Guyana chronicle 10 02 14

GUYANA No. 103735

MONDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2014

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

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Opposition ‘last-minute’ proposals outside of Committee’s mandate

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- No disagreement on Gov’t Bill after 10 months of dithering

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall in whose name the Bill was tabled in the House.

PPP calls on AFC’s Nigel Hughes to resign - cites alleged predilection for shady business

Appeasing the lion, as per tradition

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CJIA ON HIGH ALERT!

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- in face of ‘unconfirmed threat’against CAL - US Embassy warns its citizens against flying CAL over next 72hrs

Passengers busted at CJIA with cocaine in tamarind achar Page 7 At the traditional celebration of Chinese New Year at the National Park yesterday (Photo by Adrian Narine)

‘Lady T’, ‘Bones Man’ dominate Carib Soca Monarch semis in N/A - The field now down to 13

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Opposition ‘last minute’ proposals outside of Committee’s mandate - No disagreement on Gov’t Bill after 10 months of dithering

THE Special Select Committee reviewing the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, last night, “consensually” completed its consideration of the Bill.

This was according to Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, in whose name the Bill was tabled in the National Assembly.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he said, “The Bill was considered clause by clause by the Committee and certain inconsequential amendments, such as renumbering of sections, were consensually made and the Committee completed in a consensual manner its examination of that Bill.

“This is significant in that it confirms the contention of the Government that the Opposition has nothing material to add to the Bill and therefore they were wasting the nation’s time over the last 10 months by publicly declaring that they have amendments to make to the Bill.”

He noted that although the Committee’s consideration is complete, the draft report and the Bill are still to be finalised.

“We will be meeting at noon tomorrow (today) before the 2:00pm sitting to address the finalising of the Bill and the report,” Nandlall said.

However, he stressed that he remains “unsure” of the future of the Bill.

The AG added that at the “eleventh hour” the Opposition made three proposals that were outside of the Committee’s mandate and surmised that this seems to be their “exit” strategy.

He said, “It is clear that the Opposition is not interested in passing this Bill. At the very last minute they are trying to ram down the throat of the Government a set of disjointed, ad hoc and unreasonable proposals, which they know the Government will find impossible to accept in order to provide themselves with an exit strategy so that that they can save face and say that the Government has rejected their proposals.”

Nandlall stressed that the National Assembly remitted a Bill to the Select Committee for its consideration and the Standing Orders are very clear that a Select Committee must confine its work, in terms of a Bill, to the Bill which has been remitted to it.

“A Select Committee does not, therefore, have a roaming and roving mandate to wander off outside of the four corners of that Bill,” he said.

RISKY PROPOSALS According to him, the three proposals, outside of the Committee’s mandate, are risky ones.

Nandlall said, “Unfortunately tonight (Sunday, February 9) 10 months after the predecessor of this Bill was laid in the National Assembly, the Opposition produced three sets of amendments: one from Mr. Jaipaul Sharma, one from Mr. Carl Greenidge and one from Mr. Basil Williams.

“Mr. Greenidge’s proposals collide with Mr. Sharma’s proposals and the Committee had to adjourn for over an hour for the two of them to consolidate their proposals.

“I emphasise the proposals came after 10 months. Significantly they do not touch and concern any provision in the Bill. They propose to amend the 2009 Principal Act. “We raised the objection that the Committee has no mandate and authority to treat with these amendments as they are ultra-vires to the remit and authority of the Committee.

“Additionally, these amendments were submitted in a very disjointed, disorderly and clumsy fashion, but apart from their form, they seek to alter and amend very substantial matters in the Principal Act. “They seek to change the entire governing apparatus of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), in terms of the constitution of the Unit and by whom, and worst yet they seek to establish a super structure called an AML/CFT authority, which shall administer and manage the affairs of the FIU. This body is to be appointed by a Committee to be established by Parliament.”

He made it clear that these are very substantial amendments and

he is unsure of the ramifications and impacts it will have on several sections of the Principal Act. The AG said, “This top heavy Unit is to be comprised of persons whom the proposals described as “stakeholders”. It does not say who these stakeholders are.

“So quite apart from the possibility of this proposal clashing with sections of the Bill, we run the immediate risk of this amendment not meeting the approval of CFATF.

to believe that the currency is the proceeds of crime or will be used to finance crime.

He said, “Significantly, currency in the Principal Act, current is broadly defined to include cash, cheques, money orders, jewelry, precious metals, etc. The Government is contending that this is a dangerous power to vest in any customs or police officer, since it is susceptible to abuse.

“We live in a cash-based society and Guyanese travel around

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall in whose name the Bill was tabled in the House.

“One of the most important considerations of CFAFT in constituting the FUI is to ensure that the FIU is autonomous in its composition and its functioning. Here it is that we have this new body beholden to the entire National Assembly and a conglomerate of unknown “stakeholders”. This undermines the very basis of the FIU, simply because we are now bringing a larger number of persons into the operationalizing of the FIU, some of whom themselves or

with large amounts of cash and jewelry to do their business. A policeman now is being given the power to stop and seize currency from a person if this officer forms the opinion, even whimsically and capriciously, that the currency is the proceeds of crime or will be used to commit a serious offence.

“In other words, currency will be like contraband in Guyana and when the police seize this currency, the hapless victim is required to

Government Chief Whip and Chair of the Select Committee that reviewed the AML/CFT Bill, Gail Teixeira

their connections may be the subject of investigation, that is why the persons were appointed by a singular person, to ensure that the risk of contamination is minimal.”

The other set of amendments, he added, seek to remove the Attorney General wherever that name appears and replace it with the FIU. Nandlall said, “These amendments smack of the functions which have been ascribed to the Attorney General are administrative and ministerial. It was given to the Attorney General and not any other minister for a reason. The person who has to administer these functions therefore, must be a person trained in law and be a minister of Government. You simply cannot replace Attorney General and replace it with FIU. The AG’s functions are legal and governmental. The FUI’s function is investigative and administrative.”

The AG stated that the third set of amendments seek to invest a police officer or customs officer with a power to seize currency from any person, anywhere in Guyana, if those officers have reason

APNU Shadow Finance Minister and vocal critic of the Bill, Carl Greenidge go to a judge for and order to have the money released.

“Such a proposal, I submit, will only be put into law after the people have been consulted as it is dangerous to place such power in the hands of anyone.”

Nandlall maintained that these amendments were hurriedly put together at the 11th hour in the face of a deadline.

“They were brought in raw, unedited and hurriedly assembled form. At a minimum they have to be studied, refined by the Committee’s draftsperson. I don’t know how all of this can be achieved within the time available,” he stressed.

DEADLINES The November 2013 vote saw Guyana missing CFATF’s deadline.

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

However, ahead of the May deadline, FATF is scheduled to meet on Thursday, February 13 – the more pressing deadline.

The France-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued a statement at the start of February that listed Guyana as the number one country in the Americas that could be taken on by the International Cooperation Review Group’s (ICRG) for review and possibly further sanctions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

PPP calls on AFC’s Nigel Hughes to resign - cites alleged predilection for shady business

By Vanessa Narine

THE ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday called for Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Mr Nigel Hughes, to resign after noting what it describes as “damming allegations” of his involvement in another racketeering scheme.

The party said in a statement,“These allegations must not be taken lightly and are, to say the least, troubling and worrying to the public at large. “…the fact that these allegations continue to be made is cause for concern about the integrity of the attorney-at-law and his ethical standards, not only in the political realm, but when doing business. “…the PPP demands the resignation of this corrupt politician who constantly abuses his office and portfolio.”

COURT ACTION Nigel Hughes The statement comes in the wake of a court action moved by Mayfield French, owner of popular city private school, Mae’s Schools.

French, on January 17, 2014, sued Hughes, Hand-in-Hand Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Registrar of the Supreme Court in respect of a property located at Lot 29 Subryanville, Kitty, Georgetown, upon which part of the school has been built.

In the court papers seen by this newspaper, French is contending that since February 24, 2006, she purchased said property from Hughes for the sum of $20M. She paid $8M as a deposit and took possession, on condition that the transport would be passed within eight months. Mortgage on said property was also supposed to be paid off before the passing of the transport.

In the interim, French developed the property, constructing buildings on it as part of the school’s complex.

According to French, she spent nearly $400M on the said property. The portion which was bought from Hughes houses classrooms of Mae’s Secondary School, the school’s canteen and auditorium offices, washroom and other administrative and learning spaces.

However, Hughes never passed transport to her.

Before the sale to French, Hughes had mortgaged the very property to Hand-in-Hand Mutual Life Insurance Company.

French claimed that it was only in last December that she first learnt that Hughes never paid off the loan for which the said property was mortgaged as collateral, and that Hand-in-Hand had obtained foreclosure proceedings against the property and Hughes since March 20, 2012.

Hughes’s indebtedness to Hand-in-Hand reportedly now stands at over $26M. The property was levied upon in December 2013 by the Marshal of the Supreme Court, and purportedly sold at an auction.

According to French, Hughes never disclosed that he did not pay off the loan; that he was sued as a result; and that a foreclosure order was obtained against the property. French claimed as a result she now faces ruin.

According to the PPP, aside from this matter, Hughes was in-

“…the PPP wishes to condemn the double standards being exhibited by the AFC and its cronies, which constantly accuse the government of corruption” volved in several other scandals.

One that was cited by the PPP was the allegations of conflict of interest, when it was revealed that Hughes and his wife, Cathy, were in the employ of Sithe Global, the company which developed the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project which the AFC rejected.

Another example cited was the fact that Hughes was also embroiled in the controversy surrounding his deliberate failure to disclose his relationship with the jury foreman in the Lusignan Massacre trial whilst representing one of the accused.

CRIMINAL LINKS The PPP has charged that it is also advised of Hughes’s “criminal links and the underground” in Guyana.

The party said, “The PPP is aware of his links to prominent

Backer’s successor likely to be named when House meets today - following confirmation of her resignation

By Vanessa Narine THE resignation of the National Assembly’s Deputy Speaker, Deborah Backer, was confirmed Friday by Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), David Granger, thereby leaving the post open for nominations.

The National Assembly meets today, and nominations for a new Deputy Speaker are possible, before Granger officially declares Backer’s seat in the House vacant.

This was according to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

“The parties in the House will nominate persons for the post, and Deborah Backer

the vote can be taken either before or after the Opposition fills the seat,” Isaacs said.

The House unanimously voted in Government Member of Parliament (MP), Bibi Shaddick, as the Deputy Speaker for the January 23 sitting only.

Backer, the front-bencher for A Partnership for National Unity has been absent from the National Assembly proceedings due to a still unconfirmed illness and has had to access medical care outside of Guyana at least twice in the last month.

Backer, in early January, was flown to Florida, USA for tests and APNU Leader, David Granger, in media reports had expressed his hopes for Backer’s speedy recovery.

The MP was first treated at a private hospital in Georgetown after falling ill.

In addition to being Deputy Speaker, Backer is also her party’s Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister.

The MP’s resignation took effect on Friday, February 7.

drug lords and criminals of this ilk and his barefaced representation of their interests in the courts when litigation is brought against them.

“The party recalls his involvement in the removal of footage from the gas station where a citizen was gunned down at Buxton.”

The ruling party has since called for citizens who have been wronged by the prominent politician to lodge a report with the Guyana Police Force for full investigations.

The party said, “The PPP urges those citizens who may have fallen prey to Hughes’s alleged racketeering acts to lodge a report with the Guyana Police Force which should investigate all allegations keenly.

“Our party will never allow any politician to trample on the fundamental rights of ordinary citizens. “…it is shameful, but telling that the AFC which preaches about good governance and accountability is failing miserably to rein in Hughes despite the scandals in which he is finding himself.

SILENCE The fact that the AFC has been silent on the matter remains a source of contention for the ruling party, particularly considering the AFC’s focus on transparency and accountability.

The PPP said, “The party can no longer attempt to lecture to any stakeholder in this society about rooting out corruption when it is unable to do the same within its rank and file.

“If the AFC has a shred of decency left it must distance itself from Hughes and rebuke his actions.

“If the Ramjattan and Nagamootoo driven alliance has any integrity remaining, it must stop dogdging the issue surrounding the constant controversies involving Hughes and lay their concerns bare before the public.”

The ruling party added that it is appalled by the “deafening silence” of the AFC executive on the matter at hand, as well as preceding incidents reflective of fraudulent activities, misconduct and improprieties.

The party said, “…after facing severe public pressure it was forced to address allegations of conflict of interest when it was revealed that Hughes and his wife Cathy were in the employ of Sithe Global, the company which developed the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. The AFC venomously opposed the project and questioned the way in which government entered into an arrangement with Hughes's employers.

“It is also yet to address the controversy surrounding Hughes's failure to disclose his relationship with the jury foreman in the Lusignan massacre trial whilst representing one of the accused.”

It also acknowledged the speculation that the cancellation of the AFC’s weekly press conference was as a result of that “party’s attempt to avoid questions on the allegations” of fraud levelled against Hughes.

The PPP said, “Such practices by AFC are not new as the party repeatedly dodges the media on matters of wrongdoings implicating its executives. “…the PPP wishes to condemn the double standards being exhibited by the AFC and its cronies which constantly accuse the government of corruption.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Iran moves to cooperate in U.N. nuclear bomb probe

By Fredrik Dahl and Mehrdad Balali

VIENNA/DUBAI S-(Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear agency said yesterday that Iran had agreed to start addressing suspicions that it may have worked on designing an atomic weapon, a potential breakthrough in a long-stalled investigation into Tehran’s atomic activities.

The development - although limited for now - marked a step forward in an international push to settle a decade-old dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

Tehran says this is peaceful, while the West fears that Iran wants to develop atomic arms.

The deal could also send a positive signal to separate, highstakes negotiations between Iran and six world powers which are due to start on February 18 in Vienna, aimed at reaching a broader diplomatic settlement with the Islamic state.

Efforts to end years of hostile rhetoric and confrontation that could otherwise trigger a new war in the Middle East gained momentum with last year’s election of a relative moderate, Hassan Rouhani, as new Iranian president on a platform to ease Iran’s international isolation.

The International Atomic

Energy Agency said Iran had agreed during talks in Tehran to take seven new practical measures within three months under a November transparency deal with the IAEA meant to help allay concern about the nuclear program.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano.

For the first time, one of them specifically dealt with an issue that is part of the U.N. nuclear agency’s inquiry into what it calls the possible military dimensions to Iran’s atomic activities. Iran has repeatedly denied any such ambitions.

It said Iran would provide “information and explanations

for the agency to assess Iran’s stated need or application for the development of Exploding Bridge Wire detonators”.

Although such fast-functioning detonators have some non-nuclear uses, they can also help set off an atomic device.

“It is an important issue and it is good that the agency can now tackle it,” former chief IAEA inspector Herman Nackaerts said. But he made clear that much work remained in order to fully clarify the IAEA’s concerns: “It is a first step in a long process.”

Faced with deadlock last year in its attempts to get Iran to cooperate with its investigation, the IAEA changed tactics and now seeks to gradually build mutual trust by starting with some of the less sensitive issues, diplomats say.

Suggesting that more difficult matters would have to wait a while longer, there was no mention in the IAEA’s statement of its long-sought access to the Parchin military site, where it suspects explosives tests relevant for nuclear bombs may have been conducted a decade ago. Iran denies this.

that Iran may have coordinated efforts to process uranium, test explosives and revamp a missile cone in a way suitable for a nuclear warhead. Iran says such claims are baseless and forged.

Other steps to be taken by Iran by May 15 include inspector access to the Saghand uranium mine and the Ardakan uranium ore milling plant as well as updated design information about a planned reactor the West fears could yield weapons material.

Iran will also give information on the extraction of uranium from phosphates. Uranium can fuel nuclear power plants but also provide the fissile core of a bomb if refined more.

The IAEA, tasked with preventing the spread of nuclear weapons in the world, says it needs such access and information to gain a more complete picture about Iran’s nuclear program.

It wants “to have a complete understanding of Iran’s uranium holdings”, said Olli Heinonen, another former chief IAEA

inspector, now at Harvard University’s Belfer Center.

The Iran-IAEA talks are separate from, though still closely linked to, the wider diplomacy between Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia.

Shortly after Tehran and the IAEA signed their cooperation accord on November 11, Iran and the six powers clinched an interim deal to curb its nuclear work in exchange for some sanctions easing, designed to buy time for the talks on a longterm deal.

The IAEA’s investigation is focused on the question of whether Iran sought atomic bomb technology in the past and, if it did, to determine whether such work has since stopped.

A joint Iran-IAEA statement issued after the February 8-9 discussions said the two sides held “constructive technical meetings” and that Iran had implemented six previous, initial steps including access to two nuclear-related sites.

Ukraine protesters, Russia increase pressure on Yanukovich

DETONATOR DEVELOPMENT The IAEA has been investigating accusations for years

By Natalia Zinets and Richard Balmforth KIEV -(Reuters) - Ukrainian protesters, now in their third month of action, kept up pressure on President Viktor Yanukovich on Sunday with a mass rally where opposition

heavily indebted economy, the hryvnia, remained under strain.

Russia piled further pressure on him at the weekend, linking disbursement of the next tranche of its $15 billion aid package for Kiev to repayment of a hefty gas bill owed to Russian firms.

People shout slogans during an anti-government rally in Kiev, yesterday. Credit: Reuters/Gleb Garanich leaders called for an end to his “dictatorial” powers.

About 20,000 demonstrators rallied on Kiev’s Independence Square, focal point of the protest movement, as Yanukovich searched for a new prime minister and the currency of the

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The IAEA had hoped to persuade Iran in the talks finally to start addressing its suspicions.

While denying them, Iran has said it will work with the IAEA to clear up any “ambiguities”.

The issue of detonator development was mentioned in a report that the IAEA prepared in 2011 containing a trove of intelligence information about alleged activities by Iran that could be used in developing atomic arms.

“Given their possible application in a nuclear explosive device, and the fact that there are limited civilian and conventional military applications for such technology, Iran’s development of such detonators and equipment is a matter of concern,” the IAEA said in the 2011 document.

It said Iran had told the U.N. agency in 2008 that it had developed such detonators for civil and conventional military applications. “However, Iran has not explained to the agency its own need or application for such detonators,” it said.

Opposition speakers addressed both Yanukovich’s governing style and his decision to seek closer economic ties to Russia rather than sign a free trade pact with the European Union. “ We w a n t t h e s y s t e m

changed in the country - we want a system in which the president serves the will of the people, a president who does not have dictatorial powers,” former economy minister Arseny Yatsenyuk told the crowd.

Far-right nationalist Oleh Tyahnibok attacked Russia’s influence over Yanukovich, declaring: “Our struggle is not only against the regime of Yanukovich, but against those who support them - against the Kremlin’s imperialistic policy.”

Yanukovich met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Sochi Winter Olympics on Friday.

He has since returned to Kiev but no word has yet filtered out on what the two men discussed.

In an unusual move, the state security service placed anti-terrorism units on alert in what it called a preventive step to stop possible attacks on sensitive installations such as airports and power stations.

It said the new measures would apply to the blocking of approaches to state buildings and calls to seize installations where weapons are stored, a possible move against some radical protesters who have been in violent clashes with police.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Rowley to face leadership challenge in upcoming internal elections PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) - Longstanding member of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Pennelope

Beckles-Robinson has announced her intention to contest the post of political leader in the upcoming internal elec-

Dr. Keith Rowley and Penelope Beckles-Robinson

Committee to start compiling legal case for reparation CASTRIES, St Lucia, (CMC) - St Lucia and other CARICOM member-states have started compiling the region’s legal case for reparations from Britain for slavery and native genocide, with each country to make its own national case as part of a common Caribbean case.

The St Lucia National Reparations Committee (NRC) has been tasked, along with other similar entities in eight CARICOM member-states, to start the research and compilation process to gather the relevant information necessary for the government to make St.Lucia’s case.

Chairman of the St.Lucia NRC Earl Bousquet said mandating national committees to start the process was one of several decisions taken at the second meeting of the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), held in Barbados.

“The meeting also adopted a regional strategic and operational plan to guide the work of the reparations movement at the regional and national levels and in its interface with Africa and Europe, as well as the Caribbean and African Diaspora,” Bousquet said.

The meeting was attended by delegations rep resenting NRCs from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Bousquet said the Barbados CRC meeting examined, among other things the role and function of the national committees, governance of the regional commission, and data requirements for the legal case.

“We also looked at research and translation, mobilization and public education, intergovernmental relations, media strategy, preparation of a regional strategic and operational plan and financing of the regional commission and the national committees.”

Each delegation was led by the chairperson of the National Committee, who reported on the status of establishment of NRCs.

tions of the party.

In a statement on Saturday, Beckles-Robinson, a former Member of Parliament, she said

met with PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley Friday to officially inform him of her decision.

“Competitive internal elections reflect the strength of leadership choices at all levels within the party. The PNM’s 58 years of political experience offers much to our country in terms of leadership, institutional knowledge and governance practices. The fundamental issue that confronts our nation is that of leadership: the people deserve decisive, compassionate, inclusive and pragmatic leadership,” she said in a statement Beckles-Robinson, who served as a previous Member of Parliament for Arima and held senior cabinet positions in past government administrations, will be applying for permission to host a press conference at the PNM’s headquarters, Balisier House, early this week, the statement added.

The PNM’s internal election is scheduled to be held on May 18.

Three JPs to face court on fraud charges KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Three Justices of the Peace one based in Kingston and two in St Catherine are to face the court Monday on fraud charges.

Roy Stephenson, 54, of St Johns Road, Spanish Town, St Catherine, is answering to charges of false declaration and conspiracy to defraud.

Sixty-seven-year-old Dennis Ho, of Graham Heights, Kingston 8 is charged with false declaration and conspiracy to defraud, and John Henry, 44, of Harrington Parkway, Avon Park in Spanish Town, is answering to a charge of conspiracy to defraud.

The police say that the three JPs were charged late January in relation to an ongoing investigation stemming from an incident on January 16, when two people attempted to bail a suspect currently on a murder charge.

The two attempting to post bail, 32-year-old Kwami N’Cosi and 40-year-old Stephanie Cole-Christie, both of Spanish Town addresses, were charged after it was discovered that the identification cards they submitted were fake.

Further investigations implicated the three JPs.They will appear in Court, along with their two co-accused-N’Colsi and Cole-Christie, tomorrow..

Donisha Prendergast says the supporters will “camp out and reason”

Row over status of first Rasta village in Jamaica

BOB Marley’s granddaughter has become involved in a campaign to protect the site of Jamaica’s first Rastafarian community, it appears.

Donisha Prendergast and other supporters are occupying a tabernacle - a Rastafarian place of worship - near the village established by Leonard P Howell in the 1930s, according to the Jamaica Gleaner.

The campaign wants the property - a hilltop called The Pinnacle west of the capital, Kingston - to belong to the Howell family and the community.

No black person in Jamaica owned property, nothing compared to Pinnacle” Prendergast told the newspaper: “We are not going anywhere, one by one we are filing in, we are going to camp out and reason.”

It appears that the Rastafarian community may have no title to the land, but they claim they are entitled to use it due to their historical and cultural connection to the site.

A quarter-acre plot on The

Pinnacle has been declared a national monument, the Jamaica Observer says. But the campaign is calling for the whole area to be preserved.

The dispute over ownership on The Pinnacle has been the subject of long-running controversy, with Howell’s descendants fighting court cases against local developer Howell’s son, Monty, says papers proving the family’s ownership of the land were destroyed during the 1930s and 1940s because the island’s then-colonial authorities thought it “presumptuous” for Howell to own it.

“No black person in Jamaica owned property, nothing compared to Pinnacle,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “They tried everything to chase my father off that land.”(BBC)

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EDITORIAL

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

GUYANA

Parliament today...

Seems like ‘cartel running things’ THE Bills to which the joint opposition is demanding assent before they support the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism ( AML/CFT) laws would practically make Government obsolete and, to all intents and purposes, hand over governance of Guyana to the PNC/APNU/ AFC combo, which, in any language, spells blackmail.

The combined opposition has put the Government squarely “between the devil and the deep sea”, holding the nation ransom to their unacceptable demands; either way, the nation loses, and the combined opposition wins, especially in the acquisition of control of the treasury, which has always been their primary target.

As President Donald Ramotar was moved to ask: “Who will benefit if this Bill is not passed? Definitively not the Guyanese people… In the first instance, it will affect the cost for people in our country doing business with banks abroad… it will also give our country a very bad name, and send a message to investors that can negatively impact investments coming to our country.”

So, who will win if the legislation to combat high-profile crimes such as terrorism, money laundering, drug and gun running, etc, is not passed? Why? The people who have been supporting certain political parties in quid pro quo arrangements, of course!

Arrangements such as funding acts of terrorism, home invasions, and drug distribution among youths to indoctrinate child soldiers, et al. So, is it any wonder that there is no support from some quarters for a Bill that would constrain these activities?

However, Guyana’s stakeholders in all the entrepreneurial sectors, private citizens -- including their own supporters, and even the diplomatic community -- have singly and collectively expressed their dismay, frustration, and even anger at the APNU/ AFC/PNC parliamentary configuration, and appealed that they put the interest of the nation first and support the passage of this vital Bill to prevent dire consequences to this nation.

So, when the private sector bodies lambasted the opposition last Tuesday for walking out of a meeting when a proposal was made for the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to observe the meetings of the select committee fine-tuning the anti-money laundering Bill, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Wednesday did an about face and said it is committed to amending the current Act of 2009 to ensure that it is effective. The party also committed to ensuring that the Bank of Guyana (BoG) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) are empowered and equipped to fulfil its functions and achieve the objectives of the Act, and to engage the Government of Guyana, the private sector, civil society, the trade unions, and the international community to protect “our economy with the enforceable Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism ( AML/CFT) laws.”

The PSC had criticised APNU’s position regarding the observation of discussion on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill at the Parliamentary Special Select Committee. APNU objected to a Motion put to the Select Committee for the proceedings to be observed by the Commission.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said members of the National Assembly should leave “political grandstanding” out of the negotiations.

It said in a press statement last Tuesday, “The Chamber noted with deep disappointment the position adopted by A Partnership for National Unity to withdraw and not allow outside observers to the parliamentary select committee debates concerning the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill.”

The PSC, in a statement on December 10, said APNU gave an unqualified undertaking to support the PSC’s proposal that the meeting of the special select committee be held in public, thereby facilitating observers.

The statement read: “The PSC finds it inexplicable that APNU would now renege on its undertaking, made at a meeting chaired by its leader, Brigadier (retired) David Granger, and considers

this to be a disturbing display of bad faith on the part of the major opposition party.”

But reneging on what should be good-faith agreements is what the opposition does best; and one can recall the mayhem that ensued post-Budget Day of 2012, when Granger reneged on an agreement, if its conditions were not met, to support Government’s staggered increase to bring Linden’s electricity rates in line with national tariffs.

The Government kept its part of the bargain, but Granger and the AFC subsequently created mayhem in Linden to protest the proposed increases.

Bad faith by the collective opposition is endemic to their political psyche; and they have betrayed the Guyanese people, even their covenant wth their own supporters, to work for their development, in a continuum of destructive, anti-developmental rhetoric and actions.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary, Clement Rohee said that the combined opposition seems to be shielding money launderers by stalling the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing Terrorism (Amendment) (AML/CFT) Bill. This was his contention at the party’s weekly press conference last Tuesday, when he stated: “The opposition parties in the National Assembly are (seemingly) protecting the vested interests of a few whose operations and perhaps survival will be affected if the Bill is passed.

“These persons obviously are those engaged in illicit activities, including trading and trafficking in drugs, arms, ammunition and who need to launder the proceeds of their ill-gotten gains.”

Rohee, who is also Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister, posited (excerpts): “If a Bill is aimed at thwarting people who are engaged in illegal activities, and in this respect money-laundering and financing of terrorism, and you are doing almost everything to block that from going through, two questions arise: are you doing it for political purposes, or are you doing it for people who will benefit from the non-passage of the legislation?

“It has to be in favour of, or against, somebody: The beneficiaries of money laundering... If we are committed to the principles of transparency, we can’t only talk transparency, we have to do transparency...

“The Bill speaks for itself: anti-money laundering and countering of financing terrorism. This is not just a Bill for the purpose of show; the Bill empowers the State to take legal actions against persons who are involved in money laundering. It is serious business; if it wasn’t, it would not have reached the level of the international community.”

Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, expressed the view that the way APNU members are behaving in the National Assembly, it does not appear as though the country will be able to meet the deadline.

According to Nandlall, the latest document being circulated by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has listed Guyana as one of the countries most likely to be selected by the Francebased Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) review next month. Guyana has already missed three deadlines, in May, August and November last year, resulting in the country being blacklisted by CFATF, which has listed Guyana as the most delinquent country.

The private sector had described APNU’s volte-face on the select committee meeting disturbing, and called for negotiations on the issue to be devoid of political grandstanding. Just after the meeting ended last Monday, the Finance Minister condemned the opposition for staging the walkout at a critical time when the committee is attempting to complete its work before the FATF meetings on February 12.

“This is a most unfortunate development, and reflects yet another attempt by the opposition to frustrate the timely passage of this Bill,” Minister Nandlall said.

The FATF plenary meeting takes place in Paris, under the presidency of Vladimir Nechaev of the Russian Federation, from February 12-14. FATF has made it clear that territories that have

not made sufficient progress in addressing deficiencies, or have not committed to an Action Plan developed with FATF to address AML/CFT will be penalised.

Meanwhile, FATF’s regional arm, CFATF, which blacklisted Guyana last November for failing to pass the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill 2013, is slated to meet in May. The country can also be further sanctioned.

Adding its voice to the national conversation, appealing for the passage of this vital Bill is the Berbice Chambers of Commerce and Development Association.

BCCDA’s President, Mark Roopnarine, has joined calls from various sections of society for the passage of the anti-money laundering Bill, to safeguard the country, more particularly the business community from undue international scrutiny.

Speaking at the organisation’s 81st Anniversary luncheon, Roopnarine said that the threat of full blacklisting is ever present in the minds of Guyanese, particularly the business community, because of its many implications especially to the remittance service provider.

“Money transfer agencies,” he said, “are beginning to feel the effects; and so too will the ordinary Guyanese. The BCCDA, therefore, wants to reinforce its original position that the necessary Bills be amended and passed into legislation with the necessary urgency it demands.”

He noted that with the opening of the door by Canada and other countries to Guyanese to study and work, Guyanese abroad have been able to support their families back home financially.

“I am sure that if considered as a measurement to the GDP of Guyana, remittances will fall in the top five; the livelihoods of many Guyanese have been made possible because those who have migrated have been able to send back finances,” he said, pointing out that Canada is ranked among the top five countries from which remittances come to Guyana.

“The non-passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill,” he reiterated, “will not only destroy and hurt the image of the country, but also the private sector and the people of Guyana, so it’s imperative that it is passed.”

Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Tracey, described the non-passage of the anti-money laundering Bill as unfortunate, emphasising that if Guyana gets blacklisted by the international community, it would have serious implications on the country.

“All banks,” he said, “have strict money-laundering systems in place, including us. We right now have someone implementing special software from Vyserve, and these gentlemen will be looking at that software to see and deliver all our AML’s procedures and processes.”

Tracey pointed out that if Guyana becomes fully blacklisted, it would have a far-reaching impact, including the loss of corresponding banking relationships, and a longer time to facilitate international money transfer.

During a meeting with the Private Sector Commission, the opposition leader had reportedly indicated that he will not be supporting the legislation; but stakeholders are waiting with bated breath to see if the joint opposition will do one of its famous somersaults and support the Bill; if only to satisfy and silence their critics, many of whom are convinced that they are conspiring with the denizens of the underworld to work in disjunction with the developmental forces of the nation.

Non-compliant birthnight party guest warded at GPH

--Nursing several stab wounds

By Shirley Thomas

SUNDAR Sooklall of La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara is in serious condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), nursing some seven gaping stab wounds inflicted on him

by two brothers, whom he knows, during a birthnight party at LBI on Saturday night.

Distraught relatives of the 36-year-old Sooklall have informed the Guyana Chronicle that, at approximately 22:00hrs on Saturday, Sooklall placed the bottle of the beer he had been drinking in the yard on someone’s car when “Sharook Khan”, one of two brothers who had apparently been asked to oversee safety of the parked vehicles,

accosted him and told him not to place the bottle on the car.

Sooklall reportedly threw the beer bottle at one of the brothers, who allegedly picked it up, broke it and dealt him several stabs.

The injured man was immediately rushed to hospital and taken for emergency surgery. Police are investigating the incident.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Passengers busted at CJIA with cocaine in tamarind achar SECURITY agencies operating at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri on Saturday, prevented a US citizen and a Guyanese citizen from smuggling approximately 20 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in tamarind achar onto a Caribbean Airlines flight bound for New York City in the USA. A statement issued by CJIA authorities has said that at 15:45 hrs, the baggage of American citizen Winston Blake, 77, was searched and two packages of achar with over 10 kilos of cocaine disguised to look like tamarind seeds were found.

The Guyanese citizen Sadeeka Odie, 38, was apprehended around 17:10hrs after similar packages of achar with cocaine in the shape of tamarind seeds were also found in her luggage. She was travelling with her nine-year-old daughter.

Both intercepted passengers were en-route to New York City.

The CJIA statement said, “The law enforcement agencies must be lauded for these detections, which saw the cocaine being cleverly made in the form of tamarind seed and placed in achar. It is a stark reminder of the lengths [to] which those involved in the narco-trade would go to move the drugs through our ports.”

In the past, drugs were concealed in pepper sauce, star-apples, pumpkins, cabbage, chowmein, ochro, false walls and bottoms of suitcases, shoe soles, and wigs, among other places. Despite the crafty ways drug peddlers attempt to use to smuggle illegal substances through the CJIA, the security agencies continue their pursuit to cripple the narco-trade.

Saturday’s busts are the first for February. In January, a Canadian citizen was caught with 9.5 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in false walls in his checked luggage while in-transit at CJIA. He had flown from Trinidad and Tobago.

CJIA on high alert!

--in face of ‘unconfirmed threat’against CAL --US Embassy warns its citizens against flying CAL over next 72hrs

THE United States Embassy yesterday warned that it had received “unconfirmed threat information” about Caribbean Airlines’ flights, and urged Americans to avoid using that carrier.

A security message posted on the embassy’s website reads: “Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy advises all U.S. citizens in Guyana travelling on Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to the United States from Monday, February 10, through Wednesday, February 12, 2014, to make alternate travel arrangements.”

The embassy also called on U.S. citizens travelling to, or residing in, Guyana to enrol in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which gives the latest security updates and makes for easier contact in an emergency.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), in a statement issued late last night, said a heightened security posture will remain in place over a number of days, until such time as the threat is no longer deemed valid.

The CJIA authorities acknowledged that both the CJIA

Six injured in car/minibus collision at Ruimzeight --Two still warded at GPHC

By Shirley Thomas AT least two of the six persons involved in the Friday night minibus/motor car “smash up” at Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara remained warded yesterday at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Davenand Pooldass and Davekumar Singh were rushed to the GPH for treatment for the multiple injuries they suffered in that accident, which occurred on Friday after 20:00hrs.

Other minibus passengers who sustained injuries were: the driver, Jomo Younge, 36, of Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara; conductress Tamara Johnson,

38; and another person, who was taken to a private hospital in the city.

Younge suffered a broken leg and a dislocated hip, while Johnson suffered a fractured leg and multiple abrasions. They are both warded at the GPH. The two lone occupants of the motor car were: Wazim Khan, who suffered a broken

left arm; and the driver of the vehicle, who is said to be in the High Dependency Unit of the GPH. Khan has remained mum in relation to the accident, but minibus driver Jomo Younge recalled that he was proceeding to Parika when, in the vicinity of Ruimzeight, he spotted the approaching motor car attempt-

ing to overtake another minibus from a distance but being denied passage. Seeing the imminent danger, Younge said, he held his lane, and before he realised what was happening, the car had crashed head on into his minibus, resulting in injuries to several persons.

The police are investigating.

and the Ministry of Public Works have been advised of a “threat” received by Caribbean Airlines, and they immediately convened a high-level security meeting with relevant security agencies and stakeholders of the airport.

The statement said, “The officials assessed the threat and put in place a number of measures to prevent any untoward occurrence. The ministry and CJIA have since adopted the highest security posture to protect passengers, crew, aircraft and airport employees, and to ensure the continued smooth and safe operations at the airport.”

CJIA authorities have called on passengers and other airport users to be on the lookout for any suspicious activities or occurrences, and to report same immediately to an airport security official.

Carl Stuart, a representative of Caribbean Airlines Limited, was quoted in the Associated Press as saying that the airline’s level of security involving the police, military and other agencies has been heightened.

“We have been on this since Friday. We are on top of this, and flights will continue as normal; but we are taking no chances,” Stuart stressed.

(Vanessa Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Annai a hive of feverish activity as...

Inaugural Rupununi Music & Arts Festival draws inexorably closer

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally

THE Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) have again pledged their full support for the inaugural Rupununi Music and Arts Festival, slated to begin Friday at Annai under the theme, “In Rhythm with Nature”.

The three-day event carries its own uniqueness, since it will take place in a natural environment.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr Indranauth Haralsingh, has indicated that the festival would be another signature event on the Tourism Calendar of Events, and it will also add to the existing events taking place in The Rupununi.

The main aim, however, is to establish The Rupununi as a brand, since it is already famous for its community-based tourism and wildlife, among other things.

Mr Haralsingh said: “The festival gives you a reason to leave your home to discov-

Portrait of a Festival

er another part of Guyana, namely Annai,” and it is a good way to promote the “Re-discover Guyana” campaign being promoted by the Government in collaboration with the GTA. Haralsingh said persons should keep in mind that the event entails camping, sleeping under the stars, eating indigenous foods, using eco toilets, and basically getting to be “at one with nature”.

There are international artistes coming from Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, England, Europe and the United States of America to perform at this festival. There is also the Surama group from Guyana, Buxton Voices and Tassa Rhythms, which will be participating.

Bob Ramdhanie, coordinator of the festival, explained that the present accommodation caters for only 16 persons, but he has been working collaboratively with Collin Edwards, owner of the Rock View Hotel,

to construct a village consisting of benabs, outdoor showers and eco-toilets that would accommodate 150 persons. This venture will therefore create employment for the surrounding villages, because the aim is not to destroy nature but to complement it.

He also mentioned that the foods would be catered from the surrounding villages.

The festival will also give persons the opportunity to experience the different features of the Rupununi: the giant anthills, the canopy walkway, the butterfly project, some of the rapids, the Pakaraima foothills, the tropical rainforest and the local hospitality.

Ramdhanie has also reminded that Guyana was named a must-see destination by the National Geographic Traveler for 2014.

Tickets for this event can be purchased from the GTA, Giftland or online.

For more information about the festival, persons can

Festival Coordinator, Mr. Bob Ramdhanie (left). At right is GTA’s Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh contact the Guyana Tourism Authority or website www. rupununifestival.com.

Deputy Mayor says...

It could take about $200M to fix Le Repentir Cemetery

GEORGETOWN’S Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, told a press conference Friday that while the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is unhappy with the current deplorable condition of Le Repentir Cemetery, it would take about $200M to perform an acceptable level of rehabilitation there.

She said the present situation at Le Repentir is that besides being overwhelmed by bushes and large trees, widespread flooding, and the pile-up of garbage have caused several burials to be postponed of late.

Chase-Green said the M&CC Committee, headed by Councillor Ranwell Jordan, has tried to improve the aesthetics at the cemetery, but needs the cooperation of other agencies.

And, touching on a new development at the cemetery,this being the erection of a crematorium at the Princess Street entrance, Chase-Green she doesn’t understand how this could be, given that no improvement had been effected to the place since she last paid it a visit.

Councillor Jordan told reporters that prior to a recent visit to Le Repentir, the committee did not know that a crematorium was being constructed there, and is still awaiting word from Town Clerk, Ms Carol Sooba, as to who authorised the construction of such a building in the cemetery.

According to Mayor Hamilton Green, of the $17M allocated last year to the rehabilitation of the cemetery, M&CC utilised $1M to carry out preliminary works.

Said he, “You cannot put a budget of $17M to fix a cemetery... Unless Government broadens the revenue base, which wasn’t done since 1994, we wouldn’t be able to do much.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana...

What kind of National Partnership is this APNU ‘hanta banta’ - when the PNC hogs over 95% of the parliamentary seats OLD Kai earnestly believed that with the resignation of Deborah Backer as an APNU Member of Parliament, the leader of APNU, David Granger, would have shown the Guyanese people that this “National Partnership” he boasts about is much more than a front organisation for the PNC/R. I had once described APNU as what you get when the PNC/R puts on its makeup, and Mr. Granger has now proved me right in announcing that he will bypass all those other parties in his “grand coalition of nothing” and select a replacement for Backer from the PNC. Old Kai was of the opinion that Backer was an APNU Member of Parliament all along, but Granger confirms that it is a PNC thing, and the APNU tag is just a convenient disguise which was effectively used to lure the unsuspecting voters.

In doing so, he inadvertently lets the cat out of the bag and confirms what we have already known, in that from A-PNU, you make a U-turn and you will get A-PNC! No one can blame them for living up to their name, as they have been trying to get Guyana’s economy to make a U-turn and head right back to the days when Old Kai had to line up eight hours, with a faked PNC party card –- and getting two lashes from a “horseguard”-- because I had an exercise book on which I drew two horns on the image of Burnham’s head -- just so I can get two “salt-soap”, half-pint coconut oil, and two pints of rice, which I had to pay for, as it did not come free.

Imagine, Old Kai went to jail for a tin of sardine. You can say the PNC really “fish-I-up” back in de days! So, basically, it was APNU that marched on Nomination Day; it was APNU that handed in their Nomination List at City Hall; it was APNU which was on the ballot paper which some misguided people voted for; it is APNU which is represented in Parliament.

However, when it is time to make any decision, in this case replacing an APNU Member of Parliament, this is what the media is reporting: “...while noting that the person would be drawn from the People’s National Congress Reform…Granger added that… ‘we have not identified a replacement as yet; we (PNC) will have a caucus with the party (PNC) leaders, and a replacement will be nominated…

We are looking at a list of (APNU)names, and it will be prejudicial to disclose the names, because only one (PNC) can be selected.’”

Further, we are told that Granger himself, and the young lady, Africo Selman, will jointly take over the responsibility of “Shadow Minister of Foreign Relation”.

What these two know about foreign relations? The closest they can come is if they have “relatives overseas”! This man Granger was just recently promulgating measures which would have severely damaged the excellent relations we currently share with neighbouring Venezuela, simply because a handful of their opposition activists in the lead-up to that country’s election wanted some pre-election publicity.

In doing so, we would have lost the main market for our rice industry, and all those farmers who are

Link Show to celebrate 30th Anniversary - at new Rahaman’s Park venue APPROACHING its 30th showing, the Link Show has opted to celebrate the milestone at Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park at Houston, E.B.D., and not at the traditional National Cultural Centre.

The show’s Director, Ron Robinson, said at a Friday press conference that certain maintenance issues that would affect the quality of production and the comfort of patrons have influenced the decision taken.

“We can assure patrons that they have nothing to fear from the seating or the ambience,” Robinson said. He also said that Parc Rayne, which provides seating for up to 1,200 persons, will provide a more intimate setting for staging of the show. As a bonus, he said, there is no dress code in effect, and patrons would be allowed to bring snacks.

Co-producer of the show, Mrs Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, has said that the occasion will be marked by a gala event held for the first night, and patrons will be able to win prizes every night according to their seat numbers. Sponsors of the prizes, numbering over 100, include King’s Jewellery World; Bounty Farms Ltd; German’s; Nigel’s Supermarket; and the Arrowpoint, Hurakabra and Splashmin’s resorts.

The show will first run on Feb 20, 21 and 22, breaking for Mashramani before concluding on the night of February 24.

Gala tickets cost $4,000, while other tickets cost $1,500 and $2,000., and are available at the venue.

now smiling all the way to the bank would have been sitting on hundreds of tons of their product and be reduced to financial ruin, as the PNC did to them close to three decades ago.

After wanting to rail up against Venezuela because of a non-existent issue of our border integrity, he then moves full circle and openly announces that they are protecting the interests of Suriname, which has laid claim to the New River Triangle in Guyana’s territory.

In fact, they were so concerned about Suriname that they managed to chase a Brazilian investor out of the country. The company was in the process of doing a survey to map our resources in the area, so we can know exactly what we have there.

Then Granger puts on “one big crying”, because President Ramotar didn’t take him to the funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa; and he made one big national issue out of it, to the extent that he almost called for an “independent inquiry” into the matter. This was despite knowing that the Trinidad Prime Minister had chartered a plane and invited regional Heads of State to travel with her.

Granger, as usual, wanted to “pope” the woman’s flight. Can you imagine! President Ramotar turning up in Trinidad and asking Mrs. Bissessar to leave home someone from her official delegation, because he brought Granger, who was crying to come!

But wait just a minute there! Maybe there is something behind Granger’s wanting to become Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister after all! He apparently will use this as justification as to why President Ramotar should tag him along for trips abroad. Maybe this is why they had cut the Office of the President budget in 2012, in an effort to hamper the activities of Uncle Donald. Granger had probably hoped to use this as leverage to force the President to take him on these trips.

Did it work? Well, it wasn’t Old Kai who was crying that he didn’t get to go to South Africa!

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Courts (Guyana) launches Mash 2014 band

COURTS (Guyana) Limited launched its Mashramani Band 2014 last Friday, with Marketing Director, Molly Hassan, declaring that the com-

pany is elated to again be participating in the Mashramani Road Parade.

Ms Hassan explained that Courts would not have a float this year, but would

place revellers on the road to form its Mash contingent.

Courts Guyana highlighted that a number of local soca artistes would be

participating in this year’s competition in Berbice.

The artistes performed their renditions for the large gathering of persons who came out in support of their number one furniture store. MC Adrian Dutchin entertained the crowd and encouraged persons to come out on Mash Day and gyrate with Courts.

Persons desirous of participating in the Courts’ activities on Mashramani Day can make contact with the mega store Main Street office for details on how to acquire their costumes. (Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)

Courts Marketing Director, Molly Hassan, and staff at the launch of the company’s Mash 2014 band

Soca artistes and Courts Guyana staff

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

11

I CreditInfo (Guyana) Inc. outlines its work, policies

By Michel Outridge

LAST Friday night, I CreditInfo (Guyana) Inc., as the first Credit Bureau in Guyana, held a presentation of the company’s operations at Cara Lodge in Quamina Street, Georgetown, where Chief Executive Officer Judy Semple–Joseph outlined the work of the Credit Bureau, and highlighted its functions, benefits and policies.

She told reporters that a credit bureau is an organisation that collects credit information on consumers from lenders and other sources, processes that information and uses it to create comprehensive credit reports and other value-added services.

Ms. Semple-Joseph stated that the amalgamated information is supplied in an organised format to banks and other lending institutions or to other persons or entities for specified purposes, but always with written permission of the consumer, who may also be provided with a copy of his/her credit report upon request.

In a Powerpoint presen-

Manager of Sales and Business Development, Mr David Falconer, interacting with the media at Cara Lodge on Friday night during the company’s presentation (Photos

by Sonell Nelson)

tation to the media on Friday night, Semple-Joseph said that conduct of the business of a credit bureau is governed by the Credit Reporting Act of 2010, which came into effect on June 10, 2010. She, however, introduced the CreditInfo (Guyana) Inc. as the second regional company of a large, well respected Icelandic conglomerate operating out of 16 countries.

Its most recent country of operation is Jamaica, and it will soon be launching an operation in Barbados.

Semple-Joseph added that the presence of this business in Guyana was facilitated by means of a rigorous investigation and authentication process which resulted in the bureau being duly licensed by the Bank of Guyana to service the local credit market.

She related that a credit bureau may obtain information primarily from the commercial banks, the non-bank licensed financial institutions, and the utility and hire purchase companies.

Semple-Joseph revealed that processing of the infor-

mation collected involves matching, cross-checking, merging, analysing, and interpreting the information. She said that everything possible is done to ensure that the information is accurate and relates to the specific consumer, and then the credit bu-

reau compiles the processed information to create a credit report and a credit score.

I CreditInfo (Guyana) Inc. office is located at 267B, New Market Street, Georgetown, but the bureau can also be accessed through its website: www.creditingo.gy.

Also making remarks was Manager of Sales and Business Development, David Falconer, who answered questions posed by the media and spoke about the general operations of the business, which he describes as no “fly by night operation.”

I CreditInfo (Guyana) Inc. Chief Executive Officer, Ms Judy Semple-Joseph, speaking to the media gathering Friday night

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

CARICOM takes steps to improve trade performance under bilateral agreements THE establishment of effective trade facilitation offices, both at national and regional levels, has been recommended as a key to the Region taking greater advantage of trade agreements with third countries.

Recommendations are contained in a draft report from a study commissioned “to identify and assess the underlying reasons affecting CARICOM’s weak trade performance under the existing Bilateral Trade Agreements with the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba and Venezuela,” according to a press release from the CARICOM Secretariat at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

Conduct of the study was mandated by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), and commissioned by the CARICOM Secretariat, with technical assistance provided by the Government of Spain through the CARICOM-Spain Joint Fund.

This study, launched last year, is seen as a first and important step for further decision-making and action to address an area critical to the Region’s economic development. It aims to enhance the Region’s understanding of the constraints and problems affecting CARICOM’s export performance under the specific Bilateral Trade Agreements (BTAs).

Once finalised, it will inform policy recommendations from COTED which would benefit the private sector in CARICOM Member States, allowing them to take advantage of the opportunities for the expansion of exports to those countries.

Over the past eight months, Dr. Derk Bienen of BKP Development Research and Consulting of Germany, lead consultant on the study, has conducted extensive data collection field missions to 11 Member States and to three partner countries.

The Draft Report of the Consultant’s findings and analyses has been submitted to the CARICOM Secretariat and will be presented to Senior Regional Trade Officials for review and validation in mid-February.

The Draft Report notes summarily that “the key challenge to overcome is the divergence in interests between CARICOM Members, which is the result of vast differences in their economic structures.”

The recommendations contain both specific and general actions that can be taken to address issues relating to ratification, implementation and further development of the Agreements as well as critical supply–side constraints affecting regional exports.

In particular, the consultant highlights the need for improved communication with and assistance for regional exporters, to be facilitated by trade facilitation offices, the release concluded.

A German national, Dr Derk is co-founder and managing partner of BKP Development. He has long-time experience in the implementation of development co-operation projects funded by various donors. He has been both an expert on, and project director of, numerous technical assistance projects, particularly in the area of trade policy, investment promotion, competition policy and development theory and politics.

He has in-depth experience in project cycle management, focusing on monitoring and evaluation; lectures on trade, regional integration, competition and industrial policy; and is Adjunct Honorary Professor at the School of Economics at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia.

Dr Derk holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Göttingen, in his native Germany. He also studied Economics and Political Science at the University of Tübingen (Germany) and the University of the Andes in Mérida (Venezuela).

He is fluent in German, English and Spanish, and has knowledge of French and Portuguese; he has worked extensively in Latin America, Africa and South East Europe.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

‘One Billion Rising 2014’ billed for Rahaman’s Park Friday

By Michelle Gonsalves ACCORDING to scientific projections, one in three women – about one billion - will be beaten or raped in her lifetimes. Thus, on February 14, 2013, one billion people in 207 countries, including Guyanese in the Promenade Gardens, rose and danced to demand an end to violence against women and girls.

This year, the call is again being repeated for women and men everywhere to “dance and demand justice”, which is the theme for this year’s event, to be held this Valentine’s Day at Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park at Houston, E.B.D. At a Friday press conference, spokesperson Ms. Shahiba Radix, acting for S4 Director Imarah Radix, invited both men and women to attend the event,

Director of S4 Foundation Ms. Imarah Radix at One- Billion Rising 2013 rally

For Monday February 10, 2014 -14:00hrs For Tuesday February 11, 2014 -14:30hrs For Wednesday February 12, 2014 -14:30hrs

which is free of charge. Radix said 32 bodies had already signed up, including a number of prominent local NGOs such as Help and Shelter, Red Thread, and Food for the Poor.

Along with informing and enlightening its participants, this family-oriented event will also provide refreshments and feature a number of fun activities, such as face painting, compliments of Bravo Arts.

One Billion Rising was brought to Guyana by the S4

Foundation as part of continued efforts to end domestic violence in Guyana.

The event aims to raise awareness of, and heighten support for, an end to the scourge of domestic violence, which has claimed the lives of mostly women the world over.

Mrs Stella Ramsaroop, women’s rights advocate and women’s issues columnist for the Stabroek News, founded the Stella’s Sisterhood of Support and Service (S4) Foundation to

promote the continued development of sisterhood in Guyana by connecting women who are committed to helping and supporting other women in Guyana.

The One billion website, www.onebillionrisng.com, states that One Billion Rising for Justice is a global call to women survivors of violence and those who love them to gather safely in communities outside places where they are entitled to justice –courthouses, police stations, government offices, school administration

buildings, work places, sites of environmental injustice, military courts, embassies, places of worship, homes, or simply in public gathering places where women deserve to feel safe but too often do not.

It is a call to survivors to break the silence and release their stories – politically, spiritually, outrageously – through art, dances, marches, rituals, songs, spoken words, testimonies, and whatever way feels right.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Children’s Mash countdown...

Folklore never looked more real than at Thursday’s telling --in a riot of heady colour

--Road Parade set for Saturday

The Monar Educational Institute

Sophia Primary

West Ruimveldt Primary

Smith Memorial Primary

Ketley Primary

WITH just one more day left in the Georgetown leg of the Children’s Mashramani Competition, we saw the nursery and primary schools dominating the costume competition on Thursday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Their creativity and use of our folklore were brought to life in their displays as they masqueraded around that sporting complex.

It was, however, disappointing to see the limited entries for this year’s competition among the secondary schools.

The final instalment of this competition will see all the administrative regions vying for supremacy Saturday in the Children’s Costume Road Parade.

They will assemble at Parade Ground on Middle Street, and proceed north along Camp Street, then east into Lamaha Street and north into Albert Street, before finally making their way into the National Park for judging.

The Unit of Allied Arts and the Ministry of Education are again imploring drivers and spectators to take note of the route and to be extra careful on this date, as our children will be occupying the roadways.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

‘Lady T’, ‘Bones Man’ dominate Carib Soca Monarch semis in N/A --The field now down to 13

By Rawle Toney

SCORES turned out Saturday night to lend support to their favourite artiste among the 18 contestants who graced the stage at the N/A Stelling Tarmac in Berbice for the run-off of the semi-final leg of the annual Carib Soca Monarch contest.

And in spite of a delay in the start of proceedings by almost three hours, occasioned by an unexpected downpour of rain, fans were determined to get in on the action. And the artistes certainly did not disappoint.

In the end, 13 were chosen to go to the final Saturday night at the National Park, where they will join defending champion,

Jumo ‘Rubber Waist’ Primo, in vying for bragging rights and $1.5M in prizes.

The 13 finalists are Timeka Sinclair, Shellon Garraway, Jamal Gittens, Ernesta Nelson, Quacy Coates, Melissa Roberts, Abigail James, Jonathan King, Roger Bowen, Orlando Johashen, Kwesi Edmonds, Clifton Adolphus and Compton Boyce.

At first, the Berbician crowd seemed to be least interested in the efforts of the earlier performers, but they certainly came alive when Sinclair, alias ‘Lady T’, and Johashen, alias ‘Bones Man’, took to the stage.

‘Lady T’ apparently brought the entire Ancient County to support her maiden run in the Carib Soca Monarch competition, and her performance at

‘Still in the game’ singer Kwesi ‘Ace’ Edmonds during his performance in Berbice. His track was the most popular in the competition.

just the semi-final stage has left tongues wagging and most Berbicians speculating on her chances of lifting the crown, as anticipation deepens regarding her fate at the National Park this weekend.

Her track, entitled ‘Hit the Road’, was done with a blistering performance, even though she exceeded her five-minute allotment on stage.

‘Bones Man’, winner of the 2010 Carib Soca Monarch title, unleashed a high-tempo, energetic performance of his entry, ‘Blow’. The song, which tells the story of how men and women cheat while in a relationship, was well received, as his fans all sang along and gyrated in sync with his instructions.

‘Shelly G’ won the Soca Monarch title in 2009, but has since either entered and never showed up to perform, or just simply stayed away from the competition. However, she returned five years later with ‘Give it to me’, a groovy track that she performed well, much to the delight of the crowd.

Last year’s Best Newcomer award recipient and second place finisher, Kwesi ‘Ace’ Edmonds, was also given good reception by the Berbician audience. His track, ‘Still in the

‘Shelly G’ during her performance in the Carib Soca Monarch 2014 semifinal competition game’, is arguably a clear favourite to clinch the title this year. It could be heard being played on every radio station and in the clubs around the country, which made it very easy for persons to sing along.

Though his performance was not one to ‘wow’ about, persons understood that the artiste was just playing it safe by doing just enough to get him through to the finals.

Although Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts has never won the competition, she is considered a threat to the title. ‘Yada Yada’ is the song she has entered in this year’s Monarch competition, and pundits believe that her wealth of experience and a good

Tamika ‘Lady-T’ Sinclair delivered by far the best performance of the night, and was best supported artiste of the 18 competitors.

performance of her track can see her clinching her first monarchy.

Another newcomer, Ernesta Nelson, was able to win some new fans by keeping them entertained during her rendition of ‘Ridiculous Wining’ in a performance that was good enough to see her through to the National Park.

Jonathon ‘Lil Red’ King is another artiste whose track, “Who we are’, is receiving heavy airplay; but he seemed not his usual self on stage, and

didn’t live up to the hype of the song.

The judges probably felt he would bring his ‘A’ game next time around, and, as such, afforded him a chance to be in the final.

With $1.5M up for grabs in this year’s competition, and judging from some of the performances at the semi-finals, it’s safe to say that the 2014 Carib Soca Monarch competition would be one of the best ever staged in its decade-long history.

Orlando ‘Bones Man’ Johashen was one of the evening’s top performers on Saturday last in the semi-finals of the 2014 Carib Soca Monarch competition

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Aries March 21 - April 19

Someone who you usually consider to be mellow and agreeable will start acting kind of feisty today -- which is going to be quite amusing to you! They have turned over a new leaf and are no longer hesitant to act out or say what’s on their mind -- and they have you to thank for it. Get ready for a boatload of their gratitude, which will give you a wonderful feeling of camaraderie. This ordinary day will become quite emotional once the two of you start singing each other’s praises.

Taurus April 20 - May 20

If you need to have a difficult conversation with someone, today is the day to get some alone time with them and broach that touchy subject. But before you call them up and jump right into it, consider creating a softer, more gentle environment -- one that is much less confrontational. Why not invite them over for a quiet dinner? Good food and a relaxing atmosphere will create a perfect environment for open communication. They won’t feel put on the spot.

Gemini May 21 - June 21

The problems in your life right now are nowhere near as big as they feel -- in fact, if you take another look at them today, you’ll see that most of them are fairly simple to solve. All you need to do is get a little bit more organised about finding a solution. Then you will!

Make up some lists of what is wrong -- and what is right-- in your life. You’ll notice right away that the list of ‘right’ things is a lot longer than the list of ‘wrong’ things.

Cancer June 22 - July 22

A conversation you have with a coworker or collaborator today will have a double meaning, although one of you might not realise it until it’s too late. Speaking in code might be a great way of avoiding the wrath of nosy eavesdroppers, but it is a risky move -- after all, unless both of you know the code you can’t have effective communication! Opt for crystal-clear communications today. And if you need to keep a secret, just make sure you’re talking in private.

Leo July 23 - August 22

You need to be very sensitive to the feelings of other people right now. You’re usually good at reading people’s moods, but they could be acting more unpredictably than normal today. Many emotions are zooming around just underneath the surface, and they could pop up at any time and anywhere. Everyone you talk to will be capable of bursting into tears or laughter at the littlest provocation, so be prepared. Don’t avoid people -- just don’t take their reactions personally.

Virgo August 23 - September 22

Right now, there is way too much socialising to be done -- and the big questions about your life are just not important. This is a good thing, because until now you’ve been using up a lot of energy wondering about where you are headed. Pondering this type of imponderable question is a waste of time, so it’s a good thing that your day will be filled with friends and laughter. You need to lighten up a bit, and these people will serve as the helium in your mood balloon.

Libra September 23 - October 22

Today will start off deceptively calm, but it’s only the calm before the storm! When that storm hits, get the heck out of the way. Keep your head down and avoid getting involved -your input won’t be received warmly, so why bother offering it? You might think you have the solution to the conflict, but the people who are arguing don’t want solutions -- they just want to fight, so let them. Stick your nose into their business, and it could get bruised.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21

Today, you need to be more proactive about getting what you want -- go right to the source, right to the person or people who can help you get where you need to go, meet that person you want to meet, or invest in that resource you need so badly. Making more aggressive moves might be hard at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will find that it creates some impressive results. People are receptive to hearing what you have to say, and they will respect your forthrightness.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21

If you see the world through an idealist’s eyes, it looks like a great big bunch of happy people who want only the best for each other. But if you look at it through grumpy glasses, it’s quite a different picture. Which viewpoint are you going to take today? How the knot of your day unravels is completely up to you, so get in touch with your more positive mood and follow it. If you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, break the funk by treating yourself to an extra-complicated coffee drink.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19

Today, you’ll get some extremely good news that will send your mood skyrocketing to the heavens! You should enjoy the buoyancy, but don’t make any big decisions based on it. There is a slight chance things could dramatically change in the coming days, so try to keep your enthusiasm in check -- you don’t want your extreme happiness to plummet to extreme regret, do you? You are capable of some amazing wins today, but first you have to show the universe that you are grounded in reality.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18

Someone in your life says they’re making big changes, but are they really? You haven’t really seen any results yet and your patience might be wearing thin. There’s nothing wrong with asking them about their progress, and today is the day to do it. They might appreciate your prodding -- it’s the sign that you are a very good friend. You should encourage them to make the choices that aren’t so easy -- let them know that you will be there to support them, however long it takes.

Pisces February 19 - March 20

Those closest to you don’t ordinarily expect you to say or do highly erratic things. You put their feelings right at the top of your priority list, and you almost never do anything that could hurt them or make them feel unimportant. Right now, however, the universe throws something in your direction that is just too good to refuse, even if it means acting totally out of character. Go for it! When was the last time you allowed yourself to be completely free-spirited?

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

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Anthony reigns supreme in R&R 40-miler cycle road race

By Michael DaSilva MICHAEL Anthony reigned supreme in yesterday’s R&R sponsored 23 rd annual cycle road race which was staged in the West Demerara area and organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed.

After being sent off by Mohamed from Schoonard on the West Bank of Demerara, the 54 starters jostled for position on the up ward journey and as the bunch approached the Vreed-en-Hoop turn, Raynauth `Obeah Man’ Jeffrey, Geron Williams, Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, Orvil Hinds and his sibling Wavel, Raul Leaul, Raymond Newton, Robin Persaud, Anthony and Paul DeNobrega broke away from the remainder of the starting pack and opened a sizeable lead which they maintained throughout the remainder of the upward journey .

They continued to lead until they reached Leonora on the downward journey when Geron Williams, Robin Persaud, DeNobrega and Anthony made a break and led the chasing pack, but as they approached Crane, Marlon Williams, Orville and Wavel Hinds

and Amzah Eastman joined them.

As the leaders turned at Vreed-en-Hoop, Anthony went on a solo break but was joined

by Orville Hinds shortly after, but they were subsequently joined by Eastman and DeNobrega to make up front bunch, which led by approximately 150 metres and the sprint to the finish line started at approximately 400 metres from the place of origin of the race.

DeNobrega placed second, while Geron Williams, Eastman, Persaud and Raynauth Jeffrey finished third, fourth,

fifth and sixth, respectively.

Raymond Newton won two prime prizes, while Jeffrey and DeNobrega won one each.

Anthony by virtue of winning the overall event also won the top junior award ahead of Eastman and Leaul, respectively.

Robin Persaud won the veterans’ category ahead of Stephen Fernandes, while Ozia McAulley won the upright category ahead of Richard Charles.

Toshanna Doris won the ladies category.

Trinidad & Tobago roll over CCC ...

From back page Leeward Islands at Shaw Park with Imran Khan and Yannick Ottley making way for Jason Mohammed and Kevon Cooper to make their return.

The CCC were unchanged from their last match where they defeated the Leeward Islands by 160 runs.

Both teams need to win to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.

Of the ten matches so far in the NAGICO Super50, none has been more crucial than this one between Trinidad & Tobago and the Combined Campuses & Colleges.

Both teams are in a must-win situation where the winner will be able to make the semi-finals of the competition while the losers will be forced to bow out.

The College students are currently on top of Group B with seven points while Barbados are in second place with six points. T&T are in third place with five points while the Leewards are already confirmed out of the tournament after losing their first two games.

The Leewards face Barbados in their final group match this afternoon.

scoreboard CCC Innings C Walton LBW Rampaul 2 A Alleyne c Ramdin b Mohammed 18 K Corbin b Dwayne Bravo 6 R Reifer run out Dwayne Bravo 27 S Jacobs b Mohammed 3 F Reifer c & b Mohammed 7 M Hodge c Ramdin b Dwayne Bravo 2 S Thomas LBW Dwayne Bravo 1 K Mayers b Emrit 19 A Dewar c Ramdin b Narine 2 K Williams not out 1 Total 98 All Out (44.2 Overs) Extras: (5WD, 5LB) 10 Fall of Wickets: 1-10, 2-29, 3-30, 4-42, 5-66, 6-72, 7-72, 8-73, 9-81, 10-98.

Trinidad & Tobago Bowling: Ravi Rampaul 7-2-18-1, Dwayne

Bravo 10-4-19-3, Sunil Narine 10-2-14-1, Jason Mohammed 101-19-3, Rayad Emrit 7.2-0-23-1.

Trinidad & Tobago Innings L Simmons b Dewar 38 E Lewis c Thomas b Hodge 44 Darren Bravo not out 5 A Barath c & b Jacobs 1 J Mohammed not out 5 Total: 100/3 (16.2 Overs) Extras: (1NB, 1LB, 4B, 1WD) 7 Did not Bat: Dwayne Bravo, D Ramdin, R Emrit, S Narine, R Rampaul, K Cooper.

Fall of Wickets: 1-65, 2-94, 3-95 Combined Campuses & Colleges Bowling: K Mayers 2-0-17-0, K Williams 4-0-26-0, S Jacobs 4-1-16-1, Raymon Reifer 1-0-110, M Hodge 2-0-16-1, A Dewar 3.2-1-9-1.

Points: - Trinidad & Tobago 5, Combined Campuses and Colleges 0

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

CSA president justifies support for ICC revamp CRICKET South Africa president Chris Nenzani has justified his decision of voting in favour of the ICC revamp by stating that all members, including the Big Three, had to “rethink and make concessions” during the ICC Board meeting in Singapore on Saturday.

Even though three boards - CSA, PCB and SLC - were against the proposals suggested by the Big Three until Friday night, CSA decided to vote in favour on Saturday, while the other two abstained from voting.

“All countries, including the so-called Big Three, have had to rethink and make concessions and the final terms that were approved today include significant changes from the original proposals presented in January,” Nenzani said in a statement.

“It was key that we remain engaged and an absolute imperative that we should preserve the financial stability of the

CSA president Chris Nenzani voted in favour of the ICC revamp being against it until Friday game over the next eight-year cycle from 2015 to 2023. Not only have we managed to do this but we have created the opportunity for current Associate Members to aspire to play Test cricket - the game’s highest form.”

Nenzani had a long meet-

ing with BCCI president N Srinivasan on the eve of the meeting in Singapore which, ESPNcricinfo understands, resulted in CSA’s change of heart.

The South African board was the first Full Member to publicly oppose the proposal and had called it “fundamentally flawed”. On the eve of the meeting, had sent a “formal response” to the proposals in a nine-page letter to ICC president Alan Isaac.

CSA had offered a detailed response to the “key principles” in the revamped proposals but had also expressed its willingness to “proceed with the revamp despite obvious procedural flaws”.

The board had accepted a few broad principles announced by the ICC and rejected outright “the complete de-regulation of the current FTP structure.” The letter had stated that CSA did not support the new bilateral FTP because it “would not be

in the best interest of international cricket and therefore ICC members.” It asked for “basic principles regulating/governing bilateral arrangements and agreements” and wanted the ICC to provide that “necessary co-ordination” while working the FTP around ICC sponsorship cycles.

The meeting on Saturday confirmed the end of the FTP in its current form, with future schedules being dependent on “contractually binding bilateral negotiations” between boards.

Nenzani’s statement said: “There is a lot of work still to be done in terms of deliberations between the various Full Members as far as their international tour programmes are concerned and this procedure also has the support of the Full Member countries.

We are currently at an advanced stage of discussion with all the Full Members to secure our future tours through to 2023

and we will take comfort in the legally binding FTP agreements that will be in place.”

Since the proposal by the Big Three had suggested that most powers would be vested in the hands of the three boards, CSA’s letter to Isaac had said it “supported a democratic process whereby the BCCI accepted a leading and effective role in the leadership of the ICC”.

It was decided in the meeting on Saturday that Srinivasan will become the ICC chairman from July 2014, CA chairman Wally Edwards will head a newly-formed Executive Committee, and ECB chairman Giles Clarke will continue to head the Financial and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) Committee, for a two-year transitional period.

Nenzani’s statement on Saturday emphasised CSA

was “determined to stay true” to its stance and said there will be “fully democratic elections” from 2016.

“What is equally important is that this is only a transitional arrangement and from 2016 there will be fully democratic elections for all the governing positions in the ICC including the chairpersons of the Board and the other committees,” Nenzani said.

“There will be no restrictions in this regard and this must be seen as the key component in our determination to stay true to the best principles of democracy and good corporate governance.

“All these decisions and those still to come will help cricket to move forward with a unified sense of purpose and ensure the future of our great game.

United thwarted by last-gasp Bent goal for Fulham

By Toby Davis

LONDON- (Reuters) - An injury-time goal from Fulham’s Darren Bent inflicted more pain on champions Manchester United as the bottom club rescued a 2-2 Premier League draw yesterday, adding fuel to the fire for manager David Moyes’s critics.

It was a further blow to United’s hopes of securing Champions League football next season and left them nine points behind Liverpool in fourth spot and six adrift of Tottenham Hotspur who beat Everton 1-0 with a goal from Emmanuel Adebayor.

Late strikes from Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick helped United cancel out Steve Sidwell’s opener and evoked some of the never-saydie attitude that characterised former manager Alex Ferguson’s long spell at the club.

However, the uncertainty that has plagued the new regime came back to bite them as Fulham substitute Bent headed in at the far post to nick a point in the 94th minute.

“Today was as bad as it gets,” a shell-shocked Moyes told Sky Sports television.

“We dominated the game.

Being one down was bad enough. The amount of attempts, chances and play we had was unbelievable. How we didn’t win I have no idea.

“It’s goals that count. You can have as much possession as you like. We should have scored more. You’ve got to try and keep making it work,” said Moyes who took over from Ferguson in the close season.

It was a superb return to United, who stayed seventh on 41 points, for former assistant coach Rene Meulensteen as his Fulham side showed buckets of resolve to defend stoutly in the face of constant pressure.

NO STRIKER Fulham set out their stall to defend deep, with two banks of four lined up in front of the goal with no recognised striker.

Their lack of ambition was typical for a team shorn of confidence and hoping for a stroke of luck, much like a lower league side would approach a cup tie at Old Trafford.

Against a United side also lacking belief, Fulham stifled the home team’s pedestrian approach play and caught them napping on the break.

Comically bad defending allowed Sidwell to stride unmarked into the area to latch on to a lofted pass from Lewis Holtby and sidefoot the ball home, stunning a boisterous Old Trafford into silence after 19 minutes.

United’s vulnerability was laid bare eight minutes before the break when their former wide player Kieran Richardson was sent through on goal

by Muamer Tankovic and he blasted his finish over the bar.

The home side hammered at the door after the restart but had to wait until the 78th minute to draw level as Van Persie was left unmarked at the far post to tap in a cross shot from Juan Mata.

RISING SHOT With the home crowd in full voice, United went ahead two minutes later as Carrick’s deflected effort from outside the area flew into the corner, but summing up their season there was a sting in the tale.

Fulham burst forward and Richardson hit a firm rising shot that keeper David De Gea could only push into the path of Bent who nodded the ball in from close range.

At White Hart Lane, a stunning finish from revitalised striker Adebayor helped fifthplaced Tottenham sink Everton to move two points above the Goodison Park team.

Tottenham were second best for most of the match as Everton confidently dominated possession but they were left to rue their lack of a cutting edge when Adebayor fired powerfully into the bottom corner midway through the second half.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

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Wagner strikes blows as NZ beat India by 40 runs

(REUTERS) - Neil Wagner captured four wickets at crucial times as New Zealand held off a counter-attacking India to win the first Test at Eden Park by 40 runs after tea on the fourth day yesterday.

India had looked favourites to win the match for much of the day before Wagner dismissed Virat Kholi (67) and Shikhar Dhawan (115) after lunch then removed Zaheer Khan (17) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (39) in the evening session when the tourists were in sight of the 407 runs needed for victory.

Dhoni, the architect of a bludgeoning counter-attack after his side had been reduced to 270 for six after tea, was the ninth wicket to fall, effectively ending the chase with his side still 44 runs short of their target.

India, who were eventually dismissed for 366, were skittled out for 202 in their first innings, a deficit of 301 runs, but fought back brilliantly with the ball to give themselves a fighting chance of achieving

Wagner strikes at crucial moments

Opener Shikhar Dhawan smashed Ish Sodhi for a six and a four to reach his second Test century an unlikely victory.

“I’m absolutely out of breath. That was a long hard toil of Test cricket but it’s an amazing feeling, one of the best feelings of my career,” Wagner said in a televised interview.

“I’m overjoyed, overwhelmed. I’m also a bit shagged

to be honest.

“The boys kept running in and you can see what this means to them as a unit. They toiled hard all day and it’s a great feeling.”

EBB AND FLOW The final session typified the ebb and flow of the fourth

`Mixed emotions’ for Dhoni after rollercoaster Test

By Abhishek Purohit in Auckland

INDIA were 301 runs behind New Zealand on the first innings. They rebounded from that position so well that at one stage they needed 185 to win with eight wickets remaining.

To go down from that point left MS Dhoni with “mixed emotions” after a rollercoaster of a Test. He was proud of the way both his bowlers and batsmen had fought back in the second innings, but disappointed that India fell short by 40 runs in their chase of 407.

“I think it is mixed emotions. The first innings we didn’t bowl well to start off,” Dhoni said. “The first session was good, but I think it was one of the best bowling performances if I see the second innings - definitely in the last two-three years - especially on a wicket where there was not much assistance after the first session.

I think the second innings by the bowlers really brought us back into the game, and gave us something where we could have said, yes, this is a big target, but we can look to chase it down.”

India were 222 for 2 in the chase with Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan going strong but Kohli tried to pull a wide one from Neil Wagner in the 61st over and fell for 67.

While Dhoni said batsmen had to make the most of such situations, he added that the phase where India lost wickets to the second new ball hurt them more.

“Our batsmen batted well in

MS Dhoni’s wicket brought about wild celebrations on the fourth day in Auckland. their woes. the second innings. Close to the “Both departments we 85th over, we lost a few wickets could have done better,” Dhoni and we had a tough decision said. “Especially if you see the (Ajinkya Rahane’s) at the same second innings bowling, there time which meant we were short were hardly any shots played of 30-35 runs and that was the through the point region which crucial phase. meant we very tight, we were The second new ball would bowling close to the off stump have moved for maybe five-six area. overs maximum. That was Because of that, we the period when if we would used that same fielder in the have not given our wickets, short-cover position and we got we would have got those 40 a few catches there so I think runs. So there were quite a yes, we gave away a few delivfew things that did not go our eries to score in the first innings way.” because of which we were at the Despite their efforts in receiving end. the second innings, India had “Once you get a couple conceded too much ground in of batsmen going, they have the first, when they won the spent a bit of time ... it was a toss in overcast conditions wicket where you could have and let New Zealand pile on gone on to score big, (like) how 503 from 30 for 3. Managing Brendon McCullum scored.

202 after that only added to

day, with both sides at times holding the upper hand only for their fortunes to change over by over.

India had earlier looked favourites to win the match after lunch with Kohli and Dhawan well established and ready to guide their team home in the final session.

Wagner dismissed the dangerous Kohli to break a 126-run partnership with Dhawan, then had the opening batsman caught behind to give the hosts hope they could still win the match at Eden Park.

Trent Boult then dismissed Ajinkya Rahane before tea with the first delivery of the second new ball when he trapped the batsman lbw for 18, though television replays showed Rahane had got an inside edge before the ball hit his pads.

Southee then had Rohit Sharma caught behind by Watling for 19 on the first ball after tea to give the wicketkeeper his fifth catch of the innings and the fireworks began.

Ravindra Jadeja produced a beautifully timed off drive for a boundary on the first delivery he faced which sparked the counter-attack.

Jadeja and Dhoni raced to a 54-run partnership in 34 balls and looked to have seized the initiative back before Jadeja produced one shot too many off Boult and the ball flew to Ish Sodhi at mid-on.

Zaheer Khan continued in that vein, throwing the bat at the ball at every opportunity, but when he fell Dhoni was left to try to see his side to an unlikely victory.

When he was controversially bowled by Wagner, television replays suggested the bowler could have been called for a no-ball, India’s pursuit effectively ended before it was finished when Ishant Sharma gave Watling his sixth catch.

The second Test in the series begins at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Feb. 14.00

Neil Wagner picked up the wickets of Zaheer Khan and MS Dhoni to put the hosts ahead .

NEW ZEALAND first innings (503) India first innings (202) New Zealand second innings (105) -India second innings (overnight 87-1) M. Vijay c Watling b Southee 13 S. Dhawan c Watling b Wagner 115 C. Pujara c Watling b Southee 23 V. Kohli c Watling b Wagner 67 R. Sharma c Watling b Southee 19 A. Rahane lbw b Boult 18 MS Dhoni b Wagner 39 R. Jadeja c Sodhi b Boult 26

Z. Khan c Taylor b Wagner 17 I. Sharma c Watling b Boult 4 M. Shami not out 0 Extras: (nb-4, w-2, b-12, lb-7) 25 Total (all out, 96.3 overs) 366 Fall of wickets: 1-36 2-96 3-222 4-248 5-268 6-270 7-324 8-349 9-362 10-366 Bowling: Boult 23.3-2-86-3 (nb-2), Southee 23-4-81-3, Wagner 25-8-62-4 (nb-2), Anderson 7-1-22-0 (w-2), Sodhi 15-2-78-0, Williamson 3-0-18-0 -Second Test: Wellington, Feb. 14-18

New Pakistan coach will not be foreigner-PCB KARACHI- (Reuters) - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ruled out appointing a foreign coach for the national team.

Former test captains Intikhab Alam and Wasim Akram, who are on the four-member committee formed to evaluate and recommend the new coaching team, said none of the shortlisted candidates were foreigners.

“We received a total of 25

Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis. applications and after evaluation we have shortlisted some candidates and none are foreigners,” Alam told a

news conference in Lahore yesterday.

The PCB is due to appoint a new head coach, batting coach and fielding coach for the national side on Monday.

Australian Dav Whatmore did not extend his two-year contract this month and fielding coach Julian Fountain also left.

Former captains Waqar Younis and Moin Khan are among the favourites to get the top coaching job.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

Pietersen axed because team needs to `trust each other’ -ECB (REUTERS) - Kevin Pietersen’s international career was ended because captain Alastair Cook needed to be able to trust and rely on the support of all his players, said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The controversial batsman’s England career was ended earlier this month when he was left out of the squad for the upcoming World Twenty20 in Bangladesh and the preceding tour of the West Indies.

“The England team needs to rebuild after the whitewash in Australia,” the ECB said in a statement yesterday.

“To do that we must invest in our captain Alastair Cook and we must support him in creating a culture in which we can be confident he will have the full support of all players, with everyone pulling in the same direction and able to trust each other.

“It is for those reasons we have decided to move on with-

Kevin Pietersen scored 8, 181 runs in 104 Tests for England. out Kevin Pietersen.”

The ECB had come under fire for not disclosing the reasons behind the decision to axe Pietersen, with friends of the South Africa-born 33-yearold, current and former play-

ers and media commentators wading into the debate.

Television personality Piers Morgan and England wicketkeeper Matt Prior engaged in a spat on social media.

Pietersen’s only public

comment was contained in the original statement announcing the decision, where he said he regretted that he would not play for England again.

“Following the announcement of that decision, allega-

tions have been made, some from people outside cricket, which as well as attacking the rationale of the ECB’s decision-making, have questioned, without justification, the integrity of the England team director and some of England’s players,” yesterday’s statement said.

“Clearly what happens in the dressing room or team meetings should remain in that environment and not be distributed to people not connected with the team. This is a core principle of any sports team, and any such action would constitute a breach of trust and team ethics.

“Whilst respecting that principle, it is important to stress that Andy Flower, Alastair Cook and Matt Prior, who have all been singled out for uninformed and unwarranted criticism, retain the total confidence and respect of all the other members of the Ashes party.”

Pietersen scored 8,181 runs in 104 Tests, including 23 centuries, and over 4,000 runs in one-day internationals, yet he was never far from controversy in his career.

His impact on and off the field was dramatic and 12 months ago he completed his reintegration into the England fold after making peace with the ECB in a row over “provocative” text messages sent to opposition players that led to him being dropped.

Following England’s 5-0 drubbing in Australia, however, reports began to emerge of more problems, despite his insistence that he wanted to keep playing in all three formats of the game until at least 2015.

Pietersen, no longer contracted to the ECB, is now likely to turn his attention to lucrative Twenty20 competitions in India and elsewhere, and possibly move into the media.

Strauss has his say on KP axing KEVIN Pietersen’s England career was ended because of a total loss of trust between him and the team’s management, according to former captain Andrew Strauss.

The England and Wales Cricket Broad (ECB) announced the end of Pietersen’s association with England earlier this week, citing a need for a new “team ethic and philosophy” after the 5-0 Test series defeat in Australia.

The ECB is yet to fully explain its reasons for deciding to jettison Pietersen, but Strauss believes it was the inevitable consequence of a

breakdown in trust.

“Without trust, the team environment is stillborn,” he wrote in British newspaper the Sunday Times.

“It is for this reason that Kevin Pietersen’s international career had to be brought to an end.

“The media have been searching for a ‘smoking gun’.

Everyone is looking for disciplinary problems, bust-ups and character clashes, but they are looking for the wrong thing.

“The smoking gun is the total absence of trust.”

Strauss identified Pietersen’s dismissal as England captain five years ago as the begin-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday February 10, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Mike Findlay (HS: 44-WI vs NZ, Barbados, 1972) 215 runs (vs Netherlands, Delhi, 2011) Today’s Quiz: Put these in order beginning with the man who first compiled a triple ton in Tests: VirenderSehwag; Michael Clarke; Brian Lara; Younis Khan; Chris Gayle Who is the first player to cross the 150-run mark in an ODI game outside England?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Former England captain Andrew Strauss.

ning of the breakdown.

He also said that efforts to reintegrate the South Africa-born batsman into the team after he was found to have sent derogatory text messages about Strauss to opposition players were “a little like marriage counselling”.

On Pietersen’s role in the recent Ashes whitewash, Strauss added: “What happened in Australia from November onwards, when the heat of the furnace was fixed on the embattled side,

was that old grievances came back to the surface. Past history weighed too heavily. Trust still did not exist.

“His relationship with English cricket has been like an illicit affair. Full of thrills and excitement, but destined to end in tears.”

Strauss’ views are not in line with former team-mate Andrew Flintoff, who thinks KP was England’s scapegoat after a nightmare Ashes series.

India elects new officials in bid to overturn Olympic ban

By Amlan Chakraborty NEW DELHI- (Reuters) - The suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elected a new set of officials yesterday hoping to overturn an Olympic ban on the world’s second most populous nation.

The IOA was suspended for going ahead with its December 2012 election in which Lalit Bhanot, who spent 11 months in jail on corruption charges, was voted in as secretary general.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) subsequently offered a lifeline for the dithering IOA to bar all tainted officials from contesting its elections and elect new ones.

“To the best of our knowl-

Lalit Bhanot “The house has urged edge, the IOC observer team them to take their report back is completely satisfied with the to the IOC executive board conduct and the fairness of the and try and make sure the athelection,” new IOA president letes walk beneath the Indian N. Ramachandran told reporters tri-colour at the earliest.” after the election.

World Squash Federation president Ramachandran, whose brother N. Srinivasan heads the Indian cricket board, and Kho Kho federation president Rajeev Mehta, the new secretary general of the body, were both elected unopposed.

India’s Olympic suspension forced luge athlete Shiva Keshavan and alpine skiers Himanshu Thakur and Nadeem Iqbal to compete as independent athletes under the Olympic flag at the current Winter Games in Sochi.

“We will be leaving to go back to Sochi for the IOC executive board meeting and personally report on today’s proceedings,” Robin Mitchell, the head of the IOC delegation at the election, said.

“They will take the necessary actions and hopefully the outcome expected of today’s meeting will be announced very soon.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 10, 2014

27

BCB launches Elizabeth Styles Under-19 cricket tournament

By Michael DaSilva THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday last launched the Elizabeth Styles Under-19 tournament in commemoration of its 75th anniversary celebration.

Addressing members of the media Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s (RHY&SC) secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster told media operatives, that cricket would be played at all levels during the course of the year (2014) as the BCB strives to strengthen the game from the junior to the senior level.

Foster said over the years Berbice has produced numerous outstanding Under-19 players like Narsingh Deonarine, David Fingall, Assad Fudadin, Deonarine Persaud, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Gajanand Singh and Hemnarine Chattergoon, among others ; and the club will strive to continue the trend, hence, Elizabeth would be renewing its sponsorship.

Foster said the last tournament sponsored by the United States based company was a highly successful one and was won by Albion Cricket Club who defeated Young Warriors in the final.

The CEO said this year’s tournament would be played in several sub-zones in West Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, East Berbice, Lower Corentyne, Central Corentyne and Upper Corentyne.

The winning team will receive $50,000, while the runner-up will collect $30,000.

The man of the final will earn $10,000 and a trophy.

Foster said this year’s tournament is expected to be one of a high standard and the BCB is quite delighted to have Elizabeth Styles once again as the sponsor of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Styles is currently sponsoring a country-wide coaching programme and in another three weeks they would be launching an under-21 tournament.

Vice-preisdent of the Berbice Cricket Board receives the sponsorship cheque from Bissoondyal Singh in the presence of other representatives.

Former Windies players differ on the importation of players ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Two former West Indies cricketers are sharing differing views about the importation of players from outside the sub-region.

Leeward Islands coach Ridley Jacobs, who represented West Indies in 65 Tests and 147 One Day Internationals between 1996 and 2004, says that he is against any recommendations supporting the use of players from outside of the various territorial boards.

However, Kenneth Benjamin, who also played for

Leeward Islands coach Ridley Jacobs Leeward Islands and West Indies, believes that the Leeward

Islands Cricket Association (LICA) should start outsourcing talent.

Jacobs said that although the current crop of players are not producing at a high level, some of the blame must be shared by the coaches and administrators.

“I think that we have enough quality players in the Leewards. I think we just need to work with these guys and give them an opportunity to really perform to their best,” he told the Antigua Observer.

“When we play, the result

speaks for itself; but I believe that we need to have proper structure in the Leewards. We have a board now that is willing to work with players who want to develop their skills.

“I think that they have the right attitude and that once we get the right set of people to work with these guys, in a couple of years we should have good players coming through,” he added.

But Benjamin arugues that regional cricket is being hampered by what he described as “small-minded-

ness” of cricket officials in the region.

“You can’t have someone in Jamaica like a Danza Hyatt who is probably better than most of the Leeward Islands batsmen sitting down because Jamaica’s selectors did not select him,” Benjamin said.

“We can’t have someone like a Miguel Cummins in Barbados, but because he wasn’t selected in the Barbados squad sitting down. How are these guys going to help West Indies cricket and they are descent players?

“It is the small-mindedness of the cricket people around the region and the non-vision and the non-love for West Indies cricket because everybody is so territorial that if you are not from my area then I don’t want to select you and we have to get away from that,” he added.

Jacobs is the chief selector and coach of the Leeward Islands team participating in the NAGICO Super50 Regional cricket tournament in Trinidad while Benjamin is a vice president of the Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association.

Bahamian jumpers tuning up for World Indoors NASSAU, Bahamas, (CMC) After skipping the IAAF World Championships last year because of an injury, Trevor Barry is working his way back into form to return to action next month at the IAAF World Indoors in Sopot, Poland.

Barry, the 2011 World Championship bronze medallist, is hoping that he can attain the qualifying mark of 2.30 metres that will make him eligible to compete at his first World Indoor Championships, scheduled for March 7-9.

In a pair of meets in Europe last month, Barry cleared 2.24m and 2.25m as he began his trek back to international prominence.

“It was a familiar feeling. It

felt good,” said Barry of his first taste of competition in more than nine months. “I’m just taking it in strides trying to get back in tip- top shape. My coach Keith Parker was pleased with my results, but he’s expecting much more from me.”

Barry, 30, competed in a pair of meets in the Czech Republic where he faced some of the top jumpers in the world, including his Bahamian rival, Donald Thomas.

“Once you get into the atmosphere, the performances get better and better,” Barry said.

“My training has been going great and so I was pleased to get in the performances that I turned in.”

With Thomas, whom he’s

Trevor Barry years, competing in the meets, been battling with on the naBarry said he expects for the tional front for the past few

competition to be fierce.

“It’s always good to have a fellow Bahamian competing in the event,” said Barry, who expects to have a lot more competition with Ryan Ingraham and Jamal Wilson both making headlines at home in the Bahamas.

“He always brings out the best in me. So I really enjoy competing with and against him.”

While Thomas has already secured his berth into the World Indoors from last year, Barry is still on the bubble. He needs to clear the qualifying mark of 2.30m, which he attempted in the Czech Republic, only to fall short after he missed up on his attempt at 2.28m.

“One of my goals this year is the World Indoors,”

said Barry, who will attempt to hit the qualifying mark when he competes in a meet at his home training site this weekend in Fargo, North Dakota. “I’m looking forward to accomplishing that goal. I came very close to doing it.”

Whether or not he achieves the feat, Barry said another goal for this year is to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, July 23 to August 3. At the last games in Delhi, India in 2010, Barry picked up the silver medal.

Additionally, Barry could also be on the team heading to the Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled for November 15-30 in Veracruz, Mexico.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Former Windies players differ on the importation see of players storyplease page 27

Trinidad &Tobago roll over CCC by seven wickets PORT- of- SPAIN, Trinidad - Trinidad & Tobago rolled over the Combined Campuses & Colleges by 7 wickets last night to virtually secure their spot in the semi-finals of the NAGICO Super50 tournamnet.

Chasing just 99 runs to win, T&T lost two wickets, but not before openers Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis took the hosts to within touching distance of their target.

Lewis pounded 44 runs from just 27 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes. Simmons on the other hand started slowly but accelerated as he went on. He hit 38 runs from 41 balls.

T&T got to their target with 33.4 overs to spare.

Trinidad & Tobago bowlers blew away the Combined Campuses & Colleges for just 98 after the visitors won the toss and elected to bat in Match 11 of the NAGICO Super50.

T&T started the match by bowling tightly and that eventually led to a CCC collapse. CCC were 30/3 an over after the first Powerplay ended. Things only got slower and worst for the students.

Jason Mohammed was the surprise package of the innings, taking 3-19 from his alloted ten overs. Dwayne Bravo also finished with the same figures. Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine and Rayad Emrit all chipped in with one wicket each.

Raymon Reifer tried his best to weather the storm with a patient 27 runs from 70 balls, but in trying to steal a quick single to Dwayne Bravo at mid-on, he was spectacularly run out. Kyle Mayers provided some resistance at the end but he was the last wcket to go for 19.

The Combined Campuses & Colleges won the toss and elected to bat first against Trinidad & Tobago in Match 11 of the NAGICO Super50 tournament.

The hosts made two changes to the team that defeated the please see page 23

Man-of-the-Match Jason Mohammed was Trinidad &Tobago surprise package at Queen’s Park Oval yesterday. The off-spinner ended up with superb figures of 10-1-19-3.

(Photo courtesy flickr.com/windiescricket)

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Anthony reigns supreme in R&R 40-miler cycle road race please see story on page 23

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2013