Chronicle 11 3 2015

GUYANA No. 104361 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2015

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Markets aplenty … Holder slams for rice ‘crisis’ talks as political

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This composite photo showing some of the injured men from the accident as they arrived at the Ogle International Airport Monday afternoon (Leroy Smith photos)

Couple found dead U.S. woman fined for at Kingston seawall smuggling Towa Towa Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 3, 2015

Secondary education a rebuke to equality - Granger says a form of educational apartheid developing

PRESIDENT David Granger has contended that the secondary school education system here is a rebuke to the belief in equality, inclusivity and meritocracy as he lamented that education at that level is not universal.

The administration has inherited the flaws when it came to power about five months ago. The education system was under reform but began to rapidly deteriorate about three and a half years ago. According to statistics from the Ministry of Education, in 2009, students’ pass rate counting grades 1 to 3 was 63.7 per cent; in 2010 it increased to 66.2 per cent; and in 2011, it declined slightly to 64 per cent. In 2012 it slipped to 58. 6 per cent; in 2013, it inched to 59.3 per cent; while in 2014 it increased minimally to 60.2 per cent. In the last three years, the achievement can be best described as horizontal progress, as it was below the lowest national pass rate obtained in the previous three years. In many instances, the failures have led to frustration.

“Every day, five children drop out of secondary schools.

What is to become of them? Each year more than half of the students who undertake the National Grade Six Assessment fail. This means that our secondary education system is not producing the desired results. It means that half of the students who enter the secondary school system may not be qualified to be there. This performance impacts on the quality of the results at the secondary level,” the President pointed out.

Every year, the previous government had channelled

billions of dollars into the education sector. Undoubtedly, the results did not reflect value for money, given that there was an increase in spending on education in the past three years. Because of this neglect, in 2015, fewer than half of those who wrote English A and Mathematics at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations secured passes. The Ministry of Education had described as ‘unsatisfactory’ the performance of students in the core science subjects of Physics and Chemistry. “This performance is unacceptable President in the knowledge-based David Granger world in which we live.

Guyana simply cannot continue along this trajectory if it is to compete with our sisters in the Caribbean,” Mr Granger said. And aside from this problem, he noted the troubling disparities in education attainment between the coastland and the hinterland and between the schools in Georgetown and

U.S. woman fined for smuggling birds

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday ordered Ramjeet Singh Thakurdin, a Guyana-born United States-based citizen to pay a fine of $75,000 after she attempted to export birds out of Guyana to the United States.

It was stated that last Saturday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) , Timehri, the woman, without obtaining the necessary documents, attempted to export 18 Towa Towa birds and 29 other species. They were all concealed in hair curlers in her handbag.

After being cautioned, she accepted ownership of the birds.

Thakurdin was also disqualified by the magistrate from being granted permission for the next 12 months to transport any animals internationally.

the rest of the coastland.

The major secondary schools - Queen’s College, Bishops; St Stanislaus; St Rose’s; St Joseph’s — are all located in Georgetown. According to President Granger, a form of educational apartheid is developing. “We must avoid and avert the danger of children being separated along lines of gender, social class or geographical location. There is need to reshape our educational policies if we are to arrest the decline in the educational system, to reduce the disparities in performance and to better prepare graduates of our secondary school system for the world of work,” he said.

The President, who was at the time speaking at the recent schools’ national award ceremony at the National Cultural Centre (NCC), said the education system must continue to reward excellence but they must also reduce or remove inequalities.

“If we do not reward meritocracy, standards will fall. We must encourage our students – as we are doing here today – to strive for excellence. The success of a few should, however, not be the sole defining feature of our secondary school system. We cannot judge the quality of our educational system by the performance of the top one per cent of the population. We must assess the quality of our educational system by how all students perform.

There are 70,000 secondary school students in Guyana.

How many of them will be attending ceremonies like this in years to come?” he asked.

Mexico to fast track paddy deal with Guyana GUYANESE rice farmers could be soon benefiting from the new, Mexico market, as the country has signalled its intention to fast track a paddy deal with Guyana, even as Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo continues to seek buyers for local farmers’ rice.

To d a y, t h e O f f i c e of the Prime Minister reported that the Mexican Agriculture Minister Jose Calzada has now given the assurance that he would fast track arrangements to buy

Guyana’s paddy. Further, he has made a commitment to encourage the private sector to enter into contracts with Guyanese millers. Paddy imports carry a 9% tariff.

On October 27, the Office of the Prime Minister reported that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, whilst attending the Open Governance Summit in Mexico City, met with Minister Calzada, during which a commitment was made, to buy some of the country’s paddy.

The new administration has prioritised assisting farmers to find alternative international markets, in light of the country’s c o n t i n u e d p ro d u c t i o n boom, and in the midst of its recent loss of a major market in Venezuela. The Mexico market is one of many being explored by the administration. Guyana’s production in the first half of 2015 was 359,960 tonnes, 15.3 percent more than last year's record high, firsthalf production of 312,283 tonnes.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 3, 2015

Markets aplenty for rice

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…Holder slams ‘crisis’ talks as political

By Rabaindra Rooplall ASSURING farmers that there was no need to fear about markets for their rice, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder said that several countries were lining up to purchase the commodity here and he slammed the talks of the industry being in crisis as political rabble-rousing.

Holder noted that several countries within CARICOM, Panama and Mexico had expressed interest in Guyana’s rice and arrangements were being made to finalise some of those deals. He insisted that there was no crisis in the rice industry, noting that all the “noise being made is just political.”

The opposition People’s Progressive Party, has been at the forefront in describing the problems within the industry as a crisis. The party has made this one of their main outreach topic to supporters and even wrote Holder recently with recommendations which it said would alleviate some of the problems. “Guyana is the lead country for agriculture in the Caribbean, so that means our Head of State is the lead head for agriculture and therefore the Agriculture Minister is the lead for agriculture, and I had a chance to meet with 10 Ministers of Agriculture within CARICOM to discuss marketing possibilities. He said that Guyana’s rice was exported to 50 countries in the world.

Ever since the collapse of the Venezuela rice market, there has been some uneasiness within the industry. However, Holder said the Venezuela market was responsible for only 30 per cent of the rice market which can be diverted to many other markets. “Mexico imports 1.8 million tonnes of rice and we can’t supply that demand, the most we can supply is probably between 200 – 300 tonnes of rice for that market. Panama, which is a developing market would probably take more rice, there are markets in West Africa that showed interest and even the U.S are willing to take more rice and even The Bahamas,” Minister Holder explained. “As a matter of fact, currently, the Portugal market is as big as the Venezuelan market, about 30 percent or so (of rice exports). I think too much of a big thing

is being made out of the lapse in the Venezuelan market.”

When questioned on the standards that have to be met before exportation, Minister Holder said this year Guyana reached proper certification based on international standards and the market was wide for all traders.

Meanwhile, Mr Holder acknowledged that scores of rice farmers from across Guyana have been protesting about rice markets, but he noted that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) should be the agency to approach government on any matter pertaining to rice while farmers should relate their concerns to their representatives who in turn would put the matter to the Minister of Agriculture GRDB. The minister noted that the Noel Holder GRDB has a representative from all the rice sectors and even the banking sector and the government are looking to have a hands-off approach on rice since there are representatives to deal with any issue that arises. “On the Rice Board of Directors, there is a representative from the Rice Producers Association, Rice Action Committee, Paddy Producers Association, Chairman of the Bankers Association, Millers Association….so what you have here is a very highpowered board that could make tremendous decisions and they are the ones that are supposed to make recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture on what should be the way forward.

Don’t go and picket all over the place, what’s the point in that, since these same farmers have representatives at the highest

level,” Mr Holder explained.

Adding that the GRDB has to make representation, the Agriculture Minister said the Government will then act in the best interest of the farmers. “But we are not going to intervene and play politics with people’s lives. There is no individual person that can make recommendations, there needs to be a collective approach because anybody from anywhere can make recommendations… because when recommendations come from the Rice Board it has the input of all the respective stakeholders, then that can make sense to a government.” He concluded that farmers have to decide if they will be swayed by politics and be made scapegoats or focus on developing their interests by seeking proper representation which can have results.

Leading the list of recommendations proposed by the PPP is for government to resume negotiations with the Government of Venezuela with the intention of selling rice and paddy to that country. The PPP also recommended that the administration immediately remove all forms of taxes and duties on fuel for the industry; remove all taxes and duties on inputs for the industry, including machinery, equipment and spares, and commence discussions with all the banks lending to the industry to review terms and conditions of loans taken in view of the low prices farmers are getting in order to ‘soften’ repayment conditions. Additionally, the PPP urged government to suspend payments of land leases and drainage and irrigation charges; issue a supplementary provision to the Parliament to provide financial support to farmers to aid in the purchase of seed paddy and fertilizers and for the GRDB to immediately implement minimum export prices for rice and paddy. The PPP also called for the implementation of an aggressive marketing strategy in order to enhance current prices and secure new lucrative markets; and also asking the government to withdraw its pronouncement that ‘it’s a private matter’ and give support to the industry, especially the farmers.

‘Work with the environment in mind’ - GGMC’s Rickford Vieira tells miners

By Shauna Jemmott COMMISSIONER Rickford Vieira, of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), has issued a call to gold and diamond miners to “work with the environment in mind”, and desist from causing major damage to the environment and biodiversity by mining close to rivers or depositing tailings into the rivers.

He is also asking government to heighten penalties for persons who breach mining agreements and execute activities threatening important geography and eco-systems.

Vieira was contacted by this publication after head of the National Task Force, Brigadier Joseph Singh, had made revelations of onthe-ground crimes he had observed in at least two mining districts, during a recent press conference in the sector. Singh highlighted issues such as mining close to

rivers, depositing of tailings into rivers, and abandoned mining pits being close to an airstrip as some of the irregularities he had noticed while travelling in separate mining districts.

Supporting his claims with pictorial evidence, Singh expressed disappointment in an instance where the river and a mining pit had become one.

In a telephone interview with this publication, the GGMC head said polluting rivers is dangerous, and the level of turbidity used in mining poses a major threat to the aquatic environment.

Vieira said that although he understands the industry is going through a terrible phase, miners, in trying to “ease themselves out of hardship”, must consider the rules.

He said actions taken by GGMC in accordance with the law are not deterrent, since miners found guilty of committing these unlawful acts are ordered to post a fine of between $30,000 and

$100,000, which in most cases is easily acquired.

Many lodge their $100,000 environmental bond and walk free to repeat this or another crime.

“Banning them from mining doesn’t solve the problem,” Vieira said. He added that those banned often transfer their mining equipment to a relative’s name, but they still own the operation.

He said Chinese dredge engines are considerably affordable, and when mines officers seize mining equipment, miners buy new ones and sometimes relocate.

The Commission is also starved for manpower, since only some sixty field officers observe more than 3000 operations in six mining districts.

When the officers would have addressed an issue and moved away from the area, miners stubbornly repeat the same problems.

“We aren’t strong in terms of manpower”. Vieira said.

The GGMC is also hindered when individuals who would have acquired knowledge of their visit inform all others, giving transgressors ample time to move away from the worksite.

Depositing large quantities of tailings into the river poses dangers, since the level, or turbidity, affects the aquatic environment, Vieira said.

Vieira also pointed out that, having mining an area, the dredge owner is responsible for repairing that area by refilling the pit, bringing it back to nearly what it was before.

Mining cases are mostly tried in courts within interior locations, and the GGMC pays lawyers to travel and stay overnight.

The National Task Force’s “Project Restore Guyana” has also expressed concern at gold and diamond miners executing duties in unlawful and unprofessional ways.

The NTFC is aggressively pursuing its restoration mandate, and has already

recognised the same sets of major mistakes in scanning mining districts in various geographical locations in Guyana.

At a press briefing held on Friday, the commission head, with help of a visual multi-media presentation, pointed out that mining crimes are widespread. He observed these in Ekereku, Omai and Mahdia.

“The land has to be restored (and) the soil has to be stabilised. These are aspects of strategic planning which I thought we should share with you,” he told reporters.

“You’re not allowed to mine within 66 feet of the river bank. These people have actually cut through the river bank and are mining inside of it, so they can actually change the channel of the river as well as create a lot of havoc there for ecosystems and biodiversity,” Vieira explained.

“These are areas that have been abandoned; (they) need to be restored,” he pointed,

adding that such restoration involves stabilisation of soil, drainage, replanting as well. Part of the restoration programme for Guyana entails dealing with all of these issues through the Ministry of Environment, department of environment, and department of natural resources.

Giving an example of one restored area, Singh said the area has been replanted with acacia magnium in 2008, and the trees are already five metres high. He said the area now attracts tourists and has been transformed into a recreational and relaxation facility for residents and visitors alike.

Picnicking has become a popular activity there, as “people come with their kids, there is a lot of vehicles (coming) there.” He said the area also has the possibility of being transformed into an agricultural enterprise, since Acasia magnium also makes “wonderful” honey, he explained.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

11 hurt as truck runs off Mahdia trail

By Leroy Smith

ELEVEN persons were yesterday injured after the truck in which they were travelling, careened off a trail and slammed into a tree stump and overturned after the steering cut loose along the Salbora Trail 111 Miles Mahdia Region 8.

According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle newspaper, the truck was being driven by 52-year-old Charles Burrows of 111 Miles, Mahdia, Potaro when it developed mechanical problems.

The driver of the truck and mining camp owner Charles Burrows who was also flown to the city for

medical attention, said that he was heading from one camp location to another when the steering of the truck snapped, causing the truck to run off the trail. His wife, who was at the Ogle Airport after accompanying him on a flight from the area, ex-

plained that the incident took place around noon yesterday.

She explained that the men who were injured all work with her husband and it was the entire crew on the truck at the time of the accident.

Following the accident seven of the injured were air

One of the miners who suffered head and facial injuries as a result of the accident yesterday

dashed to the city but none was in a critical condition.

The other persons who were injured were treated at the Mahdia Health Centre.

The medevac airlift was facilitated by Roraima Airways which brought the injured out in two separate

planes.

The Georgetown Public Hospital responded to the emergency by sending three ambulances along with support staff to ensure the proper handling of the injured and their safe delivery to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

An elderly man from the mining camp with a broken hand is assisted to one of the ambulances by a staff from the Roraima Airways

Files in $100M PSM fraud back at DPP

Driver of the truck and dredge owner 52 year old Charles Burrows being assisted from the aircraft to an ambulance.

Photos by Cullen Bess Nelson

CRIME Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed yesterday that the 20+ files in the multi-million-dollar Public Service Ministry fraud, which were sent to the Director of Public Prosecution and were returned to his desk, have again been returned to the DPP.

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He said this development occurred last week after the police were able to complete several additional tasks requested by the DPP after she had initially studied the files.

The Senior Police Superintendent had recently indicated that some amount of tidying up of

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the files had to be done in order for the DPP to know exactly what offences were committed and what charges should be proffered, lest loopholes be found if and when the matter proceeded to the court.

Soon after the new government had taken office, a massive fraud was discovered at the Public Service Ministry, where funds were transferred to the ministry through the Office of the President for the review of the Public Service and its policies, but those reviews were never done.

Embroiled in these in-

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vestigations are former Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford and former Personnel Manager of that Ministry, Margret Cummings, who reportedly signed off on receiving the cash and also used their signatures to confirm that the exercises were carried out, when in fact the exercises were never done.

At the moment, these two former functionaries are before the court for transferring several luxury vehicles of the state to themselves for personal use. They have both been placed on bail for the offences.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Couple found dead on Kingston Seawall

A YOUNG woman and man were found dead on the Kingston seashore yesterday afternoon in what appears to be a suicide pact.

The two persons, of East Indian ancestry, were found at some time around 16:00 hrs by joggers who stumbled on the bodies and immediately raised an alarm. Up to press time, police had not identified the bodies.

The young lady was found clad in a neon-green

pants and a black top, while the young man was clad in a black pants with a white vest and a red belt. Reports indicate that the police have ruled out the possibility of a homicide, given that there were no marks of violence on the bodies. Police suspect that the two may have died after ingesting poison. A few bottles with what the police suspect to be the remaining poison were removed from the scene as evidence.

Police Commander Clif-

ton Hicken has said the bodies are yet to be identified, and no forms of ID were uncovered at the scene.

In the past month, Guyana has seen a number of suicides, including that of rights activist Zenita Nicholson just last week. She died last Monday at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where she was rushed after complaining of feeling unwell and later confirming that she had ingested several carbon tablets.

RNCF awards 10 children with scholarships at awards ceremony THE Radio’s Needy Children Fund (RNCF) awarded 10 children with scholarships during its annual awards ceremony held at the studios of the National Communications Network (NCN) last month.

One child from each region was awarded, having been selected by the Ministry of Education.

In a press statement, RNCF listed the awardees as Twyla Torres of Region One, Jaheim Odingo Karl of Region Two, Amisha Chatterpaul of Region Three, Shakina Jackman of Region Four, Meena Kumarie Gobin of Region Five, Antonia Ramcharran of Region Six,

Jewellery World; Perry De Souza of 197 Pike Street won the second prize of a return trip to New York or Canada, sponsored by Fly Jamaica; and Pevria De Souza of 197 Pike Street, Kitty secured a return trip to Grenada from Caribbean Airlines.

Consolation prize winners were Kellisa Rodrigues of 956 Eccles EBD, who won a 32” Samsung television from Courts Guyana Inc; Abdool Mohamed of 33 Felicity EBD, who won a 7” Samsung tablet; and Romana Payne of J. C. Chandisingh Secondary School, who won an Aroma rice cooker/food steamer from the Gift Center.

GRDB probing fake seed paddy

THE Guyana Rice development Board (GRDB) is currently investigating reports of ‘fake’ seed paddy being distributed to farmers within the rice growing regions.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on yesterday disclosed this to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Comments had surfaced in some sections of the media that alleged fake seed paddy were distributed to farmers in Region Two, Pomeroon/ Supenaam, resulting in losses to the farmers.

The Minster explained that it should be noted that

Investigators examine the body of the dead couple

Shawn Williams of Region Seven, Treccian Roberts of Region Eight, Lucas Thomas of Region Nine, and Divannya Kallipersaud of Region Ten. The children from Regions Four, Eight and Nine were absent from the ceremony.The awardees were also given hampers of school supplies from Massy Technology.

Meanwhile, in the drawing of the Radio’s Needy Children Fund (RNCF) annual fund raising raffle at Fogarty’s store in Water Street, Frank De Abreu of 47 Craig Street Campbellville won the first prize of a one-karat diamond bracelet from Kings

no other such reports have been received from the other rice producing regions - 3, 4, 5 and 6. However, it should be noted that the bond where the seed paddy is stored in Region Two is owned by the Rice Producers Association (RPA).

The GRDB has disclosed that from its investigations it found that the RPA also contracts farmers to produce and distribute seed paddy. Investigations also revealed that the quality of the seed paddy which is produced by the GRDB Rice Research and Exten-

sion Station at Burma, Mahaicony, is not the same which is being distributed to farmers after is it collected from the station. This has raised several questions within the GRDB, since it is suspected to have been happening for some time now.

Technical advisers within the GRDB have opined that the inferior quality can be a direct result of bad storage.

Investigations will continue into these reports and the findings will subsequently be made public. (GINA)

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Guyana

EDITORIAL This Guyana EDITORIAL

THE late television anchorman in Jamaica, Wilmot Perkins, opined that Guyana was the head of the West Indies. It is where the brain is, he said. Jamaica, he said, was the tail. He was expressing admiration for our country, this place that has produced some fine minds; and he was, at the same time, doing what the best West Indians are so good at - self-deprecating humour. The best of us are very good at poking fun at ourselves, at not taking ourselves too seriously. The Jamaican novelist, John Hearne, had the same opinion of Guyanese, although he was not very good at poking fun at himself.

In the West Indies generally, the two major sentiments about Guyana and Guyanese are that we are a nation that produces some fine minds; and that we are a nation that betrays itself by wasting our natural bounties, so generously given by the Creator. The two things seem to contradict each other. If, indeed, we are a nation that produces (or produced) some fine minds, then one would think that those fine minds would be employed to prevent the waste of our natural gifts: our rivers, our forest; our flora and fauna, our animals, our vast savannahs, our expansive and fecund land, our part of the Atlantic. We have so much, and we use so very little of it; and the tiny bit that we use is used in the most ordinary and unimaginative ways. We simply do that which has always been done in the same ways.

As a nation of bright people, we ought to be breeding cows and exporting meat. We ought to be developing new ways to run businesses, to farm and fish. We ought to be a nation creating new ways to heal the sick, new ways of teaching and learning, new ways to build roads, to electrify our country; new ways to guard against crime of all sorts, to protect our womenfolk and children, new ways to help our elderly and our handicapped, new ways to generate medicinal plant pathologies. We ought to be making scientific and technological discoveries. We ought to be producing world-class athletes and poets and novelists and scholars in all fields. If we were indeed a nation of fine minds, we would be producing music.

We ought to be able to do it all, but we do not seem to be able to. Instead, we have become mere consumers of other people’s creativity and genius. In his address at the Ministry of Education National Awards ceremony last week, President David Granger was on cue when he declared that his administration wants an education system “that will produce citizens of quality who will be happy to remain here at home to build our bountiful and beautiful country; we want a system that will extend access to the information superhighway to support the education of our young people”.

For President Granger, in order for us to live up to the John Hearne’s assessment and for Guyana to survive it cannot be left behind the rest of the Caribbean and the rest of the world in education. It must as he said “at the minimum keep abreast with international standards”.

Ask many of our citizens which country has the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Exports earnings in Caribbean dip for third straight year THE value of Latin American and Caribbean exports will decrease for a third consecutive year in 2015 and will contract -14%, according to new projections unveiled today by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, ECLAC, in Mexico City.

ECLAC presented its annual report Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Economy 2015. The regional trade crisis: assessment and outlook.

The report sustains that the sharp drop in commodities prices and lower international demand for the products that the region exports have affected its overseas shipments. In 2014 and 2013, they declined -3.0% and -0.4%, respectively.

This makes the triennium 2013-2015 the worst in terms of the region’s export performance in eight decades.

According to the United Nations organization, it is likely that regional exports will fall again in 2016, because the outlook for a rebound in prices over the next year is not auspicious. The recessionary bias that characterizes the current global economic context prevents trade from recovering the dynamism it showed in the period prior to the 2008-2009 crisis, ECLAC states. There is a change in the economic cycle marked by excess liquidity, the fall of aggregate demand, less ability by emerging countries to absorb external impacts, China’s deceleration, growth of financial assets beyond the real economy, and a changed trend in capital flows towards the region, the organisation said.

In this context, there is greater pressure for countries to take economic adjustment measures, while at the same time the region still has pending tasks on which little progress was made during the commodities price boom. These include a lack of investment in new technologies and infrastructure and the improvement of production processes.

“The region is at a crossroads: either it continues along the current path restricted by the global context, or it commits to a more active international insertion that favors industrial policy, diversification, trade facilitation and intraregional integration,” Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, stressed. ECLAC’s report indicates that the fall in the value of exports and the worsening of the terms of trade will be more acute in countries and sub-regions that export oil and its derivatives and other commodities. Venezuela will have a contraction in its shipments of -41%, Bolivia -30%, Colombia -29%, Ecuador -25%, the Caribbean -22%, Peru -16%, Argen-

tina and Chile -17%, Brazil -15%, Paraguay -14%, Uruguay -12%, and Mexico and Central America around -4%.

The less-severe declines in Mexico and Central America are explained mainly by their export pattern, in which demand from the United States—their primary destination market—has been more dynamic than that of other regions.

Furthermore, Mexican and Central American exports have a high component of manufactured goods, which did not suffer such sharp price drops as commodities. Intraregional exports (sent to countries in the same region) will contract -21%, which is greater than the fall expected for shipments to outside the region (-13%). The biggest drops occur in South America and the Caribbean due to their weaker economic dynamism and lower prices for their exports. In contrast, Central America will mark an increase in intraregional trade (2%), thanks to greater dynamism in economic activity and greater productive integration among its economies.

In terms of imports, ECLAC’s report depicts a similar situation since an average drop of -10% is expected in the value of shipments received by the region in 2015. The Chinese economy’s deceleration since 2012 also explains the fall of Latin American and Caribbean exports, especially from the countries specialized in the primary products that the Asian giant imports.

In its report, ECLAC indicates that China’s “new normal”—which is moving towards an economy with more emphasis on consumption—represents an opportunity for Latin America and the Caribbean to diversify its shipments to that country. For example, the region could become a strategic partner for China in the agri-food sector, considering that the Asian country is forecast to double imports of these kinds of products by 2020.

ECLAC’s document also presents the results of a survey on the implementation of measures to facilitate trade in the region, carried out between November 2014 and July 2015. According to the poll, the average rate for putting such actions into effect in 19 of the region’s countries is 68%, a figure close to that of Asian nations such as the Philippines, India and Malaysia. ECLAC proposes that the region put more emphasis on intraregional trade, on strengthening the implementation of trade facilitation (to lower the cost of trade among countries), and on coordinating and negotiating with the major international trade players as a bloc.

Investigate mining operations that do not have consent of Amerindian villages

Dear Editor

I WISH to bring to the attention of various state agencies and government ministries responsible for mining, indigenous affairs and legal affairs, a disturbing situation between a mining operation and the residents of Isseneru Village, Middle Mazaruni, Region #7.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had, on October 10, 2015, issued permission to an individual to operate a cutterhead river dredge in close proximity to the Isseneru’s residential area. This is a blatant disrespect by GGMC and its officers to grant permission to this operation, knowing that this type of mining can cause huge environmental damage, health problems, and loss of life.

Editor, this is a serious issue which needs an urgent response, because it poses the risk of erosion and major damages being inflicted to residential and governmental properties, including the hydromet station, school and health facilities, which are close to the area where this destructive mining operation is positioned.

This is also a violation of Isseneru’s rights under Section 48 (1) of the Amerindian Act and Section 112 of the Mining Act, since no consultation was held between the GGMC, the best medical system in the world. You will hear “Cuba” or Trinidad or some such place. Never Singapore.

Never a Scandinavian country, not because places like Cuba and Trinidad are bad places, but because our standards are so low and these places are all we know. And that is all we know because we have stopped wanting to know. We have become quite comfortable in our ordinariness. And yet, Hearne and Perkins from Jamaica may be right. It is simply that we must stop this self-betrayal. There are people elsewhere - exactly half way on the other side of the planet who believe in us. Let us, therefore, begin to believe in ourselves and push ourselves to greater things.

dredge owner and the Isseneru Village Council.

GGMC and the mining operation must be held accountable for this ‘disastrous situation’, should any environmental or human disaster occur. To make matters worse, this operation is creating a lot of noise both day and night, and affecting residents, school children, the elderly and patients.

The court rulings in favour of miners have given them ‘superman powers’ over Amerindian Village Councils, thus creating an unfriendly and disrespectful environment for Indigenous peoples, where violations will thrive.

This has to stop! I therefore call on the government to strengthen legislation and to have broad powers, so that under these laws, human rights, including indigenous peoples’ rights, are guaranteed fully, just as much as those of miners, loggers and other land grabbers. To strengthen my call for reform of legislation, I would like to quote Minister Trotman in a Kaieteur News article (October 10, 2015), “Government reviewing mining concessions”, which stated that “No mining rights will be given on lands occupied by Amerindians.

However, there is nothing to stop Amerindians from mining within those lands; or, as been the case, they are free to enter into bilateral agreements with persons or companies to mine their lands, but the GGMC is not allowed to give out permits either to prospect or mine in any such area without the consent of the Amerindian Community.”

Editor, those are very powerful words that must not go un-noticed. They signal government’s intention to respect, protect and uphold “Amerindian Rights to their lands”, but we must not let their promises hold our feet down. The Government must act now and keep public expectations at a high level, where we can feel respected and protected under the laws of Guyana.

Therefore, I request, on behalf of my people, that the relevant authorities investigate mining operations that are there without the consent of Amerindian villages such as in Isseneru, Kangaruma, Tassarene, Jawalla, Baramita, Chinese Landing and many other places.

Yours sincerely Dwight Larson Isseneru Village

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Motorbike bandits blitz Port Mourant grocery store

TWO bandits on motorbikes, armed with pistols and posing as customers, carted off approximately $6M in cash and jewellery from Gobin’s Grocery Store at Port Mourant, Corentyne, in Region 6 last Friday.

This is one of the most popular stores in the area.

Business partner Rhada Gobin told reporters that she was about to tally the day’s sales when the bandits came into the business place. Approximately five staff members and eleven customers were in the store at the time.

“Me get Banks truck come, and me there checking the money, $1.1M plus.

And while counting, they had a lot of people in the shop,” she related. She said the bandits walked in the shop and asked: “ ‘Aunty Rhada, you have Heineken?’ and ah say no.”

She said they walked out of the building, but swiftly returned and asked for Guinness instead. “So they give a $1000 and say they want three, and when I tek the money and walking to get the Guinness, he tek out a gun and put it on a lady head at the counter and say ‘Nobody don’t move!’ Then (dem) tell everybody to lie down and (dem) start cuss.”

Gobin, who has been running the business for more

I did not write that letter Dear Editor,

PEOPLE with whom I closely associate brought to my attention a letter in the Guyana Times of November 2, 2015 purportedly signed by one SN Singh, and they asked me if that was a letter from me. It certainly is not!

For the record, I proudly sign my name as Sase Singh, or Sasenarine Singh, and I have never used the signature SN Singh. Secondly, for the record, I have never ever sent any letter to the Guyana Times, since their agenda at this point in time does not reconcile with my agenda. My agenda is clearly focused on the poor and the working class of all races.

I am a strong advocate for the Cummingsburg Accord, and the wisdom based in that document. It was the foundation upon which I threw my support behind the APNU+AFC Team in the 2015 elections, since I was inspired by the entire concept of National Unity.

Thank you for publishing.

Sase Singh

The judicial system is in dire straits Dear Editor, THE judicial system is surely in a dire state, needing to be restructured and to receive a breath of fresh air of justice to benefit those aggrieved and waiting long periods of time for their matter to be addressed.

Here, I welcome the new government, and hope lots of changes are made.

I am an overseas-resident, having a civil appeal pending since 2011. The reason for the delay, I have been told umpteen times when I visit, is that the notes of evidence of the judge -– Justice Rishi Persaud -- are yet to be submitted and typed for a go-ahead.

I continuously keep checking with the Registrar, Court of Appeal, on the status every time I visit, but I hear one thing over and over: “The judge’s notes of evidence (are) still waiting to be produced and typed.”

It is understood that every time the judge is asked to produce his notes of evidence, which his handwriting is very difficult to understand, he pays this request no heed.

In frustration, I went to the Ombudsman for assistance, and he informed me that he has no jurisdiction in court matters, but when he assisted in making inquiries of the matter, the same ‘old excuse’ was related to him.

Why should a judge’s notes of evidence take so long to be produced?

With this letter, I hope the new minister looks into this matter and that many people like myself will receive action in their matter after waiting for so long.

Frustrated Plaintiff

than six years, said both men had guns, and one of them discharged a round then instructed her to hand over the money. “They get a haversack at the front of their shirt and take it out and throw it give me, and say let me put all the money inside…. Me pick up the bag and hold it, then throw it down and tell them that the bag nah open.”

According to Gobin one of the two intruders took the haversack and went to the money drawer and started empting its contents into the bag, while the other went to her and used his gun to hit her. “He tell me open all the drawers and take out all the money, so I open all

the drawers and take out all the money and full up in the bag.”

All of the customers who were in the shop at the time were also robbed of their valuables, including an overseas-based Guyanese who had gone to the shop to change a quantity of US currency.

Gobin estimates her losses to be close to $500,000 in jewellery. She said the robbers used the overseas-based Guyanese as a human shield as they made their exit. “They put the gun at the lady neck and walked to the motorbike and ride away.”

Police have arrested one suspect thus far.

Mrs. Rhada Gobin

Fire of unknown origin razes popular Corentyne race horse owner’s home

- three now homeless ALFRED Grey’s two-bedroom wooden house at Alness Village, Corentyne, in Region 6, was completely destroyed by fire of unknown origin early in the afternoon of Sunday last, and three persons are now left homeless.

At time of the blaze, Alfred Grey had gone to a horse race meeting and no one was at home. His next door neighbour, Wesley Saul, whose house was also damaged by the fire, told this publication that, at about 13:30 hrs, he heard screams for fire and realised that flames were coming from his neighbour’s bedroom window.

“When I see the fire, I run inside to get water; but by the time I reach back, is the whole house in fire. I had to try to save mine,” Saul said.

He explained that res-

idents quickly organised a bucket brigade and focused their attention on saving his house, which had begun to smoke. He explained that the residents got water from a tank he has at the back of his yard and from the drain in from of the yard.

“People run and come with bucket and start throwing the muddy water from the trench on my house. Within fifteen minutes, (Grey’s) whole house collapse….

By the time the fire service come, the whole house already drop to the ground, so my house was safe,” Saul related.

He said there was nothing he could have done to prevent the total destruction of Grey’s house.

Speaking with this publication, 53-year-old Alfred Grey said he had gone to

Fire victim Alfred Grey

Aftermath of the fire horse racing, and there received a call stating that his house was on fire. “When I come, the house (was already) on the ground and the fire service (was) already there… Nothing ain’t save,” he lamented.

Grey had occupied the building with his daughter Marcia, 26, and her sixyear-old son Malachi. They are all now homeless. According to the father of 19, his house was fully furnished, with two television sets, washing machines, micro wave, gas stoves and a refrigerator among other things. He said at the time he had taken his horse, ’Sanality’, for its first race, but tragedy struck before the animal could have taken the track.

Grey became popular as a horse owner through his other horse, ‘Funny Side’, which has gone into retirement.

Neighbours said they tried to break into Grey’s

house, but could not get the padlock open. They say it took less than fifteen minutes for the fire to consume his one-storey building, reducing it to coals.

Meanwhile, residents say that when the Rose Hall Fire Service responded, Grey’s house was already flattened and there was no threat to Saul’s house at the time. Nevertheless they were able to source water from a nearby canal and douse the burning coals.

Grey told this publication after the fire that he has nowhere to go. He said he spent Sunday night at the Port Mourant Turf Club with his horse ‘Sanality’. His grandson and daughter are staying with other relatives.

Grey has since approached the St Francis Community Developers for assistance to rebuild.

The Guyana Fire Service has launched an investigation into the fire, but arson has been ruled out.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 3, 2015

Schools’ hot meal for coastland … as govt expands programme to other communities

By Tajeram Mohabir EDUCATION Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has reported that the administration is looking to implement a hot meal programme in some areas on the coastland.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Dr Roopnaraine said the programme has been a resounding success in the hinterland regions, and based on the success there, he has not ruled out introducing it on the coastland. If this programme comes on stream, most likely it will be implemented in poor communities.

The government had

announced that the some of $2 billion allocated to $10,000 per child education cash grant will be redirected to the school feeding programme.

The juice and biscuit programme on the coastland may also be upgraded.

“The school feeding programme has been a great success in the hinterland where we have rolled out the hot mean programme.

On the coast, we have in some areas a juice and biscuit programme. I think that we may be looking for a change in the juice and biscuit programme to a fortified milk and biscuit programme,” Dr Roopnaraine told this

publication.

The school feeding programme has been very expensive to up keep, and as such, the Education Ministry intends to adopt a methodical approach in expanding it on the coastland.

Dr Roopnaraine said the administration is trying to do the best it can to help children in need. “I want to see the school feeding programme be such that we can ensure that children are not hungry in the classrooms. Because you and I know, hungry children will not learn.

We have a great interest in ensuring children when they come to school if they don’t receive an

efficient meal at home we can provide a healthy breakfast and hopefully

But an expansion of the programme would require the building of facilities

Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

Minister with the Ministry of Public Health Dr Karen Cummings

we can provide a hot meal wherever we can,” he said.

The hot meal programme would be of great benefit to children of poor parents, many of whom are forced to be absent from school because their parents cannot provide adequately for them.

and the upgrading of kitchens.

The Education Minister said “all of this is before us,” as he pointed out that where the hot meal programme has been implemented, students’ attendance was high

Tuesday November 3rd, 2015 - 11:00 hrs Wednesday November 4th, 2015 - 12:30 hrs Thursday November 5th, 2015 - 13:30 hrs

and their performance improved.

He said the Ministry is continuously looking at ways to improve students’ attendance and performance and the school feeding programme has been of useful help in this regard. The School Feeding Programme targets students in Grades One to Three, and thousands have benefited since its implementation.

The Administration has promised to invest in young people, and an expansion of the school feeding programme is in keeping with that mandate, Dr Roopnaraine said. Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr Karen Cummings had earlier said adolescents in need of help are expected to receive much-needed support as her Ministry moves to establish a special fund to assist them.

She had explained that the fund will be used to sponsor community and private gardens, where vegetables and other staples of good nutritional value will be cultivated for consumption.

“The Ministry of Public Health will sit with our international partners to iron out the details of this idea of Gardening for Healthy Lifestyles to see how this practical pilot project could help achieve the shift from nutrition awareness to nutrition access in healthy foods,” she said.

The CARING Packing Programme, she said will target adolescents in the different regions.

“The agenda is not only to translate the science of nutrition into healthy lifestyle practices and holistic values, but my government will introduce a monthly cooking/ feeding programme for adolescents most in need of access to basic foods items. The shift from awareness to action will function as a bridge over troubled waters,” Dr Cummins contended.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 3, 2015

Tourism Month to focus on selling Guyana’s attractiveness

TO U R I S M Aw a re n e s s Month was launched yesterday under the theme “Growing the Business of Tourism through Product Innovation”, with this country aiming to raise awareness of its tourism potential and significance of its economic growth.

To u r i s m M i n i s t e r Cathy Hughes, currently participating in the World Travel Market in London, said the theme reflects what the Ministry of Tourism embodies as a priority at this stage of Guyana’s development. “That is, the need to transform our various tourism products: ecotourism; adventure tourism; community-based tourism; heritage, sports, fishing, bird watching, entertainment, agriculture and arts tourism, into innovative, marketable, revenue-earning businesses that could sustain themselves and grow branch by branch.”

Minister Hughes exhorted: “Tourism is big business the world over, and Guyana will benefit in every positive way. Throughout the month of November, the Ministry and all its satellite organisations will be showcasing Guyana’s potential to earn from our gifts.”

Underscoring that this initiative began when Guyana’s tourism product was re-branded as “Guyana – South America Undiscovered”, Minister Hughes said this new approach embraces the widest range of actors from all across Guyana, and requires an aggressive marketing strategy that brings thousands more -– millions, if necessary -of the world’s one billion tourists to these shores in search of exotic and diverse cultural spots.

N o t i n g t h a t i t ’s t h e Ministry’s ultimate objective to attract tourists from the

First World to fill hotel/ B&B rooms; to sample our uniquely Guyanese cuisine; to learn about the ordinary people’s ways of life from well-informed taxi drivers and boat captains; to purchase our eclectic art and craft and visit our hinterland resorts, Ms Hughes said the bottom line will always be to create the circumstances for investors to receive returns

Minister of Tourism, Cathy Hughes commensurate with their investments.

“Guyanese must not doubt the fact that our tourism products are above par. Our blend of tourism products is as rich and as attractive as any in any part of the world. Small countries, large countries, small islands and large continents have been earning billions of dollars from their own brand of tourism, attracting people who simply wish to experience other cultures -- people who are avid bird watchers; those who revel in adrenaline-fuelled events, such as climbing up and under the outcroppings behind waterfalls like our Kaieteur; those who are fascinated by rare fauna, like the jaguar or the giant anteater; those who prefer treks through dense rainforests, and who emerge with captured images

the likes of which they have never seen before,” the Tourism Minister explained.

She emphasised that the importance and significance of tourism to the national purse and to our people cannot be overstated. “It’s so vital that our government saw it necessary to separate Tourism from the previous Ministry of Industry and Commerce and give it its own domain; and there’s more.

“The President has introduced what is known as Economic Diplomacy, which simply means that every Guyanese Mission overseas is being staffed with Tourist Development officers and Investment officers whose responsibility will be to promote and efficiently market our country’s attributes and our products to their host countries.”

The main objective, Minister Hughes said, is to substantially enhance the visibility of Guyana; ‘sell’ the attractiveness of this country and our people, our multi-cultures; (and sell) our capacity to stage international events in motor racing, boxing and other sports; musical entertainment, fashion and culinary extravaganzas that are by themselves tourism niches with their own defined programmes.

She underscored that tourism is known as an exciting service industry that appeals to the fast-paced world of curious people who need instant gratification.

“We did, in the past, attract some numbers to our safaris and FAM trips, but now the new ministry is flipping the script. Aggressive marketing is our channel of communication. We’re targeting the people from Turkey and Greece, who have no clue that South America has an English-

No decision yet on Literature Prize winners

NO decision has been made on the winners in this year’s Guyana Prize for Literature, the Committee said in a release.

In a release the Guyana Prize for Literature Committee said that the members of the Jury for The Guyana Prize for Literature have not yet reached final decisions regarding the shortlists for all the categories of the Prize and are still engaged in deliberations.

The committee said there is very keen competition in some areas that have had the judges locked in extended discussions. “As soon as they have agreed on the final decisions, the Management Committee will be ready to publish the shortlists for the Guyana Prize in Fiction, Poetry and Drama, including First Books of Poetry and Fiction; and The Shortlists for The Guyana Prize for Literature Caribbean Award in Fiction, Poetry and Drama.”

speaking country that sits right on the Atlantic. We’re selling our Tourism products to the adventurers in Switzerland and Budapest, who jump at a chance for

exhilarating experiences in the wild rapids of the Cuyuni River, or early morning adventures through the damp, cold rainforests on the Pakaraima mountains.

“We are firmly on the road to restoring the city of Georgetown and adding to the list of traditional tourism products,” Minister Hughes asserted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 3, 2015

Aided self-help to address housing deficit

PRESIDENT David Granger has said that it is time Guyanese move away from the “purely corporate turnkey structure” and endorse initiatives that promote home-ownership through aided self-help.

According to him, aided

self-help programmes will meet the needs of the poor and working class. He explained that with access to cheaper lands, the target groups can build their homes by themselves instead of depending on a corporation.

“That is one of the

reasons why, instead of having a Ministry of Local Government, we created something called the Ministry of Communities, so that instead of relying purely on a corporate transaction between a b u y e r a n d a s e l l e r,

we can look at building communities and getting working people involved in aided self-help schemes,” he said. According to President Granger, in 2016, the Government will be making budgetary provision to facilitate the establishment of aided selfhelp schemes.

Within the next five years, the Government of Guyana, through the C o m m u n i t i e s M i n i s t r y, will work assiduously to enhance the housing delivery system through the completion of infrastructure prior to the allocation of lots and construction of houses. Additionally, the Communities Minister Keith Scott said his Ministry will also be promoting public/ private partners hips t o facilitate the provision of social infrastructure and community services, among other initiatives.

“The resulting impact would not only see the living conditions and, incidentally,

the quality of life of beneficiaries and households improved, but ultimately the formation of cohesive and sustainable communities,” the Communities Minister told the National Assembly during the 2015 Budget Debate.

Minister Scott stated that in partnership with the Food for the Poor and Habitat for Humanity as well as hardware suppliers and other investors, the Communities Ministry will be encouraging innovative financing for housing, mortgage interest support for low and middle-income groups, and incentives for aided self-help.

The government has commenced the planning phase for the establishment of a new, cohesive community at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara (EBD) catering to the construction of 1,000 homes.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e government will focus on the construction of the fifth batch

of 50 two-bedroom houses at Perseverance. Further, a total of 200 serviced lots will be allocated at Diamond/Grove, Farm, Covent Garden, Herstelling and Providence all along the East Bank, by December 2015.

It is expected that by 2020, the Ministry will facilitate the construction of 4, 000 homes, meeting the housing needs of approximately 16, 000 families.

As a result of this extensive housing development programme, Minister Scott said the Government will have zero tolerance for squatting. “We will embark on a serious squatting regularization and containment initiative,” he warned.

It was pointed out that efforts would be made to clear squatters from the East and West Ruimveldt areas. However, they will be provided with a number of alternatives.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 3, 2015

Parika taxi driver died from …car still missing fractured skull SHURLAND Dalloo, the taxi driver from Parika whose body was found aback of Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice fifty-five miles east of Georgetown on Sunday died from a fractured skull, an autopsy has revealed.

The autopsy was performed by Dr Vivikanand Brijmohan on Monday. Observers at the post-mortem said that Dalloo’s killer or killers had apparently dealt him several blows on his forehead with a blunt object to the extent that the entire upper part of his face had been obliterated.

The taxi driver was identifiable solely on the basis of the clothing he was wearing when he left his home around 07:30 hrs on October 26 last to ply the Parika-Georgetown route.

There was no evidence that he had been shot. Following the post mortem sorrowing relatives said that his remains will be taken back to Parika 26 miles west of Georgetown to be laid to rest Tuesday.

Dalloo left his home early on the fateful Monday in his grey Carina motor car registration number HB 8739.

Around lunchtime his mother said, she called him on his cellphone and told him that his lunch was ready. He answered and told her that he would pass back home and pick it up shortly. He did not pick up his lunch and failed to answer subsequent calls to his cell phone. According to reports a minibus driver who is a friend of the dead man saw him inside his vehicle parked on the Flour Mill Road at Eccles East Bank Demerara with two men inside, around 12:30 hrs the same day.

The man said that Dalloo hailed him and put on the hazard lights of his vehicle. He returned the call but did not stop since he was transporting passengers and he felt that Dalloo was merely hailing him as he usually did.

Reports said that the driver subsequently realised to his chagrin that Dalloo was probably being held hostage at the time and trying to attract his attention so that he could assist him in getting out of the situation. A group of West Coast Berbice men going into the backdam to

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hunt iguanas made the discovery of his badly decomposed body at Onverwagt on Sunday seven days after he had disappeared.

Relatives said that the discovery had ended an almost countrywide search for the 33 year old man after he failed to return home from plying his route on that date. “We searched in Linden in the Rupununi in Mahdia along the East Bank Highway West Demerara, all over. Many of his taxi driving colleagues were involved,” his uncle, in-law said. Others who declined to be named said that although the news of the discovery was horrifying at least they felt some closure in the discovery of his remains.

They expressed hopes that the Police would soon arrest the perpetrators of the brutal act. Up to late yesterday afternoon the silver grey Carina motor car Registration # HB 8739 driven by Dalloo at the time of his disappearance had not yet been recovered. Dalloo is survived by his parents, his wife and a brother.

Each party to bear own costs - CJ

By George Barclay APPLICANT Milton Kewley, in a constitutional motion complained that a Sparendaam magistrate had refused to grant him permission to cross-examine prosecution witnesses who were to testify in a sex offence case against him.

After hearing the motion recently, Chief Justice (ag.) Mr. Ian Chang, S.C. ruled: “The declaration prayed for by the applicant in paragraph (a) is granted. Each party to bear his own costs.”

On the 30th April, 2015, the applicant Milton Kewley by way of Notice of Motion applied for the following constitutional reliefs: (a) A declaration that the refusal of the magistrate of the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court to permit the applicant to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses in the trial against the applicant is in breach of the applicant’s guaranteed constitutional right to examine in person or by his legal representative the witnesses called by the prosecution as guaranteed by Article 144 (1) (2).

The grounds of the application were stated as follows:

1. The applicant is a citizen of Guyana.

2. The applicant was charged with an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2010.

3. The applicant was served with statements of witnesses which the prosecution intended to rely on.

4.

The applicant’s attorney-at-law applied to have witnesses cross-examined.

5.

The learned magistrate refused to permit crossexamination.

6. The applicant’s attorney-at-law invited the learned magistrate to refer the matter to the High Court pursuant to Article 153 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

7. The learned magistrate refused to do so.

8. The applicant’s right to a fair trial is impaired.

During the judgment, the Chief Justice said: “The point must be made that it is not open to Parliament to disapply Article 144 (2) by ordinary legislation to preliminary inquiries or any other form of committal proceedings in which the accused can seek a magisterial discharge and avoid a committal.

“The further point must be made that the preliminary inquiry or any other form of committal proceedings is judicial

Marshall loses ‘leave’ battle

By George Barclay HIGH Court marshall Mary Ann Morrison who was seeking prerogative reliefs from the Registrar of the Supreme Court for refusing to honour a 59-day sick leave claim, relative to illness overseas, recently lost the legal battle.

And, she has been ordered to pay $40, 000.00 costs to the Secretary of the Public Service Commision.

Acting Chief Justice, Mr. Ian Chang, S. C., who on April 16, 2015, issued a Nisi Order of Certiorari directing Acting Registrar, Mr. Raschid Mohamed to show cause why his decision should not be quashed, has now discharged the Nisi Order against all the named respondents.

The C. J. said: “It follows that the Writ of Mandamus to compel payment does not lie against any of the named respondents. There will be costs to the

Secretary of the Public Service Commission in the sum of $40, 000.00.”

In his judgment the Chief Justice had said, “While this court does not see the applicability of Rule H46 to the applicant as a person who was given leave to be spent abroad and who took ill abroad while on vacation abroad. it is clear that Circular No.4/1972 provides:“Public servants who have been granted leave to be spent overseas frequently apply for extension of time of leave on medical grounds. Where there is a Guyana Mission, such applications must be recommended by a medical practitioner nominated by that Mission, failing which requests will not be entertained.

“Directly it becomes apparent to a public servant while on overseas leave that ill health might prevent him /her from travelling to resume duty on time at the expiration of leave, he/she must promptly communicate with the appropriate

in nature as part and parcel of the hearing process for an indictable offence.

“This court declines to follow the decision in the Humphreys case-but only in so far as that decision seeks to disapply Article 10 (2) ( the equivalent of Article 144 (2) of the present Guyana Constitution) to preliminary inquiries or any other form of committal proceedings.

“As before mentioned, the fact that there can be a fair hearing for the purpose of Article 144 (1) without the application of the special provisions of Article 144 (2) does not at all mean that the Court is free to disapply those special constitutional provisions. It should be noted that the relevant dicta of Haynes C. in Re: Williams and Salisbury were not at all considered in the Humphreys case (supra). Indeed, Re Williams and Salisbury was not even mentioned in the Humphreys’ case (supra). This court is bound by the decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal in Re Williams and Salisbury and not by the decision and not by the decision of the Privy Council in the Humphreys’ case – which is strong persuasive authority but not binding authority in Guyana.

“For the above reasons the declaration prayed for by the applicant in paragraph (a) of the Notice of Motion is granted. Each party to bear his own costs.

Guyana Mission so that arrangement could be made for him/ her to be seen by a Medical Practitioner nominated by that Mission.”

“The judgment added: “It does appear that the applicant was in breach of P.S.M. Circular No. 4/1972 and therefore rendered herself liable to loss of pay or disciplinary action.

“It does appear that the Permanent Secretary made a decision which was very favourable to the applicant since all he did was to decide not to grant sick leave pay to the applicant only in respect of days of sick leave absence not covered by medical certificates i. e. 4th December 2014 to 31st January, 2015 – 59 days . It appears that it is not all within his power to grant a public servant pay for sick leave for days not covered by any medical certificate.

“He therefore cannot be sensibly or reasonably accused of not granting to the applicant in respect of the 59 days leave of absence for reason of illness when there was no medical certificate attesting to her state of health in respect of those days. The Order or Rule nisi of Certiorari and Mandamus granted against him on the 16th April, 2015 must therefore be discharged, Chief Justice Chang stated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Region 10 riverine schools get life jackets from MARAD

SCHOOLS in riverine areas of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) have benefited from life jackets donated by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

This latest distribution has seen 96 children’s life jackets being handed over to Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian, and this donation will benefit pupils from the Malali Primary and other schools in the lower riverine areas.

Twelve adult life jackets

were also handed over to the Muritaro Primary School, to complement what was previously handed over, a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) has said.

Akosua McPherson, MARAD’s Public Relations Officer, in handing over the life jackets to Morian, indicated that this donation is to ensure the children’s safety on the waterways.

“Whilst we distributed a few life jackets before to some of the schools, we have noticed that more were needed for the children…

it is hoped that they (the children) can be safe, whilst travelling to and from school in their boats,” McPherson explained.

Sharmin Grey, a teacher of the Muritaro Primary School, which received a dozen adult life jackets for the teachers, expressed gratitude for the donation, which she said is not only timely, but needed. “A number of times we have boat accidents…the life jackets will help both the teachers and children to be (safer) on the waterways…. A set was given before, which went Sharmin Grey, a teacher of the Muritaro Primary School, receiving a life jacket from MARAD’s Public Relations Officer, Akousa Mc Pherson

Public Relations Officer of MARAD, Akousa Mc Pherson, presenting a life jacket to Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian

directly to the children… some from this batch will go to teachers, as they, too, traverse the waterways,” Grey indicated.

The Kartabo, Makouria, Holy Name, and Itaballi Primary schools have also recently benefited from the MARAD life jacket distribution campaign. Schools in the Region One area will soon benefit from this campaign.

MARAD Consultant John Flores, President of the Volleyball Association, also used the opportunity to donate a number of volleyballs and nets to Region 10. He indicated that during Heritage Month activities, a request was made to the Ministry of

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs for such a contribution, along with a closer networking with the region to develop the sport of volleyball.

“I’m here to give you an impetus in terms of getting games organised for you. I have a plan at the federation level to get out to the rural communities as much as possible…. This donation covers two categories of balls -- one for children and another for adults,” Flores explained.

He added that volleyball is a cheap game and an ideal community sport, and other such distributions were made to Buxton, Plaisance, and other communities countrywide.

Regional Chairman Morian indicated that he wants to see sports further developed and advanced in Region 10, as this region is not comprised of Linden alone. “I’m thinking about Kwakwani, Rockstone, River’s View, Ituni…the youths in all those areas…. We recall days when Linden was at the top of the map as it relates to sports; and whilst that has died, over the past few years, there is a resurrection of sports in Region 10. And with support from such organisations as yours, I know for sure we can take sports in Region 10 to the next level,” Morian asserted.

Miss Guyana Universe 2015 officially launched

By Alex Wayne

THE Miss Guyana Universe 2015 Pageant was officially launched in the Princess Hotel’s Conference Room on Sunday evening last with a simple but striking ceremony, wherein the nine stunning delegates were, for the first time, declared and introduced to the public by host, radio personality Felize Robertson.

Addressing the sizeable gathering of special invitees, franchise holder Odinga Lamumba thanked the sponsors for supporting the event. He was particularly grateful to management of the Princess Hotel for making the facility available for the occasion.

Announcing that the actual pageant will be staged at the same venue on November 15, 2015, Lumumba informed that the eventual local queen will represent Guyana in Las Vegas on December 20, 2015, where she will be competing against 94 other delegates from around the globe.

He added that before pageant night, the nine beauties will participate in a televised Intelligence Competition at which they will be interviewed by an individual to be named. During his presentation, he called on Corporate Guyana to be supportive of the event, since some of the delegates are

The Miss Guyana Universe delgates with reigning Miss Guyana Universe, Niketa Barker, at centre still without sponsors.

He also indicated that, this year around, the calibre of contestants is much better than what had obtained last year, and he said Guyana has

a better opportunity of placing at the international leg of the pageant.

After Mr. Lumumba’s address, each delegate introduced herself to the audience,

and mingled with the media and patrons with the hope of securing much-needed sponsorship.

Those competing for the coveted title this year are

Shauna Ramdian, Zeena Bland, Najuma Nelson, Babita Seelall, Malika Russel, Tricia Quail, Diana Hamad, Kiswana Jefford and Melissa Defreitas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Agri Minister touts implementation of milk plant to diversify beef industry

- says 50% of cows slaughtered restocking needed

By Rabindra Rooplall GUYANA’s livestock industry has been stagnated for the past two decades, and 50 per cent of the cows have been slaughtered, diminishing the national herd and placing the industry in a crisis, according to Agriculture Minister Noel Holder.

“When you start doing that to the national herd, you start to destroy it. What is being done now is (that) the livestock authority is now buying females presented at the abattoirs -- to put them back in the system to breed them to keep our national stock, which would be our seed stock to develop the savannahs,” Minister Holder underscored.

Reflecting that in the early 90s, the Livestock Development Company was the largest cattle operator in CARICOM, Minister Holder said, “At the time, we were using 1/3 of our milk requirements. We were always self-sufficient in beef, and were on the verge of being

able to export. What was keeping us back at that time was the fact that we were not certified against various diseases, one being the foot and mouth disease.”

Contending that over the last 20 years nothing substantial has been done in the livestock sector, Minister Holder said a crisis almost now exists, because the abattoirs’ figures show that 50 per cent of the cows are being slaughtered.

The minister has said that if Guyana had chosen to head into meat export too early, it would have destroyed the national herd, because the pressure to satisfy external industries would not have been sustainable.

“Guyana is a peculiar country; we are probably one of the few countries in the world which has beef as one of the cheapest meats. In any other country, you would find beef being a very expensive meat, since it takes years for an animal to get to market weight. But because this country has a large Hindu

population (which) does not eat beef, this may be one of the reasons that beef is not a high-priced commodity here, which makes it attractive to export,” Minister Holder explained.

Guyana is believed to have between 220,000 and 250,000 head of beef and dairy cattle, spread mainly in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10. The main dairy producing Regions are 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, while beef is mainly produced in Regions 3, 5, 6, 9 and 10.

The 2020 vision of the Agri Minister is seeking implementation of a dairy plant, which would act as a stimulus for the dairy industry.

“What we can do is put down a milk cooling station in the Abary, one in Mahaicony, one in Mahaica, and farmers can bring their milk and cool it. And once a day, a tanker (can) bring it down to the milk plant. Even if there is not enough milk locally to supply the milk plant, we can reconstitute. Milk powder and butter oil can be put to-

gether, and the proceeds can help develop the industry,” Minister Holder suggested.

Caribbean countries have traditionally hosted dairy industries that were pivotal to the supply of fresh milk to domestic markets. The main dairy producers in the Caribbean Region are Jamaica,

Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and The Dominican Republic.

Noting that Guyana imports a lot of milk products, Minister Holder said the Caribbean dairy industry is dominated by fresh milk production, with a range of dairy by-products, including milk

drinks and yoghurt, of which Guyana can contribute.

“Dairy can even compete with rice, since a very large import for Guyana is milk and dairy products.

And if Guyana can produce, we can assist with savings in the foreign currency,” he said.

Lawyer fined as murder case begins late A 12-MEMBER jury was empanelled yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh in the High Court for the murder trial of Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris on June 30, 2011.

The four persons accused are: Cleon Hinds, Orin Hinds called “Red Man,” Kevin October known as “Troy,” and Roy Jacobs, usually referred to as “Chippy.”

On the evening of June 30, two men went to the victim’s home at 42 Robb Street asking for ‘Auntie,’ a title by which she was called. They were directed up a side step and as Fiedtkou-Parris emerged from her bedroom, one of the men pulled out a gun and shot her several times to the upper part of her body.

The men then jumped into a waiting car, while the injured woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. No harm was done to her brother, Fitzroy Fiedtkou, who was sitting on the stairs when they arrived. It is believed that the woman was the victim of a contract killing.

The first police witness, Corporal Chaitram Sewsankar, was called to testify yesterday morning and the trial continues today.

The state prosecutors are Teshanna James-Lake in association with Narissa Leander and the trial is likely to last four weeks in which a total of 28 witnesses will testify.

Orin Hinds is represented by Attorney-at-Law George Thomas, Kevin October’s lawyer is Moti Singh, while Cleon Hinds is represented by Raymond Ali, and Maxwell McKay appears for Roy Jacobs.

Meanwhile earlier in the morning, Defence Counsel Moti Singh who showed up more than half-an-hour late for court before Justice Singh was held in contempt and ordered to pay $10,000 within seven days or face imprisonment.

Restaurant Week slated for November 6 to 15

By Rabindra Rooplall

THE Guyana Restaurant Week (GRW) is slated to be observed from November 6 to 15, and the theme for those observations is “Explore, Eat and Repeat”.

Fifteen restaurants are set to participate in the event, which promises to offer something different from

the usual.

The second launching of Restaurant Week is one of the signature events of Tourism Awareness Month. Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, and President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Shaun McGrath, made this disclosure yes-

terday at the new home of the Tourism Ministry, Colgrain House on Camp Street, Georgetown. The GTA director has said the event promotes fine dining and culinary activities for locals and visitors, as delicious and affordable lunch and dinner options would be made available during the designated week.

One of the many exciting dishes being offered at the Silhouette Restaurant

“It is a culinary celebration of the best restaurants in Guyana. During this ten-day extravaganza, participating restaurants offer an exclusive menu at a significantly reduced price. Restaurant Week gives visitors and local foodies an opportunity to enjoy specialty prix fixe menus from skilled local chefs,” Haralsingh said.

He explained that the multi-course dining experience starts at $2,000 for lunch and $4,000 and/or $5,000 for dinner, including VAT and service charges, where applicable. Beverages are not included.

“All you have to do is dine at five different restaurants during Restaurant Week, and you will be entered into our competition, where you can win (the following): 1st (prize) -- one return ticket to New York, from Dynamic Airlines; 2nd (prize) -- one return ticket to Curacao, from Insel Airlines;

3rd (prize) -- one overnight for two persons at Arrowpoint Resort, from Roraima Airlines.”

Haralsingh noted that persons can “download or collect a GRW passport sheet at any participating restaurant, and get it stamped at each restaurant you eat at.

Once you have your 5th stamp, put it in the collection box at participating restaurants, and you will be entered into the draw. The drawing will take place on November 14.”

Persons can also visit www.guyanarestaurantweek. com where they can give their feedback pertaining to their experience at the various venues.

“Your feedback is important to us, so we can gauge the success of Guyana Restaurant Week. Please let us know how you enjoyed your dining experiences by completing our online survey. The results will be shared with the

restaurant in question,” he added.

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Shaun McGrath, said the restaurants participating include: Angel Seafood Restaurant, at Kanuku Suites Hotel; Bottle Restaurant, at Cara Lodge Hotel; Caribbean Soul Restaurant, at the Grand Coastal Hotel; Coffee Bean Eatery, at Herdmanston Lodge; Ignite Bar and Grill, at Pegasus Hotel; New Thriving Restaurant; OMG; Oasis Café; Palm Court Restaurant; Princess Hotel; Silhouette Restaurant; Terra Mare, at the Guyana Marriot; Windjammers Hotel; and Xie Xie Restaurant.

Mc Grath said Restaurant Week was designed to appeal to the local market, and to attract people who feel certain restaurants are not for them.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 3, 2015

Minister Patterson examines some products produced by the community

Potable water access, paved roads for Timehri North residents

PERSONS living in the Timehri North area will benefit from better access to potable water and paved access road in the not too distant future, Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson has announced.

Patterson made the announcement on Saturday when he attended Timehri North first Community Day in the Bourne Area. Organised by an action group, the Community Day was intended to foster better relationships among the more than 300 residents living in the area, a release from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure said.

Patterson lamented on the fact that prior to the May 11 General Election there was the ominous threat to remove a number of residents for ‘squatting’ on government’s land. “You were here for more than 23 years, given some assistance for political mileage and then were threatened to be uprooted without any concrete plans for relocation. Well I am pleased to say that the APNU/AFC Administration will be creating a housing scheme within this same community to relocate the 15 homes that are in the pathway of the airport runway expansion project,” the minister disclosed.

At the minister’s last joint press conference he had shown reporters the designated area to relocate the residents.

Meanwhile, recognising that most of the community depends on a small stream for potable water, the Public Infrastructure Minister said he will take up the matter with his colleague, Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Communities. The residents recommended several standpipes be installed at strategic locations to alleviate the situation. Further, the community’s main access road will be paved.

The minister also encouraged the residents to become regularised and secure their land titles. “You have all worked hard, get your titles from the Communities Ministry so that you can use it as collateral…get together and start thinking as a team on ways to boost community development,” the minister charged. In another few weeks, the minister is scheduled to return to the community to interact with residents.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:20 hrs Mulher De Branco 08:55 hrs Silver Banshee 09:35 hrs Muskets ‘ N Roses 10:15 hrs Nassa 10:50 hrs Good Grace 11:25 hrs Bora Bora English Racing Tips Redcar 08:30 hrs Roundsman 09:00 hrs Mount Shamsan 09:30 hrs Champagne Bob 10:00 hrs Empress Ali 10:30 hrs Piccadilly Jim 11:00 hrs Harvey’s Hope 11:30 hrs With Hindsight 12:00 hrs Spirit Of Rosanna Southwell 08:40 hrs Scottische 09:10 hrs Stun Gun 09:40 hrs Boolass 10:10 hrs Mango Chutney 10:40 hrs Hold On Magnolia 11:10 hrs Ullswater 11:40 hrs Dabadiyan 12:10 hrs Lamps Of Heaven Exeter 09:20 hrs Duke Des Champs 09:50 hrs Welsh Shadow 10:20 hrs Vibrato Valtat 10:50 hrs The Tourard Man 11:20 hrs Whats Left 11:50 hrs Captainofindustry 12:20 hrs War And Contrition American Racing Tips Parx Racing Race 1 Bold Gabby Race 2 All About Abby Race 3 Resolute Babe Race 4 Kisses For Romeo Race 5 Stevie’s Wonder Race 6 Fortutious Race 7 Pelekas Beach Race 8 Jake N Elwood Race 9 Twin Lights

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Nowitzki leads Mavericks to win over Lakers

Guyana Jaguars name squad to begin defence of PCL Regional Four-Day title

(THE SPORTS Xchange) - Forward Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points and grabbed

nine rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers for the

eighth consecutive time, rolling to a 103-93 victory Sunday night at Staples Centre.

Dirk Nowitzki

Center Zaza Pachulia added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks (2-1), who had six players score in double figures.

The Mavericks had three of their starters return. Forward Chandler Parsons (right knee surgery) made his season debut, while guard Deron Williams (left knee sprain) and Wesley Matthews (rest) returned from one-game absences.

Parsons was ineffective, compiling two points, three rebounds and three assists in 11 minutes. Williams finished with 11 points and eight assists, while Matthews had 10 points.

Guard Raymond Felton also scored 11 for Dallas, and guard J.J Barea came off the bench to chip in with 10 points and seven assists.

Forward Julius Randle finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Lakers (03). Forward Kobe Bryant had 15 points on 3-of-15 shooting, while reserve guard Lou Williams scored 13.

Dallas hit 46 percent of their shots from the floor, while Los Angeles made just 36.5 percent.

Despite their struggles in the first half, the Lakers, who began the game in a 15-0 hole, were only down 54-45 at intermission.

They managed just 30.2 percent shooting compared to 43.8 percent for the Mavericks. Dallas also connected on nine of 17 (52.9 percent) three-pointers to four of 16 (25 percent) for Los Angeles before the break.

However, the Lakers enjoyed a considerable edge on free throws, hitting 15 of 19 (78.9 percent) to three of four for the Mavericks.

In the third, the Lakers cut the deficit to 64-57 after a three-point basket by rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell with 5:18 to go, but the Mavericks subsequently pulled away.

They closed on a 17-7 run for a 81-64 advantage heading into the fourth.

Two free throws by Williams pulled Los Angeles within 97-91 with 2:27 remaining, but that was the closest the Lakers got.

CRICKET Guy Inc. (CGI) has named its 13-man squad just days ahead of the first West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four-Day Competition match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Guyana Jaguars will begin their title defence when they face Volcanoes from November 6 to 9 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The lone newcomer to the squad is Berbice and Albion left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie.

The squad reads: Assad Fudadin, Rajendra Chandrika, Leon Johnson (captain), Vishaul Singh (vice-captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul,

Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Steven Jacobs, Gudakesh Motie, Shimron Hetmyer, Keon Joseph, and Ronsford Beaton.

The coach is Esaun Crandon, the manager/assistant coach is Rayon Griffith and the physio is Beverley Nelson.

The other contracted and Academy players will be the replacement, in case of any changes. According to a release from CGI, left-arm orthodox bowler Veerasammy Permaul was not included in the squad because he suffered an ankle injury.

Guyana Jaguars are the defending champions going into this tournament after they dominated it in 2014-15.

Bolt named on...

American Justin Gatlin who is not eligible for nomination.

Joining Bolt as the frontrunner on the female side is Netherlands athlete Dafne Schippers, who claimed the women’s 200m title in the fourth-fastest time ever recorded over the distance. The duo have amassed the most votes in the opening round.

A preliminary list of nine men and women from the sprints, hurdles, middle and long distance running, race

From back page

walking, jumps, throws and combined events were selected between October 7 and 25.

An international panel of 10 experts will then select the finalists, three men and three women, the names of whom will be announced on November 17 and 18.

The Council of the International Athletics Foundation (IAAF) will then select the male and female World Athletes-of-theYear. (Sportsmax.com)

Regal complete Guyana...

From back page

were at 65-2 with Richard Latif producing a masterclass 40 not out, after being dropped earlier in the innings.

Rafeek made 9 and Navin Singh was dismissed for 8.

Batting first, the New York team made 119 all out, thanks to Amar Singh and Hemendra Ramdial 20 each, while Wasim Haslim contributed 18.

Ameir Nizamadeen with 3-10 (2) & Tyrone Sanasi 3-23 (4) were the main destroyers for Regal.

Richard Latif was adjudged the man-of-the-series in the Open division.

Meanwhile, in the Masters Division, which was contested first, the Regal team were too good for their Floodlight competitors,

brushing them off with 6 wickets to spare.

Batting first, Floodlight 11 posted 160 for the loss of 9 wickets thanks to 31 from Yunie Yusuf and 25 from Wayne Jones while bowling for Regal, David Harper picked up 4 for 19 off 20.

In response Regal comfortably overhauled the total, scoring 161 for the loss of 4 wickets; 80 not out from Eon Abel and 42 from Rudolph Barker.

Floodlight player Richard Narine was the man-of-theseries on the Masters side.

A total of 42 matches were played in the three days with sponsors being RUBiS Bel Air, Survival Travel Agency, Stag Beer, Clear Water, Nauth Motor Spares and others.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Taylor gives England good GCB/BANK DIH/DIGICEL NSSCL Zeeburg and St John’s College platform in final Test

England's James Taylor and Jonny Bairstow fist-pump as they walk off unbeaten at stumps on the second day.

(Action Images via Reuters/Jason O'Brien)

(REUTERS) - England were 222 for four wickets in reply to Pakistan's 234 all out at the end of the second day of the third and final Test in Sharjah yesterday.

James Taylor, seeking a maiden Test century, was unbeaten on 74 and Jonny Bairstow was 37 not out. Their stand for the fifth wicket was worth 83 at the close.

Pakistan, hoping to maintain their impressive record since moving matches to the United Arab Emirates, won the second Test after the first was drawn.

England eventually had the better of a slow day's play, in which only 48 runs came in the middle session.

was one run short of his 46th Test fifty when he tried to glance a delivery from the leg-spinner but only managed to deflect it onto his pads before Azhar Ali took the catch at forward short leg.

Root (four) soon joined him back in the pavilion after wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed took a low, one-handed catch off Rahat Ali to leave England 97 for three.

Taylor, returning to Test cricket after an absence of three years, and Ian Bell saw them through to tea, only for Bell to be smartly stumped off Yasir for 40.

That was Pakistan's last success of the day, however, Bairstow accompanying Taylor through to the close to leave England in the driving seat.

Starting the day at four for no wicket, they lost Moeen Ali cheaply for 14, falling with a cross-batted slog at Shoaib Malik.

That was the only wicket to fall before lunch, although Alastair Cook and then Joe Root perished in quick sucPAKISTAN first innings 234 cession soon (Misbah-ul-Haq 71; J. Anderson 4-17) after the interENGLAND 1st innings (o/n 222-4) val.

49 Cook was A. Cook c Az. Ali b Shah M. Ali c Y. Khan b Malik 14 o u t s m a r t e d I. Bell stp. S. Ahmed b Shah 40 again by Yasir J. Root c S. Ahmed b R. Ali 4 74 Shah, who had J. Taylor not out 37 dismissed him J. Bairstow not out Extras: lb-2, nb-2) 4 in both innings Total: (for 4 wickets, 92 overs) 222 of the previous Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-90, 3-97, 4-139.

Bowling: R. Ali 16-8-35-1, Y. Shah Test.

T h e E n - 29-3-79-2, W. Riaz 15-4-23-0 (nb-2), Z. Babar 25-2-60-0, S. Malik 5-2-16-1,Az. gland captain Ali 2-0-7-0.

SCOREBOARD

Mourinho named in Carneiro legal action LONDON, England (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been named a respondent in the legal action being brought against the club by their former team doctor Eva Carneiro for constructive dismissal, sources close to the case said yesterday.

Papers have been served for a preliminary hearing date, which has not been disclosed, and the Premier League champions have 28 days to file a response.

Chelsea's Portuguese manager was angry when Carneiro ran on to the pitch to treat midfielder Eden

Hazard during the opening match of the season against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea were already down to 10 men after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off and, with Hazard having to leave the pitch after treatment, they were temporarily left with nine players.

Mourinho called Carneiro "impulsive and naive" and removed her from first-team duties.

Carneiro has since left the west London club.

Her lawyers, and Chelsea, declined to comment.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho

register massive wins ZEEBURG and St John’s College registered massive victories in the West Demerara and Georgetown Zones of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) National Secondary Schools Cricket League (NSSCL), sponsored by Banks DIH Ltd’s Coco Cola and Rainforest Waters along with Digicel.

At the Zeeburg ground, the home team defeated Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Secondary by a massive 151 runs. SVN Secondary won the toss and invited Zeeburg Secondary to take first strike, a decision that backfired, as Zeeburg Secondary made prodigious use of the good batting conditions to rattle up 226/8 from their allotted 14 overs.

Kelvin Shewprasad topscored with 56 which included five fours and two maximums while Ryan Fahein chipped in with 44, which included two fours and four massive sixes. Avishkar Ramgobin contributed a classy 33 and Ganesh Jitlall a stroke-filled unbeaten 40, which included four boundaries and two well-timed sixes.

Bowling for SVN, Aditya Kakarnauth took 3-35.

In reply, SVN were blown away for just 75 runs as Ganesh Jitlall and Avinash Ramgobin returned figures of 3-14 runs and 2-17 respectively. Aditya Kakarnauth was the only SVN batsman to put up any resistance to the Zeeburg Secondary bowlers by recording a top score of 24.

In the Georgetown Zone, at Everest ground, Christopher Campbell bowled St John’s College to victory with a five-wicket haul, as St George’s High found batting difficult on a pitch that seemed to favour the bowlers track.

Batting first, St John’s College were bowled out for 122 in 22 overs, with

Zeeburg Secondary stars - Kelvin Shewprasad (left) and Ganesh Jitlall

the Douglas brothers Ooida Douglas and Raul Douglas being the main contributors with 40 and 26 respectively.

Bowling for St George’s, Mario D’Aguiar took 4-42, Meshack Softleigh 3-17 and Ntini Permaul 2-27.

St George’s High in their reply, were skittled out for 82 as Christopher Campbell pro-

duced a superb performance with figures of 5-21, robbing St George’s of victory. Johan Blair supported with 3-19 off 4 overs. St John’s College won by 40 runs.

Tomorrow, Covent Garden take on Friendship at Thirst Park and St John’s meet Leonora Secondary at Zeeburg ground.

Guyana’s top players for Barbados Darts Festival

GUYANA’S top darts players, Sudesh Fitzgerald and Lallchand Rambharose will be winging out to Barbados this weekend to participate in the Barbados Darts Festival, sponsored by Harrows.

Now in its 13th year, the Festival involves darts players of all standards, both male and female, and their games will be played from November 6 to November 9.

Over the years they have both participated in this tournament and excelled last year with one first prize and two second prizes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Goodluck holds on Nobrega focuses on to ‘X’ Class lead fitness ahead of CMRC RANSFORD Goodluck held on to a slim one-point lead at ‘X’ Class at the end of the first day of competition in the National Rifle-Shooting championships at the Timehri Rifle Ranges on Sunday.

The former national champion had a first-day aggregate of 132 points with 12 V-bulls, one point ahead of defending champion Lennox Braithwaite, who recorded 131 with 12 V-bulls following competition at the 300, 500 and 900 yards ranges.

Goodluck recorded 33 points with one V from a possible 35 points at 300 yards and returned to shot a possible 50 points with seven Vs at 500 yards and dropped just one point to record 49 points with four Vs at 900 yards.

Braithwaite also shot a possible 50 points at 500 yards but recorded scores of 34-2 and 47-5 at 300 and 900 yards respectively.

Ransford GoodLuck

National vice-captain Dylan Fields was in third position with 127 points and six Vs with individual scores of 33-1, 47-4 and 47-1 at the three ranges.

Ryan Sampson had an overall score of 124 points with eight Vs with scores of 31-2, 47-3 and 46-3.

Lt. Col Retired Terry Stuart shot 123 with five Vs recording scores of 31-0, 48-3 and 44-2 while Peter Persaud was one point behind with 122 with nine Vs.

He shot 30-1, 48-4 and 44-4.

Sherwin Felicien recorded 121 with 4 Vs with scores of 30-0, 49-3 and 42-1.

National captain Mahendra Persaud and leading ‘O’ Class shooter Leo Romalho did not compete on the first day due to illness but are likely to participate this weekend. The competitors battled very humid conditions with subtle changes in the winds.

Roberto Tewari and Gordon Richards who are competing in the Tryo Class (Beginners) shot only two ranges.

Tewari recorded 70 points with two Vs while Richards secured 64 with one V. The championships will continue on Saturday with shooting at the 500, 600 and 900 yards ranges starting at 10:00hrs while the final day of competition will be Sunday starting at the same time.

WITH all eyes in Caribbean motor racing focused on Guyana, drivers and riders are upping the ante of preparation and one competitor has placed fitness as one of his top priorities.

Stephen Nobrega, a current 125cc motorcycle competitor says that he plans to keep pursuing fitness ahead of the November 1415 CMRC race weekend, following a bout of racing injuries recently.

He said, “Preparation is coming good so far, thanks to the help of my brother and father who have been helping to have all the work done on the bike. On my part I'm not 100% fit but I'm doing a lot of cycling to help with my fitness.”

“The bike is working well. What I'm basically doing is trying to get back where I was before my injury; so far it's going great. The bike was recently rebuilt so I have not been riding a lot, but starting from this week I will be putting in a lot of seat

Stephen Nobrega

time,” confirmed Nobrega.

He is confident this time around. The excitement is there, the level of competition is high and everyone has high expectations. “I feel good both mentally and physically,” he assured.

The 125cc rider plans to finish his races with podium

spots, but he is cognisant of the fact that this is his first time back after a year and that everyone is faster.

Nobrega will be in action in the 125cc motorcycle class of the Caribbean Motor Racing Champions at the South Dakota Circuit.

(Stephan Sookram)

Hughes' death changed our thinking - McCullum NEW Zeakand captain Brendon McCullum has said the death of Phillip Hughes, and its aftermath, played a big role in how his team approached their cricket over the last year.

New Zealand were in Sharjah when McCullum heard the news of Hughes' death - after he was hit on the neck in a domestic game - and their Test against Pakistan was postponed by 24 hours to give players time to grieve.

"It felt like he was one of us," McCullum said in an interview to the Cricket Monthly, recalling the incident.

ing," McCullum says of the series-levelling victory, in which he starred with a rapid 202. "What we learnt was that when you play without any of the pressures and expectations we normally put on ourselves, your skills can be properly expressed."

The week after Hughes' death proved to be a turning point for the New Zealand team, McCullum said.

The senior players talked a lot about the way they

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum

"It was this horrible feeling of knowing it could

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday November 03, 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) Dimuth Karunaratne-186 (First Test, Galle) (2) Jermaine Blackwood-92 (First Test, Galle)

Today’s Quiz: (1) Which SL player took most wickets in the recent WI/SL Test series?

(2) Which WI player took most wickets in the recent WI/SL Test series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

have been any one of us.

We didn't want to continue.

I was looking around the sheds and thought there was no way we could get these guys in the right space to play cricket."

New Zealand cricket roped in mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka to help the players deal with the tragedy. Enoka, who had worked with the All Blacks rugby and other professional teams, suggested to the team management that the players should be self-absorbed for that one Test.

"What you saw was a team playing without feel-

approached the game and realised that New Zealand had never carved their own cricket identity.

"Most of it emanated from us, being semi-embarrassed about the way we had played in the past," McCullum says. "It has to be authentic and it may not last - you can't force it down people's throats - but this is the way I want this team to play and I know the senior guys have similar feelings

on it."

New Zealand went on to win the ODI series against Pakistan in UAE. They notched up series wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home before an undefeated maiden run to the World Cup final.

They also had a memorable summer in England - drawing the Test series and going down 3-2 the thrilling ODI series that followed. (ESPN Cricinfo)

GFSCA issues statement over Guyana Softball Cup 5 finals issue “THE Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), the organising body of the Guyana Softball Cup 5, would like to take this opportunity to express high levels of gratitude to the hundreds of fans who turned out to witness the finals of the fifth edition of the tournament on Sunday evening.

Indeed, the atmosphere at the Demerara Cricket Club was befitting of what the GFSCA has always

striven to achieve, that is to create quality on-field action in a family-oriented environment.

However, the GFSCA, like the eager fans who turned out to witness the action, is extremely disappointed by the incident that led to the abrupt end to the Open final between New York Softball Cricket League and Regal.

We, the members of the GFSCA, wish to register our disapproval of such behaviour, which no doubt

brought the game into disrepute, and would like to apologise to all and sundry for the unceremonious end to the game.

It must be noted that the GFSCA members tried their best to have the game restarted, but such ambitions proved beyond our control. We wish to make it absolutely clear that systems are being implemented to avoid a recurrence of Sunday’s incident in future Guyana Softball Cups.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 3, 2015

GFF’s Ethics Committee still to be established

By Ras Wadada

IN ELEVEN days’ time, 22 eligible voting members of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will cast their votes to determine who takes charge of the ‘Beautiful Game’ here in Guyana for the next four years.

As ‘D’ Day nears the real lovers and members of the sport continue to ask, how ready are we for the most important elections in our country’s football history?

It is hoped that all 22 members would be in good stead and eligible to vote on November 14. Likewise all members who are on slates contesting the elections

should be cleared by the Ethics Committee of the GFF. The big problem is that this very important committee is not likely to be established in time for the elections and of course the Clinton Urling-led Normalisation Committee (NC) would step up to play that role.

This should not be accepted since the NC is already acting as the Electoral Committee and so any ethical matter, protest or objections by the contesting slates must be addressed by a separate Committee comprising members who do not come from the NC, so as to avoid the inevitable conflict of interest.

The positive effects of

the Ethics Committee of the world governing body FIFA was reiterated by Chairman Urling, who also promised over a month now that the GFF would shortly install this vital Committee but as the General Secretary Ms. Deidri Davis explained, “getting the ideal persons to serve on the committee is proving difficult”. Maybe an advertisement in the Media might have helped, but the GS dismissed such a notion.

A glance at the slates would reveal that there is work for the Ethics Committee so it is imperative to establish it and the quicker the NC puts it together the more it would appear that we

GFF plugs $1M into UDFA league Solomon lauds efforts; calls it a step into the right direction THE Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) kicked off their 10team First Division league last Sunday, at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) handing over $1M to the association to aid in the execution of the league.

It was an initiative of the Normalisation Committee after Chairman Clinton Urling, had visited the community to oversee the election of their Executive, headed by former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon.

After handing over a quantity of balls to the UDFA, Urling had told the clubs that gathered at the LEN Building on October 1, that the GFF will also be giving financial assistance to the sum of $1M. According to Urling, “Linden has not had any significant football competitions in 2015 as a result of administrative issues with the UDFA, so the GFF is delighted to see the return of football in the region.”

He added, “Moreover, the Normalisation Committee welcomes the initiative by the new executives of the UDFA to host a League that will ensure consistent and sustainable football being played in the region.”

Urling also stated that the Normalisation Committee is committed to supporting the GFF’s member associations

UDFA president Sharma Solomon

with financial support for competitions once detailed proposals are submitted.

“We must compliment the UDFA executives for the robustness of their plans and timeliness of submission of their plans for the League,” Urling said.

“It’s a step in the right direction and we want to personally thank the Normalisation Committee and the GFF for lending a hand,” said Solomon in an invited comment.

The UDFA president pointed out that “even before I came into football, we always heard about the GFF receiving assistance from FIFA and I always felt that some of that should somehow reach the member associations and I’m happy that the Normalisation Committee and the GFF have ensured that associations start to benefit from the FIFA assistance, even if

it’s in a small, meaningful way; we’re grateful.”

Meanwhile, Solomon highlighted that along with the First Division League, the UDFA will host an Under-17 league simultaneously. This, he said, was made possible through GFF’s intervention.

Solomon said, “What we’re happy about is that the clubs understand the position we’re in, with regard to getting sponsorship and funding, so they have agreed to use the gates as payments.”

Solomon explained that 40% of the overall revenue earned at the gate will be given to the winner of the league, 20% to second-place team, 10% for the thirdplace finisher and the UDFA will take 5%. The remaining 25% will be shared among the other clubs.

Apart from the shared revenue, Solomon said that “each club was given 100 tickets to sell in their communities and to their supporters and those tickets will be sold at $300 and at the gate persons have to pay $500. So I want to commend the clubs for supporting this idea, because it will benefit them in the long run.”

The participating teams are: Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Milerock, Net Rockers, Silver Shattas, Hi-Stars, Botofago, Winners Connection, Topp XX, Eagles United and Blue Berry Hill United.

Chairman of GFF Normalisation Committee Clinton Urling.

are serious with our football and not continuing down the same destructive road that has brought us to this current crisis.

For all intents and purposes it seems as though the journey to the governance of the ‘Beautiful Game’ here in Guyana will not be easily achieved. However, the ones entrusted to determine who will take charge of the sport are going to be the key card in the outcome of the elections.

Both slates are intensifying their campaigns in their final efforts to sway the voters and of course there will be tons of promises and gifts and who knows what

more. From all indications, both Team Integrity and Team Unity are confident of victory.

An official update from the GFF yesterday stated that only four members have not completed the GFF’s mandate of adopting the new constitution and holding elections in order to be eligible to cast their votes, but it was assured that by this coming weekend the completion would take place.

Elite clubs Pele FC and Slingerz FC as well as the East Coast Demerara FA and the Women’s FA are the members still to put their houses in order.

Ming lauds challenging Mexican track

Calvin Ming before the start of his F4 debut

By Stephan Sookram OVERSEAS-based Guyanese driver Calvin Ming has lauded the obvious excitement and challenge that the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City poses and has vowed to return there again in the near future.

Ming, who was on debut, finished fourth overall at Sunday’s Formula 4 debut race, narrowly missing the podium, after he had qualified 7th overall on Saturday, having encountered some late difficulties.

On Sunday, after having a bobble on the start, Ming fell 2 positions down the straightway to 9th on the first lap but recovered well after that, putting his head down and using all the skills learnt during training Speaking to Chronicle Sport, Ming said, “It (the race) was a little difficult since I had just put in new brake pads in the morning before the race, because during qualifying the others failed.”

“Coming down to the final lap a safety

car was deployed because a car had spun on track and everyone was grouped up. I restarted in 4th position,” he continued.

After the restart he got to third and unfortunately was overtaken because of the draft and, according to Ming, he didn't block because the radio had failed and he was not aware that it was final lap.

Commenting on the experience, the overseas-based Guyanese said, “The race was pretty intense and I was able to learn a lot more being the first time I'm in a winged open-seated car race. I will definitely keep up the momentum and keep pushing for more and hopefully next race be on the podium.”

“It would not have been possible without all the help from my team in Mexico, my family, sponsors and also all of my supporters. Also many thanks to the Mexican crowd for being a great audience and great support,” he continued Ming said the Autodromo is definitely a track that he will be looking forward to racing on again.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

GFF’s Ethics Committee still to be established P.

23

Regal complete Guyana Softball Cup 5 sweep

The Jubilant Regal team celebrate after winning both Masters and Open categories of the Guyana Softball Cup 5.

... Controversy cuts short Open final

By Stephan Sookram REGAL Stationery completed the double in the 5th edition of the Guyana Softball Cup when both their Masters and Open teams successfully carted off the winners’ purse in the finals Sunday evening at the

Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown.

With the win, the Regal team took home a total $1.4M - $800 000 for being the winners of the Open category and $600 000 for their efforts at the Masters level. They also received a pair of trophies.

Bolt named on IAAF World Athlete-ofthe-Year list THE world’s fastest man Usain Bolt has predictably been nominated among the candidates for the IAAF World Athlete-of-the-Year award.

Despite recovering from two injury-plagued seasons, the double world record holder went on to claim three

gold medals at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.

In doing so, Bolt withstood a serious challenge f r o m

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However, controversy ended the Open final just 9.3 overs into Regal’s chase when the New York Softball All-stars could not bring themselves to agree with the umpire’s decision in favour of Regal batsman Fazal Rafeek, after a stumping appeal.

Instead, they chose to protest the decision Gudakesh Motie

World’s fastest man Usain Bolt

and even though the batsman in question (Rafeek) opted to give up his wicket, the New York side continued their protest, which led organisers to call off the match and hand the game to the Regal side.

Before the interruption, the Regal side

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Guyana Jaguars name squad to begin defence of PCL Regional Four-Day title

See Story on Page 20

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2015