Guyana chronicle 05 03 14

GUYANA No. 103758

WEDNESDAY MARCH 5, 2014

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

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AML/CFT Bill update...

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Teixeira likens Select Committee meetings to negotiating a hostage situation

–but doggedly determined to see talks through to the bitter end

At yesterday’s briefing at NCN. Seated from left are: Moderator and Government Information Agency (GINA) Director, Mr. Neaz Subhan; Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh; Attorney-General, Mr. Anil Nandlall; Select Committee Chair, Ms. Gail Teixeira; and Junior Finance Minister, Mr. Juan Edghill (Photo by Adrian Narine)

AG makes good on promise to take Kaieteur News to court –Files interim injunction in multi-million-dollar lawsuit

US State Department gives Page 8 Guyana a clean bill of health –where judiciary independence is concerned

Page 7

Mystery fire causes considerable damage to South Page 8 Ruimveldt Shopping Plaza

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

School tours to Princess Fun City Entertainment Centre enter final leg

Several students of this school visited the Princess Fun City recently.

By Asif Hakim THE Princess Fun City Entertainment Centre has announced that the two months’ free tours for schools have entered their final leg and

will come to an end at the end of March.

The tours, which commenced last month, were facilitated by the Education Ministry. Yesterday the Entertainment Centre announced that the first month had been very successful and the entity had received overwhelming responses from schools across the country, coming from several regions.

Management of the Princess Fun City Entertainment Centre has since renewed its invitation to the schools to visit movie theatres and game arcade free of cost, but accommodation would be extended only to schools making appointments ahead of their visit.

“Our desire is to create an experience where parents, children, clubs, schools and business will share memorable moments, and create an experience that will last a lifetime.”

Fun City’s marketing manager told this newspaper.

The Fun City Arcade is the first of its kind in Guyana. It offers family fun and entertainment, with more than 80 games. Patrons can choose from 7D Cinema, 3D graphics, dancing, street fighting, gifts, bowling and racing, among the lot. This section also caters for persons from two years old and upwards.

The two movie theatres can seat 168 and 93 patrons respectively, and provide the latest releases in Hollywood, children, comedy and action movies.

Schools interested in booking a show can contact Ms. Ali Williams, Marketing Manager of the Princess Fun City Entertainment Centre, on 592-673-8698. Management of the entity will also be looking forward to meeting in person with the youngsters of this nation, who are also the future of this country, and management expects having a pleasant association in future with those youngsters.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

AML/CFT Bill update...

Teixeira likens Select Committee meetings to negotiating a hostage situation

–but doggedly determined to see talks through to the bitter end

By Vanessa Narine CHAIR of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee, Gail Teixeira, contends that the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill is being “held hostage” in the Committee by the Opposition.

Speaking during a live televised press conference yesterday, held at the National Communications Networks (NCN) studio, she

is willing to compromise on their “maximum” positions.

“The Opposition has not been persuaded to move one iota on its maximum positions,” the Chair said.

Teixeira added, the fact that the Opposition continue to hold out is an indication of their intention to keep the AML/CFT Bill hostage.

She dubbed this stance intransigent, reckless and anti-national.

“It has been an awfully long haul,” Teixeira said, referring

‘This is not something to take lightly; this is a serious development in our country’ noted that there is no indication that the Opposition intends to “climb down” from the “maximum position” they are holding out on.

With the next meeting of the Select Committee scheduled for today, the official gave the assurance that Government is committed to continue its fight on the matter and continue its attempts to persuade the Opposition to budge from their positions.

“We will not boycott our own meeting,” she said.

Teixeira stressed that in her two decades serving as a Member of Parliament (MP), she has never seen a Bill held hostage in Committee.

“This is not something to take lightly…this is a serious development in our country,” she said.

NO ROOM FOR NEGOTIATIONS Teixeira stressed that Government is “wuking we brain” to come to an agreeable position, but noted that Government is not “living in a fool’s paradise” when it comes down to recognising that there is little room for negotiation.

“What else can we do,” the Committee Chair questioned, adding that in any negotiation process the door is always open for something.

“For us the door is open and we continue to do our best…we will try to free this Bill from being held hostage,” she said.

The Chair added that the Government’s position is “most reasonable” and is a “minimum” position.

“Our position is a minimum one…the Government’s position is the simplest and least confrontational of all,” Teixeira said.

She underscored the difficultly in the negotiation process, given that neither A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) nor the Alliance For Change (AFC)

to the fact that the Committee’s work has been going on for over 10 months now.

According to her, the maintained positions of the Opposition are reflective of a pattern to run the Government through the legislation.

She made it clear that the Opposition’s actions are aimed at “determining” the functions of the Government vis-à-vis the legislature.

POWER GRAB Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, in whose name the Bill was tabled, echoed similar sentiments.

He charged that there is a “political power grab” by the Opposition, whose demands have no nexus to the Bill that is before the Committee.

The demands being made by the APNU are that: President Donald Ramotar give his assent, where he has withheld it for stated reasons, to Bills that have been passed in the National Assembly, in particular the Local Government (Amendment) Bill; the commencement order for the Local Government Commission Bill be singed; and that the their three amendments to the Principal Act, which according to the Standing Orders the Committee has no remit to consider, must be included with the Bill.

The three amendments seek to: Change the entire governing apparatus of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU); remove the Attorney-General wherever that name appears and replace it with the FIU; and vest a police officer or customs officer with a power to seize currency valued at $2M from any person, anywhere in Guyana, if those officers have reason to believe that the currency is the proceeds of crime or will be used to finance crime. The APNU’s position on the latter amendment changed this week with the threshold for seizure being moved from $2M to $10M.

The AG pointed out that since the beginning of the 10th Parliament, there has been a struggle in the National Assembly with efforts by the Opposition to vest powers of the Executive, as stated in the Constitution, to the legislature, where they hold a one-seat majority.

He cited Budget cuts and the recommendation that Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, be removed as Minister, a call that was not considered by the President and which subsequently saw the Opposition moving to “gag” Rohee in the National Assembly.

“Their quest is a singular one…it is a grab for political power,” Nandlall said.

The AG stressed that the Opposition is seeking to acquire power, not through the ballot, but through the “back” door.

“The APNU is hijacking Executive functions and placing it in the bosom of the Legislature,” he said.

Nandlall stressed that the Opposition’s stance on the work of the Committee is a “manifestation of authoritarianism” as their approach to governance.

“It is difficult to rationalize the Opposition’s positions,” he posited.

STRONG BILL Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, was also on the panel at yesterday’s press conference and made it clear that the Principal Act of 2009 is already a strong piece of legislation, as evidenced by comments by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

And he stressed that the AML/CFT Bill, on which there is no objection, will augment that strength.

The minister reminded that the Principal Act itself was the subject of review by a Special Select Committee for some two years and was unanimously passed in the National Assembly.

He stated too that CFATF’s review process is a continuous one and the legislation continues to be strengthened with each wave of review.

On the issue of enforcement of the legislation, Singh explained that enforcement is a work in progress and to date “considerable progress” has been made, efforts that have been publicly recognised

by CFATF. He added that there have been moves to establish the institutional architecture that would facilitate efforts to address money laundering and financing of terrorism concerns.

The minister referred to the last two annual reports of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which outline these efforts, both legislative and non-legislative.

He disagreed that there has been no success in enforcing the Principal Act.

CARDINAL TRUTHS Singh reiterated what he described in the drawn-out process of coming to an agreement, including the fact that: * The AML/CFT Bill is one that was agreed to by the Committee unanimously since February 9, ahead of the February 10 sitting, at which time the hope was to pass the Bill to avoid possible

ment to agree to it; * The rejection of the President’s offer to pass the CFATF compliant AML/CFT Bill and have APNU’s amendments sent to CFATF to ensure they are compliant with the Principal Act and, barring no problems, his commitment to assent to these at a later date; * The AFC’s revised position extending from the demand to

‘For us, the door is open, and we continue to do our best; we will try to free this Bill from being held hostage’ review by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review on February 13; * APNU’s amendments to the Principal Act came after 10 months and the Chief Parliamentary Counsel is still working in drafting them, considering possible clashes with sister legislations, as well as the Principal Act itself; * The fact that the proposed amendments are “problematic” and need to be studied and possibly reformulated for the Govern-

establish the Public Procurement Commission, which the Government is prepared to do providing it maintains its no-objection role; * The fact that the AFC reneged on an agreement made on February 23, the Mashramani Agreement, to extend its position to include APNU’s demands, which in turn saw the Government not submitting its nominees for the PPC as agreed; * The explicit pronounce-

ments of CFATF regarding the importance of the Bill’s enactment; and * The fact that the Opposition’s position, in its entirety, is indefensible.

The Finance Minister called for reason to prevail, especially considering the impacts on the local financial sector.

According to him, these impacts include: increased burdens with financial transactions, reported closure of accounts with foreign banks not wanting to do business with Guyana; reported refusals for processing of bank transfers, until increased documentation is completed; and the fact that Guyana has already been blocked from accessing foreign developmental funds.

Junior Finance Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, also addressed the risks to the average Guyanese citizen and made clear the importance of having the voices of Guyanese heard.

“The power is in the hands of the people,” he said.

Today’s Select Committee meeting is expected to shed further light on the way forward for Guyana and its shortcomings in becoming CFATF compliant.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

Putin: military force would be ‘last resort’ in Ukraine

(Reuters) - PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin delivered a robust defense of Russia’s actions in Crimea on Tuesday and said he would use force in Ukraine only as a last resort, easing market fears that EastWest tension over the former Soviet republic could lead to war.

But tension remained high on the ground. Russian forces fired warning shots in a confrontation with Ukrainian servicemen at an air base, and Russian navy ships were reported to have blockaded the strait separating the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula from Russia.

At his first news conference since the crisis began, Putin said Russia reserved the right to use all options to protect compatriots who were living in “terror” in Ukraine, but force was not needed for now.

His comments, coupled with the end of Russian war games near Ukraine’s borders, lifted Russian bonds and stock markets around the world after a panic sell-off on Monday.

Putin denied the Russian armed forces were directly engaged in the bloodless seizure of Crimea, saying the uniformed troops without national insignia were “local self-defense forces”.

“As for bringing in forces, for now there is no such need, but such a possibility exists,” he said. “What could serve as a reason to use military force?

It would naturally be the last resort, absolutely the last.”

Western sanctions under consideration against Russia would be counter-productive,

he said. A senior U.S. official said Washington was ready to impose them in days rather than weeks. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that Moscow would retaliate.

In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledged that Russia had legitimate interests in Ukraine but said that did not give Putin the right to intervene militarily.

“President Putin seems to have a different set of lawyers making a different set of interpretations,” Obama said.

“But I don’t think that’s fooling anybody.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, on his first visit to Kiev since the overthrow of Russian-backed President Victor Yanukovich, accused Moscow of seeking a pretext to invade more of the country.

Kerry laid flowers in Independence Square at a memorial to pro-Western protesters killed by police last month, describing the experience as “moving, distressing and inspiring”. He met Ukraine’s interim leaders and announced a $1 billion economic package and technical assistance for the new government.

Putin said there had been an unconstitutional coup in Ukraine, and Yanukovich, who fled to Russia last week, was still the legitimate leader. No Ukrainian government elected “under such terror as we see now” would be legitimate, he said.

Kerry said the United States was not seeking a confrontation and would prefer to see the situation managed through international institutions such as

Ukrainian servicemen march away, after negotiations with Russian troops at the Belbek Sevastopol International Airport in the Crimea region March 4, 2014.

Crimea were local groups.

But in a sign of the exKiev, in Ukraine in general. This the pan-European Organisation Russia’s seizure of control in treme fragility of the situwas an anti-constitutional coup for Security and Cooperation in Crimea have prompted the most ation in Crimea, a Russian and the armed seizure of power,” Europe (OSCE). serious confrontation between soldier fired three volleys of he said, looking relaxed as he sat Ukrainian Prime Minister Moscow and the West since the shots over the heads of unbefore a small group of reporters Arseny Yatseniuk told reporters end of the Cold War. armed Ukrainian servicemen at his residence near Moscow. in Kiev that the Ukrainian and Western governments have who marched bearing the Earlier on Tuesday, Putin Russian governments had begun been alarmed at the possibility Ukrainian flag towards their ordered troops involved in a consultations on the crisis “at that Russia may also move into aircraft at a military airfield military exercise in western the level of ministers”. He gave eastern and southern Ukraine, surrounded by Russian troops Russia, close to the border with no details. home to many Russian speakers, at Belbek, near Sevastopol.

Ukraine, back to their bases. He The February 22 ousting which Putin did not rule out.

Credit: REUTERS/Vasily said armed men who had seized of Yanukovich after months “There can be only one asFedosenko buildings and other facilities in of street protests in Kiev and sessment of what happened in

Putin among Nobel Peace nominees but Ukraine might figure too (Reuters) - RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize - but the conflict in Ukraine is also likely to be on the Nobel committee’s agenda.

A record 278 candidates, including 47 organizations,

received nominations for the 2014 prize, said the Norwegian Nobel Institute’s director, Geir Lundestad.

Committee members who met on Tuesday added their own proposals with a focus on recent turmoil around the globe.

“Part of the purpose of the

President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted on February 22, prompting the most serious confrontation between Moscow and the West since the end of the Cold War. Pope Francis and former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden

committee’s first meeting is to take into account recent events, and committee members try to anticipate what could be the potential developments in political hotspots,” Lundestad said.

Russia seized control of Ukraine’s Crimea region after

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also received nominations as well as Putin.

Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating girls’ right to education, is also thought to be among the candidates, as are several Russian dissidents who have spoken out for human rights.

Conflicts between protesters and the governments of Thailand and Venezuela are also expected to be debated by the

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committee.

“We are getting an increasing number of nominations from people in countries that have never submitted nominations before,” Lundestad said.

Although nominations are kept secret for 50 years, thousands of people around the world are eligible to propose candidates, including any member of any national assembly, and many make their picks public.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5 2014

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Brazil: Rio rubbish collectors to end carnival strike

(BBC News) AUTHORI TIES in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro say they have reached an agreement with rubbish collectors to end a three-day strike that has disrupted the carnival festivities.

Tonnes of used beer cans and plastic bottles have piled up on the streets of Rio since the strike began on Friday.

The salaries of Rio’s 15,000 rubbish collectors would go up by 9%.

The street parties and the samba school parades attract hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

The city of Rio’s rub-

bish collecting department, Comlurb, said its members would meet to discuss the proposal.

Under the deal, the starting salary for rubbish collectors in Rio would rise to 1,200 reais a month ($500; £300).

In a statement, Comlurb said that those who did not return to work immediately would lose their jobs.

The official carnival festivities began on Friday night and end on Wednesday morning, or Ash Wednesday.

Rubbish collectors have staged well-humoured protests during carnival.

“Mayor Eduardo Paes will have to sweep the streets,” they

The samba school parade is seen by many as the highlight of Rio carnival

sang in one of the demonstrations.

Dressed in their bright orange uniforms, Comlurb cleaners have become a feature of the city’s carnival.

Every year, they are seen sweeping the floor and often dancing to the rhythm of the music, as each of the samba schools finish their parade at the Sambadrome.

But their absence has been felt mostly in the dozens of street parties - or blocos - that take place across the city.

The biggest of them, hosted by the traditional Cordao do Bola Preta, attracted more than one million people to Rio’s city centre.

‘Hero’ dies after rescuing two 167 arrested on Carnival Monday children from drowning ...Nicholas Seucharan could not even swim, still he went

(Trinidad Express) IN the ultimate act of selflessness a 26-year-old Tabaquite man died on Monday, after rescuing two children from drowning in Mayaro.

Nicholas Seucharan, an electrician, of Allen Road, could not swim, but still went after the floundering children, the Express was told.

Seucharan’s mother, Pramatee Seucharan, said her son was a very helpful person who never turned his back on others.

“It was a good thing that he did, but losing him is very hard on me. He was my only son”, his grieving mother said.

She added “His father was begging him not to go in the water, but he still went. He wanted to help save the children. He was a family person”.

Seucharan’s fiance, Samantha Hendrickson, and other relatives went to a beach near Indian Bay, off the Guayaguayare Main Road on Monday.

Prematee Seucharan, a mother of two, said there were other persons on the beach, whom she believed belonged to a church. “We realised those people were not drinking and feting so we decided to stay there”, the mother said.

At around 4 p.m. Seucharan was playing cricket on the beach when a woman from the other group began asking for help to save two children, aged 11 and eight years old, who were being pulled out to sea.

“Nicholas ran to the van to get the rope. My husband begged him not to go into the water because he could not swim. He still went. Another man was trying to help the children was getting into

Nicholas Seucharan difficulties and people pulled him out, so Nicholas went to save the children. He pushed the children towards the sand, and like he got pulled by a rip current”, the mother said.

Hendrickson said: “It was like the wave went over him, and then we saw him floating with his face down in the water”.

Prematee Seucharan said her son in law Luke Sahadeo, a diver, waded into the sea and pulled Seucharan to the shore.

He performed CPR for several minutes, and then Seucharan was taken to the Mayaro District Health Facility. Suecharan was pronounced dead on arrival.

Seucharan’s fiance, Samantha Hendrickson told the Express the couple wanted to marry in Mayaro.

“It is so sad knowing that we cannot get married and have children. We already had everything prepared for the wedding.

He said he wanted everybody

to remember his wedding”, a weeping Hendrickson said.

The body was removed to the mortuary of the Sangre Grande Area Hospital for an autopsy.

(Trinidad Express) A NATIONWIDE crackdown by police during the Carnival revelry on Monday resulted in the arrest of 167 persons.

More than 25 per cent of the detainees were held in the Port-of-Spain Division. The majority of the arrests was for the possession of a weapon, firearm and ammunition.

A media release from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Public Affairs Unit stated that the suspects were arrested over a 16-hour period, from midnight Sunday to 4 p.m.

Monday.

In Port-of-Spain police division, 43 persons were detained, among them, two for possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of a weapon possession of narcotics, an illegal immigrant, and 40 others on continuing inquiries.

In the Northern division, 15 persons were held, mainly for possession of narcotics and one for possession of ammunition.

A Cascade man was held with a firearm with its serial number removed, police said.

The 32-year-old suspect was confronted by officers near Queen’s Hall, Cascade, and was allegedly found with a nine millimetre Glock pistol and 17 rounds of ammunition. The officers later executed a search warrant at his home at Cascade Main Road and allegedly found 55 grammes of marijuana.

And a 38-year-old man of Ghandi Village, Debe, was arrested at the corner of Murray Street and Ariapita Avenue, Port of Spain with a a Walter Webley pistol and a magazine with six rounds of .38 ammunition.

In the Central Division, four persons were held and one charged for drunk driving. In the Northern Division, one person was arrested for a wounding.

In the Eastern Division, 28 persons arrested. One was charged for drunk driving, and one for assaulting a police officer. In the South-Western

Division, 11 were arrested, with one for assaulting a police officer and the others for minor offences.

In the Southern Division, nine were arrested, with one for possession of a weapon and others for minor crimes. In Tobago, a man was held for the possession of a .38 revolver, 21 rounds of ammunition and marijuana.

The release stated that of those arrested, 72 persons were charged for various offences while the others were detained on continuing inquiries. Three persons were also arrested by warrant.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

GUYANA

Editorial

Dogged by more dirt

ALLIANCE For Change (AFC) members in the Diaspora are voicing their concern over the whereabouts of close to $50M they’ve raised in campaign funds, which to date cannot be accounted for.

According to reliable sources within the AFC, the group feels slighted by several developments within the party that do not augur well for accountability and transparency. The group, reportedly spearheaded by a Berbician, is said to be resolute in its search to uncover the funds, which were allegedly pocketed by members of the AFC’s executive.

“AFC leaders and the rest of them pretend to be the guardian of accountability and transparency, and here it is, in our very own backyard, people are pocketing monies for the party,’’ the source said.

This newspaper understands that previous attempts to raise matters of financial misappropriation within the AFC have been met with cynicism and threats by the leadership.

The AFC has been dogged by several scandals over the last three years, including its link to the ‘cocaine-in-peppersauce’ bust in Canada back in December 2008.

In May, 2012, AFC Region 6 Councillor, Haseef Yusuf blew the whistle about corruption in the AFC camp, accusing that party’s Member of Parliament, Dr. Veerasammy Ramaya of misappropriating some $4.5M of campaign funds in Berbice.

After pressure mounted on the AFC, it announced weeks later that it was desirous of investigating the matter, but to date there has been no word from that party about the corruption scandal involving its MP, Dr. Ramaya.

Dr. Ramaya, who hosts an AFC television programme in Berbice, absented himself from that programme for several weeks, and dodged questions about his involvement in financial misappropriation.

City businessman, Fizal Ali, implicated AFC executive member, Sasenarine Singh, in bribery demands in exchange for releasing flour to him while Singh worked at the National Milling Company, responsible for wholesale distribution.

The businessman was quoted as saying, “In order to get my full quota of flour, Mr. Singh demanded from me $100,000 per week. I used to pay this money weekly to him, in cash, at his home at Third Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown. I was also forced to deliver three bags of flour weekly, free of cost, to his mother, who owned a grocery stall at La Penitence Market. I also purchased for him his first motorcar, a white Honda Accord, at a cost of $450,000. I also financed his studies at the University of Guyana.’’

Singh had threatened to sue over media reports implicating him in bribery demands, but there has been no indication of his ever pursuing legal action against the businessman or any media outlet for their reports.

AFC Chairman and Attorney-at-law, Khemraj Ramjattan, was also implicated in several scandals in which clients accused him of swindling them, the latest being an amputee pensioner, Mr. Michael Taharally, and his wife, Veronica DaSilva, who publicly accused Ramjattan of swindling them in an estate dispute case in which he

How much longer can we cope with this pussyfooting!

UNDOUBTEDLY, the current question that is sure to be uppermost in the minds of all Guyanese pertains to when will the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill finally going to be passed by the National Assembly.

More particular is the question: When will the Parliamentary Opposition (A Partnership For National Unity and the Alliance For Change) quit their unpatriotic behaviour, which, at best, means tinkering with the probity of the nation; the welfare and wellbeing of the citizens, and, above all, their dignity.

OBSERVER believes that since all Guyanese are fully conversant with the importance of the Bill and its dire necessity, it may not be necessary to recall its finite details; yet, it still is, because of its pivotal importance to the conduct, protection and continuation of the country’s economic life.

But we should first understand the nature of this pervasive international criminal beast that is money laundering; what it is. In simple terms, this is an illegal activity, which means making money that comes from an illicit activity (‘dirty’ money) so it appears to be legitimate, by moving it from point A to point B. This is called laundering or washing the money. It is a myriad strategy, often complex, among which principally involves banking the proceeds from criminal activities, to moving same for investment purposes, tax payment, and other similar apparent initiatives, seemingly legitimate.

This explains why such legislation as the (AML/CTF) becomes necessary, because it establishes the legal framework for the nation’s law enforcement authorities and judicial system to effectively take action against all forms of money-launderers, plugging the necessary loopholes, inclusive also of those who seek to finance acts of terrorism.

And since this offence largely arises out of transnational crime, there will also be provision for working closely with other jurisdictions in the pursuit of those guilty of such an offence.

There is no opposition party, despite adhering to the tradition of adversarial politics, that has refused support of its particular State’s efforts to enact such legislative safeguards. Sister CARICOM States, Trinidad and Tobago and Belize are two classical cases where their respective opposition parties put aside political differences and supported such a Bill’s legislative passage through their parliaments.

In the Twin-island Republic’s experience, both sides of the House of Representatives worked through the night so as to complete the process.

But here we have the unfortunate tragedy of two parties that, despite their individual public affirmations as to the necessity of such a Bill requiring their support, have not transformed such into the desired end-product of supporting its passage through the National Assembly.

It has been an amazing scenario, unbelievable anywhere in the region especially, given the scale of such intransigence as displayed by the opposition parties, as the country and people that it professes to love, are now going to be further blacklisted.

How does one explain this painful and disrespectful occurrence to a country, the government of which has, since 1992, done so much for its restoration to economic and financial viability and international respect?

How contradictory it has been for APNU to have refused support for the Bill, under the guise of wanting to make amendments; wasted extremely valuable time before presenting same, then suddenly shifting the goalpost to a position that its support for legislation will be had in exchange for assent of previously un-assented Bills. Its smaller opposition colleague, the AFC, initially offered its support, in exchange for the National Procurement Commission, and then suddenly announced the SHOCKER: That they want the same demands as APNU! This recent position clearly exposes both opposition parties outright waste-of-time tactics, pretending amendments. It leads inevitably to the conclusion that appending the conditions meant that there was really no problem with the Bill from the onset, and that it ought to have been legislated ever since, with their wholehearted support.

Couple this with the very late submission of the Amendments, which CFAT advisor, Mr Roger Hernandez warned are risky, because of their potential to make an already compliant Bill non-compliant.

Here, OBSERVER emphasises, presents the Parliamentary Opposition for what they have been comprehensively doing for this entire Tenth Parliament thus far: Sabotaging the national interest. Any lesser description of its action is tantamount to being passive at a moment when the utmost condemnation must be voiced: ALL GUYANA WANTS THE BILL LEGISLATED, NOW!

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “My opponents say, ‘Jagan, you are honest and sincere, but we don’t like your connections and

associations and methods. Your goals, your ends, may be good,

but your means are foul, wicked and bad.’ My answer to that is very

simple: If I am honest and sincere, it is because of my beliefs, my ideology. For me, there is a unity of ends and means. Every means must be good in itself, no matter in what stage of struggle. Freedom is inseparable from struggle.”

--Dr Cheddi Berret Jagan, Former President of Guyana and ‘Father of the Nation’

had been hired to represent their interests.

One Prakash Persaud has also publicly accused both Raphael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan of fraudulent acts, for which he took them before the Bar Association. Added to the cook-up of alleged corrupt acts is a medley of accusations directed against AFC Chairman, Nigel Hughes.

The recent NACTA poll has indicated a dwindling in support for

the AFC; so one can understand that party’s dithering on national issues to make itself relevant in the political spectrum.

But the National Assembly is a forum to deal with issues of national importance and not merely being a platform for political opportunism and self-aggrandizement.

Sooner or later, the electorate will be able to tell the charlatans from the leaders who genuinely have their best interests at heart.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5 2014

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AG makes good on For once, Mr. Ramkarran, promise to take Kaieteur News to court show some balls!

I HAVE seen Mr. Ralph Ramkarran’s article in the “Stabroek News”. He has once again returned to his favourite theme of compromise. This man seems to have nothing that he is willing to stand up for; there seems to be no issue that he feels should not have a compromise.

He, like the two Opposition parties in the National Assembly, appears to be taking the position that an issue with such grave national implications should be used to extract as much unreasonable concessions from the government, such as signing unconstitutional Bills.

This issue is not one for

“horse-trading”, as Mr. Ramkarran and the Opposition are proposing. It is by far too important. Did Cheddi Jagan ask for anything to support the nationalization of bauxite? No. Is it not true that even though the PNC regime rigged the election of 1973, the PPP, seeing the dangers to national sovereignty, came out with critical support, knowing fully well that it would not be a popular decision?

This issue, in my view, is as important as any in post-independence Guyana. Why should any party ask for a compromise? This is not a Bill that the PPP wrote up; it has come out of an international process.

Because of the international nature and implications, there are severe penalties if the Bill is not passed. If it is not passed, Guyana would be seen as a country that defends drug traffickers, money launderers and gun smugglers. In fact, opposition to the Bill could very well be seen as the Opposition members in the National Assembly defending the illegal activities.

Mr. Ramkarran, instead of his usual wishy-washy compromise call, should show us that he stands for the national interest and demand that the Opposition pass the Bill that CFATF and FATF have pronounced as being compliant.

For once, Mr. Ramkarran show some backbone.

REBECCA CONSTANCE

Environmental impact of chemicals in farming

THE recent swirl of opinions in the media over the use of pesticides and fertilizers usage on Rupununi mega-farms highlights the fact that there is a widespread misunderstanding and concern because of the impact it could have on the environment.

Problems caused by the use of chemicals and fertilizers in cultivation of rice cover a very wide range of activities. The problem with chemicals and fertilizers also illustrates an important point, and it is salutary to note that in cultivation of paddy it cannot easily be divorced from the wider issue of the environment and eco-system of the wetlands of the North Rupununi.

Aside from the problems of toxicity, the environmental consequences of continuous use of high quantities of pesticides are well known: pollution of land and marine environments and aquifers; reduction in bio-diversity with possible extinctions, especially in fragile marine and estuarine environment; it is said that Guyana is one of the most pesticides-polluted marine environments in the world; and residues in the food chain and in the produce we eat, which pose a risk to human health.

Among the 16 elements of

chemicals which will be used for the production of rice in the Rupununi for normal growth is Nitrogen (urea) Phosphorous ( TSP) and Potassium, which are considered the primary plant food elements.

Nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient for rice production in Guyana, except in soils deficient in some other element. Phosphorous (P) is the next most limiting element in rice production. Unlike nitrogen, it accumulates in the soil after repeated applications.

Phosphorous application is recommended on the wetlands of the savannahs plain of Guyana.

Potassium should be confined to the riverain areas.

Rice takes centre stage in agro-ecology; in fact, rice is one of the heaviest users of pesticides, and growing recognition should be given to the role of integrated pest management as insects and weeds pose the greatest threat to rice crops and the company should examine ways of reducing the use of chemicals, while ensuring the maintenance of biodiversity in that area.

Agrochemicals comprise a category of products which perhaps are the most abused chemicals in the cultivation

of paddy. They include crop protection chemicals; insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, nematicides etc.

Although there is much to be said about genetically engineered crops, which are resistant to pests or diseases, and so in theory do not require intensive pesticides interventions, these are not yet commercially available. The pesticides business is still expanding, so therefore, developing countries represent a major market.

Within this framework, control of insects, diseases and weeds for crop protection is the primary aim, while pesticides are also used extensively in livestock production and domestically.

However, in Guyana, guidelines for safe application of chemicals are not enshrined in law. Since there is no law governing pesticides and fertilizers application, there will be no official surveillance on the mega-farm in the Rupununi . In countries such as the USA, where regulations are not only strict but also enforced, serious infringements of the rules will result in fines or even imprisonment.

MOHAMED KHAN

Rebuild a new Guyana THE grassroots movements had better understand the dynamics of passing the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill and get a better grasp of the government, because it is useful to widen the scope, and take a politico-economic perspective.

The Bill will be expensive for the Guyanese people. It is therefore essential to ensure that an end is put to those financial practices of irresponsible risk-taking.

As noted by the Bank for International Settlements in its 2009 annual report, “A healthy financial system is a precondition for sustained recovery.

Delaying financial repair risks hampering the efforts on other

policy fronts.”

It is my conviction that we must seek to go beyond these AML/CFT proposals and take a firm political decision and resolve one of the basic dilemmas facing our country. We do not feel that this is an insoluble dilemma, and for this reason, Guyana is prepared to advance, in as good faith as practicable, and we Guyanese people expect feasible proposals to deal with this problem without any injury to the interest of the Guyanese people.

Our position on this matter is dictated by the belief that a solution is critical for the political support for the passing of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill.

The maintenance of a common stand against any moneylaunderers or acts of terrorism in our country is necessarily premised on the need to develop the capacity of all Guyanese people of our country to withstand the economic pressures that are inevitably involved in the struggle to achieve fundamental transformation of the existing order.

We must present a united front, or the majority of us will perish; so let us give content to the dialogue among ourselves today. Let us pursue programmes with respect to matters of economic importance.

Let us save ourselves and our children today; because tomorrow, it may be too late.

SHERWOOD CLARKE

--Files interim injunction in multi-million-dollar lawsuit

By Vanessa Narine

AN INTERIM injunction was granted to Attorney-at-law, Sase Gunraj on behalf of Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, signalling commencement of High Court proceedings for libel against Kaieteur News following its failure to retract false charges levelled against Minister Nandlall and to apologise therefor.

The interim injunction prevents Kaieteur News from “further publishing the said or any similar libel to that effect concerning the plaintiff (Nandlall) as contained in articles published in the Kaieteur News newspapers on the 28th day of February, 2014 in a column styled “Dem boys Seh”, and captioned, “Tax dollars going to Sleep-In”; and on the 2nd day of March 2014, in a column styled “Ah Kneel Deh Pun A Hustle” until after the hearing and determination” of a summons.

Yesterday’s legal action

follows a letter sent to Kaieteur News Editor, Adam Harris by the AG’s lawyer, demanding that Harris retracts damning accusations in two columns titled “Dem boys Seh” and apologise within 24 hours, or face legal proceedings.

The AG is claiming damages in excess of $20M for the publication of both columns, aggravated or exemplary damages in excess of $10M, costs, and further or other orders as the court deems just.

The affidavit filed by the AG and seen by the Guyana Chronicle cites Adam Harris, Mohan Lall (aka Glenn Lall) and the National Media and Publishing Company Limited as defendants.

The document stated that Harris “informed me that the said articles about me were published upon the instructions” of Lall. It adds that Harris promised that “a retraction and an apology will be duly published”, as requested by the AG. Nandlall, in the affidavit,

Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, added that he spoke to Lall via telephone, and was also assured that a retraction and an apology would be forthcoming. “To date, no such apology or retraction was published as promised,” the AG said.

In the lawsuit, the AG contends that the contents of the columns “(were) calculated to cause, and did cause me, great public embarrassment; held me up to odium and ridicule, and to disparage me as the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Member of Parliament” on both national and international fronts.

Nandlall described the contents of both columns as a “malicious and unwarranted” attack.

In addition to Gunraj, the AG is expected to be represented by Bernard De Santos, S.C; Mr. Euclin Gomes and Mr. Ganesh A. Hira.

The case is scheduled to be heard on March 13, 2014 at 11.00am.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

US State Department gives Guyana a clean bill of health

By Leroy Smith THE Laws of Guyana provide for an independent judiciary, and the Government of Guyana has generally respected the independence and practices of the judiciary. This is according to the US State Department Report for 2013.

However the report did not hesitate to point out that the judicial process has been undermined by delays and inefficiencies. It pointed to the report by the director of public

–where judiciary independence is concerned

prosecutions that 60 cases were disposed of during 2012, 14 of which the prosecutors declined to prosecute because most had been pending for in excess of 15 years, and main witnesses to prove the offences were no longer available to testify.

A shortage of trained court personnel, inadequate resources, postponements at the request of the defence or prosecution, occasional allegations of bribery, poor tracking of cases, and sloth of the Guyana Police Force in preparing cases for trial had

caused delays in the system, the report also pointed out.

With respect to trial procedures, the report reminded that in Guyana trials are done publicly, while defendants enjoy the presumption that they are innocent during the trials. There is no jury for cases tried in the Magistrates’ Courts, but in the High Court, where matters are considered more serious, a jury is used.

Guyana’s constitution, the

report reminded, provides that a person shall be informed -- as soon as is reasonably practicable and in detail -- of the nature of the offence for which that person has been charged.

There is also provision in the constitution for persons charged with criminal offences to be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of their defence. These are all practices which, the report pointed, Guy-

ana has been living up to.

The State Department report also pointed out that in accordance with the constitution, Guyana routinely granted trial postponements to both the defence and the prosecution -- the law extends these rights to all citizens.

The law recognises the right to legal counsel; however, it was limited to those who could afford to pay, except in cases involving

the yard, I saw a fire brigade and firemen working; but it wasn’t until I turned the corner in the yard that I realised it was my home,” the evidently distraught Nurse Tucker said.

Asked what was her reaction, she replied, “I am a nurse for several years and know to deal with trauma,” meaning that she has learnt to take things in stride.

“What I am thankful for is

with her –- two aged 13, one aged five and another four -said that whenever she works the night shift, her mother, Jean Caroll, who works at the Office of the President, would come over to spend the night with her children.

On this occasion, her mother and the children had just left the home for work and school respectively when tragedy struck. They departed

apartment, which was not properly secured, and had presumably left a ‘joint’ alight.

What Tucker is sure about is that the fire did not originate in her apartment, even though she has been seriously affected.

Before the fire, Tucker had recognised that the safety of her home had been seriously compromised, and she had immediately set about contracting persons to secure the open spaces, using concrete, but to no avail, she now realises.

She said she did not inform her children at school about the fire, because she realised the effect it would have had on them and their school work. The children came home around 17:00 hrs, after they had left lessons.

The Plaza is owned by the management of Continental Agencies Limited, and the fire was reported to them; but, late on Monday, they had not yet visited the complex to make enquiries.

The point at which the fire spread to Althea Tucker’s apartment

capital crimes. Although there is no public defender system, a defendant in a murder case that reaches the High Court receives a court-appointed attorney.

The Georgetown Legal Aid Clinic, with government and private support, provided advice to persons who could not afford a lawyer, particularly victims of domestic violence and violence against women, the report said.

Mystery fire causes considerable damage to South Ruimveldt Shopping Plaza

By Shirley Thomas

FIRE of as yet unknown o r i g i n r i p p e d t h ro u g h Apartment 22 of the South Ruimveldt Shopping Plaza on Monday, and caused considerable damage to the home of Althea Tucker, a nurse at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), who had worked the night shift on the night before the fire,

The abandoned apartment where the fire originated

and was preparing to return home on Monday morning when another nurse whose sister occupies one of the apartments at the Plaza told her to hurry home because the Shopping Plaza was on fire.

Not for one moment did Tucker imagine it was her apartment that was on fire.

“When I arrived in front of

that my mother and children were not in the building at the time, because they probably would have panicked and made the wrong move,” Nurse Tucker said.

In fact, she said that when contacted, her mother took the news badly and almost went hysterical.

Tucker, who has four children living in the building

the home at around 07:40 hrs, and the fire erupted around 08:30 hrs.

The fire started in an abandoned apartment adjoining the lower flat of Tucker’s apartment. She said firemen are trying to ascertain the cause of the fire, but it looks as though it is the work of an arsonist; or a ‘junkie’ must have entered the (abandoned)

Repairs were immediately being effected to secure the lower flat of the building

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana...

IS THE AFC SEEKING REVENGE AGAINST GUYANESE? IS THE AFC seeking revenge against Guyanese, particularly the business community, because they did not heed their public pleas for financial assistance?

Malcolm X was one of the persons who once said, “If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything”. This quote fittingly describes the state of the Alliance For Change, for they seem completely clueless about what they are really about in terms of their contribution to society.

When a political party which started with so much fanfare and glitter (the collapsed stage was probably a sign of things to come) is being accused of being useless in such a short period of time by their very own supporters, then clearly all their associates and members need to rush for their life-jackets.

Time to escape the sinking boat, as they are not qualified to be considered a ship!

However, just like the Concorde cruise disaster, don’t expect Captain Prak-

…particularly the business community?

a-Lak, his first mate Nigel, the Nightingale, and the one who didn’t part the sea, to go down like Titanic. They will be the first ones rushing for a lifeboat, leaving the others to struggle behind. A few of them had jumped from the PPP cruiser, thinking that they had done enough damage to sink it. There have been proven wrong! Now they seem to be clinging to any and everything for support to keep their heads above water.

Take for instance their position on the AML/CFT amendment bill: they never had a problem with this critical piece of legislation in its current format.

In fact, they publicly proclaimed they were ready to pass it, should President Donald Ramotar give into their blackmail of the Executive still being held accountable for public projects and their execution, but handing over all control to the Public Procurement Commission. This, according to the AFC, was their effort at ‘compromise and consensus’.

The AFC has been obsessing about controlling aspects of public procurement ever since an Indian company hired its leader, Khemraj Ramjattan to ensure it won the award of the contract to construct the specialty hospital. They have publicly attacked several projects, including the Marriott Hotel, which they have seen as posing competition to the hotel owned by a one-time financer of the party. Old Kai is not sure if the particular businessman still contributes financially to the AFC these days.

This AFC’s obsession of seeking to leverage control over certain aspects of the private sector, such as contractors and other businesses, has raised eyebrows in some circles. It has openly sought to implant its political operatives into the PPC, rather than trying to keep this body professional and away from political interference.

In the 2012 and 2013 national budgets, it promulgated and got support from APNU

Accident victim’s dad alleges ‘police harassment’ ––stages protest outside Home Affairs Ministry

By Michel Outridge RICKY Ramdannie of Lot 616 Section ‘C’, Block Y, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, yesterday staged a one-man picketing exercise outside the Ministry of Home Affairs on Brickdam, Georgetown, calling for justice to be served and for the authorities “to act professionally”, since he claims to be a constant victim of police harassment since his daughter was struck down by a policeman.

The man told this publication yesterday that since his daughter was struck off her bicycle on January 4, 2014 by a policeman, he has been advocating justice for his child.

However, he is being constantly harassed by several ranks, including officers (whom he named) at the Diamond Police Station, East Bank Demerara.

The man added that his daughter, who was injured in the accident, is now 12-years-old and to date she is still traumatised since the incident.

He stated that whenever he is not around, the policemen he has named would terrorise his five daughters and wife at his home and he is living in fear because threats and abuse are the order of the day.

Ramdannie said he is hoping to get justice and he will continue his protest until something is done by the authorities.

He said that he is harassed on a daily basis as his vehicle is stopped and in one instance he was assaulted

in cutting over 50 billion in development financing by Government. Numerous projects would have had to be contracted through public tender, but now, because of the AFC and its ally, APNU, they would now be denied. Some speculated that this was to send a message once again to particular sections of the private sector.

We can also recall their vociferous non-support for the Amaila Falls hydro project, only to learn that senior leaders of the AFC were at some point employed by the company executing the project. During this period, they suddenly changed their stance.

There is their attack on the investors of the Berbice Bridge, the Cheddi Jagan Airport expansion, etc. Why this obsession with targeting the business community/ private sector? Why this obsession with gaining some amount of influence over them?

The answer brings us right back to the AML/CFT amendment bill, as while the AFC

knew all along that the Donald Ramotar Government could not possibly be in a position to give in to their preposterous demand of having the Public Procurement Commission become the de facto decision makers of the State, they maintained this position knowing that the impending consequences of a financial blacklist would severely impact the business community which had been complaining about the effects already being felt.

Why pressure the business community in such a manner?

Then at the very last minute of the latest deadline, the AFC decided to inexplicably shift from its long-standing position and adopt those by the APNU, even though they were already warned by the Financial Advisor from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), Roger Hernandez, that their proposals would “…make those areas that were formerly compliant, non-compliant…” and opening up Guyana to sanctions anyhow.

So the APNU and the AFC placed Guyana in such a position that, whichever decision the PPP/C Government made, our country would have still ended up being blacklisted.

How was the Government expected to compromise when it was faced with such a reality? How can anyone compromise in such a scenario, knowing that whatever decision you make, you will still end up with the same problem?

That surely does not fit into the definition of compromise, as the Opposition was essentially telling this country to jump off a cliff or be shoved off into the abyss.

The party seems to be holding a ‘grudge’ against citizens, especially the business community, because they were not as forthcoming with ‘financial support’ which even forced leaders of the AFC to publicly lament this fact.

Is this some form of retribution?

The public will have to be the judge!

Guyana, Japan seal US$3M grant-aid agreement ––Private sector stands to benefit from arrangement

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally

Ricky Ramdannie protesting outside the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday (Photo by Michel Outridge) when the police ‘squeezed his testicles’, but that is just one case.

Ramdannie said, “I simply cannot live in peace, everyday is some new threat or abuse and they even threatened to burn my house, harm my family and recently I woke up to a five-gallon bottle of diesel in front my gate.”

The man added that he once took the matter to Commissioner Leroy Brumell when he was the acting commissioner, but since then nothing has been done to make the situation any better.

Ramdannie, who is in the upholstery business, said that he is a normal individual seeking justice for what has happened to his daughter

and for voicing his concern, he has become a target for some ranks at the Diamond Police Station.

He also claimed that ranks continue to visit his home to arrest him and members of his family, even his school-aged children, and it is quite overbearing, so he is calling on the authorities to assist him.

Ramdannie added that the fiancée of one of the cops, who is his neighbour, would issue threats to his family using indecent language, but she is being shielded by her policeman lover.

When contacted yesterday the police said they will look into the matter but firstly Ramdannie needs to make an official report.

G U YA N A a n d J a pan signed a Japanese Non-Project Grant-Aid Agreement, valued approximately US$3M, on Monday.

It is to provide support for the promotion of the economic and social development of Guyana.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett emphasised that the signing demonstrates the support of Japan to the people of Guyana and it is a manifestation of their ever-growing relationship.

“We would certainly like to see more trade from Guyana to Japan, since there has been an increase of trade from there, where almost 90 percent of our vehicles are imported,” she said.

The minister observed that this is not the first agreement through which Japan has provided such resources to this country and she mentioned the New Amsterdam Hospital, the Corriverton Water Supply Project and scholarships, among major projects.

The grant funds will be made available for lending to the private sector and,

Sealing the deal are, from left, Guyana’s Foreign Minister, Ms Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and Japan’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Yoshimasa Tezuka once the loans would have been repaid to the Government, the resources will then be used for further development in Guyana, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett explained.

Japanese Ambassador Yoshimasa Tezuka confirmed that the Non-Project Grant Aid will be utilised for the importation of products, for example, civil engineering equipment and electrical power machinery, which are necessary to promote development efforts by the Government of Guyana.”

He said the Government of Japan welcomes further

opportunities to work with the Government and people of Guyana, all with a view to strengthen the bonds of friendship and mutual understanding which exist between the two countries.

2014 marks 20 years since the first Japan/CARICOM Consultation in 1993 and this is deemed Friendship Year 2014.

Throughout the year, commemorative events will be staged in Japan and CARICOM member countries to enhance Japan-CARICOM relations in diverse fields, such as culture, trade and tourism.

10

Guyana’s economic freedom advances significantly

–Country records its highest score in eight years HISTORICALLY, the Washington-based think tank, the Wall Street Journal/

Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom, has always been critical of Guy-

ana, failing to recognise the strides made in moving the economy forward.

However, the organisation recently ranked Guyana the 121st freest country out of 178 countries, with a score of 55.7, about two points higher than that of last year’s.

Over the 20-year history of the Index, Guyana has advanced its economic freedom score by 10 points. This overall increase has been achieved by enhancements in seven of the 10 economic freedoms, notably the management of public spending, freedom from corruption, and monetary freedom, the scores for which have improved by 10 points or more.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014 The report, which was released last month, stated that this increase reflected notable score increases in control of government spending and investment freedom.

According to the report, “Guyana slipped back into economically “repressed” status during the late 2000s, but has risen out of that category since 2012, and recorded its highest score in eight years in the 2014 Index.”

Guyana has been experiencing real growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately five percent per annum for the past eight years as a direct result of the conducive policy framework that the Government has put in place.

Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, in a recent interview, stated that economic performance in the last two years has not only seen GDP growth, which is the universally accepted measure of economic performance in a country, but all of the correlators are evident as well.

These include strong inward foreign direct investment, continued growth in credit to the private sector, stable prices, low inflation rates, low interest rates which continue to trend downwards, and other key macro-economic fundamentals remaining on a favourable trajectory.

Last month, the United Nations’ annual World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report 2014 projected that Guyana and Haiti will take the lead in economic growth for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Caribbean-based financial institution, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), also projects that Guyana and Haiti will take the lead in the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is the authoritative institution for assessing a country’s economic performance, projected economic growth of six per cent for Guyana this year.

(GINA)

F&DD alerts consumers to counterfeit corn product THE Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (F&DD) has alerted consumers to a counterfeit ‘Del Monte’ corn product.

The advisory said the fake has a gold colour labelled cap while that on the original is silver. The former is hard to the touch and difficult to place an indentation on the can, whereas the counterfeit brand can be easily indented. Because of that, consumers are at risk of poisoning by chemicals and or micro-organisms.

The manufacturer, Del Monte Foods/Del Monte Brand of San Francisco USA, has distanced itself from the gold colour cap product.

It has also confirmed that the sole authorised distributor of its product in Guyana is Toucan Industries Inc. The counterfeit brand is labelled ‘Super Foods’ on the carton, which states that its contents have been manufactured by Super Foods Inc. The F&DD is strongly advising wholesalers and distributors of this product to, immediately, remove it from their shelves and have commenced an investigation to determine the exact location where the counterfeiting is being done.

The F&DD is calling on the general public to provide any information on the above-mentioned canned produce and can be contacted at the University of Guyana (UG) Campus or on telephone number 222-8857.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

At Turkeyen lecture…

UWI researcher makes the case for legitimising marijuana

By Vanessa Narine THE popular sentiment on the issue of marijuana, more popularly called ‘ganja’, is changing, particularly among the younger generation.

This was evidenced by an enthused turnout of University of Guyana (UG) students for a lecture on ‘Establishing Ganja Enterprises in the Caribbean: A Business Model Approach’.

The event yesterday was facilitated by the UG Faculty of Social Sciences and was held in the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT) at the Turkeyen Campus.

The marginalised substance and its social ramifications are

independently of North America as “cowardice” excused by international politics.

“We need that Caribbean-ness,” he argued.

UNITED FRONT Knife pointed out that it was this united front that allowed an effective battle against slavery.

But he said, unfortunately, the Caribbean is now subjecting itself to slavery of a different kind, that of economic slavery.

The lecturer and researcher at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus made reference to the initial

ilar to Guyana, to rethink its agro-industry strategy and the sector’s direction.

Knife contended, too, that the current age is an information one, in which more and more young people are open to reconsidering positions on several issues that have, traditionally, been treated as pariahs in development discussions.

According to him, Guyana has already made a name for itself in the agriculture sector across the Caribbean Region and is poised to lead in greater success in diversifying the agro-industry, particularly to the benefit of rural populations in facilitating poverty reduc-

A section of the packed Lecture Theatre audience (Photos by Sonell Nelson)

being increasingly countered by moves in several countries to legalise its use, based on scientific and revenue advantages, especially in the agro-industry.

It was on the agro-industrial benefits that Dr. Kadamawe Knife grounded his arguments and emphasised the need for public awareness.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Knife, who secured his doctorate in sustainable development, acknowledged that Caribbean Governments are unlikely to legalise marijuana anytime soon.

However, he posited that the public has to be aware, so that when Governments are ready, so are their peoples.

Also the holder of a Masters Degree in Economics, Knife had harsh words for Caribbean Governments and called their actions to move

moves, by his native Jamaica, to legalise marijuana that were abandoned on the warning of the United States (U.S.), which expends billions on containing the use of the substance, not to do so.

“Now what we have is the U.S. itself legalising ganja.

Why are we jumping to the whims and fancy of North America, the reality is that it is sheer cowardice on the part of Caribbean politicians,” he declared.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS Knife reiterated the economic benefits that can be derived from pursuing marijuana as a commodity in agro-enterprise.

On that note, he underscored the need for Caribbean countries, with potential sim-

tion.

He said Guyana’s success in the agro-industry can, undoubtedly, be boosted by the hemp plant, which produces marijuana, a fact backed by significant data.

“The data that says the agro-industry will grow by going this route is encouraging,” Knife said.

He is scheduled to speak next in Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda. He has already taken this campaign to St. Lucia and St. Vincent and is part of several UWI committees addressing the issue at a broad regional level.

DR. KADAMAWE KNIFE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

Residents in some Corentyne villages worry over state of roads

By Savitri Laikram CONCERNED residents of various villages in the Corentyne area, including Number 63, 64, 65 and 66, have expressed worry about the state of some of the roads in their communities.

The residents claim that years ago, work was started when sand and big stones were thrown on the road and covered with loam.

They also said that they were informed that the roads were to be tarred at some point, but that was almost eight years ago. However, up until now, nothing has been done and the roads would be covered with dirt and grass if it weren’t for the good-spirited citizens who would usually buy sand and loam to fill the roads.

They pointed out that the bricks under the sand tend to pose a hazard to vehicles because the tyres are usually punctured by the sharp edges.

REGION’S 2014 BUDGET Meanwhile, an official of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 6 (East

Berbice/Corentyne) said that a number of roads were placed in the region’s budget for 2014 for immediate and continued repairs and rehabilitation work.

He said that although the roads that were budgeted to be repaired cannot be pinpointed at this time, the regional administration is urging residents to be patient as all the roads will be done in time.

The official further stated that the roads are a major point of focus for the administration.

Other residents said that every month, the region keeps patching pieces and parts of the other roads and it would usually fall apart within a month or so.

According to some residents,

within one month the road usually becomes impassable and then the region would allocate more monies to do more works again.

The residents have alleged that the materials that were supposed to be used to do proper work on the roads are being stolen and diverted to other locations as trucks were seen taking materials away from the worksites.

The RDC official noted that the regional executive officer (REO) as well as the regional chairman are both monitoring the projects closely to ensure quality and timely work is delivered to the residents.

One of the roads that has been identified for repairs. Residents said that they pooled money to buy sand and loam to patch the road themselves. However, the bricks which have caused a lot of tyre damage can be seen protruding from under the sand and loam.

GWI offers to waive re-connection and tampering –as service-removal campaign continues fees in city GUYANA Water Inc. (GWI) yesterday announced the launching of a new programme, titled ‘Operation Reconnect’, which will offer disconnected customers the

opportunity to re-connect their service without penalty fees.

According to a GWI press release, as of yesterday, disconnected customers are required to

pay only their outstanding service charges if payment is made within three working days.

In addition, GWI said that it is waiving all re-connection and tampering fees, so customers who have tampered with GWI’s service connections in order to re-connect their service will not be charged penalty fees and the same waiver will be applied for disconnection fees.

GWI’s Customer Services Manager, Jeanette Thomas, is quoted as saying that, “We are receiving alarming reports of customers re-connecting their service illegally, which had a significantly negative impact on revenue collection for Georgetown in February 2014.”

INSPECTORS Thomas said that the utility has no other option but to remove the entire service of these customers. However,

GWI water service inspectors will be visiting areas in which GWI had previously disconnected to distribute letters urging customers to re-connect their service.

“It is our last resort to remove the entire service of a disconnected customer, since that customer will have to pay the full cost of a new service,” stated Thomas.

“It is our priority to re-connect customers rather than remove their service,” stated Thomas. “However, if no payments are made following receipt of ‘service removal’ warning letters, we will be forced to remove all services which were disconnected and illegally re-connected by customers.”

GWI’s ‘Wallet-friendly Payment Plans’ are also a feature of ‘Operation Re-connect’ and this will allow disconnected customers with large debts to

pay in small, flexible amounts designed to suit their incomes and budgets.

“A wide range of options is available to our customers,” stated Thomas. “We urge all disconnected customers to make payments and avoid the expense of having their services removed and applying for a new GWI connection.”

‘Operation Re-connect’ will initially focus on Georgetown customers but the programme will be executed via other GWI branches by April 2014.

Disconnected customers with queries can contact GWI’s Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701/03/04; e-mail GWI Public Relations via pro@gwi.gy or post queries via social media: www. facebook.com/everydropcountsgy More information on ‘Operation Reconnect’ is available at www.gwiguyana. com (Michel Outridge)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

Teenaged student confesses to sex for lessons with teacher

By Leeroy Smith A TWENTY-TWO-YEAR old male teacher of a private school on East Bank Demerara, who is being accused of rape, reportedly, gave the 14-year-old female student birth control pills after he had unprotected sex with her.

During an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle Monday afternoon, the teenager, who is not a Guyanese, said she and her teacher had oral followed by penetrative sex on the school premises.

She said the man is her Mathematics and Information Technology teacher but, when contacted at his home last week, the man told this newspaper that the girl was 17 years old although he did not admit they had sexual relations.

However, a birth certificate which was seen by this publication and confirms that the teen was not born in Guyana verified that she is 14 years old.

Asked how the actual intimate connection began between her and the teacher, she said, when she first started out at the school in January, it was pointed out that she was weak in the two subject areas the teacher teaches.

EXTRA LESSONS She said he offered to assist her with the two subjects and that assistance was going to come through extra lessons.

The teenager explained that there would be times when she alone would be attending the lessons and, at other times, there were other students. But, on most occasions, she is, usually, the only one with the teacher.

This newspaper was told by the girl, in the presence of her guardian, that, at one time in the class, the teacher reached and began touching her legs and she protested and he stopped.

But the following day he repeated the action and she allowed him to continue and, a week after, she and the teacher had unprotected sexual intercourse following which she was given the birth control pills.

According to her, when they were finished and she ventured out from where the act took place, her clothes were not properly fixed and another student questioned her about her condition and what she was doing with the teacher.

She said the schoolmate then cautioned her that she should be careful and, when she enquired the reason for her colleague’s advice, she was

told that the same teacher tried to have sex with her in the past and she refused.

The 14-year-old said she, immediately, attempted to report the matter to the headteacher but the other child did not want her to do so, because her name would be part of the complaint and she was afraid of her parents finding out about her encounter with the teacher.

KEPT SECRET The ordeals were then kept secret until the guardian of the 14-year-old observed that each time she went to pick the girl up from school, she and the teacher were having eye contact and she suspected the two were too close.

The suspicion was raised with the headteacher and discomfort of the guardian was investigated.

The student said she then confronted the teacher about the allegations which were being made and he denied them before admitting that he did make advances to the girl sometime ago.

He then called them together and asked them if they had a problem with the fact that he was interested in both of them to which they responded in the negative.

However the two girls are no longer friends.

Asked what would have caused her to have sex with the teacher, the confessing student said the man would, usually, listen to her problems and was kind to her. She said she was not looking to have a kind of relationship he wanted since he has a girlfriend working at one of the commercial banks

on Camp Street, something she was able to verify by scanning his mobile phone and another gadget.

She said she is embarrassed by what has happened but her parents who reside out of Guyana are not aware of the developments, neither is the diplomatic office here which represents the interests of persons from her country.

Meanwhile, the police who have been investigating the alleged statutory rape since last week, have not reported it to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security nor the Child Care and Protection Agency.

Earlier Monday, though, the student was taken to a counselling centre where she was tested for HIV.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

Mayor Green, Minister Whittaker disagree over city budget

By Vanessa Narine

GEORGETOWN Mayor Hamilton Green yesterday criticised the comments made by Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker, on the management of the City Council’s resources and the deficit budget it presented on Monday.

Speaking at a City Hall press conference, Green challenged the minister to debate

the issues on which there is disagreement.

Whittaker on Monday had told the media that the municipal budget which was sent to his ministry is merely an exercise of adhocracy.

“Our Government recognised this laxity on the part of the City Council many years ago and that is why, notwithstanding the fact that the existing legislation allows the Council to prepare and approve its own annual estimates, Government has

sought through the sector ministry to ensure that council’s annual budget estimates emanates out of a process of consultation with residents and focuses, inter alia, on providing core services, such as proper drainage, efficient solid waste management, vending in markets and market tarmacs under good sanitary conditions and removal of thick vegetation ensuring that the incidence of breaches of building codes are addressed. “…we have sought to

work with the council to get the body to address the inadequacies and inefficiencies highlighted in the Keith Burrowes’ report. These include

NORMAN WHITTAKER issues of transparency of procurement, accountability, debt collection, management etc,” Whittaker said He noted that the City Council with Mayor Green at its helm, has sought to distance itself from “this transparent arrangement” that is aimed at assisting the Council to do what is right for the citizens of Georgetown and, by extension, Guyana.

The 2014 Budget averages revenue collection of $2.05 billion and has a total estimated expenditure of $2.3

billion, which gives rise to a $246.7M deficit, a deficit that, Whittaker emphasised, will not be funded by the Government.

Whittaker said several inadequacies continue to be evidenced in City Hall’s undertakings.

H o w e v e r, t h e m a y o r charged that the current Administration’s support seems to be based on its ability to control the City Council.

Green emphasised that the budget is informed by “physical evidence” and is an assumption of both revenues and expenditures.

To that end, he pointed out that new buildings in the capital city, particularly the high-rise structures, are being targeted to increase the Council’s revenues and the town clerk has been requested to follow up this area.

FOUR APPOINTMENTS He said there has been some “frustration” of efforts in this regard and that both Town Clerk Carol Sooba and three persons hired by the minister are “not suited” for the posts they hold and all four appointments were made against the wishes of the Council.

On the point of allocations in the budget and estimated revenues and expen-

ditures, the minister stated that there are “questionable” allocations.

Whittaker said:“A mere 28 percent of this revenue

HAMILTON GREEN inflow is set aside for capital works.”

He added that a significant portion of the budget is related to staffing expenses and there is an allocation for a further increase in staffing capacity, when the current staffing complement itself is under-utilised.

The minister said:“Employment cost and employment overheads stand at 56 percent of total anticipated inflows and, while overtime See page 16

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

At Demerara Assizes…

Second-time killer gets 18 years prison sentence JUSTICE Franklyn Holder, noting that a lenient sentence for killing his spouse did not benefit previously convicted prisoner Godfrey Stewart, inflicted an 18 years prison sentence on the 61-year-old repeat offender Monday, for having killed his reputed wife, Jacquelene George, on March 14, 2010.

The prisoner was indicted for murder but, like on the first occasion when he pleaded not guilty to the capital offence but guilty to manslaughter, he did the same thing, after admitting that following a quarrel and fight between them, he had

chopped the woman to death and then lit her Sophia, Greater Georgetown house afire.

The judge, sitting at the Demerara Assizes, had taken into account a probation report, a stirring plea in mitigation

by Defence Counsel Bettina Glasford and a narration of the facts by State Prosecutor Judith Mursalin.

The case for the Prosecution was that, during the wee hours of March 14, 2010, the Police at Turkeyen Station received a report about a fire at a dwelling house in Sophia and, as a result, Constable Zane Williams went to ‘E’ Field, at the home of

Stewart, which, at the time, he shared with his reputed wife George.

George’s daughter, Sharon went to the burnt structure where she observed her mother wrapped in a sheet, as she usually is when sleeping, but her charred remains were by the door.

She recognised her mother from the six gold capped teeth in her mouth.

CHARRED REMAINS Constable Williams took the charred remains of a female from that Sophia address to the

Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead, after which she was escorted to the Lyken Funeral Parlour to await a post mortem.

Subsequently, Government Forensic Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Simgh performed a post mortem examination on the body of George and found that she had suffered an incised wound across the anterior aspect of the neck.

The doctor said there was no soot in the trachea nor any vital reaction of the burnt areas which suggest that George was already dead before the house was set on fire.

He gave the cause of death as the incised neck wound.

According to the State Prosecutor, these have, obviously, not impacted on Stewart since he is a repeat offender who had been charged and indicted for the murder of another woman, Dawn Edinboro and assault causing actual bodily harm and robbery with aggravation.

On that occasion, he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and was sentenced to six years imprisonment.

Having served that sentence, he then committed the present crime.

The Prosecutor urged the

judge that the sentence imposed should send a clear message to Stewart that, even though he was given an opportunity to have a second chance at life after serving his earlier punishment, he squandered that opportunity and found himself before the Court, again, having snuffed out the life of yet another woman.

When asked by the judge whether he had anything to say, the convict claimed that his reputed wife had first attacked him with a knife that early morning and he was injured and had to be hospitalised.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

Mayor Green, Minister Whittaker disagree ...

From page 14

continues to be featured high in the budget, the budgeted staff strength which, in the ministry’s 2013 review was already high, increased by four per cent for 2014. That is, the Council plans to add more numbers to the already under-utilised

staff.

“Provisions are made for increases of councillors’ stipends and allowances, as well as gratuity for a poorly performing Council,” he charged.

The minister also declared that the proportions of the allocations are “unheard” of.

“The Council, in its 2014

budget proposal plans to expend $2.3 billion out of an anticipated revenue inflow of $2.05 billion.

NO EXPLANATION “In other words, the Council plans to spend almost $250M more than what it plans to receive.

There is no explanation

as to how the Council will finance this deficit. “…the Council plans to spend almost 70 percent of the citizens’rates and taxes for 2014 on themselves and staff, with a current liability of $1.3 billion, including debts to Guyana Power and Light (GPL),the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).”

Green said the deficit budget was a result of provisions for Local Government Elections, claiming that the deterioration of the City

Council started in 1992, since the current Administration came to power.

He argued that the Local Government Elections will, thankfully, result in a reformed environment within which the City Council can execute its functions.

The mayor also called for the President to assent to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill.

Whittaker on Monday explained that the contention of President Donald Ramotar is that the Local Government (Amendment) Bill was un-

constitutional, as it sought to vest control of local authorities in the Local Government Commission and remove ministerial control and that is why he did not assent to it.

The minister maintained, though, that the three bills that are integral to the hosting of local government elections have been given assent.

Guyana is expected to host local government elections on or before August 1, 2014, following a vote in the National Assembly, after rigorous debates over their importance to democracy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

High-level Suriname meeting examines enhancing exports to Brazil

A HIGH-level meeting of officials from Guyana, Suriname and Caribbean Export is currently underway in Suriname, with officials discussing a report prepared on enhancing exports to Brazil from Guyana and Suriname, and a Troika Trade Assessment Plan (T-TAP) detailed in the report.

With Brazil having become an economic powerhouse in Latin America, Caribbean Export commissioned a study which

detailed an immediate set of actions aimed at addressing the less-than-stellar performance of firms based in Guyana and Suriname in the Brazilian market.

The report noted that Guyana and Suriname are not adequately exploiting trade opportunities, either between themselves or with Brazil, and the report found that the Partial Scope Agreements (PSAs) between Brazil and the two CARICOM

From left to right in photograph are: the Suriname Ambassador to Guyana, Ms. Mehroen Kurban-Baboe; Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo of the PSC; Ms. Uchenna Gibson of Go-Invest; Mr. Dhaneshwar Deonarine of MINTIC; Mr. Lance Hinds of the GCCI; Guyana’s Consul-General in Suriname, Mr. Arlington Bancroft; and Mr. Clinton Williams of the GMSA.

countries do not cover most of the countries’ most competitive exports.

The report also found that infrastructural limitations, such as energy costs and road networks, inhibit trade. Further, Brazil’s import demand does not sufficiently match exports from Guyana and Suriname nor the comparative advantages of the two members of the Troika.

The report finds that the strategic window for enhanced exports to Brazil is the Olympic Games and the World Cup in 2014 and 2016 respectively, because those occasions present Guyana and Suriname with a market entry period of sorts.

The objective of the Troika Trade Assessment Plan (T-TAP), as detailed in the report, is to generate some US$13.5M in export sales to the other Troika markets by 2018. The target for Guyana is US$8.4M because of its geographical access to Brazil and the wider coverage of its PSA with Brazil.

Some of the recommendations of the T-TAP include establishment of trade desks in the Suriname Business Forum and the Private Sector Commission of Guyana to provide training for export-ready firms; and trade and market intelligence and trade show support, including the subsidising of airfare and accommodation for export-ready firms.

The Assessment also recommends initiating a desk-exchange programme amongst SEBRAE, the Brazilian private sector organisation, Caribbean Export, the Private Sector Commission of Guyana, and the Suriname Business Forum.

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In response to appeal …

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

DIGICEL donates shoes to riv DIGICEL donated shoes to pupils of Hobodeia Primary School, in the riverine village along the Aruka River on Thursday, February 27 last.

It was in response to an appeal for the sponsorship by the Headmistress, Ms.Vieda Wills, when she took office in May 2013 and saw that all the children would attend barefeet.

The pupils and teachers were very excited by Digicel’s visit and smiles and waves greeted the boat transporting its representatives as it approached the landing.

It was even more exciting when the time came for the pupils to find that perfect pair of shoes in their right size.

Providing them with a pair of shoes each was one of the basic needs that Digicel met and Wills added that it was something which will help the beneficiaries get to school and the hygienic purposes of this act cannot be emphasised enough, as

Hobodeia Primary children show off their new shoes

many of them use the river and by walking on the banks, so they would arrive with cuts, bites and abrasions on their feet.

Digicel Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope acknowledged that it was something the children appreciate so much.

“You see the appreciation on their faces. Digicel is committed to fostering development and education is one of the areas that is high on our agenda,” he said.

Apart from the donation of shoes, Digicel also gifted the school a number of books for its library and to serve as teaching tools.

Margaret Jardine, a senior councillor representing the Village Captain to oversee the handing over, thanked Digicel.

Digicel Group Limited is a leading global communications provider with operations in 31 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia/Pacific.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

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verine village schoolchildren

Hobodeia Primary pupils display the books they received from DIGICEL

UG Health Sciences lab undergoing major renovations THE laboratory at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Guyana has, over the past few days, been undergoing renovation works which are expected to be completed soon.

A UG press release has said that the project is being funded by a World Bank loan of US$10 million, and is targeted to enhance facilities at the laboratory with the necessary equipment to ensure that science and educational research progresses.

The upgrading of campus drainage systems and faculties, and installation of Internet facilities throughout the campus are also to be undertaken with this loan.

This funding comprises a small part of a bigger project being undertaken in collaboration with the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The UG press release also stated that the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was involved in providing funding to undertake renovation of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP).

Late last year, the Health Sciences laboratory, located on the top floor of that faculty, had undergone renovation which included installation of AC units and new windows among other repairs. Criticisms directed at the effectiveness and functionality of the lab have become a cliché, particularly surrounding the lab’s lack of science equipment to enable students to effectively undertake research.

Renovation works are currently ongoing at the lab, and hopefully the end product would be a success story for the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

(Shivanie Sugrim)

Men working on the laboratory situated at the front of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Guyana.

(Photo courtesy splash.gy)

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Crime Chief on Paradise murder...

Police now looking for person of interest CRIME Chief Seelall Persaud said, Monday, that the police are now looking for ‘a person of interest’ in their probe of the Patricia Younge murder.

The decomposing and semi-nude body of the 19-year-old victim, of Paradise, East Coast of Demerara, was found in village cemetery under a tree on February 25.

The Deputy Commissioner (Law Enforcement) told the Guyana Chronicle that the woman’s common-law husband, with whom she lived, has since been put on bail.

Persaud is of the opinion that the suspect they are seeking can help in the investigation.

The former fast food restaurant employee was last seen two Sundays ago when she left her home alone, to watch the Mashramani float parade in the city.

Her common-law husband reported her missing on February 25 and, after she failed to report for work the following Monday, her colleagues began to enquire of her whereabouts, which started a search by friends and relatives.

It was her common-law husband, who saw her sandals on the Paradise Pubic Road, near the cemetery and alerted others after which her corpse was discovered.

Upon the discovery, the young man was held and detained for questioning before his conditional release.

Younge, who used to live with relatives at Plaisance, another East Coast of Demerara village, moved in with the young man after meeting him.

A post mortem ascertained that Younge was strangled but it did not reveal whether she was sexually assaulted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

GPF reminds public that even its ranks require driving licences THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) pointed out yesterday that, under the law, even its ranks are required to be licensed drivers.

That was in response to an article in a section of the media where the Force acknowledged a ‘Letter to the Editor’ by Ganesh Mahipaul published in the Guyana Times of February 19, under the caption, “Can a Police Officer drive without a driver’s licence?”

The GPF said under the law no person is permitted to drive any motor vehicle on a road unless he/she is the holder of a valid driver’s licence.

“This applies to members of the GPF as well, whether they are driving a police vehicle or any other motor vehicle.

Section 23(1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act clearly states that: “A person shall not drive a motor vehicle on a road unless he/she is the holder of a driver’s licence and a person shall not employ any person to drive a motor vehicle on a road unless the person so employed is the holder of a driver’s licence and, if any person acts in contravention of this section, he/she shall be guilty of an offence,” the police reiterated.

Goed Fortuin attempted murder...

Doctors working round-the-clock to save victim THIRTY-YEAR-OLD Tamika Miller, the mother of an eight-year-old girl, remained in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Trauma Room up to late yesterday, having sustained approximately 28 stab wounds to her body on Sunday night at Goed Fortuin, West Bank of Demerara.

Doctors at the GPH are working round the clock in a desperate bid to save the woman’s life.

She had allegedly shared a stormy relationship with her husband, 34-year-old Andrew Patterson, who is alleged to have committed this brutal assault on her person before ending his life later that night. Patterson’s body was discovered early Monday morning hanging from a tree in a yard at Versailles, WBD, some distance away from his Goed Fortuin home.

The man had entered the yard of Guyana Chronicle reporter, Alex Wayne and, from all appearances, used his clothes line to create a hangman’s noose, which he used to end his life.

Fire reduces Essequibo couple’s home to ashes

–man fingers ex-lover as culprit AFTER years of hard work to construct their home, an Essequibo couple was faced with the heartache of returning to meet it reduced to ashes by fire of as yet undetermined origin, which struck sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning last when they were visiting a relative a short distance away.

The couple had reportedly secured the home before leaving to spend a few hours with another relative, with whom they eventually spent the entire night. But in the early hours of Saturday morning, they received a call informing that the place they had once called home had been destroyed by fire.

Home-owner Dhaniram Chattergoon, a fisherman, lamented that everything he and his wife had accumulated had gone up in flames, including clothes, bed, furniture, kitchen utensils and other personal effects.

Chattergoon said he strongly believes that his ex-lover is responsible for the disaster that has visited him, and that she had been motivated by jealousy. He told the media that the woman had indicated that she would burn the building because he had dumped her and has been living with another woman.

The police in Essequibo have since arrested Chattergoon’s ex-lover who had allegedly made the threats, and have questioned her in relation to the allegation. She was later released, but investigations into the matter are ongoing. (Leroy Smith)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 4, 2014

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UN FAILS TO HELP HAITI’S CHOLERA VICTIMS….. reprehensible behaviour for the UN to claim immunity” against compensation claims.

Mr Patterson, a lawyer by profession who has frequently acted in the role of a CARICOM consultant on Haiti and worked with ex-President Bill Clinton’s special fund-raising committee for post-earthquake reconstruction, has argued that the UN’s compensation failure was even more distressing “when scientific evidence substantiates that the cholera epidemic was introduced in Haiti at the time of peace-keep-

ing soldiers from Nepal under United Nations command….”

Meanwhile, as the Haitian government of President Martelly seems to be missing in action in relation to evoking a positive response from the UN on compensation for the cholera victims, human rights lawyers in the USA are vigorously pursuing a lawsuit against the world body that requires compensation estimated at US$2.2Billion. **(Yesterday’s Editorial reprinted courtesy Barbados Daily Nation) .

Below rates for March 4, 2014

HOW MUCH longer would it take for the United Nations to come to grips with its moral, if not legal responsibility as well, to compensate the thousands of Haitian victims of a cholera epidemic in 2010 that has been traced to negligence by a detachment of United Nations peace-keeping troops in that Caribbean Community member state?

And why both the Haitian Government of Prime Minister Michel Martelly and the 15-member Caribbean Community in general are seemingly unenthusiastic in vigorously championing the cause of the dead Haitian victims—numbering between 7,000 to 8,000--as well as thousands of other infected survivors of this very dread contagious disease?

These questions have resurfaced following the intervention this past weekend by a senior United Nations human rights official in Haiti, Gustavo Gallon, in a report submitted to UN headquarters in New York.

The outbreak of the cholera epidemic had followed the unprecedented earthquake disaster of January 2010 that wreaked havoc in the loss of lives and homes and destruction of infrastructure.

The epidemic itself was traced to negligence on the part of a detachment of Nepalese peace-keeping UN troops in Haiti via contamination of leaking sewage into inland waterways system.

Ironically, both Nepal and Haiti are categorised as being among the world’s 49 poorest nations.

Mr Gallons’ commendable report-based call for the UN to begin the process of effecting compensation to those killed by the cholera epidemic, as well thousands others infected victims, he is not the first UN official to have done so, as recently noted in international media reports. A stirring call for compensation had initially come in 2010 from then UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay, during an awards ceremony in Geneva on October 8, 2010.

Within CARICOM, outside of editorials and news reports in various editions of the Nation newspapers, focused on the cholera epidemic and post-earthquake reconstruction, there was a specific intervention by the former long-serving Prime Minister of Jamaica, P.J. Patterson, who noted that “it is simply appalling, a most

Currency G$/US$ G$/GBP G$/CAD$ G$/euro BDOS$ G$/EC$ G$/TT$

Buying 205.98375 343.51910 185.91329 283.39244 101.74500 75.36667 Holiday

Selling 208.43594 347.81705 188.05865 286.97460 102.76500 76.12222 Holiday

Aries March 21 - April 19 You’ve trained yourself to relax and count to ten when you feel the fire rising up to colour your cheeks. If it happens today, you’re better off putting some distance between you and whomever has turned up the thermostat -- especially if that flushed feeling starts creeping around to the back of your neck. That’s a sure sign that the situation is just about to get really tricky. Take a power-walk!

Taurus April 20 - May 20 You’ve found a new way to let go of what you’ve been holding onto, though you’re more relieved than delighted about it. You’re also more than ready to show the world that you’re not to be treated lightly. That goes for your own bosses and all other authority figures, too -- especially since this may end up seeing you infiltrating their ranks.

Gemini May 21 - June 21 If you haven’t already made plans to bring together the old and the new, now is the time to put an end to the waiting period. You’re given to worrying like this, and you know it -- you’ve done it for a long time. The good news is that if you think about it, all that worrying has never served you well. If it’s friends you’re worried about, quit it. Get them together, let them handle it and see what happens next.

Cancer June 22 - July 22 It’s never easy handing out advice, whether it’s invited or uninvited. Either way, the odds are good that the receiver doesn’t actually take it, even after you’ve spent at least an hour reciting your best lines. They listen, then they frown, shake their head and cite a long, drawn-out list of reasons why they can’t possibly put your plan in action. Every now and then, though, you get lucky. Give them at least five minutes before you call it quits.

Leo July 23 - August 22 You have the knack for getting along with higher-ups, and it’s only going to get better in the future. That said, if you need to talk with an authority figure about a problem, even if it’s embarrassing, now is definitely the time. You may not be able to solve the issue even with their help, but you definitely don’t feel competent to do it without them. It’s certainly worth a shot.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 Once you make up your mind about a person, it’s tough for you to change it, especially if a long-term dispute is colouring your opinion. For now, it might be best for you to let it all go, no matter what it was all about, and try to let the past truly become the past. Of course, everything depends on whether the issue is forgivable. If so, give it a try -- but if not, you may as well be as civil as possible.

For Wednesday March 5, 2014 -05:00hrs For Thursday March 06, 2014 -08:30hrs

Libra September 23 - October 22 Lately, you’ve been feeling that someone you’ve never really trusted much is trying to insert themselves between you and the person (or goal) you’ve been pursuing. If you’re not totally sure about this, just sit tight and try not to do anything that might embarrass either of you. If you are certain -- 100 percent certain, that is -- then present your case to the right people, who should know how to handle it.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 You need to stop thinking about work so much! At the moment, since it’s gone along so well, you’re ready to focus on the other big part of your life: the person you love. Rather then just saying something directly to let them know how devoted you are, do something subtle to let them see for themselves. That’s more your style, more what they expect and definitely what they want to see.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 As fiery as you can be -- and that’s pretty hot -- when you say you’re ready to get the show on the road at work, there’s no doubt that it’s all going to come together smoothly. You’re all set to pull off something like that right now, and there’s no stopping you -- as long as you manage your time carefully and don’t waste a single moment. You just need to believe in yourself.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 You’ve been trying to get someone to cooperate with you -- to act as respectfully as you know they can. They may not be living up to your expectations, much less their own. Your job is to let go of how you believe they should act and just let them be who they are, even if who they are is disappointing. It’s not an easy task, but it’s essential to help them finish growing up.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 Someone you’ve been thinking about fondly for some time has finally come around -- or at least it seems that way. There are a few obstacles in their path, many of which can’t move aside easily. The hard part is your urge to clear their way without enlisting any help . Even harder is the absolute necessity of letting go so they can make this happen alone -- that’s what really counts.

Pisces February 19 - March 20 Avoid word games for now -- they are fun now, for the moment, at least -- but once they’re over, you’re left wondering what your people really meant, and they should feel the same way. It’s easier and more efficient to just be sure that every word you exchange is direct and to the point. Start the ball rolling with something deeply honest.

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Smith makes inglorious exit after swift dismissal

By Nick Said CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - The Australia players gave him a guard of honour and an expectant Newlands crowd willed him to a century send-off, but South Africa captain Graeme Smith lasted just three balls in his final Test innings.

Set 511 for victory, Smith in his pomp would have been the perfect anchor for the innings, whether it was to chase

the runs down or play out for the draw.

But he looked tentative and uncertain at the crease during his brief stay, the brash confidence of the past a distant memory.

When Mitchell Johnson arrowed a delivery into his body, all Smith could do was fend it to short leg where Alex Doolan completed the simplest of catches.

The crowd groaned because this was not the finish they had

wanted, but, in truth, it was not a surprise after Smith had scored just 42 runs in five previous innings in the series.

He left the ground to a standing ovation, lifting his bat to the VIP suites where his family sat before trudging off with shoulders hunched.

After 12 years, 9 265 Test runs and 27 centuries, a giant of South African cricket had left the field for the final time. (editing by Ed Osmond)

Boys’ Town play Slingerz FC tonight as ...

From Backpage

event as serious as any other in which they compete for a high purse.

Slingerz FC showed just how serious they are by investing in Surinamese international striker Wensley Christoph, national goalkeeper Richard Reynolds and Pele FC’s Solomon Austin.

Alpha United also recently updated their roster in preparation for the upcoming Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship against Jamaican side Harborview and Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Force.

Slingerz FC is one of Guyana’s emerging clubs and, according to coach and former defending stalwart Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard, the players are more than looking forward to the encounter and welcome fresh competition.

“We’re a new club but with players who are very experienced. It’s always good to play against fresh opponents. It gives you a chance to see where you’re at and where you need to be,” Pollard said.

Boys’ Town FC coach disclosed that his side is going through a transitional phase and as such the tournament against unknown opponents will be a good enough test to see the progress they have been making.

“It’s nice being here and getting a chance to play against Alpha United, Slingerz FC and Buxton. I don’t know anything much about them and that is a good thing. We are going through a phase right now where we are blending our squad with some youths and some experienced players but we are looking forward to playing,” Price said.

In the opening game tonight, Alpha United will be playing Buxton United and the East Coast Demerara club secretary Eton Moses said that his players are aiming to use the tournament to expose their list of young players.

“We will be using the same players we have in the Premier League and this will give them a chance to be exposed to very high level of football. We have a very young team and we’ll have the youngest team out there just like we do in the Premier League. We are happy to be part of this event as well,” noted Moses.

Meanwhile, for Alpha United coach Wayne Dover, the event is more than welcoming; given the fact his side are heightening their preparations for the CFU Club Championship.

“This is exactly what we want because this is how the CFU tournament will be played

in Jamaica and it gives me as the coach a chance to see what a Jamaican team has to offer.

I think they all have a similar playing style and it would be good for football in Guyana,” said the longstanding Alpha United coach.

Friday’s matches will be played in Buxton with the host team taking on the Jamaicans and Alpha United and Slingerz FC meeting for the third time.

On Sunday the curtain comes down at the GFC ground when Slingerz play Buxton United and Alpha United meet Boys’ Town.

Admission is $1 000 nightly.

Bravo appeals ...

From Backpage keenly contested with West Indies prevailing by 15 runs in the opener while England rebounded to force a three-wicket win on Sunday.

Today’s decider is the third game in a row on the same pitch which some commentators have described as ‘tired’ while

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expecting ‘more spin’ and ‘less bounce’.

“I have no complains about the surface I think the conditions have been good for cricket,” Bravo told reporters.

“We have worked very hard and prepared well so hopefully we can do good Wednesday (today) and win the series”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

Smith fails as Australia close on big win … Graeme Smith out for three in final Test innings

By Nick Said

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - Graeme Smith made three in his final Test innings as South Africa

slid towards a heavy defeat at the close on the fourth day of the series-deciding third Test against Australia yesterday.

Chasing a victory target

of 511, the hosts will resume on 71 for four on the final day despite a valiant effort from AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla who survived 31 overs before the latter was out 20 minutes before stumps.

South Africa had lost openers Smith and Alviro Petersen (nine), as well as Dean Elgar (nought), as Australia were rampant before tea.

Smith flicked a rising Mitchell Johnson delivery on to his thigh and the ball looped gently to Alex Doolan at short leg, an inglorious end for one of the game’s greats who was given a guard of honour by the touring side as he came out to bat.

It was a tame way for Smith’s 205th Test innings to finish but it was in keeping with his poor form in a series in which he has scored just 45 runs in six innings.

The South African captain, who announced his retirement from international cricket Monday night, bowed out having made 9 265 runs at an average of 48.25 in 117 Tests, 109 of those as captain. de Villiers survived 100 balls for his 16 with all thoughts of scoring gone and survival the only thing on his mind.

He and Amla added 53 for the fourth wicket off 184 balls, a stand ended when Amla was trapped lbw by a reverse-swinging delivery from James Pattinson.

“Hopefully we come out tomorrow and bowl straight at the stumps, that’s the line I think we have to bowl,” Australia opener David Warner said in a TV interview.

“It was quite tough to get through the wall (Amla) there, but we know if we can get the ball reversing then we are in the game.” de Villiers will resume today with nightwatchman Kyle Abbott (one) hoping for a repeat of their performances in Adelaide and Johannesburg in the last 18 months where they batted for 148 and 136 overs re-

David Warner eventually reaches his century, becoming the first Australian in five years to score a ton in both innings. spectively in the fourth innings to seal draws.

Faf du Plessis, who will bat next, scored battling centuries in both those innings to steer the Proteas to safety.

AUSTRALIA first innings 494 South Africa first innings 287 AUSTRALIA second innings (o/n 27-0) C. Rogers run-out 39 D. Warner c de Villiers b Abbott 145 A. Doolan c Abbott b Morkel 37 S. Watson c Duminy b Abbott 25 M. Clarke c sub. b Abbott 0 S. Smith not out 36 B. Haddin not out 3 Extras: (b-3, lb-12, nb-3) 18 Total: (for five wickets dec, 58 overs) 303 Fall of wickets: 1-123, 2-188, 3-245, 4-257, 5-290.

Bowling: Morkel 13-1-67-1 (nb-1), Abbott 14-2-61-3, Philander 6-0-420 (nb-2), Duminy 19-3-76-0, Steyn

“There has been a lot of emotion around with Graeme deciding to give up international cricket, but I suppose it is also motivation for the guys to ensure we fight hard for the skipper,” South Africa coach Russell Domingo said.

“We have got six wickets in the bank and we are going to fight hard tomorrow. It has been done before at Newlands, I remember England were four down a few years ago and hung on for a draw. We were four down in Adelaide, so we know it can be done.”

The struggles of the home side were in sharp contrast to the Australia innings, when Warner made batting look easy as he bludgeoned 145 from 156 balls and the tourists declared their second innings on 303 for five.

It was a second century of the match for the left-hander, who took his runs total in the series to 543, averaging 91.

Warner received support from Chris Rogers (39) and Steve Smith (36 not out), but was the dominant figure in all his partnerships as he scored nearly half his side’s runs.

Abbott was the most successful South Africa bowler with figures of three for 61, including the wicket of Warner who edged a slower ball to wicketkeeper de Villiers.

3-1-24-0, Elgar 3-0-18-0.

SOUTH AFRICA second innings A. Petersen lbw Harris 9 G. Smith c Doolan b Johnson 3 D. Elgar b Johnson 0 H. Amla lbw Pattinson 41 AB de Villiers not out 16 K. Abbott not out 1 Extras: (nb-1) 1 Total: (for four wickets, 41 overs) 71 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-12, 3-15 4-68.

Bowling (to date): Harris 8-5-10-1, Johnson 13-3-31-2, Pattinson 9-613-1, Lyon 5-3-3-0, Watson 3-2-1-0 (nb-1), Smith 3-0-13-0 (Compiled by Nick Said, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Afridi powers Pakistan’s record run chase in Asia Cup (REUTERS) - Shahid Afridi bludgeoned the Bangladesh bowlers during a 25-ball 59 to script Pakistan’s highest-ever run chase as his team beat the hosts by three wickets with one ball to spare to set up an Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka.

Chasing 327 for victory, opener Ahmed Shehzad (103) gave Pakistan a solid start with his fifth ODI century but it was left to Afridi’s pyrotechnics to cement the win as the righthander hit seven sixes and two fours during his innings, his half-century coming off just 18 balls.

Afridi, who hit two consecutive sixes in the last over during Pakistan’s win against arch-rivals India on Sunday, suffered from cramps towards the end and was run-out to a direct hit by Shakib Al Hasan with Pakistan needing 33 off 19 balls.

Fawad Alam (74) was also run-out in the final over but his two sixes off left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak had sealed the

Shahid Afridi win for Pakistan, whose highest successful run chase to date was in a 2007 ODI against India when they made 322-6.

Earlier, determined to register their first win in the tournament, Bangladesh made five changes to their squad and their top order fired in unison to help them post 326 for three, their highest ODI total in front of a delirious crowd

at Mirpur’s Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Opener Anamul Haq (100) hit his second ODI century, while Imrul Kayes (59) and Mominul Haque (51) chipped in with brisk half-centuries to lay the foundation for a big total against Pakistan’s off-colour attack.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (51) and all-rounder Shakib (44) added 77 quick runs in 5.4 overs and remained together to take the hosts past the 300-run mark.

Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman sent down a hat-trick of illegal full tosses and was taken out of the attack with bizarre bowling figures of 0-0-8-0.

Mushfiqur took the onus on himself to negate the threat posed by Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal who conceded 52 runs in his last four overs.

Bangladesh milked 121 runs off the last 10 overs with Shakib hitting six fours and two sixes during his unbeaten 16-ball blitz.

Bangladesh’s previous highest score was 320-8 against Zimbabwe in a 2009 one-dayer in Bulawayo.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5 2014

33

Pistorius gets emotional at graphic evidence The trial, which could see one of global sports’ most admired figures jailed for life, has drawn comparisons with the high-profile murder trial of American football star and actor O.J. Simpson two decades ago.

Burger broke toward the end of her own testimony, following an angry exchange with Roux, who had sought to show she had mistaken the screams of agitated Pistorius for that of a woman.

The court also heard from another neighbour, Estelle van der Merwe, who testified that she heard what sounded like an argument early on the morning Steenkamp was killed.

“From where I was sitting it seemed like two people were having an argument but I couldn’t hear the other person’s voice,” she said through an Afrikaans language interpreter.

By Ed Cropley PRETORIA, South Africa (Reuters) - Oscar Pistorius buried his head in his hands and wiped away tears after a South African court yesterday heard grisly details of the killing of his girlfriend, the first sign of emotion from the track star in his two-day murder trial.

The Olympian and Paralympian has been largely impassive during the trial for the murder of model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp in his suburban Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year. Pistorius has pleaded not guilty, saying he shot Steenkamp through a toilet door after mistaking her for an intruder.

He leaned forward in the dock and clasped his head between his hands as lead defence lawyer Barry Roux read out details from the post mortem, including that “some fragments of the bullet” were removed from the 29-year-old’s head.

Roux also heaped scorn on the testimony of neighbour

Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius embraces his sister Aimee Pistorius (R) as an unidentified policeman looks on after the second day of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Michelle Burger, who said she dead at the scene after being hit heard a scream fade away after in the head, arm and hip from the shots, saying that Steenkamp three bullets from a 9 mm pistol.

MEDIA WARNING Pistorius, dressed a dark suit would have “dropped immediThe judge also warned the and tie, later appeared to wipe ately” due to a bullet in the head. media to behave after a local Steenkamp was declared away tears. television station leaked a photo

of the state’s first witness, who had asked that her image not be broadcast, another delay to a trial that has already been hampered by late starts and problems with court interpreters.

Judge Thokozile Masipa ordered an investigation after broadcaster eNCA showed a photo of Burger during the audio broadcast of her second day of emotional testimony.

While the trial is being televised live, a previous court order had ruled witnesses must give their consent to be filmed.

Burger, a university lecturer who testified on Monday that she heard “bloodcurdling” screams from a woman followed by gun shots, had not consented to being filmed and only the audio of her testimony was being broadcast.

The station accompanied the audio feed of her testimony yesterday with a picture of her.

After prosecutor Gerrie Nel pointed out the leak, Masipa called for a brief adjournment.

“I am warning the media,

if you do not behave, you are not going to be treated with soft gloves by this court,” Masipa, herself a former journalist, said when the court resumed.

The station’s head of news apologised, saying in a statement it was a “bad judgement call” to use the photo.

Masipa has also restricted the media from publishing photos of witnesses who have not consented to be filmed.

A separate South African court ruled last month that the trial should be televised, saying it was vital for impoverished South Africans who feel ill-treated by the justice system to get a first-hand look at the proceedings.

The start of the trial was delayed by 90 minutes on Monday due to a problem with the Afrikaans language interpreter. Burger began her testimony in Afrikaans but later switched to English after disagreeing with the interpreter’s translation of some words.

Forrester pilots Esperanza into semis in T&T

By Calvin Roberts

GUYANESE Winston Forrester last Saturday powered his adopted club in Trinidad and Tobago, Esperanza Cricket Club into the semifinals of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board North/Central Championship Division Two tournament, following a nine-wicket win over Valiants Cricket Club.

The 21-year-old Forrester, who is currently enjoying his third season in the Twin Island Republic and second with Esperanza this year, ensured his adopted club reached the final four in partnership with Carl Wright, with their convincing win over Valiants.

Having restricted their opponents to 136 all out, Esperanza responded with 140 for 1 from 25.4 overs, with Wright, who played for both Jamaica and the United States of America, hitting the winning bound-

ary in his unbeaten 67 while Forrester chipped in with his unbeaten 38, as they added 95 for the second wicket.

In the preliminary round matches, Esperanza played and defeated Felicity Sports, Harvard and Aronco Couva Sports in that order, bowling out Felicity and Harvard for 78 and 116 respectively, with Forrester contributing 12 and 35 in those victories.

Against Couva, Esperanza on the back of Forrester’s 165 and 104 from Shazan Babwah, compiled a mammoth 441 batting first, the highest team total at the venue, before their bowlers routed the opposition for 164.

In the knockout round (round of 12) they played Diamond Sports Club and bowled them out for 61, with Babwah taking 5 for 13 and former Barbados and West Indies player Ryan Hurley 4 for 17, before Forrester topscored with 23 as Esperanza won by eight

… credits Lynch for progress to date

wickets.

Arguably, Esperanza, who won the first division tournament last year when Forrester guided them with the Most Runs and Wickets, are the strongest team in the North/Central Championships, having players with the calibre of Forrester, Babwah, Hurley, Wright, Andre Browne and Sanjiv Gooljar in their lineup.

Following the completion of the 50 overs championships, they will be competing in the League phase of the competition which bowls off next Saturday, while the T20 aspect of things gets cracking on March 26, with a win in the League category earning them a spot in next year’s Premiership.

Meanwhile, Forrester credited his development in the game, to date, to the hardwork-

ing Monty Lynch, the former Territorial Development Officer within the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and head coach of his home club, the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC).

He was named Best Batsman after accumulating a total of 410 runs from nine matches at the 24th Annual Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Cricket Tournament four years ago in Barbados, scoring two half-centuries and had an excellent strike rate of 139.9 after acquiring his runs from 293 balls..

“On a personal note, I am happy to be back here with this club for the second year and I’m extremely overwhelmed to be part of such a prestigious squad that they have put together this year. Last year I was voted the Most Outstanding Batsman and bowler in “Central Division 1

League” which we won to earn promotion to championship this year,” said Forrester.

He told Chronicle Sport that a presentation ceremony would be held sometime soon, where players who performed exceedingly well in last year’s tournament would be rewarded. even as he continues to strive on the preset form he has displayed to date - one that has earned him a club leading 273 runs an average of 68.25.

“After the season concludes here in Trinidad, I will be heading to Canada for the first time, providing that I get through with my visa, to play for Overseas Cricket Club starting at the end of May for the entire cricket season.

“I am certainly looking forward to continue my good form while developing my cricket

in Canada and when I return to Guyana, I am looking forward to continue where I left off; having scored 126 runs in the last game I played for GCC in a Georgetown Cricket Association second division fixture, prior to my departure for Trinidad and Tobago.”

He added, “My aim is to continue the intense training and proper coaching from the club which is carried out by Monty Lynch who is majorly instrumental with my success over the past two years, while my major goal is to represent the West Indies in the future.

“For now, I am focused on working hard to make the Guyana team and I am very confident that with the current support of the players at GCC and Mr Lynch, coupled with my cricket’s development continuing in the right manner with discipline as the watchword, I’m on the right track towards achieving success.”

Brazil No.10 shirt no longer so special, says Rivelino

By Andrew Downie SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Think of Brazil’s famous No.10 shirt and the mind conjures images of Pele, Zico or Rivaldo swaggering past transfixed defenders with a nonchalant dip of the shoulder before belting the ball past a helpless goalkeeper.

If any football jersey could attain almost mythical status it was that one, symbolising the flair and artistry that the Samba nation gave to the Beautiful Game.

With a World Cup in Brazil just around the corner, however, the pulling power of the yellow No.10 shirt is fading, according to Rivelino, another of the greats to pull it on.

“The importance of the No.10 shirt has unfortunately ended,” said Rivelino. “Today

the holding midfielders open the game up more than the No.10.

What used to be the function of the No.10 doesn’t exist in Brazilian football anymore.”

Pele, the man who graced the shirt more than any other having first worn it at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, once said his role was to “score goals and make them”.

He went on to almost trademark the No.10 shirt which until then had just been worn by any of the forwards, although he said the circumstances involved in his donning it were pure chance.

“It was luck,” he said. “I was just 17 in 1958 and the numbers were drawn. I got No.10 and that’s how it all started.”

These days, in many nations and particularly in South Ameri-

Brazil’s former national player Rivelino rides atop a float from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome, yesterday.

(Credit: Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) ca the No.10 is still regarded as who won FIFA’s Player-ofthe best player in the team, “the the-Year while wearing it for brains,” according to Rivaldo, Barcelona in 1999.

LINK MAN However, with football changing and more stress being put on marking and mobility - not to mention the scarcity of out and out strikers - fewer teams have a role for the often cerebral, always cultured, link man between midfield and attack.

Barcelona’s Neymar fits the bill of the No.10 - a player who has fans on the edge of their seats - and he wore the shirt to good effect at last year’s Confederations Cup won by the hosts.

All eyes will be on him in this week’s friendly against South Africa in Johannesburg, Brazil’s last match before coach Luiz Felipe Scolari announces his World Cup squad in May. Yet Neymar’s role in team

is not one that would have been recognised by the likes of Pele and Zico, with defensive duties just as much part of his remit as creating and scoring.

It is a change that disappoints greats like Rivelino who was part of the 1970 Brazil side which is regarded as the greatest team to take to the field.

“The priority today isn’t creating but marking,” the former Corinthians and Fluminense No.10 said.

“Creativity isn’t as important. Today you have at most three good players in any team.

Today you don’t call up the best players in each position but the tactical options for each position.”

Changing coaching methods and tactics are not the only reason the No.10 shirt has lost some of its sheen.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5, 2014

GFF/Banks Beer National Premium League

Alpha continue to dominate Premier League with 12th victory

ALPHA `The Hammer’ United continue to dominate the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Premier League as they registered a 4-0 win against Young Achievers in their latest match at the Georgetown Football Club, ground last Sunday.

Going into their 12th match of the 16-team league, Alpha United extended their lead through a double from Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson in the 69th and 90th minutes and a goal each from Sheldon Holder and Andrew Murray in the 11th and 23rd minutes respectively, to see their team win their 12th consecutive match of the multimillion dollar tournament.

In the opening fixture of the triple-header card at the same venue, Riddim Squad lost by a 4-5 margin to Grove Hi-Tech in a penalty shoot-out after the two sides were locked 0-0 at the end of regulation time, while in the feature game, BK Western Tigers defeated

Jackie Chan Richardson registered a double for Alpha United.

LeBron James nets 61 points in career-high effort for Miami Heat LEBRON James scored a career-high 61 points to break the Miami Heat one-game scoring record, sparking the defending NBA champions over the Charlotte Bobcats 124-107.

The Heat’s season win streak stretched to eight games in a row with a 16th consecutive victory in meetings with Charlotte, whose win drought against Miami now spans four years.

James sank eight three-pointers, hitting 22 of 33 shots from the field overall, and also grabbed seven rebounds and passed off five assists.

“It was a special performance,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

“He was efficient. The rim certainly looked like an ocean to him.”

The former Heat sin-

Lebron James gle-game scoring record was 56 points by Glen Rice in April of 1995.

On a night when Miami star guard Dwyane Wade was rested, Chris Bosh contributed 15 points and seven rebounds.

Miami shot 55.4 per cent from the floor, including 16 of 28 from three-point range. Charlotte’s Al

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Wednesday March 05, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230)& CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Jackie Hendricks and Jeff Dujon WI vs AUST, ARG, St. John’s, 1978 (ODI) Today’s Quiz: What is the highest team total the WI have made in a single Test innings to date? Where and when?

Which WI has played most Test matches without ever playing an ODI? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Jefferson scored 38 points and grabbed 19 rebounds. The Heat improved to 43-14, trailing only Eastern Conference rival Indiana (46-13) for the best record in the NBA and a home court edge throughout the playoffs.

Charlotte fell to 27-33 as the Bobcats and Atlanta fight for the final two playoff positions in the East.

Miami led 60-54 at halftime before James went wild in the third quarter, going five of five from beyond the three-point arc on his way to 25 points in the quarter, matching the Bobcats’ total team output.

James scored Miami’s first eight points of the second half, then added back-to-back threepoint plays late in the period for an 89-69 Heat lead.

James followed with his eighth three-pointer for a 9573 edge with 1:16 to play in the third and began the fourth quarter with four straight points to reach 53 for the night.

But with Charlotte still fighting to stay in the game, James remained in the line-up and added a pair of lay-ups and a spinning bank shot for a 115-99 Miami edge with 2:23 to play.

After Jefferson hit a jumper for Charlotte, James was fouled and sank two free throws to cap his scoring as fans chanted “M-V-P” to the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player.

James set several other Heat team records, including 22 baskets in a game, most points in a quarter by a player with 25 and most second-half points with 37.

Den Amstel 2-0 through goals from Hubert Pedro (28th) and Marvin Joseph (75th).

Meanwhile, on Friday at the same venue, Silver Shattas defeated Santos 2-0 through a double off the boot of Colwyn David in the 10th and 64th minutes.

The competition will continue on Saturday with three matches at two venues.

From 13:30hrs at the Guyana Defence Force ground, the home team will host BV/Triumph, while at the #5 ground, Berbice, New Amsterdam United will come against Winners Connection from 18:00hrs and Rosignol United will meet Milerock from 20:00hrs.

BV/Triumph are currently placed 11th in the points standing with nine points and will be seeking a victory over the soldiers to improve their points standing while their opponents will be seeking to do the same as they are third with 18 points.

Riddim Squad are still ranked 13th with eight points and will have to await another week to seek to improve their points standing. Both are aware of the fact that the four bottom-placed teams in the League

will be relegated.

Alpha United lead the points standing with 33 points from 11 matches while Silver Shattas have seven points and occupy the 15th of 16 spots on the points table.

In their 11 encounters, Alpha United have scored 47 goals and conceded just five to secure a plus 42 goal difference.

BK Western Tigers are second with 22 points from seven victories, one loss and one drawn game. They scored 18 goals and conceded nine for a goal difference of plus nine.

The Guyana Defence Force are placed third with 18 points from six victories, one loss and one draw. They have so far scored 15 goals and conceded nine.

Buxton United are fourth with 17 points from five wins, one loss and two drawn games.

They have scored 12 goals to date and conceded six.

They are followed by Rosignol United with 15 points from three wins, two losses and three drawn matches and have so far scored 15 goals and conceded a similar number.

Den Amstel are next with 14 points from four victories, four losses and one drawn game.

They have scored 19 goals and conceded 13.

New Amsterdam United are placed seventh, with 11 points from three wins, four losses and one drawn game, with 14 goals for and 13 against.

Milerock are placed eight with 13 points from four victories, a similar number of losses and one drawn game. They have so far scored 12 goals and conceded 10.

Next in the points standing are Mahaica Determinators with 11 points from three victories, four losses and two drawn games. They scored nine goals to date and conceded 14.

Santos follow with 11 points from two victories, three losses and four drawn games. They have so far netted 13 goals and conceded 17.

BV/Triumph are next with nine points from two victories, three losses and two drawn matches. They scored eight goals and conceded a similar number to date.

Australia’s fastest century opening stand

Stats highlights from the fourth day in Cape Town, which was dominated by David Warner and Australia’s fast bowlers

By S. Rajesh DAVID Warner’s series aggregate of 543 is the third highest by an Australian in series of three or fewerTests. Michael Clarke’s 576 in the home series against South Africa in 2012-13 is the highest, followed by Matthew Hayden’s 549 in India in 2000-01. It is also the second best in a threeTest series between Australia and South Africa.

• Warner’s twin hundreds in this match is the 20th instance of an Australian doing so in Tests, and the eighth by an Australian opener. Ricky Ponting achieved it three times, while Allan Border, Greg Chappell and Hayden did it twice, making Warner the 15th Australian to score hundreds in each innings.

• Australia scored 303 runs in 58 overs in their second innings, a run rate of 5.22. It’s their second highest run rate in a Test innings in which they’ve faced at least 50 overs.

Their best is 5.80, also against South Africa, but in 1902. Against the same opposition in Adelaide in 2012, they scored 550 in 107.2 overs, a rate of 5.12, which is their third-best.

Six of their top nine such efforts, and ten out of their top 20, have been against South Africa.

• Warner’s strike rate

Ryan Harris became the 24th Australian fast bowler to take 100 or more Test wickets. in his innings of 145 was 92.94 (145 off 156). It is the fifth-highest strike rate for a 100-plus score by an Australian opener in Tests (in matches in which the balls-faced data is available). Warner is a prominent name in this list, featuring four times in the top six.

• The opening partnership of 123 between Warner and Chris Rogers came off just 20.2

overs, with the batsmen scoring at a run rate of 6.04 runs per over.

It is the highest run rate for a century partnership by an Australian opening pair (in matches in which balls-faced data is available). The next best also involves Warner, when he added 214 off 233 balls with Ed Cowan against India in Perth in 2012, a run rate of 5.51 per over.

• Ryan Harris became the 24th Australian fast bowler to take 100 or more Test wickets, but in terms of averages he is at No. 5 in that group, next only to Charlie Turner, Alan Davidson, Glenn McGrath and Keith Miller. Harris’ 100 wickets have so far cost him 23.02 runs each, 0.01 better than Ray Lindwall, while Dennis Lillee had a career average of 23.92.

• South Africa have already batted 41 overs on the fourth day and potentially have to play another 98 on the final day.

If they do play all those overs and survive, they will come very close to the record number of overs batted by a team in the fourth innings in Cape Town. South Africa faced 142.2 against New Zealand in 1962, though they lost the Test, while England played 141 in 2010 and barely held on to a draw, finishing on 296 for 9.(ESPN Cricinfo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 5 2014

35

Walsh grabs four as Leewards beat CCC by 79 runs BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Leeward Islands opened their campaign with a 79-run win over Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) on the final day of their first round WICB Regional Four-Day tournament here yesterday.

A four-wicket haul by offbreak bowler Hayden Walsh stifled CCC’s efforts to chase down the 262-run target set by Leewards after Jahmar Hamilton’s century had put the home team into a match-winning position Monday.

CCC, resuming from their overnight 110 for four, lost their remaining six wickets

Hayden Walsh for the addition of 79 runs as Walsh, a 21-year-old spinner, wreaked further havoc on CCC’s ambitions.

Walsh continued the destruction caused by fast bowler Gavin Tonge who the day before

Vizion Sounds Goodwill football tournament

Surinamese Wensley ‘Dutch Boy’ Christoph joins Slingerz FC HE didn’t win the GFA/ Banks Beer Cup playing for Santos, as Slingerz defeated them 3-2 in the final on January 1. However, he certainly made a name for himself in Guyana and now has returned to further stamp his authority.

Surinamese striker Wensley Christoph will play for Slingerz Football Club against Jamaica’s Boys’ Town Football Club, Buxton United and the lone team that handed them their two losses, Alpha United, in the Vizion Sounds Entertainment Goodwill football tournament that kicks off tonight at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.

In fact the game of itself is historic. The last time a Jamaican club team visited Guyana was 21 years ago and the clash between Slingerz and Boys’ Town tonight at 20:00hrs will be the first game of its kind since the disbanded Caribbean Professional Football League.

With the organisers allowing each team to use three guest players, drawn from anywhere in the world, Slingerz FC sought the goal-scoring expertise of the Surinamese international from SV Excelsior Football Club.

Christoph will join national goalkeeper Richard Reynolds, who also plays his club football in the Dutch-speaking country and defender Solomon Austin from Pele football club as the guest players for Slingerz FC.

had removed the top three batsmen cheaply.

His four-wicket haul secured the scalps of Raymon Reifer, Kavem Hodge and Akeem Dewar who was caught for 21 while Jacobs was caught and bowled for 22.

Chaddick Walton-led CCC’s bid to rebuild the innings and reach the target with a defiant half-century after they had slipped to 89 for the loss of four wickets.

Walton struck eight fours and a six in a top score of 56 and featured in a 64-run stand for the fourth wicket with Reifer who scored 22.

He also added 24 for the 5th wicket with Steven Jacobs.

Walsh finished with four for 81 while Tonge ended with three for 44.

Hamilton was named man-of-the-match for his 119 which tilted the balance in favour of the Leewards.

Jahmar Hamilton is named man-of-the-match for his century on the third day.

LEEWARDS 1st innings 164 CCC 1st innings 202 Leewards 2nd innings 299 CCC 2nd innings 189 (o/n 110 for four) Combined Campuses and Colleges 2nd innings (target: 262 runs) S. Thomas c Hodge b Tonge 16 A Alleyne c Walsh b Tonge 4 K. Corbin b Tonge 4 R. Reifer c Thomas b Walsh 22 C. Walton c Thomas b Walters 56 S. Jacobs c & b Walsh 22 K Hodge c Tonge b Walsh 6 K. McClean c & b Martin 3

A. Dewar c Thomas b Walsh 21 R. Austin not out 11 K. Williams c Joseph b Martin 6 Extras: (b-12, lb-4, nb-2) 18 Total: (all out; 61 overs) 189 Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-24, 3-25, 4-89, 5-113, 6-125, 7-144, 8-157, 9-172.

Bowling: Tonge 13-3-44-3, Martin 19-10-17-2, Walters 10-4-18-1, Walsh 15-1-81-4, Willett 4-2-13-0.

Points Leeward Islands 15, Combined Campuses and Colleges 4

Blatter says World Cup problems are under control

Surinamese striker Wensley Christoph

The club’s acquisition of the Surinamese came as no surprise after he made light work of their defence on New Year’s Day, scoring both goals for Santos but now with him teaming up with the likes of Anthony Abrams and Devon Millington it could be trouble for Alpha United, Boys’ Town and Buxton United.

Abrams signed to the Vergenoegen-based club last month and has so far scored seven goals in two matches, leading the team to the final of Saturday’s Stag Beer West Side Mashramani Championship against Den Amstel.

Prior to Abrams joining the team, Millington was the

side’s leading goalscorer and has now transformed into the facilitator of Abrams’ goals and also capitalises on the defensive attention given to his teammate.

Slingerz FC coach Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard said, “We have a busy schedule ahead and we welcome the additional players to the squad. These games are important to us and we welcome a challenge.”

Slingerz will play the Jamaicans tonight then they clash with Alpha United on Friday at the Buxton Community Centre ground, followed by their first meeting with Buxton United on Sunday at the GCC ground.

(REUTERS) - Problems with Brazil’s World Cup venues are under control with just 100 days to go before the first match kicks off, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said yesterday.

“One hundred days; It’s a long way to go, and it’s a short way to go if there are still problems,” the Swiss told fifa.com in a video to mark the occasion.

But now all problems are under control and it will be in 100 days an exceptional good start for an exceptional competition.”

Brazil is racing against time to complete stadiums, airports, communications infrastructure and transportation systems as the June 12 opening day approaches.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said at the weekend that the world body faced a huge challenge following delays in building stadiums.

The Sao Paulo stadium that hosts the opening match is not due to be ready until May while other stadiums in Curitiba and Manaus remain unfinished.

One survey in February showed the number of Brazilians who favoured hosting the tournament had fallen to an

FIFA president Sepp Blatter all-time low, with many crit- the game and the Brazilian icising it as a waste of money. ability to play football makes Support has waned since this World Cup very, very protests broke out in June last special,” he added. year against poor public services “Now everybody is expectand the high cost of building sta- ing in Brazil that Brazil will diums, but Blatter was confident bring home this World Cup. I Brazilians would embrace the am sure it will be a great, great Cup when the time came. success.”

Brazil, said Blatter, was Brazil, who last hosted the “the country of football, and tournament in 1950, are the they will receive this competi- only nation to have won the tion with open arms and full of Cup five times and also the their heart”. only ones to have played in “The Brazilian spirit of every finals.

Sport CHRONICLE

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(See Blatter says Story World Cup on page 35) problems are under control

Boys’ Town play Slingerz FC tonight as Vizion Sounds Goodwill tourney kicks off I

T would be a historic occasion when Slingerz FC and Jamaica’s Boys’ Town Football Club face off at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground this evening for the start of the Vizion Sounds Entertainment Goodwill tournament.

“The last time I was in Guyana was in 1993, when I was playing with the Kingston Lions. We came here to play against the GT Cobras,” said coach of Boys’ Town Football Club, Andrew Price, at a press conference hosted yesterday by the oganisers.

The two teams, spoken of

by Price, played in the Caribbean Professional Football League that was eventually disbanded and since then no Jamaican football club has visited these shores.

As much as the tournament is not being played for a cash prize and out of goodwill, the clubs made it clear that they will be treating the

Oganisers of the Vizion Sounds Entertainment Goodwill Football Tournament which kicks off tonight at GFC ground

See page 31

Bravo appeals for more runs Smith makes inglorious exit after swift dismissal in today’s ODI decider

Lendl Simmons has been the Windies batsman.

key

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Captain Dwayne Bravo has appealed for more runs when West Indies take on England in the third and deciding OneDay International (ODI) here today.

England levelled the series one-all after holding their nerve to clinch a three-wicket win over West Indies in the second ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium last Sunday..

Bravo says while he was pleased with the energy and fighting spirit of his team mates during the second ODI more runs on the board will work in the Windies favour in light of the strength of their bowling.

“I think we definitely need to bat better,” said Bravo in a pre-game news conference yesterday..

“If we bat better then we can put a better total on the board. The last game obviously was not a winning total but I was encouraged by the en-

ergy and the fighting spirit.”

West Indies’ top four, without the injured Chris Gayle, have struggled against England spinners who have been able to take early wickets and set the innings back.

Lendl Simmons has been the key batsman holding the innings together during the first two ODIs while Sunil Narine has consistently troubled the English batsmen.

Bravo, who scored an unbeaten 87, to lead West Indies to victory in the first ODI last Friday, says spinner Sunil Narine has a key role today but would have little value if a formidable total is not posted.

“He is a bowler that most teams struggle to play with.

He is a handful. Happy to have him in our squad but at the same time we can’t leave it all on him,” said Bravo.

“It’s a total team effort and if we do not have enough runs Narine is of no value. We have to put runs on the board to actually give him the opportunity so he can actually deliver for us.”

Both matches have been

See page 31

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See page 31

Graeme Smith walks back after falling for 3 in his final Test innings.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014