Guyana chronicle 06 01 15 by Guyana Chronicle

GUYANA No. 104061 TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

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Missing ASL plane, crew…

CGX loans specialised seismic aircraft to assist in search Page

Dead: Ryan Couchman

Relatives dispute Page 9 Couchman shot dead after robbing cop - claim he was murdered during fracas

In face of General Elections...

CGX investorconfidence bolstered by robust petroleum legislation

…takes social responsibility outreach programme to schools

Page

The CGX aircraft which has joined the search

Pegasus’ Robert Badal makes about turn on Marriott project Page

CEO of Pegasus, Robert Badal

… now sees viability of project, declares belated interest in investing

Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Jagdeo urges Sri Lankans to do their part to ensure free and fair elections Page

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 6, 2015

Jagdeo urges Sri Lankans to do their part to ensure free and fair elections AHEAD of Sri Lanka’s 2015 elections on Thursday, Chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, on Sunday, urged the country’s people to do their part to ensure that the process is free and fair. “On behalf of the Commonwealth Observer Group, I wish the people of Sri Lanka well as they embark upon this election. We encourage all Sri Lankans to do their part to ensure that a peaceful and credible process takes place on 8th January,” he said, in a statement that was made public. STANDARDS OF DEMOCRACY According to him, Sri Lanka has among the oldest democratic traditions in the Commonwealth and assured that the Observer Group’s work will revolve around ensuring that the standards for democratic elections are upheld. “(Our task is) to assess whether the election is conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Sri Lanka has committed itself, with reference to national election-related legislation as well as Commonwealth and other international commitments,” he said Dr Jagdeo explained that the nine-member Observer team is tasked with considering all the factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole. The Chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group said, “We will consider, among other things, whether conditions exist for credible elections, including a fair election environment; whether public media has been impartial; the transparency of the entire process; whether voters are free to express their will; and whether the counting and results process is transparent.” He made it clear that the team’s assessment will be neutral, impartial, objective and independent. “The Group has no executive role. Its function is not to supervise but to observe the process as a whole and to form a judgment accordingly…. our intent is to offer constructive support to help strengthen the democratic process in the

APOLOGY

THE Guyana Chronicle apologises to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and to Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Vishnu Persaud for the headline on Page One in yesterday’s edition, which inadvertently misrepresented the contents of the article. The DCEO did not say ‘GECOM is ready as ever for conduct of elections’. However, in a telephone conversation with this newspaper, he did indicate that the Commission has in place a framework which would be converted into a work plan for the conduct of general and regional elections once a date is pronounced GECOM’s DCEO, on by President Donald Vishnu Persaud Ramotar.

country,” Dr Jagdeo said. The Commonwealth Observer Group is expected to make recommendations to the authorities concerned on institutional, procedural and other matters that would assist the holding of such elections in the future. “We have already met with the Commissioner of Elections, national observer groups, and representatives of the two main candidates. Over the coming days we will be meeting Commonwealth High Commissioners, representatives of the police as well as civil society groups. We will then deploy across the country to observe the conclusion of the campaign and thereafter the voting, counting and results process,” Dr Jagdeo said.

Ms Lainy Malkani, Media Expert, United Kingdom. The Group is supported by a staff team of five, led by Ms Katalaina Sapolu, Director of the Rule of Law Division at the

REPORTS He disclosed that the Group will release an Interim Statement after the election and subsequently will submit a final report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will forward it to the Government of Sri Lanka, the Commissioner of Elections, and leaders of political parties, and thereafter to all Commonwealth Governments. The nine-member Observer Group has been drawn from across the Commonwealth, and includes former politicians and members of parliament, former members of election commissions and representatives of civil society and the media. In addition to Dr Jagdeo, the other Commonwealth Observers in Sri Lanka include: Ms Maria Chin Abdullah, The Coalition of Free and Fair Elections, Malaysia; Dr Cam Calder, Former Member of Parliament, New Zealand; Mr Qamar Zaman Kairam, Former Minister and Member of Parliament, Pakistan; Mr Eldred De Klerk, Rule of law and elections security expert, South Africa; Dr Sally Kosgei, Former Minister and Member of Parliament, Kenya; Ms Saadatu Maida, Election Commissioner, Ghana; Mr Brij Bihari Tandon, Former Election Commissioner of India, India; and

Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Commonwealth Secretariat. The Commonwealth recently observed the 2010 Presidential election and the 2013 Northern Provincial Council elections.

APNU still to agree to AFC proposal for secret talks – APNU General Secty Joseph Harmon

THE current political environment in Guyana was cited as a possible reason for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to acquiesce to a proposal from the Alliance For Change (AFC) for secret talks. APNU’s General Secretary, Joseph Harmon, let on as much in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, but he also said that the coalition was still to make a decision on the matter. “The question of publicizing what we would talk about is an important consideration, particularly given the political environment we are in. Caution would be the order of the day to ensure there are no missteps,” he said. AFC PROPOSAL The Alliance For Change (AFC) has, over the weekend, disclosed that it is prepared to hold talks with APNU on Joseph Harmon condition that the discussions remain confidential. “We don’t intend to negotiate an agreement within the public space, and therefore will not be commenting further on this matter until there is a substantive announcement to be made,” AFC General Secretary David Patterson said in a statement. Patterson explained that, during a recently held meeting, the AFC had tabled a non-disclosure agreement for APNU to review.

“The AFC tabled a non-disclosure agreement for review and signing by the APNU with the clear understanding that, on the return of the signed document, the AFC would release to APNU (its) draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which would form the template for our negotiations,” Patterson said. He said the AFC is prepared to issue its MoU to APNU within 24 hours, once the main opposition party signs the non-disclosure agreement. “Negotiations can start within 48 hours thereafter, which could be as early as Wednesday, January 7, 2015,” he said. SINCE DECEMBER APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon has told the Guyana Chronicle that the non-disclosure agreement has been with the coalition since last month, but a review of the proposed document has not yet been completed. “We saw the document around Christmastime, but we have not been able to study it as yet. Our structure requires consultation at the Shadow Cabinet level as well as at the leadership level,” he said. Asked about the possible issues that would form part of the agenda for talks, Harmon disclosed that inclusionary democracy and the question of establishing a government of national unity after the elections are two such areas. He, however, said his coalition would be dealing with the matter soon. The AFC’s position, as articulated over the weekend, comes on the heels of statements made by APNU Leader, Brigadier (Rtd.) David Granger, in which he disclosed that there have been no substantial discussions with the AFC to date.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 6, 2015

Pegasus’ Robert Badal makes about turn on Marriott project … now sees viability of project, declares belated interest in investing

CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pegasus Hotel, Robert Badal, has taken to the media to express an interest in the Georgetown Marriott Hotel’s 67 per cent equity, but never submitted a single formal proposal, despite the fact that invitations were published locally and internationally on numerous occasions over the years. Badal was quoted over the weekend in the Kaieteur News, publicly declaring an interest in the US$8M equity investment in the hotel. This, however, is an about face on the US$58M flagship tourism project, given that he was once one of the more vociferous critics of the project and had predicted doom for the now nearly completed hotel, even before its sod turning ceremony in 2011. In mid-2010, Badal was quoted in the very Kaieteur News as condemning the project, saying that it would

News on Sunday last as saying, “now that details of the many incentives and tax breaks granted for the project are coming to light, he is more than willing to invest the US$8M that offers 67 per cent ownership of the hotel.” The publication also quoted Badal as saying, “Once there is a guarantee that all these incentives, including the exemptions on the Withholding Tax, Property Tax and Corporation Ta x , w i l l c o m e a s t h e conditions under the current arrangements, I will be more than willing to come on board as the equity investor for US$8M.” B a d a l ’s u t t e r a n c e s , however, have been described by observers as illustrating a disconnect from reality, despite the fact that he is in the hotel business, as the very incentives referred to, has been made available to potential investors and the public at large a long time now.

but the Pegasus Hotel owner never expressed an interest. B a d a l ’s m o s t r e c e n t pronouncement on the Marriott Hotel Project represents a stark departure

CEO of Pegasus, Robert Badal from sentiments he would have also expressed in October 2013, and coincidentally published in the Kaieteur News, when he

The Georgetown Marriott Hotel under construction in Kingston with the Pegasus Hotel in the background.

inevitably kill the local hotel industry. He contended then that Guyana has a relatively fixed hotel occupancy rate, which averages around 30 per cent nationwide - figures disputed by a Feasibility Study done for the Marriott by a Floridabased firm, HVS Consulting and Valuation. Badal at the time had even argued that the hotel would not facilitate the creation of jobs locally, since there would only be a displacement of the personnel already in the hotel industry, when the facility comes into commercial operation. The fact that Government last year allocated US$4M to begin construction of a Hospitality School, meant to effectively train Guyanese to man the industry, renders Badal’s argument at the time null and void. WILLING TO INVEST The Pegasus Hotel owner was reported in the Kaieteur

Several Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to participate in AHI (Marriott Hotel Project) private equity were advertised over the years, many of which detailed aspects of the investment, but Badal never submitted a proposal. In fact, an extract of the Feasibility Study detailing the financing structure and incentives, tax and otherwise, were publicly made available,

said that the hotel would not be able to recover its cost. At the time, the Pegasus owner said, “Once o p e r a t i o n a l , G u y a n a ’s proposed flagship Marriott Hotel would be hard pressed to even cover its interest payments.” NO LOCAL PROPOSALS Only recently AHI was forced to correct a report in the Kaieteur News, over a

similar assertion by a local investor who claimed to have expressed an interest in the equity shares in the hotel, but like Badal, never submitted a proposal. At the time AHI had pointed out that since 2009, when the Hotel Project was first envisaged and before Marriott committed to the project, Government advertised for partners to design and implement the project. After Marriott announced their decision to operate the hotel in 2010, AHI published both internationally and locally, a series of advertisements, on 12 separate occasions, between January and March 2012 setting out the terms and conditions for an investor or investors calling for expressions of interest to participate in AHI’s Marriott Hotel Project private equity. The advertisements were also placed with all of the Government’s Embassies and

Consulates. The advertisements invited bids for one or more participants to invest in 67 per cent of AHI’s equity in the Marriott Hotel Project for an amount of US$8M with the Government of Guyana, through NICIL, owning 33 per cent of AHI’s equity from an investment of US$4M. Furthermore, the information contained in the advertisements was readily made available to the National Assembly by the Minister of Finance in a detailed response to questions submitted by the Opposition parties in March of 2012. On that occasion, the Minister of Finance undertook to provide Parliament with a closed door presentation of the Feasibility Study, independently conducted in 2010 by HVS Consulting & Valuation. Major extracts were subsequently released to the media and have been widely published. In May of last year, AHI

and Republic Bank Limited, responsible for concluding the arrangement of the US$27M in debt financing for the Hotel Project, jointly announced the names of the investors. IN PUBLIC DOMAIN T h e o p p o r t u n i t y, therefore, for a local investor or investors to participate in the ownership of equity in the Marriott Hotel Project has been in the public domain, in fact, since 2009 without the submission of a single serious proposal from a local investor. “Nothing has changed since then. Atlantic Hotel Inc., until an agreement was entered into with t h e c u r r e n t i n v e s t o r, had not received a single serious, professionally documented proposal from any source, local or otherwise, in response to its advertisements,” the company has since stressed.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Syria conflict: Lebanon refugee curb prompts UN concern (BBC News) THE UN wants the government to clarify whether the “most vulnerable refugees” can still gain access to Lebanon. Travel between the two countries was previously largely unrestricted, but now Syrians will have to obtain a visa. There are more than a million Syrians in Lebanon, and a senior minister says there is “no more capacity”. “ We h a v e e n o u g h . There’s no capacity anymore to host more displaced,’’ Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk said at a news conference on Monday. Millions of Syrians have been displaced by the civil

war as rebel forces try to oust President Bashar al-Assad. Activists say more than 76,000 people were killed in Syria’s conflict in 2014, including almost 18,000 civilian Under the new measures, Syrians wishing to enter Lebanon will have to fulfil certain criteria in order to be granted a visa at the border. Previously, Syrians could automatically stay in Lebanon for up to six months. Khalil Jebara, an adviser to Mr Machnouk, told the BBC that Lebanon “will only allow refugees under very limited and exceptional cases.” Lawmaker Basem Shabb

told the BBC that the government had done “all that it could” to support Syrian refugees. “But it’s also clear to most Lebanese that this situation cannot continue... because it will affect not only the Lebanese but finally it will affect the Syrian refugees in Lebanon if Lebanon descends into chaos.” There are large numbers of Syrians already in Lebanon who are not registered as refugees. Government officials have said those already in the country would not be forcibly expelled. A spokesman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Lebanon, Ron Redmond, said

Lebanon hosts more than a million Syrian refugees

that over the past six to eight months several measures had already reduced the number of people seeking registration as refugees. However, the UN had

worked out a system with the government to enable the most vulnerable to still get through, he said. “The government says that it will allow those ex-

treme humanitarian cases access but it is not covered in these announcements that have come out the last few days,” Mr Redmond told the BBC.

China lodges protest after Greek oil tanker bombed in North Korea man ‘kills four’ Libyan port of Derna (BBC News) CHINA has protested to North Korea following reports that an army deserter killed four people in a Chinese border city. The soldier crossed the border in late December, stealing money and food before killing residents in Helong, local media reported. He was later arrested north of the Tumen River that divides China and North Korea. The river has been used for years by people trying to flee North Korea. The Chinese foreign ministry gave no details about the incident, but said it has lodged a protest with North Korea. “China’s public securi-

(BBC News) LIBYAN air force jets have bombed a Greek-operated oil tanker chartered by Libya’s national oil company, killing two crew members. A Libyan military spokesman told the BBC that the ship’s movements at the port of Derna had aroused suspicion. The oil company rejected this, saying the ship was delivering fuel to industrial facilities there and the authorities had been kept informed. Derna has been controlled by Islamist militants for the past two years. The Libyan military attacked the port several times last year in an attempt to weaken militant groups there. The military spokesman, Colonel Ahmed Mesmari, said the tanker had been targeted because it had failed to submit to an inspection before entering the port.

The border is heavily protected at some points but it remains a key crossing point for defectors

ty bureau will handle the case according to law,” a ministry spokeswoman said, suggesting the suspect will be prosecuted in China rather than handed back to Pyongyang. It is not unknown for North Koreans to cross the porous border into China in search of food. Many trying to escape the country cross into Chi-

na before seeking to travel onto a third country and then into South Korea. C h i n a o f t e n r e p a t r iates defectors back to the North, ruling them economic migrants. Activists say North Korea has strengthened border security to prevent defections since Kim Jong-un took power in 2011.

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He said the vessel was supposed to dock at a power plant in Derna but instead “took a different route”, entering a “military zone”. “We asked the ship to stop, but instead it turned off all its lights and would not respond so we were obliged to strike it. “We bombed it twice,” he said. NO LEAKAGE Libya’s National Oil Corporation said the tanker had picked up 13,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in Brega, a port south of Libya’s second city, Benghazi, which it was due to deliver to a power plant and water purification facility in Derna. It said the vessel was attacked before it could enter the port to unload its cargo. There were 26 crew members on board the ship, Araevo, including nationals from the Philippines, Greece and Romania.

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Two were injured in Sunday’s attack, in addition to those killed. The Liberian-flagged tanker is operated by an Athens-based shipping company, Aegean Shipping Enterprises Company. The company said there was no leakage of oil and it was assessing the damage. Col Mesmari told Reuters the vessel had been bringing Islamist fighters to Derna. “We had warned any ship not to dock at the port without prior permission,” he was quoted as saying. The National Oil Corporation did not comment on the allegation but said the bombing of the tanker would have a “very negative” impact on oil shipping from Libyan ports. It said it remained neutral in the conflict in Libya and the incident would hinder its ability to maintain supplies within the local market.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Rios Montt faces Guatemala genocide retrial out a series of massacres in which 1,771 people of the Ixil Maya ethnic group were killed. Gen Rodriguez was acquitted while Gen Rios Montt was found guilty and sentenced to 80 years in prison. Less than two weeks after Gen Rios Montt’s conviction,

Graffiti on a wall in Guatemala reads “There was genocide” next to a picture of ex-ruler Gen Rios Montt

THE retrial on genocide charges of Guatemala’s ex-military ruler Gen Efrain Rios Montt is due to start. However Gen Rios Montt’s lawyer said the general would not attend Monday’s hearing because of ill health. The general was found

guilty in 2013 of ordering the mass killing of indigenous people in the early 1980s, but his conviction was later overturned. The start of Monday’s hearing was delayed because a file from the appeals court had not been transferred in time. Before the postponement

was announced, Gen Rios Montt’s lawyer said: “His health is delicate, the doctor is with him and has recommended he does not move.” Overturned Gen Rios Montt and his former intelligence chief, Gen Jose Rodriguez, were tried in 2013 on charges of ordering the army to carry

Venezuelan leader Maduro seeks economic help on tour (BBC News) VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro is beginning an international tour to try to stem the impact of falling oil prices and a deepening recession. Mr Maduro goes first to China - a major source of loans for Venezuela - for talks with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. He will then travel to various Opec member countries to press for cuts in oil output that would boost prices. Venezuelan oil prices have dropped by half since June. The country gets most of its foreign currency from oil exports and is estimated to have the largest oil reserves in the world. Before he left Venezuela Mr Maduro announced a number of new mechanisms aimed at addressing the

President Maduro (facing camera third from left) announced an economic recovery programme before heading to China

country’s economic crisis. He said he would create a strategic reserve, appoint a new board to run the organisation that manages currency exchange controls, and create new agencies to manage the distribution of commodities. President Maduro has said his country is suffering the consequences of an economic war launched by U.S. President Barack Obama “to

destroy” the oil producers’ cartel, Opec. He has also accused the U.S. of flooding the markets with oil as part of an economic war against Russia. The Venezuelan opposition blames the country’s economic crisis and shortages of many staples, such as corn oil and milk, on the socialist policies of Mr Maduro and his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

Guatemala’s highest court threw out the verdicts and ordered a retrial, arguing that the accused had been left without a lawyer at key stages of the trial. The ruling annulled everything that had happened in the trial after 19 April 2013, the day when the defence team was expelled for

accusing the presiding judge of failing to hear its legal challenges. Gen Rios Montt and Gen Rodriguez have been under house arrest since. Gen Rodriguez arrived at the tribunal in Guatemala City in a wheelchair on Monday saying that he did not fear a renewed trial.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Emerging aspirants to power WITH the date of General and Regional Elections a matter of weeks away, it is most surprising that more is not being done by political aspirants hoping to assume power to sensitise the population on plans for Guyana, should they be asked to lead the new Government. There is the move by some, who are opposed to the present Government, to ensure that there is a change of Government at

the polls, and they seem willing to employ just about any strategy to so do. The effort by the PNC/R in 2011 to hold presidential primaries to select the Party’s candidate that saw Brigadier (rtd) David Granger emerge to lead the Party was surely a different and new strategy for both Party and supporters, irrespective of how flawed the process was. Needless to say, its

subsequent “coalition” with other Parties, and rebranding itself the APNU has failed to deliver as promised PNC faithfulls. With the country on the verge of yet another General and Regional Elections, the Party (PNC/R, APNU or whatever name you choose to call it) finds itself facing another possibility of a coalition in the hope of delivering to its constituencies. The new challenge is

the emerging minor Third-Party on the political landscape; the AFC that has challenged the popularity of the older PNC within recent times. This has reached the stage where the AFC, a smaller and newer Party with less seats in the National Assembly, having rebuffed requests by the PNC to join it in its previous coalition attempts, have now signalled its intention to place on the

table a coalition proposal of its own. This proposal, however, will only be revealed on the signing of a non-disclosure agreement by the larger party. The AFC Leader says his Party intends to lead a coalition of its own; that it will be inviting all stakeholders in Guyana, including the present Governing Party.

There seems to be an issue of trust between the two parties. This is a proposal to be discussed; yet they are timid about sharing a proposal that is to be discussed. Then, how are they going to make it as a Government, if they are afraid to talk to each other without being afraid that the information will become public knowledge?

Residents call for roads to be fixed in Non Pareil VILLAGERS of Section ‘B’ Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, located about 14 miles from Georgetown, are calling for the roads in that community to be fixed at the earliest. While the main road into the village is in somewhat good condition, almost all the secondary streets are riddled with huge pot holes. When it rains those large pot holes are filled with water which makes it impassable for residents and those with vehicles have to do repairs on a regular basis. For years the roads have been in a bad state, despite several publications highlighting the issue but with no redress. Some residents have tried to fill those pot holes with builders waste and other materials but as soon as it rains, the stuff is washed away and it’s back to square one. (Michel Outridge)

The state of the roads in Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

In face of General Elections...

CGX investor-confidence bolstered by robust petroleum legislation

…takes social responsibility outreach programme to schools

Professor Suresh Narine (left) presents one of the top performers at the Covent Garden Secondary School, Felicia Bassant, with a prize

By Gary Eleazar DESPITE the uncertainty that comes with General and Regional Elections in Guyana, Professor Suresh Narine, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CGX Energy Inc., has expressed confidence in robust legislative framework within which the petroleum exploration industry operates locally. This being the case, CGX, the multi-national company engaged in petroleum exploration here, is not overly concerned about the potential tension in the political atmosphere. Professor Narine made

the disclosure on Saturday while giving an update of the operations of the entity to members of the media, following CGX’s now annual Social Responsibility Outreach Programme. Yesterday’s event was hosted at the Providence Primary School on the East Bank of Demerara. Speaking to the operations of the company in light of the looming elections, Professor Narine, when questioned by this publication, responded by expressing his confidence in the rule of law and said that this is applied across the board as is evident in the continued operations of other explo-

Professor Suresh Narine in the company of awardees

ration companies operating within the local borders. ROBUST PETROLEUM LAWS Dr Narine used the opportunity to point out that while CGX as a corporate citizen would stay out of politics, the company would keep a keen eye on the political scene, given that it would fall under its risk portfolio. According to Professor Narine, a recent spat with one of its previous partners Repsol, which eventually lead to court action, has caused to be illustrated in a most pellucid manner the fact that the rule of law

prevailed. “We were able to rely on the courts; we were able to rely on a basin that respects rights that are based on codified rules…Guyana’s Petroleum Laws are very clear, there are very few ambiguities about Guyana’s Petroleum laws,” said Professor Narine. He said too that one of the critical areas that CGX has been particularly happy over when operating in Guyana is the fact that “we don’t feel that political change, if there is to be at some point in the future political change here, we do not feel that that threatens the legal framework of operating here.” Professor Narine was quick to also point out that this was not just the position of CGX but rather a vote of confidence of operating in Guyana was also expressed by Repsol, Exxon and Anadarko among a wide variety of well-respected large oil and gas companies, “who wouldn’t be here if they felt there was risk.” He explained that one of the things that companies in the extractive sector, such as oil and gas companies “must and should always respect is the sovereignty of the jurisdiction within which they operate…we as a company will always respect the government of the day, will always respect the rule of law.”

Deeds Registrar, Azeena Baksh

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY According to Professor Narine, CGX is a company that goes beyond just satisfying the requirement of the laws of Guyana, but rather look to form social ties with communities as was evident in yesterday’s exercise when the company rewarded a number of top performing students from the Providence Primary School and the Covent Garden Secondary School. Professor Narine was adamant, “we stay out of the political realm because we don’t belong there.”

Savouring a scrumptious snack

Drawing an international perspective to operating in an environment where there is no confidence in the rule of law being supreme, Professor Narine, while not singling out any country, pointed out that there are a number of jurisdictions across the world where investors will not venture to operate, unlike in Guyana. “We clearly feel that Guyana’s politics belong to Guyanese and our role is to respect law and order and Government and our social contracts that we have with people.”

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Missing ASL plane, crew…

CGX loans specialised seismic aircraft to assist in search A SPECIALLY equipped Canadian plane, brought into Guyana to undertake aerial seismic surveys for CGX Energy Inc, has been deployed to assist with the search for the missing Britten Norman Islander, which authorities lost contact with on December 28 last. The aircraft, bearing registration number 8R-GHE, went missing with its pilot, 27 year-old Captain Nicky Persaud, and another employee, 51 year-old cargo loader Dave Bisnauth. The plane, which lost contact with air traffic controllers 10 days ago, is presumed to have crashed in the dense jungle in the Mahdia, Region 8, locale, prompting a massive search operation including ranks of the Guyana Defence Force’s Special Forces Unit, Air Services Limited (ASL)— whose plane it is that went missing—and now the Canadian plane on loan from

CGX Energy Inc, among others. Chief Executive Officer o f C G X ’s E n e rg y I n c , Professor Suresh Narine, over the weekend confirmed that the seismic aircraft had

has indicated to media operatives that the plane which contains,“magnetic equipment onboard”, to do magnetic surveys, was loaned to the help search for the plane that has gone down.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 6, 2015

ARIES The expansive feeling you might be experiencing is apt to be squelched today as you get the feeling that you’ve lost touch with reality. Make sure you connect with real life, and do a bit of planning to balance your whimsical nature. Things that you haven’t accounted for might crop up and hit you, serving as a reminder that you need to deal with the here and now. TAURUS Walk to the beat of your own drum. If you try to latch on to the glib, fastpaced information of the day, you might lose your voice in the crowd. On the other hand, if you plant your feet firmly and try to plan in too much detail, you might deprive yourself of spontaneous events that prove fulfilling. Chart your own course, and don’t be afraid if no one else comes along. GEMINI Connect with the person sitting next to you on the bus, or the one behind you in line at the store. He or she may have a piece of wisdom to share that will change your life forever. Know that you, too, could be that person who changes someone else’s life with a single thought or piece of wisdom. Communication is the key to expanding your world in many ways. CANCER Your self-esteem may be challenged by a fast-paced talker or unpleasant situation. Don’t accept things as they appear at first glance. There’s a much deeper meaning brewing below the surface, and you’d be foolish not to recognise this when it comes around. Stick to your guns and stay grounded. Newfangled devices and big promises may not be all they’re advertised to be.

Professor Suresh Narine been deployed to assist in the search. This, he said, was done, given the aircraft’s capacity. Professor Narine

Tuesday, January 06, 2015 - 05:00 hrs Wednesday, January 07, 2015 - 05:00 hrs

Missing pilot Captain Nicky Persaud According to Professor Narine, “It is serendipitous that the plane was here at this time.” While the plane has already been conducting aerial reconnaissance of the designated search areas, the results of the data garnered will have to be first analysed before any leads it may uncover can be pursued. Professor Narine did indicate that “We don’t know if the equipment will have high enough resolution to help, but we are trying.” The missing aircraft was at the time transporting cargo from Mahdia to Karisparu, Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) and reportedly lost contact some ten minutes after takeoff. Immediately after the ASL plane was reported missing, a number of other aircraft were deployed to execute search-and-rescue operations, but to date searches have been futile as they are yet to locate a wreckage or any sign of the missing crew. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) has also activated its Rescue Coordination Centre at the Timehri Control Tower. The search operation has been hampered by extremely hostile terrain and stints of bad weather.

LEO Jump on board the fast train and see how far it takes you. You will be surprised how far you can go with minimal effort. Your grace and polite manners will help you navigate to where you need to be. You’re your own ship and there is a large gust of wind filling your sails. Make the most of this energy by shooting for the top and not resting until you get there. VIRGO Flexibility is important today. Take the relaxed, laid-back approach. Trying to ram your ideas through isn’t the best tactic. Having tunnel vision will restrict you in many ways. Keep an open mind and be receptive to other people’s ideas and opinions. You have a great deal of power at your fingertips. It would be a shame to waste it by not having the breadth of vision to see all your options. LIBRA Things coming at you from all sides are forcing you to make a move. Try not to feel pressured into something you don’t want to do. A nervous restlessness is apt to take over your being and urge you to act. Don’t let other people’s energies dictate your actions. Secure your position and be strong. Don’t be lured into situations you know are bad for you. SCORPIO Lock into the practical, grounding force that is not only realistic but also flexible. Attend to details and organise yourself. Be aware that you may need to alter your course in order to fit with the group energy. Try to work together with those around you to achieve a common goal. Initiating the help of others is easier than you think as long as you stay focused and motivated. SAGITTARIUS Today is one of those days in which prosperity is much closer than you think. You will find what you seek, but it’s up to you to take the first step to going after it. More than likely, you’re looking for solid answers to your deep and probing questions. Don’t let your inquisitive mind rest until you find the answers that ring true for you. CAPRICORN Indecision may leave you helpless at a crossroads today. Others around you could be just as undecided regarding their direction. At the same time, you may feel pressured to take immediate action and you’re tired of waiting for others to make the first move. Find answers in simple solutions. There’s more than one correct way to go. Your choice is the right one if you believe it. AQUARIUS Latch on to the expansiveness that comes when you connect with others in the social arena. Communication is a key part of the day. You will find that if you go with the flow, you will land exactly where you need to be. Take the adventurous route and feel free to skip around from one thing to another. There’s no need to pin yourself down to only one way of doing something. PISCES Connect with the stable, grounding energy of the day, but beware that tension may come in the form of fast talk and misguided information. People might be fickle and frantic. Wait for the dust to settle before you pick which road to take. Impulsive decisions are apt to lead you down paths that might not be the best choice for you now. Try not to think too much!

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Relatives dispute Couchman shot dead after robbing cop

– claim he was murdered during fracas FOLLOWING the fatal shooting of Ryan Couchman, 34, on Sunday afternoon by an off-duty cop at Linden/Soesdyke Highway junction, East Bank Demerara (EBD), the police said he was killed during a robbery but his relatives and friends are contending he was shot dead in cold blood during a misunderstanding. Although he has a checkered background and was charged for armed robberies several times, eyewitnesses said Couchman was murdered. According to eyewitnesses, Couchman was the peacemaker when a group of men he was liming with were engaged in a quarrel which escalated into a fight during which the off-duty policeman was injured.

It was then Couchman was shot when four rounds were discharged and he was conveyed to the Diamond Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The man’s wife, Natasha Couchman, told the media that her spouse was at a creek along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway with friends earlier and had stopped at the junction to have some beverages when they encountered the off-duty cop. Couchman is the father of two and was said to be a miner. Police in a press statement after 09:00 hours on Sunday night said they have launched investigations into an incident that occurred at about 19:00 hours on January 04, 2015, in which an armed policeman in plain clothes

was attacked and robbed of his gold jewellery by three men at Soesdyke, EBD. During the robbery the policeman, who was being repeatedly assaulted by the perpetrators, discharged a round which fatally wounded one of the men who has been identified as Ryan Couchman, 34, of Diamond, EBD. The two accomplices managed to escape. The injured policeman received medical treatment at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, EBD. Ry a n C o u c h m a n i s known to the police and has been previously charged on a number of occasions for robbery under arms. On November 18, 2008 Couchman alleged that police beat him for a confession following an armed robbery

during which two persons were robbed at gunpoint of a quantity of cash and other items. Couchman of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was not required to plead to two indictable counts of robbery under arms. It is alleged that on July 9, 2008 at Thomas Street, Couchman used a gun to rob Assif Bacchus of a quantity of Guyana and U.S. currency and a cell phone, all to the value of $473,000. It is also alleged that on the same day and place, Couchman used a gun to rob Jovia Rahaman of $1.7M. On January 25, 2011 Couchman was accused of the $4.7M Bel Air Park robbery and was remanded. Couchman, of Lot 1360 Eighteenth Street, Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was remanded to prison on three charges

of robbery under arms, resulting from a heist on January 20, 2011 at a diamond dealer’s business. Appearing before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, he was accused of having: * On January 20, being armed with a gun, robbed Samuel Lema of a laptop computer and bag – a total value of $210,000; * the same day, being armed with a gun, robbed Vico Cohan of $4M and other property – a total value of $4.4M, belonging to Guy Logic Inc; and * on that day too, being armed with a gun, robbed Christopher Mc Adam of three cellular phones among booty worth $127,000. The prosecutor said the prisoner and four other men went to the business premises of Guy Logic Inc., in Zinnia Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown and were let

Dead: Ryan Couchman

in because Couchman was known to the security guard on duty. Harvey said Couchman was introduced to Lema, and was being shown some merchandise when the former held the latter at gunpoint and demanded from him and all the other victims their belongings.

CGX investor-confidence bolstered... EDUCATION CRITICAL On the matter of its social responsibilities, CGX yesterday presented nine students from Providence Primary School and the Covent Garden Secondary School with Samsung Tablets, a tool meant to assist in their pursuit of a sound education. The students were all chosen to receive the prizes as a result of their outstanding performances during their recent periodic examinations. “We believe that you are clearly the future of the country…without you making that effort, this country, your country will not move forward,” Professor Narine said in a passionate plea for the students to continue to excel and pursue higher education. It was explained that CGX, in the execution of its social responsibility has decided to move away from the high- end soirees and rather focus its attention on com-

munity-based outreaches. The Providence Primary School was chosen as the location for this year’s event, in view of the fact that Professor Narine is a member of the school’s Alumni. He was joined by Director of Conservation International (CI), Dr David Singh, himself a member of the school’s Alumni; AzeenaBaksh, the nation’s youngest Deeds Registrar and Registrar of Companies and Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul, among other special invitees. It was explained that the guests at yesterday’s event were chosen to point out to the parents, students and community members the calibre of students that would have emanated from that school, as well as what is potentially possible with a sound education. Professor Narine, after reminiscing with parents, teachers and students alike on his days attending school there, pointed to Dr Singh

and said that for a student of that school to make it that far in terms of a career, serves as an example of what the current crop of students could also achieve. Dr Singh holds a doctorate in chemistry and has served as director of both Iwokrama, a world- renowned project meant to lead the way on eco-system research as well as climaterelated issues. He also serves as director of Conservation International.

GUYANESE REPRESENTATIVE Another of the special invitees was Tarachandra Khellawan, whom Professor Narine explained was the CGX country representative. Worthy of note, according to Professor Narine, is the fact that of all the oil and gas companies operating in Guyana, Khellawan is the only Guyanese,which bears testimony to the fact of what a solid education can

facilitate. The Registrar of Companies, Baksh, used her opportunity to address the students, parents and teachers present to encourage them to ensure that a full education is pursued. She encouraged especially the parents present to ensure that their children not halt the learning process at the end of secondary school, but that they should also be allowed to pursue tertiary and post- tertiary education. GOVERNMENT’S INTERVENTIONS Meanwhile, Labour Minister, Dr. Gopaul, who was also on hand for the simple yet humbling handing- over ceremony used the opportunity to thank CGX for their input and spoke to the number of Government interventions over the years to ensure access to a quality education by all Guyanese students. He spoke to the evolution of the education system

in Guyana, adding that back in his days in school writing 10 subjects at CXC was an achievement, much less the 18 and 20 subjects being not just written but excelled at currently by Guyanese students. Dr. Gopaul reminded of the recent successes whereby Guyanese students copped four of the six top regional awards. Education, he emphasised, is important and to this end Government has in the past two decades invested heavily in the sector. He spoke too of programmes meant to assist vulnerable students to ensure that they receive a quality education. The Labour Minister singled out the schools uniform, feeding, transportation, free books distribution as well as the “Because We Care” campaign whereby $10,000 was provided for each student in public school. He also pointed to the One Laptop Per Family

From page 7

(OLPF) programme, which will be complemented with the completion of the Government’s fibre optic cable, a project he insisted will be realised shortly. Professor Narine also presented the Headmistress of the Providence Primary School, Grace Felix, with a cheque for US$16,000 (G$3.2M). This, he said, will be used for the construction of a facility meant to house a canteen and areas for vendors hawking their trade at the school. The teachers were appreciative of the presentations by CGX and expressed confidence in continued support in the coming years. U n d e r C G X ’s S o cial Responsibility Outreach Programme, some US$48,000 (G$9.6M) was spent last year on a number of similar initiatives and according to Professor Narine, CGX intends to increase that amount this year.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 6, 2015

Regional integration and cooperation must be strengthened – Antigua and Barbuda PM

THE difficulties, with which Governments and people of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have been confronted, demanded strength of character and resilience, which have been demonstrated. And moving forward, former Chairman of CARICOM, Gaston Browne, contends that regional integration and cooperation must be strengthened. “As a Region we have put our heads together to seek solutions to the problems and have identified strategies to pursue which would put us on a path to growth and development and, importantly, create jobs,” Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister said. According to him, this is imperative considering that the lingering effects of the global economic and financial crises, heavy debt burdens, high unemployment and low growth have had a negative impact on the lives and standard of living of people in CARICOM. INTEGRATION’S SUCCESS Browne noted that CARICOM’s first-ever Five-Year Strategic Plan is an example of how the Caribbean Community has been able time and again, to find its own solutions to overcome its problems – an example of integration’s success. “From CARIFTA to Common Market to Single Market and Economy, we have made economic strides. Through CXC, PANCAP and CDEMA we have successfully devised our own solutions to education, health and disaster management issues. Our Regional security apparatus has served us with distinction. We have proven beyond a doubt that we are capable of devising appropriate measures to help ourselves,” he said. The former CARICOM Chairman added that these are a clear indication that the Region’s best efforts were as a result of acting as an “integrated” unit. He said, “The collective intelligence and creativity of our people has ensured that our Caribbean civilisation has Former CARICOM Chairman, thrived despite the setbacks Gaston Browne and it is to that we have turned again to combat our current challenges.” On that note, Browne lauded the efforts of CARICOM’s leaders, who have been urged on by the Region’s people, in confronting the obstacles of 2014. “Together, we can, and will, not only survive but thrive, by enhancing our collective capacity to achieve economic stability and growth, a better quality of life for our people and sustainable development,” the former CARICOM Chair concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 6, 2015

Elderly US-based Guyanese hosted at luncheon in Queens, New York USHERING in the holiday season in a spirit of goodwill, US-based Guyanese in Queens and the Bronx, New York, on December 21, held a free luncheon where elderly Guyanese were feted. The event which marked the commencement of the Christmas Season was held at the Villa Russo in the heart of Richmond Hill, New York. The event which was also attended by several Italians, Irish, African-Americans and Hispanics saw Councilman

David Weprin and a few other local politicians gracing the event. The opportunity was also taken by Weprin to present Certificates of Citation to several individuals for their volunteer work in helping to uplift lives in their communities. Several community leaders were also recognised by legislators from the State and City with certificates for their volunteerism and charitable activities and for spreading

joy to the poorer sections of the society. Considered as one of the largest luncheons hosted in the community, the event was fun-filled with an entertainment package of singing, dancing and speeches from the community organisers. The environment also paved a way for the elderly to socialise and reflect during this time of celebration. The luncheon was organised by several volunteers, including real

estate developer Frank Singh, Ralph Tamesh, Dr Vijay Lilliah, George Russo, Taj Rajkumar, Stanley Raj, Rita Persaud, Vidya Singh, Ena Persaud, Ajay Singh, Rohan Seavcharran, Kay Ramdath,Mala Dasrat, Lisa Edoo, Stanley Raj, Sherry Williams, Randy Harris and Son Son; the IndoCaribbean Federation; District Leader Dr Taj Rajkumar, Richmond Hill Development Organization led by Vishnu Mahadeo, Tulsi Mandir, Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Balram Rambrich, Arya Samaj USA, among others. Giving the opening remarks was Frank Singh who expressed appreciation to the community o rg a n i s a t i o n s f o r t h e i r contributions to make the event a success and show

appreciation for theÂ seniors who helped to make the community what it is. Singh also thanked those who gave donations as well as the host of volunteers who worked very hard to put together the programme and organise presents for the invitees. The event was much appreciated by the seniors who evidently enjoyed the excellent music of the yuletide season as well as old time songs of chutney, Bollywood, carols, and local artistes.Â There was a unique blend and medley of listening and dance music which the seniors could not have resisted. Meanwhile, a minute of silence was observed in recognition of the work of community activist Jagdesh Mohunlall who passed away last March. He was one of

the founders of the annual luncheon. The event, which is an annual one, has been held for the last decade through the support and cooperative efforts of the groups. Many chipped in through donations and personal contributions in an attempt to acquire food and gifts for the beneficiaries of the luncheon. Local artistes from the community provided entertainment free of cost while Villa Russo provided the space and staff for the catering while some businesses donated a medley of American and traditional Guyanese dishes which included fried rice, chicken, dhal puri, curried lamb, salad, chowmein, k h e e r, l a s a g n a , a n d a variety of other dishes.

Traffic light

Scenes from the luncheon held for elderly Guyanese in Queens and Bronx, New York.

Cost of recklessness: The question is who will foot the cost to have this damaged traffic light at the corner of Lamaha and Camp Streets, Georgetown, fixed after an out-of-control vehicle slammed into it recently.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

2014: A bright year fo

TOURISM, as a sector, is very important for showcasing a country’s cultural diversity, as well as its socio-economic potential. And with the attention “Destination Guyana” is receiving, there is no doubt that the sector will be propelled to greater heights in 2015. In 2014, the sector, through a series of tourism activities, experienced great strides in promoting Guyana as a prime tourist destination. The activities provided perfect opportunities for thousands of tourists and locals to experience the country’s rich, diverse culture. Guyana is now internationally recognised as a viable eco-tourism destination, as well as a bird-watching sanctuary. The country has already been featured in many British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC’s) programmes on these two areas (eco-tourism

Guyana’s booth at World Travel Market in London 2014 Tourism Awardees with President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali

and bird-watching). No doubt it has been getting the attention of thousands of visitors, coming here eventually to experience its tropical delights, inclusive of the rich flora and fauna, and its cultural diversity.

Tourist arrivals

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) recorded another growing year of arrivals, and as of November 2014, Guyana scored a 13% increase in its tourist arrivals, as opposed to the same period in 2013. The country also recorded several record months, including July, August, September and October, topping the ‘best-ever’ since 1995. This increase represents visitors from across the Caribbean Region, especially from Suriname, and Jamaica, and from Brazil. Several tourists have come to Guyana on ‘familiarisation trips’. Investments From January to July 2014, nine new and continuing projects were undertaken. The total value of the investment ranging from hotels to airlines, amounted to $9,783,500,000. In fact, Jags Aviation recently added a new Cessna Caravan to its fleet. It now boosts the local airlines seating capacity and adds a new level of comfort and luxury. The spin-off from these projects will see 200 persons being hired soon. International features Guyana continues to receive international recognition and several new documentaries were completed during the year. These add to the major publications featuring the country. They usually highlight several aspects of the growing tourism industry. Guyana was also featured in several renowned magazines, for example the National Geographic.

Films and Documentaries In addition, the GTA also provided an endorsement letter to Discovery Channel TV, whose officials visited Guyana in October to film episodes of “Naked and Afraid.”

The GTA also requested temporary importation of film equipment for the film company. Further, GTA provided an endorsement letter to BBC Television to film Britain’s Secret Slave Owners in October. An endorsement letter was also provided to CNN, to film “Big Earth” (August 14-20) in Guyana. "Big Earth" was commissioned by Al Arab Channel, to produce a documentary in collaboration with CNN. Big Earth Productions featured Guyana in its “101 Amazing Adventures of the World” book, and is known for its exhilarating television productions which feature extreme sports and travel adventures. Inaugural Guyana festival The Guyana Festival, which featured the heart of Guyana through “sound, taste and soul”, showcased the country’s culture, as well as tourism potential. The Festival was held from August 08-10 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, and it offered a mixture of the country’s traditional music, dance, food, art and craft.

Bird watching

The 2014 International British Bird Watching Fair, held in Rutland, England, had

Conviasa arrives in Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

or the Tourism Sector over 35 international bird-watching companies selling Guyana. In 2013, there were 16 companies selling Guyana. This is the tenth year the country has been attending the event.

Safaris

The 12th Pakaraima Mountain Safari was hosted under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the GTA, in collaboration with the private sector, particularly Rainforest Tours, whose owner, Frank Singh, became integrally involved from the beginning. This event continues to grow each year, attracting larger participation from neighbouring countries. This year, a convoy of 20 vehicles, with over 70 adventure seekers, loaded with fuel, foodstuff and other supplies, took part. Guyana also held its second annual South Rupununi Safari, which commenced on November 25 and culminated five days later. The event kicked off on Robb Street and Avenue of the Republic, and saw several vehicles, including trucks, pickups and a bike, making their way up to the Savannahs, to enjoy nature’s beauty

President Donald Ramotar with other government officals joining in celebration at the inaugural Guyana Festival

been declared a port of entry, in order to promote this activity. This sport is reserved for yachts and larger sailboats. In 2014, yachters came to Guyana as part of the second Nereid Rally and anchored their boats in the mighty Essequibo River.

Expos

GUYEXPO 2014 created great opportunities for the local promotion of tourism. This annual event began in 1995 and is now an annual expo, going back to 2004. The event showcases locally produced goods and services, while serving as an initiative for the creation of new markets, exports, and awareness for exhibitors. In 2014, the expo saw another very successful year, with 116 international exhibitors participating. The annual Moruca Expo, in its 10th year, served to showcase a variety of products and craft, produced by the community. The event also showcased the country’s eco-tourism potential. Homecoming Guyana The Ministry of Tourism is now beginning to get set to welcome Guyana’s many sons and daughters of the Diaspora. This initiative is a special plan to bring back at least 100,000 (10 per cent) of overseas-based Guyanese, to enjoy all that the country has to offer. The long-term goal of the plan is to target all the major capitals around the world where there is a significant Guyanese population. Guyana rebranded “Guyana: South America Undiscovered” is the country’s new destination brand. It was unveiled at home and in London, along with its new logo. The main purpose of the rebranding is to help Guyana meet its aspiration of becoming a leading sustainable tourism destination in the Region.

New Tourism Ambassadors

Unveiling of Guyana’s new brand logo

and the rich Amerindian culture.

Yachting

Yachting has become a major tourist attraction, particularly now that Bartica has

The ministry, in collaboration with the GTA, hosted its 8th annual tourism award ceremony; it saw several local personalities, including Dave Martins, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Andrew King, Clive Lloyd, and Nicolette Fernandes, all being appointed Tourism Ambassadors. Meanwhile 19 stakeholders were awarded in 11 categories for their contribution to the tourism sector during 2014. The ‘Pillar of the Tourism’ was given to Teri O’Brien.

Industry Training

At the end of 2014, a total of 606 persons were trained in areas such as Bird Guide, Basic Conversational Spanish Language, Boat Captain, Culinary, First Aid/CPR, Customer Service, Servers, Front Office, Housekeeping and Turn to page 14 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

2014: A bright year for the... Front Desk. Training was conducted in the North Rupununi, Georgetown, Linden, Essequibo, Cheddi Jagan International Airport and Ogle International Airport. Spanish Language barrier was also tackled as the GTA facilitated a four-day training session in basic Spanish for the staff of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. CJIA Expansion The main airport’s modernisation was hampered due to the combined opposition’s denial of $5.3 billion budgeted for its upgrade and expansion through the construction of a new terminal building, aprons, air-bridges, taxiways and the extension of the runway by a further 3,500 feet, to allow for the landing of larger aircraft at the airport. This airport is crucial to the local tourism industry, hence during the year, some foundation work was done for the runway. Airlines A number of new airlines commenced operating the Guyana route in 2014-COPA, Dynamic Airways, Conviasa

and Curacao registered Insel Air. Jags Aviation and Golden Arrow Airways joined the local industry. Golden Arrow Airways, a tour operation conducting tours to Kaieteur Falls/Orinduik, was officially launched in May, while Jags as well will be involved in conveying people to remote and hinterland areas for tourism and other purposes. Of note is that the Guyana Oil Company Limited (GUYOIL) commissioned an Aviation Services Fuel Handling facility at the CJIA.

Hotels

The India-based Sun and Sand Group of Companies turned the sod in July for the new Sun and Sand Hotel, which will be located at Liliendaal. The five-star hotel will include a casino, along with a commercial block and club house. It will house 163 rooms and provide jobs for hundreds of Guyanese. Park Vue Hotel, located in Providence on the East Bank of Demerara was officially opened in January. Further the U.S. based hotel group Ramada will be spending US$7 million to rebrand the Princess Hotel and Casino at Providence, East Bank Demerara to Ramada

From centre

Georgetown Princess. This announcement was made in April. Also, the Rupununi Eco Hotel, located in Lethem, was officially opened in April by President Donald Ramotar. Cruise ships Guyana welcomed the first cruise vessel for 2014 with the return of the passenger ship Minerva to its shores. The 437-foot long 12,500 tonnage passenger ship, with its 350 passengers and crew of 174, of mainly Filipinos and Ukranians, took a two-day cruise in Guyana, under its 83 nights “Grand Faces of South America” tour, sailing from the Bridgetown round-trip. Also the internationally-known cruise liner, Vista Mar, on December 23, docked at the Demerara Sugar Terminal Wharf, Ruimveldt for the third time. 2015 Arrival Projections The ministry is projecting a 15 % increase in arrivals in the New Year. Several FAM trips are scheduled to be conducted and will result in more persons visiting Guyana.(GINA)

Sun and Sand Hotel’s Director Bushan Chandra and President Donald Ramotar turn the sod for construction of the company’s five-star hotel

The Vista Mar docked at Ruimveldt

Carefully manoeuvering the rough terrain during the 2014 Pakaraima Safari

Patrons at GuyExpo 2014

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE January Tuesday 6, 2015

Racing Tips South Africa Racing Tips

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Vaal

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09:30 hrs Knocklayde Sno Cat

10:40 hrs Gallilee 11:15 hrs Winter Approval 11:45 hrs Night Moves English Racing Tips

10:00 hrs Prince Blackthorn 10:30 hrs Kalimantan 11:00 hrs Volo Mio

Southwell

11:30 hrs Legacy Phoenix

08:50 hrs Forced Family Fun

Bangor

09:20 hrs Rock Of Ages

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10:20 hrs Kung Hei Fat Choy

10:10 hrs Bally Braes 10:40 hrs Bourne 11:10 hrs Final Assault 11:40 hrs Final Nudge French Racing Tips Pornichet 11:10 hrs Patan 11:40 hrs Lavenita 12:10 hrs Castlebay 12:40 hrs Mapreference 13:10 hrs Sir Medbury 13:40 hrs Deborah Des Obeaux 14:10 hrs Keep The Dream 14:40 hrs Diable Adevayo American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 Pistoria Race 2 Discreet Senorita Race 3 Elda Race 4 Wake Up Mama Race 5 Gaining Ground Race 6 Rock Me Again Race 7 To Believe Race 8 T Cross Race 9 Kimberleeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Moment

GUYANA CHRONICLE January Tuesday 6, 2015

Williamson, Watling fight back for Kiwis … Batsman dropped twice by Sri Lanka

Scoreboard

Kane Williamson (REUTERS) New Zealand’s Kane Williamson inched towards his ninth Test century as he combined with BJ Watling to stave off Sri Lanka’s push for victory at the close of the third day’s play in the second Test at the Basin Reserve yesterday. Williamson was 80 not out, his 16th Test halfcentury, and shared in an unbroken 94-run partnership with Watling (48 not out) to take the hosts to 253 for five at the close, a lead of 118 runs with two days left to play. “The partnership that Kane and BJ have put on has been outstanding,” New Zealand batsman Tom Latham told reporters. “We are fighting our way back and if these guys can keep going for another hour or two hours then we could be set up quite nicely.” The visitors must be ruing missed opportunities to sew up the game within three days after they dropped Williamson twice. Williamson was put

down on 29 by Rangana Herath in a caught-andbowled opportunity with the score 132 for four, then dropped in the final session by Nuwan Pradeep at deep backward square leg on 60, just three overs before the second new ball was due. Sri Lanka had put the hosts on the back foot with three wickets before lunch and then seized control when they reduced them to 159 for five, with the home side holding a 24-run lead and their last recognised pair at the crease. Hamish Rutherford (40) and Latham (35) had given New Zealand a solid start yesterday, driving their side to 75 without loss in the first hour before Pradeep dismissed both. Ross Taylor was then deceived by Herath’s guile before lunch to leave the hosts floundering. They slumped even further after lunch when Brendon McCullum (22) was trapped lbw by Dhammika Prasad while Jimmy Neesham was also

Porterfield to lead Ireland at World Cup LONDON, England (Reuters) - William Porterfield will captain Ireland at this year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, his third appearance in the sport’s showpiece one-day tournament. Brothers Niall and Kevin O’Brien and former England batsman Ed Joyce will also be playing in their third World Cup in a first-round group along with holders India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates. “It’s fantastic to be leading Ireland in another global tournament,” Porterfield said on the Cricket Ireland website (www.cricketireland.ie) yesterday. “We’ve produced some wonderful performances over the years in World Cups, and there’s no reason why we can’t claim further successes in Australia and New Zealand.” Ireland first played in the World Cup in 2007 and beat Pakistan on the way to the Super Eight stage of the tournament. They beat England by three wickets in the 2011 tournament, Kevin O’Brien hitting the fastest century in World Cup history off 50 balls as Ireland chased down a record target of 329. This year’s World Cup runs from February 14 to March 29. Squad - William Porterfield (captain), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andrew McBrine, John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 221 (K. Williamson 69; N. Pradeep 4-63) SRI LANKA 1st innings 356 (K. Sangakkara 203, D. Chandimal 67) NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings (o/n 22-0) T. Latham c P. Jayawardene b Pradeep 35 H. Rutherford c Chandimal b Pradeep 40 K. Williamson not out 80 R. Taylor b Herath 0 B. McCullum lbw b Prasad 22 J. Neesham lbw b Pradeep 19 B. Watling not out 48 Extras: (lb-6, nb-1, w-2) 9 Total: (for 5 wickets, 101 overs) 253 Fall of wickets: 1-75, 2-78, 3-79, 4-122, 5-159. Bowling: S. Lakmal 20-2-50-0 (w-1), N. Pradeep 19-3-57-3 (w-1), R. Herath 32-8-58-1, D. Prasad 19-1-53-1, (nb-1), A. Mathews 11-3-29-0.

leg-before to Pradeep for 19 before Williamson and Watling took them to the break. “We lost three quick wickets and just as we managed to build partnerships throughout the innings we lost another one, which is disappointing,” Latham added. “But ... Kane and BJ are clawing our way back (and) I think they are the perfect guys to be out there at the moment.”

Barnwell to lead Guyana Jaguars in NAGICO Super50 tourney By Calvin Roberts HAVING led the Malta Supreme Guyana to a semifinal spot where they lost to eventual champions Barbados in the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board/NAGICO Super50 tournament last year, Demerara Cricket Club all-rounder Christopher Barnwell has been entrusted with the captaincy role once again. Yesterday after another intense training session in sweltering heat at the Guyana National Stadium, the Guyana Jaguars team was officially announced to the players, who applauded loudly when Barnwell was named captain. Barnwell, who celebrates his 28th birthday today will have discarded West Indies left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul as his deputy, while Vishaul Singh makes his regional 50 overs debut, Steven Jacobs makes a return to Guyana colours after leading Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in the same tournament last year. It was Barnwell, who also stepped up to the captaincy plate for the first three rounds in the WICB Regional four-day tournament early last year, after the appointed skipper Leon Johnson picked up an injury and was unable to assume that role.

Bolton likely to ...

an email sent by this publication, only stated “We will host a press conference on Saturday, January 10 to introduce our ‎TD. All questions will be answered then.” It was also rumoured that Guyana’s most successful technical director; Trinidadian Jamaal Shabazz will serve under Bolton as head coach and Alpha United’s Wayne Dover as his assistant. Guyana will oppose Barbados on January 25 in the Land of Flying Fish and as such, a squad was called into training, including several overseas players. It is rumoured that Bolton will work with Shabazz and, when contacted yesterday via email, the Trinidadian said, “At the moment I cannot confirm or deny that anything is final with me at the GFF or the Normalisation Committee. In this regard I cannot comment but you will know once things are finalised and announced by the Normalisation Committee.” If confirmed, it will be Shabazz’s third stint with Guyana’s Golden Jaguars; the same team he led to a historic World Ranking of 90 and also

Loud cheers also went up for the Under-19 trio in firstclass openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shimron Hetmyer, and talented allrounder Kemo Paul for their selection to the West Indies Youth team for the same tournament which bowls off in Trinidad and Tobago from January 15 to 25. Even though he has played 15 first class matches for Guyana, including leading them in his last two - the shocking two-run loss to Barbados Pride, followed by an innings and 60-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force - Singh has never played a regional one-day game for Guyana at the senior level. Also making a comeback to national duty is middle-order batsman Royston Crandon, who was overlooked after last year’s tournament, even as Jonathan Foo, the talented and hard-hitting middleorder batsman, gets a recall from the cricket wilderness after a four-year absence. Barbados’ Raymond Reifer, Guyana Jaguars’ lone overseas player bought in the draft last October, is set to represent Guyana in this format for the first time, having played in the four WICB/Professional Cricket League Regional four-day matches to date, for which the Jaguars lead the points table with 57 points. That aside, the other

members of the team are openers Trevon Griffith, Rajendra Chandrika, the dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo along with Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz and Ronsford Beaton. The squad and the other players from the training unit will assemble at the Everest Cricket Club ground at 09:00hrs today for another net session, while their first of two practice matches will be at the same venue from the same time tomorrow. Eight teams will do battle for supremacy out of two groups, with the Jaguars being placed in Group ‘A’ alongside defending champions Barbados Pride, Windward Islands Volcanoes and CCC, all of whom they will meet in the preliminary round when the action bowls off, with the Volcanoes being their first at the picturesque Queen’s Park Oval on January 15. The Guyana Jaguars 14-man squad reads: Vishaul Singh, Trevon Griffith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Christopher Barnwell (captain), Jonathan Foo, Steven Jacobs, Royston Crandon, Raymond Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Paul Wintz and Ronsford Beaton.

From back page to the second round of the FIFA Brazil World Cup qualifiers. Bolton is a Chartered Professional and brings with him over a decade of professional coaching experience. He (Bolton) is among those that have achieved some of the highest certification levels in North America, holding National ‘A’, Goalkeeping, Fitness, and Youth licences from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), and also holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Advanced Youth Certificate. Since the exit of Shabazz, considered as the most successful technical director, Guyana sank into oblivion and fell by the wayside on the international football circuit. Canada-based Guyanese Mark Rodrigues was appointed as technical director under the FIFA-disbanded, Christopher Matthias-led GFF but when that administration was disbanded, Urling hit the reset button on the country’s football, breathing fresh air into the sport. Meanwhile, a leaked squad went viral and when contacted; several

administrators from the various clubs confirmed the composition of the team. Considered one of Guyana’s most successful captains and Fort Lauderdale Strikers central midfielder, Chris Nurse is expected to feature for the Jaguars after a two-year hiatus, along with his historic Jaguars teammates Trayon Bobb, Dwain Jacobs, goalkeeper Derick Carter, defender Colin Nelson and Canada-based Jamaal Smith. Others called are Alpha United’s Chris Comacho, Daniel Wilson and Sheldon Holder, Slingerz FC’s Tichard Joseph, Jason Cromwell, Clive De Nobrega and Joshua Brown. Caledonia’s AIA winger Pernell Shultz, Amos Ramsay (Riddim Squad), Travis Henry (Monedderlust), Eusi Phillips (GDF), Keiron Solomon (GFC), Reshawn Sandiford (Sunburst Camptown), Trevon Lythcott (Fruta Conquerors), Adrian Butters and Solomon Austin (Western Tigers). The final team will be named on January 21 and will depart for Barbados on January 23 ahead of their clash two days later.

GUYANA CHRONICLE January Tuesday 6, 2015

Few spots in focus in India’s World Cup squad By Amol Karhadkar FOUR slots will be up for grabs when the national selection panel sits down to pick India’s squad for the 2015 World Cup. The selectors will also name a squad for the tri-series in Australia that will serve as a curtainraiser to the marquee event, when they meet at the BCCI headquarters today. The 15-member squad for the World Cup is likely to comprise eight batsmen - including MS Dhoni and a reserve wicketkeeper - and seven bowlers. Of the 15, Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav are set to be picked. This leaves two batsmen and as many bowlers to be selected for completing the quorum. The contenders for the two batting slots are Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa and M Vijay. Rayudu’s century against Sri Lanka in India’s last ODI series has strengthened his chances of a place and he can fill the spot of a back-up wicketkeeper. Both Vijay and Uthappa can step in as openers if Rohit or Dhawan’s patchy Test form extends into ODIs. Vijay was roped in as Rohit’s replacement in the ODI series in England. His solid batting in the ongoing Test series in Australia will also make it difficult for him to be sidelined Uthappa, on the other hand, offers more options to the team management.

He is a more reliable wicketkeeper than Rayudu, and had stepped in to keep wicket during the last two ODIs against Sri Lanka. Uthappa can also play in any of the top seven batting positions. The selectors will also have to take a call on Ravindra Jadeja’s place in the team based on the fitness assessment provided by the board physio Nitin Patel. Jadeja would have been a certainty in the squad had he not broken down with a shoulder injury that forced him to return home last month from the Test series in Australia. With Jadeja’s rehabilitation still going on, however, the selectors will have to decide if they want to risk selecting a player who is returning from an injury layoff just in time for the tournament. If Jadeja is ruled out, then Akshar Patel can be a like-for-like replacement. The Gujarat youngster has impressed in his limited opportunities in ODIs so far and has replaced Jadeja in the Test squad in Australia. If Jadeja’s rehabilitation is going according to plan, the most likely option selectors could explore will be to include him in the squad and then replace him on medical grounds if his return is delayed. The selectors will also have to decide whether to go in with an additional seamer or a back-up spinner to complete the squad. The pacer-friendly conditions in Australia and New Zealand may make it tempting to include an additional pacer. India have breaks between all their league games, which give the bowlers a recovery period.

Varun Aaron was disappointing in the first two Tests in Australia, but is still a favourite should the team management opt for a fifth specialist pace bowler. Similarly, despite having a forgettable Test debut in Brisbane, Karn Sharma still remains the prime contender, besides Patel, if required. Either Stuart Binny or Mohit Sharma could emerge as a dark horse, though. Binny is the lone option if the team management prefers a seam-bowling all-rounder and Dhoni has often cited his preference for a pace-bowling allrounder. Binny had registered the best ODI figures by an Indian bowler in Bangladesh last year and was also handed the new ball towards the end of the Sri Lanka series. Mohit, on the other hand, can be a handful with accuracy to pitch the ball in the right channel. It is unlikely that the selectors will consider anyone outside the 30 probables. Should they do so, Yuvraj Singh presents an option. The Player-ofthe-Tournament in the 2011 World Cup has scored three centuries in as many Ranji Trophy matches. (ESPN Cricinfo) Likely World Cup squad: MS Dhoni (capt,/wkp.), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, (two from) Ambati Rayudu/ Robin Uthappa/M Vijay, (two from) Ravindra Jadeja/Akshar Patel/Varun Aaron/Karn Sharma/Stuart Binny/ Mohit Sharma.

Real’s record run ends as Barca also lose By Tim Hanlon

BARCELONA ,(Reuters) - Real Madrid’s Spanish record 22-match winning streak ended in a 2-1 defeat at Valencia but they remained top of La Liga after Barcelona crashed 1-0 away to Real Sociedad Sunday. Jordi Alba headed into his own net in the second minute to give Sociedad the lead against a Barcelona side with Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench having only returned on Friday from their Christmas break. Barca failed to link up well in attack and it was David Moyes’ side that carried the greater threat on the counter for much of the game. In the final stages, with Messi and Neymar on, Barca did begin to press but the San Sebastian hosts were resolute at the back. It was a memorable victory for former Man-

Barcelona’s Jordi Alba (C) fights for the ball with Real Sociedad’s Granero during their Spanish first division soccer match at Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian, yesterday. Credit: Reuters/Vincent West chester United manager penalty area and Cristiano flect in off Pepe in the 52nd Moyes, who has been So- Ronaldo coolly placed the before Nicolas Otamendi ciedad coach for less than spot kick into the corner with nodded home a corner after two months and now sees 14 minutes played. 65 minutes. his team move up to 13th An Andres Gomes shot Real, who last dropped with 18 points. deflected off Dani Carvajal points against Atletico MaReal Madrid took the and hit a post in first-half drid in mid-September, relead against Valencia after stoppage time as Valencia main a point clear of BarAlvaro Negredo handled a battled back and Antonio celona in La Liga and have Toni Kroos free kick in the Barragan then saw a shot de- a game in hand.

Faulkner blows seal Super Over win

James Faulkner’s two sixes in the Super Over help the Stars to victory. TWO sixes from James Faulkner propelled the Melbourne Stars to a thrilling victory in the first Super Over of this Big Bash League season after a tense run chase ended with the scores level in regular play. The Stars batted first in the Super Over and Faulkner struck Brett Lee’s fourth and sixth balls for sixes to carry them to 19-0, which proved 10 too many for the Sydney Sixers as John Hastings picked up two wickets from his over. Scores: Melbourne Stars 150 for 4 (Pietersen 54) tied with Sydney Sixers 150 for 6 (Lumb 80) Melbourne Stars won the one-over eliminator. Victory for the Stars had seemed almost certain when they required just 56 to win from 38 balls with eight wickets in hand, chasing the Sixers’ total of 150 for 6. However, the dismissal of Kevin Pietersen for a superb 43-ball 54 in the 14th over shifted the momentum of the match and was the catalyst for panic within the Stars team. With 12 balls remaining, the Sixers were now the favourites, with 28 still required. But the match swung one final time as a Tom Triffitt six helped take 12 from the penultimate over bowled by Doug Bollinger before one boundary from Faulkner, consecutive fours from Triffit and a scampered two in the final over bowled by Lee meant the scores finished level. The Stars chase got off to the worst possible start when Luke Wright dragged his first ball, a back-of-a-length delivery from Lee, on to his stumps. A 70-run partnership between Cameron White and Pietersen then ensued. Pietersen, playing some vintage shots as well as displaying some evolution to his game with a deft and well-timed late cut, carried the Stars’ pursuit of a crucial second victory of the season. However, both fell in quick succession, bringing two new batsmen to the crease: one of them, Glenn

Maxwell, horribly out of form, and the other, Triffit, an inexperienced player in the BBL. All of the Sixers attack bowled well, with none of them conceding more than eight runs per over. However, Lee and Bollinger will be disappointed that the Stars managed to force a Super Over The Sixers, who were put in to bat by the Stars, had failed to capitalise on a strong start provided by Michael Lumb, registering just three boundaries in the second half of their innings - they scored 63 for 3 having been 83 for 3 after the first ten overs. Lumb, who scored 80, was one of only two Sixers players to reach double figures as some excellent Stars bowling and tentative batting stagnated the innings. Lumb’s innings displayed classical strokeplay and elegant timing but was strangely paced. He scored just one from his first eight deliveries and 31 from his final 29 sandwiching an aggressive middle phase of 48 scored off 24. Such a staccato tempo was most likely influenced by the rest of the Sixers batting order, which fell away gradually as the innings progressed. Lumb’s opening partner, Nic Maddinson, who has played a couple of explosive cameos this season, fell for 5 to the first ball of the second over miscuing an attacking shot straight in the air to be caught and bowled by Jackson Bird. Three overs later, Riki Wessels also fell to the first ball of a new spell when Hastings found the edge of an expansive drive that was well caught at first slip by Maxwell. The Sixers lost their third wicket to the first ball after the Powerplay when Scott Boland found the edge of a huge Moises Henriques’ slog. Henriques’ demise brought together Lumb and Jordan Silk, whose partnership of 69 was the primary reason for the Sixers salvaging something from their innings. However, with precious little batting depth below them and some brilliant bowling from the Stars in the middle overs the pair created no momentum. It was the medium pace of Scott Boland, who took 2 for 19 and conceded no boundaries, and the left-arm spin of Michael Beer, whose four overs went for 24, that tied the Sixers in knots. Lumb fell in the 17th over to Boland before Ryan Carters and Sean Abbott also went hitting out as the innings wound down. A six in the final over, along with four twos from Silk, who finished 37 not out, was not quite enough. (ESPN Cricinfo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE January Tuesday 6, 2015

WORLD CUP MOMENTS

Walsh’s spirit and Pakistan’s win in 1987 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A cracker in the 1987 World Cup came down to Pakistan needing 14 off the last over with one wicket left vs the Windies. BACKGROUND: Pakistan was one of the co-hosts for the 1987 World Cup and had won their opening two matches, against Sri Lanka and England, by 15 and 18 runs respectively. West Indies were very narrowly beaten by England, by two wickets, in their opening encounter. But their thumping 191-run win against Sri Lanka in the next match meant that both teams headed into the game

with confidence high. Viv Richards had chosen to bat on winning the toss, but Imran Khan combined with Jaffar and Wasim Akram to bowl the West Indies out for 216. Walsh’s four wickets then derailed the chase until it all came down to the final over with 14 runs needed and nine wickets down. THE MOMENT Pakistan collected four runs off the first three balls, before Qadir swung the match on its head, carting Walsh for a straight six. He then gathered another couple to bring the equation down to two runs off one ball. Walsh came running in to bowl the final ball

West Indies lost a crucial World Cup match, but won the hearts of people around the world thanks to Courtney Walsh’s (above) sporting spirit. but stopped just before delivering it, as he found Jaffar backing up too far. Walsh, who eventually ended with figures of 4 for 40 ran in to bowl the last

ball, off which two were required, with Abdul Qadir on strike, but stopped before delivering the ball due to Saleem Jaffar backing up too far at the non-striker’s

end. However, he chose not to run Jaffar out and headed back to his mark. Had Walsh gone ahead and run Jaffar out, it would have sealed a dramatic win for the West Indies. Instead, in a remarkable display of sportsman spirit, he headed back to his bowling mark after deciding against it and leaving the batsman with just a warning. “I was let off with the warning by the bowler. We went on to win the match while the defeat cost the West Indies a place in the semi-final. But that was the true spirit of the game.” Wasim Jaffar WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

Qadir scored the required two runs needed off the last ball as Pakistan ended up victors. They continued their good run in the tournament, topping Group B to progress to the semi-finals, while the West Indies failed to qualify for the first time in the history of the World Cup, having won the title in 1975 and 1979 and ended up runners-up in 1983. “The Pakistan government had given him (Walsh) an award in the form of a medal for showing this gesture.” Wasin Jaffar Had the West Indies won this match, they would have qualified alongside Pakistan, pipping England.

BCB/RAFFIK & SONS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES T20…

Teams in Central and Lower Corentyne to battle for supremacy

SECOND DIVISION cricket clubs and teams, who are located in the Central and Lower Corentyne areas, will have many reasons to smile as their governing body, the Berbice Cricket Board, in partnership with Raffik and Sons Construction Services of Williamsburg, Corentyne, has joined forces to organise a T20 tournament which will bowl off soon. According to a press release emanating out of the BCB, the construction giant is a good friend of the BCB and responded without hesitation when approached for renewal of sponsorship for the 2015 tournament. Twenty-eight teams are in the two areas and they were divided into four groups of seven, with the draw for the groups being done in a transparent manner in the presence of representatives of some of the teams. The respective zones are as follows: Zone A: Courtland, Belvedere Battlesteel, Tain Block Four, Letter Kenny Star, Toopoo Rising Star, Mibicuri Jaguars and Big Stars. Zone ‘B’ consists of Albion, Tamarind Root, Belvedere United, Albion Travellers, Fyrish, Fyrish Road and Fyrish Strykers.

Rose Hall Town, Yakasari Caribs, Cheskoy Riders, Young Adventurers, GuySuCo Training School, Jai Hind and Whim National are the teams making

urged them to get the young males and females involved in meaningful activities. The BCB has recognised the importance of playing the game in the villages and

that there is a new trend in the villages these days where lots of criminals are breeding and challenged responsible villagers to stop these kids at the young age

Steven Gerrard

Gerrard double saves Liverpool’s blushes at AFC Wimbledon

Representatives of the cricket clubs and the Berbice Cricket Board pose just after the draw. up Zone ‘C’, with Port Mourant, Mibicuri Strikers, Kildonan, Chesney, Sand Reef, Number 1 Road and Kennard Memorial doing battle out of Zone ‘D’. The fixtures for the competition will be compiled and released soon, but teams who are desirous of competing, can still do so by contacting Carl Moore on 614-8364. Recently elected president of the BCB, Anil Beharry and his executive, in their address to the representatives of the teams,

call on other village elders and leaders to take control of their villages, with Beharry promising that his executive will play their part but they can’t do it alone. He also said that as he promised, he wants cricket to be played at all levels and families must be part of it as well, reiterating that this lovely game of cricket must only bring people together and not to divide. First vice-president, Dhieranidranauth Somwaru echoed his president’s sentiments and added

adding that if we create monsters, then we will/ may not be able to destroy them. Third vice-president Vemen Walters thanked the sponsor and said that this is a good tournament for the village teams, adding that first division clubs and even the BCB selectors can use it for talent spotting and feed from it. Other members of the board and representatives of the teams were high in praise for Mr Mohamed Raffik for his renewal of the sponsorship.

LONDON, (Reuters) Captain Steven Gerrard scored twice to save Liverpool from FA Cup embarrassment and steer them into the fourth round after a tricky 2-1 win at fourth tier AFC Wimbledon yesterday In the night’s other Cup match, Premier League strugglers Burnley fought back from a goal down at Turf Moor to draw 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur and force a replay to decide who then takes on Leicester City. Liverpool will, as expected, play second tier Bolton Wanderers in the next round but only after a night of living dangerously with determined League Two opponents. Gerrard, in his first match since announcing his departure for the United States at the end of the sea-

son, headed the opener in the 12th minute as Liverpool looked set for a comfortable win. But the match at Kingsmeadow, reviving memories of 1988 when the old Wimbledon ‘Crazy Gang’ beat Liverpool in a hard-tackling final, refused to follow the script. Lifelong Liverpool fan Adebayo Akinfenwa, a stocky striker nicknamed ‘The Beast’, had the home fans dreaming when he poked in a 36th minute equaliser after some woeful defending by the Merseysiders. With a major upset looking possible, and Wimbledon missing several clear chances, Gerrard then came to the rescue with a curling free kick into the top corner in the 62nd minute.

GUYANA CHRONICLE January Tuesday 6, 2015

Benaud’s return scrapped due to health

Former Australian captain Richie Benaud Commentary doyen Richie Benaud will not be making a hoped-for return to the commentary box for his hometown Sydney Test. The Nine Network left the door open for 84-year-old commentary Benaud to return for the fourth Commonwealth Bank Test against India starting today since he appeared at their summer of cricket launch at the SCG a month ago. However Nine’s head of sport Steve Crawley confirmed yesterday that the former Australian captain hadn’t been in touch about working at the Test and he accepted it wouldn’t happen. “He’s a man of great manners and he knows that the offer is there and he would have made contact by now,” Crawley said. Former Australian captain Benaud hasn’t returned to the commentary box since a car

crash left him with two crushed vertebrae 15 months ago and he revealed at Nine’s cricket launch on December 6 that he was also undergoing treatment for skin cancer. There was some speculation Benaud could even contribute to the commentary from his lounge room in seaside suburb Coogee, but that too is unlikely. “I very much doubt he’ll be calling over the next five days,” Crawley said. “But if he did decide to jump in a taxi and get over to the SCG, well, the door is always open to him.” Crawley said only Benaud would decide if and when he got behind the microphone again. “With Rich we just want him to get better,” Crawley said. “All that matters is his health and recovery.”(AAP)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday January 06, 2015) 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: (1) 26 matches (2)Wavell Hinds/Allan Donald Today’s Quiz: (1) In Hashim Amla’s innings of 208 in the first Test of the current series, how many deliveries he faced? How many fours and sixes he struck? (2)How many Test matches Brian Lara played for the WI? In how many was he the designated captain? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE January Tuesday 6, 2015

Windies staring at defeat after shambolic collapse

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CMC) – West Indies were staring at defeat and another series loss in South Africa, after collapsing spectacularly in their second innings to set the hosts an elementary target for victory in the third and final Test at Newlands. Resuming yesterday’s penultimate day on 88 for two, West Indies surrendered their last eight wickets for only 127 runs, to crash to 215 all out in their second innings. Set 124 to win, South Africa lost Alviro Petersen without scoring, bowled playing back to one from leftarm spinner Sulieman Benn which skidded through, to be nine for one at the close. On a dramatic day where only 48.2 overs were possible because of rain which forced the abandonment of the first two sessions, West Indies seemed intent on rescuing the game when Marlon Samuels and Shiv Chanderpaul were involved in a 87run stand for the fourth wicket. Samuels top-scored with 74 and Chanderpaul scored exactly 50, but once Samuels holed out attempting one big shot too many, the last seven Windies wickets tumbled quickly for just 33 runs. Off-spinner Simon Harmer, whom Samuels had rendered virtually irrelevant, claimed four for 82 while fast bowler Dale Steyn supported with three for 75 and seamer Morne Morkel, two for 18. Leon Johnson, unbeaten overnight on 37, added just seven but captain Denesh Ramdin perished for a first-ball ‘duck’ while the only other

Off-spinner Simon Harmer makes the big breakthrough and went on to remove Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor in the same over as West Indies collapsed in a heap genuine front-line batsman Jermaine Blackwood fell for 13. South Africa require only 115 runs for victory on today’s final day to complete their seventh straight series win over the Windies and remain unbeaten against the tourists on home soil. When play finally got under way at 15:00hrs, South Africa did not have to wait long for their first success. Johnson never settled and sparred at the fifth ball of the day’s third over from Morkel, to give captain Hashim Amla a regulation catch at first slip. Overall, he counted six fours off 76 balls in 112 minutes at the crease. Samuels and Chanderpaul then injected hope into the Windies cause with a stand that consumed 28 overs, and which put West Indies on the road

Marlon Samuels uses his feet once too often against off-spinner Simon Harmer and holes out to long-on when well set on 74.

to a possible recovery. The right-handed Samuels, unbeaten on 26 at the start, faced 150 balls in 3-3/4 hours at the crease and registered nine fours and two sixes while Chanderpaul was typically more sedate, gathering five boundaries off 113 deliveries in 203 minutes. Again taking a liking to Harmer, Samuels cleared the ropes at long on with the bowler to move to 49 before arriving at his 21st halfcentury in Tests with a single off Steyn. Samuels went after Harmer in the next over, the bowler’s 12th, depositing him over long on for another six and off the next ball, lofting wide of mid-wicket for four. Stifled thereafter and held to

just four runs from 28 balls, Samuels tried to loose the chains and go over the top but only succeeding in giving Dean Elgar a simple catch at mid-on off Harmer, with the score on 182 for four. His wicket opened the floodgates. Seven overs later, Blackwood had his middle and off-stumps rattled by one from Steyn that pitched and seamed, Ramdin followed off the first ball of Steyn’s next over, clipping an innocuous delivery to Harmer at square leg. Reeling at 204 for six, the Windies needed something special but Jason Holder could not provide it, whipping Harmer to Amla at short-midwicket to

Scoreboard WEST INDIES 1st innings 329 SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 421 WEST INDIES 2nd innings (o/n 88 for two) K.. Brathwaite b Harmer 16 D. Smith c wkp. de Villiers b Morkel 7 L. Johnson c Amla b Morkel 44 M. Samuels c Elgar b Harmer 74 S. Chanderpaul run-out 50 J. Blackwood b Steyn 13 D. Ramdin c Harmer b Steyn 0 J. Holder c Amla b Harmer 2 J. Taylor c Elgar b Harmer 0 S. Benn c wkp. de Villiers b Steyn 0 S. Gabriel not out 2 Extras: (b-4, lb-3) 7 Total: (all out, 79.5 overs) 215 Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-27, 33-95, 4-182, 5-202, 6-204, 7-213, 8-213, 9-213. Bowling: Steyn 23.5.3-75-3, Philander 16-4-27-0, Morkel 147-18-2, Harmer 24-7-82-4, van Zyl 2-0-6-0. SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings (Target: 124) D. Elgar not out 5 A. Petersen b Benn 0 Extras: (b-4) 4 Total: (1 wkt, 2.3 overs) 9 Fall of wickets: 1-9. Bowling: Taylor 1-0-1-0, Samuels 1-0-4-0, Benn .3-0-0-1. Position: South Africa require 115 runs for victory with eight wickets intact.

fall for two. Three balls later in the same over, Jerome Taylor senselessly holed out to mid-wicket without scoring and Steyn cleaned up Benn to a catch behind in the following over, also before the batsman could get off the mark. Chanderpaul, without a significant score in the series, battled hard from the start but his innings ended shambolically when he was run-out in a mixup over a single with Shannon Gabriel.

Samuels played an awful shot - Williams By Firdose Moonda in Cape Town

FOR some, it is about the one that got away. For Stuart Williams, it is about the one moment that did: Marlon Samuels’dismissal. “We were building nicely. It was just an awful shot,” Williams said. After declaring himself a cannibal, in spin terms at least, Samuels got hold of Simon Harmer and was playing him comfortably, even with the shot that led to his downfall. He responded to a brief period of being tied down by launching Harmer down the ground but forgot that there was a long-on with legs

chasing after it. Dean Elgar is one of the quicker men on the outfield and made good ground to take the catch almost straight down the wicket. That was the catalyst for another collapse - this time seven for 33 - which saw West Indies tumble from a fighting position to a flagging one. “I think we just missed the moment. That’s the moment in the game where everything fell away,” Williams said. “This is international cricket and we just have to seize the moment. You have to respect your opposition at all times and we didn’t do

Stuart Williams that.” South Africa knew that Samuels’ default position is defiance, which could stretch to disrespect if he is feeling in the mood. They also knew that if they got him out of the away, the rest would fall. “He was one of their

stand-out batters so it was important to put him under pressure early on,” Morne Morkel said. “We know him - if he hits, he hits. But (if) he misses, he is out.” Despite that, Samuels remains the highest runscorer for West Indies in South Africa for a second tour in succession and Williams conceded that he remains the biggest positive for them. “We have some positives like Marlon averaging over 50,” Williams said. “And in the first innings of this game, we bowled out South Africa. We had three run-outs. Even though we don’t have a bowler who took five or six wickets, we still worked

hard.” The small improvements West Indies made along the way are a good sign for Williams, even though he admitted to frustration with the lower order. “In the first game, South Africa played well and we didn’t. Then, in Port Elizabeth we showed some improvement and then in three-and-a-half days here, we were in the game and we obviously had a competition,” he said. “But our lower order never really fronted up and we spoke about it all along. It’s difficult; it’s stressful but you still have to find a way.”

Williams hoped that West Indies would bat out the day and bat until lunch tomorrow to get a lead of “close to 230 or 240.” That, he believed, would have been enough to push for victory. Now, they only have 115 more runs to defend and Williams has promised “ a fight” and that his men would learn from the team they may eventually be beaten by. “They’re not No.1 in the world by mistake. What I will take from here is consistency, especially in the bowlers. If we can learn from that, we will be on the right track.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

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