Guyana chronicle 07 07 14

GUYANA No. 103881

MONDAY JULY 7, 2014

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

Teixeira says...

PRICE: $60

Diplomats must respect sovereignty, and not meddle in internal politics Page

MINISTER Priya Manickchand

INCLUDING VAT

3

Presidential Adviser on Governance, Ms Gail Teixeira

––US Ambassador repeatedly breached norms, conventions

PM Hinds says...

Decomposed In spite of ‘existing 8 body of irritants’, Guyana committed to working with Venezuela missing man ––‘in the spirit of camaraderie, good faith’ found Remembering in the ‘Blacka’ Sibley Hall

Page

8

Page

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

Mrs. Philomena Sahoye-Shury

–50 years on

Dead: Tyrone Watts

Page

7

––had drug abuse problems

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

3

Teixeira says...

Diplomats must respect sovereignty, and not meddle in internal politics ––US Ambassador repeatedly breached norms, conventions

PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Governance, Madame Gail Teixeira, has cleared the air on the sometimes acrimonious relationship between the Guyana Government and outgoing US Ambassador Brent Hardt.

She said Friday that in spite of the tension that existed between Ambassador Hardt and the Government of Guyana, diplomatic relations between Guyana and the US have been, and continue to be, cordial.

Speaking on a special pro gramme on the National Communications Network (NCN) along with Education Minister, Ms Priya Manickchand, the Presidential Adviser said there have been significant achievements in Guyana/ US relations over Presidential Adviser on the last seven Governance, Ms Gail Teixeira years, particularly in the area of security, in which the US has extended tangible support to Guyana.

The recent announcement of the establishment of a DEA Office is also a welcome development, and is one that was long in the pipeline.

However, there have also been areas where both countries have had different national interests and where views collided. One of the issues that resulted in the US being at loggerheads with not only Guyana, but several other countries as well, was imposition of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

FATCA is a US Federal law with which countries,

especially those in the developing world, have to comply, even though they were not consulted on its provisions.

US LEAD PROJECT There has, most recently, been the US Lead project, which also attracted a great deal of controversy; and Teixeira explained that in initiating this project, there was a sudden halt on the conventions and norms that have been developed between the countries.

A project was created and presented to the Government, which the Government objected to. The main objections had to do with the lack of consultation, particularly as it relates to the financing of political parties.

“The fact that Guyana, as a little country, stood up and said that we are not going to allow this; that any project has to be with the Guyana Government’s agreement…despite the position of the Government and its report to the US Secretary of State and all the other procedures we went through, they still brought in a Chief-of-Missions for USAID, who harmed the relations with the Government and USAID in relation to what its activities were, to the point where the Guyana Government said we were revoking his work permit,” Teixeira outlined.

As the US ambassador pressed forward to implement this project despite the Government’s objections, the US Administration from Washington intervened and placed the project on a temporary pause while both parties went back to the drawing board in order to get a project that was mutually acceptable. The contentious components of the project were subsequently worked out, and agreement was reached on the way forward.

“We showed, as a country standing on principle and mutual respect, that we could get back to the table and resolve a number of issues,” Teixeira said.

MEDDLING Teixeira said the normal conventions that apply to ambassadors and diplomats serving in another country is one of mutual respect and recognition of the sovereignty of each country, so as not to interfere

Education Minister, Ms Priya Manickchand in the internal politics of any given country.

She said that what unfolded at the reception, hosted on July 2 in commemoration of the 238th Independence Anniversary of the US, where the Government called out the ambassador for meddling in Guyana’s internal affairs, was the result of an accumulation of problems, all of which the Government sought repeatedly to address privately with the ambassador.

Minister Manickchand, in her capacity as acting Foreign Affairs Minister, delivered an address on behalf of the Government of Guyana, placing on record the Administration’s repudiation of Ambassador Hardt’s behaviour, particularly over the last year and a half.

Minister Manickchand said, “This Ambassador, in my respectful view and the view of the Cabinet, has breached repeatedly all the norms and conventions that govern how countries relate to each other through their diplomatic channels.”

Madame Teixeira noted that the Government See page 6

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Six Jewish suspects arrested over death of Palestinian teenager

By Jeffrey Heller

JERUSALEM, (Reuters) - Israel has arrested six Jewish suspects in the abduction and killing of a Palestinian teenager whose death sparked violent protests in Jerusalem and Israeli Arab towns, a security source said yesterday.

Tensions were also high along the Gaza border where Israel killed two Palestinian militants and wounded a third in one of about a dozen air strikes in response to rocket fire at southern Israeli towns. Hospital officials confirmed the fatalities, and the Israeli military confirmed it had bombed central Gaza.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that broader Israeli action was not imminent.

The burning-alive of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khudair, and the earlier killings of three kidnapped Israeli teenagers, have driven relations between Palestinians and Israelis to their lowest point since U.S.-backed peace talks broke down in April.

The security source gave no details about the suspects

arrested in the investigation into the abduction and killing of Abu Khudair, other than to say they were Jewish and that police saw "nationalist motives" in the case.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said a gag order had been imposed on most details of the case, commenting only that police had arrested a number of Jewish people suspected of carrying out the killing.

Israel's Shin Bet security agency said the suspects were being questioned at one of its installations.

Despite the gag order, Israeli media said a court had ordered the suspects remanded into custody for eight days. Police declined to comment. Israel's Channel 2 television said the suspects were far-right extremists, among them minors, from the Jerusalem area and a nearby Jewish settlement.

Abu Khudair's burnt body was discovered in a Jerusalem forest on Wednesday. Palestinians believe he was the victim of far-right Jews avenging the kidnapkilling of the three Israeli teenagers who disappeared while hitchhiking in the oc-

Palestinians carry the body of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khudair during his funeral in Shuafat, an Arab suburb of Jerusalem last Friday.

(Credit: Reuters/Finbarr O'Reilly)

cupied West Bank on June 12, and whose bodies were found on June 30.

Israel blames the deaths of Naftali Fraenkel and Gil-Ad Shaer, both 16, and 19-year-old Eyal Yifrah on the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. The Gaza flare-up began in mid-June during Israel's search for the teenagers in the West Bank, when it arrested some Hamas members.

Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the killings of the Israelis.

Netanyahu, speaking at a visit to the Fraenkel family, demanded Palestinian leaders do everything to find the killers of the young Israelis.

DATE: 06/07/2014 J

01 09 21 23 18 22 26

07/07/2014

02

08

18

He said the Palestinian self-rule government in the West Bank was "obliged to do everything in its powers to find them ... just as our security forces located the suspects in the murder of Mohammed Abu Khudair within a matter of days."

'TERROR CRIMES' An autopsy attended by a Palestinian pathologist showed soot in the teenager's lungs, indicating he was still alive when he was set on fire, the Palestinian attorney general said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he sent a message to U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon urging the formation of an interna-

22

25

06/07/2014

08

tional investigation committee into "terror crimes conducted against our people, including the burning alive of Mohammed Abu Khudair."

Netanyahu said Abu Khudair's killers would face "the full weight of the law," adding that in Israeli society "there is no place for such murderers."

"We won't let extremists on either side set the area on fire and lead to bloodshed," Netanyahu said, while also condemning violent protests by some Israeli Arabs in northern Israel.

Dozens of protesters threw stones at passing cars for a third day in Israel's Galilee region, where a majority of Israel's Arab citizens live, this time targeting a highway in the Haifa area where a fatal accident was reported, police said.

Israel Radio said two Palestinians from the West Bank had been killed in the accident, sparking anger in nearby Arab villages.

Israeli police in riot-control gear were deployed near some Israeli Arab towns after that confrontation in an apparent effort to try to keep violence from spreading. A Reuters reporter saw half a dozen vans, a water cannon truck, and officers with shields on guard outside a frequent flashpoint in the general Haifa region.

In remarks to his Cabinet earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu pledged "to do whatever is necessary" to restore quiet to southern Israeli communities that have come under rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is the dominant force.

He cautioned against any rush toward wider confrontation with the group, whose arsenal includes long-range rockets that can reach Israel's heartland and its business capital, Tel Aviv.

The Israeli military said more than 20 rockets fired from Gaza struck inside Israel on Sunday. No casualties were reported.

"Experience has shown that during moments like

04

0

06/07/2014

these, one must act in a level-headed and responsible manner and not hastily," Netanyahu told his Cabinet in broadcast remarks.

Israel beefed up ground forces along the Gaza frontier on Thursday, a deployment seen as sending a message to Palestinian militants that an invasion was an option if rocket fire did not stop.

The two militants killed and the man who was wounded in the Israeli air strike after darkness fell were from an armed wing of Abbas's Fatah faction, residents and medical officials said.

Their deaths raised to five the number of Palestinians in Gaza killed in Israeli air raids since mid-June.

Palestinian-American Tariq Khdeir, 15, a cousin of the slain Palestinian teenager, was arrested by Israeli border policemen, who his family said beat him severely, during a protest on Thursday in East Jerusalem.

An Israeli court on Sunday ordered Khdeir released from jail and placed under house arrest for nine days.

The high school student had been visiting family in East Jerusalem. His mother said the family planned to return to Tampa, Florida, on July 16.

The U.S. State Department said Khdeir should be able to return to Florida with his family this month "if the investigation is concluded promptly."

"We are profoundly troubled by reports that he was severely beaten while in police custody and strongly condemn any excessive use of force," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

"As we stated yesterday we are calling for a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for the apparent excessive use of force,� the statement added.

Israel's Justice Ministry said the police internal affairs office was looking into the incident.

03 07 08 10 16 18 20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Caribbean leaders to discuss At least three Caribbean economic issues during candidates for ACP top post Cuba-CARICOM summit

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders will use the December Cuba-CARICOM Summit to discuss ways of strengthening relations, according to an official communiqué issued here.

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, met with regional leaders during their annual summit that ended on Friday.

According to the communiqué issued afterwards, “as Cuba developed its new economic model, the forthcoming Cuba-CARICOM Summit on 8 December 2014 was viewed as presenting an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen economic relations”.

Rodriquez underlined Havana’s “unfailing solidarity and partnership” with CARICOM and expressed his country’s “appreciation for the solidarity…in reaction to the many hostile acts harmful to its economic development such as the US embargo and the extraterritorial application of US laws as well as the CFATF (Caribbean Financial Action Task Force) grey listing of the country.

“Heads of Government condemned these hostile acts and rejected as unfounded and without merit the plac-

Cuba Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez ing of Cuba, a victim of terrorism, including in Community waters, and which works internationally to fight terrorism, on the US list of sponsors of terrorism,” the communiqué said.

It said that the leaders had reiterated their solidarity with Cuba, “a member of the Caribbean family in good standing and in which all member states have now established diplomatic missions”.

The communiqué said that the regional leaders had expressed their appreciation for the technical assistance and cooperation provided by Cuba in a variety of areas including

capacity building, education and health, and looked forward to the December summit.

The United States has maintained a trade an economic embargo against Cuba since 19th October 1960, nearly two years after Fidel Castro deposed the Batista regime.

The embargo was extended on February 7, 1962 to include all exports to Cuba. The embargo is enforced mainly with six statutes.

The United States has consistently voted against United Nations resolutions calling for an end to the embargo.

Dominica’s indigenous peoples vote for new leader ROSEAU, Dominica, (CMC) – Dominica’s indigenous population goes to the polls Monday to elect a new Carib Chief.

The incumbent, Garnet Joseph says he is confident of defeating Charles Williams and Irvince Auguiste, two former Carib Chiefs and newcomer, Jumadine Frederick. The polling stations open at 7:00 am (local time) and closes 11 hours later.

“All of us have our own programme that we have presented to the residents of the Territory and I think that my chances of winning the election are very good”.

“I have a good track record of achievement and it did not start when I got into office, I have been working in the Territory for many years now, in fact, my entire life has been devoted to the development of the Territory so I think my chances on Monday are very good,” said Joseph.

He said that the issue of access to credit by residents of the Territory will be given priority if he is given another opportunity to head the council.

“Access to credit has been a major problem plaguing the Territory for several years and I think that in our level of development at this time, this cannot be more appropriate”.

The Carib Territory or Carib Reserve is a 3,700-acre district that was established for the Caribs, also known here as the Kalinago.

The Carib Territory was officially formed by British colonial authorities in 1903, in a remote and mountainous area of Dominica’s Atlantic coast. Its population remained largely isolated from the rest of the island throughout most of the 20th century, with only a ceremonial chief and no other formal self-governance.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – At least three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries will nominate candidates for the post of Secretary General of the 79-member African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping.

Regional leaders, who ended their annual summit here on Friday, said that Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana have all signaled their intention to submit the names of candidates for the post.

CARICOM chairman and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that “Suriname has indicated a desire to submit a candidate” and would do so “within the coming weeks”.

CARICOM Secretary General Irwin La Rocque, who said Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago would also be nominating candidates, added that a process is being led by the ACP with regards to the selection of a candidate.

“There is a process which is being led by the ACP Secretariat and all members of CARIFORUM (Caribbean Forum, including CARICOM and Dominican Republic) would be invited to nominate. So far three countries have indicated a likelihood of a candidate, Suriname, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago,” La Rocque said.

Earlier this month, the ACP Council confirmed at its 99 th session in Kenya that the next ACP Secretary General for 2015-2020 shall be appointed from the Caribbean region.

The Secretary General holds executive powers and heads the Brussels-based

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque ACP Secretariat, which is the administrative and technical body of the ACP Group. The Secretariat provides policy guidance and technical expertise to the Organs of the Group, and monitors the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement.

Appointment to the top post is for five years, and generally follows a principle of rotation amongst the six ACP regions, including West Africa (currently holding the post), East Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands.

The Secretary General shall in turn appoint four Assistant Secretary Generals to head various de-

partments in the Secretariat during his term. Nominees for these posts are also proposed by the regions.

The current Secretary General is Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni of Ghana, whose tenure ends in February 2015.

The ACP Secretariat said that the selection of the next Secretary General will be finalised by the Council of Ministers in Suriname in November this year.

“The upcoming term is especially significant as it will see the last leg of ACP-EU cooperation under the current Cotonou Partnership Agreement, which ends in 2020,” the ACP Secretariat said.

6

EDITORIAL

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

GUYANA

The biter eventually gets bitten THE entire country watched Vanessa Kissoon ‘rallying the troops’ in Linden, along with her other colleagues in the combined Opposition in the APNU/PNC/AFC confederation, which culminated in looting and burning of private and public properties; time loss, causing profit and capital loss of business entities, resulting in ordinary workers having to remain unemployed, and thus unpaid, for the duration; Lindeners held the nation so that they could continue to enjoy free (or as good as free) energy supply.

The name Vanessa Kissoon is synonymous with PNC anti-national, anti-developmental actions and rhetoric in and out of Parliament; so it was a shock to the national psyche when she was relegated to the back benches in Parliament by her party.

However, more drama was to follow, and rumours began to be filtered out of the inner sanctum

of Congress Place – rumours of internal conflicts and inter-party rivalries to rock the very foundation of Sophia’s most famous political landmark. Then there was public confirmation of Vanessa Kissoon being suspended from the PNC. Stress kills, and obviously Kissoon has been under severe stress because of the pressure she had been enduring for quite a while within the enclave of Congress Place, until a public and obviously highly acrimonious dispute between herself and General-Secretary of the PNC, Oscar Clarke, led to her ostracism from the political party that had been the platform from which she engaged in many activities that caused pain and loss to her fellow countrymen and women a la the tragic imbroglio at Linden, Buxton, Agricola, and Georgetown.

So when she collapsed in the National Assembly and had to be taken away in an ambulance, it was deemed to be a hazard of a nature that was seemingly steeped

Diplomats must respect sovereignty, and not meddle ...

From page 3 been talking over and over about some of the offensive statements Ambassador Hardt had made regarding the President, his party, and the country as a whole -- all of which he ignored. She described his behaviour as “rogue”, and reiterated that he has crossed the red line, especially when he practically called for an insurrection.

Ambassador Hardt, in his speech on July 2, said Guyanese should do what the Americans did in 1776 when they took up arms against Britain. He then added that Guyanese would receive the support of the US, but they must be ready to fight for themselves.

With regard to the heckling while Minister Manickchand was delivering her remarks, Teixeira clarified that despite what is being conveyed by the sensational headlines, not everyone who was present at the reception was disruptive.

She said the majority of those who made loud noises were people who are known as “haters” of the Government.

Reference was made to the Ambassador’s recent address to the Blue Caps, a new NGO comprising a group of young people, in which he launched an attack on the Executive President of Guyana, and mocked the PPP/C and its General Secretary, Clement Rohee.

Minister Manickchand reminded that Ambassador Hardt accused the President of being inconsistent, and of doing illegal and unconstitutional things; and she questioned why those outbursts were not condemned by the groups and political parties that are now coming out to criticise the Government for reprimanding the ambassador.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS The ambassador accused the President of deliberately delaying the holding of Local Government Elections. However, Teixeira said the ambassador is fully aware that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is far from ready to hold these long-awaited polls.

If the Government calls these elections in August, as the Opposition is pushing for, then thousands of Guyanese would be disenfranchised as a result of GECOM’s lack of preparedness.

Teixeira also questioned if the ambassador indeed felt passionately about certain burning issues in Guyana, why he chose to continuously criticise the Government over Local Government Elections, and not harp on the Opposition parties over non-passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, an issue which is of equal import to the country’s stability and economic well-being. (GINA)

in bile.

As a woman, she never once showed compassion for her victims, nor mercy; even towards sleeping babies, who fell prey to bestial vultures masquerading as humans in and out of Parliament.

Vanessa Kissoon claims she was assaulted by leaders of her party. So, big deal! What about all the mothers and fathers who lost chidren; children who became orphans and destitute; young girls who were traumatized because of sexual molestation; businessmen who lost all the fruits of their hard work; families who lost their bred-winner; ordinary men and women who lost their life savings; old parents who lost their support?

Karma is real. Call it poetic justice or divine retribution, but sometimes the snake injects itself with its own venom, because, in many instances, the biter eventually gets bitten.

CARICOM Heads reiterate firm support for Guyana’s territorial integrity ––and unhindered economic development HEADS of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have reiterated their firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana, and the unhindered economic and social development of all of Guyana.

They made the declaration while addressing the Guyana/Venezuela border issue at the 35th Heads of Government meeting, which ended last Friday in Antigua and Barbuda.

A statement issued at the end of the meeting disclosed that the Heads of Government expressed their hope for an early resolution to the controversy which arose as a result of Venezuela’s contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899, which definitively settled the boundary between the two countries, is null and void.

The Heads of Government also expressed concern over the lack of progress towards the consideration of options within the context of international law in delimiting the maritime boundary between Guyana and Venezuela, as agreed by the Foreign Ministers following their meeting on 17 October 2014.

They have since called on both countries to pursue the negotiations with greater expediency towards conclusion of a maritime delimitation agreement. (Vanessa Narine)

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Remembering Sibley Hall

–50 years on

By Sandy Agasen

FIFTY years ago, the British Governor of then British Guiana ordered the detention of 35 high-ranking political activists without any charges or trial.

Thirty-two were from the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP); its youth arm, the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO); and the Sugar Union, now the Guyana Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU). Head-

reprisal beatings, destruction of property and killings and riots.

Mrs. Shury, the General-Secretary of GAWU in 1964, mentioned that since she lived on a plantation, she knew the plight of the slaves and the indentured workers. Therefore, when she became the General-Secretary of GAWU, like Dr. Jagan, she made a commitment to halt the injustice done upon the plantation labourers.

She recalled that the strike actually started after cane-cutters at Leonora were told on February 6th, 1964 by the management of the estate that there was work for only half of them. The workers begged for work to be provided for all of them, but the management refused their request. As a result, all the workers called a strike on the following day.

On 17 February 1964, GAWU called a countrywide strike to demand recognition as the bargaining agent for the country’s sugar workers. The union, backed by the PPP, was resuscitated in 1960 as the Sugar Workers’ Union before its name was officially changed. The established recognised union was the Man Power Citizens’ Association (MPCA) which was strongly anti-government but which had very little support among the sugar workers who were fiercely supportive of the PPP. Throughout 1961, 1962 and 1963, GAWU demanded that a poll should be taken among sugar workers to determine which union should represent them, but the employers’ organisation, the Sugar Producers’ Association (SPA), in close alliance with the MPCA, firmly opposed any such action. The MPCA leadership was part and parcel of the leadership of the TUC which naturally opposed a poll among sugar workers.

The strike received overwhelming support from sugar workers and all the sugar estates were serious-

curred mainly on the East Coast Demerara, Mahaicony, West Demerara, Wismar-Mackenzie and Georgetown, and the entire country was in a state of tension. In Georgetown, the people were brutally beaten on the streets, and some business places were looted and set on fire while government and privately-owned buildings were bombed.

She noted that while the violence was escalating, the sugar industry strike continued. Philomenia, being her feisty self, noted that then she wasn’t a good girl. “I was a bad girl… I decided that I would stop this thing from going on so I went and I found a way… as the saying goes ‘where there is will there is a way’,” she said.

One very notable incident occurred at Leonora Estate on March 6th, 1964 when a female sugar worker, Kowsilia, was killed by an African strike breaker. She and other women workers on strike were squatting on a bridge near to the factory to prevent strike breakers from crossing when the incident occurred. Fourteen other women were seriously injured. In the ensuing fracas, the police arrived on the scene and used tear gas to break up the demonstration. Kowsilia became an immediate martyr for the cause of sugar workers in their struggle for democracy in the trade union movement in Guyana.

CRITICS The PPP Central Committee member noted that the critics of the PPP Government felt that the leadership and members of GAWU were essentially PPP members and supporters, and by prolonging the strike, the PPP, through the union, was flexing its muscles against the British Government. However, it was known that the PPP could not gain political

Mrs. Philomena Sahoye-Shury, PPP Central Committee Member, at the symposium last Friday in observance of the 50th Anniversary (1964-2014) of the detention of Party leaders at Sibley Hall. ing the list was then Deputy Premier, Brindley Benn.

Those detained and kept at Sibley Hall were (in alphabetical order): Montaz Ali; Akbar Alli; Neville Annibourne; Desmond Beckles; Samsundar Beepat; Brindley Benn; Moses Bhagwan; Charles Christopher; Manie Copane; Dalchand; George Dipchand; Victor Downer; Nathram Durbeej; Reginald Forde; Rames George; Joseph Albert Gibbs; Eric Gilbert; Maurice Herbert; Robert Jordan; Moneer Khan; Harry Lall; Rufus Low-Chee; Winston Madramootoo; Nasrudeen; Bhola Persaud; Prakash Persaud; Leslie Premdass; Pandit Ramlall; Mohamed Safee; Desmond Shepherd; Leonard (LSH) Singh; Rambarran Singh; Vincent Teekah; Sydney Thompson; and Frank Wills.

The ruling party, last Friday at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House), held a symposium in observance of the 50th Anniversary (1964-2014) of the detention of Party leaders at Sibley Hall (now the Mazaruni Prison).

Speaking at the symposium, Philomenia Sahoye-Shury, PPP Central Committee Member, the General-Secretary at that time of the Guiana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), narrated her experience as a detainee in prison in 1964.

She expressed her concern that the country could return to the political state of the 1960s.

“Many people will not think so but when you listen to certain dignitaries, that are not Guyanese, you wonder if they are trying once more to put their foot in the business of Guyana and its people,” she contended.

DETERMINATION According to her, if the women now have the determination she had, Guyana would be a better country. In 1960, the PPP was very strong but the British and the Americans with the help of the People’s National Congress (PNC) wanted to eradicate the PPP leader Dr. Cheddi Jagan. This resulted in

Invitees at last Friday’s symposium at Red House (Photos by Delano Williams) ly affected. The workers showed their total disdain for the MPCA and bluntly refused the pleas of the leaders of that union to return to work.

RACIAL DISTURBANCES Mrs. Sahoye-Shury explained that when faced with the serious problem of no production of sugar, the SPA began to hire scabs in the effort to break the strike. In doing so, the employers’ organisation disregarded the existing political and racial sensitivities in the sugar estates.

“At that period, the overwhelming majority of sugar workers were Indians, and supporters of the PPP. What the SPA did was to hire mainly inexperienced African cane-cutters who were generally supporters of the PNC,” she recalled.

Many of the Africans recruited to break the strike were also employed by the management of the sugar estates as “vigilantes” to protect the property of the estates from sabotage. Inevitably, violent racial clashes took place between these “vigilantes” and the Indian population residing on or near the sugar estates. Soon after, these clashes extended to other areas as well.

Violent attacks involving beatings and murders oc-

benefit from any violence in the country since such violence was destabilizing the Government itself.

Mrs. Sahoye-Shury recounted the hardships she went through as a detainee. Due to the detention she was removed from her children and labelled a terrorist. She was once held at the New Amsterdam Prison for five months while facing a charge at the Springlands Court. She was later charged with three counts of sedition for alleged utterances directed at the Queen.

PPP ELECTION MACHINERY PPP General-Secretary Clement Rohee said that Dr. Jagan’s description of the set of actions by the British Government pointed to the fact that the PPP Government was being crippled ahead of the holding of the elections later that year in December. At the same time, the objective was to cripple the election machinery of the PPP as a Party by detaining many key activists.

When the elections were held in December, the activists were still in detention, except for a few who See page 9

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

PM Hinds says...

In spite of ‘existing irritants’, Guyana committed to working with Venezuela ––‘in the spirit of camaraderie, good faith’

By Vanessa Narine PRIME Minister, Mr Samuel Hinds has made clear Guyana’s commitment to working with Venezuela in the spirit of camaraderie and good faith.

“Guyana will continue to pursue a peaceful resolution of the controversial claim by Venezuela that the 1899 Arbitral Award settled regarding the land boundary between the two countries,” he told guests at a reception hosted Saturday night at the New Thriving Events Centre at Camp and Lamaha Streets to mark Venezuela’s 203rd Independence Anniversary.

He noted, however, that as the two countries pursue greater functional cooperation, the “existing irritants” that threaten the stability of bilateral relations cannot be ignored.

“These unresolved issues continue to hinder our ability to freely develop our resources in the interest of the people of Guyana, and also restrict us from making a greater contribution to the welfare of the peoples of the wider Latin American and Caribbean region,” he told invitees, among them representatives of the private sector, and Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Raphael Trotman.

He made the point that an economically stronger

Guyana can make an even greater contribution to burning international issues.

POLICY CORNERSTONES These matters aside, he said Venezuela can always count on Guyana’s support for the preservation of its democratic process, as one of the cornerstones of Guyana’s foreign policy is its commitment to “the principle of comity among nations, non-intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign states, and the promotion of democracy,” as well as the peaceful co-existence of nations.

He also underscored the fact that a primary aspiration that drove the move towards independence was greater strides toward integration, which Guyana has been able to take advantage of.

“Guyana and Venezuela have been able to take advantage of the integration mechanisms to promote the common interests of the South American continent and the wider Latin American and Caribbean region,” he said, referring to the countries’ participation in the Union of South American Nations (UNSAUR) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Prime Minister Hinds said that Guyana and Venezuela have been able to work within these regional fora to

Decomposed body of missing man found in the ‘Blacka’ ––had drug abuse problems

By Michel Outridge THE bloated and decomposed body of 25-year-old Tyrone Watts, who went missing from his home since Friday, was found in the Lama Canal (Blacka) yesterday morning by residents who had gone there for a swim.

Aunt of the deceased, Coretta Eastman told this publication yesterday that her nephew was staying with her at her Lot 47 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown home, but returned to his mother’s place in Cummings Lodge.

She explained that Watts was experiencing some domestic problems with his mom and stepfather because of his ‘smoking habits’.

She added that Watts was even taken by his mother, Simone McPherson, to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Psychiatric Ward where he was an inmate for two days and was on medication for drug abuse.

The relative added that on Friday, Watts was at his mother’s place when they had a row and he reportedly scaled the fence and left the Cummings Lodge residence for an unknown destination.

The woman said that since then they have been looking for him and it was only after they read the news that a body was found in the ‘Blacka’ that they journeyed to the scene and their worst fears were confirmed.

She stated that the body was swollen and was in an advanced state of decomposition but could not say if

there were marks of violence. However, she is of the opinion that he may have taken his own life.

Although Watts was described as a good swimmer, relatives could not say how he may have ended up there and the circumstance surrounding his death remains a mystery.

They are hoping that the post-mortem may answer some of their questions.

Watts was a male nurse attached to the New Amsterdam Hospital in Berbice, and had attempted suicide three years ago by ingesting some tablets.

His expectant girlfriend is residing at his mother’s place, and she too could not Dead: Tyrone Watts believe that Watts may have taken his own life.

Watts was described as a fun-loving and educated person, who was down-to-earth until he began abusing drugs and had expressed the desire to return home to live with his mother prior to his demise.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds maintain stability in their bilateral relations. “We have been able to initiate a viable and mutually beneficial agreement for trade of rice, and anticipate, in the near future, that our trade relations will expand to non-traditional products…. The establishment of a direct air link between Guyana and Venezuela through CONVIASA will certainly promote more people-to-people contact, as well as support the movement of goods,” he said.

The Prime Minister expressed optimism that the association of the two nations would be advanced for their mutual benefit.

SHARED PRINCIPLES Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Reina Margarita Arratia Diaz, in her address, agreed that the two countries have shared principles, which allow them to work within a framework of sustained regional integration.

She said, “On the level of bilateral relations, Guyana and Venezuela have signed a series of agreements on economic, social, political, and cultural matters which have enabled us to advance in the construction and development of our two countries. The validity and efficiency of these agreements are the clear guarantee of our coexistence as neighbouring countries and friends.”

The Ambassador highlighted that it is an “undeniable reality” that, in the course of recent years, the relations between the two countries have been strengthened in all aspects.

“We recognise Guyana’s firm position against the Organisation of American States (OAS), in defence of Venezuelan sovereignty, as a sign of support of the battle that the Venezuelan people were fighting at that time, for peace, democracy and political stability in our country,” she said.

Ambassador Diaz referenced high-level exchange visits between the two countries as a sign of the good relationship and the evidence of greater consolidation of partnerships.

Guyana’s relations with Venezuela have seen accelerated progress in the interest of enhancing the bonds of cooperation, friendship, and understanding between the two countries, which have had ties for decades; but there was a marked improvement in relations after the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took office.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana…

If the AFC councillor was stripped, as he claimed

––Why was the incident not captured on camera

OLD Kai is not surprised at the new low reached by the Alliance For Change. It was expected, as they have not been getting the type of media attention their leaders constantly crave, which has added to their waning support.

Thus exploitation of the grievances of rice farmers in Essequibo presented them with the ideal opportunity to aid their desperate quest for relevance, in order to fight off the clutches of political obscurity.

We have been here before; the people of Linden were their targets a few years ago. Racial rhetoric, combined with a nasty misinformation campaign, was used to play upon the people’s fears and rile them up. What ensued has already been well documented, save to say that the damage to both private and public infrastructure still haunts the landscape, and Lindeners are now left to pick up the pieces -- with assistance from the very Government they were encouraged to rise up against.

The instigators vanished almost overnight, abandoning the Lindeners as they moved on the community of Agricola, a few months later. What occurred there is also well documented: the attacks against ranks of the Guyana Police Force; robberies and sexual assaults of innocent citizens trying to escape the violence; and, of course, the publicly televised plea of AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, calling for ‘no peace’ in Guyana, hours before the destruction began.

The AFC leadership then moved on to Berbice, where it attempted to exploit the sensitivities of sugar workers of the Blairmont estate, and openly encouraged them to block the roads and protest. After the

workers realized the AFC plan, there were reports that both Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootto, in one instance, having had to jump into their vehicle and speed away so as to escape the furious sugar workers.

With the failure of this plan, the AFC leadership then began to look once again for another option, and a few disgruntled rice farmers in Essequibo became their target.

The AFC Councillor Naith Ram has been sowing the seeds of discontent for some time, and with talk of an election around the corner, the party felt it was the opportune time to exploit the situation. This reality is further confirmed by a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs which noted that “…over the past weeks, representatives of the AFC have been frequenting the Essequibo Coast, encouraging their political activists imbedded in the rice farming community to engage in unlawful acts to disrupt the peace and good order on the Essequibo Coast…”

If this was not enough evidence, Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has revealed to the media that, during the previous week, there were two meetings between the millers and farmers over the payment issue, and an amicable agreement was reached between the parties.

Now, why, in light of their agreement, will the AFC councillor encourage farmers to protest, to block roads and burn tyres?

Then there is the serious issue of the AFC Councillor Naith Ram accusing police ranks of stripping him during the incident. We even have images of the individual posing for pictures naked. Old Kai’s ques-

tion is: Where were these cameras moments before, when the incident allegedly occurred? Why are there no images of the actual incident? This only confirms the obvious, which is not only nasty and downright disgraceful behavior, but also indicative of the culture which the AFC leadership seems to be fostering.

Old Kai was informed by an eyewitness that after the attempt at arresting the AFC councillor failed, he began stripping and challenged the ranks to arrest him naked. The Police have also reported that, hours before this incident, the individual and others were observed imbibing; but being under the influence of alcohol is no excuse for such behaviour, especially since we are told that women and children were also at the scene. Is this the sort of degenerative behaviour the AFC is encouraging?

It is up to the AFC and its councillor in Essequibo to provide the images of him actually being stripped by the police. After all, they have confirmed that they had several cameras there, but not a single video or image of the actual incident have they provided. The police also need to take action against those damaging society who would engage in such lewd behaviour in front of women and children.

When Old Kai refers to this culture by the AFC, let us remember that it was one of their leaders who stood up in Parliament and related that “shut you suh and suh mouth” was how he spoke to his grandkids.

It appears that the people of Essequibo have now become the latest victim of the AFC’s ‘collateral damage’ campaign.

Remembering Sibley ...

From page 7 were released earlier. The manipulations led to the imposition of the PNC-UF Coalition and the dictatorship and decay which characterised the first quarter century of Guyana’s existence as an independent country.

According to the General-Secretary, the enemy of the PPP is the same - the PNC wanted to see the back of the PPP. He questioned, “What has this party done to make the kind of enemies it continues to have?”

He recalled that in 1953, when the PPP won the elections, they were ousted from office. During those 100 days in office, the progress made in Guyana was tremendous. At that time, the party’s main focus was mainly on educational reforms since they felt that it was fundamental in order for the removal of the citizens from poverty.

“It was also geared to remove the people from the backwardness that the colonial people had the country in,” he said.

The ruling party’s general-secretary pointed out at that time the Minister of Education was Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, who became the leader of PNC.

“He was the man that was responsible to carry out those reforms and he did so because in those days everyone was progressive, everyone wanted to do something for Guyana,” he stressed.

After PPP Government was ousted from office after 100 days, the party returned to office in 1957-1964.

General-Secretary Rohee pointed out that, going back into the history of the party, “we see the tremendous progress that was made in Guyana for the seven years in power.

“For those people who say that the country is not making any progress, we only have to compare where we were in the 70s and 80s to now; and recognize the progress that was being made in this country.

PROGRESS BREEDS ENEMIES “The PPP party was founded by Dr. Cheddi Jagan to transform Guyana in order to take it forward. It is because of this the PPP has many enemies…as we all know ‘Progress breeds enemies’,” he said. Yesterday’s terrorists are today’s heroes.

From early in 1964, the British Government began a process to reduce the powers of the Guyana Government. In effect, these acts reduced the constitutional authority of the Guyana Government since they removed

the powers held by the Ministers and placed them in the hands of the Governor, who by mid-1964 had become a virtual dictator.

Armed with these dictatorial powers, the Governor ordered the detention of 32 members of the PPP after accusing them of instigating the racial disturbances. Only two PNC members were put into detention, even though there was clear evidence of PNC involvement in the reign of terror, as was clearly indicated in the secret police report on the PNC Terrorist Organisation which the Governor had in his possession.

MAYHEM According to the police records, the disturbances resulted in 176 persons killed and more than 900 persons seriously injured.

More than 1,425 buildings were destroyed by arson, and about 15,000 persons (from 2,600 families) were displaced and they subsequently re-settled in areas where their race group was in the majority. The long-term result of these disturbances was that they increased racial polarisation in the country.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

CARICOM to get Debt Sowing for second rice crop in progress Advocacy Team A CARIBBEAN Community (CARICOM) Debt Advocacy Team is to be appointed to campaign for debt relief and/or debt amelioration on behalf of highly indebted CARICOM Member States.

This was one of the key outcomes of the Thirty-Fifth Conference of the CARICOM Heads of Government, which concluded in Antigua and Barbuda on Friday, July 4.

At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Chair of the Conference of Heads of Government, Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said that the Team will advocate with Development Partners on behalf of Member States.

The initiative emerged out of the recognition that the current burdensome debt was not realistic for some Member States, given their structural and other economic vulnerabilities, Prime Minister Browne said.

Debt advocacy is one of the areas that the Commission on the Economy zeroed

in on as part of the measures to be taken to respond to the economic challenges with which the Region is faced.

A regional debt management mechanism is to be designed and a regional fiscal sustainability framework is to be formulated within six months, the newly elected Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda told the media.

Another strategy proposed by the Commission on the Economy which the Heads of Government have sanctioned is resource mobilization, particularly from non-traditional sources of financing. They have also agreed to pursue the promotion of public private partnerships for the development of the economic infrastructure with technical advice from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the World Bank.

In their continued focus on revitalizing the regional economy, the Heads of Government met on Wednesday with leading figures of the private sector. The frank

engagement, the Community Chairman said, was a tangible demonstration of the Region’s commitment to engage a critical stakeholder in the context of the Strategic Priorities for the Community, as set out in the Five-year Strategic Plan which Heads approved during the Conference. There was agreement that the discussions were a good start to a new relationship between Heads of Government and the business community. Ease of doing business in the Region was a major talking point and suggestions were offered in respect of improving that area.

At the closing press conference, Prime Minister Browne also announced Montserrat’s intention to accede to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas by the next meeting of the Conference. That accession will pave the way for the Member State’s full participation in the Community, particularly in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Speeding car skids off road, slams into fence A MAN and woman were the only passengers of a car that skid off the West Coast Demerara road, at Crane, and slammed into a nearby fence on Saturday morning.

Fortunately, no one was injured, and the car, PRR 8017, was not damaged in a major way.

This is the second non-fatal accident in two weeks that resulted from speeding.

The Guyana Police

Force’s (GPF) Traffic Department has recorded 103 accidents with 112 deaths, with 10 being children for 2013.

The Department’s statistics, as at May this year, indicated that some 54 have been killed, seven of whom were children, because of road accidents and a number of persons have been seriously injured, although it is only mid-year. Pedestrians,

Public-spirited citizens assist in righting the overturned

pedal cyclists and motorists remain the most vulnerable victims to fatalities and road accidents.

Speeding continues to be a major contributory factor to fatal accidents, despite police traffic enforcement activities during 2013 resulting in more than 107,650 cases being made against errant motorists.

Of that amount, more than 20,443 were for speeding.

–new lands being opened up

By Vanessa Narine THE first rice crop for 2014 brought in a record-breaking 315,000 tonnes, making it the largest single crop, surpassing the annual targets made by the industry prior to 2000.

And General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, told the Guyana Chronicle that new rice lands are being opened up this year.

“All over, people are trying to plant more. In Regions Five (Mahaica/ Berbice), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and even in Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), we have lands that were used before for provisions and cash crops, as well as some coconut estates, being transformed for rice,” he said.

There is some danger in this practice, Seeraj conceded, since some of the new lands are outside of areas declared with drainage and irrigation services.

“We are going into unprecedented ways to get land under cultivation….

In the last three years, we have moved from 175,000 acres to over 227,000 acres under cultivation, and the expansion continues,” Seeraj said, while adding that the situation is being monitored.

SOWING CONTINUES Addressing the progress made with the second rice crop, the RPA Head told the Guyana Chronicle that sowing has been completed in Regions Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and Four (Demerara/Mahaica); while the process is ongoing in Regions Five (Mahaica/West Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

“There is (an) adequate (supply of) seed paddy, and the RPA is making this available to farmers at $5,000 a bag, which is a preferential price; as well as other input supplies,” he said.

Seeraj also said that

RPA General Secretary, Dharamkumar Seeraj

while weather conditions have been favourable, farmers are in need of additional rainfall. The rainfall normally experienced during the May/June rainy season has been less intense, owing to the onset of El Nino conditions.

The Agriculture Ministry issued an El Nino alert in May, after consulting with its Hydrometeor-orological Office, and taking into consideration predictions from various regional and international forecasting and weather agencies.

A Special El Nino Working Group has since been set up to monitor and plan actions to reduce any adverse impact of a possible El Nino phenomenon on agriculture production.

Additionally, in late April, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned countries that the possibility of a severe El Nino must be heeded.

Climatologists and weather forecasters have predicted an El Nino phen o m e n o n a ff e c t i n g t h e Americas, starting in July

and intensifying towards October and December. The prediction as at this time is that a serious El Nino could affect the Americas, causing severe drought in many parts of the Americas. Guyana has been, and continues to be, a victim of climate change, but has taken steps to adapt and to mitigate climate change.

La Nina is above-average rainfall in an area for a particular period of time. It is generally associated with drier places, and follows a period of El Nino.

Seeraj stressed that farmers are prepared to deal with the less-than-average rainfall. “The NDIA (National Drainage and Irrigation Authority), the RDCs (Regional Democratic Councils) and the NDCs (Neighbourhood Democratic Councils) are also taking measures to ensure that we will be prepared to deal with the El Nino conditions,” he said.

For the second crop, some 225,000 acres of rice are expected to be cultivated, with the overall production depending on farmers’ yield of bags per acre.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

11

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Golden Om Youths remember N/A Dharm Shala inmates on Father’s Day

By Michael Khan THE Golden Om Dharmic Youth group o f E a s t C a n j e , B e rbice, has once again reached out to the needy to mark a special occasion.

On Father’s Day, the group made its annual

contribution to the inmates of the New Amsterdam Dharm Shala with great delight, as they sought to follow the teachings of Hinduism.

The group, which is the youth arm of the G u y a n a H i n d u D h a rmic Sabha (GHDS),

led by its president, Pandit Deodat Persaud, ventured to the facility next to the Canje River Bridge to spread cheer in the form of clothing and vegetarian meals to the 24 inmates there.

Prior to the presentation, Pandit Persaud took the opportunity to Pandit Deodat Persaud makes a presentation to a Dharm Shala inmate in the presence of group members and caretaker Gary Erskine

offer words of encouragement to the fathers among the 10 males at the benevolent home.

“Despite you may think that you are housed at the Dharm Shala and away from the civilised world, you are still important; you made your contribution towards society and it is now our honour to acknowledge you,” he said.

Persaud pointed out that there are many uncertainties in life, and doing good deeds is one of the ways in which to seek blessings.

He added, “We are youths today; but in the future, we are going to get old and we cannot predict where we may end up; we understand the reality of life.”

The pandit reminded the gathering that the religion of Sanathan Dharm requires the offering of service to God, parents, guests, the less fortunate and animals.

“Happy Father’s day to all of you and do remember that we care for you,” he assured.

Following the traditional expression of gratitude by the inmates to the Golden Om memb e r s , a n e l d e r, D e n nis Singh, invoked the name of God to bless the donation. Caret a k e r o f t h e f a c i l i t y, Gary ‘Bangee’ Erskine, also thanked the Hindu youths for remembering the Dharm Shala occupants.

“These persons here are needy; but more than that, they are human beings and they require public assistance for survival .... a big thank you to Golden Om,” he expressed.

The youth group will return to the facility in the near future to offer haircuts to the inmates and engage them in interactive sessions that will make their stay at the Dharm Shala a comfortable one.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

584 East Canje residents benefit from OLPF initiative the OLPF Regional offices in the county, either at New Amsterdam or Skeldon.

“Eligible persons have to fill up an application form and return it to us, and there are verification officers who will visit their homes where another form has to be signed before it is sent to Georgetown for processing,” she explained.

Once the verification process is completed, the waiting

OLPF Supervisor Ms. Archana Sawh (centre) and team ensuring a smooth process in the distribution of laptops in East Canje

By Michael Khan THE distribution of laptops under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative resumed in Berbice, when residents of East Canje received 584 instruments at the Cumberland Primary School.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, OLPF Supervisor Ms. Archana Sawh stated that applicants from the villages of Seawell, Palmyra, Cumberland and Canefield, among others, benefited from the exercise.

“It should be ongoing now for Region 6 until September;

we have scheduled dates and will be targeting the different areas,” she revealed, adding, “OLPF will be moving to Port Mourant, Corentyne in July where more laptops will be distributed.”

Ms. Sawh also encouraged more Berbicians to apply for the Government laptops. “Government has an obligation to the people and we want to reach our target, which is 90,000 laptops.”

So far, 3,000 laptops have been distributed in Berbice and the application process is simple, where persons can visit

Sugar factories to start grinding later this month PREPARATIONS for the second sugar crop are progressing well, and factories are expected to start grinding at the end of the month, says Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.

“Preparations for the second crop have been advanced. In fact, some of

try to surpass the 2014 target.

Guyana has been taking steps to turn the sugar industry around, and hopes to meet the 300,000-tonne target soon with a projection that the sector will reach its 400,000-tonne goal by 2020.

Importantly, too, Dr Ramsammy disclosed that

A section of the cane fields at one of Guyana’s sugar estates

the estates are beginning to prepare for the restart of the grinding season. We expect that, towards the end of this month, several of the factories will have started grinding,” he told the Guyana Chronicle Saturday.

He explained that maintenance works and some level of upgrades at factories have been completed, and the second sugar crop is expected to be sufficiently successful to allow the indus-

preparations for 2015 in terms of tillage and planting of cane have also been progressing well. “We expect that, next year, we will have a bumper sugar cane crop to support the factories,” he said.

The sugar target for 2014 is some 215,000 tonnes. The first crop had surpassed its target and recorded a production of over 78,000 tonnes. (Vanessa Narine)

period between application and distribution is not an elaborate one.

A number of persons who received laptops were grateful for the gesture of the Government of Guyana, which was mooted by former president, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. They expressed relief at having their applications acknowledged and are now required to attend training sessions at established OLPF

Hubs in East Canje, where they will acquire skills in computing.

The OLPF programme was launched in 2011; the objective of the venture is to equip 90,000 families with laptops and to expand the use of ICT across the country.

Up to May of last year, a total of 28,000 laptops were already distributed to families across the country. (Michael Khan)

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

City Engineer blames GWI for siltation of city drains

By Derwayne Wills

CITY Engineer Colvern Venture has accused the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) of dumping sludge into the drainage system even as the $500M ‘Clean up Georgetown’ project facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government & Regional Development and the Georgetown City Council gets underway.

This accusation was made at an exercise facilitated by the Local Government Ministry on June 26, when Local Government Minister, Mr. Norman Whittaker; acting Town Clerk, Ms. Carol Sooba; Coordinator of the Technical Committee of the ‘Cleanup Guyana’ project, Mr. Gordon Gilkes; Director of the Solid Waste Management Unit, Mr. Walter Narine, and other members and officials of the Ministry of Local Government and the City Hall were present.

Venture said the dumping of sludge into the Irving Street, Church Street, and Lamaha Street canals has caused heavy silting of those canals, and has resulted in flooding of areas in those communities, particularly in Queenstown and Alberttown.

He recalled that in recent times, “those waters would have receded very quickly…but because of the sludge”, this is no longer the case. “If GWI continues to dispose of the sludge within the canals, it’s going to put the areas

which drain from these canals in a very peculiar state,” the City Engineer declared.

Venture recalled that, in November 2013, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) of the Ministry of Agriculture had carried out works on the canals, where silting had exacerbated the effects of heavy rainfall. He added that because of the continued activity of the Water Authority, the canals are once again silted up.

The City Engineer reiterated that the sludge from the GWI treatment system “is affecting the canal as far as Camp Street from the Church Street canal.” He similarly noted that silt from the Irving Street canal has made its way “into the Lamaha Street canal as far as Albert Street.”

The removal of silt has proven to be a challenge, since the waste is liquid in form, the City Engineer said.

Reaffirming Venture’s call was Coordinator of the Technical Committee of the ‘Clean up Guyana Project’, Mr. Gordon Gilkes, who stated, “The heavy silting of canals is caused by the sludge, which is the waste material accumulated after water would have been treated.”

Gilkes credited the act as “a violation of environmental principles, [since] normally, what they are supposed to do [with] the silt [is to] use drying beds and then take the dry stuff to the landfills.”

The officials noted that while there had been discussions for some four years with the former Chief Execu-

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker briefing of the press on works planned for the Church Street canal. Also in photo are acting Town Clerk, Ms. Carol Sooba; City Engineer Mr. Colvern Venture (to the right of Sooba); and Coordinator for the Technical Committee of the ‘Cleanup Guyana’ project, Mr. Gordon Gilkes (to the right of Minister Whittaker).

A section of the heavy-silted drains outside GWI’s office

15

tive Officer (CEO) of the GWI, Mr. Karran Singh, those discussions had not produced any result.

Acting Town Clerk, Ms. Carol Sooba, in an invited comment, disclosed that talks are set to resume with the water authority through its newly appointed CEO, Mr. Shaik Baksh, at a date to be announced.

“We will re-engage them shortly, so that we can deal with this issue amicably,” Sooba said.

Efforts by the Guyana Chronicle to contact Mr. Shaik Baksh proved futile.

Minister Whittaker observed that the aim of the exercise was for ministry officials and other stakeholders to examine the nature, condition and extent of the works to be done for the ‘Clean up Georgetown’ component of the “Clean up Guyana” Project.

The vigorous and expansive project will focus on the restoration of the Le Repentir Cemetery and the de-silting and maintenance of Irving and Church streets’ canals, the Princes and Sussex streets’ canals, and the Lamaha Street and Downer canals.

Whittaker pointed out that de-silting achieves two primary objectives: the storage of storm waters and the movement of water during low tide. He said that one of the concerns of the canal de-silting initiative is that contractors must be obligated to remove mud and debris that have been retrieved from the canals.

Expounding on his concern, the minister stressed that once the debris has been left to sit on the shoulders of the canal, heavy rainfall would wash it back into the system, and that would defeat the purpose of the exercise.

A section of the Church Street Canal to be debushed and de-silted

A section of the heavily-silted Irving Street canal

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Fire Chief says...

Considerable resources have been expended to retool, modernise GFS

By Michel Outridge CHIEF Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle, has revealed that from 2009 to now, considerable resources have been invested in the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) to re-tool and modernise its fleet and equipment.

Accordingly, fire-fighting vehicles and auxiliary equipment, such as hoses and rescue equipment, have been purchased, and five new fire stations have been opened at the following locations: Diamond, Onverwagt, Rose Hall Town, Mahaica and Bartica.

HINTERLAND FIRE PROTECTION PLAN Gentle said that in its 57-year history, the GFS now has more range in rolling out its services in the communities, and has embarked on the Hinterland Fire Protection Plan, which was launched in 2012.

He said that the plan has been successful, with Port Kaituma, Mabaruma, Mahdia, Lethem and Kwakwani -- five of the more populated areas in the interior -- having since benefited from establishment of Auxiliary Fire Stations and receiving equipment that would enable them to respond to fires and give the respective communities a first response.

Gentle said the GFS went into those communities and, so far, 60 persons therefrom have been trained and are operating as auxiliary members of the Guyana Fire Service, receiving a stipend to provide their services.

Gentle said the Auxiliary Fire Stations all have equipment ranging from all-terrain type fire fighting vehicles at Lethem, Mahdia and Kwakwani to two fire-fighting trailers being installed one each at Port Kaituma and Mabaruma.

Gentle pointed out that the Guyana Fire Service has 46 different types of fire-fighting vehicles, among which are bowsers, tankers, and conventional fire-fighting vehicles, most of which were acquired in 2009; but the GFS has

been gifted several vehicles from the Chinese which are capable of responding to fires and rescue emergencies.

Gentle said, “I think we have long gone past that era when we had one or two fire tenders in one division. We have seen marked development in housing and types of construction going on, and we have been looking at these things and upgrading in trying to bring ourselves to that level.

‘We have just tested ourselves at the high-rise

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle buildings and we are comfortable that the high-rise vehicle that we have meets the capability necessary for such,” he said.

TRAINING The Chief Fire Officer pointed out that the GFS is not a sleeping organisation. As such, he said, training is an ongoing exercise at all levels.

He added that, presently, the GFS is in process of doing massive recruitment, attracting persons to fill vacancies as fire fighters.

Gentle pointed out that the GFS has increased its manpower by 84 ranks, taking its full strength to 511 personnel; and training will soon commence for an additional batch of 120 ranks, who have been shortlisted and will go through the induction process to ensure their suitability for the job before they commence training by August this year; “…and that will bring the GFS to full manpower requirements,” he disclosed.

He said all stations would be fully manned, and the GFS would be staffed by ably-qualified officers; and added that the GFS has been training personnel all the time, and some of its staff who have been trained both locally and overseas have been training local staff, hence expertise has been cascading down to all levels of ranks in the GFS. He noted that fire-fighters have a multiplicity of skills, are specialised, and have well-rounded personalities, since their operations demand such.

Giving an example, he said there are fire services at the two major airports, and the ranks there possess the skills and expertise necessary to respond to emergencies involving aircraft.

Gentle said the GFS also has responsibility to protect the harbours, because if a vessel is on fire, the GFS has to respond appropriately, although it currently does not have response capability in terms of a fire-fighting vessel.

Nevertheless, he said, the GFS would respond to such an emergency by using contingency vessels, in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).

He said the Guyana Fire Service is hoping to acquire its own fire-fighting vessel, but in the meantime is deploying unorthodox methods in its response by utilising vessels from other agencies.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Sterling Products recognises outstanding performances at NGSA examinations

STERLING Products Limited (SPL) has awarded the children of eight staff members who performed outstandingly at the 2014 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations.

This gesture represents SPL’s ongoing drive to improve employer/employee relations. The company held its annual bursary award for employee’s children on Thursday, July 3, at the SPL Boardroom at its Providence, East Bank Demerara

has become an annual tradition.

Ali said, “Sterling is very pleased that we can assist you (the awardees)…. We are very proud of you guys; you have achieved something, and now you can move on to a different level of education.

There is always a place here, as preference will be given to the employees’ children when there is time for employment and they have the qualifications. There is always a place at Sterling for you. Well

from the Chief Executive Officer that you will be the first that Sterling Products Limited will offer a job; they will give you preference amongst all other graduates from other secondary schools. I want to urge you to remain in school, do like what you did in primary school: complete all your assignments, read, and complete secondary education.”

Ms. Singh, reminding the bursary awardees of the need to be responsible

company has taken him on as an intern after he went through secondary school and into the University of Guyana, where he will soon be graduating with a Degree in Economics.

“You will meet a lot of new people and have a lot of experiences, but I urge you all to continue your education,” he said; adding, “It is now time to move forward. Sterling is already helping your parents, which is very good. You will go

SPL managers and other officials with this year’s awardees and their parents head office. Present at the event were Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SPL, Ramsay Ali, along with managers of the company, representatives from the Clerical and Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU), Deputy Chief Education Officer Doodmattie Singh, and awardees and their parents.

Addressing the reception, Ali said the company has always been committed to helping employees. SPL, he said, has been trying, over the years, to look at different ways and means to motivate its work force; and the company has been promoting parenting, family values, and education.

Ali said that SPL boasts a literacy programme in which employees in the factories and elsewhere are encouraged to improve their English and mathematics’ skills. The pension funds and other social programmes are positively impacting relationships between SPL and its workforce. One way of helping employees is by awarding the successes of their children in the NGSA examinations, which

done, and congratulations!”

General Secretary of CCWU, Ann Anderson, in her remarks, said: “Sterling is a company that gets into your business. It is more like a family. Sterling goes further, they decide to look after the children of their workers, and not many companies do this. If my history and recollection prove me right, they are one of the companies that offer the highest values in a Bursary award, at least under the CCWU. I am standing here and looking at future doctors, lawyers, CEO of Sterling and even a trade unionist!

“I want you to value what is being offered to you. Now, this is a new stage; it is as though you are starting over, it is harder, you will be dealing with a different group of children. Now you are mixing with the best of the best, and all of you did well,” she encouraged them.

The Deputy Chief Education Officer, in urging the children to remain focused and steer clear of bad influences, said: “I want to ask you to continue school; do not drop out, go up to CXC. You heard

and to take care of themselves, added: “I urge you to take good care of yourselves.

You owe it to your parents; to Sterling Products Limited, who will now partner with you, who has been partnering with your parents for your education for a long time. You owe it to your community and Guyana at large. Take care of yourselves, be the best that you can be.

You need to pay attention to health and good nutrition. I am saying this to you because this is the stage where children will say ‘I don’t want home food anymore, I want fast food’. You need to pay attention to your nutrition, eat your fruits and vegetables because CXC is far more demanding than National Grade Six Assessments.

“Do not drop out of school, focus on good nutrition, and choose your friends wisely,” she admonished.

Past recipient of the SPL Bursary Award in the 2005 NGSE exams, Richard Leo Jr, commented that nine years ago he was sitting in the very chair the current awardees are sitting in, and now the

out to face some challenges; be focused, and put yourself in the direction you wish to be successful.”

Rachel Seecharran expressed gratitude on behalf of the awardees. “I am very happy to be an awardee, and to be sitting around people who went through the same experiences that I did, and who will be going through another experience in the future,” she said, before wishing all her fellow awardees good success in life and a better future.

“Make the best of everything you have been given by your parents, by your education…. Everything! Make the best out of everything!” she concluded.

Awarded this year were Fiyaad Hack, with 518 points; Taruna Singh, with 505 points; Rachel Seecharran, with 486 points; Natasha Shaw, with 452 points; Nadia Singh, with 440 points; Clayton Harry, with 425 points; Ryan Peters, with 400 points; and Alicia Mohitram, with 326 points.

Each child was presented with a monetary award of Gy$50,000.

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

‘A’ Division Commander urges CPGs to be more proactive –and to‘think outside the box’

By Asif Hakim

POLICE ‘A’ Division C o m m a n d e r, S e n i o r Superintendent Clifton Hicken, has told the ‘A’ Division Community Policing Groups (CPGs) that “this is not time for desk policing.”

At Friday’s Division

‘A’ planning of activities to observe the GPF’s 175th Anniversary, Hicken urged the CPGs to employ their best efforts on the job, and to work closely with the police to bring about greater change in the Division.

The Commander urged any member of the public

who sees a crime being committed to take photographs of same and send them to the police via BBM. He said the police BBM Pin can be found at any police station or outpost.

“For this Anniversary month, I would like to call on all stakeholders

At Friday’s meeting with representatives of the various Community Policing Groups in ‘A’ Division (Photo by Asif Hakim) to help fight crime. This month must be the month of fighting crime. I will work tirelessly with my officers, day and night, to make sure it happens.

We have to grow! Think outside the box, and I will make sure I install a station management committee at every station in my Division,” Hicken said.

Each sub-division of ‘A’ Division would be working on various projects and activities for the Police Force Anniversary Month.

Sub-division # 4, which stretches from Timehri Police Station to the Yarrowkabra Outpost, will be carrying out activities such as identifying various projects, ending domestic violence, installing no parking signs at Soesdyke junction, ending

loud music in the nights, night patrols to intercept surreptitious dumping of garbage, identifying locations to erect bus sheds, among other initiatives.

Number Three sub-division, which starts at Prashad Nagar Station and ends at Alberttown Station, will be working on replacing the lockups door at Kitty Police Station, cleaning up the stations, and engaging in sporting activities.

Number Two sub-division, which starts at East La Penitence Station and ends at Diamond/Grove Station, would be looking to fix the washroom at Ruimveldt Station, maintain two vehicles at Diamond Station, install new lighting facilities, and fix and grill the main entrance to Diamond Station.

And Number One sub-division, which starts at Brickdam Station and ends at the Water Street Outpost, will be focusing on acquiring a few water pitchers, getting mercury vapour lamps installed at the stations, installing lighting facilities at the station entrance, rehabilitating the recreation hall, installing two tanks at the station, fixing the grill work, and replacing broken windows, among other things.

A church service will be held next Tuesday before the start of divisional activities. Commander Hicken urged the various chairmen of the sub-divisions to work hard to put those initiatives in place. He asked them to fulfil their promises made.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

WWF finds...

Kaieteur National Park ecologically intac

By Clifford Stanley

STUDY on the biological diversity of the Kaieteur National Park (KNP) has found that the area is ecologically intact and healthy, but that its protection needs to be sustained, so that extremely rare species of flora and fauna found there are not forever lost due to depradations, such as illegal mining and inadequately managed eco-tourism.

The report stated in part

thus: “Although Kaieteur Falls is in itself a spectacular geological feature, the combined biota of the Park represents a unique biogeographic Region of South America.”

“Several rare species appear to be endemic, possibly found nowhere else in the world, and therefore could easily vanish from earth.

This is sufficient reason in itself for the sustained protection of the KNP from possible depradations, on behalf of not only Guyana, in which this

unique and fragile biospehere lies, but on behalf of the world,” the report said.

The report recommended an increase in the KNP boundaries, or the setting up of a contiguous protected landscape, such as the Guyana Highlands National Park, with World Heritage status.

The findings were released during presentations of two biodiversity assessments conducted in the Upper Potaro Region: One being a published report on diversity in the KNP,

and the other a presentation on the preliminary findings of a Biodiversity Assessment Team (BAT) II. The biological diversity report was based on the findings of an expedition by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2011.

The BAT II report was based on the findings of an expedition initiated and coordinated also by the WWF, in partnership with the Protected Areas Commission (PAC); Global Wildlife Conservation,

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

ct, healthy a United States of America NGO; and Chenapau village, located upstream of the falls.

The BAT II survey team had comprised local and international scientists, students and Government institutions who used globally recognised and sound scientific methods to survey water quality; and taxonomic groups, including plants; large mammals; reptiles; amphibians; birds; fishes; ants; drag and damsel flies; aquatic beatles; and crustaceans (shrimps and crabs).

– but in need of sustained protection

The venue for the launch of the findings was Moray House at Quamina Street in Georgetown.

Officials present included Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNR&E), Robert Persaud; Regional Representative of WWF Guianas, Dominiek Plouvier; Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) Lead, Mr. Charles Hutchinson; Country Manager of WWF Guianas (Guyana), Dr. Patrick Wil-

liams; and Bio Diversity Officer, Ms. Aiesha Williams.

The gathering included officials of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG); staffers of the PAC; the MNR&E; Conservation International (CI), Iwokrama; the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC); the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA); staff and students of the University of Guyana; and Turn to page 22

22

Kaieteur National Park...

From pages 20 & 21

the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Minister of Natural Reources and the Environment, Robert Persaud thanked WWF for the work leading to the reports, and said that the reports would help in improving management of Guyana’s biodiversity.

He said: “We consider these assessments important, as the information garnered helps us to guide Guyana’s land use planning; biodiversity conservation, and natural resources management priorities.”

He said that the reported integrity of the KNP eco system was good news.

Survey Member, Aiesha Williams said that, during the surveys, over 500 species were recorded, including some that are likely to be

new to science, including some fishes, a tarantula spider, aquatic beatles, and dragon flies.

She stressed that the many extremely rare species of flora and fauna found in KNP represented a mere tip of the iceberg in terms of what may actually be there.

“The numbers do not indicate what is there; they indicate just what we found. There is every reason to believe that they represent merely the tip of the iceberg. There is need for additional surveys, because we don’t understand fully what is there, where they are, and what impact harvesting and other activity -- such as mining - has on these kinds of animals.”

The final report of the BAT II team expedition is scheduled to be released in mid-2015.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

VOX POP

UG students weigh in on impending hike in tuition fees AFTER much controversy surrounding the issue of increased tuition at Guyana’s premier tertiary institution, the University of Guyana, Vice-Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi has revealed that despite some dissatisfaction, there will be a hike in the tuition fees.

Prior to his remarks indicating that the increase was definite, a series of consultations were

By Ravin Singh

held to provide feedback from the students and other stakeholders on the increase. While some were permitted to voice their concerns over the issue, time constraints prevented others from doing so.

As such, the Man-in-the-street approach will provide an insight into some of the concerns and views of current students.

GLENFIELD DENNISON (Third-Year Law Student): “UG is broke; we as students know that because we live the effects of an underfunded university. However, the decision to saddle UG students with the burden of increased income is an unfortunate financial one which ignores the socio-economic circumstances of the majority of students. What is particularly unreasonable is the short notice that is being given to students and the meaningless ‘consultation’ that was held in a time when the school was closed for regular sessions, leaving only a handful of students on campus at the time of the consultation. Before the VC embarks on a tuition-raising venture he should consider that by his own admission, there has been bad management of UG resources in the past.”

LETICIA GREAVES (Second-Year International Relations Student): “An increase in tuition is one thing, but it is also important to let the students know the reason for the increases.

The University should show clearly why the increase is being made, and to what extent are UG students going to benefit.

If they did this, then I suppose students might not be against it. I believe that the interest of the students’ needs to be one of more importance when the university decided to have consultations on tuition increases. The majority of students use the loans process, some of these students don’t have jobs. If they raise the tuition when there is unemployment, and when the UG loan fund provided by the government has been cut then what situation does that put the students in. I have a one-year-old daughter and I am finding it more and more difficult to pay my tuition in cash and to take care of my daughter, if it is that I want to switch from cash to loan then is that even possible?”

SAIEED KHALIL (Final Year Economics Student): “Tuition increases are long overdue. The tuition was initially pegged to the exchange rate, which has since deteriorated, and the cost of providing a tertiary education has since increased and, as such, tuition fees need an upward adjustment to reflect that at least on part. My only caveats to this would be that: a) The loans mechanism be strengthened for those who might not be able to finance the new tuition rates out-ofpocket, and b) the university administration continue to court the private sector and other stakeholders into contributing more to the University’s development, so that the burden of these increases does not fall squarely on the students’ shoulders, since education, after all, generates benefits not only for the students but society as well, and at least part of the tab should be picked up by these third party beneficiaries.”

ELSIE HARRY-ROSS (First-Year International Relations Student): “I am fully aware that UG is strapped for cash. I don’t object to an increase in tuition; universities do it all the time. I am concerned about the amount; how quickly the increase will take effect; and the lack of transparency.

Management needs to be honest and accountable. Tell us exactly what to expect in September, and keep updating us. Running a university is running a business. As consumers we expect to get value for our dollar, whether it’s 2 dollars or 100 dollars. So if the fees increase we expect to see tangible returns, not reports from work ‘behind the scenes’. One of the biggest selling points for this increase has apparently been the fact that fees have been so low for so long that we and others are indebted to the university. Somehow I just don’t know how this is an issue for us. We paid what was asked of us. Now that the situation has escalated beyond the point of no return it is unreasonable for the management to drop the burden of years of mismanagement on current students in a quick, damaging motion. Additionally the arrogance of the Vice- Chancellor and some of his staff is sickening. Their posture when addressing students, facial expressions and tone of voice are unprofessional and are characteristic of the problems UG faces. Finally, what about the Government and private sector in all of this? The state of the country’s only name sake university is all of our business and Government and private sector alike need to play their part to improve it. Increased tuition alone will not suffice.”

MURTLAND HALEY (First-Year Law Student): “Well, considering the desire by the University of Guyana to want to raise the fees, I agree with the move. For many reasons, for example staff members sometimes have to worry if and when they’ll be paid and our lecturers aren’t really being paid according to international standards. However, my support for the increase is based on two grounds. One, that it is done gradually, meaning a certain percentage is agreed on by students and the governing body. And that percentage is applied yearly to achieve a gradual increase. This is so for the simple reason that it would be grossly unfair to current students to have to adjust to a sudden hike in the price for their particular programmes and the gradual increase will see a smoother transition for everyone. Secondly, I expect that with this gradual increase in the cost of education that the quality and standard of service will also improve. This includes better and more qualified lecturers, a better equipped library, a cleaner and well maintained physical environment, improved infrastructure, complete with bigger classrooms to accommodate the growing number of students attending the institution and faster services being provided by the admissions, bursary and student loans departments.” Turn to page 24

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

UG students weigh in on impending hike...

From page 23

TIFFANY MOONSAMMY (Second-Year Marketing Student): “As a current student of the university I think that the raise in tuition is ridiculous. It is unreasonable for current and potential students of the University of Guyana. Students already find it difficult to accumulate the $127,000 which results in the majority of the students taking loan. I think the university will see a tremendous decrease in attendance because most of the students are unemployed and that 80,000 difference in the tuition is too much.”

Labour Ministry spearheads one-day seminar on cooperatives

By Sandy Agasen THE Kuru Kuru Cooperative College (KKCC), in collaboration with the Guyana Cooperative Credit Union League and the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Friday, held a one-day workshop/seminar under the theme “Credit Union Development and Management”, in aid of enhancing the development of the Cooperative Movement of Guyana.

Held at the Regency Suites Hotel in Hadfield Street, Georgetown, this first workshop of its kind held by the KKCC saw participation from across the country, and was part of observances of Cooperative week, which commenced on June 29th, 2014 and will conclude on July 5th, 2014.

The vision of the Kuru Kuru Co-operative College is to make quality education and training accessible to all

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Reverend Patrick Findlay having his say Friday at the seminar/workshop

The theme for this Year of Cooperatives is ‘Sustainable development for all’.

The United Nations (UN) designated 2012 as International Year for Co-operatives. Guyana is the only Co-operative Republic in the world and, like many other countries, has co-operative societies of various types in respective countries - agricultural, land, housing, utility

tives.

He insisted that the members of the cooperatives should ensure that they comply with the rules and principles governing cooperatives, and explained that the Labour Ministry has to answer for the Cooperatives’ ineffective utilisation of resources, thus he urged them to efficiently employ the resources available to them

Members of cooperative unions listen attentively (Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

Guyanese, thereby improving the quality of life of the individual and the country as a whole.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Reverend Patrick Findlay, spoke of the period after slavery, when former slaves pooled their resources and purchased villages along the coast of Guyana. He mentioned that Victoria was the first village bought by the ex-slaves and an informal cooperative was formed there.

Reverend Findlay noted that Cooperatives were formally established in 1948.

services, consumers, credit unions, fishermen’s co-operatives and others.

Pastor Findlay said, “The Ministry of Labour recognises the difficult role cooperatives have in the economic and social development of Guyana.” He pointed out that the local cooperatives comprise the fifth largest financial resource in Guyana, with total assets of approximately $15 billion Guyana Dollars.

He urged the members of the unions to strive to benefit from what they have put into the cooperative movements, and expressed concern over the actions of the coopera-

to move the sector forward.

Reverend Findlay also noted the challenges the Labour Ministry was experiencing from the cooperative unions, which have not been reporting regularly, are not in compliance with the law, and are not being audited as they should.

“Cooperative is the key to enhancing and uplifting the standard of living of the Guyanese people,” he said.

Chairman of the KKCC Board of Directors, John Seeram, noted that KKCC has a major role to play in coTurn to page 26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

25

26

Labour Ministry spearheads one-day seminar...

From page 24

operative education delivery and development.

He recalled that the Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, had expressed his concern for the decline of cooperatives. “While some

have become defunct, new ones have emerged and are very active,” he pointed out.

Mr Seeram stressed that practitioners in the cooperative sector need to be adequately trained, so they can be at utmost effectiveness

Monday, July 07, 2014 - 12:30 Tuesday, July 08, 2014 - 13:30 Wednesday, July 09, 2014 - 14:30

and efficiency, in order to enable sustainable development.

He said, “Ongoing training and supervision are indeed critical to the strengthening of this sector. This College (KKCC) presently offers diploma and certificate programmes which can be viewed as the core training activity.”

Mr. Seeram pointed out that he would review the Financial Statements Presentation of the Credit Union, and that the KKCC will commence in-house training in the operation of cooperative entities countrywide.

He said this form of training has benefited the Linden Cooperative tremendously.

The Chairman indicated that training programmes would be conducted in the various regions, since they are more cost effective.

Mr Seeram expressed expectation that this seminar would redound to the development of the Cooperative Movement in Guyana.

The Guyana Credit Union League Limited is a secondary co-operative society which was established 1957.

This secondary organisation is the confederation of Credit Unions in Guyana.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Aries - March 21 - April 19 Your already blunt, impetuous nature will take over now, but you won't hear any complaints from loved ones -- that's for darned sure. You have a knack for saying whatever you absolutely must in such entertaining fashion that no one minds. Not a tad. And now you'll have the element of surprise to help you be even more interesting. As if you ever needed help in that department.

Taurus - April 20 - May 20 You have two options at this point. First, you can hang on to the plastic and the cheque book, even if someone is begging for them -- especially if it's someone who you're sure won't give them back even upon fear of death, or even worse, being exiled from your life permanently. Second, you can resolve to set yourself a limit and stick to it, and trust only yourself to do that. Better stick with option one -- money may not be everything, but it certainly helps.

Gemini - May 21 - June 21 All that peace, quiet and privacy was nice while it lasted, and you needed it -- but you're on a different page now. You're ready for some excitement, and even though you know you have to get up tomorrow, you really won't care how late you have to stay up to have some excitement. It's a good thing you're well rested, too, because you'll definitely connect with at least one someone who'll help you find what you're after: Adrenaline.

Cancer - June 22 - July 22 Today's astrological menu calls for a great, big helping of intrigue, mysteries, and secrets of only the most delicious kind. So if you're asked to keep quiet about a certain issue, you'll definitely do it. You're a pro at that sort of thing, after all. Now, no one says you can't enjoy being in the loop. Just try to control your facial expressions. You never were much good at poker.

Leo - July 23 - August 22 You wrote the book on loyalty -- and that applies to anyone you care about, whether they're family, friends, or someone you met on the bus who asked for your advice.

You may need to exhibit that quality on the spur of the moment today, and you'll rise to the occasion beautifully. Does this mean that you'll get overly involved? Maybe, but isn't that just how you do business? All or nothing, right?

Virgo - August 23 - September 22 Surprises are en route. Big ones. They'll be coming to you via your career and the people involved in it. This could mean the higher-ups you've been dealing with have been less than honest about your situation, but the chances of that happening are slim, to say the least. What's more likely is that someone in a position of authority has been working a bit of magic for you from behind the scenes. Either way, get ready for a surprise.

Libra - September 23 - October 22 The phone will probably start ringing bright and early this morning -- and you really shouldn't ignore it. There's someone due to ring you up who has quite the news to share, and maybe even a romantic question to ask. Oh, and if the phone doesn't ring, don't just sit there. Make the call yourself. Who cares if it's you or they who make the first move?

Scorpio - October 23 - November 21 If you're in doubt about how to handle a financial situation -- which means it's quite a tough situation, because you're a whiz at this type of thing -- there's really only one thing to do about it: Contact the one person on this planet you trust most implicitly.

Even if they're not a financial genius, you can at least be sure they'll find you someone who is.

Sagittarius - November 22 - December 20 It's a little-known fact that you are an expert caretaker. It's not just because you can make anyone laugh at any time -- and laughter, after all, really is the best medicine.

You're also quite intuitive, so you know what they need -- oftentimes, before they do. So when a dear one comes to you, obviously worn out, in need of a helping hand, you'll be more than happy to do whatever you can to help.

Capricorn - December 21 - January 19 You're a born leader. You always have been and you always will be. So when someone comes to you now, asking that you help take charge of a difficult project that just isn't getting off the ground properly, you'll be more than happy to do it. Just be sure what you're doing isn't interfering with your 'real' job. Pay cheques are a wonderful thing, too.

Aquarius - January 20 - February 18 Someone interesting -- no, absolutely fascinating -- is right around the corner, just dying to meet you. You, of course, are always game for different folks -- especially the kinds who have brains. So when this new person arrives, you'll probably want to clear your schedule and make sure you have time to spend with them. Do it! Oh, and don't be surprised if this thing goes on well into the coming weekend, too. Enjoy!

Pisces - February 19 - March 20 You're going to have to learn the delicate art of multitasking over the next couple of days, but you're as flexible as a sign could possibly be, so that won't be much of a problem. The good news is that all the lovely things you'll be juggling may include arranging to spend time with someone lovely you cross paths with under quite 'coincidental' circumstances. Of course, as you know, there really is no such thing as a coincidence, anyway.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

27

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

29

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

31

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

33

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

35

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Hamilton wins at home after Rosberg retires

By Alan Baldwin SILVERSTONE England (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix yesterday and slashed Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg’s Formula One lead to four points after the German retired for the first time this season.

Hamilton, who last won at Silverstone in his 2008 championship year, now has 161 points to Rosberg’s 165 with 10 races remaining and his title hopes fully restored.

It was his fifth win of the year.

“I don’t want to see a team-mate fail, I want a one-two, but I really needed this result,” said Hamilton on the podium in front of a cheering crowd.

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas finished second for Williams, 30.1 seconds behind Hamilton, for his second successive podium and best-ever finish after starting 14th following a nightmare in qualifying.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo was third for Red Bull and a further 16.3 seconds down the road.

The race was red-flagged almost as soon as it started after Ferrari’s 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen had a big crash that left the Finn limping to the medical centre with a sore ankle but otherwise unscathed.

It was the first time a race had been halted on the opening lap since Monaco 2000. When it re-started behind the safety car after an hour’s delay to fix damaged barriers, Hamilton went from overnight

Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone Race Circuit, central England yesterday.

(Credit: Reuters/Francois Lenoir) devastation to delight as Rosberg finally suffered some of the misfortune that had plagued his team mate. The championship and race leader reported a gearbox problem after 20 of the 52 laps, and just after Hamilton’s race engineer had informed the second-placed Briton it was “Hammer time’ - time for a full-on charge. Nine laps later, Rosberg slowed, pulled over and parked up on the grass as Hamilton sped past his only rival for the championship.

“It was just slowly but surely,” said Rosberg, who had previously finished first or second in every race while Hamilton has endured two retirements through no fault of his own.

“It started on lap 20 and then it just got worse from there. There was nothing I could do or that they could suggest to save the gearbox.

“I was very much in control until then,” added the Ger-

man. That’s why it’s all the more disappointing.”

DEVASTATED Hamilton’s joy as he took the chequered flag was a complete contrast to the despair he felt on Saturday evening after gifting pole to Rosberg.

‘England!” he warbled as he took the chequered flag to give his compatriots something to celebrate after a sporting summer of disappointment.

“I couldn’t be happier.

I’m sorry about yesterday, but a fantastic job today, as ever.” Rosberg had secured the top slot on the grid after Hamilton aborted his final lap in the mistaken belief that track conditions would not allow anyone to beat his time.

“He was devastated,” his father Anthony told Sky Sports television before the race. “Last night was tough for him.

“It hurt. Not being able to deliver for the fans or

team, but he came back with a fresh mind.” Britain’s Jenson Button, the most experienced driver in the race who has never finished on his home podium, chased Ricciardo home to take fourth for McLaren on an emotional afternoon for the 2009 champion.

“Just one more lap might have been different,” acknowledged Ricciardo. “Jenson was coming but I was able to hold on for the podium.” The race was the first at Silverstone for Button, who started third on the grid, since the death of his father John in January. The Briton wore a pink helmet as a tribute while fans donned ‘Pink for Papa’ shirts.

Red Bull’s quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel finished fifth after a lively battle with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who took sixth after originally starting 16th and then being hit with a stop/go penalty for overshooting his mark on the grid.

Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen was seventh for McLaren, with Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg eighth in a Force India. Russian Daniil Kvyat and Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne were ninth and 10th respectively for Toro Rosso.

There was disappointment for Brazilian Felipe Massa, whose 200th race start did not even last a lap.

The Williams driver spun to avoid slamming at speed into Raikkonen’s car as it bounced off the barriers and returned to the track, but there was still contact and too much damage to make the re-start.

Amla century guides South Africa to victory in Colombo (REUTERS) - Hashim Amla’s 13th one-day international century and a clinical performance in the field carried South Africa to a comfortable 75-run victory in the opener of their threematch series against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Amla struck eight fours and a six in his 130-ball knock of 109 to guide South Africa to a total of 304 for five wickets after they won the toss and opted to bat first in Colombo.

The opening batsman and skipper AB de Villiers

Hashim Amla’s

(75) put on 151 off 140 balls after Sri Lanka had struck twice in four balls to dismiss Quinton de Kock for 27 and Jacques Kallis for a two-ball duck.

Sri Lanka began their reply well, reaching 122-2 in the 23rd over, but with bad light set to become a factor, they lost wickets cheaply attempting to keep up with the Duckworth-Lewis method run-rate and were dismissed for 229 in 40.3 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara top-scored for the hosts with 88 off 84 balls.

Floodlights at Albion to be commissioned today ... Four-team T20 Cricket THE RECENTLY installed floodlights at the Albion Community Centre in Berbice will be commissioned today, with President Donald Ramotar among other senior Government Officials expected to be a part of the commissioning ceremony that is scheduled to commence at 17:00 hrs.

However, apart from the official commissioning ceremony, a four-team T20 cricket tournament has been planned with the final to be played under the lights from 18:00 hrs. The four teams are Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, Port Mourant, Young Warriors and hosts Albion Community Centre.

At stake will be a trophy called the ‘Albion Cup’ and $50 000 for the winning team while the runners-up will also be presented with a trophy.

In the first game, which is virtually a semifinal encounter, RHTGG will take on Port Mourant from 12:00hrs,

while Albion and Young Warriors will meet in the second fixture from 14:30hrs.

Several Berbice and Guyana top cricketers are expected to be on show for their respective clubs, with Devendra Bishoo, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Anthony Bramble, Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Balchand Baldeo, Shiraz Ramcharran and David Latchaya representing the host team.

Ishwar Singh and Rudolph Baker will be doing likewise for Young Warriors, while Assad Fudadin, Jason Sinclair, David Hicks, Eon Hooper, Clinton Pestano and Shawn Pereira will don the green for RHTGG. Andrew Lyght Jr, Amir Khan, Joshua Ramsammy, Yogindra Harrinarine, Devendra Thakurdeen and Arif Chan will be representing Port Mourant.

Admission to the venue is free and cricket fans in the Ancient County are urged to come out and support this venture.

Bahamas crowned CBC champions TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands (CMC) – The Bahamas crowned themselves Caribbean champions when they turned back a resilient Cuba in the final of the regional Basketball Championship (CBC) here Saturday night.

They were slow out of the blocks to trail 14-17 at the end of the first quarter but executed down the stretch at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, to come away with a solid 75-62 victory in the end.

United States Virgin Islands, meanwhile, defeated hosts British Virgin Islands to take third spot while Guyana blew out Barbados 79-58, to take fifth place.

The last place playoff was won by Antigua and Barbuda who easily brushed aside St Vincent and the Grenadines, 109-81.

Bahamas’ championship conquest was spearheaded by the pair of Alonzo Hinds and Marvin Gray who both got 22 points while the other three starters – captain Magnun Rolle, Kadeem Coleby and Mitchell Johnson – all finished with 11 points.

For the losers, only Jasiel Rivero with 15 points and seven rebounds, reached double figures.

Both teams waged an intense battle in the second quarter, as they fought for control of the game.

The Bahamas whittled the lead down to one early in the quarter with a Gray basket and it was he who put them ahead with 8:03 minutes left on the clock, when he knocked down a three-pointer.

They opened up a four-point lead at 23-19 but Cuba hauled them back in to lock the scores at 23, before another good run saw the Bahamians go ahead to lead 34-29 at the half-time whistle.

Cuba continued to hustle but the Bahamas kept their nerves, out-scoring their opponents 17-14 in the third quarter and then closing out strongly in the final quarter.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Djokovic wins epic tussle with Federer to claim Wimbledon title

By Toby Davis

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic claimed a second Wimbledon title after coming out on top in an extraordinary battle of wills against seven-times winner Roger Federer, eventually triumphing 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 in a gripping encounter yesterday.

The Serb, who has now won seven grand slam titles, denied Federer the opportunity to win a record eighth All England Club trophy but was pushed all the way by the Swiss who faced a match point in the fourth set before forcing a tense decider.

Djokovic eventually wrapped up the contest that will go down as one of the greatest Wimbledon finals, in three hours and 56 minutes, falling to the ground in celebration before climbing to the players’ box to greet his camp with an emotional embrace.

“I don’t know how I managed to do it,” said a teary Djokovic, who had lost his last three grand slam finals.

“This is the tournament I always dreamed of winning.

This is the best tournament in the world, the most valuable one. The first tennis match I ever saw when I was five years old was Wimbledon and it’s stuck in my mind, so to be able to compete on such a high level I’m so grateful to have this opportunity and hold this trophy.”

The victory propels Djokovic back to number one in the world, while his seventh major title draws him level with John McEnroe and Mats Wilander in joint eighth place on the alltime winners’ list.

For Federer it was a crushing defeat, yet he was magnanimous and even slightly disbelieving of his own resolve having forced a decider after looking down and out at 2-5 in the fourth set.

“It was a great final. I can’t believe I made it to five, it wasn’t looking good for a while,” he said having reached his ninth final.

“Going into a match with Novak, you know it’s going to be tough. I can only say

… Federer denied record eighth Wimbledon trophy

Roger Federer could have surpassed Arthur Ashe in 1975 as the oldest male winner in modern times.

9-7 when Djokovic netted congratulations to him. It a backhand after 51 minwas an amazing match and utes of scintillating play. an amazing tournament. It’s If Djokovic was simwell-deserved.” mering with a sense of injustice at losing a set in HIGHEST CALIBRE which he lost only four From the get-go this was points on his first serve, tennis of the highest calibre he hid it well and came out with the drama reaching a energised and full of Balkan crescendo as early as the first fire in the second. set as both players’ impregFederer was forced to nable serves led to a tiebreak save two break points in that ebbed and flowed. his opening service game Federer raced into an and another in his next, but early 3-0 lead but was then Djokovic made no mistake pegged back and saved two at the fourth time of asking, set points before edging it claiming the first break of

the match for a 2-1 lead with a searing backhand pass.

The Serb called the trainer on court to treat an ankle injury, but looked largely unhindered, taking the set and levelling the match with a dynamic forehand smash.

The third set provided both players with the chance to flex their serving muscles and a tiebreak was again required to separate the duelling protagonists, with Djokovic coming out on top this time.

The Serb looked to have a hand on the trophy when he broke for a 3-1 lead in the fourth set, but that proved to be the start of an extraordinary series of games where both players took it in turns to take apart the other’s serve.

Djokovic served for the match at 5-3 with the Centre Court crowd willing Federer to find a route back into the clash. He duly obliged, breaking again to reduce the deficit to 5-4 before once more finding himself under pressure to survive.

He netted a backhand to give Djokovic a matchpoint but served his way out of trouble and then set about putting the pressure back on the Serb, breaking again and holding for the set as Centre Court rose in a chorus of ‘Roger, Roger’.

Weary legs did not diminish the quality of tennis on show in the decider as both players tussled for an advantage in the early evening sunshine.

Federer saved three break points in the eighth game as Djokovic and his famed resolve sought to take charge once more. The 32-yearold’s seeping reserves could not hold out for long.

Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Federer fell to 15-30, and then sent a forehand long to bring up another match point.

This time, there was no stopping Djokovic, who accepted the acclaim of an emphatically appreciative crowd when Federer netted a backhand.

Amazon Warriors squeeze past Rest XI in first practice encounter

By Calvin Roberts GUYANA’S Amazon Warriors, led by Veerasammy Permaul in the absence of Dinesh Ramdin, yesterday afternoon squeezed past a Rest XI by five runs in their first practice fixture at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Batting first in sweltering heat, the Warriors, who are currently preparing to compete in this year’s second Limacol Caribbean Premier League, posted 136 for 7 from their 20 overs, thanks to 37 from Shimron Hetmyer and 32 from Navin Stewart, while Trevon Griffith and Robin Bacchus contributed 18 each.

Ricardo Adams and Keon Joseph took two wickets each for 20 and 36 runs respectively for the Devendra Bishoo-led Rest XI, who in reply reached 131 for 6 from their 20 overs, with Andrew Lyght Jr topscoring with 37, while Anthony Bramble contributed 32.

… Second to be played this afternoon

Bowled! Guyana Amazon Warriors stand-in skipper Veerasammy Permaul is bowled by Keon Joseph off the final delivery of his team’s innings yesterday, while Ronsford Beaton looks to steal a single and umpire Shannon Crawford looks on. (Photo by Adrian Narine) When the Amazon Warriors batted, Griffith and Hetmyer posted 46 for the first wicket before the introduction of Adams saw the

demise of Griffith, who, after facing 10 balls for his 18 three of which he struck for four - punched one straight back to the bowler, off the

first delivery of the 5th over.

Six overs later and Hetmyer, who struck Adams for the first six of the match over wide long on, holed out

to Randy Lindore at 77 for 2, which became 97 for 4, following the quick demise of Steven Jacobs (03) and Bacchus.

Some lusty hitting from Stewart, who struck Amir Khan, Devendra Bishoo and Joseph for maximums, took the score to 121 in tandem with Chandrapaul Hemraj (9, 1x4), before Adams took a well-judged catch at deep midwicket to remove Stewart off Raun Johnson (1 for 30), while Joseph removed both Hemraj and Permaul (5) in the final over.

When the Rest XI began their reply, Lyght Jr and Shemroy Barrington 17 (22 balls, 2x4) pushed the score to 46 before Barrington pushed softly at one from Stewart and picked out the waiting hands of Jacobs at long off.

A dehydrated Lyght Jr and Rawle Browne (3) carried the score to 68, before Browne was caught by Griffith off Bacchus at 68 for 2, followed nine runs later

by Lyght Jr who mistimed a heave off Ashkay Persaud and was bowled having faced 40 balls for his 37, with three fours.

Bramble and Adams pushed the score to 106, before Adams who struck two fours and six in his 15 was run-out looking for a second run.

Needing to get 11 off the final over that was bowled by Ronsford Beaton (2 for 34), the Rest XI saw Christopher Pattadin (10) miss the first two balls while he got a single off the third, followed by Bramble’s four to third man, but they fell short as both Bramble and Pattadin perished off the next two deliveries, caught at midwicket as Beaton ended with 2 for 34.

Both sides will play their second and final practice fixture at the same venue from 14:00hrs today, before the Amazon Warriors break camp and head to Grenada for their first game against Antigua Hawksbill this Friday.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Let the battle begin as GFF receives first part of US$750 000 from FIFA

By Rawle Toney CALLING ring announcer Michael Buffer and referee Joe Cortez! Report to Guyana. Calling the WBC and the WBA! You’re asked to sanction what would be a memorable fight in Guyana, as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) receives a US$750 000 bonus from FIFA. FIFA plans to pay out $200M in total bonuses to its national members and confederations from its World Cup revenue of an estimated $4.5 billion.

Each of the 209 memb e r- c o u n t r i e s w i l l g e t

US$250 000 this month and should get a further $500 000 early next year, FIFA’s finance director Markus Kattner announced at a recent congress held in Brazil.

The six continental bodies will get $2.5M this month and $4.5M more next year and it is said that these payments are not part of the FIFA Goal Project funds which are usually provided to support a member association’s development projects.

The planned bonuses are a $200 000 raise, compared to the payments made after the 2010 World Cup when each FIFA member got a total of $550 000. Then, the

six confederations received a total of $5M each.

FIFA expects improved revenue of $4.5B for the fouryear commercial cycle tied to the 2014 World Cup. It had budgeted to earn $3.8B. Kattner said FIFA expects to earn $5B in the cycle leading to the 2018 World Cup, of which a total of $2.7B should come from broadcasting rights sales and $2.3B from sponsors and licensing.

FIFA has budgeted to spend $4.9B through 2018, with $100M added to its reserves. FIFA’s reserve fund is currently more than $1.4B.

Brazil appeal against Thiago Silva suspension BRAZIL have lodged an appeal against captain Thiago Silva’s yellow card that means he is suspended for tomorrow’s World Cup semi-final against Germany.

The defender was booked in Friday’s win against Colombia.

It was the 29-year-old Silva’s second yellow of the tournament, meaning he is automatically suspended for one match.

FIFA spokesman Delia Fischer says its disciplinary committee is “analysing materials” submitted by the Brazilian football confed-

Thiago Silva’s eration.

Silva was booked for blocking Colombia goal-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday July 07, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 41 (2) 2 centuries; 3 ducks

Today’s Quiz: (1)When did NZ first tour the WI to contest a Test series? How many matches did they play?

(2) How many Tests the New Zealander Kane Williamson has played? How many centuries he has scored?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

keeper David Ospina’s attempt to take a kick.

He had scored the opener as Brazil won 2-1 to progress to the last four.

Brazil’s chances of a successful appeal appear limited as, historically, only red cards have been rescinded.

The hosts are already without their star forward Neymar for the rest of the World Cup after he fractured a vertebra in his spine against Colombia.

(BBC Sport)

Cartoon artist Paul Harris could not have depicted a better picture as the GFF is set to receive a US$750 000 bonus from FIFA.

DeNobrega wins CARICOM’s 5th Annual Seven Seas cycle road race PAUL DeNobrega returned one hour 52 minutes 36 seconds in winning the 5th Annual Seven Seas/Dr Chase Nerve Food-sponsored 50-mile cycle road race, organized by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed yesterday on the West Demerara area.

In winning the event ahead of Robin Persaud, DeNobrega also won one of the eight prime prizes that were up for grabs, while Persaud won one also.

Marlon `Fishy’ Williams who placed third won two prime prizes

Paul DeNobrega while Michael Anthony won one, and placed fourth.

Mark Harris finished fifth and Enzo Matthews sixth. He (Matthews won two of the eight prime prizes.

Raymaon Newton won

the other prime prize.

Over 40 starters were sent on their way from outside the Wales Police Station, West Bank Demerara and the senior and junior cyclists battled to Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.

The junior category was won by Michael Anthony ahead of Raul Leal and Alonzo Ambrose respectively.

The Veterans, BMX riders and Ladies went from Wales to Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara be-

fore returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.

Wazim Hasnu was the first veteran to complete the course and he was followed

by Rasheh Williams and Shameer Baksh respectively.

Ozia McAully was the first Mountain bike rider to cross the finish line. Second was Emmanuel Gay Raul and third was Julio Melville.

Tashawanna Doris was the only finisher in the ladies category, while Monty was the first finisher in the Veterans Over-60 age group.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

CBC championships

Guyana finish in fifth place after beating Barbados 79-58

By Rawle Toney BOLSTERED by a gamehigh 17 points from Gordon Klaiber and 16 each from Andrew Ifill and Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts, Guyana defeated Barbados 79-58, to finish in fifth place at this year’s Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) tournament in Tortola.

The tournament was won by the Bahamas who defeated Cuba 75-62 to win their seventh CBC title. Both Bahamas and Cuba, along with third-place finisher and 2011 Champions USVI (defeated BVI 102-68) will represent the CBC at the 2014 Centrobasket Championship, in Nayarit, Mexico from

Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts August 1 to 7.

Guyana had a dismal start to their CBC campaign, losing their opening game 63-99 to the BVI then falling 75-95 to former Champions USVI. In their third game, Guyana battled Barbados in a hard 69-80 point loss.

But led by their captain and former Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers shooting guard Rawle Marshall, Guy-

ana dismantled St Vincent and the Grenadines 86-72 to set up another showdown with Barbados.

Based on how well they were able to come from being down by as many as 30 points to narrowly lose to the ‘Bajans’ in their previous meeting, it was almost certain that the Guyanese would have won.

Marshall had a quiet game scoring-wise and made his presence felt with his ball distribution in his second showing against Barbados.

Klaiber, Ifill and Roberts collectively took on the responsibility of getting Guyana’s points and past the team who narrowly beat them in the group stages of the tournament.

The first half ended 3326 and Barbados, though

Lucrative ‘Wheat Up’ race billed for Seawall Bandstand today

Flashback! In this Sonell Nelson photograph taken last year, Roraima Bikers Club’s Alanzo Greaves celebrates his win in the feature event of the RBC/NAMILCO/ Wheat Up Classic.

By Calvin Roberts TOP cyclists from the across the country will today light up the outer circuit of the Seawall Bandstand from 09:00hrs, when the 11th annual Roraima Bikers Club/ NAMILCO CARICOM Day Wheat Up’ race is staged.

In the 12-race programme the top riders will benefit from increased cash prizes due to an increase by sponsors, who this year have injected $500 000 into the day’s programme, a significant boost from last year’s $400 000 investment.

In its formative years, the race was held on the East Bank Public Road before being switched to today’s venue

a few years ago - a move that NAMILCO’s Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod viewed as creating a family atmosphere, something that has been achieved thus far.

A t l a s t y e a r ’s p r o gramme, the area around the Seawall Bandstand was packed with cycling enthusiasts, members of the cycling fraternity as well as curious onlookers who gathered to witness competitive racing in a unique environment.

Being pleased with this sight, McLeod said NAMILCO will continue to work with RBC to ensure the programme remains a success, noting that the company’s injection of increased funds is indicative of this.

While the day’s activities will cater for all categories of riders, the feature event, which will be open to all cyclists, will be for 30 laps around the Seawall Bandstand circuit. With defending champion and Commonwealth Games selectee Alanzo Greaves not here to defend his crown, several other riders will fancy their chance of taking home the $30 000 top prize, a trophy and year’s supply of Wheat Up. Not to be left out, the top six finishers will receive cash prizes and trophies while there will be 15 prime prizes on offer in the 30-lap feature event. In Greaves’ absence, his fellow Commonwealth Games team-mates Geron Williams, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams and Raynauth ‘Obeah Man’ Jeffrey are expected to excel.

Other races carded for the day include the 12-14 Juveniles (three laps), Juniors Category Four (five laps), Categories One to Three (five laps), Veterans Under-50 (five laps), Veterans Over-50 (five laps), Win and Out Open (eight laps), Points race (12 laps), Mountain Bikes Open (five laps), BMX 6-9 (two laps), BMX 10-14 (two laps) and Females (five laps), with the top three finishers receiving prizes.

Gordon Klaiber shoots over Barbados’ Akeem Marsh on his way to scoring a game-high 17 points as Guyana defeat Barbados 79-58. being outplayed, kept themIt was the first good game were missing from the CBC selves in the game, scoring 21 for Roberts on the offensive circuit until an all-overseasthird-quarter points but Guy- side of things and the Re- based team participated in ana had 23. Heading into the trieve Raiders power forward 2007 when the tournament final stanza of the game, the took full advantage of the was held in Puerto Rico where they finished at the bottom of scoreboard read 56-47 in fa- flimsy ‘Bajan’ front court. vour of the eventual winners.

Despite the many off- the eight-team table.

Lack of financing played In the fourth quarter, led court distractions, the Guyana

by Marshall’s game-high team still managed to regroup a major part in the team once seven assists and Akeem Kan- and finish in a creditable again not being able to feature at the tournament, until hai’s stubborn defence in the position. back court, Guyana restricted Since finishing third in 2011 when only local players Barbados to just 11 points in 2000 when the tournament participated and finished the quarter. was held in Barbados, Guyana seventh in the Bahamas.

4TH DIGICEL INTER-SECODNARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL C’SHIPS

Waramadong emulate CWSS with fourth Regional honours NOT MANY schools can boast of winning their regional title for four successive years, following the introduction of the Digicel Inter-Secondary School Football Championships, except for two-time defending national champions Christianburg/Wismar Secondary and the school they defeated on both occasions to claim the national title, Waramadong Secondary.

Yesterday at the Bartica Secondary School ground, Waramadong, who placed fourth in the inaugural tournament when CWSS was defeated by Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI) before going down to CWSS in the

… defeat 3 Miles Secondary 4-2 2012 and 2013 finals, yesterday defeated 3 Miles Secondary 4-2 to claim their fourth regional title for Region 7.

Uriah King opened the scoring for the eventual champions in the 26th minute, nullifying Keno Washington’s 8th minute strike for 3 Miles Secondary, as both team took the half-time break with the scoreline reading 1-1.

After the break, Ashton Ward handed Waramadong the lead with his 49th minute goal, one that was doubled by Myles Albert, who scored his first of two goals in the 63rd minute, before Washington

reduced the deficit for his team by one goal, completing his brace in the 71st minute.

Not to be outdone, Wa r a m a d o n g a d d e d a fourth goal of their own, through the spirited efforts of Albert who found the back of the net in the 82nd minute, to complete the win which not only earned Waramadong their fourth regional title, but also $100 000 which will go towards a school project, while they join their nemesis, CWSS, in the national playoffs which will kick off soon.

(Calvin Roberts)

With their captain Gerald Isaacs fielding questions from HGP 67 reporter Sean Embrack, members of Waramadong Secondary School proudly display their championship trophy, $100 000 cheque and new uniforms, following the retention of their regional championship honours yesterday

40

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 7, 2014

Sport CHRONICLE

Floodlights at Albion to be commissioned 36 today See Story on page

Fletcher, Cottrell give Windies share of T20 series ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – Andre Fletcher’s second half-century in as many days, paired with Sheldon Cottrell’s incisive three-wicket burst, propelled West Indies to a 39-run victory over New Zealand and a share of the two-match Twenty20 series here yesterday.

Sent in at Windsor Park, West Indies rallied to 165 for six off 20 overs, thanks mainly to Fletcher’s top score of 62 off 49 deliveries, and Lendl Simmons’s 36.

In reply, New Zealand crashed from a healthy position of 82 for two in the 12th over to a disappointing 126 all out with five balls left, as Cottrell snatched three for 28 from 3.1 overs.

Kane Williamson topscored with 37 from 28 balls while captain Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor both hit 21.

The victory by the Darren Sammy-led side left Windies fans with something to celebrate following the frustration of the Test series loss last week and the defeat in the first T20I on Saturday here.

Dwayne Smith crunched two fours off the first over

Andre Fletcher is voted man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series.

from seamer Tim Southee but had his stumps rattled in the bowler’s third over for nine, with the score on ten.

It paved the way for an enterprising second-icket stand between Fletcher and Simmoms, which proved the bedrock of the innings.

Fletcher, looking in great touch, counted three fours and three sixes while Simmons was fluent, striking the ball cleanly in gathering three fours and two sixes.

Following a quiet start, Fletcher exploded with a flicked boundary off seamer Jimmy Neesham and then a six over midwicket, in the bowler’s first over that cost 11 runs.

Simmons followed suit in the next over from leftarm pacer Trent Boult, slicing a six over backward point before depositing medium pacer Corey Anderson over the ropes at backward square, then driving him sweetly for another four, in his second over which went for 11 runs.

The introduction of leg-spinner Ish Sodhi in the next over led to Simmons’ downfall, as he holed out to long on where Anderson pulled off a brilliant catch on

the ropes.

Darren Bravo, surviving a skied chance to Neesham at mid-off off Sodhi on three, capitalised to smash a straight four and a six over mid-wicket in the same over, the 13th of the innings that leaked 13 runs.

He was bowled by Williamson for ten, however, at 98 for three in the 14th over but Fletcher kept the innings going, clearing the ropes at long off with Southee moving into the 40s before going over long on with Anderson for his third six a few overs later.

With help from a few lusty blows from Kieron Pollard (13) and Sammy (10), Fletcher helped West Indies gather 56 runs off the last five overs. He perished in the penultimate over, bowled by a fulllength delivery from Boult (2-22).

Cottrell then struck in the second over of the Black Caps innings, getting Neesham caught at point by Bravo off a full toss for seven with the score on eight.

Williamson then anchored two stands to lift the Black Caps, adding 32 for the second wicket with McCullum and another 42 with Taylor for the third wicket.

He struck five fours but his demise, bowled off his thigh by Pollard in the 12th over, triggered a slide which saw the last eight New Zealand wickets tumble for just 44 runs.

Narine took care of the threatening Taylor, bowled in the 13th over at 88 for four and when Luke Ronchi holed out in the deep off Narine and BJ Watling was run-out for one in the same over - the 17th of the innings - the Windies were on top.

Novak Djokovic claims second Wimbledon title

Bahamas crowned CBC champions

See Story on Page 36 Bahamas celebrate their 2014 CBC title win after defeating Cuba 75-64 in the final.

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

Novak Djokovic poses with the Wimbledon Singles Trophy following his victory in the Final match over Roger Federer. (Getty Images).

See story on Page 37.

MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014