Chronicle 11 7 2015

GUYANA No. 104365

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $80

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Excessive gambling forbidden Code of conduct for Ministers

…leaking of state secrets, accepting big gifts

P.4

Troy Resources scores full marks on obligations P.19

Executive Director of Troy Resources, Ken Nilsson showing off one part of the company's Karouni Gold Project site during a visit by a Guyana Geology and Mines Commission team on Thursday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

U.S. pumps $72M into drug fight P.3

…training for police, CANU ranks targeted

Sugar workers urged to resist strike action …as gov’t accuses GAWU of stoking fire P.16

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

Claims and Objections for LGE begin Monday THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will, on Monday, commence claims and objections regarding entries on

the Preliminary List of Voters (PLVs) for each of Guyana’s nine municipalities and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils

(NDCs).

The claims aspect of this exercise will end on December 6, and the objections aspect on December 13.

GECOM explained that the purpose of the exercise is to produce the respective Register of Voters to be used for the conduct of Local Government Elections (LGE) under the new system for those elections.

It said the PLVs have been posted at prominent locations in all of the constit-

GECOM will commence claims and objections regarding entries on the Preliminary List of Voters for each of Guyana’s nine municipalities and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils on Monday

uencies in every municipality and NDC. Anyone who will be 18 years old or over by February 29, 2016, and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, or naturalisation; or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, is eligible to register to vote at the upcoming Local Government Elections, provided that he/ she resides in a municipality or NDC. Accordingly, GECOM said that any person who would be eligible to register during this exercise could apply for registration if his/ her name is not on the relevant PLV; or can apply for a change of name if he/she has changed his/her name since he/she was last registered; or apply for a correction if his/ her information on the PLV is incorrect; or apply for a transfer if he/she is listed at an address where he/she no Turn to page 8 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

US pumps $72M into drug fight

…training for police, CANU ranks targeted

By Svetlana Marshall THE governments of Guyana and the U.S. yesterday signed an agreement under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) that is intended to dent the narco-trade.

Worth US$350,000, the Letter of Agreement 3.2, which amends the initial Caribbean Basin Security Initiative into two components, was signed by Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The first component of this new agreement will most importantly advance counter-narcotics control among other activities in the areas of enforcement. In the area of law enforcement professionalism, Minister Greenidge explained, US$150,000 will be used to enhance the Guyana Police Force’s Anti-Narcotics Branch and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit’s (CANU) counter-narcotics operations at ports of entry.

Additionally, a number of law enforcement training courses will be undertaken.

This US$150,000 complements the US$300,000 which was provided by the U.S. under the CSBI in 2014.

“This project is designed to enhance the capability of Guyana to conduct counter-narcotics operations by developing coordination between agencies, and (improve) intelligence-gathering

on drug trafficking,” Minister Greenidge explained.

In the long term, this programme will ensure that the integrity and quality of personnel assigned to CANU are held to high standards.

It also serves to strengthen the investigative partnership between CANU and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Under this component of the counter-narcotics control programme, the remaining US$200,000 will supplement the US$250,000 already given by the U.S. in 2014.

The U.S. and Guyana continue to share a close relationship in the area of security, with the latter benefiting significantly under the CBSI through initiation of counter-narcotics strategies, training programmes for members of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), training partnerships between the Guyana Police Force and the Pennsylvania State Police, and through establishment of the Container Control Programme.

PROGRESS Minister Greenidge said the results of these initiatives are already being seen through increased levels of narcotics seizures; and Ambassador Holloway, in underscoring the importance of the CBSI, said the US$350,000 will assist the Government of Guyana in its law enforcement reform efforts.

It was pointed out that

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge and U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway, affixing their signatures to the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative’s (CBSI’s) “Letter of Amendment 3.2,” in the Main Conference Room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (GINA photo)

the resources provided will play a critical role in training and equipping law enforcement agencies in Guyana, thereby enabling them to expand their cooperative efforts to combat narcotics trafficking.

“One of the important things about the CBSI… It is Caribbean in the sense that it is regional, because the bad guys, they don’t recognise national borders; they don’t recognise ethnicity; they don’t recognise gender; they are equal-opportunity bad

guys in the sense that they do their crimes against everyone, and they do them in every country, in every town,” the U.S. Ambassador said.

The United States Government has already committed more than US$45 million towards the CBSI, and continues to work closely with the Caribbean region in areas like law enforcement and narcotics control.

Guyana and the U.S. signed the CBSI Letter of Agreement on Narcotics Control and Law Enforce-

ment on April 8, 2011, for support to the local security sector. To date, four letters of amendment have been signed.

“CBSI programming has been instrumental in building collaboration among regional states, in order to engender better information sharing on law enforcement matters.

For example, the Automated Fingerprint Identification System and the Advanced Passenger Information System – both programmes supported under CBSI – allow

for real time information sharing on potential criminal threats among Caribbean States,” the U.S. pointed out.

Financing of CSBI stems from a commitment made by President Barack Obama in 2009 during his visit to Trinidad and Tobago for the 5th Summit of the Americas. At that time, the U.S. President pledged to deepen security cooperation with the Caribbean, and, as such, CBSI is the fulfilment of that commitment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 7, 2015

Code of Conduct for Ministers, MPs

Excessive gambling forbidden …leaking state secrets, accepting big gifts

G

OVERNMENT has released its draft Code of Conduct for Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and other public officials, warning against excessive gambling and accepting big gifts, especially from suppliers who do business with the government.

The Code of Conduct was one of the promises made during the elections campaign. Released by the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday, the code is geared to assist ministers and MPs and public office holders in the discharge of their obligations to their constituents and the public at large.

According to the document, it provides guidance on the values – the moral qualities – that should govern the conduct of ministers and members in discharging their parliamentary and public duties. It is also meant to reinforce public confidence in the way in which ministers and public office holders perform those duties. According to the document, ministers by virtue of the oath or affirmation of allegiance taken when they are elected, have a duty to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, according to law.

“Public office holders are duty-bound by this code in all aspects of their public life. This code does not seek to regulate the conduct of public office holders in their private and

personal lives. Public office holders have a duty to uphold the law, including the general law against discrimination and sexual harassment, and to act with propriety on all occasions in accordance with the public trust and confidence placed in them. Public office holders have a general duty to act in the interests of the nation as a whole and owe a special duty of care to their constituents, and citizens.” The Code of Conduct according to the document is underpinned by 10 principles: accountability, dignity, diligence, duty, honour, integrity, loyalty, objectivity, responsibility and transparency.

Moreover, the code addressed one of the sore issues of officials accepting gifts, noting that the acceptance of gifts and other forms of reward worth more than $10,000 by ministers, MPs and public office holders in their official capacity, shall be reported to the Integrity Commission. Ministers, MP and public office holders should consider declining such gratuities if the acceptance of same could be perceived to have an effect on their objectivity and lead to complaints of bias or impropriety.

The code added that a conflict-of-interest situation arises when the “private interests” of the public office holder compete or conflict with the interests of the State. “Private interests” mean both the financial and personal interests

of the official and staff or those of their connections, including: family and other relations; personal friends; other companies or business interests which they hold or own (both in part or in whole); other clubs and societies to which they belong; and any person to whom they owe a favour or are obligated in any way.

Additionally, according to the code, ministers, MPs and public office holders should avoid using their official positions or transmitting any information made available to them in the course of their duty to benefit themselves, their relations or any other individual with whom they are associated.

“They should avoid compromising themselves or their office[s] which may lead to an actual or perceived conflict of interest. Failure to avoid or declare any conflict of interest may give rise to criticism of favouritism, abuse of authority or even allegations of corruption. In particular, ministers, MPs and public office holders involved in the procurement process should declare conflict of interest if they are closely related to, or have, or will likely be perceived to have, beneficial interest in any company or transaction that would result in the award for the supplies of goods and services to the state,” the Code of Conduct outlined.

ENTERTAINMENT Additionally, although entertainment is an acceptable form of business and social behaviour, ministers, MPs and public office holders must not accept lavish or frequent entertainment from persons with whom the government has official dealings (e.g. suppliers or contractors, clubs/persons to which the State may allocate resources or job assignments), so that they will not be placed in a position of obligation to the other party. The code said officials and staff who misuse their office for personal gain or to favour their relatives or friends or to benefit their business connections are liable for disciplinary action by the government or even prosecution by the State.

“Examples of misuse include an official or a staff member responsible for the selection of suppliers giving undue favour or leaking tender information to his own or his relative’s company with a view to awarding the contract to the latter, or placing it in an advantageous position ahead of other competitive bidders. Other examples include the unfair allocation of resources (eg venue) to other parties for personal gain.”

CLASSIFIED INFORMATION Moreover, the Code of Conduct stipulates that officials and staff are not allowed to disclose any classified or proprietary information to anyone without prior See Page 5

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 7, 2015

Excessive gambling ...

From Page 4 authorisation by the government.

“Officials and staff who have access to or are in control of such information should at all times provide adequate safeguards to prevent its abuse or misuse. Examples of misuse include disclosure of information in return for monetary rewards, or use of information for personal interest or business benefit. It should also be noted that unauthorised disclosure of any personal data may result in a breach of the personal data.”

Regarding State property, the code said that officials and staff given access to any property or other resources of or acquired by the government (such as vehicles) should ensure that it is properly used solely for the purpose of conducting the government’s business. “Misappropriation or unauthorised use of such property or resources, such as for personal use or personal gain (eg resale or unauthorised leasing), is strictly prohibited.” Besides, the code states that facilities provided to ministers, MPs and public office holders at government expense to ensure fulfilment of their official duties should not be used for political activities.

“Government property should not generally be used for constituency work or party activities.”

GAMBLING On the issue of gambling, the code said that ministers, MPs and public office holders must not engage in frequent or excessive gambling with persons who have business dealings with the government as well as among colleagues, particularly with subordinates.

“If on social occasions where gambling (provided that the activity is legal) is considered unsociable, the amount of money involved should not be significant. Gambling in the government’s premises, government venues, and locations where activities of the government take place is strictly forbidden.”

All special advisers must uphold their responsibility to the government as a whole. The responsibility for the management and conduct of special advisers, including discipline, rests with the minister who made the appointment. Further, public office holders, who wish to take up paid outside work, including those on a part-time basis, must seek the written approval of the government before accepting the job.

Approval will not be given if the outside work is in conflict with the interest of the government. “Any official or staff who violates any provision of the code will be subject to disciplinary action, or termination of appointment/employment where warranted,” the document stated.

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Guyana

Corporal punishment must go Dear Editor,

EDITORIAL

Towards science and technology IN today’s world, science and technology continue to be the driving force of development, with research unearthing ground-breaking discoveries, revolutionising the way we interact and significantly improving vital services.

The 20th century has seen the greatest advancements in science and technological developments, but the majority of these occurred in the latter half of the century.

Postal mails have almost been replaced by emails.

Practically every aspect of business is moving into full technology mode, as there is e-commerce, e-medicine and e-governance, just to name a small few.

Guyana, a developing country, has over the years made great strides in development, but is some distance away when it comes to modern advancement in science and technology.

This lag can be attributed to Guyana not doing enough to align its education system with this new course of development.

It has been said time and again, and the call needs to be heeded, that the time has come for us to move away from the focus on the social sciences, and shift attention to science, technology, mathematics and engineering.

From the pronouncements of public officials, there seems to be a general consensus that Guyana should be heading in this direction, but the will to move with alacrity has been absent.

To the credit of the Ministry of Education, some attention is being paid to encourage students to pursue the sciences and mathematics, but it does not appear that these efforts are driven by a policy with clear medium and long-term objectives.

From the look of things, it appears as doing something for the sake of doing it, rather than articulating a vision and making a fervent effort to galvanise interest in these important subject areas.

While the effort to recognise the importance of the sciences and mathematics is encouraging, it is not good enough, and the Ministry of Education should look to do more in stimulating students’ interest in these subjects at the early-grade levels.

This would entail the ministry’s experts revisiting how science and mathematics are being taught and promoted in the school system.

Whatever the method or means used in doing this, whether it is through science fairs, essay competitions or documentary films, the story has to be told that life and business in today’s world revolve around science and technology.

And ethical harnessing of knowledge in these fields is paramount to improving citizens’ lives and catapulting development of their country.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 7, 2015

THERE are many routes to Rome with some being safe and others dangerous. Naturally, the safer routes are most travelled.

Likewise, there are many ways to modify a child’s behaviour and corporal punishment shouldn’t be one of them. Corporal punishment is draconian, heinous and calamitous.

It is physically and emotionally painful. We must get rid of it. The human rights law define corporal punishment as “Any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort.”

It is appalling that in this time of civilisation teachers and parents use it. As a culture, we believe that it is the instrument through which good behaviours are driven.

This is dead wrong. Scientific evidence is screaming loud and clear that it is bad.

Yet we put up a fight against banning it. Why? We are a culture that follows tradition.

We believe in the philosophy of “spare the rod and spoil the child,” which is a myth and is erroneously used to defend its use.

Obviously, we rely on tradition to make decisions.

This is not logical or rational.

Traditions yield inconsistent results and foundations built on sand. Undoubtedly, our society rests on a foundation of sand because of our overreliance on tradition. We need to immediately put the lights out on tradition and shine it on science. Science yields reliable results and builds solid foundations.

Therefore, we must listen to science and swiftly move to ban corporal punishment.

Overwhelming scientific evidence has enlightened

us that corporal punishment is inherently riddled with disturbing drawbacks – it lowers self-esteem, it instills violence, it causes long- term psychological distress, it induces inferiority complex, it arouses anger, it brings on shame, it increases school dropouts, it causes children to run away from homes, it lowers academic performance and degrades the teaching profession, among a string of problems. Editor, make no mistake, it can drive children into suicide. Additionally, in my view, corporal punishment influences violence in our society. Children imitate what they see. It sends the wrong message that hurting others is acceptable. Naturally, violence proliferates. It is responsible for the making of the immoral man, including domestic abusers. Surely, these lines of reasoning are reminiscent of the famous experimental findings on the Bobo doll. Psychologists have long shown that children imitate (model) aggressive behaviours. Surely, a ban is needed to curtail violence.

A worldwide push is in full swing to ban corporal punishment due to the gravity and enormity of problems associated with it. At least 42 countries, including all of Europe, have banned it. Also, at least 107 organisations are against its use, including the much respected American Psychology Association (APA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations (UN) among a throng of others.

So why are we still using it when there is no solid basis? It makes no sense whatsoever. It is causing lots of angst. Children deserve better. Discipline can be achieved using gen-

And in all of this, the University of Guyana has a leading role to play, but must be adequately supported by the government of the day, especially in the area of research.

But the university must also pursue income-generating avenues to fund its operations rather than relying on the government for its survival.

The government on its part should make a concerted effort to ensure that Guyana’s premier tertiary leaning institution is aligned along the path of science, mathematics, engineering and technology.

As a matter of policy, it could also provide scholarships for a limited number of students to pursue studies in these disciplines.

In this day and age, Guyana needs more chemists, biologists, physicists, engineers, geologists, architects, environmentalists,

tler alternatives. From an evolutionary point of view, children like adults are mentally wired for survival. So instinctively,to avoid pain, they will run away from homes or drop out from schools if they are flogged .

These are naturally built-in mechanisms that enable survival. Corporal punishment undoubtedly plays with our emotions, leaving children with lifelong mental trauma that hampers “normal” adult life. Do we ever wonder why dysfunction perpetuates in our society? Corporal punishment may be one of the culprits driving it.

As we weigh in on whether to ban this form of discipline, at least two prominent figures will play significant roles deciding this issue – the Minister of Education and the President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU). Unfortunately, these individuals are sitting on opposite sides of the fence. Our minister is calling for a ban, but the GTU President is contending the opposite. His belief is that corporal punishment is needed since there are no effective alternatives. Such disagreements are unsurprising, simply because we skirt around scientific thought.

Fretting about this issue will not help. We need to take immediate action.

Today, effective alternatives to corporal punishment are used at least in countries that have banned it. They rely on dialogues to delve into underlying feelings causing undesired behaviours, so as to ameliorate them. Additionally, they rely on positive reinforcement (operant conditioning) strategies such as reward schemes to shape behaviours, instead of flogging. Operant con-

ditioning is a proven method of discipline with wide appeal. It’s been rigorously studied, widely used and is highly effective. It is even famously used for the training of animals. Moreover, in places like Sweden, a generation of children hasn’t been flogged because approaches like these have successfully replaced corporal punishment. In spite of the fact that Sweden does not use corporal punishment, it does not have problems with unruly children as we do. Without a doubt, corporal punishment is of no benefit to us and it needs to go.

We can all agree that in spite of the fact that many teachers and parents are great people, there are bad eggs in the mix. I am sure we have all experienced parents and teachers who beat children unnecessarily. This is cruel. I have witnessed my own sibling flogged by his teacher because he had a chronic cough. Every time he coughed, the teacher reached over and wacked him with her wild cane. As we all know, coughing is a reflex and so the teacher was beating a defenceless child in an impossible situation.

So teachers are not saints.

There are cruel, abusive, biased, irrational, illogical and insane teachers which we must not discount. I have also witnessed children beaten by their parents to the extent that they pant for breath. It is our moral obligation to protect all children and if corporal punishment is around, then it is crystal clear that we are not doing our job. Corporal punishment must go.

Yours Sincerely, DR. CECIL DILIPKUMAR

forestry and plant experts and doctors, and this is not to say that economists, accountants and other persons of the social sciences are not important.

Because of the issue of climate change and the rate of development of the world today, Guyana has to adjust to stay afloat and keep abreast, and it needs to start by investing in producing a generation of experts in the fields of science and technology to chart a new destiny and to enjoy a secure future in the 21 century.

These are the people who will deliver the innovations on science, technology and business that Guyana needs and reshape our thinking in the way we manage the environment, feed ourselves and sustain our livelihoods while ensuring the advancement of our country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 7, 2015

New MMA/ADA board to revive 38 plays jostling for Region 5 co-op societies National Drama

By Clifford Stanley THE new Board of Directors of the Mahaica-Mahaicony Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) will make their top priority the turnaround of the fortunes of previously neglected and badly damaged co-operative societies within the project area in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice).

This was disclosed recently by appointed Chairman of the Board Dr Kenneth Sealey in an address to farmers in Region 5.

He noted that Guyana is the only Cooperative Republic in the world where people neglect co-operative societies and even target them for dissolution.

Dr Sealey said in Region 5 in particular, the neglect of co-operatives and what they stood for had caused severe sociological consequences.

“These are some of the problems which the new board has to deal with; problems handed down to us from the neglect and subsequent

damage to co-operatives by the previous administration,” he said.

The chairman noted that

MMA/ADA Chairman Dr Kenneth Sealey even in the so- called capitalist countries, cooperatives are being supported and allowed to thrive because of the many benefits which they give to members.

“They are supported as community businesses because they help members to cut costs of production; get better benefits from businesses cooperatively owned and allow the communities a better shot at the good life,” he said.

“If our cooperatives are not perfect, then we have to work with them. We can and must help them put in place the mechanisms which will ensure they survive and grow and develop for the benefit of their members and the communities in which they live,” Dr Sealey stressed.

Presenting another element of his vision for the MMA/ADA during his tenure as chairman of the board, Sealey stressed that the MMA/ADA has to broaden its economic base.

“We have to look at projects differently. We cannot enter into the projects on the basis of political adventurism. We have to go further than producing ordinary raw materials such as rice, beef and milk. We have to have value-added projects that will bring employment to our youths and to raise the standard of living of our people.”

He said that himself and the other members of the new Board of Directors are com-

mitted to lobbying local and international investors who can put added value to what is produced within the MMA/ ADA project area.

In this regard, he lauded the initiatives of members of the Habibullah family who have established two abattoirs in West Berbice which are of the standards required for exporting beef to regional and international markets.

“This is the type of investment that we will lobby for. We need more of these by both local and international business people,” he said.

The new Board of Directors , drawn from prominent farmers and members of the Region 5 community, was installed in July last.

The Secretary of the Board is General Manager Aubrey Charles and the body meets once per month on the last Friday of every month, to address issues, to review work done and to ensure furtherance of the new objectives of the authority.

Festival finals

- as preliminaries get under way THE preliminary round of the National Drama Festival 2015, a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth & Sport and Digicel Guyana has begun. Thirty-eight plays will jostle for the finals set to be launched on November 20.

This year’s festival will see a mixture of the experienced with the likes of Francis Quamina Farrier, award winners Colleen Humphrey, Kijana Lewis, Sheron Cadogan-Taylor and Mark Kazim, as well as newcomers from across the administrative regions.

Strong competition is expected from theatre groups in Linden, Buxton and Parika as they vie for attractive cash prizes and trophies.

So far, 13 schools from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 10 are registered to compete in their finals to be held at the Theatre Guild from November 23-27.

This year’s festival has $6 million up for grabs in the Open, Open Short or One Act, Junior, Debutante and Secondary Schools categories. Prizes will be awarded for best production, best new Guyanese play, best director, best costume, best set, best use of lights, best use of sound, best performing cast, best actor, best actress and best-performing cast, among others.

The official opening ceremony is scheduled for the National Cultural Centre on November 20 at 19:00 hrs.

The finals, which will be held at the National Cultural Centre is free to the public.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

Fourteen graduate from Republic Bank’s business programme REPUBLIC Bank (Guyana) Limited in collaboration with the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, University of the West Indies, on Wednesday closed its sixth annual Commercial Customer Business Programme from which 14 entrepreneurs from the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector graduated.

The programme which began with a vision for the Republic Bank Group to provide the necessary guidance and support to entrepreneurs with untapped growth potential, was birthed at Republic Bank’s Parent Bank, Trinidad and Tobago in 2007, and having been a huge success, was introduced to Guyana in September 2010. This most recent graduating batch has brought the number of entrepreneurs trained here to 95.

Ms Rosita Persaud, SME Officer, Corporate and Commercial Credit, Republic Bank (Guyana), gave a background to the programme.

She said that this initiative was born out of the recognition of the SME sector to the Caribbean economies, and in acknowledgement and support of the critical role they play in developing and grow-

ing these economies. To this end, she said, an “exclusive partnership” was created between the Republic Bank Group (Trinidad) and the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business and the University of the West Indies to bring about the desired change.

On the programme, Ms Persaud said, each of the participating entrepreneurs is given the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills-base, noting that over the years, Republic Bank has observed the added benefits of the creation of lasting and productive business networks among each cohort.

Ms Persaud took pride in announcing that as the programme unfolded and trained entrepreneurs internalised and put to work their wealth of knowledge and experience garnered, the bank has seen favourable, increased borrowing by those participants, as well as the improvement of the operations of many of their businesses.

“And so, today, we feel confident that this group would have benefited, likewise, both in personal growth and skills development and a lasting supportive

network of peers,” she said.

On behalf of the SME and Commercial Lending Team, she extended best wishes to the participants for future success, reassuring them that: “Our vision for you is that you will now be motivated to effect positive transformation of your respective business pursuits.”

Meanwhile, General Manager, Credit, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited Ms Parbatie Khan, who delivered the feature address, said that Republic Bank’s focus remains that of developing its business customers, and enabling a network of professionals geared to meet global and evolving business trends.

Ms Khan said that in addition to the Commercial Customer Business Programme, Republic Bank continues its Small and Medium Enterprise empowerment initiatives with a series of community engagements, aimed at educating and motivating existing and potential SMEs. WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS She noted that one of their key areas of focus is on women entrepreneurs

Graduates and resource persons at Republic Bank’s New Market Street facility at Wednesday’s closing ceremony for the Commercial Customer Business Programme.

Fourth from left is Business Development Officer, Executive Education, Ms. Gayathri Selvam of the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, and third from right is Ms Parbatie Khan, General Manager (Credit) Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited

through the bank’s ‘Venture Out for Women Programme’ in collaboration with EMPRETEC. This programme, which has realised much success, and from which more than 600 women have already benefited, focuses on providing entrepreneurial training to women within the various regions across Guyana, Khan said.

Republic Bank has also partnered with the Small Business Bureau in Guyana, to offer Loan Guarantee Facilities which will see qualifying small-business customers benefiting from six per cent interest rate loans with a 40 guarantee from the Small Business Bureau.

Claims and Objections for LGE... longer lives.

The commission has said that failure of any eligible person to apply for a transfer can result in him/her not being allowed to vote in the municipality, NDC and constituency where he/she now

resides. This is especially applicable to persons who would have relocated from one municipality/NDC/constituency to another.

GECOM has said that persons must be in possession of the relevant source

documents as may be necessary to conduct any of the earlier mentioned transactions: IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS These documents are:

From page 2

(1) original birth certificate or a valid Guyana passport for persons applying for registration; (2) Original birth certificate/ valid passport and the birth certificate of one parent in the case of application for

The Republic Bank Group has also collaborated with the International Finance Co-operation which saw the introduction of the SME Toolkit Caribbean to the Region. This free online toolkit, which can be accessed through Republic Bank’s website at www. republicguyana.com, features extensive information to aid entrepreneurs in the start-up and running of their businesses, the bank says.

Ms Khan affirmed that it remains Republic Bank’s firm belief that programmes such as these are necessary for educating, motivating and empowering small businesses and building stronger communities, thereby underscoring

the bank’s social investment objective.

“The Republic Bank’s vision is one of increased potential for our local SMEs from which the corporate entities of the future will emerge, so we are confident about the lasting effects of this programme to Guyana’s economy,” Khan concluded.

She commended each participant for the level of commitment shown throughout the programme.

Representing the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business were facilitator, Dr. Balraj Kistow and Business Development Officer, Executive Education, Ms Gayathri Selvam.

registration by persons who are Guyanese by descent; (3) Original naturalisation certificate issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and original birth certificate/ valid passport in the case of persons seeking to become registered by virtue of having acquired Guyanese citizenship via naturalisation; (4) Original marriage certificate (and original birth certificate) in the case of a name changed by marriage.

Married women in possession of valid Guyana passports with their husbands’ surnames do not need to provide marriage certificates; (5) Original deed poll and original birth certificate in the case of a name changed by deed poll; and (6) Original birth certificate/ valid passport/marriage certificate/deed poll/naturalisation certificate as may be necessary to substantiate claims for corrections.

Baptismal certificates; expired passports; photocopies of relevant documents; or letters from priests, elders, headmasters, village captains/toshaos and justices of the peace, and existing ID Cards will not be acceptable as source documents for registration, GECOM says.

The commission explained that persons who do not meet the above listed

criteria are not eligible to vote at the upcoming Local Government Elections, and therefore could be objected to if they are listed in the PLV. GECOM has pointed out that objections to the presence of the name of anyone in the PLV who does not meet the eligibility requirements to vote at the upcoming Local Government Elections could be made only by (i) accredited scrutineers of political parties, provided they have monitoring responsibilities for the municipality/NDC/ constituency in which the person being objected to is listed, and (ii) an elector who is listed in the same PLV as the person being objected to.

GECOM says it has established claims and objections offices at strategic locations within all of the municipalities and NDCs, and is advising anyone who is desirous of conducting any of the above transactions to visit the claims and objections office that is responsible for his area of residence.

All claims and objections offices will be open on Mondays to Fridays from 15:30 hrs to 19:00 hrs; and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

Woodlands defends medical waste disposal method – says disposal area temporary AFTER media reports on Wednesday about complaints of improper disposal of medical waste by the Woodlands Hospital, which is affecting residents of 110 Carmichael Street, the hospital is maintaining that nothing is wrong with its method of disposal.

During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Administrator of the hospital,

Deonarine Memraj said that, “Infectious waste management has a protocol by the ministry of which we follow from, the area where they are produced to where they are stored, to where they are placed in red bags, doubled, and put in the bins and then they await pick up.”

However, the residents complained that they are currently facing a health threat

with the alleged failure of the neighbouring Woodlands Hospital to properly dispose of their medical waste, leaving loopholes for infecting the surrounding atmosphere.

Memraj, however, said that when the Ministry of Public Health distributed hospital certification to hospitals, the only non-compliance it had was, “We should be having a twice weekly

pickup instead of once a week; it should not be here for such a lengthy period of time... and also the areas of disposal and storage is only temporary.”

Meanwhile, Woodlands Hospital has written the facilities management at the Georgetown Public Hospital in charge of the hydroclave, which is used to dispose of medical waste correctly, asking them to increase their days of collection.

The hospital has since received assurance that the request would be looked into and so the problem will be alleviated.

The small area which is used to transport waste to the garbage collectors

Raj Singh Insurance opens franchise at Rosignol

– credits launch to increasingly stable business environment CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of Raj Singh Insurance Brokers & Risk Management Consultants Inc Mr Rajendra Singh, has opened an insurance franchise at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, a first in Guyana.

In January, 2012, he was also the first and only insurance broker to open a branch office in Corriverton, Berbice. That facility offers a unique and fresh approach to insurance consultations in the Ancient County. It has been earmarked to be converted into the second franchise of Raj Singh Insurance Brokers (RSIB).

The Raj Singh Insurance (RSI) group of companies is made up of several entities, mainly insurance and investment firms operating in Guyana and the United States.

Mr Singh, speaking at the opening, hailed the new facility as a significant achievement.

“This is truly a historic and momentous occasion and breeds new confidence in the entrepreneurial spirit of our Guyanese people and the increasingly stable business environment being created in Guyana. At the same time RSIB is bringing a recognised quality brand closer to the consumers in addition to cre-

ating employment. The insuring public will now enjoy the comfort and professional expertise of the RSIB brand at its doorsteps. They can feel confident that they too can have access to the best service available within the industry.”

The franchise will have access to all the resources of the RSIB brand and will be fully supported by the company’s known professional and technical expertise and experience.

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mr Lance Hinds, congratulated Mr Singh and his team for their outstanding contribution to the insurance industry.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP Mr Hinds said the chamber is of the view that entrepreneurship must play a fundamental role in the transformation and ultimate success of Guyana’s economy, and on that note, he saluted businesses with the vision to take advantage and build on the opportunities available in the insurance industry.

Manager of the new location, called RSIB - Devan Khemraj Agency Mr Devan Khemraj, said he was happy to be part of the RSIB business arrangement, while Public Relations Officer Mr Pradeep Bachan praised Mr Singh for taking the bold step to expand operations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

Guyana Prize for Literature shortlist released – Awards ceremony slated for November 29 THE shortlist for the 2014 Guyana Prize for Literature in the various categories has been released, and noted Guyanese writer David Dabydeen and newcomer Keisha McCammon are among those in the running.

The announcement was made via a release by the Management Committee of the Guyana Prize for Literature, which said the 2014 awards were judged in the areas of fiction, poetry and drama, as decided by the Jury, an independent panel of writers, critics and experts in the fields of literature, drama, culture and the arts. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 29.

Meanwhile, among the shortlist for Best First Book of Fiction are: Rueben Latchmansingh, “A Dip at the Sangam2 (Westbow Press). “A Dip at the Sangam” is a work of historical fiction about the abduction of the protagonist, Raja, from his Indian home, his transportation to the cane fields of Guyana, his experiences and success in Guyana and his eventual return to India. Also in the category, Keisha McCammon, penned “Dancehall Lyrics: Top of the Charts” which has been described as a fast-moving contemporary work of fiction centred around a much-ac-

claimed Dancehall singer, Aaron Mills (known as A.M.).

The fiction casts interesting light on the Dancehall music scene in Guyana. Subraj Singh’s “Rebelle and Other Stories” is another shortlisted book, described as a first collection of wonderfully written short stories, rich with the flavour, culture and folklore of coastal Guyana.

BEST FIRST BOOK OF POETRY In the category of Best First Book of Poetry, Cedric Castello, “Rasta Lyrics” is in the running. “Rasta Lyrics”, a first collection by a Rastafarian teacher/singer/ songwriter, is described as a collection of readable poems that range over the author’s many interests and activities and celebrate Rastafarianism and its founder, Haile Selassie I. Also in this category is Stanley Niamatali’s “The Hinterlands”. “The Hinterlands” is a wonderful debut collection of poems centred around the author’s haunting memories of life on a sawmill in the Berbice River. The poet, now living in the U.S., straddles two cultures and his poems depict and question the values of both.

Additionally, for the Best Book of Fiction category, David Dabydeen, “Johnson’s

Saturday, November 07, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Sunday, November 08, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Monday, November 09, 2015 - 14:30 hrs

Dictionary” (Peepal Tee) depicts and juxtaposes, in Dabydeen’s richly textured and sensuous prose, the two worlds of 18th century London and British Guiana (Demerara), the prize’s management committee said.

The book also contains several echoes of previous Dabydeen literary and scholarly works that depict the 18th century: William Hogarth, William Turner, Samuel Johnson... Adam Smith...

The novel transforms past and present into the sensuous, imaginative world(s) of the author and is a tour de force of imperial will, art, literature and human sensuality.

Jan Lowe Shinebourne’s “The Last Ship” is also in this category. The Last Ship, according to the committee, is a historically and culturally important novel about three generations of a Chinese family in Guyana. According to the committee, the physical conditions, the family myths and the invented traditions are powerfully evoked in a simple and direct language.

Finally in this category is Oonya Kempadoo’s “All Decent

Animals”. The committee said Kempadoo’s fast-moving third novel is about a variety of characters and interests woven into the complex fabric of Trinidadian life and culture -prominently including Carnival. The language, the committee said, is rich and sensuous and will remind readers of their pleasure in the earlier Kempadoo novels, Buxton Spice and Tide Running.

GOD’S SPIDER Moreover, in the Best Book of Poetry category Cyril Dabydeen’s “God’s Spider” is one of the three that was shortlisted. “God’s Spider” is a collection of carefully-wrought and polished poems that celebrate the many places and cultures that have shaped the poet’s consciousness – including his native Guyana, Canada (where he now lives) and India, the committee said.

Also in this category is Maggie Harris’ “60 Years of Loving”. This is Harris’s sixth collection of poetry and it evokes her 60 years of life in Guyana and the UK, the committee said, adding that the “74 richly textured, ma-

ture and celebratory poems sparkle and impress with a language that resonates with original imagery and insight”.

Sasenarine Persaud’s “Love in the Time of Technology” is also in the running. The book is described as a fine collection of brief, succinct poems.

“The imagery is emotionally charged and reverberates with cultural memories: the references to the language, traditions and cultures of India are particularly poignant and interesting,” the committee noted.

Finally, in the Best Book of Drama category Harold Bascom’s “Desperate for Relevance” is among those shortlisted. The book is described as an interesting drama script in which most of the characters are dead Caribbean writers. Funny in parts, it is also in parts a sad and poignant commentary on the plight of our writers and societies.

The writing makes the reader long to see it powerfully enacted on the local stage.

Also in this category is Milton Bruce’s “New York Pieces of Dreams”. The committee said this is a carefully contrived and interesting play about the lives, the dreams and the

David Dabydeen

disappointments of Guyanese immigrants in New York.

The jury comprised of Professor Mark McWatt, an internationally acclaimed award winning fiction writer and poet, critic and academic; Mrs Ameena Gafoor, literary and arts critic, Editor of The Arts Journal and Founder of The Arts Forum; Robert Leyshon, Senior Lecturer at UWI, Cave Hill, Director of the Cave Hill Theatre, dramatist and critic; and Dr Louis Regis, Head of Literary, Cultural and Communication Studies at UWI, St Augustine, researcher in Cultural Studies, critic and academic.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

Registration of persons in non-local authority areas starts on Monday – as GECOM gears for LGE THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will on Monday commence an exercise to facilitate registration of persons who do not reside in any of Guyana’s nine municipalities and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). This registration exercise will end on December 6.

Persons who live in non-local authority areas would be able to apply for registration, the commission says, but such persons must be at least 18 years old

by February 29, 2016, and must be Guyanese citizens by birth, descent, or naturalisation; or be citizens from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one

year or more.

Accordingly, any person who would be eligible to register during this exercise can apply for registration, or apply for a change of name if he/she has changed his/her name since he/she was registered; or apply for a correction if his/her information on his/her National Identification Card is incorrect; or apply for a transfer if he/she has changed his/ her address since he/she was registered.

GECOM in a statement, said persons must be in possession of the relevant source documents as may be necessary to conduct any of the above transactions. These documents are original birth certificate or

a valid Guyana passport for persons applying for registration; original birth certificate/valid passport and the birth certificate of one parent in the case of application for registration by persons who are Guyanese by descent; original naturalisation certificate issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and original birth certificate/valid passport in the case of persons seeking to become registered by virtue of having acquired Guyanese citizenship via naturalisation; original marriage certificate (and original birth certificate) in the case of a name change by marriage.

Married women in possession of valid Guyana passports with their husbands’ surnames do not

need to provide marriage certificates. Other documents needed are: original deed poll and original birth certificate in the case of a name changed by deed poll;

and original birth certificate/valid passport/marriage certificate/deed poll/naturalisation certificate, as may be necessary to substantiate claims for corrections.

Baptismal certificates; expired passports; photocopies of relevant documents; or letters from priests, elders, headmasters, village captains/toshaos and justices of the peace, and existing ID Cards will not be acceptable as source documents for registration.

Anyone desirous of conducting any of the above transactions is required to visit the GECOM permanent registration office that is responsible for his/her area of residence.

All GECOM permanent registration offices will be open on Mondays to Fridays from 09:00 hrs to 13:00 hrs, and 14:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs; and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

Sugar workers urged to resist strike action – gov’t accuses GAWU of stoking fire

GOVERNMENT yesterday urged all sugar workers and their unions to help rescue the industry and not engage in politically motivated strikes as being planned for next week.

Guyana Chronicle was told that the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has already written the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) advising that its members will be proceeding on a three-day strike action commencing Sunday.

GAWU and GuySuCo have been at odds over the delay in wages talks for workers. The corporation has argued that government needs time to study the findings of the recently concluded inquiry into the industry before it can negotiate salaries, but the unions have been pressing the case for talks to commence earliest.

In a statement issued by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, government alluded to the fact that for the first time in years GuySuCo has been able to reach and surpassed weekly targets.

“The government encourages sugar workers to remain committed to their jobs and, with the holiday season approaching, to earn as much

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

GAWU President Komal Chand

as they can before the current crop comes to an end,” Nagamootoo said.

He added that the government finds as most disturbing the agitation, mainly by GAWU, for workers to engage in strike action.

“Such action could cripple operations and close down the sugar industry. This is especially alarming and regrettable now that efforts are being made to breathe life into the industry.”

The Prime Minister said government has been looking at all options to revive the industry, which was placed in a state of bankruptcy and almost total ruin by the PPP/C administration.

Highlighting the issues of GuySuCo over the years, the Prime Minister said production slumped from 327,000 metric tonnes in the 1960s to an average of below 250,000 tonnes between 2008 and 2014. Additionally, under the former administration, the sugar industry never came close to realising the promised 500,000 tonnes target.

Between 2009 and 2015 GuySuCo not only failed to make a profit but suffered estimated total losses of $67.8 billion, the Prime Minister said.

Moreover, he noted that “when the last administration left office, GuySuCo’s debt burden stood at $82 billion.”

He said it is “therefore irrefutable that under that administration, GuySuCo had lost its way. It is for this reason that the coalition government supported a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry.

“The interim report has confirmed the poor and declining state of GuySuCo as a result of political interference, poor management and squandermania,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo asserted.

talks before this plan is considered. Unions that seek to drag the sugar Corporation to the table to do so are obviously pursuing a political agenda which unfortunately is not in the interest of sugar workers. The government has, for the first time, allowed management to run GuySuCo independently and to make into a top priority a lasting solution to secure employment and also to make the industry profitable.”

The Prime Minister said due to its virtual insolvent status under the former administration, taxpayers were forced to dole out $28 billion in the last five years alone (2011 - 2015) to keep the sugar industry afloat.

He also noted that “with its debt load of $82 billion and an expected $5 billion needed for capital investment together with the anticipated further bailout in 2016, any strike action in the industry would bring sugar finally to its knees.

Government, therefore, appeals for the understanding and the full cooperation of all sugar workers at this time of great peril to ensure that production targets continue to be met.”

Nagamootoo made it clear that the coalition government did not create the problems affecting the sugar industry, asserting that the blame ought to be placed elsewhere.

“It is government’s view that any industrial action at this time will place the industry into further jeopardy.

Government is regrettably unable to increase the bailout package above the $12 billion for 2015 and strike action will not change this reality,” he said.

Mr Nagamootoo said too that in the meantime government is analysing the interim findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and GAWU as an integral part of the CoI ought to know that industrial agitation is not an option at this time.

Government once again, the Prime Minister emphasised, is imploring all sugar workers to steadfastly remain committed to the industry and to partner with management for its recovery.

10-YEAR ROAD MAP Noting that GuySuCo is on its way to success, Nagamotoo said that after a mere five months in office, the coalition government is seeking to put a 10-Year Road Map and Action Plan in place, aimed at returning the industry to viability.

“It would therefore be ill advised and indeed premature to commence wages

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

Guyana products excel at Italian expo million people were at the event and close to 1,000,000 (one million) persons visit-

Members of the head table during the press briefing yesterday

GUYANA’S participation at the recently concluded Expo Milano, 2015 in Italy was deemed a resounding success by the team from the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) which returned following the six-month visit to showcase Guyana’a products and to promote Destination Guyana.

This disclosure was made during a press briefing at the GTA office, Sophia Exhibition Site, by several staffers who made the trip.

Highlighting Guyana’s participation, Senior Communications Officer Chevon Lim said Guyana was one of eight CARICOM countries which were part of the international expo.

The others were Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines and Suriname.

The primary objective of Guyana’s participation was to promote Guyana as an attractive tourism destination.

She added that Guyana was not a known destination in Italy and the team’s presence at Expo Milano presented them with a firsthand opportunity to showcase this country to the approximately 7,000 visitors who passed through the pavilion on a daily basis.

She pointed out that the expo also allowed them to promote export-ready products from Guyana, promote Guyana as an attractive and cost-effective location for Foreign Direct Investments, and to interact with the Italian and international media, in an effort to enhance the overall image of Guyana.

According to Lim, the local team received a number of positive feedbacks from the many visitors to the Guyana booth at the exhibition.

Lim disclosed that many visitors openly said that Guyana had the most attractive brand logo in the CARICOM pavilion and close to one million visitors collected the Guyana logo in their passports.

She noted that representatives introduced a wider range of Guyanese products into the European Market.

Companies which lent their support included GuySuCo, Umami, New GPC House of Limacol, THAG,the Guyana Forestry Commission, Banks DIH, Beharry and Company, Pomeroon Oil Mills, NAMILCO and Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited (AMCAR). Go-Invest was also there.

Lim said more persons are now aware that Guyana is one of the leading produc-

ers of sugar and rice in the Caribbean and several European rum distributors expressed an interest in Banks DIH products including the 7, 10, 12 and 15-year-old rums and the assorted flavours of Rum Punch.

She stated that Limacol was also a big hit at the Expo. During the hot months, many visitors were given samples of this product and were amazed at its effects. Many agreed that they would purchase the product if it were available in Europe.

GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh said that every five years the World Expo is held, and in 2020 it will be held in Dubai. As such, Guyana would tap into that event to ensure its agricultural products are showcased. He noted that during the expo, Guyana introduced many of its products and he was confident that those would be on the European market shortly.

The GTA Director said as a result of the expo, more people were aware of Guyana and many have expressed their interest in visiting.

The expo lasted six months and was deemed as one of the largest and longest sustained destination promotions. Some 21

ed the CARICOM pavilion.

Also delivering remarks was Tourism De-

velopment Officer Surjdai Rajubar and Investment Officer Kamrul Baksh.

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Mahaicony robbery

Shot bandit wanted for murder, several other robberies

THE suspect who was shot on Wednesday at Mahaicony following the armed robbery at J. Singh and Sons Supermarket is wanted for questioning in four police divisions over murder, attempted murder and armed robberies, the Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed.

In that light, investigators might have been able to ‘kill several birds with one stone’ while investigating the attack by four robbers on the supermarket.

The Guyana Chronicle was able to confirm with the Divisional Commanders of ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘E’ Divisions that they all have matters in their division fingering the suspect.

In the Police ‘A’ Division, he is said to be wanted for the attempted murder of a taxi driver who was shot in Laing Avenue earlier this year when he was in his yard about to feed his dogs after returning home from work in the wee hours of the morning.

Also in ‘A’ Division, the suspect is wanted for one of the several robberies committed at the Popeye’s Fast Food Restaurant on Vlissengen Road in Georgetown.

Meanwhile, in Police ‘E’ Division, the suspect is wanted in connection with the murder of beverage vendor Shevon Gordon who was killed during a robbery at his home earlier this year. The woman and her husband were at the time heading into their yard when they were confronted by a gunman who robbed them.

That suspect had been identified but the police were not in receipt of his photograph to issue a wanted bulletin but the search for him was never called off.

In police ‘C’ Division, he was being hunted for the robbery on Wednesday that he and others committed at the Mahaicony supermarket during which a number of persons were brutally assaulted, including the proprietrix.

His freedom in this case was short-lived as the police nabbed him the very next day following a stakeout for him and his accomplices. He was trying to flee from the police and was shot. According to information, he may lose one of his eyes, but he is now at the Georgetown Public Hospital under police guard.

In ‘B’ Division, the police were hunting the man for the robbery committed on M. Ally and Sons General Store earlier this year. During that robbery the persons who robbed the store were able to get away after an exchange of gunfire.

The suspect is expected to make the rounds in the four police divisions in connection with investigations into the various matters but he is likely to be charged first with the murder of the Linden businesswoman.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 7, 2015

Autopsy results on seawall teens inconclusive RESULTS are inconclusive following the post-mortem examinations conducted on the bodies of 19-year-old Kavita Ackloo and 18-yearold Ramesh Beharry, who were discovered on the Kingston seawall in the vicinity of Pegasus Hotel.

The post-mortem examinations were performed yesterday by a government pathologist in Georgetown.

Ackloo, 19, of South Cummings Lodge and Beharry, 18, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, were found dead on Monday at the Kingston seawall in what detectives initially suspected to be a case of suicide.

From all indications, the two prior to their deaths had recently struck up a relationship that did not find favour with their parents.

This publication was told that the young lady who lived with her mother in Wakenaam had moved to live with

her father and was employed at Sharon’s Mall on King and Charlotte Street. The young man on the other hand was living with his parents and

Kavita Ackloo worked as a joiner at an establishment on the East Coast According to reports, Ackloo was already seeing another man when she met Beharry. Her father was not willing to accommodate the second young man since he was aware that his daughter was already involved with someone else.

Beharry on the other hand was said to be very quiet and easy going and did not appear

as if anything was bothering him. His mother said that she did not have the slightest idea that her son was considering suicide.

Ramesh Beharry On Tuesday evening, the father of the young lady identified her after visiting the police and relating that he saw several news reports of two teenagers who were found dead on the seawall.

He also reported that his daughter did not come home on Monday evening and that calls to her mobile were not being answered. The police then accompanied the man to the morgue where he posi-

tively identified the girl as his daughter.

The mother of the young man hours later showed up at the police station and reported that she was suspicious that the person who was found on the seawall might be her son. She said that he does sleep out on occasions but in this case he was not answering his mobile phone, and that is unusual.

She too was accompanied to morgue and confirmed that the body was that of her son.

The pathologist after conducting the autopsies, and found that the results were inconclusive, took samples from both bodies to have further tests carried out to determine the real cause of death.

The police have been sending samples to Brazil for testing after results for samples sent to the Trinidad and Jamaica authorities have taken years to be returned.

IRO takes middle ground in Diwali controversy THE Inter-Religious Organisation of Guyana (IRO) has taken a neutral stance amidst the national controversy generated over the day designated for the 2015 Diwali celebrations.

In harmony with its mission to foster religious cohesion and to unify all Guyanese, the IRO wishes all Hindus a happy Diwali on whichever day they would celebrate it.

“We would like to express our best wishes to all in the Hindu community, on the eve of their Diwali celebrations, on their most recognised holy day,” IRO Chairman Reverend Ronald McGarrell said.

The IRO was invited by some concerned Hindus to make a statement on the controversy. Since the executives

do not hold any expertise in the beliefs of Hinduism, they therefore cannot take a stance on a preferred date, as expected of some in the

IRO Chairman, Reverend Ronald McGarrell community.

This controversy arose after the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha had an-

nounced that the celebrations should be held on November 11, 2015. Their reason was that Diwali, which occurs annually on Amawasya or the new moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik, is the 15th Tithi in the dark half of Kartik, and is the darkest night of the year.

According to the Panchang/Patra, this occurs on November 11.

This belief is in contrast with that of the Viraat Sabhaa, which argues that Pradosh Kaal, Nisheet and Mahaa Nischeet Kaal (all being auspicious times) are present on November 10.

This organisation has recommended that the relevant authorities in the government set up a multi-religious committee in which a calendar of activities for religious organ-

isations can be determined.

“I’m calling upon the administration to set up a calendar of activities and observances, so that no one organisation can prevail in these instances,” posited Pandit Deodat Tillack.

This recommendation was made so as to avoid any future anomalies of this nature. The committee can decide when religious holidays should be celebrated, even a year prior to the actual date, and even if it should be done by rotation.

The IRO wishes all Hindus a Happy Diwali on whichever day they may wish to celebrate it, and says it continues to work together to foster harmony among and across all groups.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 7, 2015

Troy Resources scores full marks on obligations

A TEAM from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) yesterday visited the Troy Resources Karouni Gold Project in Region Seven, to ensure that the tenets of the Mineral Agreement, which was signed in 2014 are being upheld.

The team, which was headed by Chairman of the GGMC Board of Directors, Clinton Williams, included Head of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), Lisaveta Ramotar; Secretary of the GGMC Board, Jacques Foster; Technical Officer- Mining, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE), Euileen Watson; and former President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDM), Patrick Harding.

The team was briefed on the status of the project by Executive Director – Project Development, Ken Nilsson before given a full tour of the Karouni operations.

Chairman of the GGMC Board, Clinton Williams explained that the visit and tour was organised for the GGMC to see first-hand, whether the corporate, social and other responsibilities to which the company had agreed in the 2014 agreement, were achieved.

“We had signed a Mineral Agreement last year with Troy Resources for them to produce gold in commercial quantities. The intention was that Guyana would benefit in many ways. First of all, it was ensuring that we get foreign exchange, that we get employment for our people and that we would have a transfer of technology. With this particular agreement, we emphasised that we needed to increase their corporate social responsibilities and they agreed to these commitments,” the Chairman said.

According to Williams observations, the company has outdone itself in fulfilling its obligations as agreed in the Mineral Agreement.

“I’m pleased to tell you that what I have seen and heard today…. They told me they were able to employ 96 per cent of Guyanese for their overall workforce. They have made contractors and other skilled persons into entrepreneurs; they provide sewing machines to the surrounding indigenous communities and then commissioned them to sew their curtains and soon, their uniforms, and they are also looking to encourage the communities to partake in agriculture so that they can purchase their vegetables from them instead of Georgetown,” Williams disclosed.

The operations at Karouni currently host a medical unit which is manned by a doctor and provides medical services to not only the staff of the mine but also to miners in the area and the nearby Amerindian communities.

DEA office to be in full operation by January THE U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) office in Guyana will not replace the role of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) or the Police Narcotics Branch by intercepting drug traffickers but rather it would be offering technical advice and assistance to these organisations.

“They are not policemen in Guyana. They are not going to be kicking down doors and taking people under arrest but they will be consulting with the different entities in Guyana,” U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway said as he offered clarity on the role of the U.S. DEA office here.

The Ambassador explained that the DEA will be in consultation with different anti-narcotic agencies in Guyana with respect to sharing intelligence on cases of mutual interest.

“The DEA would be able to share with Guyana, to help them better direct their investigation, and hopefully in the end, that would lead to less narcotic activities on the streets of Guyana.”

The DEA office will be in full operation by January 2016 as preparatory plans are moving apace, Ambassador Holloway said.

However, he also said there is a possibility that the DEA office can be officially opened earlier than expected in December.

“We have guys in the embassy working but they are not living in Guyana,” he said, but noted that additional staff would be flying into the country soon to take up residence.

“That will provide a little more continuity and obviously narcotics cases are very complicated. They often include money laundering and associated crimes,” he added, emphasising that though it may take years, the office will aid in bringing down the narco trade in Guyana.

Ambassador Holloway made the comments during the signing ceremony yesterday for Letter of Agreement 3.2 for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CSBI) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A section of the Troy Resources Karouni Gold Project site, Region Seven

Prime Minister hails India’s commitment to Guyana PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo yesterday was high in praise for the Government of India’s valuable contributions to countries like Guyana through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programmes. And he acknowledged the great strides that have propelled the great democracy towards being one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a special luncheon at the Aagman Restaurant on Sheriff Street, Georgetown to commemorate the occasion of ITEC Day. Also present were the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Irwin La Rocque, Speaker of the House Dr Barton Scotland and Ministers Winston Jordan, David Patterson, Dominic Gaskin and Jaipaul Sharma.

Mr Nagamootoo said that Guyana was one of the major beneficiaries in the CARICOM Region of exchange of development experiences and scholarships under the ITEC programme.

“Under the aegis of the Guyana-India Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, ITEC experts have been contributing to Guyana’s agricultural diversification programme, notably coconut and spice; and to the legal and meteorological sectors, among others. The recipients of the scholarship programmes have also been contributing to quality improvement of our social and economic development, and introducing, incrementally, elements of knowledge-driven initiatives in various sectors.

“Our government recognises, and acknowledges with appreciation and gratitude, past investments from India in areas such as the construction of the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, and the installation of the Traffic Signalling System. We look forward to realisation of other infrastructural projects the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara Road linkage; the establishment of a Centre for Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT); and the development of medical infrastructure.”

The Prime Minister underlined that Guyana was committed to the provision of an ocean Ferry for use in the North-West region of Guyana, by initially repairing and renovating the 70-year-old ferries.

“But we count on India to supply a new ferry for this route in the near future. It is also important to acknowledge the growing trade that has developed between our two countries, which my government seeks to strengthen and to make stronger, as the bonds between Guyana and India are knitted into the ethnic and cultural soul of our country.”

In concluding, the Prime Minister said his government saluted Guyana-India cooperation and it was the hope that the programme which was started some 51 years ago, would continue to play a vital role in facilitating technical and economic cooperation, which is evident from the training of some 600 young Guyanese.

“I congratulate all past and recent scholarship awardees and graduates, and welcome you to the batch of newly trained and skilled Guyanese, who will bring innovation to our developmental process. We look forward to intensification of this programme, in IT areas, and in hydrology, petroleum-engineering, cyber-technology, agriculture, etc.

“Our government is confident that the Guyana-India bilateral relationship will grow from strength to strength, and that ITEC shall remain the principal channel for such relationship,” he added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday November 7, 2015

Businessman remanded for narco trafficking BUSINESSMAN Warren Soufflé, aka “Gage”, of Lot 3 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, stood calmly in shackles in the prisoner’s dock in the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday, facing a charge of allegedly trafficking in narcotics.

The 40-year-old Soufflé is alleged to have conspired with Shanda Nicasie Nickels to traffic 4.160 kilogrammes of cocaine between August 7 and September 4 at Sussex Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.

Police had recently busted him with cocaine in his pants

pocket at his home, after he had been fingered in another drug-connected case, and thus he was remanded to prison.

The businessman was also charged with having six grammes of the illicit drug in his possession on November 4 at Aubrey Barker Road when the police had come to conduct a search at his home.

Represented by Attorney-at-Law Mr Euclin Gomes, the defendant denied the charges, and requested bail after stating that the police had trumped up the charges against him because of an ongoing

feud between himself and the police.

Police prosecutor Deniro Jones said the matter was related to the case with Nickels, who was charged with drug trafficking and was sentenced to three terms of imprisonment at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. Jones said Nickels had given to the police a statement about the defendant which had indicated her willingness to testify against Soufflé.

Based on this information, Jones said, the ranks had gone to the defendant’s home at Lot 3048 Aubrey Barker Road, and

not Lot 3, as the defendant had given to the court.

He further stated that, on November 4, the ranks had contacted the defendant at his gate and had carried out a search which unearthed the illegal substance in his pocket.

Based on the arguments by the defense and prosecution, the court found that there was no special reason why bail should be granted the defendant.

The matter was thus transferred before Magistrate Fabayo Azore for November 23 for report and fixtures.

Woman busted with cocaine in liquor remanded

VANESSA Moore of Lot 91 Murphy Street, Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara appeared yesterday before City Magistrate Judy Latchman, charged with allegedly having 2.94 kilogrammes of cocaine secreted in El Dorado rum among her luggage at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) while she was booked to travel to London on last Tuesday.

The unrepresented woman denied the trafficking in narcotics charge that was read to her, and told the court that her London address is 78 McDonald Hills.

The prosecution’s facts are that, on the day in question, the Guyanese citizen was an outgoing passenger to Portof-Spain en route to London when she was subjected to a routine search on her luggage, which unearthed two bottles of rum, one being a 12-year-old liquor and the other being a 15year old, both El Dorado rums.

When the bottles of rum were properly examined, the prohibited substance was found, and Moore told the ranks that her boyfriend had given her the rums to take overseas.

Police prosecutor Bharat Mangru opposed bail on ground that special reasons were not given for its grant. Moore was accordingly remanded to prison, and the matter was adjourned to November 11 for commencement of trial.

Airport security, daughter-in-law remanded for cocaine possession THIRTY-one-year-old Odessa Pollard, an agent of Qualfon Guyana, and her 51-year-old mother-in-law, Cathelina Deflorma, a security guard at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The prosecution’s case is that on Thursday, November 5, at about 05:00 hrs, Pollard was slated to depart on a Caribbean Airlines flight destined for Trinidad and Tobago when she was busted with 12.348 kilogrammes of cocaine in her possession at the CJIA. The narcotic was allegedly discovered in Pollard’s suitcase when ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) uncovered several packets of cocaine disguised in packets of Kerrygold milk powder.

Arrested, Pollard denied knowledge of the narcotic, and told the officers that her mother-in-law had packed her suitcase and had told her that the milk packets contained diamonds.

Acting on the woman’s testimony, ranks apprehended Deflorma, who, under caution, confessed to placing the narcotic into Pollard’s suitcase without her knowledge, and tricking her into believing that she was fetching diamonds.

Deflorma was thus charged with allegedly conspiring with Pollard to traffic the illicit drug.

Both women pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police Prosecutor Corporal Bharrat Mangru objected to the women being granted bail, since they had not provided any special reasons to warrant their being granted pre-trial liberty.

The Chief Magistrate remanded the women until November 13, when they will make an appearance before the Providence Magistrate.

(Clestine Juan)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, November 7, 2015

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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2015

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SATURDAY NIOVEMBER 7, 2015

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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2015

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SATURDAY NIOVEMBER 7, 2015

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RACING ENGLISH RACING TIPS Doncaster 08:10 hrs Cee Jay 08:40 hrs Tanaasub 09:15 hrs Kadrizzi 09:50 hrs Predominance 10:20 hrs Iveagh Gardens 10:55 hrs Brandybend 11:30 hrs Penhill 12:05 hrs Breakable WINCANTON 08:20 hrs Wishful Dreaming

TIPS 08:55 hrs King Of Glory 09:30 hrs Arpege D’Alene 10:05 hrs Bertie Boru 10:40 hrs Kalane 11:15 hrs Irving 11:50 hrs Big Chief Benny KELSO 08:30 hrs Western Rules 09:05 hrs Throthethatch 09:40 hrs Isaacstown Lad 10:15 hrs Present Lodger 10:50 hrs Uno Valoroso 11:20 hrs Alizee De Janeiro 12:00 hrs Pottinger

AINTREE 08:45 hrs Definite Outcome 09:20 hrs How About It 09:55 hrs Broxbourne 10:30 hrs Purple Bay 11:05 hrs Upepito 11:40 hrs Germany Calling 12:10 hrs The Fresh Prince SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Vaal 08:25 hrs Captain Aldo 09:05 hrs Twilight Tiger

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 7, 2015

09:40 hrs River Run 10:10 hrs Bright Bronte 10:45 hrs Samurai Blade 11:20 hrs Rushing Lark IRISH RACING TIPS Naas 08:50 hrs Powder Hound 10:00 hrs The Mooch 10:35 hrs Sub Lieutenant 11:10 hrs Bendala Bleu 12:15 hrs Robin Des Mana AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Resourceful Race 2 Artie Crasher Race 3 Alex the Terror Race 4 Storm Petrel Race 5 Super Psyche Race 6 Tetradrachm Race 7 Uncle Sigh Race 8 Danza Cavallo Race 9 Spooked Out

Chandrika’s day ...

From back page score on 259. Coming down to the close of play, Chandrika accelerated his scoring while

Raymon Reifer was unbeaten on 11 before stumps were drawn.

The match cont i n u e s t o d a y f ro m 09:30hrs.

SCOREBOARD

GUYANA JAGUARS 1st innings A. Fudadin b Mayers 4 R. Chandrika not out 140 L. Johnson c Smith b Shillingford 29 V. Singh lbw Shillingford 48 S. Chanderpaul c Smith b Shillingford 34 R. Reifer not out 10 Extras: 21

Total:(for 4 wkts) 287 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2–75, 3-179, 4-259.

Bowling: M. Matthew 11-618-0, K. Peters 13.3-0-36-0, S. Shillingford 31-8-87-3, K. Mayers 12-4-44-1, L. Sebastian 18-3-460, D. Polius 9-1-36-0.

Points to date: Jaguars 2, Volcanoes 1

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday November 07, 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:

56-Dimuth Karunaratne /Kaushal Silva (First Test, Galle) 33-Kraig Brathwaite/ Shai Hope (First

Test, Galle)

Today’s Quiz:

What was Marlon Samuels’ aggregate and average in the recent WI/SL Test series?

How many players were involved in the recent WI/SL two-match Test series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 7, 2015

India extend lead after Ashwin takes five MOHALI, India (Reuters) - Cheteshwar Pujara’s unbeaten 63 gave India a firm hold on the opening Test against South Africa after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up his 13th five-wicket haul to restrict the touring side to 184 on the second day yesterday.

Pujara compiled his seventh half-century in Tests to lead India to 125 for two at stumps, an overall lead of 142 in the low-scoring match.

He added 86 for the second wicket with Murali Vijay (47), who fell to an acrobatic catch at short leg by substitute fielder Temba Bavuma, after opener Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed for his second duck of the match to Vernon Philander.

India captain Virat Kohli was unbeaten on 11.

Dale Steyn, the world’s number one bowler, was troubled by a tight groin and did not take the field as a precaution in a blow to South Africa’s hopes of restricting India to a low total in the second innings.

AB de Villiers struggled initially but made a swashbuckling 63 off 83 balls to topscore for his side, who conceded a first-innings lead of 17.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, returning to the Test arena for the first time in almost 15 months, took three wickets while leg-spinner Amit Mishra picked up the other two.

South Africa, who resumed on 28-2 after dismissing the hosts for 201, appeared set for a first-innings lead through a stubborn third-wicket stand of 76 between Dean Elgar (37) and captain Hashim Amla (43) before Ashwin struck.

NERVOUS MOMENTS The 29-year-old, who had dismissed Stiaan van Zyl the previous evening, sent back Elgar after the opening batsman had kept India at bay for 75 minutes along with Amla.

Kohli opted not to open with Ashwin and Jadeja, who looked the most likely to pick up wickets on a Mohali pitch offering plenty of assistance to the spin bowlers, but soon found success once he did turn to them.

Elgar survived some nervous moments until he attempted a rash slog-sweep against Ashwin, with the ball taking a top edge and falling into the hands of Jadeja at short third man.

Amla looked unperR a v i c h a n d r a n A s h - turbed and displayed a solid win picked up his 13th technique against the Indifive-wicket haul in Tests. an slow bowlers before he fell in a freakish way to the off-spinner.

The right-hander danced down the track but missed the ball, which hit wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha’s chest to drop on the off-stump with Amla short of his crease.

Ashwin also dismissed wicketkeeper Dane Vilas (1)

Khawaja, pacemen put Australia in charge BRISBANE, Australia (Reuters) - Usman Khawaja’s magnificent 174 helped Australia to a dominant 556 for four declared and an imposing lead of

399 at the end of the second day of the first Test against New Zealand yesterday.

Australia’s pace attack, with Mitchell Johnson to the

fore, fired up with a lethal 20-minute spell in the final session to reduce the tourists to 157-5 at the close of play.

Only Kane Williamson, who finished the day un-

beaten on 55, alongside BJ Watling (14 not out), looked like offering any more than token resistance to the Australian onslaught.

What already looked like a huge task to save the first of three Tests in the series for the tourists became even harder after paceman Tim Southee left the field with a back injury before lunch.

While the potent strike partnership of Southee and Boult was behind much of New Zealand’s confidence heading into the series, the hosts’ pace attack showed yesterday why many in Australia were confident they would survive a string of retirements.

The Mitchells, Johnson and Starc, took the new ball but it was Josh Hazlewood who made the breakthrough after tea when he had Martin Guptill caught by David Warner in the slips to break a solid 56-run opening partnership.

Starc returned in the 31st over and had an immediate impact when opener Tom Latham sliced an attempted drive to Nathan Lyon at point and departed for 47.

Starc hoped his senior fast bowling partner Johnson, 34, could continue leading Australia’s attack for a few more years.

“Hopefully he can keep going for a lot longer,” Starc told reporters. “He’s the leader of the attack ... he’s our enforcer.

“It’s great to watch and

in the same over for his fourth wicket, after the batsman top-edged a sweep, for Jadeja to complete a tumbling catch at short fine leg. de Villiers survived a confident appeal for caught-behind off Jadeja before he had opened his account and after a few more loud leg-before appeals against him were turned down, the 31-year-old finally edged the left-arm spinner to Kohli.

However, he was given not-out after replays showed the bowler had marginally overstepped during the delivery. de Villiers then went on the attack and completed his 37th fifty in Tests before getting bowled by a beautiful delivery from Mishra.

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings 201 (M. Vijay 75; D. Elgar 4-22) SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings (o/n: 28-2) D. Elgar c Jadeja b Ashwin 37 S. van Zyl lbw b Ashwin 5 F. du Plessis b Jadeja 0 H. Amla stp. Saha b Ashwin 43 A. de Villiers b Mishra 63 D. Vilas c Jadeja b Ashwin 1 V. Philander c Rahane b Jadeja 3 S. Harmer lbw b Mishra 7 D. Steyn stp. Saha b Jadeja 6 K. Rabada not out 1 I. Tahir c Pujara b Ashwin 4 Extras: (b-6, lb-7, nb-1) 14 Total: (all out, 68 overs) 184

great to be in the same team with him. It’s not great to face him in the nets.

“He’s bowling fantastically, bowling with great aggression, pace and bounce.”

COSTLY MISTAKES That triggered a New Zealand collapse from 1021 to 118-5 in five overs, a fired-up Johnson dismissing Ross Taylor (0) and skipper Brendon McCullum (6) with Starc completing the blitz by bowling all-rounder James Neesham for three.

“We made a good start with a couple of good partnerships, but they came hard for a 20-minute period and we made mistakes and if you make mistakes at this level quite often it’s costly,” New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan said.

New Zealand had upped their game in the morning after a chastening opening day but, after Boult had

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-9, 3-85, 4-105, 5-107, 6-136, 7-170, 8-179, 9-179.

Bowling: R. Ashwin 24-5-51-5, U. Yadav 6-1-12-0, V. Aaron 8-1-18-0, R. Jadeja 18-0-55-3 (nb-1), A. Mishra 12-3-35-2.

INDIA 2nd innings M. Vijay c sub. b Tahir 47 S. Dhawan c de Villiers b Philander 0 C. Pujara not out 63 V. Kohli not out 11 Extras: (b-4) 4 Total: (for 2 wickets, 40 overs) 125 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-95.

Bowling: V. Philander 7-0-17-1, S. Harmer 10-3-28-0, D. Elgar 7-134-0, I. Tahir 8-0-33-1, K. Rabada 8-5-9-0.

removed Australia skipper Steve Smith for 48 with a superb delivery, looked powerless to staunch the flow of runs.

Khawaja, who secured his maiden Test century in Thursday’s run-spree, reverted to slow-scoring type against more consistent New Zealand bowling in the opening session, adding just 31 to his overnight tally of 102.

But he eased off the shackles when play resumed after lunch and stroked his 15th four to the third man boundary to reach his 150.

The end to his 379-minute innings was something of an anti-climax with the left-hander mistiming a reverse sweep off Williamson as Guptill scooped up the catch at gully.

Smith immediately called an end to the punishment, leaving Adam Voges, playing his first Test on home soil at the age of 36, unbeaten on 83.

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA 1st innings (o/n 389-2) J. Burns c Watling b Southee 71 D. Warner c Taylor b Neesham 163 U. Khawaja c Guptill b Williamson 174 S. Smith b Boult 48 A. Voges not out 83 Extras: (lb-7, nb-6, w-4) 17 Total: (for 4 wickets decl’d, 130.2 overs) 556 Fall of wickets: 1-161, 2-311, 3-399, 4-556.

Bowling: T. Southee 24-8-701 (nb-2), T. Boult 29-3-127-1, D. Bracewell 27-3-107-0 (nb-3, w-1), M. Craig 31-3-156-0, J. Neesham 11-1-50-1 (nb-1, w-3), K. Williamson 8.2-0-39-1.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings M. Guptill c Warner b Hazlewood 23 T. Latham c Lyon b Starc 47 K. Williamson not out 55 R. Taylor c Smith b Johnson 0 B. McCullum c Voges b Johnson 6 J. Neesham b Starc 3 B. Watling not out 14 Extras: (lb-2 nb-6 w-1) 9 Total: (for 5 wickets, 45 overs) 157 Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-102, 3-105, 4-114, 5-118.

Bowling: M. Starc 10-4-30-2 (nb2, w-1), M. Johnson 12-2-52-2 (nb-1), J. Hazlewood 12-2-33-1 (nb-1), N. Lyon 8-2-22-0, M. Marsh 3-0-18-0 (nb-2).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 7, 2015

Cristiano Ronaldo: I’m the best player in the world CRISTIANO Ronaldo says he is the best footballer in the world and comparable with the game’s all-time greats.

In an interview with the BBC ahead of the release of his film on Monday, Ronaldo said he had reached a level from where it is “not easy to improve”.

The Portuguese, 30, is a three-time world footballer-of-the-year, and Real Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer.

He said: “I don’t need to say ‘I’m in the history of football, I’m a legend’. The

numbers say everything.”

Ronaldo, who joined Real from Manchester United in 2009 for £80M, said he had reached an “unbelievable” level on the pitch over the “last eight years” and wants to continue playing for another five or six seasons.

His career record stands at 504 goals in 760 appearances.

“To improve more it’s very tough. I just want to maintain because this is, I think, the most difficult part for a football player,” said Ronaldo, who is also the

Champions League’s top scorer with 82 goals.

CRISTIANO RONALDO

“In my mind, I’m always the best. I don’t care what people think, what they say. In my mind, not just this year but always, I’m always the best,” he added.

Ronaldo was asked about comparisons with Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, a four-time world player-of-the-year with 418 goals in 492 club appearances.

He said: “It’s opinions, I respect the opinions. Maybe in your opinion Messi is better than me, but in my mind I am better than him.

Suspended FIFA chief Blatter in hospital - lawyer NEW YORK/ZURICH, (Reuters) -` Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter, his federation mired in a corruption crisis, is in hospital for medical checks but should be discharged soon, his U.S. lawyer said yesterday.

His former public relations officer, Klaus Stoehlker, said the 79-year-old Swiss, who was last month suspended for 90 days by the Ethics Committee of football’s world governing body, was under “tremendous pressure from so many sides”. He said he

was suffering stress but was at home.

Later, however, Blatter’s U.S.-based lawyer Richard Cullen issued a statement saying: “Because there have been media enquiries, I am announcing that president Blatter is in the hospital for a medical checkup. He is fine and expects to be home shortly.

FIFA, which is based in Zurich, has been in turmoil since 14 football officials and sports marketing executives, including two FIFA vice-presidents, were in-

dicted by the United States in May. Since then, Swiss authorities have opened their own investigation into FIFA’s activities, and the Ethics Committee has suspended both Blatter and Michel Platini, the president of the European governing body UEFA who had been the favourite to replace him, for 90 days.

“He (Blatter) is under medical evaluation, the doctors took him out for a few days, the doctors expect him to be back (in cir-

culation) around Thursday or Friday of next week,” said Stoehlker.

“He is under tremendous pressure from so many sides and perhaps this is a little bit difficult for a man who is not the

SEPP BLATTER youngest ... I saw him this morning and he will recover.”

Blatter, who often impresses observers with his boundless energy, has been FIFA president since 1998.

He won a fifth mandate in May but, as pressure mounted, performed an about-turn four days later, announced he was stepping down and called a new Congress, which will take place in Zurich in February, to choose his successor.

In September, the Swiss attorney general’s office initiated criminal proceedings against Blatter over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.1M) payment from FIFA to Platini in 2011 for work carried out by the Frenchman between 1998 and 2002.

Both men, who are suspended pending a full Ethics Committee investigation, have denied any wrongdoing. Blatter has said he still hopes to take part in the Congress in February.

So it’s simple.”

Ronaldo joined Manchester United from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon for £12.2M in 2003, scoring 118 goals for the club in 292 appearances.

Since moving to Madrid, where he is under contract until 2018, he has scored 326 goals in 314 matches.

In the BBC Sport interview, Ronaldo also spoke about motivation and Manchester United and former

manager Jose Mourinho.

United have not challenged for the Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and boss Louis van Gaal has been criticised this season for their style of play.

Mourinho, now Chelsea manager, has come under pressure this season with the Blues 15th in the Premier League - having lost six of their opening 11 league games. (BBC Sport)

NOTABLE DATES RAWLE Frank had selected the land of his birth in which to have his last professional fight. On November 6, 2010, Frank defeated former junior middleweight champion `Deadly’ Denny Dalton on points.

The fight was held at the Princess Hotel and Casino and was the last of 39 bouts.

Frank jumped into the professional ranks in 1986 as a 17-year-old and reeled off 11 victories before collecting his first blemish. Later in a stellar career he twice challenged the now deceased Vernon Forrest for the vacant International Boxing FederaRAWLE FRANK tion welterweight title.

The first clash between the two was staged in August 2000, and ended in a No-Contest, while Forrest won the next by a unanimous decision the following year.

After taking up permanent residence in the USA, Frank returned to Guyana in 1992 for two exciting battles with Guyana’s `Raging Bull’ Michael Benjamin. He lost both fights on points.

Frank claimed the vacant USBA welterweight title in October 1997 with a split decision victory over Purcell Miller and moved on to claim the USBA and IBF Latino super welterweight titles. His pro career has produced 29 victories (14 KOs), five defeats and three draws.

ANTHONY `The Pearl’ Andrews went on a ninefight winning streak after a shocking fourth round technical knockout (TKO) loss to Michael Benjamin in January 1992. Andrews reeled off eight stoppages in the next nine fights.

One of the abbreviated contests occurred on November 7, 1993 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. `The Pearl’ won by TKO in the ninth round over Colombian Amaury Mogeua. The Guyanese was coming off a skilful 10th round decision over American Glenwood Brown which was staged three months earlier.

Andrews, who closed as a middleweight, commenced his professional career in 1982 as a bantamweight and claimed the national bantamweight title in 1984 following an 11th round TKO of Michael Parris.

A three-year sojourn in the USA saw Andrews go on a losing spree. He won two of nine fights and upon his return in 1989 he was defeated by Barrington Cambridge while contesting for the national welterweight title.

In May 1995, Andrews made an unsuccessful challenge for the WBA middleweight title. He suffered a fifth round TKO at the hands of Thomas Tate in his last fight. One of the finest Guyanese to have laced up gloves, Andrews’ record includes 27 victories (23 KOs), 13 defeats and two draws. He was also crowned national welterweight and middleweight champion.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 7, 2015

IAAF cancels year-end gala as scandal widens LONDON, England (Reuters) - Athletics lurched deeper into crisis yesterday with the showcase sport of the Olympics scrapping its year-end gala after French officials began investigating the ruling body’s former president for corruption.

Elsewhere, track and field glamour nation Kenya was warned that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was serious about a possible four-year ban unless athletics officials stepped up anti-doping efforts.

A double Olympic champion also criticised the inaction of new IAAF president Sebastian Coe and suggested the sport’s doping scandal was at least as damaging as the ongoing corruption probe into football’s world governing body FIFA or the Lance Armstrong cycling controversy.

In addition, the IAAF governing body announced it had charged four sports officials with ethics violations for allegedly concealing the doping results of a Russian athlete.

The quartet are former IAAF consultant Papa Massata Diack, the son of ex-president Lamine, former All-Russia Athletics Federation president Val-

New IAAF president Sebastian Coe entin Balakhnichev, former Russian long-distance coach Alexei Melnikov and former director of the IAAF’s Anti-Doping Department Gabriel Dolle.

The announcement could not save the governing body’s year-end gala in Monaco,

with officials yesterday cancelling the November 28 black-tie event in Monaco, which honours the year’s best athletes, because of the sport’s doping scandal.

“Given the cloud that hangs over our association, this is clearly not the time for the global athletics family to be gathering in celebration,” Coe said in a statement.

French authorities announced earlier this week that they had placed former IAAF president Lamine Diack under formal investigation on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering.

The 82-year-old Senegalese was questioned by the office of France’s financial prosecutor for allegedly receiving over one million euros ($1.09 million) in bribes in 2011 to cover up positive doping tests by Russian athletes.

Diack’s family has dismissed what they called the “excessive and insignificant accusations”.

THOMPSON REBUKE

Greaves’ ‘Birth Anniversary’ cycle programme set for today THE second Alanzo Greaves ‘Birth Anniversary’ cycle classic programme will be staged today around the inner circuit of the National Park commencing at 09:00hrs.

Several events for various categories of racers will be staged, but the feature event will be a 30-lap race that is expected to attract the best of Guyana’s cyclists, all vying for the top three positions and the 30 prime prizes that are on offer.

The first three finishers will receive $12 000, $10 000 and $8 000 respectively.

ALANZO GREAVES However, the winner of each of the 30 laps will pocket $2 000 for each

lap won making the total prize package for this event over $90 000.

Among those expected to face the starter today are last year’s winner Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey, Michael Anthony, Paul DeNobrega, Hamzah Eastman, Andrew Hicks, Geron `The Lone Soldier’ Williams and Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, `Tour of Guyana’ FiveStage 2015 champion Raul Leal and of course Greaves who celebrated his 26th birth anniversary last September 30.

Greaves promised to make the activity an annual one.

He served as president from 1999 until August this year when he was succeeded

by Briton Coe, who ran on a platform to reform athletics and improve its integrity.

Days before he was elected, Coe had to deal with allegations that athletes had been escaping censure despite having abnormal blood levels.

Coe said at the time the allegations were “a declaration of war on my sport” but he has been silent on the latest scandal, prompting a stinging rebuke from former British team mate Daley Thompson.

“I don’t think anything much worse could happen to the sport than for the former president to have colluded with the Russian Federation over doping tests,” the 1980 and 1984 Olympic decathlon champion told Talksport radio.

“This to my mind is a 10 or 11 on the Lance Armstrong scale. This is much worse that what Sepp Blatter has been doing.

“This has not happened on Seb Coe’s watch but he

needs to have a root and branch reform ... maybe he needs to make a stand and say what he’s going to do about it.”

Former IAAF president Lamine Diack is under formal investigation.

A leading Kenyan sports administrator added his voice to the perceived inaction in combating the doping problem with a warning that unless his country improved their anti-doping efforts they faced expulsion

from competition, including next year’s Rio Olympics.

Dozens of Kenyan runners have been caught doping in the past few years, tarnishing the reputation of the east African nation famed for its middle and long-distance runners.

WADA and other officials have voiced frustration over the years that Athletics Kenya (AK) has not cracked down on doping despite frequent promises that it would.

“It is no longer just a threat,” chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) Kipchoge Keino told reporters in Nairobi after returning from the United States where he met WADA officials.

“They think Kenya is sweeping doping issues under the carpet.

The ADAK (Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya), Athletics Kenya and Government must meet immediately to confront this issue or else we are in big trouble. Things are that bad.”

Authorities investigate fraudulent activity in S. Africa CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - Cricket South Africa (CSA) is investigating potentially fraudulent activities by an international syndicate attempting to corrupt the domestic game, it said in a statement yesterday.

CSA’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit is being supported by the International Cricket Council (ICC) while South African police could also get involved.

“As is the standard practice with the ICC, neither CSA nor the ICC will make any further

comment in respect of ongoing investigations,” CSA added.

South Africa’s domestic T20 competition started at the weekend and has attracted top names from the cricketing world, including former England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

“This is a timely reminder that we can never drop our guard in protecting the integrity of the game at every level,” CSA chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat said.

“We have an effective partnership with the South African Cricketers’ Association to ensure that all

our players, support staff and administrators are well educated about the nefarious activities of corrupt people and are aware of the consequences of falling victim to any shady approaches.”

Lorgat said CSA’s attitude towards corruption would always be one of zero tolerance.

“We will relentlessly pursue under our code and the law of the land any persons we believe to be involved in corrupting the game and, with assistance from the Police, we will also seek criminal prosecution,” he added.

Topp XX, Shattas recover for 2-1 wins in UDFA competition TOPP XX and Silver Shattas recovered after being a goal down, to score comefrom-behind wins in the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) First Division League and earned full points against their opponents on Thursday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

The league championship which began on

Wednesday continued with football fans seeing two more entertaining matches, as Topp XX rebounded to beat Amelia’s Ward Panthers 2-1, while Silver Shattas also gained an outright 2-1 win, as both clubs began their campaign.

While it is yet early in the league championship, Topp XX and the Amelia’s Ward Panthers could not

trouble the scorecard and the first half ended 0-0. In the second half the Panthers netted the opening goal of the game through a shot from Jermain Batson in the 53rd minute to put the pressure on Topp XX from Central Mackenzie.

However, Topp XX responded to the challenge and were rewarded through a goal by Ryan Noel in the

61st minute and this was followed by the go-ahead goal in the 68th minute by Shawn ‘Dash’ Daniels for a 2-1 advantage which they never relinquished.

In the second game, Eagles United were able to put pressure on their opponents Silver Shattas as the first half neared the end by scoring in the 43rd minute off the boot of Role John.

However, one minute later before the halftime whistle was blown the scores were even, as Kellon Adams scored and cancelled the advantage by Eagles United.

With as 1-1 score-line going into the second half Colwyn Drakes was able to give his team the decisive advantage by netting in the 56th minute for Silver Shat-

tas and this 2-1 score-line remained to the end of the game in favour of the Shattas team.

Tomorrow, the action continues at the Mackenzie Sports Cub ground when at 18:00hrs Hi Stars face Net Rockers and at 20:00hrs Milerock open their challenge against Blueberry Hill United. (Joe Chapman)

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 7, 2015

Tendulkar to play alongside Lara in Cricket All-Stars

THE greatest two batsmen of their generation will now get a chance to bat together as captain Sachin Tendulkar drew Brian Lara’s name along with 13 other players as part of the ‘Sachin’s Blasters’ squad for the Cricket All-Stars series beginning at Citi Field today.

In a random draw conducted Thursday in Times Square, Tendulkar drew Lara as well as former Indian teammates VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag. Tendulkar also no longer has to spar with Glenn McGrath, having picked the Australian pacer for his side in a bowling group that also includes Curtly Ambrose, Shaun Pollock and Muttiah Muralitharan.

While the luck of the draw meant that Tendulkar ended up with his Indian batting brethren, Shane Warne drew a slew of his

former Australian teammates to play for ‘Warne’s Warriors’ including Mat-

a dream fast-bowling trio - Courtney Walsh, Allan Donald and Wasim Akram.

Australian cricketer Shane Warne (left) and Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar draw the names of players during a press conference in New York. thew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds. Warne also collected

While the first 26 players were drawn by lots, Shoaib Akhtar’s status was decided

by a coin flip. Warne called heads, but the coin came up tails, drawing a big sigh of relief from Tendulkar.

The first All-Stars match begins on November 7 at Citi Field in New York with two more in Houston and Los Angeles on November 11 and 14.

Sachin’s Blasters: Sachin Tendulkar (c), VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Brian Lara, Mahela Jayawardene, Carl Hooper, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Moin Khan, Graeme Swann, Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan, Shoaib Akhtar, Curtly Ambrose Wa r n e ’s Wa r r i o r s : Shane Warne (c), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Michael Vaughan, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, Andrew Symonds, Jonty Rhodes, Saqlain Mushtaq, Wasim Akram, Daniel Vettori, Courtney Walsh, Allan Donald, Ajit Agarkar.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

West Indies still ‘in turmoil’ - Lara

BRIAN Lara believes cricket in the West Indies is still in turmoil and he feels sorry for the players.

A player strike, stars left out of the Cricket World Cup squad and the shock dropping of veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul have all unsettled West Indies in the past 18 months.

Lara, a great who scored almost 12 000 Test runs, was critical of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

“I think West Indies cricket has been in turmoil

for quite some time,” he said.

“Unfortunately I don’t think the West Indies Cricket Board is doing anything positive towards enhancing that or getting it into a better state.

“I have a lot of sympathy for the players, being a former player myself; I know exactly what they are going through.

“The stress causes (players) not being able to perform. I think we are under a lot of pressure as a team to perform.

“A lot more should be done by the presidents and

the board at grassroots level to enhance the game.”

BRIAN LARA

Lara said the search in the West Indies needed to be to create a competitive team, rather than look for another individual great.

“They are loyal and talented cricketers in the West Indies,” the 46-year-old said.

“You don’t want the next Brian Lara; you want the next great West Indies team: that is what we have to strive for.

“Individual fame is one thing but a good team that can be competitive against the best team in the world is more important.” (Sportsmax.com)

THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) wants the recommendations of its Cricket Review Panel implemented post haste, and has asked the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to fast-track a meeting between the organisations.

According to Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, chairman of CARICOM’s Cricket Governance Committee, the WICB has already been approached about the meeting.

WICB president Dave

Cameron had said his organisation would be discussing the findings and recommendations of the panel during its December board meeting in St Lucia, but Mitchell is adamant that the findings were too important to wait until then.

“That (December meeting) can’t be a demonstration of the urgency that we seek and the heads certainly are looking for an urgent meeting to look at it going forward, so I expect that we should be seeing a much

earlier meeting than the West Indies Cricket Board president had in fact indicated,” said Mitchell.

The major talking point of the publicly released report from the panel is the recommendation that the WICB be disbanded, with an interim board put in place with a different structure.

According to the report, the current structure of the board is a ‘now proven, obsolete governance framework’.

“The prime ministerial sub-committee, together with a few other heads, have consulted and agreed we should write the West Indies Cricket Board for an urgent meeting with the sub-committee and any other heads who wish to attend,” said Mitchell.

“Some heads have expressed they want to be there, that’s how seriously they are taking it, and they expect to have this meeting very soon to look at going forward.” (Sportsmax. com)

CARICOM wants urgent meeting with WICB

Guadeloupe makes it 14 for C/bean boxing tournament

THE French-speaking island of Guadeloupe has become the 14th nation to register for the upcoming Caribbean Development Goodwill International boxing tournament to be staged in Guyana later this month.

Guadeloupe has registered a four-man team comprising two boxers and two officials. Lightweight Keshan Jacoby and light welterweight Jeremi Cointre will be accompanied to Guyana by team manager Omer Gumbs and coach Fredic Pierre.

Guadeloupe now joins Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, French Guiana, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago as countries to be represented here in the last week of this month.

The tournament will run from November 26 to 29 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Yesterday, president of the Guyana Amateur BoxGBA president ing Association, Steve Steve Ninvalle Ninvalle, declared that it would be the largest gathering of teams in Guyana for any sport discipline, in decades.

According to Ninvalle, close to 100 boxers and over 25 officials are expected in for the grand event. “We see it as a boost for boxing, a boost for sports and a boost for tourism. I am of the opinion that it would be the largest gathering on these shores in decades,” Ninvalle said.

Barbados has registered 21 boxers and six officials. That number is the largest down to participate.

Trinidad and Tobago is next in line with 19 boxers.

The Barbadian team includes four juniors, four novices, six youths and seven elites.

The upcoming tournament is the second in two years that the GABA is hosting. In February last year the organisation held the inaugural Goodwill competition in which Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago participated.

GABA has secured the services of top AIBA referee/judge James Beckles of Trinidad and Tobago to hold a workshop with local officials, leading up to the tournament. Beckles arrives in Guyana on November 21 and will commence the workshop the following day.

COURTS Pee Wee U-11 Schools semi-final round set for today JUST one day of action in the COURTSs Pee Wee Under-11 Schools Football Competition will remain after the semi-final round is contested today, at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.

Semi-finalists West Ruimvedlt and St Angela’s face each other while Enterprise take on St. Pius simultaneously. Both matches are scheduled to commence at 13:00hrs.

The day gets underway at 10:00hrs with two 13th-16th place playoff matches. Winfer Gardens battle F.E. Pollard while St Ambrose challenge Comenius.

Following that, two 9th-12th matches will unwind as North Georgetown battle St Stephen’s and St Agnes take on Smith Memorial.

When the clock strikes 12, the 5th–8th playoffs begin. Defending champions Stella Maris confront South Ruimveldt and St Margaret’s square off against Tucville.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 7, 2015

Josiah-Tanner, confident ahead of South American 10K Road Race

By Michael DaSilva

UNITED States-based Guyanese Euleen Josiah-Tanner and Cleveland `the Little Kenyan’ Forde are very confident of winning the second leg of the 13th annual South American 10K Road Race set for tomorrow.

Tanner, who won the 2015 first stage in the women’s category which was staged in Paramaribo, Suriname last Sunday in a time of 39 minutes 43 seconds (39.43), told Chronicle Sport yesterday she is not afraid of her opposition since she has been training very hard for the event and is 100 percent sure she is going to come out the winner of the event, which carries a first prize

of US$1000 for the female category.

Josiah Tanner said every race she enters, she trains hard with the intention of winning and tomorrow’s race will be no different “but sometimes on race day your body tells you a different story so on race day, when I wake up, I’ll know how I feel,” Tanner stated.

Quizzed about her chances against her nemesis, Tonya Nero of Trinidad and Tobago, who defeated her in the first leg of last year’s event, Josiah-Tanner, a graduate of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and who migrated to the U.S. in 1998 and continued her athletic career, said she is very confident she can win

tomorrow’s second stage of the event, which culminates on November 14 with the final stage in Panama, with an overall champion being crowned.

Looking trim and slim, the confident Josiah-Tanner said Nero should not be a problem since she (Nero) is a human being just like her (Tanner) and “I fear no one”, a confident sounding Tanner declared.

Tanner explained that when she first registered to be a part of the now annual event in 2006, she lost her bib bearing her number and was not allowed to participate that year, and that year (2006), the first stage was hosted by Suriname.

Tanner also said when she placed second to Grena-

Brathwaite hits unbeaten century in Barbados’ 262 for two

EULEEN JOSIAH-TANNER

da’s Kenisha Pascal in 2013, it was a case of someone spraying a noxious substance into the air and it affected her while leading the Grenadian by approximately 800 metres, but as she made the turn into the ground, she fell to the ground but still managed to finish second.

Asked if she had a race plan coming up against Nero tomorrow, Tanner simply said, “I’ll stay with her, but if anyone else goes ahead, I’ll go with that person.

Team Best Buy - ready for the challenge TEAM Best Guy Guyana is raring for action when the Final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) gets going in Guyana next weekend.

The team includes Chet Civic and Raj Singh with their Honda Civic at Group Two level along with Shawn Lake’s Honda Integra while Ritchie Singh’s Civic has to

end; we did testing already on my car last week and it feels okay, we just need to go the extra mile to match the foreign competition,” said the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) committee member.

He continued, “Group 2 is on the rise and in my opinion Group 2 is likely to take the entire pull of motor racing from Group

KRAIGG BRATHWAITE BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Barbados Pride were 262 for two off 96 overs in their first innings at the close of play after they were sent in by Jamaica Scorpions on the opening day of the first-round WICB PCL first-class match at Kensington Oval, yesterday.

The not-out batsmen were captain Kraigg Brathwaite on 111 and Shamarh Brooks, 49.

The 22-year-old Brathwaite’s 14th first-class century came in 297 minutes off 256 balls and included seven boundaries. He reached his half-century in 222 minutes off 176 deliveries with three fours.

Brathwaite was dropped

on 31 at slip, by John Campbell, off left-arm spinner Nikita Miller with the score 95 for one in the 39th over.

Kyle Corbin, driving, was caught at mid-on by Marquino Mindley off Miller for 13 And Shai Hope, prodding, was caught at forward short-leg by Brandon King, diving low on the pitch, off off-spinner Campbell for 77.

Hope batted for 179 minutes, faced 157 balls and hit nine fours and three sixes. He reached his half-century in 116 minutes off 114 balls with six fours and two sixes.

In the other fixture of the day between T&T Red Forceand Leewards Hurricanes, Red Force were 157 for 3 at stumps on shortened first day.

SCOREBOARD BARBADOS PRIDE 1st innings K . B r a t h w a i t e n o t o u t 111 K. Corbin c Mindley b Miller 13 S. Hope c King b Campbell 77 S. Brooks not out 49 Extras: (w-2, nb-10) 12 Total: (2 wkts, 96 overs) 262 Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-162.

Bowling: Mindley 16-3-37-0 (w-1, nb-3), Dawes 11-1-31-0 (nb-5), Bernard 9-0-29-0 (w-1, nb-2), Miller 37-16-60-1, Jacobs 15-1-69-0, Campbell 8-0-36-1.

Jamaica Scorpions - P. Palmer (captain), J. Campbell, K. Edwards, A. McCarthy, +C. Baugh, B. King, D. Bernard, N. Miller, D. Jacobs, J. Dawes, M. Mindley.

Chet Singh gets ready for testing at the South Dakota Circuit. (S.E.A.G. Productions photo) battle in the Group 3 class.

The team representative and Group 2 driver Chet Singh said, “Even though Guyana are third in points, we are not taking it lying down. We in Guyana are ready for the challenge.”

Speaking on personal preparation, Singh said that there were a few kinks to iron out.

“I will be done by now and this week-

Four because that is where the competition is right now.”

As it stands, Guyana are third in the Country Championships with 511 points, behind thirdleg hosts Barbados (533) and second-round hosts Trinidad and Tobago (658) with the final leg set for the South Dakota Circuit Race weekend in Guyana is November 14-15 at the South Dakota Circuit.

(Stephan Sookram)

Sport CHRONICLE

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

CARICOM wants urgent meeting with WICB See story on page 34

Chandrika’s day at Guyana National Stadium … Windies opener hits maiden first-class ton to put Jaguars on top

By Kizan Brumell GUYANA and West Indies opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika recorded his maiden First-Class century, which laid a firm foundation for the Guyana Jaguars on the opening day of the 20152016 season of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional 4-day Tournament against the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

At the Guyana National Stadium the Jaguars reached 287-4 from 94 overs at stumps, after winning the toss and taking first strike. Chandrika’s unbeaten 140 was constructed in six hours, as he faced 310 balls, 21 of which were dispatched to the boundary.

He played an impressive innings with well–timed shots that entertained the sprinkling of spectators, while Leon Johnson, Vishal Singh and Shivnarine Chanderpaul resolutely supported the 27-yearold in three solid partnerships.

Guyana Jaguars’ Rajendra Chandrika acknowledges This put Guyana in a good the spectators after reaching his centry for the first position to get a big score gotime at the First Class level.

FIFA sanctions, fines Guyana 4 000 Swiss francs

ing into the second day, with Chris Barnwell and Anthony Bramble yet to come.

On the other side of the battle, off-spinner Shane Shillingford endured the fight for 28 overs and claimed 3 for 75 runs.

The first session belonged to the home side. They produced a solid 120-2 from 30 overs at lunch. Chandrika had just brought up his 50 in 87 deliveries while Singh was unbeaten on 23.

Captain Johnson had mentioned on the eve of this match, the need to convert good starts into big scores.

However, he nicked one to second slip when on 29, in Shane Shillingford’s second over, thus ending the 48-run partnership with the score on 75-2,.

When the innings started, Assad Fudadin (4) was the first to depart with the score on 27 when his forward defence was breached by Kyle Mayers, as the ball squeezed between bat-and-ground to dislodge his wicket.

In the second session, Chandrika became more watchful after he was gifted a chance on 53, dropped by Kenny Lesporis in second slip, while Singh continued his natural cautious game, giving the opposition no chance of removing him.

As the match progressed, the pair brought up their 100run third-wicket partnership, but four runs later Singh (48) was trapped leg-before-wicket by Shillingford, as the score rolled over to 179-3.

Singh was the only batsman

to fall in the second session as his team scored 86 runs.

That brought the 41-yearold former West Indian captain to the middle and he, along with Chandrika, pushed the score to 206-3 at tea. Chandrika was then unbeaten on 91 and Chanderpaul had a patient 13.

After tea, Guyana added 81 runs for the loss of one wicket while Chandrika carefully approached triple digits, alongside a man who already has 71 first-class centuries under his belt. Chandrika’s 102t was achieved off 217 deliveries in four hours and 22 minutes.

Shillingford then dealt a big blow when he trapped Chanderpaul (34) with the See page 30

President bowls first ball at Inter-Service T20 cricket tournament

… Golden Jaguars lose match against Grenada by forfeit

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) was fined 4 000 Swiss francs (G$859 000) for playing Matthew Briggs during their 2-0 win over Grenada in an International Friendly on March 29, 2015 at the Guyana National Stadium.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has notified the GFF that it has conducted an investigation on the participation of Briggs with the representative team of the GFF in the International ‘A’ friendly match.

According to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee who met on October 9 and deliberated over the matter before handing down the sanction, “the GFF is liable for the violation of Article 5 of the Regulations governing the Application of the Statutes as well as Article 55. 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,

for having fielded the player Matthew Briggs, without holding the Guyanese na-

MATTHEW BRIGGS tionality”.

Pernel Schultz had led Guyana to a 2-0 victory over Grenada, scoring both goals in the first half (18th and 38th minutes).

However, a release from the GFF pointed out that FIFA further noted that the match is declared a loss by forfeit by Guyana (3-0), citing articles of the FIFA Disciplinary Code” The GFF was also ordered to take all appropriate measures in order to guarantee that the FIFA regulations are strictly complied with.

The 24-year-old Briggs, the youngest player to feature in the English Premier League (EPL) with Fulham FC, got his first senior International cap when he represented Guyana against Grenada, leading up to the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.

Briggs, who qualified to represent Guyana through his grandmother, had represented England at the U-16 through U-21 levels but never broke into the country’s senior national side.

PRESIDENT David Granger, yesterday, bowled the first ball at the commencement of the Commander-in-Chief Inter-Service Officers T20 cricket final at the Guyana Police Force Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

The match between the ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is part of a series of friendly sporting rivalries, aimed at building camaraderie and unity between the joint services.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Off-spin? Leg-spin?

President David Granger bowls the first ball to start off the game yesterday at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary. (Samuel Maughn photo)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015