaxy smart phones, digital cameras, LED flat screen television sets, electric irons, cutlery sets, culinary sets, and further percentages off of purchases.

As the news permeated the town, persons took the

school. She was happy to have received a Sumsung Galexy smart phone, even though she had hoped to win 100% off her purchase, like everyone else.

The Spin the Wheel promotion ended at 5pm, and persons who met the eligibility criteria were given coupons which would afford them a chance to spin the at the grand “Win Millions” promotion at the main office in Georgetown.

Lindeners being entertained at the Courts light-up event

opportunity to make last minute purchases so as to become eligible to enter the promotion. Everyone waited in anticipation, even though it took hours to spin the wheel; and they made it clear that they were hoping to gain 100% off of their purchases.

Out of approximately 200 customers, about 25 were

lucky enough to perfect their spin in fulfilling that desire.

Michelle Cameron, a nurse at the Mackenzie Hospital, was elated at winning 100% off of her purchase after she had spun the wheel. She even took the opportunity -- like others -- to make another purchase, which won her a flat screen television and 5%

off of a wardrobe after she became entitled to two spins.

“I am so happy! God is good!” were the only comprehensible words that made it out of her intense excitement. Carol Braithwaite, a retired teacher, was asked by the host to spin the wheel using the power she used to use to spank him in primary

COURTS’ ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LIGHT-UP It was not coincidental that Courts’ Linden Branch also hosted a light-up and talent show for the children of Linden on the same day. Despite the inclement weather, hundreds of parents and guardians brought their children out to participate in this grand activity. Many persons waited eagerly to be entertained by local talents such as Yoland Nedd, who wowed the crowd with some

popular reggae vocals.

Also participating was this year’s winners of the Courts talented competition, who performed “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” for their young audience.

There were numerous attractions for the children, among which were Dora, Spiderman, Santa and Mrs. Clause, Tinkerbell, and Minnie and Mickie Mouse among others. The loud screams and joyous chants from the children was assurance enough that they enjoyed the event and the entertainment given by host DJ Akelo Elliot.

Some children were afforded gifts, but gift-sharing had been made a priority at the School for Special Needs Children earlier in the day. Branch Manager Lorris McLean expressed his satisfaction at the success of the two events, and said he looks forward to a bigger and better one next year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Working conditions poor at RUSAL

…workers want union representation, better pay WORKERS of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), a subsidiary of RUSAL, have complained about what they described as a “slave like” existence at the company’s Aroaima Region 10 location and have called on the government to ensure that the country’s labour laws are respected. They are also clamouring for union representation.

The workers made these issues clear to Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Simona Broomes, who led a team into the bauxite company on Wednesday, when a number of labour infractions were observed. The minister and her team made a surprise visit to the company’s location and toured the various locations for hours, meeting with workers who had a slew of complaints and asked for the government’s urgent intervention. Broomes after the meeting with the staff told the Guyana Chronicle that some of what she saw and heard were “disturbing” and in a later meeting with top management indicated that changes would have to be made.

During the visit, the minister also requested employment records, which showed that all of the 18 expatriate workers at the company are in the top management positions and even the company’s on-site security is headed by a foreigner. “No local is employed in any of the top management positions and workers complained bitterly, particularly about the personnel department being headed by someone who does not speak their language,” Broomes told this newspaper.

The Labour Department of the ministry has now launched an investigation into these infractions, some of which included workers’ exposure to the bauxite

dust with little protection, workers being forced to endure 12-hour shifts in small, poorly ventilated offices and no immediate access to drinking water. Assistant Labour Occupational Safety & Health Officer Lydia Greene, pointed out these breaches to management and informed management that they should be immediately corrected, adding that the department would be following up with an official letter highlighting the issues.

‘We want union’ A d d i t i o n a l l y, c h i e f among the workers issues is the fact that they are being barred from being unionised, even though they were initially represented by the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&G-

management made it clear that Guyana’s Constitution provides for every worker to be part of any organisation according to their choice and these include trade unions.

“In fact, the constitution makes it quite clear that no worker shall be hindered in his enjoyment of an association of that sort,” he said. He also said that the Trade Union Recognition Act makes it mandatory that any trade union bargaining for or on behalf of any group of workers ought to be recognised. He said section 23 of the said Act makes it an offence for any management to refuse to treat with the trade union of the workers’ choice.

The workers also complained about management’s

Minister Simona Broomes greets workers at RUSAL. WU); but the company has since got rid of the union and fired many of those were part of that union. “Sometimes we does feel worse than prisoners, is like if is a refugee camp in here and this happening in we own country,” Ivan Leacock, one of the workers told Minister Broomes during the visit. “It is only lef for dem to just get a whip,” another frustrated worker told the minister and her team, which included consultant to the minister, Francis Carryl.

Carryl during a discussion with the company’s

alleged arrogant approach to addressing their issues.

“This thing like teking away we manhood, we is man but we can’t be man in here because we have we family to look after and job ain’t deh,” another worker said, as top management hovered close by but were barred from being a part of the interactions the minister had with the various workers.

The workers stressed that they need to be unionsed, so that proper representation can be made for them to management. “We want we union, a begging you

The tent that was used by workers at the Kurubuka mining site as a lunch room before management hurriedly built a small makeshift room after they reportedly learnt that Minister Simona Broomes was slated to visit.

Madam Minister, leh we get we union before sometime bloody happen, is nah two cent we workers going through,” a worker said.

And while the expatriate managers have been accused of mistreating workers, they said some of their own locals have also been arrogant.

One worker recalled being told by the company’s local safety adviser that “it ain’t got nothing to do with safety, is about the company losing money,” when he questioned whether it is safe to climb without a ladder to access some fuel.

According to the workers, the situation was worse, but for months it was rumoured that Minister Broomes would have visited the location and this propelled management to improve the service and facilities provided to workers. In the Kurubuka mines, the workers said that what they now use as their lunch room was recently built, but pointed to a shed covered by tarpaulin with some crudely built benches and tables that were used by workers to take their lunch up to about two months ago.

Workers also complained about having to work with defective machines. They also complained about having no sports facility on the compound compared to the swimming pool and tennis court provided for the expatriates.

Maple town In what is known as the Maple Town area, where the bulk of the company’s workers are located,furniture in the lunch-room is shoddy.

The ship-loaders of the bauxite company are forced to be in a small box-like building with no proper windows, and as such, have little or no protection from the volume of bauxite dust during the loading sessions. Because of the extreme conditions under which they work, the employees said sometimes they fall ill, but are penalised

Assistant Chief Labour Occupational Health & Safety Officer Lydia Green and consultant Francis Carryl conduct an inspection of the toilet facility at the company by management when they are forced to submit medicals and are at times written letters accusing them of “malingering on the job.” They also accused the company’s deputy personnel officer Leroy Saul, of colluding with the company’s top management to victimise workers as he has repeatedly indicated to them that their medicals were misplaced after being handed in.

Salary increase Further, the company has reportedly imposed a 3% salary increase for next year and according to the workers, officials claimed that this was what was set by the new management. When asked about this by Minister Broomes, Saul said that it was a misinterpretation by the workers because of the language barrier. However, this was the claim told to the minister by a number of workers in the various sections.

The workers also complained about being suspended for opting not to work for 12 hours, which is mandatory for workers at the company. Apart from this, the workers were also concerned about what benefits they are entitled to after working with the company for many years, as they pointed out that there is no retirement package at the company. The company does have a life, health and pension insurance with

Concerned workers listen to Minister Simona Broomes RUSAL1

GTM, but workers are unclear about how this works.

Some also spoke about the fact that they work 14 days with seven days off and during their days off they are not paid. For others, it was the fact that they are on contract for over three years and are being told that they have to pay their own National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and PAYE contributions. “This is not fair,” one of the workers commented. The workers said that the company has the former Chief Labour Officer Mohammed Akeel, as their consultant and because of his knowledge of the labour laws, they have been circumventing the relevant laws.

‘Not optional’ Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle after the tour, Minister Broomes, who said that she is perturbed by what she observed at the company, told top management of the company that some things are not optional but rather they are a “must” as prescribed by the country’s labour laws. The minister said she was not impressed with the lunch room and toilet facilities provided for the workers and said these are two things that could can be easily fixed. She insisted that the visit was not an attack on the company since the government welcomes investors, but stressed that workers’ rights in the country are generally being violated. Derevganko said the management team of the company has been changed and they have begun to pay keen attention to the health and safety of the workers.

Improvement, according to him, will include better working air conditioners and fans for workers. Production Manager Gennodi Derevganko, who said he was appointed to the position only about a month ago,said he has written to the company’s country management on the issue.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

President: Gov’t to facilitate ‘Green Economy’ – plugs clean, renewable energy

By Rabindra Rooplall

AS the world moves away from fossil fuels and although oil prices have been steadily falling, Guyana itself is trying to capitalise on the exploration and development of traditional fossil energy. However, the country will also promote a clean and renewable energy drive for a ‘green economy’.

Speaking on the Ministry of the Presidency’s Public Interest TV forum, President David Granger said, “We want to expose the entire nation to the possibilities of a green economy, wind, solar power, hydro power. There are a lot of energy-saving devices now, people are using ethanol, electric cars and many others.”

A ‘green’ economy is one that reduces environmental risks and ecological scarcities and aims for sustainable development without degrading

the environment. It is closely related to ecological economics but has a more politically applied focus.

In fact, President Granger said the Green Conference and Expo at Parade Ground, hosted by the Mayor and City Council is a good example of the possibilities and benefits that can be derived under a green economy.

“We see ourselves as facilitators instead of owners of these enterprises. What we are working towards also is making Bartica a green town so persons can visit Bartica, I hope by the middle of next year, and see many of these appliances at work for a green Bartica and Green Guyana,” President Granger explained.

WASTE-TO-ENERGY PROJECTS Turning waste to energy is one of the areas being explored as plans begin for the piloting of a model green

economy at Bartica in Region 7. Presidential Adviser on the Environment, Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best had noted that government’s entire approach to Bartica will be greening the economy, so that it will become a model for the rest of the country.

“The intention is to really utilise all the resources you have right now, including international support to develop Bartica into a fully green economy,” he said.

He also noted that this will encompass the transport sector, waste-to-energy projects in Bartica, energy audits, integrated water management and how to reduce the amount of emissions that come right now from the fossil fuel-driven plant that provides electricity in the community.

Among other ideas, Best said, is planting trees “to cool the town” as well as opening eco-lodges and promoting eco-tourism, and green tour-

President David Granger

ism in Bartica. “So the idea is to make Bartica a model green community for the rest of Guyana,” he said.

‘GREEN’ ENERGY Many developing countries have been making the

gradual shift from fossil energy towards green energy.

A major portion of power generation in developed countries comes from green energy. The developed countries encourage and provide subsidies and tax breaks in the development of green energy.

During Minister of Finance Winston Jordan’s 2015 Budget presentation entitled, “A fresh start to the good life in a green economy,” he noted that “over the next five years, we will adopt a more integrated approach to providing for our energy needs.

We will examine all sources of energy: fossil fuels, wind, solar, bagasse and of course, hydropower. We will commence feasibility studies for a large hydropower development in the Mazaruni region. This will be done in collaboration with Brazil. We will encourage independent

power producers and suppliers to construct energy farms and sell energy to the national grid. We will construct and/ or promote the construction of small hydro systems in areas such as Moco Moco, Kato and Tumatumari and will power all of our new townships, starting with Bartica, using alternative energy sources.”

WIND FARM As such, government has approved the Wind Farm Project and one of the investors, International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA), says the 25 megawatt facility can reduce the country’s fuel bill by US$5 million (G$1B) annually.

The project includes setting up 10 wind turbines capable of generating 2.5 megawatts of electricity each. The projected cost of the facility is US$42 million.

230 Guyanese students currently studying in the U.S. THE Georgetown-based U.S. Embassy said there are currently 230 Guyanese students studying in the United States.

The embassy in a statement on Tuesday said it is committed to continue working with potential students to guide them with the admissions, visa, and financial information they need in order to successfully prepare and apply for study in the United States.

The embassy noted that during the 2014/15 academic year, the number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by 10 percent to a record high of 974,926 students, confirming once again that the United States remains the destination of choice for higher education.

It said India, China and Brazil account for most of the growth in international students on U.S. campuses.

“According to the Open Doors® report, published annually by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, there are currently 230 Guyanese students studying in the United States,” the embassy stated.

The U.S. Embassy in Guyana said it is committed to continue working with potential

Speakers from the ‘Launching Your Global Career with STEM’ seminar pose for a photo

students to guide them with the admissions, visa, and financial information they need in order to successfully prepare and apply for study in the United States.

Through its American Spot located at the National Library and University of Guyana library, the U.S. Embassy also offers resources year round to assist young people in pursuing university studies in the United States.

The American Spot features guide books on selecting a college or university, information on the university application process, scholarship guides, books on how to write strong college application essays, and resources to help students prepare for standardised tests.

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK The statement also highlighted the fact that the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown hosted a career guidance seminar titled ‘Launching Your Global Career with STEM’ at the Theatre Guild, as part of observances for International Education Week (November 16-20) held under the theme, ‘Access for All.’ The seminar was aimed at sharing information with Guyanese students on career opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and encourage them to pursue careers in the field of STEM. Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam opened the seminar

and encouraged students from various schools across Georgetown to follow their passion and strongly consider careers in the sciences.

He was followed by ac-

complished professionals who shared their backgrounds and highlighted career opportunities in the STEM fields.

Speakers included geologist David Puls, Venture Operations Manager, ExxonMobil; Joseph Holder, retired engineer and consultant; Jennifer Hoyte, U.S. Fulbright Scholar and math instructor at the University of Guyana (UG); and Sachin Ramsuran, UG 2015 Valedictorian. Gillian Oak of the U.S. Embassy also shared information on the student visa application process.

After the presentations, students also had the opportunity to view innovative science and technology projects on display from students of Richard Ishmael Secondary and Queen’s College.

According to a statement from the embassy, President Barack Obama has said that “Science is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world.”

Through President Obama’s 100,000 Strong in the Americas initiative, innovative new partnerships are being developed with the business sector, higher education sector, and governments from across the hemisphere to dramatically increase opportunities for educational exchange between the United States and the Americas.

Embassy staffers Aretha Majeed and Gillian Oak talk to students about studying in the U.S.

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Alleged killer of GPHC staff surrenders to police

– murder charge expected to be laid shortly ALLAN Sim, called ‘Cayenne’, turned himself in to the police yesterday at the Alberttown Police Station.

He was accompanied by an attorney.

The 55-year-old resident of Paradise, East Coast Demerara, is accused of the Monday afternoon stabbing and subsequent death of 32-year-old Melissa Skeete of Plaisance, ECD, a dispatcher with the Am-

bulance Services Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Sim is alleged to have stabbed Skeete, the mother of his three-year-old daughter, Jelana, eight times about her body, and to have pushed her out of his car on Carmichael Street, Georgetown, from where a car driver transported her to the GPHC, where she died hours later whilst undergo-

ing surgery.

Sim is expected to be arraigned in a Georgetown Magistrates Court on murder charges later this week.

A post-mortem conducted yesterday by Forensic Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh determined that a single stab wound inflicted to Skeete’s stomach was “too deep”, and was responsible for her death.

Skeete’s relatives allege

that she had shared an “onand-off” relationship with Sim for more than 10 years, during which tme she had been constantly abused and controlled by him, although he is married. She had finally decided to end the abusive affair when tragedy struck.

The woman is survived by her four children, among other relatives and friends. (Shauna Jemmott)

U.S. deports drug convict Peter Morgan

CONVICTED drug trafficker Peter Morgan who was released from a prison in the United States on Monday was deported to Guyana on Wednesday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed.

Morgan’s deportation come after he was handed over to United States Immigration and officials and subsequently kept in custody and then placed on a plane back home, all consistent with deportation procedures.

Blanhum explained that the Guyana Police Force received Morgan yesterday and he was processed immediately and certain information taken from him. According to him, the convicted drug trafficker will now be monitored as part of the Crime Prevention Act, which allows the police to keep a close watch on those who have been deported to this country.

Additionally, Morgan is expected to visit the criminal Investigation Department once a month, also in keeping with his deportation order. As to how the police will treat with him travelling out of Guyana is not yet clear, but what is clear that the man is not likely to be able to return to the United States since his incarceration was as a result of him trafficking cocaine into that country.

Morgan a close associate to former drug kingpin Roger Khan who was

Convicted drug trafficker, Peter Morgan is back home

also nabbed and is now serving time in a United States prison was sentenced to 10 years in prison back in 2010. At the time he was facing three counts of conspiring to import, possess and distribute five kilogrammes of cocaine between December 2001 and August 2003 into the United States. He was arrested in March 2007 in Trinidad by Trinidadian and U.S. authorities while he was in-transit at the airport and was later extradited to the U.S. on August 23, 2007.

Court papers had listed one of the charges against Morgan as that between October 1, 2001 and August 31, 2003, he knowingly and intentionally conspired with David Narine, Susan Narine, Hung-Fung Mar and other persons unknown, to traffic in cocaine by importation. The second charge was that some time between December 1, 2001 and August 31, 2003, he trafficked in cocaine by importation.

Meanwhile, according to a Stabroek News report back in 2010 U.S. Prosecutor Shannon Jones had insisted that Morgan was a supervisor in a ring that included his family members. At that time, the drug dealer told the court that he fully understood what he was doing and he was asked to explain at his plea hearing what he did. He explained that between December 2001 and August 2003, he conspired with David Narine to transport cocaine in and out of Guyana and that he was fully aware of his actions and his conduct. He said he agreed with Narine to import cocaine into the US. Narine is expected to be sentenced next week, after also pleading guilty.

He had been brought to the US from Guadeloupe, where he was serving a drug trafficking sentence, several years earlier.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

CDCs setting stage for development in Linden

By Vanessa Braithwaite

TWENTY-nine Community Development Councils have been formed in Linden, Region 10, since commencement of the CDC programme in June 2015, and residents of Linden have welcomed the CDCs and are upbeat about the whole situation.

The CDC is an initiative touted by the President, Brigadier David Granger, shortly after he had been inaugurated.

Sandra Adams, Assistant Director of the Linden CDCs, has been spearheading the initiative since its commencement. She has worked with the different communities, and has reported their immense progress to the Ministry of the Presidency.

Outlying communities such as Kwakwani and Ituni are yet to benefit from this initiative, but the communities within Linden have embraced the initiative and are cooperating with CDC teams to fulfil the vision of developing Linden through the communities and to provide employment opportunities for young persons within the communities.

The government is allowing persons within the communities to pilot their own development, which will be spearheaded by the Community Development Council and funded by the Board of Industrial Training.

According to Director Sandra Adams, each community must embark on projects that will generate additional funding for further development and beautifying of itself.

It was revealed that the community of Kara Kara, through which the Kara Kara Creek runs, is presently in discussion with its CDC to transform the creek into a magnificent tourist attraction.

Should this materialise, it would qualify that community to compete among communities for the title of most beautiful community in Linden.

The community with the best theme and layout will win a sum of money to assist in a development project of their choice.

Residents of South Amelia’s Ward have expressed interest in establishing a supermarket that would generate funds for not only infrastructural development, but to assist the elderly, the infirm, single

Assistant Director of the Community Development Council of Region 10, Sandra Adams

parents and unemployed persons within their community.

“We do not want [an] ordinary supermarket; it must be a market that will supply packaged local produce to the quality of what is produced overseas,” posited the CDC representative of South Amelia’s Ward.

Other communities are embarking on establishing daycare centres and poultry farms, besides training persons -- especially single mothers and unemployed women -- in skills such as sewing, knitting and catering.

Discussions with investors who have displayed interest in establishing an oil refinery in Linden are reportedly ongoing.

The CDCs are anticipating a successful outcome of those discussions, and are training their young people in order to prepare them for employment whenever the situation materialises.

The Board of Industrial Training has commenced training of young persons in the field of entrepreneurship, and upon completion of the training, will provide the trainees with a monetary grant to begin operating their own businesses.

Even though the government has not been successful in tackling the unemployment situation in the region holistically, it has managed, through the CDC programme, to establish small pockets of jobs in the interim, thus attempting to fulfil its manifesto promise to provide jobs. Among those jobs provided is resumption of the DNI programme, in which members of the community engage in cleaning streets and cleaning shoulders of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Guyana inks air services agreement with UAE

– Minister Ferguson sees the development as opportune

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Anette Ferguson, signing the agreement with a UAE official

THE Government of Guyana has, through the Public Infrastructure Ministry, signed an Air Services Agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), thereby paving the way for airlines to operate from either state.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson, signed the agreement on Tuesday in Montreal, Canada while attending the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) World Aviation Forum (WAF) 2015 at ICAO Headquarters. She was accompanied there by Chitrani Heeralall, Director-General (ag) of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Subsequent to the signing, Minister Ferguson alluded to the UAE being the home of two of the world’s best airlines, namely, Etihad and Emirates. She expressed the hope of having at least

one of those airlines operate in ‘Destination Guyana’.

The aviation forum, themed “Aviation Partnership for Sustainable Development”, comes at a time when the ICAO and the United Nations Specialised Organisation for Civil Aviation have launched their ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative.

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY “The ICAO WAF is a unique opportunity to harness aviation’s vast potential to stimulate economic growth in a manner consistent with the United Nations 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Despite the clear economic significance and the demonstrated ability to serve as a foundation and catalyst for global connectivity and economic growth, only 2.5% of global 2005-2015 funding for infrastructure and services

has aviation development, “the Public Infrastructure Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative has received the support of many of the developed countries and the donor community, which have pledged their continued support for collaboration, for rendering technical assistance, and for aviation development as a whole.

According to the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Guyana will be seeking support from ICAO for technical assistance to improve the level of compliance with ICAO standards.

Minister Ferguson has, meanwhile, been invited by the ICAO to moderate the session on investment and aviation development perspectives. She took the opportunity to inform the forum of aviation develop-

ment in Guyana.

“Guyana, like many states here, considers the growth and sustainability of aviation a catalyst for improved social and economic activities and structures,” the minister stated.

A similar call was made at the Aviation Conference held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre in October 2015 for recognition of aviation as the lifeblood of economic and social development in Guyana, and for action to be taken to address the challenges the sector is facing, including strengthening of the civil aviation safety oversight body.

During that conference, the need for a safe, sustainable and strong aviation sector was also emphasised.

Minister Ferguson added, “Guyana joins with the rest of the aviation world to congratulate ICAO on this ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative, and is heartened to hear from the developed countries their pledge for

continued support and collaboration with ICAO and its member states, to ensure that No country is Left Behind”.

Minister Ferguson also said, “Many states here share similar challenges in financing aviation projects to enable their economic development, and I am sure our esteemed panel will share perspectives on global investment and aviation development, and encourage donors to assist in enabling economic development through financing of various aviation projects, so that the spirit of the No Country Left Behind initiative of ICAO can be realised for the positive impact on the economic and social development of all states”.

Minister Ferguson and the GCAA Director General (ag) will continue their discussions to seek technical and financial assistance for Guyana’s aviation development.

(Svetlana Marshall)

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Anette Ferguson, moderating the session on investment and aviation development perspectives

GEA staff celebrate Energy Week STAFF of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) were not left out of the activities planned to commemorate Energy Week 2015.

Recently, the agency’s Head Office was the scene of much enthusiasm as employees took part in an ‘in-house presentation and quiz’.

Planned with the aim of involving employees in the Energy Week celebrations as well as to disseminate

energy-related information, the activity included two presentations: ‘The Science of Climate Change’ and “Sustainability, Energy Conservation and Efficiency’. The presentations were preceded by the viewing of a Sustainable Energy documentary that was produced by the GEA. Excitement mounted during the quiz segment, as employees enthusiastically vied for one of the coveted

prizes by answering questions which were based on the presentations that were made, and the content of the documentary.

Amidst much encouragement and support from their colleagues, the Legal and Licensing Division in the end emerged the overall winners, carting off five of the 10 prizes that were up for grabs.

The Accounts Division, last year’s winner, vowed

that they would reclaim the winning status should the activity be held next year.

“The activity was very informative, and allowed for a more open form of interaction among staff. The information about Climate Change and the greenhouse gas effect was very impacting,” said Mowshani Lekhraj, Analytical Inspector within GEA’s Fuel Marking Division.

Observed from November 8 -14 by CARICOM member states, CEW 2015 was celebrated under the theme, ‘Empowering our Sustainable Development’.

The Guyana Energy Agency, in the exercise of its mandate, continues to promote energy efficiency, energy conservation and the development and utilisation of alternative sources of energy.

The observance of ‘CARICOM Energy Week’ serves as an annual feature which provides an additional platform for the fulfilment of part of the mandate of the GEA through the dissemination of information, essential to improving public awareness (both internal and external) on sustainable energy, conservation and overall efficiency.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

PPP wants govt to Murdered GPHC staff pump more money ‘always wore a smile’ into economy Colleagues say...

By Shauna Jemmott

PPP MP Irfaan Ali and Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira during the press briefing at the party’s Robb Street headquarters

– lauds early 2016 budget GOVERNMENT has to immediately pump more funds into the economy in the form of contracts and other spending to help boost the economy, the People’s Progressive Party said yesterday.

Speaking at a news conference, PPP MP, Irfaan Ali said he agrees that part of the slowdown is a result of national elections, but in any country this has an effect which is a global issue,” but the erosion of confidence is what continues to affect the

economy. For example, if we had gone ahead with the Speciality Hospital there would have been US$10M spent in the economy and that would have driven employment and other expenditures. If the 1,000-home project was continued the construction sector would have continued to grow, the hardware stores, block-makers and many others would have benefited,” Ali explained.

Meanwhile, in lauding the decision for an early 2016

Thursday, November 26, 2015 - 05:00 hrs Friday, November 27, 2015 - 05:00 hrs Saturday, November 28, 2015 - 05:30 hrs

Budget in January, Ali said there needs to be rapid implementation of projects since many will be rolling over to 2016 which will result in a capacity overload.

“The major projects that the Finance Minister is speaking about are supposed to be carried out by contractors that meet a certain technical and financial requirement; and those contractors are still burdened with the 2015 programme and now they will be working on getting projects in 2016, so there may be a capacity overload and implementation crisis,” the former Housing Minister contended.

Ali also noted that based on statistical reports, all sectors are not performing and the government needs to seek advice on how to improve in all areas.

SPEAKING about the life and death of Melissa Skeete who became a recent victim of domestic violence, Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mitzy Campbell said, “She always wore a smile; we never saw beyond that smiling face. Maybe we didn’t look closely enough.”

Campbell on Monday said the hospital mourns sincerely as she described Skeete, a hospital dispatcher, as a beacon of “hope”, with an infectious attitude, “the type of attitude that really fitted in for the hospital setting where many require care.”

She said even though the woman had grievous situations within her domestic environment, those were never reflected in her disposition while on the job.

Skeete was picked up by the father of her three-yearold daughter just outside her workplace at the end of her shift. Colleagues said before she left she gave them the telephone number of the man with whom she had spoken minutes before, and the licence plate number of his vehicle.

Minutes later, she was covered in blood as she was transported back to her office compound as an emergency case, fighting for survival.

Reports revealed that she was stabbed and kicked out of the same vehicle on Church

Street, Georgetown before the car sped away.

The press reported that some dramatic minutes of confusion, shock and pain followed before one driver stopped, helping her to the hospital. She died in the operating theatre around 21:00 hrs.

She had worked for five months with the ambulance service as a dispatcher.

Colleagues and senior officials had much to say, but as Campbell rightly put it, “Maybe we didn’t look closely enough.”

She said all they could see when Skeete made eye contact was that smile which “goes to work on you”, even in a most depressing condition. “Her smile exuded hope.”

Skeete’s role as a dispatcher was to ensure the message was relayed to get the ambulance out there to someone whose life depended on her.

Her immediate supervisor, Mr. Jacobs said though she smiled contagiously, he discovered lately that his staff was a victim of domestic abuse. It became overbearing and she began talking with workmates.

He said she approached him on November 17 asking for leave to attend to an urgent domestic situation in which her home was attacked by the man with whom she had her last child. A friend relieved her and she left at 1:00 pm, two hours before

Dead: GPHC ambulance services dispatcher Melissa Skeete

her shift was scheduled to end.

On Monday he was told that the man telephoned Skeete and told her that he had picked up her children from school with his car and he was coming to pick her up.

She became suspicious and distributed the phone number and car registration number to colleagues just in case.

He later heard of her death.

Management at the hospital plans to begin looking closer, close enough to see beyond every smile, every face of every woman on its payroll.

Human Resources Officer Rahmena Chung said the hospital has an interest in the social well-being of its employees and had implemented an employee relations assistance programme which is directed by an Employee Assistant Officer.

The programme offers counselling and other social services for employees who are suffering in various ways.

She said had Skeete’s domestic violence troubles been reported, the hospital would have taken relevant action to save her life.

The programme now intends to host monthly workshops for more than 600 nurses along with other female employees, who make up 70% of its female staff.

The workshops begin in January, Chung said.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle Tuesday, she explained that Skeete had started talking about her problems only last Thursday after her partner had destroyed things around her home in an attempt to reach her.

However, she returned to work Friday, and reported to her superior that the problem had been ‘fixed’; that she was moving to have a restraining order against her abusive lover.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Guyana seeks Commonwealth’s Declaration on sovereignty PRESIDENT David Granger departed Wednesday morning for the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which will be held in Malta from November 27-29, 2015.

With the President set to once again deliver a strong message on the security of small states, particularly in light of the resurgence of Venezuela’s aggression, the Commonwealth Heads are set to consider and ratify a declaration in support of Guyana’s stance on the issue. Speaking briefly, while in transit in Trinidad and Tobago, the President said, “We have always been able to enjoy the support of the Commonwealth and we will continue to work with our partners in the Commonwealth to ensure that their support continues undimin-

President David Granger

ished, and that we send a message to aggressor states, in this case Venezuela, that we are not alone.”

President Granger said that if Venezuela believes it has a claim, that country should present the evidence of its assertion to an international forum so that the matter can be resolved. “We feel that slowly world opinion is turning against aggres-

sive solutions to conflicts or controversies and this is [the] time when we have decided more positively than ever before to have a juridical settlement. We’ve just had too many decades of harassment”, he said.

Speaking on the possibility of a Commonwealth Declaration in support of Guyana, the Head of State said, “This type of declaration indicates that there is an intolerance in the world at large for settling conflicts by violent means [and] that there is a desire of countries to get ahead with their economic development, rather than expend their economic resources on military material.

Additionally, in the lead-up to the meeting, President Granger had indicated that Guyana will give its full support to Anti-

Kaieteur jumper body spotted The Ministry of Tourism and the National Parks Commission have limited access to certain sections of Kaieteur Falls and have confirm that the body of the female visitor, Roshinee Pajwah who jumped off the ledge of the Falls has been spotted on the edge of the pool at the base of the Falls.

Efforts are now underway to send a recovery team into the Park to extract the body, the ministry said in a release.

However, due to the complex logistics and the dangerous terrain, the recovery is expected to take a number of days. Sections of the Park will remain off limits to visitors until further notice.

Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes, had announced last Monday that this incident has forced authorities to come to the difficult decision to restrict visitors from the viewing ledge.

“This was a hard decision to make,” she said, pointing out that last Saturday’s incident has become a national issue that is being dealt with by a number of stakeholders. “Our young

Roshinee Pajwah

people are to valuable to lose them like this,” she stated. The Government of Guyana and the Tourism Ministry have conveyed condolences to the grieving family and we have collaborated with the Ministry of Human Services to deliver grief counseling services to the family.

gua and Barbuda nominee Sir Ronald Sanders, for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General, when leaders of the 53-member association meet at the biennial meeting. “We regard him as a friend of the Commonwealth and Guyana.

Small states expect to see

the Secretary-General coming out in even greater support of small-state security, climate change in small states and the economy of trade and commerce,” he said. First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger is also travelling with the President and Guyana’s delegation to the

Commonwealth meeting and will participate in the CHOGM 2015 Spouses programme. The delegation, which also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is already in Malta, will return to Guyana on December 1. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

GuySuCo urges strikers to resume work THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is calling on sugar workers to resume

work as Skeldon, Albion and East Demerara estates still have three weeks re-

maining for the crop, Rose Hall has four weeks and Blairmont two weeks.

In a release yesterday, the corporation said discussions relating to the Annual Production Incentive (API), had sparked the strike action. “On no less than four occasions over the last three months, we explained to the union’s delegation the dire financial crisis facing the industry. It is no secret that the current total revenue is just enough to offset payment of wages and salaries to its employees.

The corporation offered for every 85,000 tonnes sugar produced one day’s pay API. This equates to 2.7 days for the corporation’s expected year’s production of 233,361 tonnes sugar.

“As we approach the hol-

iday season, we are all aware that workers are predisposed to earn in preparation for the holidays, but they are confused with the misinformation being peddled. No doubt this misinformation is meant to incite the workforce,” asserted the corporation.

The corporation said it was reliably informed that the union’s local officer and its representatives were in the villages bordering the East Demerara Estates using a loud speaker to call out the workers to strike for one week instead of having the expected consultation on the corporation’s offer.

“We saw this become a re-

ality when the workers of that estate responded on Saturday with the cane harvesters withdrawing their labour. Further, the union representatives of Skeldon and Blairmont indicated to management that they would be proceeding on industrial action from Sunday, Blairmont harvesting reps were clear that they would be withholding their labour for the entire week,” said the release.

Meanwhile during a telephone interview with the Chronicle, President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand said that since last week the union was hoping to engage GuySuCo, but to no avail. Further the API which was promised to the workers was rejected, and that led to the ongoing protest.

GAWU’s President, Komal Chand

The corporation however has agreed not to meet with the union until all the workers return to work. We have to summon a meeting of the union’s general council, to see if we can get them back out to work,” Chand said.

IAC calls for revival of ERC – independent review of employment at GECOM THE Indian Action Committee (IAC) is calling for the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to be operationalised as it noted the concerns of the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with regard to ‘ethnic employment’ at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The organisation said in a press release, “The IAC believes that while the party has a right to be concerned over issues, including those relating to GECOM, it urges cognisance of the sensitivities of ethnic-related aspersions and the precipitating challenges it pose to national cohesion… The IAC therefore calls for those members of the ERC who should have been sworn in prior to the May 11 general elections, be so empowered immediately thereby resuscitating this constitutional commission, whose role cannot be overstated, especially with the current issue at hand.”

The IAC further stated that such an issue should not be dismissed. In this regard it proposes an external, independent review of GECOM which should be conducted to ascertain the validity of the party’s claims of preferred and disadvantageous ethnic employment against it.

The IAC also said that if such an endeavor is profes-

sionally undertaken, it would aid in the allaying of fear with respect to the party’s concern and could vindicate GECOM’s position. With regards to the latter, it would reinforce that Guyanese, regardless of their ethnicity, could deliver their duties professionally and without favour or ill will.

“The IAC is firm in its belief that ethnicity must not be a factor to bring into any form of disrepute the execution of assigned duties

by Guyanese. The IAC believes that in a multi-ethnic society like Guyana, for an organization to derive a sense of confidence based upon the employment of a particular and preferred ethnic group, is counterproductive to the efforts of unification and the country’s national motto.

The IAC deems the utterances as most unfortunate,” the organization stated.

The IAC said further that it is aware that parliamentarians within the 10th Parliament worked tirelessly to implement a democratic process for the election of the members to represent the various groups from civil society to the ERC. Unfortunately, those members having been approved by the National Assembly were not provided the opportunity to be sworn in as commissioners.

Meanwhile, African Cultural and Development Asso-

ciation (ACDA) Executive Director, Dr. Eric Phillips has said everyone has a right to seek whatever information they need since it’s a democracy. He noted that the same question asked by the IAC can be used to address any or all other institutions in Guyana.

“What is the purpose or the intent of the request, for example, one can say that the Guyana Police Force or the Guyana Defence Force does not have the essential racial mix. The more deeper issue is why is it so, is it because people of Indian descent or Chinese descent don’t see being in the army or the police force lucrative because the jobs are too low paying,” Phillips questioned. “The same goes for mining, you can go to Skeldon, Balwant Singh Hospital and one can go many different places and ask the same question, it’s everybody’s freedom of choice.”

And, questioning the motive of the point being put forward by the IAC, Phillips cited another example using a sector analysis where the economy and business community can also be reviewed. “Who owns 95% of the economy, and if one race owns 95% of the economy, what does that mean? When you start looking at things without looking at the broader picture then issues become more problematic.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Death penalty a murderous symbol of inequality – Caribbean Regional Conference hears

By Tajeram Mohabir EXECUTIVE Director of the Justice Institute and international lawyer Melinda Janki believes that the death penalty is probably the most murderous symbol of inequality.

She shared her views during a panel discussion titled, “The Death Penalty as a deterrent; does it work,” at the Caribbean Regional Conference on Abolition of the Death Penalty which concluded yesterday.

The death penalty is expected to serve as a deterrent to murder, but Janki pointed out that from all that has been happening in Guyana and the countries that retain it, it has not been working.

She told a gathering at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre that every time someone is murdered, it means that the death penalty has failed in that case. And there are quite a number of countries in the Caribbean where this problem continues to happen.

Using statistics to support her argument, Janki noted that in 2013, 31 people were murdered in Barbados; 137 in The Bahamas; 130 in Guyana; and 1133 in Jamaica. All these countries, she said, have the death penalty.

From these statistics, the penalty has not served as a deterrent, but has failed in the worst possible way.

By September this year,

Guyana had recorded 108 murders; a clear indicator, Janki said, that capital punishment is not working here, nor in the Caribbean states where it is still in effect.

In contrast, other countries in the Caribbean which have abolished the penalty have been experiencing a different result.

The Caribbean consists of 25 independent nations and 14 territories under the jurisdiction of France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. The majority of them have abolished the death penalty.

In 2013, Anguilla recorded one murder, Montserrat one, Martinique 17, Guadeloupe 32, and Haiti 689. These statistics, Janki maintained, illustrate that it is not a requirement to keep the death penalty to have a lower murder rate.

OUTSIDE THE CARIBBEAN And outside of the Caribbean, it has worked, she said.

In Europe, for instance, from 1995 to 2015, when Slovenia abolished the death penalty, its murder rate dropped from two to 0.4; in the Czech Republic, it went from two to 0.8; while the rate in Estonia fell from 20.1 to 4.8.

“This is part of the trend in Europe; I am not saying that the death penalty caused it, but you can abolish it, and the death penalty will go

sultation, an amendment was made to the Criminal Law Offences Act, removing the mandatory death penalty for murder.

The courts in Guyana are empowered to examine the circumstances of the crime and apply different penalties.

Justice Institute Executive Director, Melinda Janki

Barbados Senior Council, Andrew Pilgrim

down,” Janki said.

While it would not be fair to compare the well-off countries in Europe with those in the Caribbean, according to the Justice Institute Director, there is evidence to support the abolition of the death penalty, even when the highly developed countries are compared.

She pointed out that the murder rate in Denmark, which does not have the death penalty, is 0.3, compared to the U.S., which has kept the penalty but has a murder rate of 5.8, which is about 19 times higher than Denmark.

The international lawyer is of the view that to end murder, governments have to look at who is doing the killing and why. Murders have been linked to drugs, guns, and inequality in society among other factors.

“The death penalty does not stop people from tak-

ing drugs; it does not stop people from using guns; it does not enable the police to catch criminals and have them convicted. It does not make society more equal; the death penalty is actually the most murderous symbol of inequality. The rich don’t get hanged; only the poor and the marginalised.

Capital punishment means that those with the capital don’t get the punishment,” Janki said in her passionate presentation.

Guyana is the only country in South America that has not abolished capital punishment. Suriname was the latest country in South America to strike the death penalty law off its statute books. But though Guyana has the law, in practice, there is an unwritten and unspoken moratorium in effect.

For some decades, Guyana has not applied punishment by way of death. And in 2010, through wide con-

GPL hosts ‘Night of Reflection’ for fallen colleague THE Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) on Tuesday hosted a Night of Reflection in honour of a colleague of theirs who died recently.

That colleague is 21-yearold Roshni Phagwah who threw hereself off the Kaieteur Falls last Saturday gone. Before her demise, Phagwah had orked at ithe company’s New Amsterdam office as a Customer Services Clerk.

The memorial service, GPL said in a release yester-

day, was held in the compound of the company’s New Amsterdam Commercial Office. Describing her passing as “shocking”, GPL said it was “deeply saddened” by the news.

A delegation headed

by Interim Deputy Chief Officer Rensford Homer, along with Welfare Officer Ms. Yvette Haynes, Public Relations Officer Ms. Shevon Sears-Murray, and other members of staff on Tuesday paid a visit to Phagwah’s bereaved family

to offer their condolences on behalf of the Executive Management of GPL, staff

members, and Public Infrastructure Minister Mr. David Patterson.

AN INHERITANCE But Janki pointed out that Guyana inherited the death penalty law from Britain when it gained independence in 1966, and it is not a law a free Guyana chose and should not keep.

“Keeping the death penalty stops society from looking at what causes murder,” she said. “How long would the people in the English-speaking Caribbean hide behind the death penalty rather than force politicians to deal with the guns, the drugs, the corruptions, inequality, violence? she asked. “I personally applaud the abolition of the death penalty in all cases,” she said. “It does not work; and has no place in civilised society.”

Janki was well supported by fellow panellist Leela Ramdeen of the Greater Caribbean for Life, who stressed that there is no evidence that the death penalty presents murder.

But as a member of the audience pointed out, the former President Desmond

Hoyte, back in 1985, hanged two persons when “kickdown-the-door” robberies were on the increase, and the crime rate dropped dramatically.

The panellists were, however, of the belief that the rate did not drop because of the hanging, but because the bandits were afraid of being caught.

“Politicians support the death penalty in a symbolic way to show that they are tackling crime,” Ramdeen said, adding that the fear of apprehension and swift punishment have proven to be more forceful deterrents to crime.

Barbados’s Senior Council, Andrew Pilgrim, who was also a member of the panel, lamented the fact that the situation is the same in his country as well, saying that the Barbados justice system does not make any distinction among criminals.

The law, he said, must be well thought out, based on rational behaviours, and should not lean towards revenge.

Sadly, too, he said, in Barbados, if the police say a person killed someone, it is enough for the accused to be hanged.

Pilgrim also noted that the legal aid system in the Caribbean is limited, and the belief that it really benefits the poor is but a myth.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Raschid Osman laid to rest - amidst moving tributes

By Shirley Thomas

THE body of veteran journalist and radio broadcaster, Mohamad Raschid Osman, was yesterday laid to rest at Le Repentir Cemetery after a moving but uplifting Thanksgiving Service in celebration of his life at First Assembly of God Church on D’Urban Street, Wortmanville.

A practicing journalist of international renown, and Assistant Sunday Editor of the Guyana Chronicle, Osman died peacefully in his sleep in the wee hours of the morning Saturday at his Bent Street, Wortmanville home, after returning from a select drama assignment earlier in the evening. He was 78.

Joining his grieving wife, Pastor Yvonne Osman, only child, Ruth, and other bereaved relatives in paying their last respects to the communications icon were Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, and Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.

Other mourners and sympathiers, numbering in the hundreds, included: Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Ltd (GNNL), Ms. Jean LaRose; GNNL Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Nigel Williams; other members of the media fraternity; and members of the Assemblies of God fraternity. The officiating minister was the

Rev. Raphael Massiah.

EXEMPLARY QUALITIES In the outpouring of tributes in his honour, offered by representatives of the GNNL; the Osman family; the Zebeda/Alexander family and First Assembly of God Church, Mohamad Raschid Osman was hailed for his exemplary qualities as a man of substance, a father, husband and mentor who willingly, and with a sense of purpose, imparted his knowledge to the scores of journalists under his tutelage Ms. Celicia Pariuag of the First Assembly of God Church, who grew up under his watch, remembered him as a true example of a man, husband and father.

“Brother Osman remains in my heart, a man of rare worth, a man of strength, and a man who loved his God.” Referring to his calm demeanour but firm resolve, she recalled, “His presence spoke louder than his words, and when he did speak, his words were carefully selected and made significant impact. While he did not cause a stir wherever he went, he had the propensity to leave nuggets of wisdom, which caused you to think for a long time after your discourse.”

Editorial Consultant at the Guyana Chronicle, Mr. Godfrey Wray concurred that Raschid was a man who loved and lived for his family, who were always foremost in his conversations.

He remembers him as having had a penchant for things

classical, cultural and even culinary.

ALWAYS INCISIVE As Wray put it, Mr. Osman was a reference book on every subject, except sports.

“He was always incisive, not caustic; cryptic, never verbose.”

And, commenting on his mastery of the written word, Wray asserted: “His writings were gems, his reviews legendary. Raschid’s imprimatur will forever remain stamped on our hearts.”

Assistant Pastor of the First Assembly of God church, Raphael Jackman, gratefully acknowledged that Raschid Osman taught him lots of life’s values. “You afforded me the privilege to hear life issues addressed from a mature standpoint; you helped me to learn and value the art of listening; fine-tuned my grammar and desire for knowledge.”

And, reflecting on the good times spent with the elder Raschid Osman, Sherod Duncan wrote: “Thanks for the arguments and encouragements. Thanks for the laughs. Thanks for being a good father, and being a model as a husband to Pastor Yvonne Osman. Thanks for being a good citizen, public servant; a gentleman, and thanks for being a father and friend to me.”

ONE OF A KIND To a sister, he was “One

Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine (right) and others during the Church Service

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo offering his condolences to Mrs. Yvonne Osman, widow of Mr. Raschid Osman

Sympathisers file past the casket as they pay their last respects of a kind; so rare today. So gifted with music and writing; so full of love and appreciation. We were lucky enough to have a brother who is like no other. He gave so much love and care, and everyone still felt his special touch.”

Brother-in-law, Vincent Alexander spoke of his prowess as a journalist, literary and arts analyst, and a connoisseur of fine music.

And, humble man that he was, even though he was an alumnus of Queen’s College, Raschid seldom spoke of that grounding or association. But his demeanour, knowledge and modesty spoke volumes.

He later dedicated much of his life to knowledge sharing in the sphere of art, music and literature: The things he

knew and loved best.

The eulogy was read by his daughter, Mrs. Ruth Rose, who remembered her father as a person who never lost his cool. He loved classic music and books. He was always well dressed; had a keen eye and a sharp wit, all characteristics which defined him from his days at Queen’s College and his 50-year-long career in the media.

He spoke passionately about books and classical musicians and jazz singers, and shared anecdotes from the lives of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

She recalled young men and women gravitating to her father over the years, gripped by his wisdom, extensive knowledge and love of the arts.

Of Muslim parentage, Raschid Osman was introduced to the First Assembly of God Church in 1973 by his friend Rickey Singh, and having developed a thirst for the things of God, got baptised and became a member of the Church. His interest never waned; rather, his commitment grew from strength to strength, and he was later to become Treasurer of the Church, serving in that capacity for many years.

And, commending the way Mr. Osman shared his gifts with other people, Rev. Massiah, in his message, exhorted the congregation to have a plan to number their own days, and make the best of those days, in keeping with God’s will for their lives.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Sovereign Wealth Fund legislation soon

By Tajeram Mohabir

Sovereign Fund Legislation is expected to be laid before the House in 2016 as Guyana moves to ensure every citizen enjoys an equitable share in the national patrimony.

The bill will be informed by views garnered from consultations to be held countrywide before it is tabled for scrutiny and eventual finalisation in the National Assembly. President David Granger during the last elections had promised to create a Sovereign Wealth Fund from the revenues of the extractive Industries.

Speaking at a Sovereign Wealth Fund seminar at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre on Wednesday, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman said the fiscal structures will be built taking the lessons learnt from other countries and Guyana’s unique context into consideration.

Strategies and policies that maximise the net benefits from resource development projects and how industry and governments can work together to reform poor governance models in favour of greater transparency and accountability are all areas to be explored, Mr Trotman said.

Earlier this year, oil was discovered in Guyana, and US exploration company ExxonMobil is expected to recommence drilling soon, but Mr Trotman said Guyana’s resource wealth is more than the back gold.

“We have an abundance of natural resources that go

beyond the oil that is to come in the near future, and includes gold, diamonds, sand, stone, bauxite, forest products, and even water; which we have thus far failed to effectively capitalise upon.

Earnings from all of our natural resources will be housed within resource wealth management funds to the benefit of all Guyanese.”

Key areas Guyana is expected to benefit in three key areas, namely savings for future generations; budget support in times of economic downturns; and infrastructural development.

The latter will include the building of roads to create better access and improve ease of trade and development in hinterland communities and across Guyana as well as the building of schools.

Mr Trotman wants the Fund to be prudently managed. “The truth is that extractive industries often generate large economic rents that governments can capture through taxes, royalties, and license fees. These fiscal measures, while allowing governments to capture a substantial share of the rents for the public, also need to be carefully structured to provide a stable and attractive investment climate.”

He pointed out that the magnitude and volatility of revenues from natural resources due to issues of commodity prices on the world market and individual sector challenges have led many governments to set up stabilisation funds to smooth the

A section of the gathering at the Sovereign Wealth Fund seminar at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre yesterday (Delano Williams photo) macroeconomic and budgetary impacts, and to provide sustainable revenues for future generations.

Issues Of the 46 odd countries with Sovereign Funds, a number of them had issues concerning its governance and operation, including the savings rules, the timing of withdrawals and the spending that they support.

Guyana is aware of these shortcomings, and is hoping to get it right when the Fund comes into operation. Yesterday’s seminar sought to introduce local policymakers to existing models and to share experiences, both good and bad.

Mr Trotman said it is an integral part of the plan to prepare Guyana to commence the process for planning “for what we know will be a wave of wealth that may not pass again in our lifetimes”.

The two-day seminar supported by the Canadian

Moraikobai Craft Group presents President with hammock

President David Granger admires the handiwork of the women of the Moraikobai Craft Group who presented him with a hand-woven hammock at the Ministry of the Presidency.

High Commission is being facilitated by experts from the University of Calgary, Canada, a premier academic institution with a strong ex-

tractive resource governance programme.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Pierre Giroux said Sovereign Funds

help governments uphold their public responsibility, and are becoming increasingly important factors in economic development in emerging markets.

“The Government of Canada remains committed to working with Guyana and other partners on this initiative,” he said, pointing out that the Fund provides a foundation to create economic prosperity for many years to come.

H o w e v e r, h e a l s o pointed out that Sovereign Funds are complex mechanisms and have to be properly managed to ensure transference and accountability so that all benefit, and in the way they should.

28 fishermen sacked... from page 4

give each of the crew, including captains, a loan with an agreement to pay back $10,000 every month.

“The loan that the crewmen collect, it pass through me. They wouldn’t give the crew the money direct (but) the money go into my hand, that means I am responsible for it,” the man explained.

He said: “They take out everything! From all what they (the crewmen) balance, all come out of my salary.

The whole balance for the money that they took from the crew, they took it out from my money.”

This captain explained that in the past workers had to endure various harsh conditions rather than take action for fear of victimization.

“The man (Prettipaul Singh) would tell you ‘go to who you want’ but we had nobody to go to,” he stated.

He said he has been working with the company over fourteen years and tagged the actions taken by his employers as “wrongful dismissal”.

Mistreatment When Guyana Chronicle visited the dismissed workers at McDoom yesterday, one captain, Hilton Joseph Callendar spoke passionately about his mistreatment by the company.

The man said, “I work at Prettipaul for 18 years. We all know about the situation with the weight (so) I voiced my concern to him and he knock me off.”

He was at the time sitting under a shed by the public road with a few of his for-

mer crew members trying to find ways to deal with the situation.

The man said after he spoke to his boss Tuesday, “He (Prettipaul) said Mr. Joseph, I gon tie up you boat” and when he returned to draw his salary yesterday morning he was prevented from entering the compound.

“The people have no regards for you, (they) cuss you like a lil child. If you talk to he, he tell you get yuh (expletive) out the compound,” the man said.

The fired workers said they will not allow their services to go down in vain and will do all they can lawfully to receive justice.

“We ain’t turning back.

It’s either he pay me for the eighteen years that I work there because is not eighteen days, is eighteen years!” Callendar said, and added, “He treat we like we is nobody.

We call for so much seabob a week and they rob us. They keep back 7,000 pounds, 10,000 pounds and when you come back you still have to pay for it, what is it?”

Chronicle also spoke to three of the crew members who were told they were banned from the compound when they turned up yesterday.

Berchell Lewis, who is the brother of Harold Lewis, said he was escorted by security to pick up his personal belongings when he visited the workplace.

“I felt so bad that almost all of my personal belonging I threw them away,” he said.

He worked in the fishing industry for more than

40 years. “My father died on sea, my brother died at sea. I’m in this work about 42 years.” He said he was employed with Georgetown Seafood and after the owner died, the company was sold to Singh and he continued working there.

Malcolm Underwood said he has been employed there five years now, and while he is the main bread winner of his family, he too did not receive his salary.

He worked with Captain Callendar.

“After the boat come in they tek off the captain because of whatever he must be tell them and when I come this morning they say I get ban and I can’t enter the compound. They never notify we with nothing. Just as we come to enter the compound I enter and whilst I going in the guard call me and said this thing (order) just come in front, you get ban. You can’t go in the compound, turn back.”

The man said: “I get a family. I get parent. I have a wife. I come with expectation fuh draw money.”

He said he owes the company around $44,000 on his loan but was told that his salary this time cannot cover his debt and he now owes them $4,000.

Mark Edghill was employed seven months ago with the company. He said, “They take out all the money. So the money that I draw now is 17,000.

I have a family plus I gatto pay child support.” He too was banned from the compound.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

GBTI unveils education saving plan EDUCATION Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine has said that government hopes to establish a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Secretariat within his ministry to strengthen relations between the school and parents. He also applauded a move by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) in providing an avenue for investment in education with the launch of its Education Savings Plan.

The minister was speaking at a ceremony to unveil the

work of GBTI, partnering with parents in providing an avenue for post-education saving by parents for their children’s education.

GBTI has launched its Education Savings Plan as an avenue for parents to bank on their child’s tertiary education from a tender age, making provisions for better career choices and enriching their lives. The plan was unveiled Monday at a ceremony at the GBTI Recreational Centre in Bel Air Park, Georgetown.

INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS Dr Roopnaraine said the direct involvement of parents is vital for success of the education sector in delivering quality education for all at all levels, and his ministry is moving towards parental partnership by the strengthening of the PTA in each school across the country.

Recently, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he disclosed that inactive PTAs will be revitalised under his tenure as Minister of Educa-

tion. He lauded the bold step GBTI took toward establishing the financial education plan and encouraged every bank to pursue possible opportunities to be another development bank.

Government has placed education as a priority, making the largest allocation by sector with $33 billion directed towards the development of the education system this year.

Education has also been rated number four on the country’s sustainable development goals and the minister noted that

Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine addressing the gathering at launching of the GBTI Education Savings Plan on Monday.

(Photo by Samuel Maughn)

without education nothing else works.

The education ministry oversees more than 176 schools and has a major responsibility for repairing the shambles which includes infrastructural renovation and other areas of performance in which it has failed over the years.

AN ABOMINATION As such, Dr. Roopnaraine said his ministry is moving to eliminate extra lessons “by improving our delivery of essential education in the classroom”, since extra lessons “has to do with our failure to deliver the curriculum in classrooms.”

The minister said he became particularly sympathetic upon learning that children as young as four years who are still in nursery schools are subjected to taking extra lessons, and deemed the mere idea abominable. “Childhood should be childhood and children should be children. This I believe is an abomination.”

On Friday, November 19, Minister Roopnaraine was patron at the launch of the Samsung Smart School Project which maximises the use of technology to deliver education in the classroom at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School. He said he was astonished at the way learning has developed technologically and has urged parents to encourage such initiatives in the education of their child.

Dr. Roopnaraine praised the contributions of parents of this year’s University of Guyana Turkeyen valedictorian Sachin Ramsuran and Tain Campus valedictorian Sasenarine Tomby, in raising children of excellence though they themselves are humble cane-cutters.

He suggested that Guyanese parents develop strategic investments in the future of their children and eliminate

the culture of investing only in things they see as needful for immediate gains.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GBTI Mr. Robin Stoby, said the bank has maintained a recognised focus on youths over the years with its Early Savers Club, providing the opportunity for them to develop key financial skills, and its Career Guidance sessions conducted to prepare school leavers for the working environment. These initiatives by the bank, he said, are geared towards encouraging personal development and demonstrating the caring and supportive attitude of GBTI. According to Stoby, a sound educational background guarantees immeasurable advantages for society, and the role of parents as partners in educating the child is vital in instilling values and fostering a character of responsibility and integrity which would lead to success. He said funding of the child’s education is “absolutely necessary,” as it is important for each child to have the opportunity to attend school from nursery to university, offering them multiple pathways to develop their potential.

“With this GBTI Education Savings Plan, we are presenting parents and guardians with a choice, a chance to take bold action for your child’s education, to make them ready for today’s and inevitably tomorrow’s highly progressive world,” he stated.

The post-secondary education financial plan has a minimum total of $2M and a maximum of $15M and will be maintained in the child’s name, but activated by parent or legal guardian.

Documented information on the plan will be available at GBTI branches across the country from today.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Gov’t, BBCI to ink agreement soon – to lower bridge toll THE Berbice River Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) will soon sign an agreement to lower the bridge’s tolls which will be implemented next month, according to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.

The Coalition government and the owners of the BBCI have reached an agreement, which was not an easy task, Minister Patterson said.

He said both parties have agreed to have the tolls lowered, and as such, the government has crafted an agreement which after the approval of the Attorney-General will be signed by both parties in the new month.

“Both parties have agreed to lower the tolls, but it is just the mechanism to put

it in place, and in the form of the agreement, which we expect will be signed soon,” Minister Patterson said.

The Granger-led Administration, while in opposition, had expressed concerns about the high toll being passed on the citizenry to cross the Berbice River Bridge, which was constructed via a public-private partnership.

Since taking office, the new government has made proposals to subsidise the cost of the toll reduction, which would have seen a steady decrease in tolls for commuters, thereby bringing relief.

However, the proposal to the Berbice River Bridge Corporation was rejected,

overwhelming support from residents.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his budget presentation had announced that the toll for passenger cars and buses crossing the Berbice River Bridge would be reduced by $300, from $2,200 to $1,900, while the toll for all other types of vehicles would be reduced by 10 per cent.

The New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company (GPC),

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

and, wanting to honour the commitment it made, Government implemented a water taxi service for the complaining residents.

The Berbice River water taxi pilots that started work in September received

which is owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, has $80M in share stock in the Berbice Bridge.

The other principal investors in the bridge include the National Insurance Scheme with an initial $80M share, Secure International Finance Company with $80M shares, Demerara Contractors, which holds $40M in shares, Hand in Hand Motor & Life Insurance Company that holds $40M in shares and the Colo-

nial Life Insurance Company with $80M in shares.

The remaining and overwhelming majority of shares held in the Berbice Bridge Company belonged to Government through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and stands at $950M in preference shares. This has since been sold to NIS, bringing its share stake to in excess of one billion dollars.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

IAAF Party falls flat as doping dominates agenda

By Mitch Phillips MONACO, (Reuters)-` There was an uneasy, faintly embarrassed atmosphere around the Fairmont Hotel on Monte Carlo’s seafront yetserday, in stark contrast to previous years when the suits and the spikes of world athletics have come together to celebrate their sport.

Today, the Council of the International Association of Athletics Federa-

tions (IAAF) will meet to go through the latest developments in the doping and corruption scandals that have ripped the heart out of track and field.

It is likely to be a long meeting.

In previous years the November Council has been the precursor to the IAAF Gala, when the sportsman and sportswoman of the year are honoured in a glossy, hugely expensive and self-congratulatory ceremony.

This year, the council members and officials will pack their bags on Friday and return home, the gala having been cancelled in the wake of the worst period the sport has ever experienced.

As new president Sebastian Coe rightly perceived, this was not a time to be seen celebrating.

There is precious little appetite for a party.

Though some council members were in an upbeat mood as part of a Sport for Peace conference at the same venue, when asked about today’s meeting, few were

prepared to talk.

“It’s not the time. We’re not doing media,” one told Reuters, even insisting on anonymity for that comment.

So, instead of being lauded on stage in their finery, the shortlisted stars such as Usain Bolt, Ashton Eaton, Genzebe Dibaba and Dafne Schippers, along with the world’s media will hear of the award winners via an emailed news release.

Coe, who took over from Lamine Diack in August, has said the sport he graced as a world-beating middle distance runner has been “shamed” by a series of doping and corruption revelations many observers con-

sider even more damning than those engulfing world soccer body FIFA. The IAAF was put on the back foot initially by media claims that it had covered up or ignored swathes of suspicious blood tests, claims that Coe initially and ill-advisedly dismissed as a “declaration of war on our sport”.

However French police subsequently announced they were questioning 82-year-old Diack over claims he had taken payments of hundreds of thousands of pounds to make positive doping tests “disappear” and allow guilty athletes to continue to compete.

Guinness Greatest In ...

From backpage

Tiger Bay versus Stevedore Housing Scheme; Queen Street Tiger Bay versus Jamoon Drive; Bent Street versus South Ruimveldt; Festival City Street Fighters versus Shopping Plaza. These four matches ended as goalless draws.

The competition continues on Saturday at the Banks DIH, D’Aguair Park.

Phillips clocks historic...

From backpage and South Georgetown District 13 are next with 169.5, 157.5 and 156 points, respectively.

North West District 1 has 144.5 points, while District 4 has 130.5 points and Rupununi District 9 with 112.5 points. Meanwhile, blazing to 12 seconds flat in the female Under-16 100 metres finals, Phillips not only ran the fastest female 100 metres of the day, but also managed to erase the existing 12.2 seconds record set by Linden’s Onasha Rogers last year.

Phillips’s performance even surpasses the current 11 year old 12.1 seconds record held

by Rhobyn Alleyne in the female under 20 100m.

Phillips received exciting competition from District 12 Cassie Small, who took second place win in 12.3 seconds. For District 13 Tiffauna Garnett picked up the third place win in a time of 13.4s.

District 11 Avon Samuels clashed with District 4 Cassie Trixley and Natricia Hooper for the female under 18 win, in what played out to be a really tight finish. Samuels was not to be outdone though, and dominated in a time of 12.6 seconds, as the lanky Hooper was pushed to third

by Trixley who clocked 12.

It was another tight finish in the male Under-18 100m finals where CARIFTA bronze medalist Jason Yaw came up against District 3 Tevin Garraway, and Lionel Mentis.

Garraway and the South American Youth Championships gold medalist, Yaw were obvious crowd favourites leading up to the race, with Mentis touted as a strong contender to add an exciting challenge to the mix.

In the end it was Garraway who claimed the win in a time of 10.8 seconds, Yaw touched down in 11 seconds flat, while Mentis clocked 11.1 seconds.

L i n d e n ’s C o m p t o n Ceasar was indeed the man to watch, when the male Under-18 100 metres got underway. Ceasar did not disappoint, clocking the fastest male 100m timing and equalling the current record of 10.7 seconds in his race. Ceasar’s nearest contender in the race was District 15’s Tyrell Peters who ran in 11 seconds.

The male under-16 100m win went to District 10 Daniel Williams, District 13 Umkosi Vancooten (11.2s) and

District 15 Jermaine King (11.4s), were second and third respectively. In the male under-14 Joshua Hercules fro District 15 took the win in 12 seconds, followed

by Jamal Browne (12.2s) from District 6. Yesena Andrews won the female under 14 finals in 12.9 seconds.

The day also saw the completion of the 800m finals, where the girls’ under-16 3000m champion returned to claim the Under-16 800m win. Running a blistering 2:23.1s, she was challenged by District 3 Joanna Archer who clocked 2:25.6s.

The girls’ under-18 and under-20 finals were won

by North Georgetown’s Maria Urquhart (2:32.1s) and Linden’s Shontel Hinds (2:31.6s), respectively.

One the men’s side North Georgetown’s Orin Prince claimed the male under-20 800m in a time of 2:06.8s, ahead of Linden’s Shaquille Smartt, who had a time of 2:07.1s, Quacy Simpson claimed third place for District 12.

As the teacher’s competition continued District 7s Feona Mentis won the female teachers under-41 80m dash.

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Man United pay tribute on anniversary of Best’s death MANCHESTER, (Reuters)-Manchester United fans paid tribute to George Best on the 10th anniversary of his death by holding up white torchlights in the seventh minute of their Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven yesterday.

Best, one of football’s all-time greats who played for United between 1963 and 1974, died at the age of 59 from complications arising from alcoholism on Nov. 25, 2005.

He wore the number seven jersey for most of his career and it has gone on to become the most iconic of their shirt numbers with Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham wearing it since his heyday.

A banner proclaiming “Georgie ... Simply the Best” was also paraded by fans at Old Trafford yesterday.

Many supporters still regard the Northern Irishman as the greatest player in the club’s history.

Manchester United fans wave lights during the seventh minute of the match in honour of former player George Best.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

South Africa 11-2 after restricting India to 215

(REUTERS)-Off-spinner Simon Harmer took four wickets while paceman Morne Morkel bagged three as South Africa skittled India for 215 in the first innings on the opening day of the third Test yesterday.

The visitors, however, surrendered some of the advantage and lost opener Stiaan van Zyl for a duck to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and nightwatchman Imran Tahir (four) to Ravindra Jadeja to slump to 11-2 at stumps.

Dean Elgar (seven) and captain Hashim Amla (nought) were unbeaten at the crease with South Africa, who trail the four-Test series 1-0, still 204 runs behind.

India captain Virat Kohli had no hesitation in opting to bat first after winning the toss at the VCA Stadium with the pitch expected to assist the slow bowlers.

But strikes from Morkel

and Harmer, who returned to the side after playing the opening test in Mohali, eroded most of the advantage the hosts thought they had by batting first.

Jadeja (34) and Wriddhiman Saha (32) then combined in a crucial 48-run stand to ensure the hosts had a competitive total in what appears to be a low-scoring match after India were reduced to 125-6 at one stage.

The surface provided prodigious turn for the spinners from the first session of the match, which the touring side, currently the topranked Test team, need to win to level the series.

It will not be an easy task for South Africa, especially on a track which has already seen spinners from both sides claim eight out of the 12 wickets to fall on the opening day.

Part-time left-arm spin-

Off-spinner Simon Harmer is pumped after dismissing Amit Mishra on the first day in Nagpur. ner Elgar broke India’s opening stand by dismissing Shikhar Dhawan (12) after the left-hander had added 50 with Murali Vijay.

Dhawan advanced down the wicket but could only manage to spoon the ball back to the bowler, who took a smart diving catch.

Vijay (40), India’s top scorer, looked in control before he was done in by a Morkel delivery that straightened after pitching to hit the batsman plumb in front of the wicket.

Morkel, leading the South African pace attack in absence of injured team mate Dale Steyn, beat Kohli (22) several times before inducing an edge from the righthander which was pouched by wicketkeeper Dane Vilas.

Ajinkya Rahane (13) struggled throughout his stay

at the crease and played an expansive drive off Morkel to be clean bowled.

Harmer sent back Cheteshwar Pujara (21) and Rohit Sharma (two), who was playing his first match in the series, before also dismissing Saha who was

caught acrobatically by JP Duminy at short mid-wicket.

Both sides went in with an extra spinner for the match with India opting for leg-spinner Amit Mishra and South Africa adding Harmer to their line-up.

INDIA 1st innings M. Vijay lbw b M. Morkel 40 S. Dhawan c&b Elgar 12 C. Pujara lbw b Harmer 21 V. Kohli c Vilas b M. Morkel 22 A. Rahane b M. Morkel 13 Ro. Sharma c de Villiers b Harmer 2 W. Saha c Duminy b Harmer 32 R. Jadeja b Rabada 34 R. Ashwin b Tahir 15 A. Mishra lbw b Harmer 3 I. Sharma not out 0 Extras (b-15 lb-3 nb-1 w-2) 21 Total (all out, 78.2 overs) 215 Fall of wickets: 1-50 S. Dhawan,2-69 M. Vijay,3-94 C. Pujara,4-115 A. Rahane,5-116 V. Kohli,6-125 Ro. Sharma,7-173 R. Jadeja,8-201 W. Saha,9-215 R. Ashwin,10-215 A. Mishra Bowling: M. Morkel 16.1 - 7 - 35 - 3(nb-1),K. Rabada 17 8 - 30 - 1(w-2), S. Harmer 27.2 - 2 - 78 – 4, D. Elgar 4 - 0 - 7 – 1, I. Tahir 12.5 - 1 - 41 – 1,J. Duminy 1 - 0 - 6 – 0.

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings D. Elgar not out 7 S. van Zyl c Rahane b Ashwin 0 I. Tahir b Jadeja 4 H. Amla not out 0 Extras 0 Total (for 2 wickets, 9 overs) 11 Fall of wickets: 1-4 S. van Zyl,2-9 I. Tahir To bat: A. de Villiers, J. Duminy, D. Vilas, K. Rabada, S. Harmer, M. Morkel, F. du Plessis Bowling: I. Sharma 2 - 1 - 4 – 0, R. Ashwin 4 - 2 - 5 – 1, R. Jadeja 3 - 1 - 2 – 1.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

Rosignol claims West Berbice Zone Cricket League title ROSIGNOL Secondary defeated Bush Lot Secondary by eight wickets in a low-scoring encounter to win the West Berbice Zone of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) sponsored by Digcel and Banks DIH. Playing at the Bush Lot ground, the home team was dismissed for a dismal 94 in 19.2 overs, as only Clayton Grant (12), Trenton Glasgow (12) and Seon Glasgow (11) reached double figures.

Hemchen Singh claimed 4-16 in 5.2 overs while S. Vyphius supported well with 3-9.

In reply, the home team stuck two early blows which

Hopetown Primary crowned Scotia Bank Kiddy West Berbice Champs

HOPETOWN Primary emerged as champions of the West Berbice Zone when they defeated Number 5 Primary in the final of the 2015 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Scotiabank Kiddy Progression One Cricket.

At the Bush Lot ground, Hopetown Primary won the toss and gave Number 5 Primary first strike as they

racked up 115/5. Sayeed Khan top-scored with 30, being supported by Tyrone Delph who chipped in with 20. Hopetown’s Avinde Rogers turned in figures of 2-3.

In the Hopetown reply, Rogers returned with the bat to lead the successful chase as they rallied to 117-7.

Number 5 Primary tried their best to defend a tricky target,

taking the game down to the final over, but Hopetown eventually prevailed.

The action continues tomorrow when Timehri Primary clash with Camille Primary at the Banks DIH Ground, Thirst Park.

The winner will face St. Ann’s in the final of the East Bank District which is slated for Friday, November 27 at the same venue.

Javed Karim receives the winning trophy for his team from the West Berbice President, David Black. sparked some hope before Javid Karim and C. Veersammy settled down with level-headed batting to lead Rosignol to victory with no further loss. Karim and Veersammy were both unbeaten

on 37 and 23, respectively.

Rosignol Secondary will now represent West Berbice in the Inter-Zone stage of the NSSCL which is slated to commence in January 2016.

Cairns jury retires, will reconvene tomorrow`

THE jury in the Chris Cairns perjury trial has retired to consider its verdict and will reconvene at Southwark Crown Court tomorrow to continue its deliberations.

The presiding Judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, concluded his two-and-a-half days of summing-up at 1.02pm this afternoon, at which point he advised the jury that they should feel under no time pressure to return a verdict in a case that is already into its eighth week.

Cairns denies two counts of perjury and perverting the course of justice, relating to his successful libel action against Lalit Modi, the founder of the IPL, at the High Court in 2012.

His co-defendant and former legal adviser, Andrew Fitch-Holland, denies one count of perverting the course of justice, after allegedly attempting to secure a false witness statement from Lou Vincent to support Cairns’ case against Modi.

If the jury finds Cairns guilty of perjury, in relation to his statement at the High Court that he had “never” cheated at cricket and would not contemplate doing so, then they can move onto the charge of perverting the course of justice, in which Fitch-Holland is considered the primary perpetrator.

If Fitch-Holland is found not guilty, then Cairns must also be acquitted of that charge. If he is found guilty, the jury can then consider whether Cairns had conspired with Fitch-Holland in a “joint enterprise” to obtain the statement.

In his final day of sum-

ming-up, Mr Justice Sweeney took the jury through the evidence provided by Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain who, along with Vincent and Vincent’s ex-wife, Eleanor Riley, is considered one of the three key witnesses to the perjury charge. The judge reminded the jury that at least two of those testimonies must be considered true for the charge to be upheld.

Former New Zealand allrounder Chris Cairns Revisiting McCullum’s evidence, Mr Justice Sweeney reminded the jury that McCullum had claimed to have been approached three times by Cairns to match-fix, firstly on the eve of the inaugural Indian Premier League in Kolkata in April 2008, then by phone a few days later, and finally in person in Worcester on June 11, during New Zealand’s Test tour of England.

The details of these approaches, which Cairns denies, only came to light after an ICC anti-corruption briefing in Bangladesh in February 2011, on the eve of the World Cup. McCullum, who had previously confided in two teammates, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills, was encouraged to come clean and did so in

the course of three interviews with the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) briefings between 2011 and 2014.

John Rhodes, the ACSU officer who conducted the interviews, said in his evidence that McCullum had come across as a “very nervous young man” who was “struggling in relation to his relationship to Chris Cairns”.

“The inference was clear”, Rhodes had added, that McCullum had been approached to underperform, but it was not his role, as the interviewer, to put words in McCullum’s mouth. However, the ICC did not go on to investigate Cairns in the wake of McCullum’s statement, even though, in the words of Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the ACSU chairman, it was added to a file on Cairns which contained other information that went “beyond rumour”.

In each of his three interviews with Rhodes, the transcripts of which were available to the jury in a Q&A format, McCullum added extra details, including the name of Ricky Ponting, who had been present in the hotel bar in Kolkata when Cairns had phoned to make his first approach, and who also gave evidence earlier in the trial.

Mr Justice Sweeney told the jury that “it is a matter for you” whether McCullum had deliberately altered his account to serve his own interests, as the defence have suggested, or whether the extra details were innocently provided on account of more careful questioning in each of the three interviews. (ESPN Cricinfo).

Kemol Mentore receives the West Berbice Zone trophy while the new champs share the moment

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

GTT Rugby10’s

UG Wolves blow out Police; Army beat Pepsi Hornets

THE wet conditions at the National Park Rugby ground certainly was no help for the young Guyana Police Force squad as they were thrashed by UG Wolves in the GTT/GRFU Tens Tournament last Saturday.

The Wolves inflicted a 65– 0 beating on the Police team, making it the biggest score line of defeat to date in the tournament.

The assault on the inexperienced police squad started as early as the fifth minute of the game with Osei McKenzie’s three tries followed by Lance Adonis’s two tries and conversions Delroy Fordyce with two tries supported by Godfrey

Part of the Action between the Police and GDF Brooms with one try and three conversions along with Rondel Mc Author and Malcom Rhonda who contributed a try each, rounded off the point table for the UG Wolves.

UG scored 36 points in the first quarter followed by 29 in the last quarter of the game.

In the other Game of the day the Army extended their winning streak to three from three games, defeating Pepsi Hornets 32-10.

Speedster Patrick King was the danger man once again for his club scoring four tries while support came from Avery Corbin with two tries as well as Dwayne

Schroder who scored a conversation. The Pepsi Hornets score came from Troy Bascom.

Action in the GTT/ GRFU tens Rugby Tournament will continue on Saturday, November 28, at the National Park ground with two more games; President vs. Vice President Ladies followed by Yamaha Caribs vs. UG Wolves The various Teams are competing for Trophies and Medals, compliments of GT&T. Teams in the tournament are Guyana Defense Force, Pepsi Hornets, UG Wolves, Yamaha Caribs and the Guyana Police Force.

The two female teams will be President vs. Vice President select.

IPA helping Flex Night to raise the bar One of Guyana’s leading pharmaceutical companies, International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA), is helping Flex Night Inc. to raise the bar at the upcoming Flex Night International billed for Sunday, December 6, at the National Cultural Centre.

The support given by the pharmaceutical company for the Flex Night event is a further demonstration of its long, established commitment to the development and promotion of bodybuilding

in Guyana.

IPA, distributors of the familiar Universal brand of bodybuilding and nutrition supplements, is also the distributors of Optimum Nutrition products and will be mounting a display of its bodybuilding and nutrition products in the lobby of the National Cultural Centre during the Flex Night event.

IPA is also making supplements available to special categories of winners at Flex Night.

Donald Sinclair – Flex Night Managing Director receives the commitment of sponsorship from Mr. Reginald Persaud, Managing Director of IPA. The handover is witnessed by Ms. Atisha Isaacs, IPA Marketing Manager and Mr. David Gomes, Flex Night Director of External Resources.

Warriors go 16-0 to break NBA record FOR the first time in NBA history, a team has started the season 16-0 after the Golden State Warriors won again.

The Golden State Warriors have made the best ever start to an NBA season after a comfortable 111-77 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

MVP Steph Curry led the way once more with 24 points at Oracle Arena on Tuesday.

With the win, the Warriors improved to 16-0 to start the season – breaking the previous record.

They had already matched the marks set by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and 93-94 Houston Rockets.

Draymond Green had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Leandro Barbosa (13 points) and Klay Thompson (11) had double-digits in points.

Kobe Bryant, optimistic of an upset heading in, went one-of-14 from the field to finish with four points.

The struggling Lakers were outplayed from the outset, outscored 30-11 in

Steph Curry led the way once more with 24 points the first quarter.

A 35-17 third ended any chances the Lakers had of a

comeback as the Warriors’ incredible start continued.

(Sportsmax.com).

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Thursday November 26, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) George Headley-176 (WI vs ENG, Barbados, 1930 (2) Desmond Haynes-148 (WI vs AUST, Antigua, 1978) Today’s Quiz: (1) Where and when the WI won a Test mach for the first time?

(2) Where and when the WI won an ODI game for the first time?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

WICB to receive $10 Million along with 7 other Test teams

Guyanese Reuben Stoby captures Ceres Juices 10K in Tortola Guyanese Reuben Stoby, ran his personal best to capture the Ceres Juices 10 series race last Saturday in Road Town, Tortola BVI, finishing at Watering Hole, to cop a successful year in local road racing.

Sponsored by Nagico Insurances, Stoby has had a successful year winning the Dive BVI 10K series, the Blenheim Trust 5K series, where he was crowned the All Comers Champion, placed second in the Virgin Gorda Half Marathon, crowned Highland Spring College Classic Series 2-Mile Champion and now the Ceres Juices 10K Champion.

The Guyanese journalist romped to a comfortable win in the final race of the series, which took runners from just outside Banco Popular to a turnaround at Struggling Man in Sea Cows Bay, with a Personal Best of 37:50.04. Vincent Fournier, running for the first time competitively on the course, came second in 37:57.47 and Julius Farley finished third in a time of 38:51.36.

According to reports Stoby led from start to finish and had opened up a huge lead on his main challengers Fournier and Farley, how-

THE International Cricket Council has decided to pay seven full-member Boards $10 million over the next eight years as part of Test Cricket Fund announced last year when Big Three (BCCI, ECB and CA) had gained control over revamped ICC. According to ESPNcricinfo, the remaining full-member boards will receive $1.25 million each annually, beginning January 2016.

The ICC plans to make its first Test Cricket Fund payment of USD 600,000 in early January, and then disburse another USD 650,000 to the ’small seven’ member boards in July. Payments are expected to follow this biannual pattern until 2023.

The ICC had originally announced that the Test Cricket Fund was aimed to “encourage and support Test cricket” outside the Big Three nations, BCCI, ECB and CA. Since the Boards have already entered bilateral touring agreements until 2023, there appears to be limited scope to enhance their Test schedules using this payments.

The report says, “it seems that the money would be used to underwrite loss-making tours. For example, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) loses money on Test tours featuring all countries except the Big Three and Pakistan.”

The Test Cricket Fund would help them recover losses from home tours such as the recent visit by the West Indies, which is estimated to have cost SLC about $648,000.

The Test Cricket Fund had been among the chief incentives offered to the smaller boards, as the BCCI, ECB and CA sought support for their control over the ICC in January and February last year.

However, the ICC is yet to announce the funds’ terms of usage, or how it will hold boards accountable to the objective of encouraging Test cricket

WICB to meet CARICOM’s Cricket Governance Committee on Dec 4

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has acceded to the call of the CARICOM Cricket Governance Committee for an urgent meeting to discuss the state of the Caribbean game.

WICB president, in response to recent comments made by chairman of the CARICOM Cricket Governance Committee, Dr Keith Mitchell.

“The letter that we (the WICB) published is simply

Reuben Stoby ran a personal best of 37:50.04. ever, on the return Fournier began to eat into the lead and came to within some 20 metres of Stoby, who was able to switch gears for a sprint finish to win comfortably and in one of the fastest 10k times in the territory.

Stoby said he was happy with the personal best run and stated, “I am so happy about that. I ran 38:23 in training on the course so I knew I could break into 37 minutes.”

He continued, “I was

worried about the heat ahead of the race, but the conditions turned out to be good and then I was pushed to a fast time by Vincent Fournier. It was a good race and sets me up nicely for the BVI Half Marathon later in the year.”

According to Stoby, who challenges the clock instead of his opponents: “It’s not easy to run out front and run fast times so it’s always good to have competition. However, I never know who will

show up for a race here so I just set myself goal times and work towards that.”

He now will focus on the 10th BVI Sunrise Half Marathon on December 5, and is eager to face Shane DeGannes of the USVI and possibly Pamenos Ballantyne of St Vincent and the Grenadines. “I fancy myself to run a fast time. I respect those two guys but I also believe in myself and my ability.”

WICB president Dave Cameron The calls, which were made two weeks ago, come in the wake of the recently released CARICOM-commissioned Cricket Governance Review, which, among other things, recommended “immediate dissolution of the board and appointment of an interim board”.

“I would not, and have never disrespected any leader of the region,” stated Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron,

to outline a process that we felt is a reasonably one.

“I needed time to talk to the shareholders, what we would call the constituent members of the WICB, before actually meeting with our leaders.

“If it caused any offence, I sincerely apologise ... again.

“I am now scheduled to meet the ministers on the 4th of December in Grenada,” he added.

Sport

32

CHRONICLE

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

By Tamica Garnett THE best female 100 metres record-breaking performance ever at the Nationals and deserving of an astounding accolade must now be conferred upon young Kenisha Phillips who, yesterday, led District 4 to victory in the female Under-16 100 metres, on a day that also saw dominating performances from Tevin Garraway, Compton Ceasar, Natricia Hooper, Avon Samuels and Claudrice Mckoy.

Intermittent showers threatened to dampen, what turned out to be a day of scorching competition, as the 100 metres and 800 metres featured heated performances on the track, as District 10 increased its lead over District 11 in the track and field competition of the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships, otherwise known as Nationals, which got into its third day of action, yesterday, at the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 26, 2015

WICB to meet CARICOM’s Cricket Governance Committee on Dec 4 see page 27

Guinness Greatest In Da Street knockout stage draws near

Linden’s Compton Ceasar soars to first place in the boys’ under-18 100m finals at the National Stadium yesterday

District 4 Tevin Garraway wins the boys’ under-20 100m finals ahead of Jason Yaw and Linton Mentis.

National Stadium, Providence.

After the completion of 63 finals in the track and field competition Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (Linden) District 10 remains in the lead prevailing with 364.5 points, a 100 points over

North Georgetown District 11 which ended yesterday’s activities with 264 points.

Trailing in third place is Corentyne District 6 which has 211 points, West Demerara District 3 holding on to fourth position with 198.5 points, closely followed by

West Coast Berbice District 5 with 191.5 points, and New Amsterdam District 15 with 188 points.

Essequibo Coast/ Pomeroon District 2, East Georgetown District 12, see page 27

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JUST one round of preliminary matches remains before the Georgetown leg of the 2015/16 Guinness Greatest In Da Street Futsal Tournament enters the knockout stage.

The Petra organised event competition continued on Tuesday night at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac which found teams claiming victories, one of which was the 2 – 1 win by Back Circle over Sparta Boss.

As they contested the final match of the evening, Sparta Boss drew first blood in the second minute when the consistent Sheldon Shepherd scored. Three minutes later the scores were levelled, thanks to the Back Circle stalwart Andy Duke.

As the match continued, Jermain Beckles gave the eventual victors their first match-lead in the tenth minute.

But the Beckles goal was enough to give them the win as an equaliser proved too big a task for Sparta.

Upsetters continued to have a good run with a 2 – 1 win over South Sophia. Orlando Ricketts was successful in the fifth minute for Upsetters then two minutes later they were gifted with an own goal from the opposition. South Sophia managed to pull one back in the 16th minute when Ryan Oselmo struck but that was all before the Regulation Time whistle sounded.

Broad Street Bullies dimmed Gold Star in a 2 – 0 win as Devon Adams (7th) and Ryan Jones (13th) accounted for Broad Street’s goals. Young Ballers also recorded a win via the walkover route against Island All-Stars.

The other contested matches were Holmes Street see page 27 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015