Guyana chronicle 06 02 14

GUYANA No. 103731

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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

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- Clinton Williams urges Parliament on AML/CFT bill

President to address major engineering 3 conference today

Mr Clinton Williams GMSA President

Opposition fails to attend AML subcommittee meeting - following earlier walkout

Education Ministry on

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President Donald Ramotar

‘HIGH ALERT’

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–following forecast of possible heavy rain all day today

Extraordinary crimes require extraordinary laws Page 2

- says AG in response to Harmon’s negative characterisation of AML/CFT Bill

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Extraordinary crimes require extraordinary laws - says AG in response to Harmon’s negative characterisation of AML/CFT Bill A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) front-bencher Joseph Harmon said in a media report on Tuesday that some of the measures in the current Anti-Money Laundering & Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill saw the possibility of rights related to searches and seizures being violated. He added that the “even more draconian measures” in place would be a threat to certain liberties.

But Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, rejected the negative characterisation of the AML/CFT Bill, and said, “I will be the first, as the subject minister, I am the first person to have stated publicly that the bill and the principal act are draconian pieces of legislation.

“In fact, I have described it as sui generis, but the fact is that that is the nature of this type of law.

“Money laundering, the proceeds of crime and terrorism, the mischief which the bill addresses, are extraordinary criminal conduct which has had extraordinary impact on every part of the world where they manifest themselves. They have led to the deaths of thousands and destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

“Therefore, such extraordinary ills require extraordinary laws and penalties to tackle them. That is the philosophy which inspires and informs this legislation,” the Attorney General stated.

Nandlall said legislation of this type exists in “every civilised” country in the world, including the First World. “Their existence is for the public good. At different intervals, every country would have to pass laws of this type to confront the reality facing the society,” he said.

Nandlall noted that over 100 years ago, countries such as Guyana gave powers such as arrest, search and seizure of private property to police officers. Over 100 years ago, similar powers were given to tax officers.

He explained that all the AML/CFT Bill seeks to do is give similar powers to a new category of persons in order to better equip them to combat money laundering and terrorism.

“This piece of legislation is part of the laws of the entire Caribbean and in most countries of the English-speaking Commonwealth.

We are doing nothing new and novel in Guyana by promulgating this bill,” the AG stressed.

CONSULTING WITH STAKEHOLDERS The Attorney General also responded to Harmon’s contention over the extent of stakeholder consultation.

The APNU Member of Parliament (MP) claimed that Nandlall “would have been bandying the idea that the amendments were prepared by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF)”, and as such there were no sessions with stakeholders, such as the Bankers Association, to find out how it would affect them.

HARMON WRONG The AG said, “Mr. Harmon is absolutely wrong in his contentions that the AML/CFT was prepared by the CFATF, and that there was no consultation with stakeholders.

“Firstly, the bill was never prepared by CFATF. The bill was crafted by us in Guyana, based upon recommendations made by

CFATF to Guyana in their effort to correct certain deficiencies which they identified existed in the legal architecture of our AML/ CFT regime.”

He made it clear that the CFATF’s role in the presentation of the bill to the National Assembly was limited to approving it as meeting their requirements.

Nandlall said, “As regards this Bill, a team from CFATF visited Guyana in February/March 2013 and met and consulted with several stakeholders, including the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, the Attorney General, the Minister of Finance, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Central Bank, and various organs and agencies in the private sector.

“In any event, the private sector has, on innumerable occasions, expressed its unequivocal and unconditional support for this bill.

Therefore, it is difficult to understand the point Mr. Harmon is trying to make.

“In fact, in their assessment of the bill, the person assigned by CFATF to assess Guyana, in his report to the CFATF meeting in Freeport, Bahamas, opined that the bill captures 90 per cent of the recommendations which are to be implemented by Guyana.”

The Attorney General made it clear that the principal act spent over two years in a Special Select Committee – meetings that were attended by stakeholders who made contributions. “I was a member of that committee, and I speak from personal experience. Mr. Harmon was not yet a Member of Parliament,” he stressed.

Nandlall pointed out that the “utterances” emanating from the Opposition with respect to the AML/CFT Bill are interesting, considering the conspicuous absence of what contributions they have to make to the bill.

He said, “You will recall (that) since March 2013, when the bill was first laid in the National Assembly, the Opposition claimed that they have a contribution to make to this bill, and that they want a “good bill”. Well, this bill has been in the National Assembly for the

last 11 months. It was debated more than two times on the floor of the National Assembly.

It spent several months in two select committees. During all of this, the nation is yet to hear what contributions the Opposition wish to make to this bill.

“Their contribution must be one of the greatest guarded secret in this country,” the minister said.

The National Assembly meets on Monday, February 10, and MPs are expected to consider the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee reviewing the AML/ CFT Bill, as well as the bill itself for passage.

On Thursday, February 13, the France-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is expected to meet, at which time Guyana could qualify for the International Cooperation Review Group’s (ICRG) evaluation.

CFATF has already designated Guyana as a country with strategic anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism deficiencies, that have not made APNU front-bencher, sufficient progress in addressing the Joseph Harmon deficiencies, and have not complied with its Action Plan developed with CFATF to address these deficiencies.

The body is expected to review Guyana’s position at its next meeting in May 2014.

Anti-Money Laundering Bill is wrong issue to play politics with - Teixeira AFTER storming out of the meeting of the select committee on Monday, February 3, the Opposition boycotted the February 4 meeting. APNU’s Carl Greenidge and Jaipaul Sharma, are the only two members of the committee dealing with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill, who have indicated that they are out of the country.

Nevertheless, in the interest of time, the members of the Gov-

- warns non-passage will have dire global consequences ‘The ultimatums and delaying tactics employed by the Opposition, despite the urgency for this Bill to be passed, are tantamount to economic sabotage’ – Teixeira ernment side proceeded to examine the new submissions that were received. The committee is slated to meet again today.

Government’s Chief Whip and Presidential Advisor on Governance, Gail Teixeira, assured that on the part of the Administration, no effort will be spared to meet the February 13 deadline. However, this is not up to the Government alone; there is urgent need for the Opposition to take a forthright and principled position in the interest of the nation. She was at the time speaking on a television programme titled: “The Conversation” aired on the National Communications Network (NCN) yesterday.

RANSOM It is the intention of Govern-

ment to return the Bill to the National Assembly by February 10 or 11, and Teixeira informed that the parliamentary Opposition is yet to propose any amendments they want to see effected to the Bill.

“How can you be telling the country that the Bill needs to be strengthened and more comprehensive and you haven’t said, in the committee, what must be done… clearly this is bullyism and holding the Government and the nation at ransom,” she declared.

The chief whip said the inconsistent positions that the Opposition, particularly APNU, has taken on this issue is worrying and has left many bewildered.

ULTIMATUM She recalled that around

GAIL TEIXEIRA mid-January, Opposition Leader, David Granger, in a public statement assured the nation that the Bill will be passed by February 13. This news was welcomed by the Government and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds issued a statement the very next day acknowledging Granger’s position and expressing similar optimism from the Government side.

However, on January 29, a

See page 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

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STOP DITHERING!

- Clinton Williams urges Parliament on AML/CFT bill PRESIDENT of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Mr Clinton Williams, is urging Guyana’s Parliamentarians to “cease the dithering” over the Anti-Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation and consider the effects of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) blacklisting the nation as a whole.

“It is now more apparent that our parliamentary parties are continuing to dither in the Select Committee over refining the Anti Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism legislation which is long overdue,” Williams said in a statement to the media last evening.

He noted that Guyana has already been blacklisted by CFATF but “Guyanese from every walk of life could be

spared the harsher effects of ultimate blacklisting if only our parliamentarians would work with more alacrity to pass the amended Bill.”

The GMSA President said these amendments to the legislation accompany

He noted that CFATF requires that Guyana passes the stipulated legislation and implement all the outstanding requirements outlined in its Action Plan. These include mechanisms to fully criminalise money laundering and

some efforts have been made to address these deficiencies, the CFATF is not satisfied

‘The prognosis for this nation is grim once this parliamentary indecisiveness continues’ other agreements which have not been contested, yet they have not been properly constituted. The Financial Intelligence Unit is one such. The general population, the business community and civil society are yet to be assured that the non-contentious requirements in the CFAFT bill have been implemented and put to work, Williams argued.

Anti-Money Laundering Bill ...

From page 2 letter was sent to President Donald Ramotar, while in Havana, Cuba attending the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC) Meeting of Heads. In this letter, APNU changed course from its previous position. They essentially presented the Head of State with an ultimatum, that they will withhold their support for the AML/CFT Bill if he (the President) does not assent to the Bills which he sent back to the Parliament without his assent on the basis of their unconstitutionality.

Further, there was a caveat to the effect that the Bills that have been assented to must be operationalised to their satisfaction.

“You have the President in a bind…what is worrying is the inconsistency in the Leader of the Opposition and the behaviour of the Opposition members in the committee, they have given no indication that they are desirous of concluding this matter,” Teixeira lamented.

WORST CASE SCENARIO The chief whip, who also chairs the committee that is dealing with the Bill, informed that should this deadline be missed, it is highly probable that the international body, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will put Guyana under a prima facie review.

This would be much more stringent in terms of the standards and requirements that have to be complied with than that of the preliminary review conducted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), the regional body.

While this is being done, Guyana will remain blacklisted, but more importantly, the banking, insurance and financial systems will be required to take protective actions against Guyana. As it stands right now, they have only been issued advisories to take precautionary measures.

“This is not an issue to toy with; the Opposition is being opportunistic, dangerous and reckless… people should not accept, the electorate must decide whether this is the type of political leaders they want,” Teixeira said.

She called on supporters, voters and sympathisers of the Opposition parties to talk to their respective leaders and demand that they refrain from playing political games with this issue, as they have done with the Amaila Falls Hydro project.

She said that stalling of the Amaila project has impacted on national development; however, non-passage of the AML/CFT Bill will have “dire global consequences”.

“The ultimatums and delaying tactics employed by the Opposition, despite the urgency for this Bill to be passed, are tantamount to economic sabotage,” Teixeira said.

terrorist financing offences, and address all the requirements regarding beneficial ownership.

Guyana also has to strengthen its mechanisms for suspicious transaction reporting, for international co-operation, for freezing and confiscating terrorist assets, and fully implementing the United Nations conventions. Williams said while

Mr Clinton Williams, GMSA President that Guyana has taken sufficient steps to improve our

compliance with the AML/ CFT regime.

NON-COMPLIANT WARNING “Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee need not be reminded that harsh penalties are in store for Guyana if/when the country is eventually classified by the international task force as Non-Compliant,”.

From all appearances, Williams said Guyana will again fail to meet the next CFAFT deadline.

“What they do need reminding of is that the average Guyanese will face the full impact of the penalties for a long time, impacts which promise to disrupt our lives and livelihoods,” the GMSA President warned.

He said the stigmatisation of Guyana and Guyanese will seep into every pore of this nation and contaminate

our political, social and most of all, our economic well being. “It takes no stretch of the imagination to conclude that the 5 percent growth that Guyana’s economy has recorded in the past two years could very well be whittled away as the result of the crippling absence of a macro vision, this seeming inability to see the ‘big picture’,” Williams posited.

“The prognosis for this nation is grim once this parliamentary indecisiveness continues,” declared the GMSA President.

He said the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association is “again appealing to our legislators to consider the real consequences of their inaction on the people of Guyana, to find agreement on the few amendments to the CFAFT Action Plan, and most of all, to implement the support mechanisms needed to fight money laundering and financing of terrorism”.

President to address major engineering conference today - at GICC THE Ministry of Public Works will be hosting its 4th Engineering Conference today, in collaboration with the University of Guyana under the theme: “Building Guyana’s Future Step By Step”.

This event is expected to set new standards of excellence in Guyana and will bring together a wide range of local and international experts and innovators in the field of engineering, road safety, renewable energy and maritime administration; and hundreds of engineering professionals, contractors, consultants, suppliers and students.

The technical sessions will be highlighted by presentations on a number of ongoing development projects in Guyana and will provide participants with the opportunity to interact with the presenters and policy-makers in the transport sector.

His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, is slated to deliver the feature address at this morning’s opening of the conference at the Guyana International Conference Centre.

Other speakers include Minister of Public Works,

President Donald Ramotar Robeson Benn, who will open the Conference, and University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor, Jacob Opadeyi.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn

UG Vice-Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Best Village residents wrangle over grading down of crops - also appeal for help to get rid of wild monkeys that invade the village THERE is some “wrangling” among residents in Best Village, West Coast Demerara, following a decision of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council to destroy several fruit trees and other crops on a dam which had been the base of a train line decades ago.

The Guyana Chronicle yesterday visited the area on the invitation of the residents who raised their concerns.

One well-respected resident of the community is contending that the grading down of the crops by the NDC is “very inhumane” since those belong to several elderly persons in the community who have resorted to farming to beneficially occupy their time.

The 76-year-old resident is very concerned that the plot of land on the train line, in front of his home, where he has been farming and which he has been

maintaining over the years, will be destroyed. Pointing to the well-maintained plot of fruit trees, ground provision and cash crops on the land, the resident ask who will repay him for his crops and hard labour in the aftermath of the impending destruction.

Another gentleman told this publication that the claim being used by the NDC is that persons have been concealing themselves among the crops and pouncing on passersby. However, some residents are claiming that it is impossible for that to happen since there is a huge canal separating the old train line bed from the main access road in Best Village.

But walking deeper into the community, this reporter found a group of residents who are totally in favour of the move by the NDC to destroy the crops on the old train line bed. They said that decades ago most of

the community used the area to farm after railroads were abandoned in this country.

They also recalled that under the PNC government they were all paid off for their crops which were on the stretch of land and the crops were destroyed and the area used as a thoroughfare for machinery clearing two canals which are situated on both sides of the railway bed.

While some persons removed, they stated, others opted to remain and have been farming but that was not a problem to the rest of the residents.

However, residents yesterday told the Chronicle that they became concerned and approached the NDC to have the crops removed from the railway bed since it was encouraging suspicious characters.

They said one of the bigger issue is that a few of the persons who are cultivating the plot are

living miles away and do not regularly maintain the plot, allowing free growth of bush which can harbour reptiles and other dangerous creatures.

A visit to the area also saw this reporter taking photos which contrasted the cleared area to the areas which are yet to be cleared by the NDC machinery.

Those against the clearing also pointed out that the work the machine is doing could have been done by manual labour, saving the NDC much needed funds.

Efforts yesterday to get comments from the Regional Chairman and the NDC Chairman were futile.

WILD MONKEYS Meanwhile, residents of Best Village also raised another burning issue that has been affecting them for several years now. It has to do with ‘wild monkeys’ literally invading the village, tormenting residents both day and night. “You can’t make the mistake of leaving your door or window open, the monkeys will destroy your house,” one resident lamented.

Residents are appealing for help in getting rid of the monkeys. (Leroy Smith)

An elderly resident, Mahase Maraj,(backing camera) venting his frustration at the NDC’s decision to destroy the crops grown on the train line

A section of the area that was cleared yesterday

These bearing banana (sucker) trees on the cards to be destroyed by the NDC

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Caribbean Aviation security officials pay President courtesy call – as Guyana charts roadmap for compliance with international standards

A TEAM of officials from the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) met with President Donald Ramotar at Office of the President yesterday, in the presence of local aviation officials and Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn who has responsibility for the sector.

The team comprised Chief Executive Officer of CASSOS Captain Gregory Fox, Chairman of CASSOS and Director General of Trinidad and Tobago’s Civil Aviation Authority Ramesh Lutchmedial, General Counsel of the GCAA Amanza Desir and Director General of the GCAA, Zulficar Mohamed.

Government is keen on ensuring that the local aviation sector is operating to the highest international standards, Minister Benn expressed to the Gov-

ernment Information Agency (GINA). He said government is committed to fulfilling its obligations, particularly in terms of achieving compliance with several international standards, treaties and obligations with respect to aviation operations in Guyana.

Asked about Guyana’s state of compliance, the minister said there is a lot of work to be done, but he is optimistic that once projects such as the expansion of Ogle and the Cheddi Jagan International Airports, and several other measures such as the training and hiring of competent staff and acquisition of the necessary equipment are completed, the sector will be successful.

Minister Benn said Guyana has to get to a “Level 1” in keeping with CASSOS and International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) standards,

“It is a lot of work, but we are looking to achieve our goal within the next two years”.

In an invited comment, Head of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Board, Hugh Denbow said the officials were in Guyana for three days to liaise with local experts, and assist with ongoing efforts to craft a “roadmap”. This, Denbow said, will serve as a guide to take the local aviation sector forward as it moves toward higher internationally compliant standards. He added that the team was pleased that the president has given his commitment and that of government’s towards ensuring that all the interventions necessary will be made in order to meet internationally required standards.

President Donald Ramotar in meeting with, from left, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, Chairman of the GCAA Board Hugh Denbow, General Counsel of the GCAA Amanza Desir, Chief Executive Officer of CASSOS Captain Gregory Fox, Chairman of CASSOS and Director General of Trinidad and Tobago’s Civil Aviation Authority Ramesh Lutchmedial, and Director General of the GCAA Zulficar Mohamed

Fourteen new housing schemes to receive electricity before year-end --Recht-Door-Zee, Amelia’s Ward among the lot

THE Central Housing and Planning Authority reports it is working assiduously on realising its target for 2014, one of which is completing the installation of electrical distribution networks at several Government-led housing schemes countrywide.

Among areas to be electrified are those developments along the East Bank of Demerara, and in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); and Ten (Upper Demerara Upper Berbice), which account for a total of some 37 schemes.

The CHPA says it will be inviting bids shortly, by way of public tender, for works related to putting down the necessary utility poles etcetera for 14 of the proposed 37 areas, among them Recht-Door-Zee Phase Two (on the West Bank); Amelia’s Ward Phase Three (‘Linden-side’); and Plot ‘B’ Herstelling and Providence Phase Two, both on the East Bank.

It is hoped that work on the 14 target areas will be completed during the course of the

year, while it is anticipated that work on the remaining 23 areas, which are currently at the design stage, will commence before year-end.

MINISTER IRFAAN ALI Allottees of ‘turn-key’ houses at Providence were able to access electricity last September, in good time for the Christmas holidays. Work is currently

ongoing in several other areas, such as in Regions Three and Six, with completion slated for “the fourth quarter of this year.”

GROWTH IN THE SECTOR Meanwhile, the housing sector has reportedly recorded significant progress in 2013, and plans are afoot to top these achievements in 2014.

According to Housing Minister, Mr Irfaan Ali, the application process for house-lots is now happening in ‘real time’ in some areas, though in Region Four’s case, the Ministry is still processing applications from as far back as 2010.

Ali explained that the main reason for this seeming ‘backlog’ is because many of the persons already residing in Region Four do not want to leave the area, and are insisting on acquiring land there.

Meanwhile, the Minister has noted that the East Bank was “the penultimate tier” in the housing sector’s ambitious development thrust for 2013, and saw over 400 persons being employed in varying skills areas

US warns airlines of Russia ‘toothpaste’ - Russian security forces stand guard bomb threat (BBC): The US has warned airlines flying into Russia for the Winter Olympics that explosives hidden in toothpaste tubes could be smuggled on to planes.

The Department of Homeland Security told US media the alert affected direct into Russia as it prepares for the games in Sochi.

The agency said it was not

aware of any specific danger to the US at this time.

It is the latest reported threat against the region, which has beefed up security surrounding the games.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to the BBC that it “regularly shares information with domestic and international partners, including those associated with

international events such as the Sochi Olympics”.

The US has also placed two warships in the Black Sea in case of a security threat during the games, scheduled for 7-23 February.

Fears were raised following two suicide attacks in Volgograd in December, and numerous threats from Islamist militants in the Caucasus region.

in the new housing areas.

Additionally, approximately 8,500 house-lots were distributed in 2013, with some 7,000 persons already in receipt of their titles. According to Minister Ali, his Ministry is looking to allocate another 6,000 lots, given the demand for ‘turn-key’ homes, clerical office homes and the low high-income homes which is now at an all-time high.

Ali said plans are also afoot to expand Little Diamond, on the East Bank to accommodate industrial and commercial enterprises so as to help ease the pressure on the city to supply the demand for jobs.

Several new housing schemes are to also be upgraded this year, among them Zeeburg and Zeelugt where 1,500 lots will be distributed collectively.

Completion of the new highway linking Parfaite Harmonie closer to the Demerara Harbour Bridge is also expected to come on stream this year.

Another important highway is the one linking the East Coast to the East Bank, with designs to be completed and works to commence in early 2014.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

GUYANA

Lawyers subverting the laws to help murderous criminals

EDITORIAL

Sacrificing patriotism at the altar of prostitution SOME things should be above petty deliberations and ambitious power-play when the general good needs to supersede every consideration for the benefit of the nation.

Support of the legislation to combat moneylaundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) certainly comes into this equation, because the result of non-support of this vital Bill would be the blacklisting, in a multiplicity of ways, of Guyana and things Guyanese in the regional and international arenas.

The consequences would have unimaginably negative impacts, ultimately, on every Guyanese man, woman and child.

For approximately two decades, the PPP/C has worked unremittingly to reverse the destruction and devastation visited upon Guyana and Guyanese by the former PNC regime. And it has done so with magnificent success, with the socio-economic development in this country poised to catalyze dramatically within the immediate future, from a base laid by the unrelenting efforts of former President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who is now aptly referred to as “The architect of modern Guyana”.

But the gains made by the nation today seem to be instead on the brink of a downward spiral as the Government, headed by incumbent President, Mr Donald Ramotar, has found itself in a quandary when the PPP/C lost its parliamentary majority to a vengeful joint Opposition in the November 2011 general elections.

The ludicrous irony of persons who had no input into Guyana’s wealth creation, even those who destroyed Guyana and left it a deeply indebted country, arrogating to themselves the right to abrogate that wealth disposition to the nation, and drive the workers of the country into joblessness and destroyed opportunities for advancement -- individually and nationally -- have sent shockwaves rippling throughout the country as the implications of the combined Opposition’s intractable behaviour in and out of Parliament is impacting the socio-economic dynamics of the nation, and catalyzing it on a downward gradient.

Even the private sector is distressed, because, apart from other constraining factors, disposable incomes would be severely reduced in many families and government-run institutions, thus hampering purchasing power with severe, deleterious ripple effects on the business community.

There is no logic to the madness of the joint Opposition’s refusal to support the AML/CFT legislation. The first major signal that the joint Opposition meant to use their one-seat collective majority to stymie Government’s developmental projects was their reckless cutting of the 2013 Budget, when they wielded their “Sword of Damocles” on the painstaking work of the Finance Minister, his supporting aides, and the various stakeholders in the nation’s economy.

The stunned disbelief of Government MPs was mirrored in the faces of even Opposition media operatives, who could not believe the socio-economic dislocations the opposition collective was prepared to visit upon the nation, merely to be vindictive, and to show the government, in Granger’s own words, “who is boss”.

An image that went viral was of a stunned Finance Min-

I WISH to highlight a disturbing situation in my neighbourhood (# 53 Village, Corentyne, Berbice) that has been continuing for a number of years. I am exasperated with this lawlessness.

For quite sometime I have been making reports to the # 51 Police Station about the nuisance, but to date no action has been taken regarding deafening noise from the # 53 Harvest Assembly Church that disrupts my tranquility, which is intolerable, The pastor and members of his congregation must consider people who live next to them and respect their peace.

I believe God is not deaf and certainly does not need people shouting over a PA (public address) system for him to listen.

People should pray while knowing that what they are saying is personal between them and God. Otherwise I am quite sure that even God is not pleased when churches disrupt other people’s well-being.

session of firearm.

Three of them, Ruel Williams, 32 of Lot 657 Industrial Area, McKenzie; Wesley Griffith, 19 of Lot 283 Thomas Street and Nellon Brummel, a 27-year-old porter of Lot 27 Lower Kara Kara, all of Linden, were not required to plead to six robbery charges.

It is alleged that on Friday, January 31 at South Amelia’s Ward, Linden, being armed with a gun they robbed Martina Ramdehol of $400,000 cash.

The second charge stated that on the same day, they robbed Nafeeza Ramdehol of one gold ring, one gold chain and Blackberry cellular phone together valued $107,000.

The third charge stated that on the same day they robbed Koolali Ramdehol of two gold rings valued $50,000.

Lorenzo Forde, 18, of Charlestown was also charged with the murder of Pegasus Taxi Driver – Rubrindranauth Jeeboo. These are almost daily crimes committed on innocent, hard-working people.

Were the victims not terrified, especially Jeeboo? What defines terrorism in any case? The destruction to lives and property is the same.

These criminals must never be out living amongst civil society ever again.

No death penalty will deter these killers, but they must fully understand that life behind bars must mean what it says.

There is no dearth of criminals in the guise of lawyers willing to subvert the justice systems and free their soldiers to continue to wreak havoc and create mayhem in the country. However, there is a need for care, because they are clever and are prone to suing people who expose them. An example is a recent headline in the Chronicle, “Nigel Hughes in hot water again”, wherein the article states: “Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman, Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Nigel Hughes, seems incapable of staying out of legal trouble. On the 17th January, 2014, Mayfield French, the owner of popular city school Mae’s, sued Nigel Hughes, Hand-in-Hand Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Registrar of the Supreme Court in respect of a property located at Lot 29 Subryanville, Kitty, Georgetown, upon which part of the school has been built.”

The contention is that as a result he “…jeopardises 300 students preparing for CSEC exams in April-May, 2014.”

This headline sounds like music to the ears of those who are always on the right side of the law, but there is need for care in trying to be first to bring these stories to the public, because there are lots of people out there who are ready, willing and able to feed information like this in order for a criminal to sue for big bucks. Once you print it then you are liable: The crooked lawyers will sue and win and your source will disappear or change their story.

These lawyers can afford to defend the young criminals free of cost because of the proceeds they receive from defending the interests of drug barons or cartels. They also have deep connections to some judges and magistrates in the judicial system; and that is why they often win indefensible cases at an alarming rate.

In another country, Nigel Hughes would be in jail for tampering with evidence in that Buxton gas station murder, or jury tampering in the Lusignan murder trial; or tried on the basis of these allegations, but the then police commissioner never went after him so he was allowed to grow into the thorn in the side of the Government.

DEVON ANTHONY LAYNE

TED KING

ALTHOUGH assault and breach of SOPs (standard operating procedures) by police ranks have been confirmed, there is no evidence to support buggery of Colwyn Harding. This is according to the Chairman of Police Complaints Authority, Justice Cecil Kennard.

I don’t know the law but all the news media that broke this fabricated lie, as well as the boy and his parent/s must be brought to trial for libel.

If no action is taken, then Government and the police need to be prepared for more convicts to cry foul when they run afoul of the law.

From day one most people with even just a little bit of common sense knew this was a lie.

Now you know why Nigel Hughes was asking for $100 million of taxpayers’ money for this lying criminal.

The criminal community is conducting their forays with impunity because of the support – tacit and open-of the opposition collective and so laws must be implemented to charge these criminals as “terrorists”. If not they will never stop.

Once freed through jury tampering and lying witnesses, or found guilty but given minimal sentences they will be at it again in bolder and smarter ways, not to be easily caught another time.

Terrorists, as these perpetrators must be called, should be put away for a long time, like “life behind bars” to reflect and to send a message that the revolving doors of the justice system is closed permanently.

Four men appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer charges of robbery under arms and unlawful pos-

God is not deaf, and prayers to him should not disturb peace

ister, Dr. Ashni Singh, covering his face in agonised dismay as the Opposition did the unbelievable, cleanly cutting the budget for the Government’s flagship in hinterland development, the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), with all the resultant implications, with former Amerindian Affairs Minister, Ms Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, sitting next to him in solemn anguish as she contemplated the dire consequences of this vindictive budgetary slash to her people, who have always been oppressed by the PNC, in and now out of Government.

What was even more appalling was the AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan callously describing as “collateral damage” the Amerindian communities and persons who would suffer, with many losing their jobs as a consequence of this irrational budgetary massacre.

However, this eventuality should not have been unexpected when the joint parliamentary Opposition, exulting in the collective power vested in it through its one-seat majority during an earlier sitting (when Supplemental Financial Paper No. 7 was laid in the National Assembly) determinedly voted against its passage, thus leaving incomplete the country’s accounting records, which would be recorded as unresolved in the AG’s audit reports for the budget agencies in which the monies had been spent. According to legal and financial experts, the likes of this has never before happened in any other part of the world.

And those monies were spent on unforeseen expenses, while the Government had to continue its functionality while Parliament was prorogued to facilitate general elections. But, the business of the State did not come to an abrupt halt during that period, as was the expectation. The Constitution makes provision for the Government to continue its work in such an eventuality, and for the consequential

supplemental papers to be laid in the National Assembly when next it convened.

That supplemental financial paper, shockingly, did not gain passage through the recalcitrant power-drunkenness of the joint Opposition, which did not care that the monies were spent for contractual financial obligations in preparatory work for the specialty hospital; flood relief and interventions in drainage and irrigation; retroactive increases for public servants and joint services ranks; expenses for police ranks who were “in lying” during the elections period; funding for the extended registration period, and other such expenses in the nation’s interest.

However, even more catastrophic is the combined Opposition’s intractable stance of non-support of the legislation to combat money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/ CFT), despite pleas from all right-minded stakeholders all across the country.

And one can only assume that the Opposition will be richly rewarded by the only persons who would benefit from the non-passage of this vital Bill and the dire consequences that are already being felt in the inexorable retraction of Guyana’s social development and economic growth: the drug barons, money launderers, and criminals of every shape and form, both nationally and internationally.

Apart from well-documented relationships with the criminal fraternity, opposition leaders have a track record of providing pro bono legal representation to murderous gang and cartel members.

Suspicion of their prostitution of this nation is therefore a natural consequence of this latest anti-development, anti-national, unpatriotic action/non-action of theirs which they refuse to reverse.

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

World Inter-faith Harmony Week fosters understanding of and appreciation for others THE first week of February is designated ‘World Inter-faith Harmony Week’. During this period, faith-based organisations are encouraged to learn something about the diverse cultures and religious practices of others in an effort to foster greater understanding and appreciation, thereby building a society with love and harmony.

For the observances of this week, the Inter-Religious Organisation of Guyana requested organisations to make presentations on the topic: “How does the application of your faith impact positively on society?”

To my mind the allotted time was too short for presentations, so I do pray that through your paper I can share my presentation to a wider readership since not many in Guyana are familiar with the teachings of Buddhism. The following is a Buddhist presentation.

BODHISATTVA In his famed text: “The Way of the Bodhisattva”, Shantideva states that “All happiness and joy are the consequences of cherishing the well-being of other sentient beings, while all problems, tragedies and disasters are the consequences of self-cherishing attitudes. What further need is there, he asks, to talk about this when we can see the qualities of the Buddha, who cherishes the welfare of other sentient beings, and the fate of ourselves, who are in this current state?”

We can easily be convinced of this by comparing the shortcomings of ordinary sentient beings with the enlightened qualities and wisdom of the Buddha. On the basis of this comparison, we are able to see the benefits and merits of the aspiration to cherish the welfare of other sentient beings and the faults and disadvantages of a self-cherishing and self-centred attitude.

The Dalai Lama states that, “...since self and others are equal in having the innate desire to be happy and to overcome suffering, why do we seek our own self-interest at the expense of others - even to the extent of being totally oblivious to them?” I think this points to something very true. Like oneself, all other sentient beings are equal in having this wish to be happy and to overcome suffering.

Each of us individually is not satisfied with any level of pleasure and happiness, and this is true of all sentient beings. Just as I, as an individual, have the natural right to fulfil this basic aspiration, so do all other sentient beings.

It is crucial to recognise this fundamental equality.

What then is the difference between self and others? No matter how important and precious each person is, we are only talking about the well-being of one person. No matter how acute their suffering may be, we are still concerned here with the interest of one single person. In contrast, when we speak about the well-being of other sentient beings, this word other refers to limitless, countless sentient beings.

In the case of this other, even if we are dealing with slight degrees of suffering, when aggregated, we are talking about the sufferings of an infinite number of beings. Therefore, from the point of view of quantity, the welfare of other sentient beings becomes far more important than that of oneself.

Even from the point of view of our own self-interest, if others are happy and satisfied, then we ourselves can also be happy. On the other hand, if others are in a perpetual state of suffering, then we too will suffer from the same fate. The interest of others is intimately linked with our own self-interest; this is very true. Furthermore, based on our own personal experience, we can observe that the more we hold on to a strong sense of self-cherishing our own self-interest-the greater our own emotional and psychological problems.

Of course, the pursuit of our own self-interest is very important.

However, we need a more realistic approach, that is, not to take self-interest too seriously but spend more time thinking about the well-being of others. Being more altruistic and taking into account the feelings and well-being of others is, in actual fact, a much more healthy approach in pursuing our own interests. If we do that, we will see a marked change, a feeling of relaxation.

We will no longer be easily provoked by petty circumstances, thinking that everything is at stake, and acting as if our whole image, identity and existence are being threatened. On the other hand, if we constantly think of our own self interest-totally oblivious to the well-being of others-then even the tiniest circumstances can provoke deep feelings of hurt and disturbance. The truth of this is something we can judge from our own experience.

In the long run, generating a good heart will benefit both ourselves and others. In contrast, allowing our minds to remain enslaved by self-centredness will only perpetuate our feelings of dissatisfaction, frustration and unhappiness, both in temporary terms and in the long term. We will waste this wonderful opportunity we have now, of being equipped with this wonderful human faculty of intelligence, which can be utilized for higher purposes.

So it is important to be able to weigh these long-term and shortterm consequences. What better way to make our human existence meaningful than by meditating on heart of the Buddha - the altruistic aspiration to attain enlightenment (nirvana) for the sake of all sentient beings.

WHAT THEN IS NIRVANA According to Master Thich Hhat Hanh, “In Buddhism we speak of Nirvana, which is the cessation of all suffering. The cause of all our suffering comes from our wrong perceptions - our avidy? - our

misunderstanding of what is really going on in our lives and our relationships with others. We cannot view reality clearly because our emotions and experiences obstruct our ability to see it.

The practice of meditation, the practice of looking deeply, helps us to deal with our wrong perceptions. If, through meditation, we are able to address your wrong perceptions, we can be free from the suffering they inevitably cause.”

This is because not only do we have an inaccurate perception of ourselves and others, but others hold misperceptions about themselves and you and me, too. The result is fear, hatred and even violence toward each other. Dealing with wrong perceptions through meditation is the only way to peace. When we begin to remove wrong perceptions we begin to deal with the suffering we all experience.

When we meditate deeply we find out that even ideas like being and non-being, birth and death, coming and going are wrong ideas.

That is why Nirvana is first of all removal of notions and ideas that serve the basis of misunderstanding and suffering. If you are afraid of death, of nothingness, of non-being, you have wrong perceptions.

When you look at a cloud, you are sure the cloud exists, because you can see it. Later on when the cloud becomes the rain, you do not see the cloud anymore, and we say the cloud is not there. You would describe the cloud as non-being. But if you look deeply enough, you can see the cloud exists in the rain. It is impossible for a cloud to die.

A cloud can become rain, snow or ice, but a cloud cannot become nothing; because for everything, there is a transformation, there is a continuation. This is as true for human bodies as it is for clouds.

You cannot suddenly change from “someone” to “no one”. The notion of nothing-ness cannot apply to reality, whether to a cloud or a human being.

The Buddha did not die, the Buddha continued through his Sangha (community) and through his Dharma (teachings). That is why ideas like being born, dying, coming and going, being and non-being can be removed by the practice of looking deeply.

When you remove these notions you are free and unafraid. Nonfear is the true foundation of great happiness. So long as fear is in your heart happiness cannot be perfect. That is why Nirvana is not something that you get in the future, but rather something

PROCRASTINATION IS DEFINITELY THE THIEF OF TIME WE used to be known as B.G. (British Guiana). After 26th May, 1966 some said “Big Georgetown”, now it is referred to as ‘Big Garbagetown’.

Why did we not fix/service kokers, pumps and desilt/clean drains and parapets during the appropriate seasons – gross procrastination by the authorities. This does not apply to Georgetown alone but the whole of Guyana.

Labour and finance should never be excuses or create problems. I read somewhere that the M&CC boasts over 800 workers.

Where there were dilapidated or “small” buildings and empty lots, which attracted miniscule taxes, there are now “skyscrapers” and enhanced buildings now constructed on those very lots. This means more taxes. Is this procrastination or favouritism by the collectors?

Mashramani is less than 20 days away and, to date, nothing has been done about enhancing the parapets along the route, i.e., weeding, filling, levelling and revetting, fixing potholes, cleaning drains and canals and painting culverts and traffic signs.

Last-minute preparations is also a form of procrastination and, at worse, these works will be done in a hurried and sloppy way just for Mash, thus having no lasting effects/benefits.

Corporate entities and businesses, especially along the parade route (Imex, Bonny’s, GWI) just to name a few, should chip in and enhance their parapets, including the opposite side, and get the concomitant advertising publicity and tax breaks.

The authorities should be cognisant of the presence of overseas visitors (Guyanese and non-Guyanese).

By the way, don’t the powers that be open Haags Bosch after hours then collect and dump commercial/municipal garbage?

Many cities do. It would also be faster and more efficient because there will be less traffic on the roads.

Those in control should stop dawdling, which is a lazy, lackadaisical form procrastination and heave ho.

Let’s get going Guyana.

JOHN G. RAMOTAR

you can achieve here and now through your meditation practice.

Nirvana is the capacity to be free of wrong notions and wrong perceptions which results in freedom from suffering. Nirvana can be translated as freedom - freedom from ideas and biases that hides the reality. Meditation practice can give us wisdom and a direct encounter with reality. It can free you from your view of a world that does not correspond with what really is.

PANDIT CHRISHNA PERSAUD Buddhist Acharya

Alarmed at reported pollution of Kara Kara creek by Bosai THE directors of the Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO) are expressing alarm at the reported pollution of the Kara Kara creek, by Bosai. This is a very troubling development because residents of neighbouring local communities depend on that creek for water for certain everyday activities.

Therefore, this emerging environmental situation has serious implications on the public health of those residents and communities that use the waterway.

However, we believe that this incident signals the need for greater environmental awareness, on the part of citizens residing or working, in that area.

Some of the residents told ECHO that they are worried about what is really happening to their community; they are not receiving any information on how the operations of this corporation is affecting their environment and their health.

Also, it points to the need for the competent authorities to put in place measures to strictly monitor and evaluate companies like Bosai whose activities impact on the security and health of the natural environment, particularly those that are operating in the interior and far-flung areas of Guyana.

Elsewhere, we have said that those institutions and agencies that are tasked with the responsibility of securing the integrity of the environment should be strengthened and given greater capacity to do their work efficiently and effectively.

What is worrying is that Bosai has been releasing materials over a large space of vegetation to allow the filth in the waste water to be trapped before it finally flows into the creek. What we do not know is exactly what is filtered, by Bosai, into the environment. Again, there appear to be gaps in reporting schedules on environmental activities, at the corporate level.

We are calling on corporate bosses of Bosai to practise good environmental stewardship, and to commit to more environmental accountability and responsibility practices, in their operation, in that region.

ROYSTON KING Executive Director, ECHO

Heaven help PPP/C at next elections THE headline, “Gecom, Audit Office at odds over $500,000 elections advance: - acting CEO says money went missing from safe after fire”. This made my day. I cannot stop “laffing me head off”. These guys are prime candidates to replace Boodhoo. Heaven help the PPP next elections.

This is why the PNC always strives. Now, true to their normal modus operandi of rubbing their mess on Government’s face, all the PNC has to do is tell their supporters that GECOM is PPP-controlled and GECOM’s people are thieves for them to call street protests if they do not win the next elections.

Who in their right mind would believe someone would just leave that amount of money lying around?

If I were a PNC spokesperson, I would tell the PNC supporters that someone from PPP-controlled GECOM “huffed the duff”. This is why GECOM’s people do not want transparency and instead demand that everything must be done in secret and behind closed doors. HAHAHA! T. KING

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

8

Vieira’s politically induced amnesia CRITICAL moments in a country’s political existence are known to result in a plethora of viewpoints/opinions expounding on the particular issue. It is a necessary attribute of a democratic society, which gives citizens the right to their individual pronouncements. But, as always, there are those who will deliberately seek to mislead.

Tony Vieira, former sugar planter, television pioneer, but also a former PNC/R Member of Parliament and shadow agriculture spokesperson, and more so public commentator, is well known to the Guyanese public as a critic and analyst of the political-social-economic milieu, in which he lambasts the PPP/C Administration on every single issue.

From his many broadsides, there’s no mistaking his undisguised hatred for the Government. Though it is OBSERVER’s belief that he is capable of a higher level and better standard of thinking, his continued allegiance to an old dictatorial culture bars his better sense of judgment.

He, like so many of the well-known perennial critics, has pronounced on the chief justice’s ruling on the Opposition’s cutting of the 2012 Budget, and, as is only to be expected, disagrees with the ruling.

In his piece, “Another citizen debunks the Chief Justice ruling” in yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News, one gleans from his offing that the reason that the Separation of Powers has been compromised is a result of the judiciary interfering with the Legislative process.

In fact, he agrees with Mr. Eusi Kwayana on this point. Again, he is entitled to his particular opinion, this being a democratic society and all. But OBSERVER must take issue when he says, “ …this ridiculous situation of the minority ruling the majority must be resolved once and for all.”

Agricola murder accused remanded

Absolutely, one does not expect this view of Vieira, since he is known to be very meticulous in his research on matters pertaining to the Constitution. Vieira is, in effect, challenging the current configuration of the House, whereby the PPP/C is in government despite its securing the largest single bloc of votes at the 2011 November polls.

Surely, he cannot be serious about such a statement! Nor can it be a case of amnesia. Well, if it is, then such a disorder has to be one of a political nature, for this public figure is fully aware as to why the Government is still in office, despite ceding its majority.

Emphatically, it has been legitimately elected in accordance with constitutional stipulations that bestow the right of office to the party that receives the single largest bloc of votes at national elections.

Of course, the PPP/C did, and, in keeping with the Constitution, it is the duly elected government. This is what appears to be of great concern to Vieira: The dictates of the Constitution.

OBSERVER is sure that Vieira remembers who is the author of such a Constitution that has been the pivotal guide of the nation’s affairs since its promulgation in 1980; and that it is the same Constitution by which the current Administration has been guided since it took office.

Further, there are some truths with which Vieira must come to terms, beginning with the fact that the Government, notwithstanding its poll balance, did not attempt to subvert the constitutional process. Secondly, for the first time in the post-independence history of the nation, and under a PPP/C Government, a situation arose that resulted in the strict adherence to the Constitution. This was clear manifestation of the democratic process at work.

Should Mr. Vieira speak as a citizen, and not as an Opposition supporter, he will definitely comprehend the honest realities of the Constitutional process.

Tony Vieira, whose hatred for the government is undisguised

Four refused bail over Amelia’s Ward armed robbery

By Geeta Rampersaud

By Geeta Rampersaud

AS the charge of murder was being read to her by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Private, Abiola Jacobs yesterday stood in court teary-eyed, her head tilted to her left and her hands crossed behind her back as she listened to the indictable offence, which detailed that on January 31, at Agricola Public Road, Greater Georgetown, she murdered 55-year-old Agricolan, Donna Taylor.

Police Inspector, Michael Grant, prosecuting, informed the court that the facts of the matter are as detailed in the charge, but police investigations are incomplete.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, the 22-year-old resident of Lot 55 Evan Phillips Park, Agricola, East Bank of Demerara was consequently remanded to prison, and the case was put off to February 26 for statements.

Police report that Taylor’s body was found aback her Agricola home on Friday, January 31, with her throat slit and her hands bound behind her. The cause of her death has been given as shock and hemorrhage due to multiple injuries.

This is the official results of a post-mortem examination Murder accused carried out on the body by Abiola Jacobs pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh on February 3.

Samantha Sabat, Taylor’s friend who had been a guest at her home at time of the incident, was injured when she jumped from the window of the Lot 16/17 two-storey house in Agricola after persons had invaded the property. Sabat, a citizen of the United Kingdom, had been hospitalised after she was found lying unconscious in the yard with bruises about her body, particularly her head.

She has since been discharged from hospital, and has allegedly gone into hiding.

FOUR men who appeared before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Tuesday to answer several charges in connection with an armed robbery they allegedly committed at South Amelia’s Ward, Linden, besides unlawful possession of a firearm, and they were all refused bail.

Three of them, Ruel Williams, 32, of Lot 657 Industrial Area, McKenzie, Wesley Griffith, 19, of Lot 283 Thomas Street and Nellon Brummel, a 27-year-old porter of Lot 27 Lower Kara Kara, all of Linden, were not required to plead to six robbery charges.

Particulars of the charge said on Friday, January 31, at South Amelia’s Ward, Linden, being armed with a gun they robbed Martina Ramdehol of $400,000 cash.

The second charge stated that on the same day, they robbed Nafeeza Ramdehol of one gold ring, one gold chain and a Blackberry cellular phone, together valued at $107,000.

The third charge said that on the same day they robbed Koolali Ramdehol of two gold rings valued at $50,000.

The fourth charge said they robbed Daveanand Ramdehol of one motor car with licence plate PRR 4501, two gold rings and one gold chain, together valued at $3,405,000.

The fifth charge said they robbed Lalta Ramdehol of a quantity of jewellery, among other items, together valued at $228,000.

The sixth charge said they

robbed Ryan Ramdehol of a quantity of items which included gold jewellery and cellular phones valued in excess of $600,000.

Griffith was also charged with Clifton Orina of Lot 280 McKenzie, Linden, and they were not required to plead to the indictable offence that said on Sunday, February 2 at Thomas Street, McKenzie, Linden, they had one shotgun and three live cartridges, without being holders of a firearm licence.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said all the virtual complainants reside in the same home at Lot 775 South Amelia’s Ward, Linden. He said it is alleged that around 20:13 hrs that day they were all at home, when Griffith, Brummel and Williams, were armed with a shotgun and demanded the articles mentioned in the particulars of the offences.

They made good their escape with the car belonging to Daveanand Ramdehol. Police acting on information retrieved the car and further investigations led to the arrest of Griffith and Brummel. They gave the police information which led to the number three accused (Williams) and one the VC’s cellular phones was found in his possession.

The prosecutor said that on Sunday, Griffith told the police during interrogation that he gave the shotgun to Orina, and it was recovered at his home. In addition, the prosecutor said a wanted bulletin was issued for Griffith over a robbery matter on the East Coast of Demerara.

He also has a series of pending

matters before another court. In these circumstances, the prosecutor asked that bail be refused, citing the prevalence of the offence and the fact that a gun was used. The weapon was retrieved during investigations.

Attorney-at-law, Mr. Gordon Gilhuys representing Griffith and Willaims said that Griffith had complained of being beaten by the police. The lawyer pointed to his client’s forehead, abdomen, hands, scrotum and knee that have visible marks and matter oozing from his ears.

Gilhuys said he was instructed by his client that four officers, whose names were given, had caused him to suffer the injuries.

Griffith said he asked the police to take him to the hospital but until now he has not been

seen by any doctor.

Counsel said neither of his clients has any pending matter or prior conviction and he further argued that there is no evidence that the firearm was found on Griffith and Orina.

The prosecutor informed the court that Brummel had a previous matter of a similar nature, but the defence counsel in response said he represented Brummel in his previous matter at Christianburg Court, arguing that he was charged with simple larceny and it is of a different nature and has nothing to do with a robbery.

The defendants were remanded to prison and the cases were transferred to Christianburg Court for February 11.

Duo accused of wounding man after slapping incident TWO men charged with unlawful wounding were both placed on $100,000 bail each by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, on Tuesday.

Desmond Singh of Lot 81 Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown, and Vikram Samchan (no address given), were not required to plead to the indictable offence that said on Saturday, February 1 at La Penitence, Georgetown, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Maurice Dashira.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, stated that on the day in question at La Penitence, Singh accused Dashira of slapping him.

The prosecutor said Singh and the other accused then gave Dashira a thrashing, causing him to suffer the injuries he received.

The prosecutor objected to bail, contending that there are still visible injuries which the victim suffered. He argued further that since they are known to each, there is a likelihood that they may tamper with the witness.

The objection was overruled, however, and the case was put off until tomorrow.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

9

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana...

Something fishy’s afoot in the Opposition camp OLD Kai is convinced that something is not right with our Opposition, currently.

Truth be told, they have always been ‘sailing’ and divorced from the realities of Guyana, but this detachment has now reached a new high.

Take for instance the Opposition leader’s recent utterances on the ICT sector in the Kaieteur News: It is simply self-destructive! But I must take time out to thank Kaieteur News for printing their opposition propaganda, as it gives me the opportunity to rip their arguments to shreds, and expose their severe shortcomings.

It is a known fact that the Kaieteur News has now become the New Nation (the official organ of the former PNC now APNU under Adam Harris - former New Nation Editor).

Sensing the backlash after their refusal to have the Private Sector Commis-

- that walkout was not as spontaneous as it appeared sion independently monitor deliberations of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, and the Opposition’s subsequent walkout of that meeting on Monday, Kaieteur News was apparently directed to do ‘damage control’.

The following day, a little write-up on the walkout was tucked somewhere in the paper, while a bold article, proclaiming Granger’s concern for the Private Sector and ICT, was conjured up and strategically placed.

This has given rise to speculation that there was some amount of pre-planning which went into it, and would confirm that Opposition members, even before they attended that meeting, knew that they would be walking out in an effort to deny the Private Sector the

opportunity to witness what our Democracy has been reduced to, because of the Opposition’s one-seat Parliamentary majority.

Individuals over at Kaieteur apparently knew about this impending drama by the Opposition, which is why they began crafting their article in advance.

This is the kind of incestuous collusion between the Opposition and elements of the media who are keen on parading themselves as ‘independent’, when in actual fact they are politicians pretending to be journalists.

Now back to the Opposition leader, Mr. Granger, who is contending that the PPP/C Government should not compete with the Private Sector in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Remember, this is the same man who promised to provide Internet Wi-Fi service, free of cost, to the entire city of Georgetown if he were elected President during the last

elections campaign.

Further, Granger contends that it (ICT) is an area that should be spearheaded with capital from the Private Sector. Pity he did not have his new- found concern for the private sector and their investments when he continues to attack them for investing in the Berbice River Bridge.

The Opposition leader, clearly, is still living in the 1970s and 80s during the dictatorship, as he is quoted as saying “the government must provide certain public services, such as health and education, but once you get beyond that and start to compete in profit-making enterprises, like running newspapers and gas stations, we feel the government should pull out.”

Mr. Granger apparently is unaware that ICT plays an extremely crucial role in the development of both the education and health sectors in a

Parika stelling due for ‘modification’, additional repairs this year

– so too is Supenaam’s THE facilities at Parika, Leguan and Fort Island were among stellings that were rehabilitated last year under the Transport and Harbours Department’s (T&HD) 2013 capital allotment of $393M. According to T&HD General Manager, Ms Marcelene Merchant, besides stelling repairs, the money was also used to dry-dock two vessels, as well as acquire spares.

Work on the Parika stelling alone cost around $5M, and included the construction of additional lavatory facilities for passengers among other repairs that were effected.

Repairs undertaken at the Leguan stelling cost in the vicinity of $4.7M, while Fort Island’s was to the tune of $3M. A spot of work was also done at the Bartica stelling, and that came up to $11.9M, Merchant said.

Other interventions in 2013 included the lifting and refencing of the scale at the Parika stelling; the modification of the one at the Supenaam stelling; and the effecting of repairs to the speedboat steps at Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop, and Georgetown stellings; the installation of collapsible steel rails at the Georgetown and Vreed-en-

Hoop stellings to facilitate the extended night operation of speedboats; and upgrading the close-circuit network at the THD Goods Wharf on upper Water Street, Kingston.

The two vessels that were docked were the MVs Kimbia and Sandaka, to the tune of $143.7M and $52M respectively.

Merchant said the MV Bonasika, which plies the New Amsterdam to Rosignol route, was slated to be docked last year to the tune of $33.9M, but could not because of a defect in the docking gate.

She said plans are currently in train to have the said gate repaired so as to accommodate all the vessels due to be dry-docked at the New Amsterdam Stelling.

The MV Makouria, which was also slated for overhaul last year, will now be docked at E.C Vieira dockyard by month-end so as to effect those repairs, projected to cost in the vicinity of $135.9M. Also due to be dry-docked this year is the MV Malali.

Merchant estimates that the T&HD spent $150.9M in total last year on the acquisition of spares for its fleet of vessels.

On this year’s agenda, she said,

is the acquisition of even more spares, and the modification and repair of the Supenaam and Parika stellings and the Mazaruni dockage. Also on the agenda, she said, is the acquisition of a generator for use at Parika during “blackouts”.

T&HD is also mulling the acquisition of a number of fuel meters for its fleet-an invest-

ment of some $42M-in order to stem the reported pilfering of fuel and also to keep tabs on the actual fuel received from the fuel trucks, among other functions, Merchant said.

INCREASED REVENUE Revenue-wise, Merchant said 2013 saw a decrease in ex-

modern era. A teacher based in Georgetown could be teaching, via video-conferencing, several classes in the hinterland; similarly today, surgeries are performed with the doctors being in one country, and the patient in another. This is all possible through the advancement of ICT and clearly, the government has to lay the foundation now for future development. To argue against this is to deliberately try to keep our people and country in a perpetual state of underdevelopment.

But then again, this has always been the plan, apparently, the Opposition’s attack against the construction of the modern specialty hospital being a case in point.

This attempt by the Opposition to distract and ‘mauvaise langue’ (bad-talk) the government will not work. These were the paragons of transparency and accountability for the past

three years; now, suddenly, they have gone into stealth mode and do not want the public to witness how they treat the nation’s business.

Where is the local chapter of Transparency International when you need them! Sorry! We have been reliably informed that they are only available if it is an activity to ‘cuss-down’ the government.

In the meantime, let us digest Granger’s words as opposed to his actions, “...

We must make the country safe for business persons, for investors, for ordinary citizens...”

Is this the same man who chased away an American investor by refusing to support the Amaila Falls hydroelectric project? And whose continuing delaying tactics have resulted in Guyana being on a financial blacklist, which is affecting all investors and dissuading potential investors? (To be continued...)

penditure, but an increase in revenue in the sum of $679M generated as against $583M the previous year. Expenditure for 2013 was pegged at $806M as against $827M in 2012.

In terms of traffic, she said the company saw an overall increase in the number of passengers, vehicles and cargo movement in 2013 as against 2012. The number of passengers for 2013 was 331,000, as against 282,000 the year previous, which equates to a 17 per cent increase.

The number of vehicles

transported on the ferries in 2013 was 58,000 in 2013 as against 40,000 in 2012; a 44 percent increase and cargo transported was 125 tonnes in 2013, as against 113 tonnes; a 10 percent increase.

Total passenger revenue in 2013 was $89.5M as against $59.9M, total vehicle revenue was $227M in 2013 as against $168M in 2012 and total cargo revenue was $283 in 2013 as against $278M in 2013. Miscellaneous revenue was $79M in 2013 and $77M in 2012.

There was an overall 16 per cent increase in revenue.

GWI calls on restauranteurs, hoteliers to install grease traps – also warns against tampering with sewer chambers

GUYANA Water Inc. (GWI) is appealing to all businesses involved in food preparation to install and consistently clean grease traps.

The appeal follows the hospitalisation of a mother and her toddler after they both fell into an uncovered manhole on Water Street. The incident occurred Tuesday in the vicinity of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast-food outlet.

GWI said in a release yesterday that the company continues to receive numerous reports of overflowing sewerage resulting from sewer pipes becoming clogged due to coagulated fats and oils used for food preparation by restaurants and hotels.

GREASE TRAPS GWI’s Sanitation Department records in excess of seven sewerage overflows per week, resulting from restaurants and hotels not installing grease traps or failing to clean the devices.

The water company has noted recent media reports regarding persons being injured due to the removal of sewer chamber covers by unauthorized persons, and is advising that “it is an offence to tamper with any device under the purview of the Guyana Water Incorporated as stipulated by the Water and Sewerage 2002 Act.” GWI also expressed its alarm at the recent events and urges all residents

of Georgetown to report immediately any instances of tampering, particularly the removal of sewer chamber covers to GWI. Through the Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) US$10,000,000 Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP), GWI is rehabilitating the entire sewerage system in an effort to alleviate sewerage overflows. However, without residents utilizing the system properly the improvements will yield poor results, GWI said in its release.

SEMINAR PLANNED The company, through the GSIP, is planning a seminar for hotel and restaurant owners to provide education on the installation and correct use of the grease trap. This is expected to be held within the second quarter of 2014.

In addition, GWI conducts scheduled inspections of hotels and restaurants to ensure that grease traps are being effectively utilized. The company also provides advice for hotel and restaurant owners on the correct use of the device via its call centre and Sanitation Department.

To report instances of tampering customers are advised to call GWI’s Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701/03/04, e-mail customercallcentre@gwi.gy, visit www.gwiguyana.com or post via social media at www.facebook.com/everydropcountsgy

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Opposition fails to attend AML subcommittee meeting - following earlier walkout

MEMBERS of the AFC and APNU were a “no show” at Tuesday night’s subcommittee meeting on the AML/CFT, following a brazen walk out at a previous meeting the night before.

The meeting which was scheduled to begin at 17:15 hrs was attended by all four Government representatives which included the committee’s Chair, Gail Teixeira. According to reports, the committee waited for 30 minutes for the Opposition members to arrive, but they never showed. As a result, the committee proceeded with the meeting which lasted approximately three hours.

Minister of Finance, and subcommittee member, Dr. Ashni Singh, said the actions of the Opposition once again demonstrates their blatant dis-

regard and disrespect towards the citizens of Guyana and members of Parliament.

“Since last year, when this bill was first introduced to Parliament, the Opposition, by their own actions made it unequivocally clear that they intend to destroy Guyana at all costs,” said Minister Singh.

“In the words of the PNC’s late leader, Desmond Hoyte, this is ‘Executive lawlessness’.”

The Finance Minister chided the Opposition for walking out of the meeting and their eventual non-attendance of the meeting. He said such actions are all part of the Opposition’s continued delaying tactics to derail the work of the committee.

“They have no respect for the Constitution, the National Assembly or the citizens of Guyana. They do as they please,

when it is convenient to their needs and without consideration for the implications of their actions on the nation,” Dr Singh contended.

According to him, the Opposition, particularly the APNU, through its actions seem to want to take Guyana back to pre-1992 when Guyana’s economy was in shambles.

“The current leadership of the APNU were all members of the leadership of the PNC when the party managed the decimation of the private sector, the Banishment of the entrepreneurial classes in Guyana, and the acquisition of Guyana’s status as a pariah state in the international investment community,” Dr Singh recalled.

“They destroyed Guyana’s economy then and are now seeking to do so again, even

Dr Ashni Singh, Minister of Finance when they are no longer in office,” he added.

Parliament will meet on Monday to debate and vote, for

PREMATURE JUDGMENTS A DANGEROUS TREND - AG says following report of Justice Kennard on Harding matter

CHAIRMAN of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard, said on Tuesday that there is a difficulty at this time to prove that Colwyn Harding had indeed been sodomised.

And Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, noted that persons -- especially those pursuing a political agenda -- ought to exercise greater care and circumspection in matters of this nature, and should refrain from making premature judgments, which seems to be a dangerous trend developing.

“We cannot sacrifice due process (and) natural justice at the altar of political expediency. This is precisely what many persons did in this matter, including the Alliance For Change (AFC). These persons rendered judgment, computed their own compensation, and are demanding that the state pay this compensation at the sum of $100M taxpayers’ money. This is the height of recklessness and Attorney General irresponsibility!” he declared.

Anil Nandlall MEDICAL EVIDENCE The AG pointed out that, in their haste to pass judgment, the judgemental persons ignored reality. He said, “Take, for example, the sheer improbability of a baton being inserted in someone’s anus without him needing medical treatment for nearly two months, as well as the fact that the victim of such a violent assault was able to walk, attend court, and have bowel movements for two months without any apparent problems...”

Nandlall added that persons who made their conclusions public based such statements only on what they had heard from one side, and in the absence of any corroborating evidence. “More importantly, those comments were made in the face of medical evidence which suggest that there was no such assault. I am aware that the young man is being examined by doctors in Jamaica. It is not without significance that two weeks have passed and we are not hearing any report from those doctors.

“I have no doubt that, were the reports supportive of their con-

tentions, it would have been front page news in certain newspapers,” Nandlall asserted.

The Legal Affairs Minister also referred to the Linden protest incident of July 2012, wherein some of the “same players” recklessly concluded that the police and Minister Rohee were involved in the shooting.

“They alleged that they had information that the police shot; and that Minister Rohee, by telephone, issued the instructions to shoot. Mr. Nigel Hughes brought a ballistics expert from overseas, whose testimony established the opposite, that is, that the bullets did not come from police weapons.

“They also brought the telephone records of Minister Rohee, which also established that no call was made from his phone at the material time to any police officer in Linden. It caused them grave embarrassment.”

RUSHED JUDGMENT After the report of the issue had surfaced, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had

Minister Clement Rohee

‘We cannot sacrifice due process (and) natural justice at the altar of political expediency’ – AG Nandlall also urged restraint from rushing to judgment, opining that pronouncements should rather await completion of the necessary investigations and reports.

Last week, Rohee condemned the use of that matter as a political football, and said that premature judgments should be eschewed.

“We view with great consternation politicians and others usually critical of the Government reducing this grave matter into a political football, kicking it around to bolster their falter-

the second time, on the AML/ CFT bill in another last-minute effort to ensure that Guyana complies with the February 13th deadline as prescribed by FATF. Should Guyana fail to see this AML/CFT bill passed in the National Assembly, the consequences will be similar to those already instituted by CFATF. Requests for excuses were received from two members of the APNU. The current configuration of the Committee are four representatives from the PPP, four from the APNU and one from the AFC. “Last year, when this bill was first before the Parliament and the special select committee, the Opposition haphazardly attended meetings and eventually their true position was expressed when they vote against the bill knowing full well that Guyana was going to be blacklisted, should we fail to

comply with the CFATF requirements,” said the Finance Minister.

He further noted that Government has publically committed to making itself available to meet as frequently and as long as is required to complete the work of the committee so that Guyana can be removed from the blacklist and enjoy the privileges associated with being a CFATF and FATF-compliant nation.

“To date, we have not seen on paper any concern or recommendations of the APNU,” said Minister Singh. “If they wish to propose amendments, they must have a document that they can present to the nation, as is the norm in Parliamentary procedure.”

The minister explained that the APNU, in particular, has had months to prepare some form of a proposal, but has failed to do so to date.

ing political fortunes,” Rohee said.

NO EVIDENCE Justice Kennard told the Chronicle that the difficulty comes about because of the length of time that had elapsed between alleged commission of the incident and when the young man was seen by a doctor. When this publication contacted the PCA chairman on Tuesday, he confirmed that he had finished compiling his report, and added that he was reviewing the documents and making copies for his records, before sending the file back to either the commissioner of police or the crime chief, who would forward same to the DPP for legal advice.

He said that if one were to recommend buggery among other charges for the ranks fingered in the Harding matter, when it reaches the court, it is likely to be thrown out on a no-case submission, because the medical records would have to be produced to substantiate and support that the young man had been buggered.

Justice Kennard said doctors’ reports are not confirming that Harding had been buggered.

Harding had told reporters that he did not speak earlier about the incident of baton sodomy because he was embarrassed to reveal the ordeal.

Justice Kennard, who had said earlier that he had an open mind to the investigation, also confirmed that he had requested that the police bring to him a baton for him to analyse, and this had formed part of his conclusion of the investigation.

He made it clear that his leg of the investigation is just part of the entire probe, and when the file reaches the desk of the DPP, the decision on how to Justice proceed would be hers to make.

Cecil Kennard NEXT STEP The last update on Harding’s condition is that he was expected to undergo a second independent medical examination later this week.

Last December, the 23-year-old alleged that he had been raped while in police custody at the Timehri Police Station. The officer who is alleged to have committed the act has been fingered as Constable 19175 Devin Mahendra Singh.

Justice Kennard noted that while there are allegations of buggery, the medical reports and checks by the doctors are proving otherwise.

However, he noted that it was confirmed on the basis of the evidence that some amount of physical force had been used on Harding while he was in police custody.

Several ranks are expected to face disciplinary charges under the Police Disciplinary Act, while two others would be facing criminal charges of assault once the DPP accepts the findings from investigations done by the Police Complaints Authority.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

11

Guyana’s rice marketing efforts focusing on dislodging USA as Caribbean supplier

By Vanessa Narine ORYZA Global Rice Quotes, a recognised information source on rice market trends, reported at January month-end that the sole rice mill in Jamaica completely replaced imports of paddy rice from the United States of America (USA) with those from Guyana in 2013.

And Head of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, told the Guyana Chronicle that the local marketing thrust is focused on dislodging the USA as a supplier to the Caribbean Region.

He said, “Our quality and quantity have improved significantly as a result of technology and better agronomical practices, and we have the capacity to supply the Region. If we can dislodge the US as a supplier, it will be good for Guyana and local rice farmers.”

According to the Oryza report, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said that, for the first time in recent history, Jamaica did not import any paddy rice from the USA in 2013.

Traditionally, Jamaica’s rice imports consist of 20 per cent of the USA paddy rice, but the share of USA paddy rice in Jamaica’s rice imports has been declining in the last five years.

The USDA said Jamaica’s total rice import market remains steady at about 90,000 tonnes.

However, the USA paddy rice imports by Jamaica declined by a whopping 93 per cent, from

approximately 46,000 tonnes in 2008 to a mere 3,300 tonnes in 2012, and have vanished in 2013.

Imports from both Guyana and Suriname receive preferential treatment under the Common External Tariff (CET) for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, and the CET on rice for non-CARICOM countries is 25 per cent, thereby making imports from non-CARICOM countries comparatively expensive.

MARKETING At the beginning of February 2014, Seeraj confirmed that there is still approximately 100,000 tonnes of paddy from the last crop of 2013 waiting to be sold.

Seeraj said, “When we were producing just over 300,000 tonnes, Venezuela accounted for over 60 per cent of our exports.

Now we have gone past that mark, with over 500,000 tonnes, of which only 30 per cent was exported to Venezuela.”

He added that this is where aggressive marketing efforts come in to secure new markets for Guyana’s rice. The RPA Head said Guyana is looking to increase its shares in existing markets as it simultaneously continues talks with new markets.

In a prior interview, Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said a three-pronged approach is being taken to increase exports in the sector: increasing the market share in

countries that have agreements with Guyana; re-entering old markets, where the country once had a meaningful presence; and

DHARAMKUMAR SEERAJ securing new markets. Dr Ramsammy added that efforts are underway to have Venezuela, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as countries in Europe, review existing agreements governing paddy and rice exports emanating from Guyana.

Minister Ramsammy explained that the Caribbean countries and Venezuela currently import rice from other countries besides Guyana, but there is an opportunity to secure greater shares in these existing markets.

He pointed out that in the

Digicel makes annual contribution to Parkside Steel Orchestra DIGICEL (Guyana), on Monday, made its annual donation to the Parkside Steel Orchestra, which will contribute to the band’s participation in the final of the Pan-O-Rama Steel Pan Competition that is part of the 44th Republic Anniversary celebrations.

The musical group was formed in 1998 as an after-school activity for students and has evolved, over the years, into a full steelband, including children and adults.

The Parkside steel orchestra won the steelband contests in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011 and 2012 and Digicel has been its proud supporter since its entrance into the Guyana market under the trade name U-Mobile.

Its Sponsorship and Events Manager, Gavin Hope, said at the simple presentation ceremony on Monday:“Digicel will continue to pledge its support to

Digicel’s Communications Manager, Vidya Sanichara presents cheque to Javanka Williams, while Mr. Cary Gillis looks on. the development of young people in Guyana. Whether it be through the arts, sports and any other form, we are proud to be associated with Parkside.”

The finals of the 2014 Pan-O-Rama Steel Pan Competition are sched-

uled for February 16 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

Mashramani this year is being celebrated under the theme “Cultural folklore: Celebrating 44.”

(Michel Outridge)

case of Haiti, since the earthquake that devastated that nation’s capital, much of the rice entering the country has done so in the form of aid; but with the country in a position to purchase its own rice, Guyana can take advantage of this market.

REGIONAL TRADE Last January, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh stressed in an exclusive interview that Guyana has secured recognition as the “agriculture and food capital” of the Caribbean. He made it clear that once the impediments to trade are addressed, both the Region and Guyana’s trading partners stand to benefit.

Singh said, “We can produce all the food that is required to meet the food import bill of the entire CARICOM. Indeed, Guyana has positioned itself as the agricultural and food capital

of the Caribbean; we have the potential to produce the food and meet the need. Once more concerted efforts are made to address the impediments, the Region will be much better placed to realise its potential, as will individual member states.”

The Finance Minister also noted that the trade impediments are institutional as well as infrastructural. Dr Singh said: “Until these impediments – such as the issue of inefficient transport infrastructure are addressed, the Region will struggle to realise its potential. Addressing this major impediment to trade should be a focus of prioritised efforts of regional policy-makers. For example, the Jagdeo Initiative underlines some priority actions that are needed to accelerate regional trade.

“Some of the impediments

are more easily addressed than others, such as improving and regulating the legislative and regulative framework to facilitate trade; but the transport infrastructure needs attention.”

He added there is absolutely no doubt that trade opportunities in CARICOM “abound”, and that Guyana can, and should, be taking advantage of this. Dr Singh said, “Guyana has been a committed member state when it comes to improving regional enterprise.”

He stressed the benefits of improved regional trade: “Trade is good for both parties, contributing social and economic goods; which is why people engage in trade, because it is in their mutual interest to [so] do,” he stressed.

The minister added that Guyana’s private sector has done well in increasing shares in regional and extra-regional markets.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Rice farmers put on alert for increase in paddy bug infestation

By Vanessa Narine GENERAL Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, is urging rice farmers to heed advisories by both the RPA and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to keep an eye on possible increases in the local paddy bug population.

These pests cause serious damage to paddy at the milking stage and all the commercial varieties, including the rustic and other varieties, were found infested by this pest. Paddy bugs can be found at the top and base of the rice plants above the water level.

The main problem facing the crop has been the lack of

early bug sweeping in the fields by extension officers to determine the bug population within the various sections.

To this end, Seeraj stressed the need for farmers to take advantage of the field days hosted by the GRPA, when farmers can access information on controlling the pest population.

FIELD DAYS He noted that farmers at Number 60 Village, Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne), benefited from a field day on Monday, while farmers in Leguan, Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara) had a similar activity, yesterday.

According to him, the field days along with visits by GRPA and GRDB extension officers

play an important role in controlling paddy bug infestations.

Seeraj highlighted the need for control, considering the devastating consequences of damage caused by paddy bugs.

During the spring crop 2013, an outbreak of paddy bug infestation was noticed in Region 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam).

the migration and dispersal of bugs.

experience some infestation as well.

CONTROL Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture, the GRDB and scientists at the BURMA Research Centre worked closely with farmers to control the

MONITORING The entomologist also advised that farmers with crops in the flowering stage should not spray their crops between the hours of eight in the morning and four in the afternoon each day, because this may damage their seeds, causing them to become wind seeds. She said that at this point monitoring is critical, especially in the evenings.

Baharally noted that in order to be paddy bug free, one would need to clear dams, clear weeds and get rid of the alterna-

The field days, along with visits by RPA and GRDB extension officers, play an important role in controlling paddy bug infestations.

The prolonged wet periods, accompanied by strong winds, were considered to have caused

paddy bug population.

Entomologist Viviane Baharally, in a prior statement, advised that the most effective insecticide is Imidacloprid, which is used for the control of sucking insects, which include rice hoppers, aphids, thrips, whiteflies, termites, turf insects, soil insects and some beetles.

It is most commonly used on rice, cereal, maize, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, fruit, cotton, hops and turf, and is especially systemic when used as a seed or soil treatment.

Baharally said that these bugs are present mainly in the fields of those farmers who are at least 50-60 days away from sowing. She, however, opined that some farmers whose crops are in the flowering stage may

tive host of the bugs.

Paddy bugs have a short life span of 17 days and in some cases the adult would live up to 37 days. However, it is a highly reproductive pest. This is due to the change in weather patterns, from the El Nino season to the rainy season.

Stakeholder agencies have since expressed their support for farmers in controlling the pest population.

The bug infestation has taken its toll on Guyana’s rice industry for the past decade, resulting in the loss of export earnings in US dollars and a shortfall for the domestic market.

Paddy bugs on rice. (Photo by Vanessa Narine)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

13

Guyana to move from analogue TV to digital terrestrial TV by 2020

By Clifford Stanley OFFICIALS entrusted with developing a road map for Guyana’s migration from analogue Television to Digital Terrestrial Television have proposed 2016 as the year to commence digital transmissions by local broadcasters, and 2020 as the year for a complete switch-off of analogue television systems.

The deadlines were floated during the National Frequency Management Unit’s (NFMU’s) public consultation held on the transition at the Guyana International Conference Centre, recently. The idea behind the consultation was to solicit ideas from all stakeholders on how the “inevitable process” should be undertaken.

Among presenters were Head of the NFMU, Mr. Valmiki Singh, and Consultant Dr. Andres Navarro, an Information Communications Technology expert (ICT) attached to International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The road map for the transition had been funded by the South Korean Government via the ITU. Dr. Navarro said the dates are proposed because all of the countries in Latin America, with the exception of Paraguay, are working towards the transition before 2020. He disclosed that Brazil will switch off analogue transmissions in 2018, Venezuela in 2020; and from available though not precise information, Suriname in 2020.

Paraguay had indicated it will close down analogue signals in 2022.

He said Guyana may decide to make the switch after 2020, but would run the risk of not being able to access analogue sets, because by then the technology would have evolved to the extent that these sets would no longer be manufactured, and therefore would not be available, or would be very expensive to purchase.

“The situation could be analogous to the high prices you have to pay for antique cars,” he said.

Dr. Navarro said that, in the last few months, the team has been working on

the road map, which shows what decisions have to be made and the process that would have to be followed.

He said that once the 2016 and 2020 deadlines are agreed, some critical decisions will have to be taken in the next few months in order for these deadlines to be met.

“It also means that if we define the date as 2020, then all the people who have analog television in their homes must get a new receiver in order to continue viewing TV. We want to avoid situations where, when the analogue switch off occurs, people end up not getting signals because they were not aware of what was happening.”

He clarified that viewers would not need to scrap their sets, but would have to buy a converter which can change digital signals to analogue signals.

Singh said the switchover is not due to some kind of dictatorial imposition on the Guyanese public, but is necessary because technology and the world are moving in a particular direction, and if Guyanese don’t adapt, they will be left in the wilderness.

He said: “We are doing this road map, and this will set up deadlines for everything that we have to do in order for the proposed 2016 and 2020 deadlines to be met.”

He said that, for example, the team intends to choose which international standards are to be used for the transmissions, and team members will shortly be consulting stakeholders on this issue. The team intends to do this by the end of this year. It also intends to look at amending regulations and/or putting in place new regulations to address the switchover.

He said that local broadcasters generally seem to think that the deadline of 2016 is okay for commencement of digital broadcasts, and that the 2020 date for the analogue switch-off is acceptable.

He stressed that the pace of technology is changing faster than the world has ever seen, and people -- including Guyanese -- have to accept technological change.

He said that public consultations on the road map are unlikely, but stakeholders who have ideas and opinions can now send those in writing to the NFMU for consideration.

Dr Navarro makes a point during the public consultation. To his left is head of the NFMU, Valmiki Singh, and another NFMU staffer.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Truck driver remanded to prison for alleged drug trafficking until Feb 17

By Geeta Rampersaud FIFTY-three-year-old Er-

rol Keilar of Lot 47 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown appeared yesterday be-

fore Georgetown Magistrate Ann McLennan on a drug trafficking charge and was

refused bail.

Keilar pleaded not guilty to the offence, which alleged

that on Monday, February 3, at Norton Street, Wortmanville, he had possession of 176 grammes of cannabis sativa (marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Corporal Dinero Jones, prosecuting, said the police acted on information, went to Keilar’s home, indentified themselves, and requested permission to conduct a search on the premises.

He said that, in Keilar’s presence, the prohibited substance was found in the second bedroom of the top flat of the house.

Attorney-at-law, Mr. Mark Waldron, representing the defendant, made a bail application for his client, stating that he is a truck driver to whom the United

States-based property owner had given responsibility to take care of the property.

Waldron said a search of the property had been conducted in the absence of his client, the results of which the police have said yielded a parcel of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be the illegal substance cannabis satia. Counsel said multiple occupants reside in the home and therefore there is no prima facie evidence against Keilar.

Magistrate McLennan responded that defence counsel had not stated any special reason why Keilar, a father of one, should be admitted to bail.

Keilar was therefore remanded to prison until February 17, when the case would next be called.

PI into alleged murder of Swiss House Cambio owner by his wife set for April 1st

By Geeta Rampersaud REPRESENTED by attorneys-at-law, Mr Peter Hugh and Ms. Latchmi Rahamat, former beauty queen, Carol Ann Lynch, accused of killing her husband, Swiss House Cambio managing director, Farouk Razack, appeared again yesterday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, and was further remanded until April 1, which has been set for commencement of the PI. Lynch is alleged to have committed the capital offence on May 7, 2007 at their matrimonial home at Lot 106 Ireng Place, Bel Air Park, Georgetown, where Razack’s body had been found.

Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, requested an early date for commencement of the preliminary inquiry (PI), stating that all investigations have Murder accused been completed, and the Carol Ann Lynch state has sixteen witnesses to testify in the matter.

The Chief Magistrate had cause to inform attorney, Peter Hugh that other accused persons have been in custody before his client awaiting their day in court, hence the accused will have to wait her turn for trial.

Businessman placed on $100,000 bail for allegedly swindling car buyer CHIEF Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday granted forty-year-old businessman Lloyd Thomas (no address given) bail in the sum of $100,000 when he appeared before her to answer a charge of fraud.

Thomas pleaded not guilty to the offence, which detailed that with intent to defraud and by falsely pretending that he was in a position to sell, he falsely obtained the sum of $800,000 from Anthony Dalgetty on August 26, 2013 at Matthews Ridge, in the North West District, for the sale of motor car, PKK 1987.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, did not object to bail.

Attorney-at-law, Mr. Leslie Sobers, representing the defendant, said his client has a prior assault matter, and denies the allegation.

The case has been transferred to the Matthews Ridge Court for April 1.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

15

Shontelle Gittens is Junior Calypso Monarch 2014

By Alex Wayne THE Junior Calypso Competition 2014 was hosted with much pomp and fanfare at the National Cultural Centre on Friday last and the lineup showcased creative renditions and riveting competition

among several youngsters.

Moreover, there were dazzling costumes, great theatrics and positive lyrics all around.

While the judges had an uphill task to decide on the top finalists and the most promising contender, they eventually acknowledged

the best presentation delivered by young Shontelle Gittens of Region 4, who was crowned Junior Calypso Monarch 2014. She was awarded $200,000 for her first-rate performance.

In second position was Daniel Plowell of Region 10, carting

off a cash prize of $150,000, while in third place was another Region 10 contestant, Michael Small, winning for himself $100,000.

The prize of $50,000 for Most Promising Junior Calypsonian was awarded to Alicia Benjamin of Region 4.

Alicia Benjamin’s remarkable performance, afforded her the prize for ‘Most Promising Junior Calypsonian’.

Junior Calypso Monarch 2014, Shontelle Gittens, woos the audience at last Friday’s competition.

Second place winner Daniel Plowell was quite a treat for the audience.

Civil Aviation moving to heighten air traffic surveillance at CJIA THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) plans acquiring an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system to boost air traffic surveillance here at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

With such a system in place, the GCAA says, aircrafts will be able to determine and track their own positions, via Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and provide such other information as heading, ground track, ground speed, and altitude.

Receivers on the ground will then collect this data and periodically relay it to Air Traffic Control, where it will be used

as seen fit.

The acquisition will also help boost Guyana’s capacity to accommodate as much as four times the usual amount of traffic/aircraft operations within the same airspace.

According to the GCAA, work has already been done in terms of achieving ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) compliance, and a Category One rating under the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme.

Staffing at the Authority was also significantly boosted so as to enhance oversight

functions.

Said to be one of the technologies selected as part of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and the European CASCADE programme, the ADS-B is set to replace radar as the primary surveillance method for controlling aircraft worldwide.

Word is that in time, the United States will require the majority of aircraft operating within its airspace to be equipped with some form of ADS-B, while the European Union (EU) will make it mandatory, as of 2017, that planes with a weight above 5,700 kilogrammes (12,600 lb) or a

Man denies stealing washing machine from his father A man pleaded not guilty yesterday to stealing one washing machine valued $38,000 from his father on January 21 in Georgetown.

Dexter Grant (no address given) who was charged with simple larceny was refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

He was accused of stealing one washing machine valued $38,000 from his father Emanuel Grant.

However, the defendant told the court that he did not steal the washing machine but he pawned it for $4,000 and when he returns the money he will collect the appliance.

When asked by the

Chief Magistrate whether he has any pending matter, he responded, “I carry away a girl bicycle and have to return to court on February 5 for that matter.”

He was remanded to prison and the case was transferred before Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond for report and fixture today.

max cruise of over 250 knots be outfitted with an ADS-B system.

Region 10 Michael Small in action before he attained third place.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

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After-effects still uncertain after mother and child fell into ‘grease trap’ outside KFC

By Shirley Thomas THE mother and her twoyear-old child who had a mishap outside of KFC on Water Street Monday afternoon actually fell into a ‘grease trap’ and not a ‘man hole’, a senior Mayor and City Council (M&CC) functionary confirmed yesterday.

Both mother and child who were treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital were sent home after indications that they had suffered no serious medical emergencies.

However, it could be too early to determine what after-effects they may suffer, since the mother reported having hit a bone in her lower back and over the last two days was complaining of pains in that region. Additionally, the two-year-old has not been as sprightly as normal and had an elevated temperature yesterday.

Misfortune struck around 14:30 hrs on Monday when just after a heavy downpour, twentytwo-year-old Alecia Thomas, who was lifting her two-yearold daughter, Haley, stepped into the uncovered ‘grease trap’ at the northern end of KFC on Water Street in downtown Georgetown.

Alecia’s mother, Tabitha Thomas of 83 William Street, Kitty, who was walking along with them said that as Alecia went down into the hole, impulsively she pushed the child upward and she (Tabitha) snatched her out of harm’s way. But by then the child had already involuntarily taken the putrid water into her mouth and was crying out frantically. Both the child and her mother were covered in the obnoxious waste from the ‘grease trap’.

As the alarm was sounded, public-spirited persons as well as curious onlookers rushed to the scene and Alecia was helped

Baby Haley Thomas and her grandmother Tabitha Thomas outside their Kitty home Tuesday afternoon out of the hole which had water that reached as high as her breasts, her mother said.

KFC RUDE STAFFERS Tabitha recalled that she in turn asked the staff at KFC for water to wash off the mother and baby, but they were blatantly rude, showed no sympathy and slammed the steel door in their faces, asking Alecia whether she was blind that she did not see the hole.

But Alecia explained that since it was raining, the water level had come right up to the surface of the concrete walkway, and the effluent from the food waste seemed like a piece of cardboard on the concrete. It was only when she stepped onto it, that she realised that it was an open hole filled with water.

However, women selling along the pavement wasted no time in securing water and openly bathed the mother and

Employees back at the scene on Tuesday working on clearing the hole, Alecia Thomas and her baby fell into outside KFC the previous day baby. The mother remained with her wet and soiled clothing, but the baby was left without clothing for about twenty minutes, by which time a unit from the Central Fire Station arrived on the scene and took them to hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, it was around 15:00 hrs, the grandmother recalled.

They went through the required triage procedure and were eventually treated, leaving the hospital around 20:00 hrs

or so, about five hours later, Tabitha recalled.

On Tuesday this newspaper visited KFC twice in an attempt to speak with the manager, but was referred to a supervisor, in his absence. However, the supervisor remained mum.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Chronicle consulted with, and was accompanied to the site by a very senior and knowledgeable functionary of City Hall’s

Constabulary Department, who advised that what the mother and baby had slipped into was not in fact a ‘man hole’, but a ‘grease trap’ which was the property of KFC. In the meantime, relatives vowed to leave no stone unturned to get justice for the injury, inconvenience and humiliation suffered by the woman and her young child.

After briefing on benefits…

PSC approves system for local government, national elections THE Private Sector Commission (PSC), last Thursday, approved the Automatic Ballot Scan and Tabulation Voting System for use in both local government and national elections in Guyana.

The approval followed a meeting in which the PSC members were briefed on its benefits, said a press release issued after they met, on January 30, with the Canadian High Commissioner, Dr. Nicole Giles and Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally.

The statement said it was noted that the use of such a system could enhance the accuracy of vote counts and speed up the delivery of election results.

The PSC was heartened by the information presented and looks forward to the results of a preliminary assessment of the system

by GECOM, should the proposed project find acceptance from key stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Canadian High Commissioner also pointed out that approximately 60 paper-based, automatic ballot scan and tabulation machines would be donated to Guyana by the DELIAN Project, an independent non-profit organisation registered in Canada and the United States.

The document added that each machine handles in excess of 1,000 votes per day. These systems, while, speeding up the tabulation process, also provide for paper ballots which could be manually tabulated in the event of the need for a recount.

The release said the PSC is of the view that such systems could be of great value to Guyana, where the current methods associated with the tabulation and the transmission of votes tend to impede the official declaration of results.

Dr. Nicole Giles, Canadian High Commissioner

Dr. Steve Surujbally, GECOM Chairman

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Finance Minister on budget consultations...

‘The door is always open’

GOVERNMENT remains committed to its open-door policy with regard to budgetary consultations, as it is through this mechanism that the constant exchange of views is enabled, and suggestions, issues, challenges and concerns are noted.

This was told the Government Information Agency (GINA) Tuesday by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, in re-

Noting that the consultation is in keeping with government’s policy to engage with various stakeholders, particularly with regard to the shaping of policy and inputs on key issues, Dr Singh said that by so doing, “... we are able to learn what their priorities are; we are able to explain issues and challenges so that they are better informed to formulate their own positions on issues.”

sector, organised labour, and leading government officials, and is headed by the President.

The Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee of the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), he said, is another good example, in that it “... again brings together several stakeholders, and ensures that they are kept informed on major developments, major projects, ensures that their input is pro-

invitations have been extended to the two parliamentary political parties, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

He, however, lamented that despite several calls for consul-

“The door is always open; there must be no doubt in their minds about that. And there must be no doubt in the minds of the people of Guyana that the Government of Guyana is open, willing and ready to meet with the Opposition at any time on the matter of Budget 2014; indeed, on any matter of national importance, but more particularly, on Budget 2014. That must be made crystal clear” sponse to a query about the political opposition parties’ refusal to meet with Finance Ministry officials for the afore-mentioned consultations.

A typical example of consultation at work, he said, is the National Competitiveness Council, which brings together the leadership of the private

vided in major initiatives and in the policy-making function more generally.”

He said that it is in keeping with government’s policy that

DR ASHNI SINGH tations, there appears to be no real interest, by either party, to

engage on the matter of Budget 2014.

He said that APNU’s shadow Finance Minister, Mr. Carl Greenidge, even went so far as to indicate that he “sees no point in the consultations,” but, happily he is “a tiny minority” with that view, as there have been large groups of representatives which have met with the Finance Ministry to discuss and consult on the national budget.

Discussions have so far been held with the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and all of these have been successful, Dr Singh said.

“The door is always open; there must be no doubt in their minds about that,” he said. “And there must be no doubt in the minds of the people of Guyana that the Government of Guyana is open, willing and ready to meet with the opposition at any

time on the matter of Budget 2014; indeed, on any matter of national importance, but more particularly, on Budget 2014. That must be made crystal clear.”

Minister Singh said he is optimistic that there will be a re-think within the ranks of the Opposition. “I don’t get the sense that Greenidge’s position enjoys widespread support in the opposition,” he said. “I believe that there are some in the Opposition who would like to see these consultations happen, but I don’t know what the hierarchical structures are in the Opposition; where the authority resides, and who really enjoys the right to issue instructions to whom… I do get the clear and distinct impression that there is, at least within some quarters of the opposition that there is an interest in engaging with us.”

Education Ministry Wildlife and Litter on ‘high alert’!

Regulations Now in Force --following forecast of possible Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations and Litter Enforcement Regulations have recently been approved. These Regulations will both contribute towards the goal of a cleaner, healthier and more resilient natural environment.

The Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations approved on November 16, 2013, paves the way for enhanced legal protection of Guyana’s vast array of biodiversity. The Regulations are an invaluable tool that will greatly assist in the management and conservation of local wildlife species thereby advancing the goal of protection and sustainable use of our natural resources. It will be implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency under Ministry of Natural Resources. A significant public awareness initiative will be launched in the coming months to increase understanding of the Regulations and participation in actions for the safeguarding and wise use of our wildlife.

Under the Litter Enforcement Regulations, 2013, persons who are found guilty of littering will now be charged. The Regulations will be enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency through its recently established Enforcement and Compliance Division.

The Litter Regulations address among other aspects, litter offences, penalties and the power of the local authority to enter premises and to remove derelict vehicles. In this article, we will look at the litter offences and penalties under the Litter Regulations, while in a subsequent article, we will examine the powers ascribed to the local authority.

under the law.

Allowing litter to enter a public place from a vehicle whether it is a bus, car, truck or trailer is an offence and any person found responsible for such an act will be fined the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). If the person that committed the offence cannot be determined, then the driver of the vehicle will be held responsible.

If it is a company or organization committing such an offence then it shall be fined one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

It is an offence not to provide a receptacle for litter in public transportation It is required, that the owner of every bus, taxi and every other mode of public transportation while his vehicle is plying for hire, provides in a convenient place within the vehicle, one or more receptacles for the deposit of litter. Failure to adhere to this requirement is an offence with a penalty of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

It is an offence to cause littering from a moving vehicle or trailer It is an offence for a person to transport in or on a motor vehicle or trailer along any motorway, road, street, alley, lane, mall or thoroughfare, any substance or material in a manner which makes it likely to fall off or blow off the motor vehicle or trailer. As such, it is required that material being transported be: (a) Sufficiently well secured as to prevent it from falling off the motor vehicle or trailer; and (b) Adequately covered as to prevent it from blowing off the motor vehicle or trailer.

A person who is guilty of this offence is liable in the case of an individual to a fine of fifty thousand dollars; or in the case of a company or organization to a fine of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

It is an offence to litter on another person’s premises A person who litters any premises owned or occupied by another without the consent of that other person is guilty of an offence and be liable to a fine of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) or six (6) months imprisonment.

It is an offence to litter in a public place Under the Litter Regulations, it is an offence to litter in a public place, particularly: To deposit litter in a public place; To deposit litter from a moving vehicle unto a public place; and To cause or permit persons to commit offences 1 and 2 above.

Any person/persons found guilty of any of these offences under the Litter Regulations shall be liable to a fine of between fifty to one hundred thousand dollars ($50,000 - $100,000) or three months imprisonment. The absence of a waste receptacle is not an excuse

The Regulations also prescribes an increase in penalty for persons found guilty of repeat offences. Specifically it states that the fines will be double the maximum for any offence repeated.

Look out for more on the Litter Enforcement Regulations, in next week’s article.

The Environment is Everybody’s Business. Let’s Keep it Clean – Do Not Litter.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN; or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

heavy rain all day today

THE Ministry of Education is reportedly “on high alert” following a forecast of possible heavy rain over the next 24 hours.

According to a release from the Hydrometeorological Department via the Ministry of Agriculture, “a high-intensity weather pattern, which is presently over the Atlantic, continues to develop, and as such, Guyana will experience rainfall of 45 to 80mm over a 24-hour period.”

This being the case, Minister of Education Ms Priya Manickchand has put together a team to closely monitor the situation, and is asking parents to pay heed to the warning, and if necessary, touch base with their children’s school to find out what the situation is on the ground, and whether there will be classes before taking or sending them to school.

The weather pattern at reference, which was expected to commence last evening, is expected to be at its “maximum capacity” today, and there is every likelihood, as much as “a 70 per cent chance,” according to ‘Hydromet’, that conditions will remain true to prediction.

Among areas projected to be most affected are Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and northern Region Six MINISTER PRIYA (East Berbice-Corentyne).

MANICKCHAND As such, the Ministry of Agriculture is advising those residents living in low-lying, and riverine areas to take all necessary precaution against possible flooding.

And though the relevant authorities will continue to be on alert, it is asking persons to report any flooding by calling the Ministry’s hotline: 227-5079/223-7291.

The good news, however, is that the rain is expected to subside by this evening.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

La Penitence ganja accused did a ‘hustle’ to make a living, court hears

By Geeta Rampersaud AN East La Penitence man accused of marijuana possession was ordered to lodge $50,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Joel Halley, 23, of Lot 113 East La Penitence, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the offence, particulars of which stated that on Monday at East La Penitence, he had 12 grammes of cannabis sativa.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said a party of policemen from the Narcotics Branch went to the defendant’s home to conduct a search for narcotics.

The prosecutor said that on arrival the door was open and a container was seen on a bed by one of the ranks.

The container was opened in the defendant’s presence and there were several packs of Ziploc bags containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be the illegal substance.

He said when Halley was told of the offence and cautioned, he told the ranks that he normally did a ‘hustle’ to make a living.

The case was transferred before Magistrate Fabayo Azore for report and fixture on February 20.

Aries March 21 - April 19 Below rates for February 5, 2014 Currency

Buying

Selling

G$/US$ G$/GBP$ G$/CAD$ G$/EURO$ G$/BDOS$ G$/EC$ G$/TT$

205.98375 335.03257 186.36662 278.18105 101.62031 75.27431 31.81351

208.43594 339.22949 188.51704 281.70117 102.63906 76.02894 32.13245

You’ve gone out of your way for your loved ones quite a bit lately, but you’re willing to do even more for them now. They know exactly how goodhearted you are, so your generosity doesn’t surprise them on its own, but what you’re about to do is definitely far above and beyond the call of duty. Make sure to accept their thanks and praise with grace!

Taurus April 20 - May 20

Everyone has qualities they’re famous for, and integrity is right at the top of your list. You pride yourself on doing what’s right, even if it’s not necessarily the easy way -- which is usually the case! Now that you have to take the long way to achieve an important goal, there’s be no pouting. Try not to be too disappointed in a loved one whose list isn’t the same as yours.

Gemini May 21 - June 21

You’ve never loved keeping secrets, always preferring to say what’s on your mind (and in your heart) as it occurs to you. You want to let the world know exactly what’s really going on! When a loved one comes to you with that odd look on their face, begging you to keep quiet about some recent event, you’re torn. You know what they want, and you have to just let your heart guide you.

Cancer June 22 - July 22

Friends in need aren’t anything new -- you actually tend to attract them, and you don’t mind so much. You send out subtle signals that let others know you’re the most trustworthy of friends. Right now, in fact, those traits are amped up, so no matter who comes to you, even just for a quick hug, you go above and beyond the call of duty. Don’t be surprised if you end up with a long-term friend.

Leo July 23 - August 22 For Thusday February 6, 2014 -09:30hrs For Friday February 7, 2014 -10:30hrs

The one person you’d least expect to take your side is actually defending your actions to their superiors. In fact, they go way beyond what any reasonable person would expect of them. Fortunately, you’re an expert at expressing gratitude, so once you get over the shock, you may even end up friends. Truth really is stranger than fiction!

Virgo August 23 - September 22

Every now and then, the universe sends along a nice surprise for no special reason, and you’re just about due for your turn now. Someone you haven’t seen for far too long may return to your life -- and not just for a quick walk-on appearance, either. Whether or not they admit it, they want to be back for good. Be generous, pretend you didn’t know they were coming and let them to do their dance discreetly.

Libra September 23 - October 22

You specialise in relationships, and you stop at nothing to let the right person know just how fond you are. That’s awesome, but it might not always be the best tactic. Right now, for example, playing a wee bit hard to get might not hurt so much -- in fact, it might help a lot! Wait until the phone rings three or four times, and pretend you don’t have caller ID.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21

You love your privacy, and everyone knows it -- but every now and then, even you need to get out there and mingle. This absolutely does not mean you can’t still give yourself some alone time -- you absolutely need it! Once you get out there, though, you may find it surprising just how many people know how to press all the right buttons!

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21

You have little fondness for being meticulous, discreet or frugal -- those traits bore you to tears, even when they’re safely tucked away in other people. You’re known for being a bit too blunt, honest and generous, but that’s why so many different people love you. Your mission now -- not an easy one -- is to make sure you’re not using any of those qualities to prove something. If anyone doesn’t need to do that, it’s you.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19

You’re not exactly known for indulging yourself -- and that goes for any category. You’re the best example of self-restraint, especially when you’re on a mission and your goal is clear. Right now, though, anything resembling moderation just doesn’t work for you. Don’t feel guilty about it, though -- if anyone has earned a break, it’s you. Take advantage of this new opportunity to let go.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18

Someone emotionally close but physically distant is about to make contact, and you should be delighted to spend some time with them. You’re in such a wonderful mood that you can’t help but make everyone around you feel just as good -- and it doesn’t matter if it’s because of a professional situation that’s turned out just right, a family matter that’s brought joy or just the random benevolence of the universe.

Pisces February 19 - March 20

You’ve got something of a dilemma now, and you’re pretty torn by it. Do you listen to what sounds like perfect logic, coming from someone close with experience with this type of situations -- or do you go with your gut, which tells you to do the opposite of what everyone else is saying? Only you can make the final decision -- but when you think about it, when was the last time your instincts let you down?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

GCB congratulates victorious Banks Malta Supreme ...

From back page a few blemishes or areas that need tightening up such as our sluggish starts and the few fielding lapses, but overall it has been a total team effort that has contributed to our successes so far.

We would like to congratulate the captain, the players and the management team for a job well done but wish to caution them that the

job is not yet completed as we have three more matches to overcome the opposition prior to bringing home the bacon to the victory-starved Guyanese cricket nation.

Our captain has displayed very astute captaincy in these games and has continued to lead from the front with excellent backup from his bowling attack and his fielders since we have quite adequately defended our totals in these two games.

Our next encounter against powerhouse Jamaica should be treated as a dress rehearsal for the final and

would determine whether we lead our Group at the end of the preliminary round and trust that our team would continue to execute their carefully thought-out plans on the field of play and emerge victorious in the end.

Once again, congrats to the Banks Malta Supreme Guyana cricket team!

Let’s make winning a habit as our performance in this tournament will also determine our mindset and confidence for the upcoming Regional four-day tournament which starts in the next three weeks.

Racing Tips ENGLISH Huntingdon 09:10 hrs Mudita Moment 09:40 hrs Moleskin 10:15 hrs Woodford Country 10:50 hrs Muhtaris 11:25 hrs Black River 12:30 hrs Avispa DONCASTER 09:50 hrs Gone Too far 10:25 hrs Fair Loch 11:00 hrs Howard’s Legacy 11:35 hrs Everaard 12:10 hrs Shadows Lengthen 12:40 hrs Lean Burn FRENCH RACING TIPS Chantilly 08:30 hrs Suedois 09:05 hrs Yoga

09:35 hrs Mister Worldwide

10:05 hrs Aldo Bere 10:40 hrs Nova Valorem 11:10 hrs Bling SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Vaal 08:45 hrs Weekend Special 09:20 hrs Shive ‘ N Shake 09:55 hrs Velvet Verona 10:30 hrs Dual Alliance 11:05 hrs Dublin Dude ARAB EMIRATES RACING TIPS Meydan 10:40 hrs Versac Py 11:15 hrs Spirit Of Battle 11:50 hrs Journeyman 12:25 hrs Ihtimal 13:05 hrs Tanfeeth 13:40 hrs African Story 14:15 hrs Mufarrh

Former Test captain Sohail named Pakistan chief selector (REUTERS) - The Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed its former Test captain Aamir Sohail as the new chief selector and director of game development at the national cricket academy in Lahore.

Sohail, 47, who played 47 Tests and 156 one-day internationals, was also chief selector in 2003-04 before stepping down for personal reasons.

“I have been given two major tasks, and I will try to do my best to work with the captains of all three formats to further improve the performance of our national teams,” Sohail told a press conference on Tuesday.

“Obviously my prime concern is not only to unearth and groom new talent but also to prepare a strong squad for the 2015 World Cup,” the former Test opener added.

Pakistan cricket has been without a chief selector for the past two months because of a court decision that prevented former chairman of the board Najam Sethi from taking long-term decisions.

Sohail’s appointment comes after the Islamabad High Court reinstated Zaka Ashraf as the chairman of the board in place of Sethi last month.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Beckham launches plan to build soccer franchise in Miami

By David Adams MIAMI, USA (Reuters) - Former England football captain David Beckham announced yesterday that he has exercised his option to become the owner of a Major League Soccer team in Miami.

“I have worked for some of the biggest clubs in the world, and some of the greatest play-

ers in the world, and this is a dream,” the international soccer star said at an appearance with MLS Commissioner Don Garber at the south Florida city’s gleaming new bayfront art museum.

“This is an exciting time ... for myself, exciting time for my family and friends and partners, and something we are really looking forward to bringing to

Don Garber (L), MLS commissioner, MiamiDade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez (R) and David Beckham pose for a photo after a news conference in Miami, Florida yesterday. (Credit: REUTERS/Andrew Innerarity)

Miami,” Beckham added, to chants of ‘We’re going to MLS’ from a group of fans calling themselves the ‘Southern Legion’.

Garber called the decision a “historic day ... for football in America,” noting that Beckham was the first former player anywhere in the world to become the owner of a top league football team in modern times.

A final deal to grant the franchise to Beckham’s investment ‘group could be several months away though, sources close to the negotiations said, with a stadium location and financing still requiring approval from the MLS board for his team to become the 22nd club of the top U.S. professional football league.

The mayor of Miami-Dade County, Carlos Gimenez, said negotiations for the stadium started last week.

“There’s going to be a few bumps along the way, but we’re going to make the team in Miami not just the best team in America, we’re going to take the team global,” Beckham told a reception for city leaders at Miami’s performing arts centre on Tuesday night.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, who also played for the Los

Angeles Galaxy, retired as a player last May and holds a $25 million option in his MLS contract to start a new franchise.

Beckham is already in discussions with Miami-Dade County to possibly lease county-owned land for a 25 000-seat stadium.

“I have seen the atmosphere around the city,” Beckham told the media Tuesday outside the reception, referring to scenes he witnessed last year when the city’s basketball team, the Miami Heat, captured the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship.

“I saw the passion of the people for sport,” he said, dressed in a sharp charcoal suit and tie.

Beckham, 38, arrived in Miami fresh from having attended

Sunday’s Superbowl in New Jersey, TV coverage of which featured a fit Beckham in an underwear commercial.

Beckham’s investment group has narrowed its stadium search to five possible sites in and around downtown Miami, officials say, including a 25acre (10-hectare) waterfront lot next to the port of Miami’s cruise ship terminals, potentially putting the new team at the forefront of Miami’s tourism landscape.

MLS has stressed the importance of having a final stadium deal, along with a business plan, before it will approve a new team.

Beckham’s group is not looking for public financing, but may need to negotiate site plans with the county, such as leasing

the port location, to help build a privately financed stadium.

Beckham has toured Miami twice in recent months with British businessman and American Idol creator Simon Fuller, as well as Bolivian-born billionaire Marcelo Claure, founder of Miami-based Brightstar Corp, the world’s largest wireless distributor and the provider of global services to Apple.

Beckham is also looking for a pad in Miami, although the London home he shares with his wife of 14 years, former pop star-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham, and their four young children, will remain the main family home.

“We are going to be spending a lot of time here,” he told the media on Tuesday.

“We are hoping to get our own place here as well.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Simmons 112 powers Scorchers to BBL final CRAIG Simmons produced another extraordinary performance with the bat to score his second century of the tournament and send Perth Scorchers to the Champions League 2014 and ensure they host their third successive BBL final, against Hobart Hurricanes tomorrow.

Remarkably, despite Simmons’ innings, they were two minutes from elimination after an agonising downpour delayed

the start of Sydney Sixers’ runchase.

The game had to restart by 22.37hrs local time or it would have been abandoned and the Sixers would have progressed without facing a delivery.

But the rain relented at 22.35hrs and the Sixers were asked to chase 54 from five overs and fell five runs short.

It would have been unjust if Simmons’ work was washed away in vain. Few could have

predicted he could have produced another innings as spectacular as his record-breaking 39-ball century against the Adelaide Strikers.

This innings was different in some ways, but so similar in others.

The anomaly was his start.

Halfway through the eighth over, Simmons had scored just 6 from 16 balls, having watched Simon Katich take most of the strike before he was caught at

third man for 26, off 21 balls Simmons then kick-started his barrage of sixes, with a mis-hit over long-on off Trent Copeland. It took until the 11th over before his score overtook his balls faced.

But thereafter, he hit 10 sixes in 32 balls. The only man who was spared was Mitchell Starc. He inside-edged the leftarm seamer to fine leg for four to bring up his century.

Simmons received great support from Adam Voges who quietly accumulated 31 at the other end.

The Scorchers’ euphoria of scoring 5 for 193 was quickly tempered as the rain fell swiftly and without interruption.

The Sixers’ large chase was reduced to 54 from 30 balls and it initially played into their favour. Michael Lumb and Nic Maddinson took eight runs from Alfonso Thomas’ first over.

Then Jason Behrendorff swung the game back in Scorchers’ corner with a double-strike

Kumar Sangakkara is not entirely satisfied even after scoring 319 against Bangladesh on the second day in Chittagong.

Sangakkara triple ton puts Sri Lanka in command … Kumar Sangakkara ninth batsman to score 11 000 Test runs

Craig Simmons scored his second T20 ton of the season. in one over. Lumb and Ravi Bopara both holed out and Maddinson was also dropped at deep cover by the substitute Hilton Cartwright.

That nearly proved costly as Maddinson smashed 36 from 16 balls to take the Sixers closer. He needed seven runs off the final two deliveries of the match having already found the boundary twice off Nathan Coulter-Nile in the final over.

But Maddinson was runout trying to scramble back for two on the penultimate ball, with Sam Whiteman brilliantly gloving an awkward throw from the deep.

Brett Lee failed to lay bat on ball, needing to hit the last ball over the rope. (ESPN Cricinfo)

(REUTERS) - Kumar Sangakkara struck his maiden triple hundred and became the ninth batsman to score 11 000 Test runs as a dominant Sri Lanka seized full control of the second and final Test against Bangladesh yesterday.

The stylish left-hander (319) was the last Sri Lankan batsman to fall after a marathon 482-ball knock that included 32 boundaries and eight sixes as the tourists amassed 587 before being all out when second day’s tea was called.

In reply, Bangladesh reached 86 for one wicket at stumps after losing opener Tamim Iqbal for a duck in the first over of their innings at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Shamsur Rahman (45) and Imrul Kayes (36) each survived a dropped chance to remain unbeaten at close with the hosts still trailing Sri Lanka by 501 runs.

Batting on 286 with number 11 batsman Nuwan Pradeep, Sangakkara hit left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan for a four and two sixes off successive deliveries to go past his previous best score of 287 and reach his maiden triple hundred in spectacular fashion.

Sangakkara, 36, was fastest to the 11 000 Test-run club, having bettered West Indies batting great Brian Lara’s record by five innings.

Kithuruwan Vithanage (35) and Ajantha Mendis (47) provided able support to Sangakkara and added 90 and 100 for the sixth and eighth wickets respectively.

All-rounder Shakib completed his 11th five-wicket haul but Bangladesh would require something of a miracle to win the Test and square the two-match series after losing the first match in Dhaka by an innings and 248 runs.

SRI LANKA first innings (o/n 314-5) D. Karunaratne c Mahmudullah b Al-Amin 31 K. Silva lbw b Gazi 11 K. Sangakkara c Gazi b Nasir 319 M. Jayawardene lbw b Mahmudullah 72 D. Chandimal c Kayes b Shakib 27 A. Mathews b Shakib 5 K. Vithanage lbw b Nasir 35 D. Perera lbw b Shakib 1 A. Mendis lbw b Shakib 47 S. Lakmal lbw b Shakib 0 N. Pradeep not out 4 Extras: (b-21, lb-6, w-2, nb-1, pen-5) 35 Total: (all out, 156.4 overs) 587 Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-49, 3-227,

4-294, 5-312, 6-402, 7-405, 8-505, 9-533.

Bowling: Al-Amin 25-5-81-1 (nb-1), Gazi 48-4-181-1, Razzak 4-1-6-0, Shakib 34-3-148-5 (w-1), Mahmudullah 34-2-110-1 (w-1), Nasir 6.4-0-16-2, Shamsur 1-0-5-0, Mominul 4-0-8-0.

BANGLADESH first innings Tamim Iqbal b Lakmal 0 Shamsur Rahman not out 45 Imrul Kayes not out 36 Extras: (nb-5) 5 Total: (one wicket; 25 overs) 86 Fall of wicket: 1-0.

Bowling (to date): Lakmal 5-0-18-1, Pradeep 7-2-29-0 (nb-3), Mendis 4-1-13-0 (nb-2), Perera 7-2-22-0, Mathews 2-0-4-0.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

Captain Cook influential in Pietersen exit

By Sam Sheringham BBC Sport

ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook played an influential role in the decision to end Kevin Pietersen’s international career.

Cook was part of a threeman panel who met the batsman on Monday and told him of their decision.

Although some members of the England dressing room have no issues with Pietersen, the BBC has learned that Cook felt the 33-year-old’s departure was in the best interests of the team.

Pietersen scored 8 181 runs at an average of 47 in 104 Tests for England Cook, who succeeded Andrew Strauss as captain in August 2012, brought Pietersen back into the England fold after he had been dropped for sending provocative text messages to South Africa players.

But following England’s disastrous 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia, during which Pietersen was criticised for repeatedly falling to reckless shots, the captain wants to mould a new team with a new culture for the next five years.

Pietersen was summoned

to a meeting on Monday with Cook, new England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Paul Downton and chairman of selectors James Whittaker at the Danubius Hotel near Lord’s.

That was followed on Tuesday by a separate meeting involving Pietersen’s agent Adam Wheatley, Professional Cricketers’ Association chief executive Angus Porter and Downton to discuss the severance terms of his 12-month central contract that was signed in October.

On Tuesday evening, the ECB sent out an official press release in which Downton, who had the final say on Pietersen’s departure, stated: “The time is right to rebuild not only the team but also the team ethic.”

Pietersen, meanwhile, feels he was not given a clear explanation for his sacking despite asking Downton and Whittaker for justification during the brief meeting BBC Sport has been told that he is angered by stories of stand-up arguments with Cook and rumours of his alienation from the team.

He admits to occasionally turning up late for meetings and feeling frustrated by England’s overly analytical approach, but

points to his support for younger players and work with tail-end batsmen as examples of his commitment to the cause.

Although there is no written condition that Pietersen will never be allowed to play for England again, it is believed to be highly unlikely that he could ever be recalled.

Indeed, whoever is chosen to replace Andy Flower as England team director is likely to be informed that the South Africa-born batsman is not available for selection.

The decision to jettison England’s highest international run-scorer has been questioned by former captain Michael Vaughan.

Vaughan, who captained Pietersen in the 2005 Ashes success, wants the ECB to explain their decision.

“I really do think the ECB and the people involved have to give us the reason exactly why they got rid of Kevin Pietersen,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.

“You hear of rumours that he’s been a nuisance around the dressing room but it was only last week that Graeme Swann, who’s been in that dressing room for the last few years with Kevin Pietersen, said ‘yep,

in 2012 and the South Africa series, the textgate story, he was a problem, but once they reintegrated him he’s been fine, he’s had a great attitude’.

“Then England get rid of him on apparently cricketing reasons and that’s the guy that scored more runs than anybody else in the Ashes series. It’s a sad day for cricket.”

Vaughan believes that Flower’s replacement should have been the one to make the decision about Pietersen and that the batsman has been punished for speaking his mind in team meetings.

“A new director of cricket will be appointed in April and won’t have the opportunity to pick a star player,” he added.

“They should be making those decisions on their own.

“Kevin will speak his mind.

If there’s an issue within the side, he will go straight to the coach and say these are the things we need to sort out and maybe Andy Flower didn’t like what KP was saying and that’s why they’ve got rid of him.”

However, another former England great Geoffrey Boycott does not agree and believes Pietersen’s batting at times set a bad example to his younger

Real burst Atletico bubble to take control in King’s Cup MADRID, Spain (Reuters) Real Madrid brought high-flying city rivals Atletico back down to earth with a bump when two own goals either side of a Jese strike helped them to a 3-0 victory in a feisty King’s Cup semi-final,

first leg yesterday.

Atletico, who beat Real 2-1 in last season’s final, climbed to the top of La Liga at the weekend but their first defeat in all competitions since October means they face a stiff task in Tuesday’s second leg at the

Calderon.

After a cautious opening from both sides, Atletico playmaker Arda Turan had the first genuine chance when he tested Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a header in the 13th minute.

Real Madrid’s Jese Rodriguez celebrates his goal during their Spanish King’s Cup semi-final first leg soccer match against Atletico Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, yesterday. (Credit: REUTERS/Juan Medina)

Real were ahead four minutes later when centre back Pepe galloped forward and his speculative shot hit Emiliano Insua, wrong-footed Atletico keeper Thibaut Courtois and ricocheted into the net.

Atletico defender Diego Godin headed over the bar when well placed early in the second half but Real doubled their lead just before the hour when a superb Angel Di Maria pass released Jese and he poked the ball past Courtois.

Luka Modric cleared another Godin header off the line in the 72nd minute and Real landed a stunning blow a minute later with another deflected effort.

Di Maria let fly from distance and the ball struck Atletico defender Miranda before spinning past the helpless Courtois.

Last year’s final, which was held at the Bernabeu, was marred by red cards and brawling and the bad blood between the bitter rivals was still in evidence in a match littered with cynical fouls and gamesmanship.

Barcelona host Real Sociedad in today’s other semi-final, first leg.

Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen in happier times. cipline. team-mates.

“You can be an individ“We all remember his wonual within the team but you derful innings, but what about cannot just be an individual. the daft things and the stupid He has said this is how I play, shots?” he said.

“That has an effect on the take it or leave it. Well they’ve dressing room and young playtaken it for long enough and ers. How do you tell young now they’ve said thank you players to play responsibly? It very much, we will leave it.” stops you from building dis-

Gooch says Cook the right man to lead England (REUTERS) - Alastair Cook should continue to captain England despite their recent run of hapless performances, batting coach Graham Gooch said yesterday.

As the fallout from England’s Ashes debacle rumbles on, with leading batsman Kevin Pietersen the latest casualty of a horrific tour, Cook’s position as captain has come under scrutiny.

But Gooch, who played 118 Test matches for England and has been full-time batting coach for the national side since February 2012, said Cook was the man to help rebuild a new-look side.

“I sincerely believe he is (the right person to captain England),” Gooch said in an interview with Sky Sports.

“I don’t see any reason why he will not be a successful leader again in the future. Yes, he needs to make improvements. Yes, England batting coach he needs to look at things Graham Gooch himself, the way he goes about things.

“But that’s the same with any player, and any cricketer, throughout his career. They’re always looking to upgrade and make improvements to themselves and the way they go about their cricket.”

England travel to the West Indies for a one-day series at the end of February without Cook, who will take a break following the Ashes defeat, and Gooch is certain the 29-year-old will come back refreshed.

“I’m sure he’ll have a good rest,” said Gooch, who coached Cook through the ranks at Essex.

“I’m sure he’ll look forward to coming back here and playing for Essex at the start of the season.”

30

Reifer to retire from regional cricket

… staying on as coach of the CCC

PORT Of SPAIN, Trinidad - Former West Indies captain Floyd Lamonte Reifer is set to bow out of regional cricket after this year’s season.

Management of the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team which Reifer has represented for the past seven years yesterday issued a statement saying that the 2014 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional cricket season will see the brilliant player/coach of CCC, and legendary Barbados and West Indies cricketer at that level for the last time.

Although Reifer, a left-handed middle- order batsman who took up the role of player/coach for the CCC in 2007 on his retirement from the Barbados national team, will be playing his last season for the CCC, he will continue as its coach, working alongside the West Indies icon and former fast bowler Curtly Ambrose.

Reifer has had a distinguished career at the national and regional levels, and was called to duty by the WICB to lead the senior regional team in 2009 at the international level during a crisis moment in West Indies cricket.

Known for his unruffled demeanour, and intense competitive spirit, he has led the CCC to two finals in five years (the 2011 four-day tournament and 2013 Super50 competition) and has served to establish the CCC as a formidable force in regional competitions.

Reifer made a huge impact with the bat in the 2009 WICB four-day competition when he scored an impressive 1 002 runs (average 47.71) with three (3) centuries and five (5) half-centuFLOYD LAMONTE REIFER ries. During that year CCC defeated all of the traditional regional teams – except Jamaica – and secured its reputation as a force to be reckoned with.

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, conceptualiser of the CCC project and founder and first chair of the WICB Sagicor Cricket High Performance Centre at the Cave Hill campus of the UWI, where he is principal, stated that “Floyd was asked to build out the CCC within the model established by Sir Frank Worrell; having a senior motivational player on the field, teaching tactics and strategies as the game evolves.”

He added: “This development and learning approach was fully realised by Reifer, and has so far produced many quality players for national teams as well as the West Indies.”

Sir Hilary commended the inspirational player for “an excellent performance”, and noted that “as the CCC looks for his successor, it will continue to be served as coach by Reifer”.

(Barbados Advocate article)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER 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: David Holford; Arthur Barrett; Inshan Ali; Tony Howard; RaphickJumadeen Fidel Edwards Today’s Quiz: Andy Roberts took 202 Test wickets. Who was his first victim?

Sachin Tendulkar ended his career with 49 ODI hundreds.

How many were made against the West Indies?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

BCB extends 75th anniversary invitations to former Test and National players … also administrators THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will be hosting a special 75th Anniversary dinner and honour ceremony on Saturday, September 20 for all of its Test cricketers and former national senior players.

The special events committee of the BCB and Golden Jubilee Committee chairman Hilbert Foster stated that the anniversary dinner and honour ceremony

some of them have already been completed including Tribute to retired cricketers, Berbice educational award scheme, and establishment of six mini-libraries and donations to several clubs.

The special events committee would like to officially extend an invitation to all living Test players of the Ancient County to be a part of the 75th anniversary and would like

Clayton Lambert and Mahendra Nagamootoo. They would be joined by Berbice-based Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Brandon Bess, Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo.

Sadly Roy Fredericks, Ivan Madray and John Trim are all deceased.

The BCB would also like to invite all overseas-based former

ROHAN KANHAI

BASIL BUTCHER

ALVIN KALLICHARRAN,

will be one of the highlights of a month of special celebrations during September 2014.

In a release, the BCB said for 2014 it would be organising a series of activities to mark the historic 75th anniversary and

to urge them to plan visits to Berbice during the period September 5 – 23, 2014.

The list comprises Rohan Kanhai, Joe Solomon, Basil Butcher, Leonard Baichan, Sew Shivnarine, Alvin Kallicharran,

Guyana senior players to be a part of the celebrations and they include Romain and Tyrone Etwaroo, Milton Pydanna, Fazil Sattaur, Sudesh and Sunil Dhaniram, Leslaine Lambert, Ray Joseph, Kamal Singh, Ar-

manauth Ramcharitar, Derek Kallicharran, Kevin Darlington, Arjune Wandu, Suresh Ganouri, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Vishal Nagamootoo, Randolph Ramnarace Jr, Damodar Dasrath and, Jerry Angus.

Special invitations have also been extended to all former executives of the BCB including Ancel Hazel, Lennox Phillips, Jafarally Asrafalli, Roy Baijnauth, Manohar Pooran, Hemraj Seunarine, Romain Etwaroo, Oscar Ramjeet, Prem Manbodh, Edward Bhagwadin, Vickram Ramnauth, Joseph Sookwah, Mohamed Yusuf, Ramesh Sookhdeo.

All former Test and National senior cricketers along with former executive members of the Berbice Cricket Board can contact the Berbice Cricket Board 75th anniversary chairman on 337-4443, 3374562 (during working hours) or foster_hilbert@yahoo.com for further information. First vice-president Anil Beharry can also be contacted on 623-6875 or on email abeharry1970@yahoo.com

Jamaican victory pleases skipper Bernard PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Dave Bernard was pleased with the six-wicket victory attained by his team Jamaica against Ireland in their Zone A meeting of the NAGICO Super50 Cricket Tournament at the Queen’s Park Oval last Monday evening.

“We played well as a team,” said the Jamaican captain. “We

bowled well and restricted Ireland to 161 which I think was a very good effort, and then we did the job batting-wise. “John Campbell (who top-scored with 71) played well and we got home comfortably.

The two fast bowlers (Jerome Taylor and Andre Russell) did the job. It was good to see Jerome back playing again. He

was a little bit rusty in the first spell but in the second spell he came back and showed his class.

All the bowlers did well.”

Talking about the batting, Bernard said, “There are lots of players in the top order so, if they have a good tournament, then it augurs well for the team.

“We have a few new faces in the lineup so, once they come

Daniel equals Trinidad and Tobago’s high jump record INDIANA, (CMC)- Trinidad and Tobago athlete Kashef Daniel has equaled his country’s record for the men’s high jump at a college’s meet in the United States over the weekend.

Daniel, representing Arkansas State University, cleared the bar at 2.15 metres on his second attempt to enter the Trinidad and Tobago record book, alongside Kevin Huggins.

Huggins established the 2.15m T&T standard back in 2007.

Daniel finished second in his event at the Indiana University Relays indoor meet.

Kashef Daniel cleared the bar at 2.15 metres

DAVE BERNARD to the party, it means that we are performing and it stands a good distance of going forward in the tournament.”

Jamaica will tackle Guyana on Saturday and Bernard said, “Our aim is to win every game that we play so we treat Guyana with the same importance as we did with the first game.

“We’ll look to keep improving as we go along.” Campbell commented. “It feels pretty great. My second match for Jamaica in the 50-over (format) and a half-century is a wonderful feeling.

“I’m feeling really good.

The plan was just to get a start because this wicket is not easy. I took a really long time to get going”. (Trinidad & Tobago (Newsday article)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday February 6, 2014

31

Trinidad and Tobago whip Leewards by five wickets

Off-spinner Sunil Narine is named Man-of-theMatch for his impressive figures of 9.2-3-17-4.

(WICB photo)

S H AW PA R K , To b a g o (CMC) - Captain Dwayne Bravo and former captain Denesh Ramdin choreographed a middle-innings revival to complement destructive bowling from Ravi Rampaul and Sunil Narine as Trinidad and Tobago rebounded with a vengeance to crush Leeward Islands by five wickets in the NAGICO Super50 match at Shaw Park here yesterday.

Bravo and Ramdin staged a 65-run fourth-wicket stand to swing the homeside back on course after slumping to 75 for four, chasing a winning target of 141 set by the Leewards.

Narine grabbed four wickets for 17 runs and Rampaul four for 20 to bowl out the Leewards for 140 after they had won the toss and elected to bat.

Trinidad, desperate for their first victory since losing by 28 runs to Barbados in their opening game, suffered an early setback, losing opener Adrian Barath in the first over.

Lendl Simmons attempted to steady the slide scoring 25 while three wickets fell before 100 runs came up as Leewards tried to pile on the pressure.

But the Trinidadians recovered when Bravo hit three sixes and four fours in a top score of 42 from 37 balls, Ramdin was unbeaten on

Banks Beer Premier League double-header on at GFC tomorrow TWO matches in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/Banks Beer Premier League will be played tomorrow evening at the Georgetown Football Club ground beginning at 18:00hrs.

In the opening fixture, Riddim Squad will come up against BV/Triumph, while from 20:00hrs Alpha `The Hammer ’ United take on Silver Shattas, both fixtures are rescheduled games.

Riddim Squad and BV/ Triumph should have met in a first-round fixture, while Alpha United were down to play Silver Shattas last Sunday, but the unavailability of the Mackenzie Sports Club ground caused the rescheduling.

Both BV/Triumph who are currently placed 11th in the points standing with nine points and Riddim Squad who are ranked 13th with eight points will be seeking to improve their standing on the points table, as they 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 24 points from eight matches while Silver Shattas have

seven points and occupy the 15th of 16 spots on the points table.

In their eight encounters, Alpha United have scored 23 goals and conceded just one to secure a plus 20 goal difference.

Silver Shattas have one victory to their name from eight encounters. They lost four of their matches and drew three. They have scored eight goals and conceded 16 for a minus eight goal difference.

BK Western Tigers are second with 19 points from six victories, one loss and one drawn game. They scored 16 goals and conceded nine for a goal difference of plus seven.

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 12 goals and conceded 15.

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.

… Four wickets apiece for Narine and Rampaul 22 while Dwayne’s brother Darren contributed a similar score.

Gavin Tonge topped the Leewards bowling with three for 38 as his side crumbled to their second straight loss.

Earlier, Rampaul removed the openers and Narine, who was named man-of-the-match, carved through the middle order severely restricting the Leewards’ run flow.

The visitors were in trouble at 46 for four before a 67-run partnership for the 5th wicket between Devon Thomas and Jahmar Hamilton added some respectability to the total.

Thomas hit two sixes in a top score of 42 while Hamilton chipped in with 39.

SCOREBOARD LEEWARD ISLANDS innings K. Powell c Emrit b Rampaul 8 M. Hodge c Simmons b Rampaul 15 M. Richards lbw b Narine 10 S. Joseph c Simmons b Emrit 4 D. Thomas c Simmons b Ottley 42 J. Hamilton lbw b Narine 39 R. Cornwall lbw b Narine 14 J. Athanaze c DJ Bravo b Narine 0 G. Tonge c DM Bravo b Rampaul 4 A. Martin b Rampaul 0 Q. Boatswain not out 0 Extras: w-4) 4 Total: (all out) 140 Fall of wickets 1-20, 2-30, 3-35, 4-46, 5-113 6-130, 7-130, 8-139, 9-140.

Bowling: Bravo 4-0-19-0, Rampaul 9-3-20-4, Emrit 7-0-19-

1, Narine 9.2-3-17-4, Khan 5-024-0, Simmons 3-0-11-0, Ottley 6-0-30-1.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO innings A. Barath c Thomas b Tonge 0 E. Lewis lbw b Tonge 11 L. Simmons c Richards b Athanaze 25 D. Bravo c Cornwall b Athanaze 22 DJ Bravo c Thomas b Tonge 42 D. Ramdin not out 22 K. Ottley not out 5 Extras: (lb-2, w-16) 18 Total: (5 wickets) 145 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-25, 3-66, 4-75, 5-140.

B o w l i n g : To n g e 8 - 2 - 3 8 - 3 , Boatswain 6.1-1-35-0, Martin 5-0-23-0, Althanaze 6-1-30-2, Cornwall 2-0-17-0.

Points Trinidad & Tobago 5, Leeward Islands 0

Tendulkar receives Bharat Ratna SACHIN Tendulkar was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, by the President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday.

Tendulkar, 40, is the first sportsperson, as well as the youngest person to receive the award. Speaking during the ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Tendulkar said that though he had retired from the game, he would “continue to bat” for India in all spheres of life.

“It’s the biggest honour for me and I am extremely delighted on receiving the Bharat Ratna,” Tendulkar said.

“I am extremely proud to be born in this beautiful nation and I would like to express my gratitude for all the love, affection and support I have received for number of years.

“My cricket has stopped, but I will continue to bat for India and try my best to give people of India a reason to smile,” he said. “I would like to reiterate what I said a couple of months ago about this recognition and dedicate this to my mother and along with her, all the mothers in India who sacrifice their wishes, aspirations

for their children so that their dreams come true.”

Tendulkar, who retired from cricket on November 16, 2013 as the game’s highest run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs, also saved praise for Professor CNR Rao, the other recipient of this year’s Bharat Ratna.

“I would like to congratulate Prof. CNR Rao for the Bharat Ratna. He has been instrumental in motivating and inspiring youths of India to become scientists. I wish him all the happiness and good health.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

Sachin Tendulkar is the youngest ever recipient of the Bharat Ratna.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Captain Cook influential in Pietersen exit please see story page 29

GFF vice-president asks Matthias to resign; calls GFA/Banks Tournament illegal

By Rawle Toney ON April 12, 2013, Christopher Matthias became only the second president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) over the last 20 years, taking over the country’s football that was in turmoil.

His rise from General Secretary of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), to the highest seat of the sport’s local governing body was seen as one with great hope and high expectations, but now, exactly nine months and seven days later, this country’s administration seems to be in limbo.

Following the resignation of one of his three vice- presidents, Rawlston Adams, the suspension of another Collie Hercules, Matthias is now facing a stiff challenge from his lone vice-president Ivan Persaud.

Persaud, in a letter to the GFF top brass, dated Sunday, February 2, asked him to “resign from the office of the Guyana Football Federation with immediate effect”.

The call for Matthias to resign certainly didn’t happen overnight.

Fuelled by the suspension of the executives of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) and the replacing of the entire Bartica Football Association with an interim body,

… GFF will respond to letter shortly, Matthias says

Ivan Persaud and Christopher Matthias on January 28, Persaud wrote to Matthias, informing him that he will no longer continue to attend meetings until a proper Congress is held and the situation with the two associations

returns to the status quo.

“Further to my letter dated January 28, 2014, to which I am still awaiting a response, I write once again as a matter of principle and to provide

added information which I pray will cause you to do the right thing and set Guyana’s Football free of tyranny and dictatorship,” Persaud wrote.

Persaud in his February 2

letter to Matthias also called the recently concluded GFA/Banks Beer tournament illegal since he’s aware that the GFF affiliate was not given permission to run the third installation of its

competition.

“Mr President, I am fully aware of the fact that the GFA as of today did not have any approval in writing or signed any contract for the hosting of their tournament and as such, they too should have been banned and suspended at the illegal Extraordinary Congress which you held unconstitutionally. The Guyana football fraternity would be happy to know when a similar ban will be extended to the GFA and its executives,” Persaud wrote.

Persaud went on to label the GFF president as a liar, stating in his letter “Sir, you also lied to this nation when you left Guyana to attend a FIFA meeting in Zurich on September 2, 2013 and never did so and reported that you did.

Sir, if you do not comply with this, my humble request, I will be left with no other alternative than to take the action necessary to save Guyana’s Football and the future of the youths of our country”.

Meanwhile, upon being contacted last evening via telephone, Matthias acknowledged the letter, only stating that “the GFF will respond to his (Persaud) letter shortly”.

Asked if the letter would reflect a personal one or that of the GFF, Matthias said, “As President of the GFF, when I speak officially, I represent the entire Federation.”

GCB congratulates victorious Banks Malta Supreme Guyana team

Veerasammy Permaul is congratulated by teammates for spinning out the tail in the NAGICO Super50 match on Tuesday night.

FOLLOWING their commanding 114-run victory over Ireland in the first round followed by their enthralling 22-runs win over defending champions Windward Islands on Tuesday night, Malta Supreme Guyana booked a place in the semi-finals of this year’s West Indies Cricket Board NAGICO Super50 tournament that is being played in Trinidad and Tobago.

Consequently, the Dru Bahadur-steward Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), befittingly extended a congratulatory message to the Christopher Barnwell-led Malta Supreme Guyana team, who missed out on a semifinal spot in last year’s tournament, after Nikita Miller struck Narsingh Deonarine for six.

Below is the GCB’s message to the team: “The Guyana Cricket Board

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

wishes to extend its congratulations to our Banks Malta Supreme Guyana cricket team on two spectacular victories that have already qualified us for the semifinals of the WICB NAGICO Super50 Tournament.

Our first victory against the Irish team was achieved with a fair amount of ease but the second victory against the defending champions Windward Islands was a hard-fought vic-

tory against a determined team; that was a testament to our mental and physical fortitude against one of the premier teams in this year’s competition.

Our mental and physical preparation in the last month was put to the test in this encounter and the team passed with flying colours.

Along the way, there were

please see page 26

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2013