Guyana chronicle 09 08 14

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

GUYANA FESTIVAL OPENS

No. 103914 saturday august 9, 2014

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

-with a dazzling display of fusion of cultures

PRICE: $60

INCLUDING VAT

centre

President of Guyana, Donald Ramotar enjoying a ‘festival dance’ surrounded by performing artistes. Also on stage L-R Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford and Adviser on Governance to the President, Gail Teixeira (Adrian Narine photo)

Region 3 poised 18 to achieve Universal Secondary Education Page

Canada bound man busted at CJIA with cocaine Page 15 in seasoning, milk

An unmasked Stabroek news shows its political hands; no more pretence at independence!

Jonestown cult members remains 14 found in Delaware Page

Jim Jones

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Pensioner found murdered in Plaisance home

By Leroy Smith

ANN Mendoza, a pensioner of Lot 41 Prince Williams Street, Plaisance was discovered murdered in her home by neighbours with her hands and feet bound with duct tape to her bed last evening.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle at the scene of the discovery, the woman’s neighbour who would usually ‘lime’ with her each afternoon said that around 17:30 hrs they noticed that the woman was a no show at the usual ‘lime and gaff’ that they would have each day.

The woman who asked to remain unnamed said that she then began feeling strange since the woman is not known to leave her home and contact was made with her son who works at Banks DIH Limited to find out if his mother indicated that she was leaving to go out anywhere but the man replied in the negative.

The neighbours then waited to see if the woman would come strolling around the corner but as afternoon turned to night and they did not spot her they became more worried.

It was then that another neighbour raised an alarm that the woman’s back door was open and that persons should go and check to ensure that she is there and that

Anna Mendoza found dead in her bed

she is ok.

When two neighbours entered the house they realised that the woman was lying motionless on her bed with her hands and feet tied and a pillow across her face with her mouth taped up. The house was also ransacked.

Persons in the area immediately telephoned the police who responded almost one hour later despite the close location of the police station to the home where the body was discovered. When the Guyana Chronicle visited last evening, persons gathered in shock at the passing of the woman and expressed their disapproval to whoever may be responsible for the act.

The woman who spoke with this newspaper said that when she went into the house she knew something was wrong since the place was not in order as the woman always had everything neatly packed away.

There were several police ranks at the scene last evening, and family members who gathered after receiving word of the tragedy. Police are working on the theory that the act might have been committed by persons from the very area who are familiar with the woman and her movements.

The Guyana Chronicle will bring you an update of this story in our Sunday edition.

First Lady joins PYO picketing and candlelight vigil calling for end to the war in Gaza

By Shivanie Sugrim GUYANA’s First Lady, Madam Deolatchmee Ramotar, expressed her concerns at the Progres-

sive Youth Organisation (PYO) picketing exercise and candlelight vigil held on Thursday at the Georgetown seawall to call for an end to the conflict between Palestine and Israel in Gaza, which has been raging for approximately one month.

“You have to have demarcation, because situa-

tions like these will arise,” Madam Deolatchmee Ramotar stressed. She called on Israel to end its violation of human rights of the Palestinians, since they are the ones who invaded the Palestinians’ homeland, resulting in the Palestinians shifting to Gaza.

She underscored that the United Nations along

with its partnering countries can all get involved and stop the killing in Gaza.

The First Lady commended the PYO for its continuous support of the right of the Palestinians via the picketing exercises held over the past few weeks. She said see page 3

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

All sugar factories operational…

One die, several injured Early signs indicate 2014 in Mahdia accident target likely to be surpassed

By Shirley Thomas

negotiated a bend, it turned turtle, toppled twice and the men were AN accident on the Mahdia road- thrown out of the tray. They suffered way last week Saturday has left varying degrees of injuries, but his one man dead and several injured. brother Leonard, who bore the brunt Dead is Leonard Raymond, a of the injuries, was pinned and his rib cage, limbs and ab37-year-old self-emdominal region were ployed miner who smashed. A school boy hailed from Mahdia was also on board sufbut was, at the time, fered a burst head. travelling from the The survivors were Potaro-Siparuta enall transported to the route to Mahdia.

Mahdia Hospital where Among the injured they were treated, while i s h i s 3 0 - y e a r- o l d the dead man was taken brother, Antonio Rayto the Mahdia Mortuary mond who suffered to have a post mortem severe injuries to his done. head and left eye and Meanwhile, it was had to be air-dashed with deep shock that to the city after being his parents and ten initially treated at the siblings received the Mahdia Hospital. news of his death. AnT h e d e e p l y d i stonio, whose condition traught and traumadid not allow him to tised Antonio who attend the funeral of also does gold mining his brother, recalled at Potaro- Siparuta, he saw him at the morrecalled that he was Injured Antonio tuary and returned to travelling en route to Raymond hospital. He was flown Mahdia Hospital to get to Georgetown yestera blood smear done, day and admitted to the Georgeand was being transported aboard the Micobe Village vehicle, along town Public Hospital where he is to have surgery done to his head with about seven others.

Antonio said that as the vehicle and eyes.

First Lady joins PYO picketing and candlelight vigil ...

Form page 2

the PYO sentiments were similar to those of the millions of voices raised across the world in a call for an end to the chaos obtaining in the Middle East.

Resolute members of the PYO, youth arm of the People’s Progressive Party (PP), stood determinedly with their placards, seeking to enlighten the Guyanese people about the situation in Gaza and to persuade them to join forces in combating this issue, since the PYO believes that if all Guyanese unite with the voices raised worldwide and voice one opinion, this war can be terminated.

Arriving sometime after the picketing exercise and candlelight vigil had started, Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran echoed sentiments similar to that of the First Lady.

He expressed the view that the Palestinians were being made to face a plight by the Israelis, and he declared his strong solidarity with the voices across the world calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza.

Earlier on Thursday too, the PPP held a picketing exercise outside the United States Embassy to condemn the support Israel is receiving from the U.S. to continue the war.

PYO members at the seawall during their picketing exercise

– Ramsammy

By Vanessa Narine

ALL eight sugar estates are operational, according to Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who added that production to date is encouraging.

“The early signals are that the 216,000-tonne target will be surpassed,” he said, adding that the production could come in at 219,000 tonnes, as has been anticipated after the performance of the first crop.

The first crop was successful, surpassing the 75,000 tonnes target, bringing in about 80,000 tonnes.

Sugar production came in at a dismal 186,500 tonnes for 2013, but Guyana has been taking steps to turn around the sugar industry and hopes to meet the 300,000 tonnes-target soon, with a projection that the sector will reach its 400,000-tonne goal by 2020.

CHALLENGES Efforts are ongoing by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Ministry to tackle the persisting climate change challenge.

Asked about the weather, Ramsammy noted that there were some problems, however, he stated that as the crop progresses it is not expected that weather conditions will result in greater difficulties.

He explained that climate change has altered weather patterns, and this has affected the industry’s output, particularly since the industry depends on good weather conditions to meet its production targets. For example, he said, workers now have to make do with 80 or less opportunity days, whereas the industry used to enjoy 120 opportunity days.

Accordingly, the minster maintains that climate change adaptation is a necessity.

Ramsammy highlighted the labour situation as another challenge to the sugar industry’s operations.

He said: “The labour situation continues to challenge us. The turnout of workers, particularly for harvesting, is not what is required, however, we are managing.

“This is a major problem the in-

Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy dustry faces; it is something we have to overcome. It will never be perfect, but it is something we are working to overcome as one of our major challenges. The problem has been, to date, to secure enough labour.”

To this end, he said that moves continue to be made towards greater mechanisation of the industry.

He stressed that this effort will in no way displace the existing labour force.

“We continue our work to convert cultivation lands to be more suitable for mechanisation. So far over 1,000 acres for this year have been converted,” Ramsammy said.

Additionally, a $6B allocation, in the 2014 National Budget, for GuySuCo was approved by the National Assembly. The $6B is expected to cover expenditure that include mechanisation, through the conversion of 2,500 hectares of land to be suitable for mechanical operations, which will be done at a cost of $1.1B, tillage and replanting of 9,200 hectares, both efforts being consistent with improving cane production and yield, which will be done at a cost of $1B; factory upgrading of all sugar estates, including Skeldon, at a cost of $2B, and works to field infrastructure to improve field to factory access and purchasing of equipment, excavators, Bell loaders, tractors, etc. to account for the remainder of the allocation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

U.S. bombs Islamic State after Obama call to prevent Iraq ‘genocide’ (Reuters) - U.S. WARPLANES bombed Islamist fighters marching on Iraq’s Kurdish capital on Friday after President Barack Obama said Washington must act to prevent “genocide.”

Islamic State fighters, who have beheaded and crucified captives in their drive to eradicate unbelievers, have advanced to within a half hour’s drive of Arbil, capital of Iraq’s Kurdish region and a hub for U.S. oil companies.

A Pentagon spokesman said two F/A-18 aircraft from an aircraft carrier in the Gulf had dropped laser-guided 500-pound bombs on a mobile artillery piece used by the fighters to shell Kurdish forces defending Arbil.

Obama authorized the first U.S. air strikes on Iraq since he pulled all troops out in 2011, arguing action was needed to halt the Islamist advance, protect Americans and safeguard hundreds of thousands of Christians and members of other religious minorities who have fled for their lives.

The United States also

dropped relief supplies to members of the ancient Yazidi sect, tens of thousands of whom are massed on a desert mountaintop seeking shelter from fighters who had ordered them to convert or die.

“Earlier this week, one Iraqi in the area cried to the world, ‘There is no one coming to help,’” said Obama in a late night television address to the nation on Thursday.

“Well, today America is coming to help.”

“We can act carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of genocide,” he said.

The Islamic State was defiant. A fighter told Reuters by telephone the U.S. air strikes would have “no impact on us.”

“The planes attack positions they think are strategic, but this is not how we operate. We are trained for guerrilla street war,” he said. “God is with us and our promise is heaven. When we are promised heaven, do you think death will stop us?”

The advance of the Sunni militants, who also control a third of Syria and have fought

Displaced families from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing the violence in the Iraqi town of Sinjar west of Mosul, arrive at Dohuk province, August 4, 2014 (REUTERS/Ari Jalal)

this past week in Lebanon, has sounded alarm across the Middle East and threatens to unravel Iraq, a country divided between Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds.

In Baghdad, where politicians have been paralysed by infighting while the state falls

apart, the top Shi’ite cleric all but demanded Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki quit, a bold intervention that could bring the veteran ruler down.

SHELTERING ON MOUNTAIN Sunni fighters from the

Islamic State, an al Qaeda offshoot rejected as too extreme by Osama bin Laden’s successors, have swept through northern Iraq since June. Their advance has dramatically accelerated in the past week when they

routed Kurdish troops near the Kurdish autonomous region in the north.

Attention has focused on the plight of Yazidis, Christians and other minority groups in northern Iraq, which has been one of the most diverse parts of the Middle East for centuries.

“The stakes for Iraq’s future can also not be clearer,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.

The Islamic State’s “campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Christian minority, and its grotesque targeted acts of violence show all the warning signs of genocide.”

The U.S. Defense Department said planes dropped 72 bundles of supplies, including 8,000 ready-to-eat meals and thousands of gallons of drinking water, for threatened civilians near Sinjar, home of the Yazidis, ethnic Kurds who practise an ancient faith related to Zoroastrianism.

WHO declares Ebola an international health emergency (Reuters) - WEST Africa’s Ebola epidemic constitutes an international health emergency and the virus, which has killed nearly 1,000 people, could continue spreading for months, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

“The outbreak is moving faster than we can control it,” the WHO’s director-general Margaret Chan told reporters on a telephone briefing from the WHO’s Geneva headquarters.

The U.N. agency’s declaration, which follows criticism that it has done too little to fight the disease, is

aimed at raising the level of vigilance about the virus which has hit hardest in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The agency said all states with Ebola transmission should declare a national emergency in the face of an outbreak it deemed “particularly serious” but there should be no general ban on international travel or trade.

“The declaration ... will galvanize the attention of leaders of all countries at the top level. It cannot be done by the ministries of health alone,” Chan said.

The WHO has been accused of failing to respond

fast enough to the outbreak, which it said on May 18 could be declared over by May 22. It has since become more conservative in its predictions, said head of health security, Keiji Fukuda.

“At that point we thought that it was likely that it would come under control based on our experience.

This outbreak has developed in ways we have not seen before,” Fukuda told reporters.

“The likelihood is that things will get worse before they get better,” he said, adding that the WHO is prepared for an outbreak that persists at a high level for months.

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World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan addresses the media after a two-day meeting of its emergency committee on Ebola, in Geneva August 8, 2014 (Credit: Reuters/Pierre Albouy)

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Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the declaration showed WHO’s seriousness in tackling the outbreak but added that statements should be translated into action.

“For weeks, MSF has been repeating that a massive medical, epidemiological and public health response is desperately needed to save lives,” said Bart Janssens, MSF Director of Operations.

Ebola has no proven cure and there is no vaccine to prevent infection, so the best treatment is focused on alleviating symptoms such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Rowley: Recipe for New Brazil law supports domestic workers’ rights political instability (Trinidad Guardian) THE Government’s proposal for run-off polls has the potential to create dangerous political instability, says Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley. Yesterday, he urged the population to voice its rejection of the idea, saying the proposal could assist a defeated government or MPs to remain in office until a runoff poll was held. Speaking at a briefing at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, yesterday after Wednesday’s People’s National Movement’s General Council meeting on the issue, Rowley said: “This offers the opportunity of a defeated party to hold on to power while this secondary election is done.

It’s a major threat to T&T’s peace, stability and good order. “There’s the potential for the first time not to have a smooth handover of Government. It’s a Trojan horse with the potential to bring down the empire of stability in T&T. We have rejected it and we will resist it.” Rowley urged the population to react, noting the People’s Partnership Government “only reacts to massive public rejection.”

He said: “It’s now for the people to envisage the day when the Government tries that. We are asking the public to stave off the instability

and reject the legislation... to be aware of the situation and express their views to the Government. “It’s only when the people react en masse the Government backs away from what it’s doing.

We have hours to Monday’s debate to stave this off.

“It’s for the population to express their position and to stand up and say they will not accept this. If the population remains quiet and allows Government to pass this, the detriment I described will befall us.” The PNM’s council on Wednesday passed a resolution authorising the leadership to “do all things lawful, democratic and right in defence of T&T’s democracy and call on the right-thinking people of T&T to reject the measures in the bill.”

Rowley also reiterated that Parliament’s new Standing Orders ordered a fixed recess between July and September and the Parliament could only meet in the period between in an emergency but Government had not said what the emergency was for Monday’s sitting. Out of the three constitutional amendments which Government proposes, Rowley said the recommendation for a twoterm limit for prime ministers was a non-issue and was not needed as a matter of urgency.

He said the recall of MPs would create a disruption since it was proposed for the fourth year of a term, when a government should be delivering, and required two thirds of people on a voters’ list to appeal for the recall. So that proposal had little chance of success and there was no urgency for it, either, he added. But the run-off poll, which will be triggered when a candidate fails to get 50 per cent of the votes cast, was the real “poison” and the reason Government was having the sitting, Rowley said.

(Jamaica Observer) JAMAICAN scientist Dr Henry Lowe and his team of researchers say they have discovered potent bio-activity against the deadly HIV in Lignum Vitae, Jamaica’s national flower.

The discovery, Dr Lowe said, was made last year, but because of its significance, the tests were repeated several times to ensure data accuracy.

“Since then, the findings were published in the April 2014 issue of the prestigious European Journal of Medicinal Plants under the title: ‘Anti HIV-1 Activity of the Extracts of Guaiacum officinale L (Zygophyllaceae)’.

Following on that, a significant amount of additional data has been developed, Lowe said.

Noted for his anti-cancer research, Dr Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development team were assisted by the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland Medical School.

The findings, he said in a news release, are very important because HIV remains a major public health concern despite the discovery and development of highly active antiretroviral therapies.

“In Jamaica, it is estimated that 32,000 people are living with HIV and as many as 50 per cent are unaware of their status.

Beyond that, UNAIDS reports that out of the over 30 million people reported to be living with HIV worldwide, only about six million (20 per cent) are receiving

antiretroviral therapy,” the release stated.

“The remaining 80 per cent are not on any medication due to lack of access, cost, adverse effects of drugs or other reasons.

As such, there is a need to continue the search for new, effective, safe and affordable therapies for this major global pandemic,” the release added.

“The Bio-Tech R&D, team led by Dr Lowe, needs to be recognised and commended for bringing a gift of a major potential ‘magic bullet’ from a Jamaican tree for the potential management of the HIV virus which causes AIDS,” said Dr Joseph Bryant of the Institute of Human Virology, where the Global Viral Network is located.

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley quotes from the House of Representatives’ Standing Orders booklet during yesterday’s press conference when he called on citizens to stand against the controversial constitution reform proposals (PHOTO: ABRAHAM DIAZ)

Anti-HIV activity found in lignum vitae, say scientists

(BBC News) A NEW law in Brazil has come into force under which employers can be fined if they fail to register their domestic workers.

It is part of new measures to provide basic protection for some seven million domestic workers long excluded from Brazil’s stringent labour laws.

Employers can now be reported and fined several hundred dollars each time they break part of the code.

A constitutional amendment limits domestic workers to a 44-hour week.

It defined other rights as well - basic entitlements such as an eight-hour working day, the right to the minimum wage, a lunch break, social security and severance pay.

Most of these changes have been implemented, but there are still challeng-

Brazilian Cassia Mendes has been working as a maid for more than 20 years

es around the government severance fund into which employers have to pay 8% of their employee’s total salary each month.

If the employee is fired without just cause, the employer has to pay a lump sum worth 40% of the pot, plus an added 10% for the government.

Discussions are con-

tinuing around how many months’ pay workers will be entitled to if they are made redundant.

The regulation of working hours has had a big impact.

The new legislation has led to many families employing more people to do alternate shifts and some employers are doing more work themselves.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Threats against state and President treasonous NAGAMOOTOO’S latent, and other Opposition politicians’ overt threats to remove the PPP/C Government by violent means is distinctly treasonous.

For in Nagamootoo’s call for a “no-confidence” motion as preferable to overthrowing the PPP/C Administration by violent means is an indication that the latter strategy has been discussed as an option for the joint Opposition to wrest administrative power in this country by force.

Also, given the overt and covert support – in

funding and advocacy, that the Western and European communities have been providing the joint Opposition, with the British High Commissioner joining the PNC protesters on the street massing to once again unleash violence in Georgetown, if the PPP/C did not recall its request for a recount of ballots post elections 2011, and former U.S. Ambassador Brent Hardt openly calling for militant actions against President Donald Ramotar and the PPP/C Administration, along with the conten-

tious pronouncements by GECOM head – the Hoyte nominated Steve Surujbally, as well as the heavily Opposition slanted GECOM administrative and field staff have worrying implications for the Government.

Given the PNC propensity for unleashing violence in the nation at the drop of a hat, allying itself with mini parties to swell its numbers, then discarding them when it has achieved its aim of grabbing administrative power and, above all, devising clever ways of rigging elections, even out

of office, portends dire consequences for this nation if the PPP does not get its act together to ensure really free and fair elections – either at regional or national levels.

Scarier is the thought that the joint Opposition is formulating various strategies, with violence not being ruled out (never has been) because the history of Guyana is steeped in PNC-propelled violence in this country, to grab power; and PPP/C supporters have no faith in the joint security

services of Guyana, because they have been proven time and again that, at crunch time, they will overwhelmingly support the PNC – and PNC Shadow Home Affairs Minister Winston Felix, as well as GDF complicity with the criminal elements in Buxton during the armed insurrection in that community are cases in point.

Unless and until Gov-

ernment puts into place protective mechanisms to ensure the integrity of any electoral system, as well as effective security for law-abiding citizens, the fears of its supporters will remain; and the 19 uncounted ballot boxes in a PPP/C stronghold during elections 2011 may be multiplied a thousand-fold.

Kaieteur News article on Bai Shan Lin riddled with false assumptions and misinformation THE Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) refers to an article in the Thursday August 7, 2014 edition of Kaieteur News under the caption: “Bai Shan Lin circumvents Guyana’s logging laws…ships billions $$$$ of high priced logs monthly.”

GFC, as the Government of Guyana Agency responsible for the sustainable management of the state’s forest advises the general public that this article is riddled with false assumptions and misinformation; to ensure that stakeholders are provided with the undisputable facts, GFC is compelled to respond to this unprofessional article.

Firstly, GFC asserts that there is no circumventing of Guyana’s logging laws by Bai Shan Lin (BSL) or any other forestry sector based company. The GFC has very robust and functional systems, procedures and guidelines which all forest sector companies are audited against; if there are any breaches to these, appropriate action is taken based on the findings of a thorough investigation and in accordance with the forest law.

The statement the BSL does not have an actual

licence for the exportation of the logs is simply not factual. BSL has two State Forest Exploratory Permits (SFEP’s); Section 9 (2) (b) of the Forests Act 2009 allows for the harvesting of forest produce from SFEP’s for limited commercial purposes and BSL can then export this produce in log form if it so chooses, in accordance with the National Log Export Policy.

GFC also has very effective and thorough export procedures in place – all forest produce to be exported must be verified by a GFC Grading Inspector and the required documentation must be properly completed and verified prior to export.

The GFC Internal Audit Unit also carries out very detailed checks at strategic locations including the ports of export to verify that there is compliance with the GFC protocols.

Contrary to the false impression portrayed, BSL and its JV partners have exported a total of 375 containers for the period January – June 2014; this is not something confined to BSL since many other large companies are also exporting logs in appreciable quantities.

Export, however, was in

keeping with the National Log Export Policy. It must be remembered that this policy was developed consultatively by stakeholders, the majority of whom supported an increase in the rate of the export commission, rather than a complete ban on log exports as suggested by the GFC. The allegation that BSL has opted for joint venture deals (JV) with other companies to circumvent the GFC requirements is also without merit.

GFC Board of Directors as part of its work plan holds regular meetings with stakeholder groups across the country.

At these meetings, one of the prominent concerns was the inadequate capacity of concessionaries (mainly locals) to beneficially occupy areas and produce sufficient quantities of logs/ lumber for the local construction industry, as well as for the local added value manufacturers, and for export.

The Concessionaries themselves proposed two short term measures to address this, namely: ► GFC to allow joint venture arrangements after the requisite due diligence was

done, and GFC was satisfied that JV had merit ► GFC to allow companies that lacked adequate and/ or appropriate machinery to rent same from third parties in a structured and properly monitored/regulated manner.

Based on these requests by the sector; the need to improve log/lumber/added value production, and generate additional employment opportunities, and being assured by the GFC that its monitoring systems would ensure that the allowable harvest levels would not be exceeded, the GFC Board approved both requests.

GFC has since facilitated both requests in accordance with the legislation and a very transparent and organised procedure.

For example, it was collaboratively agreed (stakeholders/GFC/GFC Board) that the procedure for the review of joint venture requests would be as follows: ► A request to enter into a joint venture arrangement needs to be made by the company/individual that has legal access to state forest ► A thorough background assessment would be done on the company that is seeking to joint venture with the

one that has the legal access to the forested land ► This assessment would be used to guide the GFC in making its recommendations to the GFC Board Technical Sub-Committee ► T h e G F C Te c h n i c a l Sub-Committee after their review would submit a recommendation to the GFC Board of Directors. ► The GFC Board then makes its recommendation as to whether to approve/ disapprove the joint venture.

This is in keeping with Section 16 of the Forests Act 2009.

BSL has entered into approved JV’s following this process, contrary to the “landlording” and “illegality” assertion by Global Timber. Another incorrect assertion is the pronouncement that “BSL has been granted a forestry concession that amounts to close to one million hectares of rainforest” … BSL has legal access to 627,072 ha as shown below: 344,849 ha as State Forest Exploratory Permits (SFEP’s) – an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA); a Forest Inventory (FI), and a Business Plan have to be

submitted to the satisfaction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and GFC before a Timber Sales Agreements (TSA) is granted, which allows for full scale harvesting in accordance with GFC guidelines to be approved.

274,053 ha as Timber Sales Agreement Joint Venture Agreements 8,170 ha as State Forest Permissions This has been widely publicised in the print and electronic media and BSL has been written to instructing them to correct the erroneous claim that they have access to 960,000 ha.

The article also alludes that GFC is taking a back seat in these matters; this is bordering on the ridiculous since the GFC takes its mandate of “ensuring sustainable forestry” very seriously, something that is recognised not only nationally, but regionally and globally.

GFC would again appeal to stakeholders, especially those in the public media, to verify the facts before publicising erroneous information.

JAMES SINGH Commissioner of Forests

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Freddie Kissoon on a rampage to attack good people IF there is anyone who understands racism it is our friend Mr. Abu Bakar. He understands it as a Muslim and as an African. He experienced it four plus decades ago when he asked for the hands in marriage of an Indian Muslim woman in Essequibo, Guyana and was bluntly refused because of race. Yet, this gem of a man never allowed this to dull his vision nor use it to formulate the basis for hate. We will now refer to the exchange between Abu Bakar and Freddie Kissoon.

Mr. Freddie Kissoon seems to be on a rampage to attack good people and persons who are making tremendous contributions to our society. Not only is he making ill-informed, misleading and biased comments

about our political leaders who have moved our country from being poor to one of economic prosperity, but he has found it necessary to castigate outstanding religious and social leaders within the wider communities.

His recently vile and baseless attack on Br. Fazeel Feroze – President of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana has outraged the entire Muslim community.

Br Fazeel Feroze is among the most decent human beings in our country. He has enjoyed tremendous respect by his countrymen and those further afield. Br. Fazel Feroze has worked tirelessly for the cause of the poor and needy and he has raised his work beyond racial barrier.

His aim is specifically at uplifting and enhancing the lives of the less fortunate and

he understands the concept of selfless volunteerism.

He comprehends the value of equality, good governance, justice, tolerance, wisdom, compassion and leadership. Br. Fazeel Feroze, Br. Mohamed Haseeb Yusuf, Shaikh Moen-ulHack, Imaam Khaleel Ford and Imaam Shaheed Uthman have provided influential leadership to their followings and they have overseen the expansion of their respective organisations and contributions to the Guyanese Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

Br. Fazeel Feroze relationship with former President Bharrat Jagdeo is nothing new. The C.I.O.G has always had an outstanding relationship with the leading Government of Guyana and Members of the Opposition.

It was Br. Fazeel Feroze foresight and astute leadership that caused the Muslim community of the Mandela Avenue to own its large plot of land. In the past, that land was assigned to Mr. Odinga Lumumba; but through an appeal by Br. Fazeel Feroze and the generosity of President Bharrat Jagdeo, a mutual arrangement was derived and Mr. Lumumba relinquished the ownership of the land to the Mandela Masjid.

That land has a current market value of approximately five million United States Dollars.

Br. Fazeel Feroze wisdom has caused the ascension of African Sheikhs (Islamic Scholars) Br. Dawood Abdul Hack, Br. Abdool Wahab as the leading sheikh for his organisation. Br. Fazeel Feroze relationship among

the African Imams and Jamaats remain outstanding.

Additionally, the C.I.O.G. educational scholarship programme is beyond racial barrier, while the burial services and facilities of the C.I.O.G. headed by Br. Fazeel Feroze caters for all Muslims, as the poor and underprivileged are buried free of cost.

Further, Br. Fazil Feroze leadership oversees the distribution of over one hundred and fifty million dollars annually in the form of zakaat to the poor and needy which includes African Muslims in Guyana.

In concluding, we encourage Mr. Freddie Kissoon to listen to the Jewesh American Noble Laureate in Literature - Mr. Isaac B. Singer, “How can we speak of right and justice if we take an innocent creature,

shed its blood? How can we pray to God for mercy if we ourselves have no mercy?”

The Palestinians cause, is not only Br. Fazeel Feroze’s cause, but it is a cause for all conscious, sane, emotional human beings.

We hope that Mr. Freddie Kissoon can be more circumspect and respectful when commenting on individuals who are positive contributors to humanity; and we implore Mr. Freddie Kissoon to use his overrated qualifications, knowledge and experience for the fruitful development of Guyana. We wonder what the obituary of Mr. Freddie Kissoon will sound like!

Mr. SAHEED AHMAD MR. N. MOHAMED MR. A. KASSIM MS. B. KHAN

What prequalifies ACDA to reverse Rodney’s multiracial legacy?

IN response to Dr. Clive Thomas and Mr Eric Phillips, both of ACDA, pardon me, but what prequalifies ACDA’s Mr. Eric Phillips to justify Dr Clive Thomas’ betrayal and repudiation (SN of 7-27-14 titled .

“More on debt relief for slavery reparations”) of his WPA bosom buddy Dr Walter Rodney’s legacy? Motivated to preserve total race exclusion, Dr Thomas overturned his legendary leader’s hallmark legacy of all sharing in the national patrimony. He has, like all others also, the constitutional right to change.

Dr Rodney’s popular multiracial genesis, on the other hand, was built on race inclusion based on class analysis. Dr Thomas insists, by ACDA’s emphasised support, on the exclusion of all other Guyanese sharing European reparations.

Enter ACDA’s Mr. Eric Phillips who promptly supports Dr Thomas’s rejection of inclusiveness. Mr. Phillips amplifies and justifies exclusion in his letters of 8-4-14 in the GT in response to my letter of 8-2-14 in the GT titled

“Reparations compensation a cure for Professor Thomas’s socialism disease.” As usual, the favourite targets are Indo-Guyanese indentured descendants; not in equality are Portuguese, Chinese and Black Caribbean indentured descendants, who were also brought to Guyana.

What explains Dr Thomas’s sudden tribal shift of total “African ownership” of all reparations to exclude others?

It is titillating billions of European money beyond imagination. During his entire career, he meticulously itemised and demanded the national patrimony be shared equally, by all, regardless of race. Money does change people and our one time socialist Dr Thomas is human, no different than others, very happy to have found the best capitalist cure for his socialist disease.

He now sports a teflon shield of fulsome indifference to be non- accountable – he prefers his past not stick to him. But his is a preference rather than a constitutional right to which he must yet give account, even if he acted on

a whim of euphoria. For the UG academic to now behave like a busy Africanized Queen bee immersed in backbreaking work, who cannot be bothered to pay back a measly little bit for past collective sins is a travesty. By royal dispatch are Buxton’s soldier bees, naturally equipped with stinger missiles, on salivating assignment rushing to fend off those who are viewed as possible threats to the emeritus tribalist hero’s vision?

Were Guyanese all along dealing with a Dr T during sunlight and master hive…, of well hidden tribal royalty?

Those same WPA acolytes who surrounded and publicly cheered Dr Rodney onwards, promptly turned around and in parliament, first, diluted their deceased leader’s brutal murder, in open alliance to the PNC “kith and kin” desire for exoneration.

Secondly, they became one in A-P-N-U. Mathematically they made one plus one to equal one! Is it a black hole gobbling up Guyanese regardless?

With reparations now

subject to their own “shared governance equality” yardstick, the divergence of views between legendary “bygones” and today’s sudden enriched “have beens” could not be much clearer.

Completely without indifference, full assurance can only be re-emphasised to all kindred and unknown spirits, without reservations, of full subscription support, to the reparations inquest. In fact, Federalism is the launching pad of greater unifying traction without excluding any; it completely acknowledges the right of racial excellence in harmony instead of perpetual contentiousness by which Mr. Phillips revels ad infinitum i.e.

Indians got land and therefore they are apparently in debt forever by such ownership to the usual suspects.

Now there are grounds for total unconcern without question. The British conquered and subjugated India for years. Indians were damaged goods in their own original country, and remained so by contract in the Caribbean and elsewhere under the same British master who owned slaves.

When Europeans plucked human slaves from Africa’s treasury into agonising misery

it was usually by periodic raids and trade. Were they similar colonial permanent occupying invaders or did it occur later?

It’s a certainty Mr. Phillips, like so many not insane, did not wish the colonialist to have first occupied and plundered Africa before they proceeded to make them slaves with contracts… hello indentures.

With all that is of Africa’s excellence the ACDA subscriptions are welcome to boost it within Federalism by the same rights and entitlements which would legally be binding to all others similarly, or would they? With Mr. Phillips wealth of African wrongs he could be most productively inspirational by its fair use as additional monuments to bust out into a refreshing new PNC heaven, more outstanding than before.

To retrieve genuine Africaness, ACDA must also further regress and regenerate their tribal origins for authenticity.

How is that possible and why is that a progressive undertaking which other Guyanese must forever endure like these tiresome perpetual debates on slavery?

The image of Dr Thomas reborn as an Ibo (considered African Jews) Hasidim tribalist since his

changeover to capitalism is breathtaking.

That Caribbean Indian taxpayers are subsidising CARICOM’s unanimous dispatch to secure black peoples’ rights, should be significantly commendable to eventually find similar black reciprocity in future, God willing. That which can mitigate European wrongs to his fellow man is not devalued, but substantially more ennobling by commitment and compliance of excellent black shared “equality “of reparations to exonerate habitual black violence imposed on Indians.

My original letter of 8-2-14 did not contest black aspirations to right their wrongs. It simply sought automatic black reciprocity to correct their own wrongs to their countrymen. By all that morally validates the quest to correct the wrongs of slavery, a just cause, nothing delimits slave descendants to in turn equally resolve the historical wrongs, which they also inflicted on their countrymen. Habitual violence targeting Indians is not fantasy, lest it be forgotten.

SULTAN MOHAMED

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Ranks stumble on hijacked car while investigating suspicious car report

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Police find live .32 rounds in Linden house ACTING on information from partners of the police, ranks in Linden on Thursday afternoon swooped down on a house at Lot 99, Block 22 Wismar where they discovered ten live rounds for a .32 weapon.

The police arrested a young man who lived in the house and whose name was given as Andre Walcott. The

By Leroy Smith RESIDENTS on the East Coast of Demerara yesterday alerted the police to a suspicious looking car parked in the vicinity of Foulis Old Road n o t t o o f a r f ro m where businessman Rajendra Singh was kidnapped and later found murdered at the Le Repentir Cemetery.

Police ranks immediately responded to the call and when they arrived at the scene the vehicle, a Fielder Wagon, was left abandoned in the area, but the two occupants who were earlier seen inside were nowhere to be found.

Checks by the police later revealed that the very car was hijacked from taxi driver Linden Graham on

Live .32 rounds found in Linden house

The hijacked car found at Foulis Old Road Emancipation night by three men who had joined his vehicle under the pretext of wanting to use the car for hire.

While the men neared their destination in Ruimveldt, one of them placed an object to the back of the man’s head and

ordered that he stop the vehicle and hand it over to them. The man complied and the trio fled in the car.

Graham told investigators that he could not say if the men placed a gun to the back of his head since he could not see what the men used. Yester-

AROUND THE COURTS With Geeta Rampersaud

Ann’s Grove resident accused of Plaisance Bus Park murder remanded ANN’S GROVE resident and miner In Magistrate Latchman’s court, Orin Jerrick appeared on Wednes- the accused was called forward by the day before Chief Magistrate Priya Magistrate in the presence of his lawyer Sewnarine-Beharry in relation to the and Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt, and indictable offence of was asked to remove the murder allegedly combandage so that his injuries mitted on Beterverwagcould be examined. ting bus driver Gavin The Magistrate also Fiffee on Thursday, July endorsed that the accused 31, at the Plaisance bus needed medical attention. park in Georgetown.

The prosecution’s facts The accused was revealed that at around represented by attor17:45 hrs on the day in ney-at-law Ms. Pamela question, the deceased had De Santos, who told the seen the defendant urinating court that her client was on his minibus which was severely wounded in the parked at the Plaisance bus incident, and has witnesspark. es to testify. De Santos He confronted the acsaid that a medical report cused and an argument would show that Jerrick Accused - Orin Jerrick ensued. The accused then had been stabbed to the pulled out a knife and head, neck and over the eye. stabbed Fiffee on the right side of his The matter was transferred before chest.

Magistrate Judy Latchman for report Fifee was rushed to the Georgeand fixtures, and the case would be town Public Hospital, but succumbed recalled on August 22. to his injuries.

day when the vehicle was recovered it was found that the number plates were swapped.

It was the victim’s drivers licence which was still in the vehicle that led investigators on the East Coast of Demerara to ascertain who the owner of the vehicle was.

house where the find was made is said to be the property of Walcott’s father but the younger Walcott was arrested since he resides at the location.

The Guyana Chronicle was told by persons close to the investigation that the ranks received information that the man is usually seen in possession of ammunition and persons are aware that he is not a license firearm holder nor is he a member of the armed forces.

A search of the house revealed a transparent plastic bag underneath a mattress in a bedroom in the house in which the rounds were discovered.

The police did not find any firearm and the man was taken into police custody where he was assisting them with investigations up to late yesterday afternoon. (Leroy Smith)

Enmore woman caught with cocaine

By Leroy Smith

OLD habits do seem to die hard for some people and in some cases it seems even harder when such habits run within the family.

On Thursday night police ranks in ‘C’ Division acting on intelligence carried out a search in Enmore, East Coast Demerara and discovered that a woman had in her possession 12 grammes of cocaine suspected to be for the purpose of trafficking.

The find on the woman comes on the heels of her sister recently being caught, arrested and convicted for possession of cocaine.

Devi Persaud appeared in court, yesterday, and will return to court on September 3 after she was remanded to prison.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the woman Devi Persaud of Enmore, East Coast Demerara had a search carried out on her and her premises by ranks of an anti-crime patrol where the illegal substance was discovered.

During the search, the police also found a quantity of cigarettes which the woman also claimed ownership of. It was only recently that her sister Oma Persaud suffered a similar fate of

police ranks getting wind of her illegal possession of drugs.

Oma, however, according to sources close to the investigation, is believed to be a very popular and regular vendor of cocaine and has been on the police radar for some time now.

Meanwhile, recently police in ‘C’ Division have developed a new security approach and there are several patrols and stop and searches which are conducted randomly along the East Coast Demerara corridor.

The anti-crime patrols which are operated from the ‘C’ Division Headquarters and other stations along the East Coast have been bearing fruit with several unlawful practices being uncovered by ranks.

The Guyana Chronicle has been receiving calls from persons living and traversing the East Coast Demerara corridor about the evidently new security approach in ‘C’ Division.

While the operations of stop and searches and random roadblocks are being referred to as being time consuming, sometimes, the police have been showing some improvement in the manner in which they are dealing with motorists and other road users while conducting the business of the police according to commuters.

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana…

The Opposition has bluffed its way into an unenviable situation … and is now desperately stalling for time

OLD KAI thought the AFC had publicly announced that its proposed no-confidence motion against the PPP/C Government was enjoying popular support among its membership; but lo and behold, it was almost a whisper when the party signed the motion and delivered it to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

They invited the media to these events, obviously hoping to get the public’s attention; but no one apparently bothered to ask the AFC leaders where was their membership.

With all the zest the AFC leaders led us to believe that their membership was enthused at the prospect of a no-confidence motion, one would logically expect that hundreds if not thousands would have come out to accompany their leaders to Parliament buildings, even more so, since by now we know this grouping is all about theatrics.

So why not even a handful of supporters?

It appears that their no-confidence motion has not been well received by the membership and supporters, or possibly they were not even consulted at all before the party made such a decision.

This would explain why disgruntled members who are continuously streaming out from the party have described the leadership cabal as a runway train, operating akin to a mini dictatorship.

Those remaining are fully aware that the leadership deficiency of both their leaders and those from the PNCR=APNU have been comprehensively

exposed; their record in parliament since enjoying a combined one seat majority over the PPP/C underlines this fact.

It is telling that despite their criticisms, they have not managed to come up with a single viable alternative to programmes and policies being implemented by the PPP/C Government in any sector.

Rather, they have been comfortable resorting to grandstanding, as apparently they are of the opinion that it will continue to be effective in influencing some voters, as was the case in the 2011 elections.

They have not taken into consideration that despite enjoying a parliamentary majority, they have made absolutely no effort to honor any of their pre-electoral promises and supporters have taken note.

What they have done instead is reduce Guyanese to ‘collateral damage’ in their unquenchable thirst for power, and unending drive to undermine the Government. Maybe this is why the AFC made no effort to go into its support areas and consult citizens on its ‘no-confidence’ plan; as it is well aware that it would have had to face the people whom they have admitted are simply pawns in their political game.

They are simply afraid of rejection this time around, and this talk of ‘no-confidence’ was simply a clever rouse to gauge the level of support they would likely receive.

The signals from the public is a negative one; even critics of the Government had voiced their displeasure, warning them of the consequences; therefore

GPF, DHB launch new monitoring security system

By Michel Outridge THE Guyana Police Force (GPF), in collaboration with the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), yesterday, launched a new security system at Brickdam Police Station, Georgetown, which will enhance the GPF capacity to fight crime.

General Manager of the DHB, Rawlston Adams, disclosed yesterday that after about four years of planning, the DHB and the GPF have now partnered to share camera signals, which would be transmitted to the Brickdam Police Station in real time.

Adams explained that before this new security system was realised, the police and members of the public had to visit the DHB to review footage, and it was time consuming, hence, the project was launched to boost GPF capacity in fighting crime.

Adams said the police have access to happenings on both the east and west sides of the DHB via 18 cameras which are transmitting images on a real time basis, and that the footage can also be reviewed to enable identification of vehicles by means of licence plates and driver

The CCTV based at Brickdam Police Station can be used to view real time activities via live feed from the DHB (Leroy Smith photo)

it is easy to see why, despite the disclosure that the PNCR=APNU had joined the bandwagon, they do not seem in a hurry to pass the motion in the National Assembly.

We are hearing from the Opposition that the motion will be debated and passed after the end of the Parliamentary recess which is several weeks away. With their majority and the fact that they also have both the Speakership and Deputy Speakership positions, they can push back the recess and pass the no-confidence motion, thereby paving the way for fresh elections.

Old people say, ‘Yuh play dead fuh see what kind of funeral yuh will get’, which aptly describes the current actions of the AFC and PNCR=APNU. The problem for them is that they have gotten so caught up in their game that there is no turning back now, especially after the PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee and President Donald Ramotar called their bluff.

They are fully aware that they cannot compete with President Ramotar in a next election, which is why David Granger is so eager to team up with the AFC to lighten the impact.

The Opposition needs to now tell the nation why they have ‘no confidence’ in a Government whose fiscal management policies, despite their obstructionist agenda, has resulted in Guyana being projected to record another year of economic growth which will be one of the highest in this part of the world. at the wheel.

He stated that in some cases drivers cannot be recognised because visors are put on vehicles, but the drivers’ upper bodies can still be seen, and the police can work with that to aid in relevant investigations.

Adams added that the DHB 24-hour camera feed that is sent to the Brickdam Police Station can also be replayed up to three months later, and can be accessed by the police at any given time.

Despite technical issues in regard to the antenna, Adams said the combined effort is welcomed by the police, having been years in the making.

Following a symbolic handing over ceremony at the Brickdam Police Station Operations Room, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken said the initiative is much needed since the police provide a service to members of the public as it relates to general crime and traffic, and now that this collaboration has been implemented, it would enable the police to function more effectively.

Hicken pointed out that the police relationship with the DHB is a good one, hence the closed circuit television (CCTV) was given to the DHB to help the police improve crime fighting with its real time information which can also be retrieved.

Hicken noted that with the introduction of the new security system at Brickdam Police Station through DHB, police capacity to fight crime has been greatly enhanced.

Hicken said he is impressed with the new security system, and it would go a far way in improving detection and prevention of crime.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Daughter screams and collapses as jury frees incest accused

By George Barclay A DREADLOCKED Cecil Smith was on Wednesday freed of the charges of incest and indecent assault allegedly committed on his daughter in 2009, when she was 15 years old.

And almost simultaneously with announcement of the jury’s verdict, the now 20-year-old daughter, who was sitting in the courtroom as a spectator, began screaming before she collapsed.

Policemen and women had to lift her out of the courtroom to the Police Outpost, where the screaming continued as she kept crying and shouting, “No one knows the trouble I went through, and this man has

been freed!”

Whilst the young woman wept and shouted, her dreadlocked father stealthily exited the dock and strode to freedom.

The girl had related how her father had sexually violated her and had even threatened her at knife-point, causing her to give in to his demand for sex.

But her story was not foolproof, as it was full of inconsistencies.

She had told the magistrate one story when the matter was fresh in her mind, and then had told the judge and jury another story in the High Court.

When asked to clarify this inconsistency, she had told both Defence Counsel

Keavon Bess and Prosecutrix Mrs. Tashana Lake that both her accounts were in fact true representations of what had transpired.

Justice James BovellDrakes, presiding in the trial, had summed up the case with the inconsistencies; and after deliberating for about two hours, the jury returned with a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

The girl had told the judge and jury that the acts had been committed on her in August 2009, when she was 15. According to her, after she had told her father that she did not have a boyfriend, he had told her that if she had sex with him, she would be able to have a boyfriend, and would get

permission to go places.

The virtual complainant had also testified in court that she had been made to strip naked for the sex ordeal, and had also been ordered to “wine and kiss daddy.”

But under cross-examination by defence counsel Mr. Keavon Bess, the girl admitted that although she had told the judge and jury that her father had had sex with her on the morning and the night of August 17, 2009, she had told the magistrate, when the matter was fresh in her mind, that he did not have sex with her in the morning; it was only in the night.

Asked for an explanation, the girl had maintained that she did not lie to either the magistrate or to the judge

and jury.

Even when prosecutor Mr. Tashana Lake had intervened to get a plausible explanation from her, the girl had maintained her story.

Accordingly, defence counsel Mr Bess had made a no-case submission at the end of the prosecution’s case, but that had been overruled.

The accused began his defence by telling the court, in an unsworn statement from the dock, that he was innocent of the charges. He said that his daughter was a bad-behaved girl who had caused her mother to send her back to Guyana from Trinidad.

After the girl had returned from Trinidad, she had gone to spend time with

a cousin who, because of her behavior, had to send her back to her father.

The accused said that he had gone to the bedroom where his daughter was, and had flogged her because of the reports he had received.

Later, he learnt that it had been reported that he had had sex with his daughter. That, he said, was untrue, and he was asking the jury to find him not guilty.

The defence counsel had urged the jury to give his client the benefit of the doubt by returning a verdict of not guilty; but the prosecutrix had asked the jury to return a verdict in accordance with the evidence and the oath they had taken.

HJ Entertainment launches imminent Water-World, Fun Park

By Alex Wayne THE Hits and Jams Entertainment fraternity officially launched what was determined as the location that is to soon be transformed into a Water World and Fun Park. This facility when completed will cater for the fantasies of those desirous of savouring that ‘special beach feeling’, according to officials at yesterday’s simple-ceremony event.

The new facility will be situated behind the Princess Hotel at Providence, East Bank Demerara, and is to be completed in phases in time for the upcoming annual Jamzone Beach Jam. The entertainment company had made it a tradition in times past to use Splashmin’s Fun Park and Resort for its Jamzone Summer Break activities.

This year ’s Jamzone 2014 activities calendar will feature eight events that will be executed over a ten-day period. In its 14th year of hosting, this event has been transformed from a customary single beach party and pageant to an exciting ten-day festival that showcases riveting entertainment initiative geared at boosting Guyana’s tourism sector.

This year around, Hits and Jams has even hyped the celebration further by hosting a special segment of Jamzone celebrations in New York, USA, on August 09, 2014.

While the most arresting

of the local calendar events is set to be the Miss Jamzone International Pageant, one must take into consideration that the event, which had catered only for local beauties, now makes room for contestants from around the Caribbean. This year, a delegate from the USA has even been invited to participate locally.

Jamzone Events Calendar Being the fifth promotion of this event, the pageant will see ten girls battling for the prestigious crown and title, on August 15 at the National Cultural Centre, for a whopping US$10,000 prize.

On August 16, the ‘Kids Zone’ event will be staged, and parents are urged to bring out their kids in numbers, since this event would be featured for children younger than thirteen years of age. Attractions at this event will include popular cartoon characters like Sponge Bob, Dora and Diego. Additionally, there will be face painting, and clowns will be available besides other attractions to entertain the children.

August 16 is dubbed 'The Brazilian Night', and this will showcase Brazilian culture and Brazilian bands that will provide live entertainment at Palm Court Nightclub on Main Street, Georgetown.

Patrons would also be able to treat themselves to delicious Brazilian cuisine.

The much anticipated ‘Bikers Fest’ is set for August 17 at the National Park, and will feature some of the

hottest names from around the world in the sport of biking. Several Guyanese bikers will also showcase their talent at this forum.

This event will feature exciting performances from riders atop dirt and street bikes, and will be executed in a safe and professional manner.

August 18 is set aside for the ‘Day out with Miss Jamzone Delegates’, and will see the beauties visiting orphanages and other institutions around Guyana.

This will make way for the ‘Black Tie Auction’ on August 20 at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown, and proceeds from this function will be given to a charitable organisation of choice.

Each delegate is expected to auction an item secured from her home country at this forum.

The VIP Party is tabled for August 22, and will allow for interaction with international acts like Bungi Garlin, Fayann Lyons and Alkaline.

The Jamzone delegates will be making guest appearances at this function, which would also be staged at the Palm Court Nightclub.

August 23 is the date set for the Jamzone Concert, and this segment is set for the new Water Park which is expected to be completed by then. This will see performances by international acts from around the world, and will be inclusive of the Dancehall, Reggae, Soca and Chutney genres of music.

The Jamzone Beach Jam

will kick off on August 24.

When Jamzone Summer Break was initially conceptualized, it was Sunday on the beach with families, music,

water games, beach games, eating games; and when the sun dipped, the beauties came out to vie for the title of Miss Jamzone.

Now, fourteen years later, the Beach Jam puts a close to HJ Entertainment’s ten days of activities.

Agriculture Ministry playing a more direct role in Hope Canal completion

AGRICULTURE Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy says his Ministry is playing a “more direct role” and is working with the contractor to ensure the completion of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) Northern Relief Channel-the Hope Canal.

He recently made this disclosure during a recent interview with this newspaper.

The Hope Canal missed its June 30 deadline for completion and was given a new deadline of September-an extension of seven weeks.

Ramsammy added that work on the four components of the project has been advanced significantly.

The four components are the more than 10-kilometre channel, the head regulator, the eight-gate sluice at the canal’s Atlantic end, and the EDWC Northern Relief Channel Public Road Bridge. The latter was completed and commissioned in February.

Ramsammy said that the head regulator has been

completed and minor works have been completed on the more than 10-kilometre channel.

“Work on the outer sluice (the eight-gate sluice) was slow, but is expected to accelerate because arrangements are in place with the contractor, as a result of which the Ministry will be playing a more direct role.

We are working with the contractor to complete the sluice,” he said.

Additionally, the actual testing of the functionality of the channel will have to await the availability of an adequate fill volume of the channel.

Indications were that the US $15M Hope Canal project, which is expected to be the answer to the flooding experienced in the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary (MMA) areas during rainy periods, would be operational as the rainy season sets in.

Residents in the MMA area over the years have lost crops and livestock in floods during rainy periods. As seen in the past, when the Maduni

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

sluice has to be opened to drain the East Demerara Water Conservancy, residents in the MMA area have to battle a rise in the Mahaica Creek – making the completion of the Hope Canal something that is much needed.

Construction on the project began in February 2011 with an estimated 18 months for completion. The deadline for the project was initially set for June 2013, but was subsequently extended to the end of August, and then once again extended to December 31, 2013, then to June 30, 2014. (Vanessa Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Police 2014 Camp attracts almost 200 children THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has announced that its youth camp for this year will feature close to two hundred children, and will run for one week, starting on Sunday.

Already, 'A' Division police have a youth camp being conducted along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, but it will conclude

tomorrow, while Sunday’s camp will be held just a few hundred metres from the present location of the 'A' Division Camp. More than fifty children from Albouystown and Tiger Bay are presently in the ‘A’ Division camp under supervision of police and residents of the two communities.

The General Police Camp which commences on Sunday will be held under the theme “Empowering Youth through Social Partnership and Team Building for a Better Guyana”. It runs from August 11 to 16, and according to the police, the camp is being held in collaboration with the Guyana Women Police

Police Camp Coordinator, Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham, in the company of Human Services Minister Jenifer Webster

Association, and caters for children between the ages of 9 and 14, who would be selected from police youth clubs and scout groups.

Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham is tasked with coordinating the camp, and will be assisted by several other ranks of the Force, and other volunteers who have decided to

offer their services.

The police, in a release, noted that the tour will see the children travelling to Linden and other areas as part of the week-long camp, while sessions in religion, road safety, educational talks, pep-talks, craft work, information technology and games will not be left out of the list of

the activities.

At the closing ceremony of the youth camp at Aurora Secondary School in Essequibo last year, Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell rewarded hard working staff and campers who had excelled in the various areas in which they had received teaching. (Leroy Smith)

Former Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell and the late Assistant Commissioner Deryck Josiah inspect craft work done by one of the young campers in Essequibo last year

Children and police ranks gather for a cultural presentation during the closing ceremony of last year’s camp

Fabric painting was done by students of the ‘A’ Division Camp on Thursday at the camp site on the Linden Highway

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Shania De Groot and Shaquana Gurrick at the ceremony in their honour

By Shivanie Sugrim THE New York (NY)-based Mocha-Arcadia Development Association recently held a near-perfect ‘special ceremony’ in which they presented top students of the village with monetary gifts in recognition of their performance at the National Grade Six Assessment examinations.

A number of performances were also featured by youths of the community. Those recognised at this occasion were as follows: Shania De Groot, who gained 523 marks, placed ninth overall in the NGSA, and in process obtained a place at Queen’s College. She told the Guyana Chronicle that reading, singing and dancing are her optimal hobbies. She was gifted the sum of US$100.

Jadan Craig, who gained 504 marks, becoming the third best performer of the Peter’s Hall Primary School, obtained a place at St. Roses High School.

Jadan’s father disclosed to this publication how happy and proud he was of Jadan’s performance. He said that Jadan was currently enjoying a well deserved holiday in Antigua before he begins classes at his new school.

Shaquana Gurrick obtained 480 marks at the NGSA, and was granted a place at the North Georgetown Secondary School. Although she did not gain entry into one of those schools considered tops in Georgetown, she told the Guyana Chronicle that she was very pleased to be labelled a ‘topper’ in her community, and that she would work harder in future to be successful in life.

Shania De Groot deliverThe Mocha-Arcadia Deing the vote of thanks to velopment Association NY is the invitees an American-based association, and is the brainchild of Dr Janice Emmanuel-Bunn, PhD who grew up in the Arcadia neighbourhood.

In late August of 2010, she invited as many people as she knew to her home in Brooklyn, New York for a Mocha/ Arcadia Reunion. As a result, they all felt that they needed to do something for their community, hence they formed the organisation that said evening.

Thus far, the group has done a fantastic job of sponsoring three annual fundraisers in New York: (a) A breakfast morning in April, (b) a summer Barbeque in August and (c) a Christmas dance in December.

With proceeds from these events, they were able to support the PTA feeding programme at the Mocha Primary School, purchase a swing set for the nursery school, and provide senior citizens with pre-packed gift bags containing basic supplies, besides giving the community a number of other donations.

However, they told this publication that they are looking forward to continuously servicing the Mocha/Arcadia community, as they will dedicate themselves to fulfilling their mission, which is to “support the residents of Mocha/ Arcadia in Guyana in the form of infrastructure, educational and social development.”

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NY Mocha-Arcadia Development Association honours top NGSA students of village

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Jonestown cult members remains found in Delaware

(BBC) THE cremated remains of nine victims of the 1978 mass cult suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, have turned up in a former funeral home in Delaware.

The ashes were discovered in the city of Dover when officials inspected a lot of more than 30 small containers.

Investigators said they did not know why the remains had not been claimed.

More than 900 members of the Peoples Temple died when their leader Jim Jones ordered them to take punch laced with cyanide.

Officials from the Delaware Division of Forensic Science have taken possession of the remains which were discovered at the former Minus Funeral Home in Dover.

“We don’t know why they were unclaimed,” a spokeswoman with the state Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Kimberly Chandler, told the delawareonline news site.

“What we intend to do is identify family members, reach out to them and make them aware that the remains are available to them.”

James Warren “Jim” Jones began his cult, the Peoples Temple, in his native state of Indiana in the 1950s.

In the early 1970s, he moved to San Francisco where he established a free health clinic and drug rehabilitation programme, attracting hundreds of followers.

He became a powerful figure in local politics but allegations of abuse within his cult led him and his

The Peoples Temple moved to a swathe of land Jones’s followers had cut out of the Guyana jungle

followers to relocate to a new home, cut from the jungle, in the South American country of Guyana in 1977.

O n 1 8 N o v e m b e r Jim Jones faced allega1978, his followers shot tions of abuse within his and killed members of a Peoples Temple cult fact-finding group led by US Congressman Leo Ryan, who had travelled to Guyana to investigate reports of abuse.

The same day, Jones ordered his followers to drink a cyanide-laced grape-flavoured punch.

Most complied, although survivors described see page 15

Officials found remains of nine victims of the Jonestown massacre in containers left in a former funeral home

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Jonestown cult members remains ... from page 14

some people as being shot, injected with poison, or forced to drink the deadly beverage when they resisted.

More than 300 children were among the 900 victims.

All of the bodies were flown from Guyana to the Port Mortuary at Dover Air Force Base where they were identified and prepared for burial.

It is not known why some remains were kept at the Minus Funeral Home.

“It was definitely a shock when we found

out exactly what we had,” Dover police spokesman, Mark Hoffman, told the delawareonline.

“Obviously it’s an intriguing story and

a tragic story, and to think this was found right here in our jurisdiction, about six blocks from the police department, makes it very compelling to us.”

More than 900 people died after being instructed to drink poison by cult leader Jim Jones

Canada bound man busted at CJIA with cocaine in seasoning, milk A 54-year-old Canada bound man was yesterday morning busted with a quantity of cocaine that he had hidden in milk tins and bottles of seasoning at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA); he has been identified as Satesh Persaud.

Persaud who hails from Berbi-

ce, but from time to time travels to Canada was heading out of Guyana on a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight BW 527 when he was caught by ranks from the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) with the substance.

He is now in custody assisting with investigations upon the bust. (Asif Hakim)

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Region 3 poised to achieve Universal Secondary Education

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally THE Ministry of Education is well on its way to achieving Universal Secondary Education in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) as it was announced that works will begin on the expansion of the West Demerara Secondary School, the rehabilitation of the Zeeburg Secondary School and the construction of a new school in Parfait Harmonie to house 1,000 students.

This was disclosed during a visit to the West Demerara Secondary School on Thursday

by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

The discussions engaged parents on the school’s extension project and their full participation so as to ensure quality work.

The official handing over of the contract to the school was done on Thursday and the works will be completed within five months.

After which there will be a six-month grace period, where persons will monitor how the building is functioning.

The $22.6M extension project was contracted to Vision and General Contracting Services, and will accommodate six additional class rooms. The two-storey building will have corridors on both floors and will cater for disabled students as well. Presently, West Demerara Secondary has a complement of 32 teachers, 19 classrooms that house 650 students. It is equipped with a science laboratory, home economics department, and technical drawing, woods and electronics rooms and a library. The school offers more than 23 subjects at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations.

During the meeting, the mode of distribution of the $10,000 cash grant and the automatic promotion system were discussed.

It was unanimously agreed that the grant should be paid through the banking system

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Aries - March 21 - April 19 You're the most impulsive fire sign of them all -- which is saying something. So it's really not tough to distract you, especially when you're doing something that you'd really rather not do. At the moment, however, you will only stop working if you're dragged, kicking and screaming, from your workplace. Try to keep in mind that even though you're obsessed with your current project, there are people who'd love to see you -- just for a little while.

Taurus - April 20 - May 20 You've got two good things going for you. First, you're in total relaxation mode -- reading the paper in bed, sipping overpriced caffeine and ignoring the phone. It's your day to devote to total hedonism. Then there's the fact that the rest of the world will be ready to assume full responsibility for whatever they say or do, the way that you do on a regular basis. Yep. It's just good to be you.

Gemini - May 21 - June 21 In your own intellectual and articulate way, you've never taken the issue of closeness lightly, regardless of whether it's physical, emotional or intellectual. You see getting to know someone as a commitment. Right now, you're even more intently focused on being faithful, true and honest to the ones you love. How nice! Use this mood to convince others to do the right thing with your wonderful gift of gab.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand during her discussions with the community at West Demerara Secondary School (Sonell Nelson photo)

since that will be more accessible to almost all residents. Manickchand took the opportunity to enlighten the parents that this grant will be available sometime in mid-October since the process of obtaining the number of students will be dependent on the registration of the new school year. It is somewhat worrisome to parents that some students even though they would have performed badly during the school year are promoted to which the minister responded that the Ministry is currently in discussions over this system.

Ms. Manickchand related also that having provided the necessary infrastructure, the Government of Guyana is now focusing on how to improve participation and the quality of education delivered, therefore, the Ministry sees it as the right time for the implementation of several programmes and policies targeting these areas.

“Education is extremely important to the PPP Government and we know that if Guyana is to advance and progress it’s to invest in you and we believe every investment in our children is an investment in our dear land of Guyana, and that is why we have no problem plugging (money) into the sector and helping parents,” Ms, Manickchand emphasised.

“The PPP/C promises that we will continue to look after you and your children. We Saturday, August 09, 2014 - 14:30hrs will continue to invest in you and we look forward sincerely Sunday, August 10, 2014 - 14:30hrs to your support where necesMonday, August 11, 2014 - 05:00hrs sary,” she said.

Expansion work is expected to take place at several educational institutions and work has started on the Friendship Secondary School, East Bank Demerara, which is expected to be completed on February 25, 2015. A new secondary school is currently being constructed at Kato, Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni), while Lusignan in Region 4 and other areas will also benefit from similar infrastructure.

Already, Regions 2, 4, 5 and 10 have achieved this status, while Regions 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are set to achieve this goal by the end of 2015.

Cancer - June 22 - July 22 The next couple of days could be extremely stressful -- or extremely romantic. Since you of all signs know that what's in your heart often ends up as what happens around you, it's obviously time for you to make a choice. It's all about communication in relationships of all types. Ready for an innovative way to make a new path for yourself?

Better be -- because it's about to be offered.

Leo - July 23 - August 22 You've been working hard, diligently putting your nose to the grindstone for some time now. And now the stars are setting up such an amazing set of influences -- well, let's just say you're geared up for far more than a casual congratulatory pat on the back. It's time to make arrangements -- discreetly, of course -- for celebrations with you as the guest of honour. Congrats!

Virgo - August 23 - September 22 You've got the time to have some serious fun today, and you're quite ready to take full advantage of the situation. With several astrological influences putting love in the spotlight, you're ready for whatever comes along, and you should definitely focus your attention on romance. The stars are sending along a day or two of nice, earthy affection. Ready or not, here it comes!

Libra - September 23 - October 22 You've got the time to have some serious fun today, and you're quite ready to take full advantage of the situation. With several astrological influences putting love in the spotlight, you're ready for whatever comes along, and you should definitely focus your attention on romance. The stars are sending along a day or two of nice, earthy affection. Ready or not, here it comes!

Scorpio - October 23 - November 21 You may not have exercised perfect judgment exactly when it came to making a recent financial decision, but now you can rest easy. The stars are on your side, revving up to let you know that you can depend on your dear ones and vice versa -- and you'll be only too happy to share your questions (and answers) with them. If you're wondering about a financial issue, there's really no one better to ask.

Sagittarius - November 22 - December 20 You've got quite the shopping list today, and they're all necessities. Does this mean you'll need help getting in and out of the mall without laying waste to your credit cards? Could be. Some sales may seem innocuous, but what's too good to be true just might be. Why take chances? Take someone along whose judgment isn't easily swayed.

Capricorn - December 21 - January 19 Talk about busy. There's a formidable astrological team on guard duty in your house of personality, and you'll be putting out 'pick me, pick me' vibes when any situation that requires leadership arises. Anyone within shouting distance will be more than happy to let you have your wish, too -- especially with your past history of competence.

Don't forget your vitamins.

Aquarius - January 20 - February 18 Better think really hard about it before you even consider letting the cat out of the bag. There's a very serious astrological team standing guard in your house of secrets, and they don't take their duties lightly. This pack doesn't take kindly to informants, either, and they're big fans of arranging that folks get exactly what they deserve.

Serious stuff? You bet. Lock those lips, and throw away the key. You'll know when it's time to talk about it.

Pisces - February 19 - March 20 You won't be in the mood for any recreational activity that doesn't automatically include structure, rules and a set leader. Oddly enough, you may actually want to be the leader this time out, and why not? You're not ordinarily fond of taking the reins, but with your natural intuition even more finely honed at the moment, you're the perfect person for the job. Just don't take it too seriously. Remember, you're supposed to be having fun, too.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Bartica IMC reports two years of continued success - despite opposing elements

Officials of the Bartica IMC are from left, Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sherwyn Jonas; Chairman, Mr. Ovid Benjamine; and Vice Chairman, Mr. Stephen Belle

By Derwayne Wills AMIDST condemnation of the 2012 installation of an Interim Management Committee to replace the Bartica Neighbourhood Democratic Council, the Interim Council in two years has recorded great success with investment in infrastructural and other works close to $20M. This is the report from Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Bartica Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Mr. Sherwyn Downer.

The Interim NDC hosted the Guyana Chronicle team on Monday, with a tour of the various works that were undertaken under the IMC. When the committee was established in 2012 by then Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Ganga Persaud, there were reports of alleged corruption and gross mismanagement levelled against the previous municipal body.

Bartica, the gateway to Guyana’s gold, diamond and bauxite rich interior, is situated at the confluence where the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers meet the

mighty Essequibo River and boasts a population of some 8,000 citizens residing in a span of seven avenues and nine streets with an extended population of 15,000, if riverine communities are taken into account.

The role of the NDC, according to Interim NDC Chairman, Mr. Ovid Benjamine, is to oversee and maintain works and structures set in place by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

NO PREFERENTIAL FUNDING When questioned on what fuels the projects of the NDC, the NDC (IMC) Chairman made clear that, “we operate by rates and taxes and so there is a certain amount of money that we would collect, because you got people living in the village and they would pay.”

Not everyone pays and so sometimes there are persons who have not paid for years but unlike the RDC which “submits a budget to the Government, the NDC operates by revenue from the market, abattoir, and general rates and taxes. We have a sandpit also that we operate so we collect revenue from these places.”

PRO of the Bartica NDC

The truck used by the NDC that was refurbished by the IMC after 2012

(IMC), Mr. Downer stated that the “IMC does not receive any preferential treatment from the Government.” This position was made clear to dispel the erroneous notion by some persons in the community that the Government in some way provides direct funding for the IMC. After inheriting progress-hampering burdens from the previous defunct NDC, headed by Chairman Gerald Joseph and Neighbourhood Overseer, Mr. George Elliott, the IMC according to Benjamine has survived on a revenue base that “remains the same.”

He noted that while there has been no increase in the rates and taxes col-

Completed road works at Bartica’s main commercial square

“We did not have $2.3M at the time... after negotiations, it was decided that we will pay them a sum every month of $90,000” along with current royalties demanded. He stressed that the sum paid to GGMC as an outstanding debt did not exclude the monies which are currently demanded for royalties.

Section of the 48-stall arcade at Mongrippa Hill

lected from citizens, the Council has managed to accomplish recognisable feats. Boasting an open door policy, this publication can attest to the fact that the doors of the NDC under the IMC remains open to addressing all concerns set forth by residents.

Additionally, a suggestion box has been fully capitalised on by citizens, however, the IMC has expressed that some of the questions posed are not answerable by the current IMC but would fall on the previous NDC. GGMC ROYALTIES The Chairman noted that one such challenge came in the form of a letter submitted by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to the Bartica NDC. According to him, the GGMC mandated a cease-order to close the sandpit operated under the ambit of the NDC. Benjamine stated that after assuming office in 2012, in a matter of six weeks, he ventured to Georgetown to

negotiate with the mining authorities. A contract, seen by this publication, was inked between the two entities for the payment of an excess of $2.2M in royalties. This payment lapsed repeatedly for a number of years by the previous NDC officials, Benjamine added.

FIRE STRUCK This situation was compounded by a mysterious fire in November 2012 which destroyed most of the records held by the NDC. By all appearances, it is unclear whether there were records to reflect the work of the NDC before 2012.

Among the inherited debt in the millions owed by the NDC, the Chairman disclosed that some $400,000 was owed to the Guyana Power & Light Company (GPL) for non-payment of

electricity consumed by the office building located at Lot 18 First Avenue, Bartica.

OTHER WORKS Other projects include the installation of a 48-stall Arcade at Mongrippa Hill, Bartica which will precede a parking lot site, identified across the road from the area, and the refurbishing of a truck which was condemned by the previous NDC. Interim officials confirmed that the truck is being used in the meantime for solid waste disposal while the neighbourhood tractor is under repairs. The Chairman said that when the tractor is fully operational, the truck will be used for donating sand and cement to residents.

While there will be naysayers, the IMC, although it has no lifespan, continues to advance the development of Bartica in the interest of Barticians.

Workers paint the gate of the marketplace in the Region 7 community

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GUYANA FESTIVAL O

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally

THE thousands of patrons who poured into the Guyana National Stadium to witness the opening of the inaugural Guyana Festival were treated to the thrills and skills of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) parachuters who had set the bar very high.

With the plaiting of the ‘May Pole’ to the renditions of folk songs done by our youths,

and the merging of the various styles of dancing created on one stage, the opening ceremony of the Guyana Festival mesmerised all. Our culture is not complete without the fusing of our drums that hyped the crowd to their feet.

Speaking at the opening ceremony held at the Guyana National Stadium Providence, Minister of Tourism (ag) Irfaan Ali congratulated and thanked his hard working staff and corporate Guyana, because without their sup-

port and hard work we would not have been able to enjoy the well-coordinated ceremony.

Ali passionately declared: “This is the best opportunity for us to celebrate in confidence who we are to celebrate and what makes us this diverse.” He explained that as one people we celebrate in confidence our culture and our heritage and with this we are showing the world that this diverse culture of ours is still intact and we are ready to share it with

the world.

Ali concluded emphatically: “In confidence we will move Guyana forward, together all of us, hand in hand we will unite and build Guyana. Tonight we as Guyanese are confident that we want a better country and with this confidence we will ensure that we will build and nurture our beautiful country.”

The National Concert, held under the theme ‘Myths and Legends …Sweet, Sweet

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OPENS Guyana’ gave the audience a glimpse of the spectacular multiple entrances featuring Guyanese diverse folkloric figures such as: Moon Gazers, Mother Sallys, stilt men, Chinese Dragon, Mad Cows, Masakouriman, Fayemaid and a range of colourful human male and female costume, which were an explanation of our cultural heritage and depicted in the form of drama giving the audience a reminder of, or, an all together new experience.

-with a dazzling display of fusion of cultures

President Donald Ramotar joined with the Minister of Tourism in congratulating all those involved in making this event a reality. “Man shall not live on bread alone but we need also culture, song, dance, our traditions, these are very important,” Ramotar exhorted.

He explained that our people came from all corners of the earth and that is the reason for our diverse cultures and this is a reflection that we are true to our country’s motto: ‘One

People, One Nation, One Destiny.’

“We have the ability to fuse a unique Guyanese culture by building on what our fore parents gave us and this is what will define us,” he said.

President Ramotar emphasised that as our economy grows the arts will develop, our culture will develop and this is why the Government will continue to pursue many of the important projects that is presently in the

pipeline to ensure that our economy continues to grow. “One of the most important of this is the construction of the hydro power plant to give our people cheap electricity, these are the dreams that the Government has for our country,” he noted.

As President Ramotar declared the Guyana Festival open, he concluded by urging all Guyanese: “Let us work together, let us build Guyana, and let us build our future.”

(Adrian Narine photos)

Guyana Festival: a dazzling display of cultures

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Agriculture Ministry intensifies campaign for increased consumption of local foods

By Vanessa Narine

THE Ministry of Agriculture is intensifying its efforts to persuade Guyanese to get on board with its initiative that will see the use of more locally grown foods and locally manufactured products – an effort that is being touted as one that will increase opportunities for Guyanese and benefit Guyana as a whole.

Agriculture Minster Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, yesterday, at the Ministry’s Regent Street office opened Guyana’s first cook-off of locally grown produce, a competition that is expected to be an annual feature, which he used to underscore the merits of the Ministry’s drive.

current levels of food imports and the use of locally grown foods and locally manufactured products. This, he added, will be the base against which reductions in food imports and usage of local foods and products will be measured in the future.

“When we support imported products we make it difficult to support our own people and our country,” Ramsammy said.

OTHER MEASURES Additionally, ahead of Agriculture Month in October, the minster announced several other measures that are expected to come on stream to mark Agriculture Month, which will bolster the achievement of the push

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, delivering his address yesterday

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, and ministry staffers marvel at the skills of Guyanese producers in bottling beverages from home grown products

WELL-PLANNED Ramsammy acknowledged that fostering the culture of “grow what you eat, eat what you grow” will require multi-sectoral collaboration, however, he made it clear that the ministry is working with a plan which guides its advance of this initiative.

He noted that the promotion of locally grown foods and locally manufactured products will support local farmers and provide employment opportunities, as well as encourage entrepreneurs in agro-processing and other related fields.

According to him, Guyana food import bill is currently US$200 per capita, at a time when the country is food secure.

“We want to bring this down to a smaller sum,” he said, adding that the country will benefit in this regard.

Ramsammy added that Guyana will also be able to expand its export market, as it promotes locally grown foods and locally manufactured products.

“Our goal is to have the use of Guyanese products on a wider scale. We want our demands for food and food products to be Guyanese preferred,” he said.

The minister pointed out too that another effort being undertaken is the compilation of a database that measures the

for Guyanese-preferred foods and products.

Among the measures is the release of a recipe book, which will highlight healthy, wholesome, and locally produced foods.

Ramsammy explained that all the ingredients included in the book will be locally grown or produced, utilising foreign ingredients where possible, and will be an annual feature.

Submissions for the book, which is expected to contain as many as 50 recipes, can be sent to moapublication@gmail.com The second measure announced is a day to promote local agro-processors, an Agro-Processors’ Day, which is slated for the last Saturday in October.

The third measure is a countrywide initiative scheduled for October 16, World Food Day, where local cook-shops, restaurants, canteen, caterers and even hotels in Guyana will make and eat only locally produced foods. This campaign, themed ‘Eat What We Produce’ is expected to not only promote the local food system, but also promote healthier diets.

Ramsammy also appealed for Guyanese to come on-board to ensure the use for more locally grown foods and locally manufactured products.

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, samples a dish prepared as part of yesterday’s cook-off competition

Persons flocking to one of the booths that put on an enticing show of Guyanese foods (Cullen Bess Nelson photos)

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McIlroy reaps rich rewards after total immersion in game

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - Having immersed himself in golf since the breakup three months ago of his engagement to tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, Rory McIlroy has reaped rich rewards with a sizzling run of form at the game’s highest level.

Just days after saying he was not ready for marriage, the Northern Irishman clinched the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth in May, then won last month’s British Open and the PGA Tour’s

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after sinking a birdie putt on the ninth hole during the second round of the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, yesterday. (Credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder)

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in successive starts.

Brimming with confidence heading into this week’s PGA Championship where he was labelled as an overwhelming favourite, McIlroy has lived up to that billing by storming into the early lead in the second round at Valhalla Golf Club.

“I’ve put a little bit more time into my golf and refocused me in a way,” world number one McIlroy told reporters after firing a fourunder-par 67 on a rain-sodden Valhalla layout.

“I just immersed myself

Limacol Caribbean Premier League ...

Gayle and Pietersen looking forward to clash today TWO of the great entertainers meet today at 12:00hrs in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League as Chris Gayle’s high-flying Jamaica Tallawahs take on a rejuvenated St Lucia Zouks who welcome Kevin Pietersen to their team.

Speaking ahead of his CPL debut today at Warner, Pietersen is looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere and energy of the St Kitts crowd and entertaining them with some hard-fought cricket.

Pietersen said Warner Park is a tight ground and the wicket looks very good for batting, so we should be in for the kind of cricket the crowds want to see.

The Zouks have been very competitive in their matches in the tournament without quite getting over the line in a few close games.

This weekend we will be looking to build on our first win in the last game and take up the challenge of playing two of the form teams in the competition.

Jamaica Tallawahs captain Chris Gayle said; “This is a big game for us against the Zouks as we have the opportunity to go to the top of the table if we win. With Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel losing last night, the door is ajar for us to try and qualify automatically for the final so that is what we are focused on this weekend.

Pietersen also spoke of the responsibility experienced players such as him-

self and Chris Gayle have in offering advice to young team mates and helping inexperienced players to develop their game.

Pietersen said, “Competitions such as the CPL and IPL are very important in giving new talent in the region the opportunity to play against some of the best

local and international players. As an experienced player, I try to help any young player in my team by offering whatever advice they would like in relation to their game.

The Caribbean is a wonderful place to play cricket and the CPL is the best type of academy for the next generation of cricketers in these

English Ascot 07:55 hrs Kingsgate Choice 08:30 hrs Sir Frank Morgan 09:05 hrs Communicator 09:40 hrs Magic City 10:15 hrs Trip To Paris 10:50 hrs Telmeyd

South African Racing Tips Turffontein 08:10 hrs Tormentress 08:45 hrs Euphoria 09:20 hrs Storm warning 09:55 hrs Sisters Of Mercy 10:30 hrs Lady Muffet 11:05 hrs Silvan Gold

Haydock 08:50 hrs Patience Alexander 09:20 hrs Queensberry Rules 09:55 hrs True Story 10:25 hrs Lightning Thunder 11:00 hrs Provenance 11:35 hrs Cornrow 12:05 hrs Double Bluff

Irish Racing Tips Kilbeggan 12:25 hrs Silver Shuffle 13:00 hrs Ask Vic 13:50 hrs Wate And Sea 14:00 hrs Magical Moon 14:30 hrs Seefood 15:00 hrs Fever Pitch 15:30 hrs Dandridge

Newmarket 09:00 hrs Light Fantastic 09:30 hrs Clon Brulee 10:05 hrs Almargo 10:35 hrs Efflorescence 11:10 hrs Pennine Panther 11:45 hrs Maverick Wave 12:15 hrs Late Shipment

American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 Silver Union Race 2 Madd Exchange Race 3 Storm Race 4 Two Weeks Off Race 5 Be Bullish Race 6 Cool Comfort Race 7 Groupthink Race 8 Point Roll Race 9 Richies Sweetheart

islands, and it is really nice to be a part of that.”

In the other match today, Antigua Hawksbills take on the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel at 16:00hrs at Warner Park, St Kitts.

in my game. I’ve practised hard and I’ve done all the right things, and I’m reaping the rewards.”

Asked how much more time he had been putting into golf, the three-time major winner replied: “It’s hard to really say. I guess, what else do I have to do?

I get up in the morning, I go to the golf course, I go to the gym.

“It’s just my life at the minute, you know. It obviously works pretty well, so I’m going to keep doing it.

I always feel like I’ve practised pretty hard ... over the past couple of months, I’ve really just buried myself in my golf game.”

McIlroy, who won his first major title at the 2011 U.S. Open before adding a second with the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, said he had learned how to become a successful front-runner after his spectacular meltdown at the 2011 Masters.

NIGHTMARE DAY The Northern Irishman had led by four shots going into the final round that year at Augusta National but then suffered a nightmare day as he tumbled out of contention

with a closing 80.

“It’s taken me a couple of years to grow into that where I am comfortable (leading), and my mindset has stayed the same since that day at Augusta,” McIlroy said.

“If I’m two ahead going into the weekend here, I’m going to try to get three ahead; and if I’m three ahead, I’m going to try to get four ahead; and if I’m four ahead, I’m going to try to get five ahead.

“I’m just going to try to keep the pedal down and get as many ahead as possible.

That is my mindset whenever I’m leading the golf tournament.”

McIlroy, who stormed to victory by a record eight shots at the 2012 PGA Championship, is relishing his golf at the moment and was delighted with his ability to stay patient in tough scoring conditions on a wet Valhalla layout.

“Another very solid day’s work,” he beamed after mixing an eagle with four birdies and two bogeys to post a nine-under total of 133. “You needed to stay really patient, because the rain was coming down pretty heavily at times.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Sangakkara ton leads Sri Lanka’s strong reply (REUTERS) - Kumar Sangakkara struck his 37th Test hundred as he and his retiring team mate Mahela Jayawardene powered Sri Lanka to 252 for two wickets before rain washed out the final session on day three of the first Test against Pakistan yesterday.

In reply to Pakistan’s first-innings total of 451, S r i L a n k a w e r e c r u i sing when rain forced an early tea and a subsequent heavy downpour ensured not another delivery was bowled at the water-logged Galle International Stadium.

Sangakkara remained unbeaten on 102 off 218 balls, having hit 13 fours in his 10th century against Pakistan while Jayawardene was batting on 55.

Kumar Sangakkara raises a 37th Test hundred on the third day in Galle.

The pair have added 108 runs for the third wicket, the 18th century partnership between them, with the hosts still trailing Pakistan by 199 runs.

Sangakkara brought up his century shortly before the early tea break with a cut through point region off left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman for four.

The 36-year-old lefthander as well as Jayawardene, who quits Test cricket after the twomatch series against Pakistan, survived strong lbw appeals to deny the tourists any success in the rain-shortened 85-minute afternoon session.

Jayawardene, on 11, did not offer a shot to a ball from Junaid Khan and was given out by the umpire but after he called

for a review the replays showed the ball was missing the off stump and he was given a reprieve.

Pakistan lost another review of an lbw decision when Junaid hit Sangakkara’s pad with the batsman on 62 but the point of impact was found outside the off stump.

The only wicket to fall in the morning session was that of opener Kaushal Silva, who was out for 64 off 140 balls with 11 fours in his compact innings.

Silva shared a 120-run

PAKISTAN 1st innings 451 (Y. Khan 177, A. Shafiq 75, S. Ahmed 55, A. Rehman 50; D. Perera 5-137) SRI LANKA 1st innings (o/n: 99-1) U. Tharanga lbw b J. Khan 19 K. Silva c S. Ahmed b Talha 64 K. Sangakkara not out 102

stand with Sangakkara but was out to Mohammad Talha when he got a thick edge to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who dived forward to hold a fine catch.

Jayawardene, playing his final Test at this venue, walked out to a n e x p l o s i o n o f f i re crackers and guard of honour given by local schoolboys.

He got off the mark with a single and off the third ball squaredrove Ajmal for four to signal his positive intentions.

M. Jayawardene not out 55 Extras: (b-1, lb-3, nb-2, w-6) 12 Total: (for 2 wickets, 80 overs) 252 Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-144.

Bowling: J. Khan 20-6-71-1 (w-1), M. Talha 14-4-45-1 (nb-2, w-1), S. Ajmal 29-7-76-0, A. Rehman 17-2-56-0.

Rain halts England’s second day progress (REUTERS) - England’s hopes of taking the initiative in the fourth Test against India were washed out by the rain as a torrential downpour after lunch left the outfield unplayable during the second day yesterday.

After bowling India out for a lowly 152 in the first innings, England hoped to build a healthy advantage but a lengthy rain delay meant play was abandoned with the hosts 85 runs ahead on 237 for six.

Unbeaten Joe Root (48) and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler (22 not out) will resume day three looking to build on their 67-run partnership.

Ian Bell had passed 50 for England on an overcast morning but seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed two quick wickets in a fine

spell of bowling.

Nightwatchman Chris Jordan (13) was the first to fall when he played a loose pull shot and was caught at mid-wicket by Varun Aaron.

Bell (58) followed when Kumar tempted him into playing at a ball outside off stump and he edged it to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni.

Root and Moeen Ali nudged England ahead but Moeen (13) was dismissed when Aaron clean-bowled him with a brutal inswinging deliv-

Left-hander Moeen Ali loses his stumps to medium fast bowler Varun Aaron.

INDIA 1st innings 152 (M. Dhoni 71; S. Broad 6-25) ENGLAND 1st innings (o/n 113-3) A. Cook c Singh b Aaron 17 S. Robson b B. Kumar 6 G. Balance lbw b Aaron 37 I. Bell c Dhoni b B. Kumar 58 C. Jordan c Aaron b B. Kumar

13 J. Root not out 48

ery before Root and Buttler took the hosts safely to lunch.

England resumed on 201 for six after the break, with Root and Buttler comfortably rotating the strike but their progress was halted by the heavy rain.

Despite the best efforts of the groundstaff, the umpires ruled that a sodden corner of the outfield remained unsafe and play was abandoned.

The five-match series is level at 1-1.

M. Ali b Aaron 13 J. Buttler not out 22 Extras: (b-5, lb-9, nb-5, w-4) 23 Total: (for 6 wickets, 71 overs) 237 Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-36, 3-113, 4-136, 5-140, 6-170.

Bowling: B. Kumar 18-6-47-3 (w-1), P. Singh 17-2-79-0 (w-1), V. Aaron 16-2-48-3 (nb-5, w-2), R. Ashwin 131-28-0, R. Jadeja 7-0-21-0.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

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Pistorius murder trial ends, prosecutor demands ‘consequences’ … Judge Thokozile Masipa to deliver her verdict on September 11

By Mfuneko Toyana PRETORIA, South Africa (Reuters) - The murder trial of Oscar Pistorius wrapped up yesterday with the prosecution making a final plea for the South African athlete to “face the consequences” of shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Thokozile Masipa, only the second black woman to be appointed a high court judge in post-apartheid South Africa, will now analyse more than 4 000 pages of evidence before delivering her verdict on September 11.

Double amputee Pistorius, 27, once a national icon for reaching the pinnacle of sport, is accused of murdering Steenkamp, a law graduate and model, at his home in Pretoria on Valentine’s Day last year.

The defence says Pistorius, nicknamed the ‘Blade Runner’ after his carbon-fibre prosthetic running legs, shot Steenkamp through a locked toilet door in self-defence, believing she was an intruder, and that therefore he should be acquitted.

State prosecutor Ger-

rie Nel has spent the trial, which began in March, portraying Pistorius as a gun-obsessed hothead who deliberately shot Steenkamp, 29, four times as she was taking refuge in the toilet after an argument.

Cutting through months of complex evidence and testimony, Nel ended proceedings by returning to his core argument.

“He knew there was a human being in the toilet.

That’s his evidence,” Nel told the judge.

“His intention was to kill a human being. He’s fired indiscriminately into that toilet. Then M’Lady, he is guilty of murder. There must be consequences.”

Defence lawyer Barry Roux said during his own wrapping-up that psychological evidence had proved the track star had a heightened fright response because of his disability and was in a terrified and vulnerable state when he shot Steenkamp.

‘VULNERABLE’ “You’re standing at that door. You’re vulnerable. You’re anxious. You’re trained as an athlete to react.

Oscar Pistorius Take all those factors into account,” Roux said, adding that Pistorius had felt exposed because he was standing on the stumps of his legs.

“He stands with his finger on the trigger, ready to fire when ready. In some instances a person will fire reflexively,” he added.

“That is your primal instinct.”

Roux also argued that prosecutors had only called witnesses who supported their argument and not other key people, including police officers, who he said would have undermined their case.

On Thursday Nel said Pistorius had told “a snowball of lies” and had called for the track star to be con-

victed of intentional murder, a crime that could land him with a life sentence.

A potential lesser charge of culpable homicide - comparable to manslaughter could carry a sentence of about 15 years.

Pistorius also faces three separate charges, including two counts of discharging firearms in public and possession of illegal ammunition, all of which he denies.

To arrive at a verdict, Masipa and her two assistants will have to weigh up the credibility of testimony on both sides, including that of Pistorius, who endured more than a week of torrid cross-examination during which he broke down repeatedly.

In the absence of a jury, experts say the crux of the case is whether Masipa accepts or rejects his version of events.

‘DEVOID OF ANY TRUTH’ Nel has called for Pistorius’ evidence thrown out because it was “devoid of any truth” and the athlete contradicted himself when

Judge Thokozile Masipa he said during cross-examination that he fired both accidentally and deliberately.

Roux said the trial should only ever have been on the charge of culpable homicide, rather than murder, because he said Pistorius had clearly shot Steenkamp by mistake.

Nel and Roux have focused much of their closing arguments on evidence from witnesses who say they heard a woman scream before a volley of shots, supporting the prosecution’s position that the couple had an argument before Steenkamp was killed.

Roux went through the early morning of the shooting minute-by-minute during

his wrapping-up, arguing that the witnesses were confused and contradictory about the sounds they heard.

He also spent time analysing photos he said proved the police had moved items in the couple’s bedroom, countering a key claim by Nel that images of the room proved that Pistorius’ version of the events was impossible.

The courtroom duelling between Nel and Roux, both dynamic advocates with contrasting styles, has added to the drama in a trial that has captivated audiences around the world.

Nel, known as ‘The Pitbull’ because of his fierce cross-examination style and penchant for the dramatic, has been the perfect foil to Roux, whose meticulous eye for detail has put the squeeze on even the most composed prosecution witnesses.

The fathers of both Pistorius and Steenkamp were in court for the first time this week. The track s t a r ’s a u n t e m b r a c e d Steenkamp’s father before the trial resumed yesterday.

BayernLB says rejects F1 boss Serena beats Wozniacki to set Ecclestone’s settlement offer stage for all-Williams semi (REUTERS) - German bank BayernLB (BAYLB. UL) said yesterday it had rejected a 25 million euro settlement offer from Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone relating to his involvement in the 2005 sale of its stake in the motor racing business.

State-backed BayernLB claims Ecclestone collected unjustified commissions and undervalued its stake in the motor racing business when private equity fund CVC became Formula One’s largest shareholder eight years ago.

“BayernLB has rejected Mr Ecclestone’s settlement offer,” a spokesman for the public-sector lender told Reuters.

Ecclestone’s lawyer in Munich, Norbert Scharf, declined to comment.

Following the rejection, which would have required BayernLB to drop all charges against the 83-year-old British bil-

Bernie Ecclestone lionaire, one option could be for the bank to negotiate another sum with Ecclestone. It could also launch civil proceedings against him.

BayernLB had originally demanded up to $400 million (238.43 million pounds) from Ecclestone, according to financial sources. But during a bribery court case against Ecclestone the public prosecutor and several witnesses said the bank had got a good price when it sold its stake in Formula One to CVC. In February, a British judge dismissed claims for damages by German company Constantin Me-

dien, which had alleged that Ecclestone was part of a “corrupt bargain” with a German banker to undervalue Formula One and favour the sale of a controlling stake to private equity fund CVC. Constantin, a former Formula One owner, is sticking to its demand for $171 million from Ecclestone. It claims it would have been entitled to a bigger payment if BayernLB had sold its stake for a higher price.

On Tuesday a German court halted a bribery trial against Ecclestone in exchange for his paying a $100 million fee. He is considered innocent under German law following the settlement.

In 2012 a Munich court jailed Gerhard Gribkowsky, former chief risk officer at BayernLB, for tax evasion and bribery for taking a $44 million payment from Ecclestone and his family trust after the sale.

(REUTERS) - World number one Serena Williams’ Rogers Cup title defence picked up speed with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 quarter-final win over Caroline Wozniacki yesterday, to set up a potential semi-final showdown with sister Venus.

Williams, who won the title last year in Toronto, is back in Montreal for the first time in 14 years, while Venus is making her first-ever visit to the belle province, but it could be a memorable one.

If Venus saw off 14th seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro later yesterday it would set up the 25th meeting between the sisters and first since a 2013 semi-final clash in Charleston won by Serena.

Both Serena Williams and Wozniacki arrived in Montreal in winning form.

Williams, a three-time champion on the Canadian hard courts, picked up her 61st career title last week at Stanford while Wozniacki

Serena Williams was champion in Istanbul.

Neither had dropped a set on route to the quarterfinals.

The match served up plenty of intrigue, Williams, the defending champion and current world number one, going against a former-number one and former-champion, who has her own love affair with the Montreal hard courts

where she had built a 9-1 record.

The muscular American was certainly not going to outwork Wozniacki, who is training to run the New York City marathon in November, but Williams had enough weapons and experience to see off the dangerous Dane.

In the opening set Wozniacki had one break point and made it count while Williams could not convert either of her two opportunities.

Wozniacki again took the initiative in the second, breaking the 17-time grand slam winner at the first opportunity but Williams would not throw in the towel, sweeping three straight games to surge in front 5-4 and then break the Dane to close out the set.

After trading a pair of breaks to start the third it was Williams who delivered the knockout punch, with one last break to clinch the match.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Zimbabwe excited by today’s daunting Test MODERN methods of motivation for sports teams include mantras, music and if we’re honest, money, but not in Zimbabwe. Just having a match to play is enough to inspire their cricket team.

But today’s Test is not just any match. It is their first in almost 12 months and it is against the No.1 team in the world. Usually that com-

bination might evoke angst but for Zimbabwe it spells opportunity.

“It is the ultimate to play the best in the world,” Stephen Mangongo, Zimbabwe’s coach said. “It’s such a privilege and an honour; we are excited about it. But at the same time it is a perfect opportunity to put our best foot forward for world cricket

to see that we can play the game in this country.”

Like his charges, the lid on Mangongo’s pot of excitement is close to popping off as D-Day approaches. He is as keen as anyone to see how his batsmen stand up to the challenge South Africa’s pace pack will pose, and how his bowlers will aim to cut through a line-up that more experienced attacks have

Mark Vermeulen is reviving his Test career after more than ten years. struggled to even snip into.

Mangongo’s message to his players is simple - if they perform as well as they can, they will make an impression. “We are a professional team. We are under no illusion. We know that we are up against it and we have to bring our best game to compete. That has been the hymn all week long - that we have to bring the best out of ourselves and to play out of our skins.”

Zimbabwe may have to be better than their best to compete against South Africa. Despite weeks of preparation, lack of match practice could take its toll on an outfit that has not had sufficient time to settle since their Test comeback three years ago.

Zimbabwe have only played 10 matches since their return in 2011 and four of those were one-off games.

Unlike other teams they have not had the opportunity to develop combinations, never mind settle on them, or find any momentum. They are in a constant state of building and rebuilding and even then they have managed to lay few bricks to form a solid foundation.

Without that base, choosing a squad is difficult and deciding on the XI more so. Zimbabwe are constantly wondering whether to continue giving chances to players who have reputations as performers but have been through a lean patch, or to reward players who have done well domestically.

“It is massively difficult.

When you are a stop-start you are always starting,” Mangongo said. “The reality is that it is always difficult for the players after spending a year to get back into it, to feel it, to feel the confidence.

It’s an uphill struggle when you stop-start.”

There is one player who can take a positive out of a lengthy interruption. Batsman Mark Vermeulen is likely to make a return to Test cricket following an absence of a decade, after finishing last season’s firstclass competition as the second-highest run-scorer.

Vermeulen is also Zimbabwe’s most in-form player, fresh off a century in an A-team match against Afghanistan. He will be the oldest member of the team and will add a level of experience that Zimbabwe’s younger players could benefit from.

“He’s put his hand up.

He is really looking solid and he is really calm for once, which is great,” Zimbabwe’s captain Brendan Taylor said. “He has a great cricketing brain and he is full of constructive ideas. Hopefully he will continue to have a clear mindset.”

If there is one man who is more motivated than the rest, it’s Vermeulen. He regards himself as being close to the end of his career and wants to make up for lost time.

All the Zimbabwean players want to do so too.

Test cricket is so rare for them that they do not need any fancy marketing to get excited about it. They just want a match. And they have a big one from today.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Broad to undergo knee surgery

STUART Broad will undergo surgery on his right knee at the end of the Investec Test series between England and India.

Broad, who claimed the 12th five-wicket haul of his career on the first day of the Old Trafford Test, expects to be out of action for up to three-and-a-half months, but is confident that he will be fit to play a full part in the World Cup which starts in February.

Broad, 28, overtook Graeme Swann’s wicket tally during the day and now stands sixth on the alltime list of England’s Test wicket-takers.

But he has struggled with tendonitis in the knee for some time and, while the timing of the operation has not been confirmed, it seems highly likely he will miss the

Stuart Broad limited-overs internationals against India that follow the Test series.

“In the past 18 months I could have had an op at any stage but it has got to the stage where it needs to be done,” Broad said. “The timing is not confirmed.

The surgeon is flying over from Sweden at the end of the Oval Test to have a

look. It will either be after that Test or after the oneday series, depending on what he suggests.”

Toby Roland-Jones, the Middlesex seamer, and Surrey’s Stuart Meaker have had the same type of surgery recently, giving Broad an idea of his recovery time.

“Toby and Stuart had it done at the end of last season and it’s about three months, or three-and-a-half months. I should be fine for the World Cup. “It’s actually a really good opportunity for me to get the knee sorted and to use the time as a strength and conditioning period.

The 2015 schedule looks really busy so all the players will have to be as fit as they possibly can, going into that period.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

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U.S. Customs busts Neesham’s ‘drug bat’ JAMES Neesham, the New Zealand all-rounder, was left looking for a new bat after a brush with overzealous customs officials in the USA. Neesham was travelling through the country between games for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League when his bat attracted the interest of customs officials.

In a sure sign that cricket remains a mysterious and largely unknown sport in the USA, the officials feared that the bat could be used to transport illegal drugs so they drilled several holes into it to enable closer inspection.

Neesham subsequently tweeted a picture of the ruined bat, saying: “Imagine if your cricket gear went through America and they drilled holes in your bat to look for drugs ....”

It subsequently spawned an amusing raft of puns on Twitter using the hashtag #drugbat.

Among the more imaginative suggestions were Richard Hadl-E, Co-Kane

Amazon Warrriors James Neesham Williamson, Whispering Meth and Arul Supplier.

Malcolm Speed was not asked to comment.

Imagine if your cricket gear went through America and they drilled holes in your bat to look for drugs.

Message sent is it’s okay to abuse - Dravid RAHUL Dravid, the former India captain, is concerned about the message sent out by the ‘not guilty’ verdict in the James Anderson-Ravindra Jadeja pushing case.

While there have been calls for the matter to be put to rest, Dravid said abuse, evidence of which was in umpire Bruce Oxenford’s report, had no place in the sport and that some reprimand had to be meted out.

“The message we’ve given out at the moment, the game has given out, is that it’s okay to do this stuff (abuse), which I think is wrong. I think there needed to be some sort of action taken,” Dravid told ESPNcricinfo.

“Some punishments needed to be handed out.

“We all know from Bruce Oxenford’s report what Jimmy (Anderson) has said, the words that he’s used. That is on the report and no one is denying the fact that there was

Rahul Dravid: Some punishments need to be handed out. that kind of abuse and En- pened as players left for had filed a Level 2 charge gland is claiming that Jade- lunch during the second against Jadeja arguing that ja turned and so we must day of the Trent Bridge he had allegedly wheeled bring that into the equation Test and has hung over a r o u n d a g g r e s s i v e l y as well, but at the end of the series since. India had prompting Anderson to act all of this, we have seen no charged Anderson with a in self-defence. punishments handed out.”

Level 3 offence for pushHowever, with no vidThe dispute had hap- ing Jadeja but England eo evidence and with tes-

timony from both sides being “hopelessly biased” judicial commissioner Gordon Lewis’ decision had let both players off.

India had pushed for an appeal, but the ICC has sealed the matter shut with their decision to not appeal.

Anderson might function better when he is riled up, Dravid said, but he might have forgotten when to stop. That escalation prompted Dravid to highlight the difference between sledging - which he said was acceptable - and a personal attack, which should be eradicated.

“He (Anderson) is someone who, and I think he’s spoken about it that ‘I need to get motivated by being aggressive’. But the problem is at times I think he has overstepped the line, he has gone over the mark.

Whether it was in this case or not we will actually never know.

“You don’t mind the

odd sledging. People are getting confused about the difference between sledging and actual what is abuse here. And people have said ‘oh let’s move on’ or ‘let’s walk away from this’ but I think we can move on from sledging. “ We ’ v e b e e n t h e r e , we’ve all played cricket games where you walk in and somebody uses the odd expletive when you get beaten and says ‘any chance of you nicking one’, you know ‘ your feet are stuck in cement’ stuff like that. You could go on and on about stuff like that, I’m sure that’s fine.

“But when you walk off the field abusing someone and making it personal, then I think that’s the danger when you do cross that line and things can happen where you get physical. So you’ve got to be very careful when you cross that line, and sort of stay within what is acceptable behaviour.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

Campbell, Earle lead Jamaica’s Waterhouse to topple Tauro

PANAMA CITY, Panama – First-half goals from Romario Campbell and Vincent Earle set things up and a reduction to 10 players to put a damper on a 2-1 victory for Waterhouse FC over hosts Tauro in the CONCACAF Champions League on Thursday.

Campbell and Earle slammed goals in the opening 20 minutes to give the edge to Waterhouse, a Jamaica National Premier League team, in the Group 4 contest at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez.

It was a timely boost of confidence for Waterhouse, the second team from Jamaica’s NPL to play in the Champions League following Harbour View in 2008/09.

But they were reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute, following Upston Edwards being sent off for his second bookable offence.

Campbell gave Waterhouse a dream start, when

tion the feature of the game, Waterhouse almost added a third goal in the 56th minute, when Jermaine Anderson was played behind the defence only to fire wide of the mark.

Tauro – scoreless in three Panamanian Apertura matches – scored in the 86th minute, when Jair Renteria knocked in a rebound after Christian Lopez fired a shot off the crossbar.

The Panamanian side had a few early opportunities which they squandered however. Before conceding a second goal, Tauro had a Action from the CONCACAF Champions League game between host Tauro FC (white jersey) and Waterhouse FC on Thursday. he hammered a 27-yard free ute, when Earle buried kick into the upper right cor- a shot into the open net ner of the net in the second after goalkeeper Kevin Melgar came off his line to minute.

Waterhouse doubled challenge Kenroy Howell.

With the end-to-end actheir lead in the 19th min-

Holder burst seals Tridents’ win

terrific chance to equalise in the seventh minute.

Miguel Castillo played a ball to Jose Luis Garces and the striker beat Waterhouse goalkeeper Richard McCallum. A sliding Hughan Gray, though, cleared the ball off the line.

Garces nearly capitalised on a defensive miscue by Edwards, stripping the defender and shedding his tackle before firing a shot from 10 yards off the near post in the 29th minute.

In the 78th minute, Tauro’s Miguel Castillo put a 20-yard free-kick on

frame. McCallum dived to his left to parry the attempt away with his right hand.

A minute later, Castillo lobbed the ball toward goal as McCallum and Waterhouse stood firm and came away with a famous victory.

Waterhouse will head to the United States capital of Washington, D.C. to face D.C. United at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on August 20 before they host Tauro eight days later in a return match at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Jamaica’s female world champion set for stern career test

A HALF-century from Raymon Reifer and a four-wicket burst from Jason Holder propelled Barbados Tridents to a 69run victory and into the top half of the Caribbean Premier League in St. Kitts.

Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel missed out on the opportunity to pass Jamaica Tallawahs and claim No. 1 spot in the competition.

Tridents got off to a shaky start after losing the toss. Three of their top four batsmen scored at less than a run a ball, but they maintained momentum because

Jason Holder knocked the top off the Red Steel chase with four for 27. of William Perkins’ 24 at a The innings took off strike rate of 200. after Shoaib Malik was dismissed for 35 off 38 balls in the 15th over.

Riefer and Kieron Pollard added 69 for the fifth wicket in 5.1 overs. Reifer’s 65 came off 41 balls, while (Saturday August 09, 2014) Pollard scored 34 off 15.

Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL Their partnership converted -Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & a middling total to 174 for CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 5. Samuel Badree was Red Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Steel’s best bowler, taking 2 for 20 in his four overs.

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Holder ruined Red (1) 50-Kumar Sangakara (Tallawahsvs Tridents, Steel’s chase by striking in Trinidad,2013) each of his four overs. He (2)TaminIqbal (Tridents vsZouks, Barbados, 2013) dismissed Kevin O’Brien, Evin Lewis, Ross Taylor Today’s Quiz: and Dwayne Bravo to reduce Red Steel to 44 for 4 (1) In the only Super-over contest in LCPL cricket to in the seventh over. Holder date, who were the bowlers involved? finished with 4 for 27, after (2)The Warriors mentor and bowling consultant is which Rayad Emrit took 3 Sir Curtly Ambrose. How many Tests and ODIs for 23 to wrap up Tridents’ he played? victory. Red Steel were dismissed for 105 in 16.5 overs.

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

CRICKETQUIZ CORNER

Alesia Ashley (right) has had three successful title defences

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC)- Jamaica’s lone female world boxing champion, Alicia Ashley, is set to face one of the sternest test to her World Boxing Council super bantamweight title next month.

Ashley will fight the former World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Jackie Nava at the Mexico City Arena on September 6.

She has been champion since July 23, 2011 when she defeated Christina Ruiz for the then vacant title.

“This is a boxer that I have always wanted to

fight. She is not the typical Mexican brawler,” said Ashley.

“She is a skilled boxer who brings a lot to the table and I have really wanted to match my skills against hers. It will be a tough fight, but it will bring out the best in me.”

Ashley has had three successful title defences and last fought on May 21, when she scored a sixth round technical knockout victory over Nohime Dennisson, in a non-title fight in New York.

Ashley will go into the fight with a 21-9-1 record,

including three knockout victories while Nava has a 29-4-3 record with 13 knockouts.

“It is just a month away now, so for the next few weeks I will be working really hard. I am fortunate to have two good sparring partners working with me,” said Ashley.

“They are fast, have good hand speed and are providing me with just the type of challenges that I need. I have to be in top condition for this fight and I promise you that I am going to be ready for it”.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 9, 2014

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Regional Women’s Super50 tourney

Guyana upset Jamaica; T&T, Barbados, SVG win – 1st round

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – Steady bowling and three run-outs put a feather in the cap of Guyana when they stunned reigning champions Jamaica with a three-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis Method in the Regional Women’s Super50 Tournament on Thursday.

Katana Mentore hit the top score of 30, as the Guyanese, sent in to bat, were restricted to 90 for five from 26 overs in the r a i n - a ff e c t e d G r o u p - B match which started 4-½ hours later than scheduled at Benjamin Park in the north of the island.

Erva Giddings Erva Giddings then grabbed 2-15 from five overs and Plaffiana Millingtoon took 2-19 from five

overs, including the prized scalp of Stafanie Taylor, as the South American side dismissed the Jamaicans for 81 in 23.3 overs.

Chadean Nation led the way for Jamaica with 30 and Taylor made 20, but the run-outs of openers Natasha McLean and Jodian Morgan, and Roshana Outar late in the chase were setbacks they could ill afford.

Stephanie Ramcharan collected 5-20 from seven overs and Gaitri Seetahal supported with 3-1 from 2.2 overs, as Trinidad & Tobago, the main contenders for Jamaica’s title, started the tournament

Shamillia Connell with a six-wicket victory over Grenada in Group-A play.

No Grenadian batter reached double figures, as they were dismissed for an anemic 36 in 19.2 overs after being sent in to bat at Grandbay Playing Field.

T&T stumbled in successfully chasing the target in 11.4 overs, losing four wickets.

Fast bowler Shamillia Connell snared 6-31 from 10 overs, as Barbados crushed hosts Dominica by eight wickets in the other Group-A match.

Tiffany Graham led the way for the Dominicans with 12 after they were sent in to bat at Windsor Park, but no other batter reached double figures, as the home team were bowled out for 52 in 20.3 overs.

Opener Hayley Matthews then hit 36 not out to hustle the Barbadians to victory in

7.4 overs.

Next door at the Botanical Gardens, veteran opener Samantha Lynch hit 35 to anchor St Vincent & the Grenadines to a six-wicket victory over St Lucia.

Lynch was the only batter to reach double figures, as SVG successfully chased 59 for victory, reaching their target in 18.3 overs.

Earlier, Stacey Adams took 4-18 from six overs, Latoya Providence captured 3-18 from the same number of overs and Vinisha King scalped 2-12 from five overs, as the St Lucians were bowled out for 58 in 22 overs, after they were sent in to bat.

JCA president says Sabina lighting to be efficient KINGSTON, Jamaica Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, the president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), said he has been assured that the state-of-the-art floodlights at Sabina Park will consume electrical power efficiently, thus minimising the burdensome charges of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS Co).

The freshly installed lights were commissioned on Sunday, and Heaven, defending the absence of the use of solar technology to illuminate the ground, argued that in the short term, Sabina Park Holdings, the entity responsible for the cricket venue and its facilities, was forced to connect to the power company’s grid.

“We are connected to the JPS Co grid, but my

JCA president Wilford Heaven understanding from the technical people is that the technology that we use (for the lights) is more efficient, which is not unusual. Technology advances by the day so you get a more efficient system that will help you to use less energy,” Heaven told the Jamaica Observer

on Tuesday.

“Outside of that, we also have two generators which we can also use to provide the current that is needed to support the lights,” he continued, though not providing the cost of operating the generators.

He explained that based on what he has been told, the Sabina lights would be more efficient than the less modern ones installed at the National Stadium.

Heaven said the switch to solar energy is “one of the long-term plans” in the pipeline, but added that the high cost associated with its implementation means stakeholders have taken “one step at a time”.

Heaven could not put a figure on how much the installation of solar panels to power the four light towers

at Sabina Park would cost.

However, it is understood that such a project could cost several million Jamaican dollars.

The lighting project was funded by a US$2.1-million grant from the government of India and a further US$600 000 contribution from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

Given the exorbitant and ever-swelling cost of electricity in Jamaica, the JCA boss was asked to estimate what the monthly JPS bill for the lights could look like when the park is used for night events.

“At this point, we are not sure because we don’t have the benefit of the use of the light to measure the cost associated with it, especially on a per-hour basis. I would

have to wait until some trend is developed, whether per event or per month,” Heaven answered.

Outside of the playing of night cricket, the installation of lights is intended to allow for the staging of various events at Sabina Park. Heaven, who also heads the state-run CHASE Fund, reasoned that some events may not require the lights to be on full blast, therefore lessening the power usage.

“It is not every event that will require the full beaming of the lights. There are three levels of illumination, and for particular events we may only need a lower level.”

Earning revenue from turning on the lights is also a major focus.

“We have to justify the

outlay, so remember that when the lights are turned on they are turned on in support of an event. We intend to have commercial events where we expect to get an income, as well, from that. We expect to cover cost and to have a profit margin from it,” the local cricket president insisted.

For cricket, he boasted that the lights have met International Cricket Council (ICC) standards.

“It would be full activation for cricket and my understanding from the technical people is that the brightness would be 95 per cent of what we see at daylight. So the ICC standards are satisfied and also the television requirements,” he added. (Jamaica Observer)

Williams welcomes Logie to T&T set-up PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Former Trinidad and Tobago head coach Kelvin Williams welcomed the changes to the national team set-up ahead of the 2014-2015 season even though it will mean a demotion for him.

Williams now serves as assistant to newly appointed head coach, former West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago cricketer Augustine ‘Gus’ Logie.

For Williams, the success of the national team is the number one prior-

ity and is happy to make way for the benefit of the team.

“I am for any change for the success of the team,” he told the Express yesterday.

“I think Gus has the experience. He was a former Test player and a former international coach and at the end of the day we are talking about success as a team and it is all about winning,” he added.

Logie represented the West Indies in 52 Tests, scoring 2 470 runs with two centuries and 16

Gus Logie played in 52 Tests for West Indies.

half-centuries. He played 158 ODIs scoring 2 809 runs with one century and 15 half-centuries before retiring in 1993.

Among Logie’s coaching accolades was a stint at the helm of the West Indies team when they won the 2004 Champions Trophy. He was also in charge of Bermuda and C a n a d a . Wi l l i a m s s a y s Logie’s international experience will be an asset in the national team setup and is looking forward to working with him as

the national team try to win the regional four-day crown for the first time since 2006.

“I was there before and then I was back again for one cricket season when we probably just fell short but at the end of the day, best of luck for Gus and we hope he brings the success that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board needs,” Williams added.

Williams is also backing the move to have centrally contracted players.

“I think the changes are

there basically and it is nice to know there will be changes because we used to operate on an amateur kind of basis and now if you contract 15 players, it means you have their service anytime you need to call them to train so it is big plus there. I am all for that,” said Williams.

“I am supporting Gus 100 per cent. I will also be in the set-up and I will be giving him all the support he needs,” the former national coach added.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Guyana upset Jamaica; T&T, Barbados, SVG win – 1st round (See Story on page 39)

Linden Clubs call for lifting of bans on UDFA executives TODAY, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will meet with its affiliates where several issues will be addressed and even revisited, as they reconvene ‘Congress’ and one of its members is hoping that its concerns be met and heard.

The Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA), is asking the Christopher Matthias GFF and Congress to lift the ban it had placed on its entire executive earlier in the year.

After hosting its GT Beer end-of-the-year tournament and hosting the final on New Year’s Day (January) simultaneously with the Georgetown Football Association’s (GFA) Banks Beer Cup, UDFA president Sharma Solomon, vice-president Collie Hercules and other executives were banned from football by the GFF and its

General Council.

An Interim Management Committee was installed, but according to the members of the UDFA, the Linden clubs “have never recognised this committee due to the unconstitutionality of the decision”.

“At a meeting called and conducted by the clubs of UDFA on Wednesday, August 6, 2014, we, the undersigned clubs of the Upper Demerara Football Association, discussed the statement made by the Associations of the GFF in a letter to the Sports Editor (Guyana Chronicle August 4, 2014),” the UDFA Clubs said in a release.

The clubs present at the meeting were Topp XX, Silver Shattas, Winners Connection, Vasco, Blueberry Hill United, Milerock, and Amelia’s Ward Panthers.

Eagles United, Botofago and Netrockers were ab-

sent while Retrieve Lions, Train Line Warriors and Hallico football clubs, all of whom are deemed as

Collie Hercules “clubs with observer status” were present.

To b e g i n w i t h , t h e UDFA Clubs felt vindicated and heartened by the Association/Affiliates’ statement that “something fundamental was wrong with

Gayle and Pietersen looking forward to clash today SeepageStory33on

Former England Test player Kevin Pietersen faces the media.

the procedures employed to suspend the members of the UDFA”.

“This statement acknowledges what we have always known to be true: that the decision to suspend the Executives of the UDFA was that this arbitrary decision has hindered rather than helped develop football in the Upper Demerara region.”

Collectively, the UDFA Clubs feel that given this acknowledgement, of erroneous decision-making by the Associations/Affiliates

of the GFF, they ask that efforts to remedy this situation be conducted in a speedy manner.

“The suspension of the UDFA Executive Committee must be lifted so that the Association can function as it was elected to perform,” the release said.

Keneisha Dey who sits as treasurer of the Amelia’s Ward Panthers football club, along with Patrice Bynoe, president of Silver Shattas, were selected to represent the interest of the UDFA at today’s

Sharma Solomon Congress and, according to the release, any other instance until the situation is resolved.

Several high-ranking players confirmed for today’s T20 Festival cricket match SEVERAL high-ranking players have confirmed their participation in the Guyana Festival cricket match, between Masters Team and President’s XI, to be held at the Guyana National Stadium, at 16:00hrs today.

Players joining the teams include first class player Derek Kallicharran, and his brother former West Indies Test batsman Alvin Kallicharran, Faoud Bacchus, MahendraNagamootoo, Travis Dowlin, Neil McGarrell, Clive Butts and Clayton Lambert.

This T20 affair marks the first event of this nature, with the Ministry of Tourism working to make it an annual spectacle where Guyanese can have the opportunity of seeing first hand the greats Guyana produced and how much we have contributed to the cricketing world.

This exciting competition, which will see the Masters team take on the President’s XI, forms part of

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Alvin Kallicharran the Guyana Festival games which will also include a thrilling football match. The Festival officials have also assured that spectators will be entertained as Guyana’s past and present ‘greats’ in the cricketing fraternity meet to do battle on the field.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview, Indranauth Haralsingh, Director of Guyana Tourism Authority and Marketing Coordinator of the festival, explained that the festival is receiving tremendous support both locally and internationally.

Only recently COURTS Guyana donated $2M and CARICOMBottling Inc. donated $3M. The Guyana Festival will culminate tomorrow after featuring our most celebrated legends in sports, culture, art, music, food, entertainment and much more.

Yesterday featured an airshow and national concert, while today is designated night of the legends and tomorrow will feature a national cook-off with food from every culture, followed by the Generation X concert.

The Guyana Festival Passport, at a cost of US$15, will be available to mark this event and will contain discount coupons from the sponsors; autographs from Clive Lloyd, Dave Martin and other stars as well as President Donald Ramotar.

A festival coin will be available at King’s Jewellery World.

There are other branded memorabilia on sale both locally and internationally.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2014