Guyana chronicle 12 03 14

GUYANA No. 103765

WEDNESDAY MARCH 12, 2014

Gov’t says ...

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‘No way, José!’

–To APNU’s ridiculous call to phase out sugar Worried CARICOM Heads urge 2 speedy passage of AML/CFT Bill Page

–Say non-compliance will affect entire Region

CARICOM Heads during a break in their meeting (Photo courtesy CARICOM Secretariat)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Worried CARICOM Heads urge speedy passage of AML/CFT Bill –Say non-compliance will affect entire Region

HEADS of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at their 25th Inter-Sessional Meeting in Kingstown, St Vincent, have issued a call for Guyana to pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism

(Amendment) Bill currently in a Special Select Committee of the National Assembly.

The Heads discussed the impasse in Guyana in caucus yesterday, and agreed that the non-passage of this piece of legislation will have devastating economic impacts,

not only for Guyana, but the rest of the Region, if Guyana is blacklisted internationally.

The meeting is expected to issue a statement calling for a resolution to the issue.

A c c o r d i n g t o A t t o rney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr Anil Nand-

lall, who participated in the meeting, “The meeting noted with dismay the fact that Guyana has been unable to pass the Bill which incorporates the recommendations of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).”

He added, “The meeting

REMEMBERING Dr. Cheddi Jagan

I was mandated by the Guyanese people to rebuild the national economy and restore a decent standard of life for all Guyanese. In all my political career, I did not succumb to pressure to serve narrow partisan interests; I do not intend to do so now. I will not surrender the interests of the nation for expediency or short-term gain.

CheddiJagan Address at the Flag-Raising Ceremony in honour of the 27th Anniversary of Independence –May 26, 1993

noted the implications it will have for Guyana, the Guyanese economy, the people of Guyana, and, more importantly, regional integration and the complications that will arise in the Region should Guyana be blacklisted.”

He said a statement will be issued shortly “calling on the relevant parties to pass the legislation with dispatch, because of the complexity and the problems that will arise in the Region and economic and financial activity.”

On March 7, Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mr Freundel Stuart, wrote President Donald Ramotar, expressing concern over the non-passage of the Bill and the implications it might have on the Caribbean.

“Without any doubt,” Prime Minister Stuart was

Barbados PM Mr Freundel Stuart

Minister of Legal Affairs Mr Anil Nandlall

quoted as saying, “this situation and the threatened action

by CFATF will affect Guyana and the entire Caribbean Region, and will negatively impact the well-being of our people.”

He ended by saying: “I trust that during our Inter-sessional Meeting, we will be able to discuss this matter in caucus, and see what other action we can take, as a group, to assist Guyana at this juncture.”

Guyana, on February 28 last, missed a second CFATF deadline to pass the legislation. In November, it failed to meet the first time limit after the opposition used their oneseat majority in the National Assembly to vote down the bill, which led to the country being blacklisted at the regional level.

The opposition, at the last moment, proposed two amendments, both of which are not related to the CFATF-compliant Bill, but to the principal act, which was passed in 2009. One of the proposals seeks to give police and customs officers see page 3

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Gov’t says ...

‘No way, José!’

–To APNU’s ridiculous call to phase out sugar

By Vanessa Narine THE main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), yesterday, through their member Tony Vieira, called for the scaling down of operations at the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

He’s also suggesting that those lands used for sowing sugar cane be now used instead for fish farming and cane-derived ethanol. For that matter, he feels that Guyana should get out of the sugar business entirely, because of a number of factors militating against it, such as heavy rainfall; the need for several tons of cane to yield just one ton of sugar; and the inordinate length of time it takes to get the cane to the factory due to a shortage of labour.

But the ruling party would not hear of it, and in response has made it clear that it will continue to work to ensure that the sugar industry remains relevant, and that its employees are secure in their jobs.

“The PPP assures all sugar workers that it will continue to stand by them, and will continue to work to protect their interest and that of their families,” the party said in a statement last evening. “The party will not sit idly by and allow APNU to achieve its callous objective of taking away the livelihoods of the workers,” it added.

Noting that it views APNU’s call as “part and parcel of its longheld desire” to deprive sugar workers of their jobs, thereby demoralising and reducing their capacity to provide for their families and their children’s future, the PPP said: “The party will not allow APNU to trample on the livelihoods of the workers; our party has worked tirelessly to improve the lives

Worried CARICOM Heads urge ... from page 2 the authority to seize $10M in currency from Guyanese on the grounds of suspicion. Initially they had proposed $2M. CFATF has no objection to the Bill in its current form, and its Financial Adviser Roger Hernandez said the regional watchdog body has concerns in relation to the amendments that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) proposed.

Hernandez explained that some of the amendments put forward deal with previous areas of the Act that were deemed compliant “The concern that we have is that the amendment put forward may make those areas that were formerly compliant, non-compliant,” he said.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), at the end of its plenary in France recently, said Guyana has to submit a report to the CFATF on its follow-up process by February 28, which means that the Bill has to be passed, enforced and submitted along with the report by that date to the CFATF. This body was expected to analyse the Bill on aspects of compliance with international standards, subsequent to which a report will be made to its plenary in May. If the May plenary is dissatisfied with Guyana’s progress, the 2013 November statement (CFATF) already provides the decision for the country’s referral to FATF. In June 2014, the FATF is slated to meet, when it will make a decision as to whether Guyana should be subjected to a prima facie review by the International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG).

There has been tremendous public outcry over the opposition’s proposals, with the Private Sector Commission, religious groups, the National Competitiveness Council, labour unions, and residents across the country calling on the political parties to pass the bill. Their urgings have since fallen on deaf ears as the Opposition continues to be intransigent.

More recently, residents in several communities such as Lusignan, Mahaica, Anna Regina and Greenwich Park have demanded that the bill be passed or elections be held. (GINA)

of all Guyanese through the continuous transformation of Guyana.

Sugar workers are an integral part of this process and as such their advancement through job security must be assured.”

SCANT REGARD Charging APNU with having little or no regard for sugar workers and their families, and being not only callous but insensitive as well, the PPP said: “The call by the APNU must be viewed as wanton disregard for the well-being and livelihoods of thousands of sugar workers and their families across the sugar belt.

“The APNU’s call for the shutting down of the sugar industry must be deemed reckless and total disrespect for sugar workers, their dependants and the thousands of others who benefit directly and indirectly.

TONY VIEIRA “The PNC/APNU has, by this call, shown scant regard for the sugar industry and the thousands who depend on it for their livelihoods.”

Recalling a time when Guyana was virtually brought to its knees, thanks in no small measure to the PNC administration’s gross mismanagement of the economy, the PPP said: “The sugar industry was not spared, and production spiralled downwards drastically. It was the PPP, under the leadership of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, that revived the industry, and saw increased production and improved conditions for the workers, despite the challenges faced.

“Now that the PNC, through APNU, is in the Opposition, their efforts to impose hardships on the nation and its people continue.”

Noting too that these sheenanigans the Opposition has been employing of late is evidence of their true intention, which is to “deprive Guyanese of the advancements” they now enjoy, the party said: “The PPP has, since its establishment, always struggled and fought for the rights and well-being of sugar workers, as reflected in its annual observance of Enmore Martyrs Day and the construction of the new factory at Skeldon. “...the stringent measures imposed by the European Union resulted in many challenges for the local industry and were in many ways responsible for some countries in the Caribbean closing their factories, thereby putting thousands on the breadline.

“The PPP-led Administration, cognisant of the tremendous loss this could bring to bear on sugar workers and the country, given sugar’s contribution to the economy, took the bold and visionary step to save the industry and jobs through the construction of the Skeldon factory. While there are some teething challenges with the factory, it remains pivotal to the future of the industry and its workers.”

CARICOM moves to address local law students’ issue THERE appears to be a resolution towards the issue of accommodating Guyanese law students at the Hugh Wooding Law Faculty for the upcoming academic year, Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall said yesterday.

In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister Nandlall, who was part of the Guyana delegation participating in the 25th Inter-Sessional CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines, said CARICOM Chairman, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves will be writing to the Council of Legal Education about admitting the 25 Guyanese students for the

academic year 2014.

He said the letter will also call for a review of the provision of legal education in the Region to address the expanded need for accommodation and education.

This is a serious issue which needs to be addressed as students from the London based LLB programme and Belize are adversely affected, the minister said.

The fate of Guyanese law students was recently put in limbo after the Hugh Wooding Law School indicated that it would be unable to accommodate additional students from the University of Guyana’s Law programme.

As part of an agreement between UWI’s Council for Legal Education and UG, every year, 25 automatic

placements were offered by the Council for Legal Education to UG for entry into Hugh Wooding. The Council however, recently took the decision that UG’s 2014 batch will not be guaranteed any place at the institution.

Minister Nandlall previously emphasised, “Government considers this as a matter of priority because it puts in jeopardy the life and welfare of a number of students who would be completing the LLB programme at the University of Guyana

in the year 2014, and as well, it jeopardises the entire law programme at the university and it jeopardises the future of students who are already in the programme and those students who are desirous of entering the programme.”

He noted that Government is always committed to ensuring its people, especially young people have access to education as it sees education as a vital tool to combat poverty and to advance citizens’ development. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Malaysia military tracked missing plane to west coast: source (Reuters) – MALAYSIA’S military believes a jetliner missing for almost four days turned and flew hundreds of kilometers to the west after it last made contact with civilian air traffic control off the country’s east coast, a senior officer told Reuters on Tuesday.

In one of the most baffling mysteries in recent aviation history, a massive search operation for the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER has so far found no trace of the aircraft or the 239 passengers and crew.

Malaysian authorities have previously said flight MH370 disappeared about an hour after it took off from Kuala Lumpur for the Chinese capital Beijing.

“It changed course after Kota Bharu and took a lower altitude. It made it into the Malacca Strait,” the senior military officer, who has been briefed on investigations, told Reuters.

That would appear to rule out sudden catastrophic mechanical failure, as it would mean the plane flew around 500 km (350 miles) at least after its last contact with air traffic control, although its transponder and other tracking systems were off.

A non-military source familiar with the investigations said the report was one of several theories and was being checked.

is used by militaries.

Police had earlier said they were investigating whether any passengers or crew on the plane had personal or psychological problems that might explain its disappearance, along with the possibility of a hijack, sabotage or mechanical failure.

There was no distress signal or radio contact indicating a problem and, in the absence

Ukraine forms new defence force, seeks Western help

A combination photo shows two men whom police said were travelling on stolen passports onboard the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 plane, taken before their departure at Kuala Lumpur International More... Credit: REUTERS/ Malaysian Police/Handout via Reuters At the time it lost contact with civilian air traffic control, the plane was roughly midway between Malaysia’s east coast town of Kota Bharu and the southern tip of Vietnam, flying at 35,000 ft.

The Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping channels, runs along Malaysia’s west coast.

Malaysia’s Berita Harian newspaper quoted air force chief Rodzali Daud as saying the plane was last detected at 2.40 a.m. by military radar near the island of Pulau Perak at the

(Reuters) – UKRAINE’S interim leaders established a new National Guard on Tuesday and appealed to the United States and Britain for assistance against what they called Russian aggression in Crimea under a post-Cold War treaty.

Blaming their ousted predecessors for the weakness of their own armed forces, acting ministers told parliament Ukraine had as few as 6,000 combat-ready infantry and that the air force was outnumbered nearly 100 to 1

by Moscow’s superpower forces.

There was no let-up in the war of words, with the pro-Russian regional parliament in Crimea approving a declaration of independence that will take effect if people on the Black Sea peninsula vote to unite

northern end of the Strait of Malacca. It was flying about 1,000 meters lower than its previous altitude, he was quoted as saying.

There was no word on what happened to the plane thereafter.

The effect of turning off the transponder is to make the aircraft inert to secondary radar, so civil controllers cannot identify it. Secondary radar interrogates the transponder and gets information about the plane’s identity, speed and height.

It would however still be visible to primary radar, which

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of any wreckage or flight data, police have been left trawling through passenger and crew lists for potential leads.

“Maybe somebody on the flight has bought a huge sum of insurance, who wants family to gain from it or somebody who has owed somebody so much money, you know, we are looking at all possibilities,” Malaysian police chief

Khalid Abu Bakar told a news conference.

“We are looking very closely at the video footage taken at the KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), we are studying the behavioral pattern of all the passengers.”

The airline said it was taking seriously a report by a South African woman who said the co-pilot of the missing plane had invited her and a female travelling companion to sit in the cockpit during a flight two years ago, in an apparent breach of security.

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with Russia in a referendum on Sunday.

The national parliament in Kiev said it would dissolve the Crimean assembly if it did not cancel the plebiscite.

Viktor Yanukovich, whose overthrow last month after protests triggered the gravest crisis in Europe since the Cold War, insisted from his refuge in Russia that he was still Ukraine’s legitimate president and commander of its armed forces.

Acting Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, who will visit the White House and United Nations Security Council this week, said a 1994 treaty under which Ukraine agreed to give up its Soviet nuclear weapons obliged Russia to remove troops from Crimea and also obliged Western powers to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty.

He said a failure to protect Ukraine would undermine efforts to persuade Iran or North Korea to forswear nuclear weapons as Kiev did 20 years ago. The terms of the Budapest

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Memorandum oblige Russia, Britain and the United States as guarantors to seek U.N. help for Ukraine if it faces attack by nuclear weapons.

Parliament passed a resolution calling on the United States and Britain, co-signatories with Russia of that treaty to “fulfill their obligations ... and take all possible diplomatic, political, economic and military measures urgently to end the aggression and preserve the independence, sovereignty and existing borders of Ukraine”.

NATO powers - and the authorities in Kiev - have made clear they want to avoid a military escalation with Moscow, which has denied its troops are behind the takeover of Crimea 10 days ago by separatist forces - a denial ridiculed by other governments.

The European Union and United States have been preparing sanctions against Russia, though with some reluctance, especially in Europe, which values commercial ties with Moscow.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12 2014

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Students take over principal’s office (Newsday) STUDENTS of the Marabella North Secondary School are reported to have taken over the principal’s office Monday, and then set fire to the male and female washrooms in an attempt to get teachers to send them home.

Shortly after 12.30 pm Newsday responded to a report of a fire at the school. When the news team got there they discovered a smouldering bush fire next to the school and smoke blowing into the school compound.

Sources at the school told Newsday as the smoke blew into the school compound a group of students went to the principal’s office to complain that the smoke was burning their eyes, and that they should be sent home. Realising that the principal was not in his office, the students are reported to have taken control of the school’s public address system and began calling on the principal to come to the office, and make an announcement for

them to to go home.

Sources told Newsday, when the students realised that they were being ignored, they left the principals’s office, then went and set fire to both the male and female toilets in a bid to get school authorities to respond to their concerns.

Marabella police were called in and the fires were soon put out.

Contacted on the incident a Ministry of Education official claimed no knowledge of the situation.

Jamaica’s PM suggests non-confrontational approach to reparation KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — JAMAICA’S Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says a non-confrontational approach needs to be taken by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on the issue of reparations.

She noted that the matter, which is important given the history and modern consequences of slavery in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, should be a process of reconciliation and dialogue, free from animosity.

Simpson Miller was addressing a closed-door meeting at the 25th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which officially opened Monday at the Buccament Bay Resort in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

A key item on the table was reparations for native genocide and slavery. It is a topic of intense discussion in the Caribbean, which has led to the formation of individual National

Commissions throughout the region. These include Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, St Vincent, and Suriname.

In addition, a CARICOM Reparations Commission was constituted to establish the moral, ethical and legal case for the payment of reparations by the Governments of all the colonial powers and the relevant institutions in those countries, to the nations and people of CARICOM for the crimes against humanity, including native genocide, the trans-Atlantic slave trade and a radicalized system of chattel slavery.

Haitians sue UN over cholera epidemic NEW YORK (AP) — A NEW lawsuit has been filed by 1,500 Haitian plaintiffs against the United Nations (UN) over a cholera outbreak that has killed thousands in the Caribbean nation.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in a Brooklyn federal court, seeks compensations for deaths and illnesses and funding for

clean water in Haiti, which was devastated by a 2010 earthquake.

Scientific studies have shown that cholera was likely introduced in Haiti by UN peacekeepers from Nepal, where the disease is endemic.

The new suit also asks the court to declare that the UN has

no immunity.

Another lawsuit filed in a Manhattan federal court in October cited World Health Organization data saying cholera had sickened nearly 700,000 Haitians and killed more than 8,400 as of December 23.

The UN has defended its actions in Haiti.

GOING HOME EARLY: Marabella North Secondary School students walking along Union Road, Marabella, after classes were dismissed early due to a fire believed to have been set by students in the male and female toilets in an effort to have school dismissed early.

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GUYANA

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

He says stop penalising them

Editorial

No need to be flummoxed THE media release from Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Anil Nandlall, stating that “Government is flummoxed by an impetuous outburst from the Guyana Human Rights Association(GHRA) in relation to the Walter Rodney Inquiry” is surprising, since all signals emanating from the GHRA, coupled with the history of this entity, indicate that the GHRA would take the position of the Opposition collective on any issue.

The GHRA’s contention that great doubt exists in the minds of a wide cross-section of the Guyanese society in respect of who now constitutes this organisation, what causes they prosecute, and upon whose behalf they act, is at best a misrepresentation of facts; but in reality an outright lie, because this inquiry has long been lobbied for by Guyanese across every divide, as well as by individuals and bodies all across the globe.

The GHRA’s contentions all constitute a smokescreen to hide its concern, because now that through the WPA they are all affiliated with the PNC, this commission of inquiry that has been composed to investigate the death of Walter Rodney is no longer welcome by the members of the WPA and their affiliates in the Red Thread, GHRA, et al for fear that the facts would be revealed to the world – that Rodney’s death was indeed an assassination committed by the agent of the PNC administration, GDF Sergeant Gregory Smith. This would underline the odious and filthy marriage of the WPA to the murderers of its former leader and national hero, Walter Rodney. It conjures up shades of Hamlet’s mother’s marriage to her husband’s murderer, and both are heinous actions of self-serving persons.

According to the AG, “The mysterious facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. Walter Rodney have hovered over Guyana like a dark cloud since 13th June, 1980. Over the last 34 (thirty-four) years, calls have come from many parts of the world for a credible commission of inquiry to be conducted into the death of Dr. Walter Rodney.

“Attention needs to be drawn to the following: shortly after the incident in June, 1980, the PPP; the WPA; and indeed, the then newly formed vibrant and focused Guyana Human Rights Association, echoed similar requests. When the PPP assumed Government in 1992, those demands were renewed by many, including the immediate family of Dr. Rodney and the WPA. However, those once before ‘friends’ of Walter Rodney’s are now collaborating with his murderers to destroy all that he lived and died for; all his goals and aspirations for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Guyanese nation; and all their shameless pronouncements and prognostications are no more than attempts to camouflage their dark actions and intentions that have betrayed, as a continuum, the ideals and endeavours of Walter”.

But what of the many, many people straddling the globe who still love and revere Walter, including his relatives, who have lost a loving and beloved member of their family? It was a recent appeal to President Donald Ramotar by Walter’s widow, Dr. Patricia Rodney, and her daughter, Asha Rodney, to commission such an Inquiry “… so that this tragic chapter in the life of the family can enjoy some closure”. But more than that, they specifically indicated that, should the Government accede to their request, they would like to partici-

THE former officer of the GDF did not see the military-style command that took place blocking Agricola Public Road, then certain persons proceeded to beat, rob and sexually molest innocent citizens.

Only those with army training can carry out that kind of deadly action.

You, like all Guyanese, know that they join the army for military-style training and weapon use, then they leave.

If you want nothing done to them, then join me in calling on the military to train all adults who would like to be trained in high weapon use to defend self, family and property from terrorists.

Minister Rohee said he is fed up with this whole situation of poor performance of the 911 system, referring to the fact that the problem has been raised time and time again.

He proffered the opinion that it could not be as a result of staffing, as the police have sufficient “general duties” staff to man the 911 line.

“This issue has come up at several meetings…I don’t know if it is a technological problem,” Rohee admitted.

If Government continues to hire PNC supporters to do the job in the security sector, and they just do not want to do the job, then why are they still there?

It can be easily proven that they hear the phone ring and refuse to answer. So why are

--I say jail them for life

they not penalised? It cannot be a technological problem, as for unending years, and even now, no matter how much Govt. raises their wages, they still will not answer that phone.

The American experts will grab taxpayers’ money and run off, laughing at Minister Rohee and Guyanese in general.

Now I am reading that APNU denounces the “politics of division”. No, it is PNC and not APNU, since there is no such thing as APNU. According to that coalition party, its Chairman and Opposition Leader, David Granger, speaking at Auchlyne on Saturday, March 08, called on Guyanese to commit themselves to national unity and racial reconciliation, and to renounce thoughts of retaliation and recrimination.

PNC leader Granger seems to be in the heads of PPP supporters for him to say with authority that they are thinking of “retaliation”.

PNC and their supporters are the ones with the big guns, and they can take out the PPP administration and wipe out PPP’s support base in a blink of an eye, so, it is really sick of this PNC man to talk about “retaliation”. Statements such as this should be documented and sent to the UN, where the PNC leader must say how he knows what is in the heads of PPP supporters.

Knowing that the police and

army ranks and all those PNC supporters that went AWOL from the army are fully loaded with knowledge on how to conduct a race war in Guyana, is it likely that PPP supporters could try to ‘retaliate’?

You have to be very fair to the PPP electorate and ask PPP top-brass some very tough questions when people make such bold remarks as per majority in Parliament after fresh elections.

You have to ask the PPP what plans are in place to deal severely with PNC supporters should the PNC threaten violence after elections are held and they are not the winners.

Suppose the Kitty Market PNC speaker goes out in public again and threaten that there will be no Guyana if PPP wins and does not share the Government with the PNC? What then?

Citizens are naturally afraid of more sinister stuff when men such as Nigel Hughes can openly tell thugs that all the lands on the East Coast all the way up to Berbice belongs to their ancestors.

PPP core base supporters want to know if, should another Agricola Public Road shut down

by PNC thugs happen, what plans are in place by PPP to put it down immediately.

My brother made a joke with me the other day, and I had a real good laugh at what he texted me. He said there are fewer flies under the house since Minister Rohee implemented

the SWAT TEAM. The public never knew police was minding a 13-year-old notorious criminal, and I like how the opposition media asked the tough questions.

Many Guyanese never knew Lindeners were paying $5 per kWh for electricity while others have to bust their backs paying a whopping $65. The PPP has to be more transparent with the citizens of Guyana!

All they are asking is for the PPP to be fair to them, and not appease PNC supporters while neglecting them. Equity should be fairness to all.

By now, those in the PPP must come to realise that since PNC top-dogs have been preaching how all PNC support villages are depressed as the reason they do not contribute to Guyana’s economy, they must not be given anything. Period!

Since PPP cannot protect its citizens, mainly their core base supporters, then Government needs to pass laws or executive orders that all adults who would like to defend their families and properties should come in for arms and ammunition training free of cost, and allow them to buy high-powered weaponry for total protection, because the PPP can never turn the Police Force and GDF in their favour. They look out only for their kit-n-kin. When will the PPP ever learn?

T. KING

It was not a level playing field I BELIEVE Guyana needs to make the changes of categories for the 2015 Carib Monarch Competition. The way I see it, “Still in the game” by Kwesi (Carib Soca Monarch 2014, Guyana) falls under the category of Groovy Soca, and “On the road” by Jumo is

definitely for the Power Soca category; so I will not agree with anyone that Jumo was dethroned by Kwesi, because it was not a level playing field in terms of genre of music.

From where I was on Mash Day 2014, I never heard “Still in the game” played once,

pate in setting the terms of reference of any such inquiry; and they requested that these terms of reference and the composition of the inquiry must not be made the subject of a political process.

President Ramotar has honoured the wishes of the Rodney family and acceded to the request. Thus the composition of the terms of reference and the CoI should not be made into a political football by those who are now conspiring with his murderers to destroy the country and people that he loved and for whom he was martyred.

The GHRA’s ridiculous and irrational excuse for objecting to the Rodney CoI, that it has “...rich potential for stirring up Indo-Guyanese resentment against the PNC”, is a mere smokescreen for their notorious affiliation to, and support of, the known murderers/assassins of one of Guyana’s heroes and martyrs; because, as a former WPA member wrote in the Chronicle’s letters column, “Why would Indo-Guyanese be stirred up by an inquiry into the death of Walter Rodney, even if it is proved that Gregory Smith assassinated him on the orders of former President Burnham? After all, Walter Rodney, Gregory Smith and Forbes Burnham were all Black men.

All right-thinking persons should unreservedly welcome this CoI.

and it is customary that the winning song is usually played on Mash Day. Perhaps it was played along the journey to the National Park.

I do have both tunes/songs on my music system, and I like them both.

For the record, I do not

know Mr. Jumo personally, but I briefly met him while he was passing by where I was on Mash Day, and I did manage to capture a “Kodak Moment shot” with him and others.

T.PEMBERTON

Indeed! But the operative phraseology here is “right-thinking persons”. And which right-thinking person would believe that Dr Walter Rodney would have wanted the affiliation of the vehicle of his freedom fight – the WPA - aligned to the people and the party he detested so much that he was willing to sacrifice his life (because he was warned of the dangers by Dr. Cheddi Jagan) for his cause and his belief that the PNC was disastrous for Guyana and the Guyanese people?

So any position which speaks against the Rodney CoI that is taken by the PNC, WPA, GHRA and all those cosily wrapped together under one blanket of destructive policies against Guyana and the nation at large, should be completely ignored for what it is: the red herring meant to hide their shameless partnership with, and support for, the very people and party that allegedly killed the great Guyanese martyr and hero.

It is time the people who really love Walter get some justice, if not through prosecution of these murderers, at least through some closure of a tragic episode that left unhealed wounds in their collective souls. It is time the tears stop flowing for Walter, and his soul find everlasting peace.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana...

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Desperate times call for desperate measures –in light of APNU’s sinister threat to GINA and NCN OLD KAI is appalled at the latest attack by Opposition Leader David Granger on employees of the Government Information Agency (GINA) and the National Communications Network (NCN).

Mr. Granger and the combined Opposition have used everything in their power to destabilize the functioning of these state media entities and affect their employees. This latest threat by Granger -- that if GINA and NCN continue to refuse to bow to the will of APNU, they will suffer the consequences -- is very serious.

We are informed through iNews that Granger stated: “Our concerns remain the same as existed over the last two years… All we seek is balanced coverage, and if that is not provided, we will know how to deal with them, if they don’t hear…”, Granger said, as others in the room echoed, “They will feel.”

Let us, at this point, not forget that both GINA and NCN have had cause in the past to solicit assistance from the Guyana Police Force for security reasons. Let us also not forget that the NCN transmission studios in Linden were firebombed in 2006 during the general elections.

So, the undercurrent of this public statement by the APNU leadership could have severe implications for these two entities; which is why I am in support of the proactive approach taken by Head of GINA, Mr. Neaz Subhan, in both expressing his concern for the safety of his staff, and alerting the GPF of this threat.

This opposition party will, no doubt, quickly try to play down its warning by having its mouthpieces in the media imply that the sole aim of the comments was directed at cutting funding once again for these two entities in the upcoming budget presentation.

This position would clearly be a misinformed one, as the High Court has already ruled that the Opposition actions in cutting the previous budgets for 2012 and 2013 were illegal. The mere fact that the Opposition not only participated in these court proceedings, but also appealed the decision to have the Opposition leader excluded from the budget cut case contradicts the position that the court has no jurisdiction to interpret the constitution with regard to how it is applied in the National Assembly. Why would they participate in proceedings if they were convinced it was illegitimate in the first instance? In any case, all this speculation has been put to rest by the chief justice when he cited specific areas in the constitution on which he based his ruling.

Based on this fact, the Opposition clearly already knows that it will not be in a position to slash support of these two entities in the upcoming budget presentation.

This brings us back to the severity of Mr. Granger’s threat against GINA and NCN, that “…if they don’t hear….they will feel”.

Clearly he cannot be referring to the budget, so what other measure was he referring to in his plans to make these entities “…feel” the wrath of APNU?

Three sent home as GCAA probes air traffic control incident STEMMING from allegations that an air traffic controller at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) last Saturday left his post as a Caribbean Airlines flight was preparing to land, three staffers have been removed from duty to facilitate investigations, according to sources at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

According to reports the GCAA is expected to submit its findings on the incident to Transport Minister, Robeson Benn by the end of the week.

As indicated by Government sources the investigation would focus on the operational procedures and code of conduct for Air Traffic Control Services being provided by the GCAA. Earlier reports had indicated that the air traffic controller left his post at the end of his eight-hour shift because he was unwell, and a colleague from another unit that monitors overflights was forced to facilitate because of his action.

The Caribbean Airlines flight landed about eight minutes late although it had departed Piarco International Airport a bit early, according to airline sources.

Let us also be reminded of another fact, that AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan has publicly referred to employees affected by their illegal budget cuts in the past, including those at NCN and GINA, as “collateral damage”. Therefore, if they cannot legally make these people operating in the state media “collateral damage”, there is only one other option available to them, and based on both past and recent history, we are fully aware of what that entails.

It is here that I wish to congratulate and recognise the members of staff at both NCN and GINA for remaining firm against these assaults, which have affected them in so many ways. Throughout this ordeal, they have managed to execute their responsibilities of informing the nation of Government’s plans, policies and projects without fear and in an effective manner.

They have provided more than enough coverage of the Opposition in the National Assembly and during other activities, such as their press conferences etc.

But this notion that GINA and NCN must always bend to the will of the APNU and AFC is delusional at best; the Opposition is not the Executive, they are not responsible for managing the affairs of state. It

is the PPP/C which was elected, so who else does APNU expect will be covered by GINA and NCN in articulating the position of the Administration and being accountable to citizens, if not PPP/C officials?

Let us also be reminded that it was Mr. Granger’s APNU which refused to participate in the NCN publicly televised debates. They cannot have it both ways, refusing the coverage provided by NCN and then at the same time attacking the entity for not providing coverage, and in the process hurling threats.

This is another example of the unreasonable and downright dishonest disposition of the Opposition.

With this in mind, Old Kai has warned all along -- and now we have witnessed -- that it is APNU and the AFC which have not been ‘listening’ to their support bases; which is why they ‘felt’ the backlash by the recent polls indicating a significant drop in support.

The pressure from this reality seems to have taken a toll on Mr. Granger and the APNU leadership, as one would expect a more responsible approach from the opposition to win back lost support. Instead, the nation is greeted with an increase in their barrage of threats.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Minister Ramsammy comes out swinging in defence of sugar industry –roundly condemns APNU’s cut-back suggestions

By Vanessa Narine AGRICULTURE Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has charged that the call from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to cut back its operations is another “wild assault” on the country’s sugar industry and its workers.

Ramsammy said in a statement issued last night: “I reject totally APNU’s wicked plan to close the sugar industry… I am offended by the plan of APNU to close the sugar industry, and I call on all Guyanese, particularly those in the sugar estates, to reject the blackmail politics of APNU and (to) let them know that we will stick together in solidarity to ensure they will never have the chance to close the sugar industry of Guyana.”

The minister made it clear that the sugar industry will continue to be developed, with efforts being advanced simultaneously to build the local aquaculture industry, the reference to the latter being in response to the suggestion from Tony Vieira of APNU that the sugar cane lands be converted to aquaculture lands.

Ramsammy said, “The party that promotes blackmail and blacklisting as a model for development and as a way forward for Guyana…they now want Guyana to end sugar. They want us to grow tilapia in the sugar cane fields...

“As the PPP/C Minister of Agriculture, let me state that we will continue to build the sugar industry to be a lead industry in our country, and we will work with the sugar workers to ensure that their industry continues to provide employment and economic and social gains for our people and our country.

“At the same time, we will build an aquaculture industry that will provide additional opportunities for our people to prosper…

“Should they be given a chance to govern, they will close the sugar industry and replace it with an aquaculture industry. They made it very clear today in a press conference that it would make better sense to grow tilapia than to produce sugar. APNU’s Model for Development: Exchange Sugar for Tilapia. The PPP/C’s plan is sugar and tilapia.”

DEAD WRONG The Agriculture Minister said the main opposition coalition is “dead wrong”, and its most recent position on the state of the sugar industry is a “wicked” one.

He said, “Let me be unequivocally clear: APNU’s call to close the sugar industry is dead wrong. APNU’s plan to close the sugar industry is wicked, and it is a plan of a party that has no moral right to even ask the people for the right to be the Government of Guyana one day.

“APNU must recognise that it is (because of) this kind of reprehensible plan to punish people that it has never been able to win an election in Guyana. It is the reason why APNU and its main partner, the PNC, must depend on rigged elections, backdoor methods, and blackmail to become the Government of Guyana. It happened in the 1960s; it will not happen again, because the people of Guyana will never be fooled again.”

According to Dr Ramsammy, it seems that the APNU, as it has done before, is once again threatening to close the sugar industry of Guyana, but this move is not surprising.

He said, “APNU and its main partner, the PNC, have a history of being against the sugar industry and the sugar workers, since they view the sugar industry as a stronghold of the PPP/C; and they have always been anti-sugar workers.

“They play politics with the sugar industry, instead of protecting the interests of our country and our people. The truth is that there is a long history of the PNC, and now APNU, pursuing policies and practices that have been, and are, anti-sugar workers.

“Today [yesterday], they made no secret that they will close the industry if they have a chance. I reject this notion, and I reject this plan. I vehemently reject the position of APNU, not only as the Minister of Agriculture, but as a citizen of Guyana.”

According to him, the present assault on the sugar industry is reminiscent of the assault on the industry by the PNC Gov-

ernment in the late 1980s, when they began the preparation to privatize the sugar industry.

“It’s an ugly truth that Mr. Harmon, Mr. Vieira, Mr. Greenidge and others in APNU and AFC want the nation to ignore and forget,” the minister said.

He added that in order to complete the privatization of the industry, the PNC Government in 1989 gave Bookers-Tate an expensive management contract to manage the industry and prepare it for divestment under a World Bank/IMF Economic Reconstruction Programme (ERP).

Ramsammy said, “This preposterous plan, in the late 1980s, by the PNC is now surpassed by the idiocy of their present plan to replace sugar with tilapia.”

COME STRAIGHT Ramsammy pointed out that the consensus from many sugar workers with whom he spoke about APNU’s proposal is that it must be rejected and find no place for consideration. He said, “When I mentioned this to many sugar workers tonight, many thought I was joking. It may sound crazy, but unfortunately, APNU is dead serious about their plans.

“The announcement that APNU is calling on the PPP/C Government to close the sugar industry and replace it with

‘The party that promotes blackmail and blacklisting as a model for development and as a way forward for Guyana…they now want Guyana to end sugar. They want us to grow tilapia in the sugar cane fields...’ tilapia might sound as a joke to many people listening. But APNU is DEAD SERIOUS in advocating the closure of the sugar industry in Guyana. Since the PPP/C took office in 1992, APNU’s main partner, the PNC, has, on several occasions, called for the closure of the Demerara Sugar Estates.”

Minister Ramsammy also said that the main opposition party, as well as the Alliance For Change (AFC), need to ‘come straight.’ He said, “I would like Mr. David Granger to deny that this is APNU’s idea of development in Guyana, and that this is their plan for the sugar industry….

“The truth is [that] each time the PPP/C tries to financially support GuySuCo, they have tried to stop our efforts. Yet they have the audacity to say the PPP/C Government has starved the industry. Indeed, the PPP/C Government has provided more financial support to the sugar industry than the EU has provided in budgetary support on the Supporting Action for Sugar.”

The Agriculture Minister maintained that, as a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Cabinet member, and as a citizen of Guyana, he has always mirrored the position of the PPP/C: that sugar’s future in Guyana is assured, and that GuySuCO will continue to play a significant role in securing Guyana’s future.

“I am convinced that the best days for the sugar industry are ahead of us,” he stressed.

Ramsammy acknowledged that there are serious challenges confronting the industry, and that the industry has performed poorly in recent years; but he rejected the Opposition’s position that sugar is dead in Guyana.

He said, “I believe that 2014 will begin to reverse the recent poor performances and demonstrate that sugar is not only a viable industry, but that it is capable of being a lead industry again. Each time during the last three years when the weather was reasonably good, GuySuCo’s production demonstrated glimpses of success. For example, in the last two full weeks of operation, GuySuCo has produced almost 18,000 tonnes of sugar.

“The PNC/APNU and some of its bitter partners have peddled the lie that the PPP/C inherited a successful sugar industry and have mismanaged the industry to the point of destruction.

I dismiss this lie and this myth that dishonest politicians and commentators are trying to promote. The PPP/C did not inherit a thriving sugar industry. Rather, the PPP/C Government inherited a dying industry, a broken industry in which every aspect of the sugar industry, from fields to factories, was in a dismal, dilapidated and neglected state.

“The PNC inherited a sugar industry which, in the 1960s, routinely produced greater than 300,000 tons of sugar. But this production efficiency began to deteriorate, and production fell to a low of 131,999 tons by 1991.

“The PNC cannot deny or hide the truth: they took the resources of the sugar industry and squandered it on failed ventures and mismanagement.

The PNC’s sugar levy raped the industry and left it as a failed industry by 1991.”

Ramsammy stressed that the PPP/C Government ended all efforts to privatize the industry. He said, “We ended any thought MINISTER DR. LESLIE RAMSAMMY of closing the Demerara Sugar Estates, one of the goals of the privatization efforts. Under the PPP/C Government, production increased from the 131,000 tons in 1991 to surpass 300,000 tons by 2002.

“Under the PPP/C Government, we have restored production and have surpassed 250,000 tons 13 times in the last 20 years, and three times surpassed 300,000 tons. But we knew production above 300,000 tons could not be sustained unless critical reconfiguration of the sugar industry is undertaken. We have been doing such reconfiguration, and this still requires more time. But the reconfiguration will prepare GuySuCo to again routinely produce more than 300,000 tons and to reach 400,000 tons by 2020.

“New circumstances, such as reduced sugar price, climate change, dwindling labour pools, more expensive equipment and supplies, etc., that the sugar industry faced in the 1990s and up to now have killed many sugar industries around the world. In CARICOM, St. Kitts, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago have all ended sugar. Jamaica, Cuba and other countries have downsized sugar. In Guyana, we face the same enormous challenges. But instead of lamenting the changing circumstances and being overwhelmed, we have boldly embraced the challenges and seized opportunities. The experience has been painful and the setbacks frustrating. But we have also not been devoured by confronting the challenges.”

The Agriculture Minister expressed confidence there is a “silver lining” awaiting sugar, and that the sugar industry will rebound and reach its goal of sustaining production at over 400,000 tons per year.

“The success of sugar in the future has nothing to do with the gloom and doom of the enemies of the industry, but depends on our most valuable asset – those persons who toil day by day in the sugar industry, the employees of GuySuCo,” he said.

Ramsammy called for a focus on the task at hand -- considering the sector’s challenges -- to ensure the reconfiguration of the industry to support another century of leading Guyana’s economic growth.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12 2014

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Astrologers look to the stars to help Indian businesses

By Rahul Tandon IT’S ANOTHER busy day for Abhishek Dhawan in Delhi.

His phone has not stopped ringing and he has a series of business meetings.

Many of his business clients want to know when is the best time to release their products.

Abhishek has been studying a number of factors and charts to try to help them. But he is not a marketing guru or an economist: He is an astrologer!

And he uses the position of the stars and the planets as a guide to help businesses maximise their profits!

Traditionally, astrologers have helped set wedding dates or check if the stars of potential brides and grooms match up.

It is a multimillion-dollar industry that is part of everyday life in the world’s largest democracy. But now they offer a whole series of different services as well.

Go Online, and you will find astrologers telling you which shares to buy, while others will help you predict which way the rupee is going to move, or the price of gold.

Not everyone is a believer though.

SEBI, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the organisation that regulates the country’s stock market, has warned investors “not to be guided by astrological predictions on share prices and market movements.”

‘AUSPICIOUS DATE’ But many here are ignoring that advice.

And that is good news for the likes of Abhishek Dhawan.

A busy day for Abhishek

His company, ask.ganesha.com, has seen the number of business clients double in the past year.

Many other Online astrology companies have recorded similar growth.

He tells me: “Many businesses in India consult astrologers before launching a product as they need to know an auspicious date.”

He pauses for a moment, and then smiles as he says: “If the forces of nature are with you, you will have a better life; if they are against you, then it will be a struggle.”

When I ask Abhishek what

his success rate is, he answers immediately. “Eighty per cent; this is like a science, and when we make mistakes, it is because people do not provide us with the correct information.”

So, how widespread is the use of astrology in the financial sector?

GOOD LUCK, OR NOT? Ramjit Ray runs a corporate communications company in Calcutta, and helps some of India’s largest companies market their products.

“Many companies will con-

sult an astrologer before they name a brand,” he says.

“They will want to know how many letters it should have, and whether the name is going to bring them luck or not.

“Even when we are doing a large event, sometimes we will have to consult an astrologer before deciding where we place a stage.”

Ramjit, who is in his early 40s, is an example of the new successful young Indian businessman. So, what does he make of the use of astrology in the modern world of Indian business?

Written in the stars

“It is an important part of our lives,” he tells me unhesitatingly.

“And it is based on a logic which is related to the way that we live our lives through our religion.”

‘NO SCIENTIFIC BASE’ Not far from Ramjit’s office, a group of business students is having a cup of tea.

Astrology is not part of their course, and when I ask them if they would ever use astrology for their business decisions, they look at me as if I were mad.

“For me, astrology is not a factor. I would rather look at other factors, like the market scenario,” says Raj, one of the students.

Before I can ask him another question, his friend, Alok, stops sipping his tea and adds: “No way would I ever consult an astrologer; it has no scientific base to it at all.”

As I walk away, I can hear some of his friends murmuring: “Ridiculous! Who would ever consult an astrologer on serious financial matters?”

But there is the question of whether these students’ views really do reflect a changing attitude towards astrology.

Business analyst, Mudar Patherya is sceptical that a new generation of Indian business leaders will turn their backs on this ancient tradition.

“Yes, there are some who think that it is all mumbo-jumbo,” he says.

“But there are many others who believe that there is a science to astrology and that if you plan what you do according to the stars or the planets, your investment or product will be profitable.”

That is good news for astrologers like Abhishek Dhawan. Every day he gets new requests.

His latest one is what colour a company should use to brand its new product - do the stars recommend blue for success?

He is getting ready to turn his phone off for the day and go home. Before he does maybe I should get some financial advice.

Now, what time was I born? (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Regional climate change body hails Guyana’s political will –urges other Caribbean countries to follow suit DR. KENRICK Leslie, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, has hailed Guyana’s commitment and political leadership shown over the years with regard to climate change as a model for other regional governments to follow.

In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Leslie said Guyana continues to be at the forefront of efforts to ensure climate change adaptation takes the front seat in the Caribbean, one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to the effects of climate change.

“Guyana, so far in terms of the Region, has taken on the leadership role in advancing the issues of climate change…by working through COTED. It was President (Bharrat) Jagdeo and Prime Minister (Stephenson) King who got on the agenda the idea of putting together a

portfolio of projects. This meeting right now going in St Vincent has been led by Guyana,” Dr Leslie said.

President Donald Ramotar was instrumental in getting the ongoing Caribbean Community Inter-Sessional Meeting in St Vincent to include on the agenda the issue of climate change; and Dr Leslie has urged other Caricom leaders to take a page from Guyana’s book and show more political will to address the issue of climate change.

Meanwhile, the CCCC head warned the Caribbean not to see climate change as something of the future. “Climate change is here. You saw, in terms of the frequency of extreme weather events, those are some of the indicators that the climate is changing,” he reasoned. “But, more importantly, people don’t realize that the sea level is rising, at this time at a rate of five millimetres per year; and they might say ‘five millimetres, what is that?’ But in ten years,

five millimetres will become 50 millimetres, and in terms of the English system, that’s two inches; in 30 years, that is six inches. Now, consider the sea level rising a further six inches in Guyana, or Suriname or Belize,” Dr Leslie reasoned.

A study from the University of Hawaii has indicated that by 2035, there will be real evidence of change in the climate of the planet.

That is a mere 21 years from now, but Dr Leslie warned that, already, changes are being seen. “Therefore we need to have our political leaders become very knowledgeable of what is being negotiated…. Technical people can negotiate at the technical level, but the final decisions are made at the political level; and therefore, if our political leaders are not cognisant with what is going on, then we will fail in terms of getting what is needed for the adaptation that we have to make,” he reasoned. (GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Region 4 stakeholders have their say on professional standards for teachers

THE Ministry of Education continues its nationwide consultations with teachers (practising and retired), members of School Improvement Action Committees, members of Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs), Boards of Governors, and Regional Education Committees among other stakeholders towards refining the draft Professional Standards for Teachers before the document is officially approved and implemented.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand was in attendance Monday afternoon at Queen’s College as stakeholders in Georgetown voiced their concerns, and gave thought to the guiding principles captured in the draft document that will serve as a tool to monitor and evaluate teachers’ performance in the classroom, knowledge of the subject(s) they teach, techniques used and the level of commitment to the learners in their care. It will also effectively manage diversity to promote inclusiveness in the learning process, and will help teachers

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand addressing the gathering at the consultation of Professional Standards for Teachers at Queen’s College

Head, NCERD, Jennifer Cumberbatch presents the elements of the draft Professional Standards for Teachers at the stakeholders’ consultation at Queen’s College sharpen their professional skills and interact with parents and the community.

Head, National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch, presented to the audience the document which covers who gains entry into teachers training and who is a trained teacher, and outlines six guiding principles for teaching standards. These principles are teachers know the subject(s) that they teach; they know how to teach the subject(s) for which they are responsible; teachers are committed to children in their care and effectively manage diversity to promote inclusiveness in the learning process; teachers sharpen their professional skills, interact with parents and the community and that they conduct themselves in a manner that will uplift the profession.

With regard to who can access teacher training, one of the criteria is that at minimum

entry level the candidate must have no less than five Caribbean Secondary (CSEC) subjects (inclusive of Mathematics and English) obtained at levels 1 or 2.

During Monday’s exercise many took exception to the criteria of Grades 1 or 2 in Mathematics. One teacher pointed out that this may not be realistic, given that poor Mathematics performance is an issue that is experienced countrywide.

Another teacher suggested that Mathematics at Grades 1 or 2 should be considered only for those candidates who are seeking to specialise in the subject, and that what should be explored is candidates being allowed to enter the teaching programme with Grade 3 in Mathematics if they are exploring studies in other areas outside

of the subject.

Also, in the context of gaining entry into the school profession, there is a condition that speaks to mature entry, in terms of age, years of experience, performance. During the engagement, one person pointed out that the document must clearly spell out what is meant by each of the references: age, years of experience and performance.

Under the guiding principle of teachers managing the learning environment, in the document, there is a section that speaks to a teacher monitoring, individually, the learners. One teacher applauded the inclusion of this, but felt that to better facilitate this exercise, the ministry should seek to ensure smaller classrooms.

Other suggestions listed and not necessarily for inclusion into the document were teachers training to handle differently-abled students who are now being integrated into the school system, staff development programmes for teachers who deal with welfare and law, and the Ministry of Education getting more parents involved in their

children’s school life. There were also calls for a welfare officer and a nurse to be placed in every school.

Following the exercise, Minister Manickchand thanked the audience for their input, noting that clearly persons came prepared and read the document before the exercise. She noted that it sends the message that the stakeholders are interested in partnering with the ministry to bring the standards into the system.

She said that the ministry is committed to this cause and teachers’ development, and it understands fully that it must provide the environment where the standards, when implemented, can be upheld and the teachers can be the best professionals they are capable of being. To this end, she noted that the ministry is looking at the various programmes and policies that it must put in place.

Minister Manickchand also addressed the issue of putting social workers in the schools, noting that it is under active consideration. She pointed out, however, that there are about 1000 schools

A parent stating her views

11

in Guyana and as such, putting a social worker in schools will come down to what the ministry can afford. She said that the ministry is looking actively though at putting one in every high school, where the ministry has found the more serious problems emanating.

She warned that importance of the parents in the lives of the students must not be lost. In this regard, the ministry as well, is looking at devising ways in which it can heighten parents’ involvement.

The consultations commenced on February 26, 2014 at the Kamarang Primary School, and will conclude in July 2014.

It is expected that a total of 71 meetings will be held nationwide.

To facilitate the discussions during the consultation, the draft document has been sent to every school and is posted on the ministry’s website.

It was formulated following consultation with a smaller stakeholder group including members from the Cyril Potter College of Education and the Guyana Teaching Service Commission. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Rohee flays Opposition for continuing to misinform the public –calls on them to desist from peddling ‘wicked and malicious misrepresentation’

By Vanessa Narine PEOPLE’S Progressive Party (PPP) General-Secretary, Clement Rohee, on Monday, flayed the Opposition for continuing to misinform the Guyanese people and engaging in the “raw politics of opposition”, despite having access to accurate information.

He said, “The PPP Government is not about “bandaid” solutions which the PNC (People’s National Congress) led APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) is historically famous for.

“Our administration makes strategic interventions aimed at producing solid solutions for sus-

Minister Clement Rohee

tained successes. What we find as dishonest is the raw politics of the Opposition who in spite of having the correct information still tries to mislead our people.”

Rohee was speaking at a press conference yesterday at Freedom House, Robb Street, where he addressed claims made by the APNU about the state of affairs at the $77.7m Sand Creek Secondary School - a situation which has also been bemoaned by the Chairman for Region 9 (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo), Wilson Laurentino.

The PPP General-Secretary said, “I have recently received the report from Region 9 on similar allegations (three weeks ago) made against the PPP/C

administration of that region. “…the Opposition (APNU) continues to put negative spins on the good efforts of the government and those who are making contributions to improvement.”

NO FOOD SHORTAGE He debunked claims of a food shortage in the dorms at the secondary school in Sand Creek, the claims of students being accommodated on “unfit” beds and the allegations of infrastructural damage being left unattended.

Rohee said, “A total of 219 students attend the Sand Creek Secondary School, 45 students are from Region 8. The regional

administration is not aware that there is a need for additional dietary supplies. The supplier is from Sand Creek and had there been a shortage of food there would have been a big outcry, contrary to PNC propaganda this was not the call. The region has all the bills and receipts for the supply of dietary items and they can be made available for guidance and confirmation. “…Food for the Poor, a long established, well-meaning NGO and a great contributor to our people in need had donated beds to the school. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs facilitated the beds being transported to Sand Creek. The beds were found to be in need of some

Major stakeholder consultation to be hosted tomorrow on AML Bill GOVERNMENT’S effort to ensure the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill, will see the hosting tomorrow of a major consultation to engage stakeholders at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

President Donald Ramotar will be addressing the gathering at the event slated to begin at 10:00hrs and

which is open to all stakeholders and interested persons.

The meeting is intended to inform and educate stakeholders about the AML/CFT Bill, which has not been passed in the National Assembly due to delays by the political Opposition.

It follows several recent meetings held in communities such as Lusignan and Mahaica in Region 4, Anna Regina in Region 2, and Greenwich Park in Region 3. At all these communities, the common thread was for the bill to be passed or elections

to be called to resolve the parliamentary situation where the Opposition holds a one -seat majority.

Bartica, Berbice and Linden residents also responded positively to meetings held within their communities in the first round of meetings in February.

The AML/CFT Amendment Bill No. 22, 2013 is before the Parliamentary Special Select Committee. The APNU has proposed last minute amendments which are posing problematic for the parliamentary drafts-

man who had asked for more time to complete them. One of the amendments is to give police and customs officers the power to seize $10M or more in cash from persons. They are also tying the bill’s passage to the assent of bills that were not assented to by the President. The Alliance For Change had always said it wanted the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission, but recently said it also wanted what the APNU was demanding.

Various stakeholders such

as the Private Sector Commission, which represents the local business sector, and the Heads of Missions of the United States, Canada and Britain, along with thousands of residents of various communities across Guyana, have also called for the support of the critical piece of legislation and its passage.

Guyana stands to be blacklisted internationally if the bill is not passed in a timely manner. (GINA)

repairs and a contractor has been contacted to do remedial work on them. The administration has not and would not put our children to sleep on beds which are not fit for children.

“Concerning the crack in the beam at the Sand Creek Secondary School, the regional administration is aware of the problem and has since contracted a contractor to do the remedial work. The principal has agreed that two columns will be mounted so as to secure the beam.”

Regarding the latter, he acknowledged that there are other visible signs of structural defects.

However, the PPP General-Secretary pointed out that an urgent request was sent to the Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary for an engineer from the central ministry to check on this.

He said, “One must note that the contractor was a former top PNC member and long-serving MP. The Auditor General’s Report has words that question the supervising consultant for the project signing off on the shoddy work by the contractor.”

Rohee also addressed the need for repairs on the Sand Creek Bridge, and stated that the regional engineer continues to visit and monitor this project and materials are on site to facilitate ongoing work.

He said, “The contractor was recently in Georgetown to purchase additional materials and is working to ensure that this project is completed in a timely manner.”

According to him, the APNU has made a “blunder” about the temporary electricity setback in Lethem during the second week of February.

The General-Secretary said, “They were well aware that government is assisting the Lethem Power Company (LPC) to upgrade the electricity system.

“At that time there were two mechanics in the region servicing the generators now in place while two new generators were purchased for Lethem.

“The supply of electricity has never broken down in Lethem though the system was ailing for some time; however, government since last year has been working with the LPC to modernize the entire network.

“A new distribution system is now in place and a new generation site is being constructed.

Some two weeks ago the two new generators were installed and the people of Lethem have been receiving 24-hours’ supply of electricity.”

Rohee called for the Opposition to desist from their “wicked and malicious misrepresentation” and made it clear that the Government is committed to exposing, where needs be, the inaccuracies perpetuated by the Opposition.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Concerning fires…

GPL advises consumers on disconnection, restoration GUYANA Power & Light Inc. (GPL) has said it is important for the general public to understand that service disconnection and restoration, as they relate to community fires, is of paramount importance.

The utility advised that it will disconnect a customer’s electrical service during a fire following a report, but would take all necessary safety measures required, once it has received the report and/or identified a hazardous situation that can result in fires.

GPL referred to one recent incident in Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, where a house was on fire due to unknown origin.

As a result of this, the electricity was disconnected from all customers connected to the F9 Feeder.

Consequently, the communities affected, for just under an hour from 07:54hrs, were Prashad Nagar, Kitty and Campbellville in the city.

In conjunction with electricity sector regulations, customers are encouraged to have their premises re-certified every 10 years. This can aid greatly in mitigating the dangers associated with old wiring and fires of electrical origin, GPL said.

It said, for more information, customers can visit its website at www.gplinc.com or call the office on telephone number 226-2600.

Accused wife killer nabbed in Suriname remanded A MAN who is alleged to have killed his wife during a drinking spree four years ago and fled to Suriname, was reportedly apprehended there on Monday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Chief) Seelall Persaud said Davenand Albert called ‘Brother’ Albert was handed over by Surinamese police to their Guyanese counterparts over the weekend.

The fugitive has since been charged with the murder of his 43-year-old spouse, Esther Albert known as ‘Kamla’ and made an appearance at Whim Court, Corentyne, Berbice, before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh.

The accused was remanded to prison until April 4 when he will next appear at the Springlands Court, Corentyne.

The deceased was found in a house on March 4, 2010, at Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, where she was living with her husband.

Police suspicion of his involvement in her death heightened after he disappeared following the discovery.

It had been reported then, that the couple had an argument during which the man assaulted the woman and an autopsy proved that she died from manual strangulation.

Two held with arms and ammunition in police stop-and-search exercise -one remanded to March 21, other escapes from GPHC

VENDOR David Bernard (no address given) pleaded not guilty Monday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to being in possession of one 9 mm pistol with one matching live round and one .38 revolver with six matching live rounds, without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said that at about 23:15 hrs on March 6 at ‘B’ Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, Bernard was driving a CG motorcycle with Dextroy Brown as his pillion passenger when the police stopped and searched them. Nothing was found on their persons, but the firearms and ammunition were found under the motorcycle seat.

During the arrest, police shot Dextroy Brown to his leg.

The prosecutor successfully objected to bail for Bernard, citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. The man was remanded until March 21, when the matter would be recalled, and an arrest warrant was issued for Brown, 21, of Waterloo Street, Georgetown.

The police contend that Brown escaped from the Male Surgical Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital at about 05:30 hrs on the day after his arrest. The rank guarding him had handcuffed him to the hospital bed and left for the washroom, and on his return, he discovered that Brown was missing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Brothers remanded on drug-trafficking charges

BROTHERS Curtly Thomas, 25, of Chelsea Park, Mahaica, East Coast of Demerara and Clifford Thomas, 28, of Lot

35 Bachelors Adventure, East Coast of Demerara appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry Monday

to answer to two joint charges and two separate charges of trafficking in illicit drugs.

They each pleaded not

guilty to the charges levied against them.

Particulars of the first joint charge are that on March 7, at West Middle Walk, Bachelors Adventure, they had six grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The second charge is that, on the same day, they had 17 grammes of cannabis sativa (marijuana) for the same purpose.

The third charge is that, on the same day, Clifford had in his possession 35 grammes of cocaine for trafficking.

And the fourth charge detailed that Curtly had 325 grammes of marijuana for trafficking.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said ranks from the Narcotics Branch, acting on information, went to the defendants’ home and

informed them of the reason for the police visit. With the Thomases’ permission, a search was conducted in the home, and the illegal substances were found.

The prosecutor successfully objected to bail on the grounds of the nature and gravity of the charge. He said that in order for bail to be granted, the statue required special reasons.

Attorney-at-law, Mr. Sandil Kissoon represented the duo.

In response to the Prosecutor’s objection, he said that the nature and prevalence of the offence is not a ground for objection to bail, and also that the quantum of the seized drugs cannot be used to object to bail. He noted that the only objective ground is the charge, and the section is a non-bailable offence that is subject to special reasons.

The lawyer said Clifford is a mason with no prior conviction,

and resides in the home with five other occupants, including his mother. He said the defendant was never in care or control of the prohibited substance.

He said the other defendant resides with his father at Chelsea Park and is self-employed.

He said that the charges cannot be split up, and they have been improperly instituted, since the police are alleging in the same premise.

The prosecutor responded that the quantum of drugs involved in the two joint charges was found in the house, and that the two men had pointed out to the ranks their individual rooms, where the remaining narcotics were found.

The bail objection was upheld, and the case was transferred to the Vigilance Court, on the East Coast of Demerara, for March 13.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Sugar industry will rebound

- Rohee says challenges were anticipated

By Vanessa Narine GENERAL-SECRETARY of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, acknowledged that sugar production for 2013 was the lowest in 22 years, but made a point to note that production was not low each of those 22 years.

This was his contention, on Monday, as he rejected the assertion that the current Administration is “running the sugar industry into the ground” at a press conference held at Freedom House, Robb Street.

He said, “I will never

accept that criticism of running it into the ground. That is an over-exaggeration. We recognise where the problems are and what the problems are. We are working to address those problems and I am optimistic that given time, the industry will rebound.”

According to him, the challenges facing the local sugar industry were anticipated, with the loss of its preferential markets.

He noted that the US$200M investment at the Skeldon factory and the US$12M packaging plant at Enmore were among some of the initiatives undertaken

to modernise the sector in order to be able to improve its operations and reduce the impacts of the loss of the preferential markets.

Rohee said, “We began preparing ourselves for that by looking for more market access in Caribbean countries. What we are facing now in the sugar industry is a manifestation of what was long anticipated would come.

“I would describe what we’re experiencing now is mainly teething problems associated with the transformation of the sugar industry as a result of the negative impact of the withering

away of preferential market access to Europe.”

The General Secretary made it clear that a comparative analysis of the sugar producing countries across the globe would show that Guyana is not unique in the challenges it faces.

“We recognise what and where the problems are and the Administration is working to address this,” he said.

Rohee pointed out that in the Caribbean, Guyana is a “shining star” when one considers the problems with the Region’s production.

“If there is any government in this country that knows how to run a sugar industry is a government in which the People’s Progressive Party is major player and that’s a historical fact,” the PPP General-Secretary stressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Salvation Army senior officials on week-long visit

By Shirley Thomas THE SALVATION Army’s Chief Secretary for the Caribbean territory, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt) Victor Leslie, and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries, Lt. Colonel Rose-Marie Leslie, arrived in Guyana Monday on a oneweek visit, hosted by Divisional Commander Emmerson Cumberbatch and Director of Women’s Ministries, Major Carolinda Cumberbatch and other divisional staff and officers.

The visiting party is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Donald Ramotar and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

on Friday, after which they will visit Salvation Army properties in Guyana – namely, the East Street facility and the Queenstown Corps.

The high point of the agenda will be Divisional Youth Councils’ Meeting and a Concert at 18:00 hrs on the same day on which the Salvation Army guests will be entertained by young Salvationists and the Home League.

The venue for this activity is the Georgetown Citadel Corps.

On Wednesday, after completing the Review, they will visit the Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Kingston and the Wortmanville Home for Women who are senior citizens. Later

Lt Colonel Victor Leslie and Lt Colonel Rose Marie Leslie

GNBS duo on $150,000 bail each for taking a bribe QUINCY Gibson, 27, of Lot 20 Co-op Society Road, Soesdyke, East Bank of Demerara, and David Denny, 29, of Lot 849 Section A, Block X, Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD, agents of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) who are accused of taking a bribe, were each placed on $150,000 bail Monday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

They pleaded not guilty to the allegation that, on March 6 at Guyana National Bureau of Standards office, Sophia Exhibition Centre Compound, Georgetown, being agents employed

by GNBS, they corruptly obtained from Romona Spencer for themselves $150,000 as a reward for forbearing to inspect and approve a motor vehicle to transport fuel for the said Spencer, an act in relation to their principal affairs.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said the facts are as charged. He had no objection to bail.

Gibson was represented by attorney-at-law, Mr. Mark Waldron, who said his client has an unblemished record and is a father of one. Denny was represented Mr. Patrice Henry, who said his client has been an Inspector Class Two with the GNBS for the past seven years. Each lawyer requested reasonable bail for his client.

Bail was granted the duo on condition that they report to Corporal Roopnarine at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters every fortnight, and lodge their passports and other travel documents with the court.

The case was transferred before Magistrate Faith McGusty for report and fixture on April 8.

that evening, there will be a Soldiers’ meeting at the East La Penitence Corps, beginning at 18:00 hrs.

On Thursday the Leslies will conduct appraisals of the Divisional Officers’ work.

On Saturday, there will be an open-air meeting and March of Witness, beginning at 09:00 hrs. It will culminate at the Independence Boulevard in West La Penitence. The day’s

activities will conclude with a Choral Singing competition at 17:00 hrs.

The curtain will come down on the week of activities on Sunday, March 16, with a grand Holiness Meeting, beginning at 10:00 hrs at the Guyana Red Cross Centre in Kingston. Then, at 14:00 hrs, at the same venue, the final activity will be a Praise Meeting.

Lt. Colonel Victor Leslie

and Lt. Col. Rose Marie Leslie are Caribbean nationals whose appointments in Corps (8 years), social work (7years) and headquarters administration (20) years have shaped their thinking and approach to ministry, and allowed them to effectively see the Salvation Army in both the Caribbean and the United States.

The Leslies have vast experience in leadership, fiscal management, social work, and community relations; and are well qualified for their current assignments. Lt. Col Victor has a MA in religious studies;

a Masters in Business Administration and a Doctorate in Jurisprudence.

Lt. Col. Rose-Marie has a B.Sc. in Social Work; a B.Sc. in Nursing and an M.A. in Social Work Administration.

On a personal level, the Leslies enjoy music, teaching, storytelling and creative writing.

They share a passion for mentoring and empowering others.

They have two daughters, Marieka, married to Mark Michaud; and Tarrah, married to Junior Bernabe. They are also the proud grandparents of Adrielle Bernabe and Maleah Michaud.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

‘Ashmins’ plans to roll out new services every eight weeks –following opening of super mart today

The entrance to the facility

By Shirley Thomas ASHMINS Trading has now added an expanded supermarket to its list of departments in response to the growing customer demands for a ‘One-Stop Shop’.

Dubbed ‘Ashmins Super-Mart’, the facility was officially launched last Saturday at the Company’s location at 48 High Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

The event kicked off with live steel pan music by the National Steel Pan Orchestra. Patrons were be able to sample products from over 10 different companies, and were also treated to exciting giveaways.

Ashmins Super-Mart promises customers a full supermarket experience, with a wider range of groceries, frozen items and haberdashery items and shopping can be done from 08:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs and Sundays, 09:00 hrs to 12:00 noon. Additionally, the company has now merged its already extensive household department with the supermarket, so customers can satisfy both needs in one place.

The directors say all modern shopping malls and even department stores worldwide must have an extended food/ grocery option for patrons, and opening Ashmin’s Supermarket will ensure that the company satisfies customers’ most basic need -- food.

Ashmins is among only a few elite department stores currently offering a full-service supermarket. As consumers become more sophisticated and demanding, it is vital that businesses respond quickly to their needs.

Throughout the company’s history, Ashmins has aggressively done just that. In 2009, Ashmin’s made the switch from wholesale to retail, which received astounding support from the public. This led to the expansion of a range of departments, including electronics, household, hardware, car accessories, fashion accessories, and finally the supermarket.

In the near future, Ashmins will add a wholesale drinks depot to its services, and the company plans to roll out a new service/department every eight weeks.

In addition to these departments, the Ashmins Group of Companies has also expanded into other sectors, such as tourism and real estate, by way of the Splashmin’s Fun Park and Resort and the Madewini Villas Housing Development.

As a result, a patron visiting the Ashmins building can book a vacation or even explore real estate options in the renowned Madewini Villas luxury housing development, all while shopping for their everyday consumer needs.

The Super-Mart is solely owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lennox and Mousousa John and is run with inputs from their children who continue to do a good job, having brought a whole younger generation vision to the entire business.

Alexander Village woman denies assault and abusive language charges

By Geeta Rampersaud

Inside the Super-Mart

A THIRTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD woman of Lot 110 Second Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, was placed on $20,000 bail by Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond on assault and abusive language charges yesterday.

Marcia Philips pleaded not guilty to both charges, which said that on March 1 at Second Street, Alexander Village she assaulted Francina Lynch, so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

Particulars of the other charge said that on February 23 at the same place, she made use of abusive language, where a breach of the peace may be occasioned.

Police Corporal Jomo Nichols, prosecuting, said the facts are as charged and did not object to the pretrial liberty of the defendant.

Phillips manages a business owned by her parents at Maraj Building on Charlotte and King Streets, Georgetown and will make her next court appearance on April 7.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

CONSTRUCTION WORKER CHEATS DEATH

–during fall from three-storey building

By Shirley Thomas

A frontal view of the ‘Boxers Jewellery’ building under construction

FIFTY-TWO-year-old construction worker, Bhoodoo, was yesterday rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) to treat the multiple injuries he sustained by falling from the rear section of the third floor of the Boxers Jewellery and Pawn Shop building which is under construction on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Misfortune struck Boodhoo at about 15:15 hrs, and although he sustained serious injuries to his head, ribs, arms and shoulder, and has a suspected broken right leg, Boodhoo considers himself lucky to be alive, since, at the time, he was wearing no helmet, and had suffered cuts to his frontal lobe.

He was taken to have X-Rays done, and was expected to have a CT-scan done as well.

Boodhoo’s fellow workers at the worksite said he apparently slipped and fell from a scaffold; and in plummeting through the air, hit his right leg on a concrete fence before landing awkwardly on the ground amidst several pieces of steel.

A ‘Rastaman’ who was driving a canter through Hadfield Street at the time and had witnessed the ordeal said he first saw a piece of wood tumbling through the air before he saw a

WMA refutes self-styled wildlife exporter’s claims

By Clifford Stanley THE Wildlife Management Authority (WMA) has vigorously refuted allegations published in the Guyana Times newspaper alleging the absence of screening of animals prior to export, discriminatory policies by the Wildlife Division and the suppression of information about the discovery of a new species of primate.

The article, titled “A lot wrong in the wildlife sector”, was published in the March 10, 2014 issue of the Guyana Times, the Authority said.

It noted that the main source of information for the article was a Mr. Imo Fox, who professed to be a wildlife exporter, which is a fallacy in that while he was licensed

–says his charges are spurious to do so years ago, he no longer is.

With respect to the screening of animals prior to export, the Authority disclosed that all animals are inspected by veterinary oficers of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) prior to exportation.

PROTOCOL It added that even while this is so, the WMA and the GLDA are currently collaborating on a protocol to improve the monitoring of animals destined for export.

The WMA noted that Mr. Fox alludes to the discriminatory policies of the Wildlife Division, where quotas are diminished after they “bring in the

markets,” but the WMA has a process for allocating extra quotas taking into account several factors.

The allocation process is overseen by a subcommittee established by the Wildlife Management Authority to manage quotas.

The WMA also said that Mr. Fox did not submit to the WMA or the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment any evidence to support his claim that his family discovered a new species of primate.

Meanwhile, the ministry said it is not aware of any publication supporting the claim that a new species of primate was discovered in 2012.

Bhoodoo fell from the top of this section of the building man coming down behind it. He quickly pulled over his vehicle to run to the man’s rescue, by which time Boodhoo’s fellow workers had responded to the

mishap. They placed the injured Bhoodoo into the Rastaman’s vehicle and rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Informed by telephone,

Bhoodoo’s relatives hastened to the hospital and found him in the triage area.

In a state of unease, they continued to pray for the best.

Regional countries to benefit from new EU-funded project SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (CMC) – THE Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) says it is working with two other international organisations on a project that will allow Caribbean countries to acquire new expertise and improve the design of policies related to food and nutritional security.

IICA said that European Union-funded project, is being undertaken in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Association of Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (UDUAL), and should begin on January 2015.

It said the FAO and UDUAL signed a memorandum of understanding in Rome late last month, under which they will work with IICA and European universities, in developing the suite of e-learning courses as part of the online master’s programme in food security.

“The aim is to offer degrees that will further develop the capacities of food security profes-

sionals who work in government ministries and institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), such as nutritionists, statisticians, market analysts, and others.

“Furthermore, the initiative will draw on a large number of specialised courses, which have already been designed, on agricultural and rural development,” IICA said, adding that the e-learning tools will also be available to farmers, traders and agricultural workers interested in the subjects covered.

IICA Deputy Director General, Lloyd Day, said that “the development of innovative education mechanisms by IICA, FAO and the universities will make it possible to respond more efficiently to the needs of rural development and food security in the region.”

He added that IICA and FAO have had a long history of partnering on food security in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the development of the online master’s degree course would

build on their joint work.

“This is a very cost effective and meaningful way to contribute to the fight against hunger in the region,” said Marcela Villarreal, Director of FAO’s Office for Partnerships, Advocacy and Capacity Development.

FAO Assistant Director-General Maria Helena Semedo said “this new partnership will allow us to reach more people, helping them to design effective nutrition and food security policies and programmes, and ultimately, helping them to improve quality of life.

“Scaling up food and nutrition policies is crucial to eradicate hunger by 2025,” she added, while Roberto Escalante, Secretary-General of UDUAL, which represents a network of 220 universities in LAC, said the agreement was about how knowledge and policy can join together to provide solutions to food insecurity.

“Universities joining forces with organizations like FAO and IICA to build knowledge on food security is a great way to address hunger,” he added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Organic ‘agri’ project to benefit Two NA brothers placed on homeowners, kitchen garden $60,000 bail each –for unlawful wounding operators and farmers

By Clifford Stanley

HOMEOWNERS, kitchen garden operators and farmers countrywide will be beneficiaries of a US$1.35M Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Economic Growth project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Japanese Trust Fund (JPO).

The project being implemented by Partners of the Americas (POA) (Guyana Chapter) and the Caribbean Self-Reliance International (CASRI) will aim at sustainable livelihoods and community economic growth in communities through Hydroponic and Organic Vegetable Production and Marketing.

Mr. Kelvin Craig, Guyana Coordinator of the POA, disclosed that the general objective is to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for low-income households in rural and coastal communities in Guyana by equipping them with skills for producing hydroponic and natural/organic vegetables for domestic and export markets.

The project will last for four years and the groups targeted will benefit primarily from hands-on training in hydroponic or natural vegetable production in shade-houses or in containers.

Project components include development of hydroponic shade-houses, natural/organic farms and home-based gardens, promotion and marketing of hydroponic and natural/organic vegetables and culinary herbs and development of a national association of hydroponic and natural/organic vegetable producers.

Participants will be taught about compost production,

natural pesticide production, planting in containers; hydroponics; the use and mixture of plant nutrients; and care and management of a hydroponic garden among other areas, mainly the topics that will enable certification of their produce as organically produced.

One of the two implementing agencies - Partners of the Americas, which was founded in 1964, links U.S. states with Latin American and Caribbean countries in partnerships that use the energy and skills of citizen volunteers, their institutions and communities to address shared concerns of social, economic and cultural development.

The local chapter in Guyana, linked with Mississippi, works on projects in diverse areas including health, reproductive rights, emergency preparedness, agriculture, and cultural and educational exchanges.

And CASRI is a Canada-based international development organisation which was founded in 1999 and began work in Guyana in 2003.

CASRI actively works with partners to promote self-sustaining and equitable development in the Caribbean and the core of its work is the nurturing and development of community and local government leadership for community capacity building and transformation.

CASRI ensures the involvement of the younger generation, their families and the communities where they learn, work and live. In addition to its current work in Guyana, CASRI will be launching its Youth Entrepreneurship and Leadership programme in Guyana in 2014, officials disclosed.

By June Vankeric

A STABROEK News supervisor in New Amsterdam, Kenroy Phillips, 20, and his brother Kelroy, appeared before New Amsterdam Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus last Tuesday charged with unlawful wounding and were each placed on $60,000 bail.

The unrepresented youths were not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on March 3 last at Republic Road, New Amsterdam, they wounded Clifton Noel Crandon, who reportedly went to the aid of a schoolchild who was being attacked by the two brothers.

However, a third defendant, Glenroy King, who was absent at the hearing, had an arrest warrant issued for him. The warrant was signed after investigating rank Constable Duane Braithwaithe, under oath, said he had instructed the 17-year-old to keep his court appointment.

According to Braithwaithe, the warning was given to King on Monday at the Central Police Station, but King was not accompanied by an adult when the warning was given.

Meanwhile, Police Sergeant Godfrey Playter, prosecuting, said that on March 3 last, the defendants were seen attacking a student of the New Amsterdam Secondary School, when Crandon went to the aid of the victim.

Consequently, the youths armed themselves with a piece of wood which was used to inflict injuries to the head of the virtual complainant.

Crandon, whose head bled profusely, was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he received medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the Magistrate imposed a $60,000 bail on each defendant after Kenroy Phillips of Lot 58 Savannah Park, New Amsterdam , indicated that he supervises the supplement editions at Stabroek News. His brother Kelroy said he was unemployed. The siblings are expected to return to court on April 1.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

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PPP stresses commitment to rice sector…

Headway being made to secure new export markets

By Vanessa Narine RICE farmers over the weekend, in Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), protested the drop in prices being offered by millers for paddy for the spring crop.

However, General-Secretary of the ruling party, Clement Rohee, stressed the party’s and the current Administration’s commitment to the sector and disclosed that some headway is being made to access and secure new export markets.

At a press conference on Monday, which was held at Freedom House, Rohee could not indicate a time frame for when these new markets will come on stream, but he stated that stakeholders are working “aggressively” to secure these.

The dilemma facing the sector presently is that while production has increased, new markets have not opened up simultaneously and this has resulted in a decrease in the prices being offered by millers.

Compounding this challenge is the fact that some 100,000 tonnes of paddy from last year’s final crop, the autumn crop, is still to be sold.

“We must work hard to address this problem” the PPP General-Secretary said.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s approach to improving access to markets is centred on a three-pronged approach: increasing the market share in countries that have agreements with Guyana; re-entering old markets where the country once had a meaningful presence; and securing new markets.

Rohee said, “The Government and GRDB (Guyana Rice Development Board) will be engaging Belize, Guatemala and Brazil in purchasing rice from Guyana.

“The Minister of Agriculture will be leaving shortly to Latin America to pursue markets in that Region…also the Haiti market requires 100,000 tonnes of rice, negotiation are ongoing.”

He added that moves are also being made to finalise the annual export agreement with Venezuela, with the Purchase Order being the only document still to be signed.

Once the agreement is finalised, the neighbouring country is likely to take 110,000 tonnes of white rice and 80,000 tonnes of paddy.

FOOD SECURITY The General Secretary defended the ruling party’s focus on rice, on the basis of its quintessential role when it comes to food security, which he stressed is critical for a country like Guyana.

He said, “Sustained developments (in the sector) have seen new factories, thousands of acres of new land being cultivated, sustenance of traditional markets and new markets, such as Venezuela.

“It must be recalled that rice was always a priority of the PPP-led Administration even before Independence. The emphasis was and continues to be on the welfare of the farmers and the infrastructural development.”

The achievement of food security was the basis on which the Jagdeo Initiative, a regional programme, was conceptualised by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was responsible for agriculture in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The initiative identifies and defines nine key, critical and binding constraints to the development of the agriculture sector in the Caribbean region and practical interventions at the regional and national levels to alleviate those constraints. This ‘new agriculture vision’ aims at making the sector more than food production by exploring the numerous opportunities that exist for agro-businesses which will create more employment, increase export earnings and the income of all stakeholders, especially farmers.

The local rice industry, with policies informed by this initiative, continued to stand in the face of the negative global economic changes to shoulder food security, gain export strength, and provide steady employment opportunities for Guyanese.

The production for 2013 was 535,212 tonnes, which was far above the original target of 413,000 tonnes, and reflected a 27 per cent increase over the production in 2012. The average production per hectare is five tonnes.

Rohee said, “The rice industry’s strong showing over the years has also tremendously improved the lives of farmers, their families, workers and the communities at large.

“The support mechanisms provided by the Government, through the creation of the enabling financial environment and scientific research, are demonstrative of the PPP-led government unflinching commitment to development of agriculture, in this case the rice industry. It is also indicative of the importance our Party and the government it leads have attached to the development of the rice industry.”

With harvesting progressing at a significant rate in Region Two and started in the other rice producing regions, some 250,000 tonnes is expected to be reaped in this crop, with an average yield of 34 bags per acre.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Mahaica felony murder accused to know fate Friday

By George Barclay

JUSTICE Franklyn Holder will sum up the evidence in the Mahaica felony murder on Friday and then he would

hand over the case to the mixed jury for their consideration and verdict.

Attorneys-at-law representing the defence, Mr. Trenton Lake and Mr. George Thomas,

and Mrs. Judith Mursalin for the prosecution, addressed the jury yesterday , urging them to return not guilty and guilty verdicts respectively.

Among other things, the

defence referred to inconsistencies and contradictions in the evidence of identification which they said entitled their clients to verdicts of not guilty.

But on the other hand, Mrs.

Mursalin told the jury that the accused Shawn Thom, the gunman, and the bike man, Orrin David, were properly identified by the witnesses. And she asked the mixed jury to return a verdict in accordance with the evidence led and the oath they had taken.

According to the prosecution’s case the accused Shawn Thom and Orrin David attacked the Bishundials at Hope, East Coast Demerara, on Friday, August 20, 2010 in a murder/ robbery bid when Lakhram Bishundial was shot to death.

And the robbers stole a money bag with $500, 000 which Totaram Bishundial had

withdrawn from a bank in Georgetown to purchase items for an upcoming wedding ceremony.

The prosecutor had also told the jury, “Your duty is to examine the role each accused played since you will have to make a determination and be satisfied not only that each accused was present at the time of the commission of the robbery but that each of them had knowledge that violence would be used in the perpetration of the crime and also that each was there in order to actually assist the other in some way.”

The hearing continues on Friday.

Joel Faria gets 10 years for manslaughter AT the Demerara Assizes yesterday, Joel Faria, 45, who knifed to death Brian Assanah on October 7, 2012, pleaded guilty yesterday to the lesser count of manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Justice Navindra Singh had intended to impose 30 years on the accused, but by a process of deductions, Faria was jailed for 10 years.

Attorney-at-Law Mr. Peter Hugh in association with Miss Latchmi Rahamat defended while Miss Dhanika Singh prosecuted.

The facts of the case disclosed that following a row with a woman named Latasha Dhanraj, with whom the accused had a relationship, he left on a bicycle when he was attacked by two men. It is said that a third man, Assanah, entered as a peacemaker when the accused stabbed him in the neck with a knife and he died as a result.

Murder accused Charles Woolford to face new trial A MIXED jury at the Demerara Assizes yesterday disagreed on a verdict of murder in respect of accused Charles Woolford.

Woolford, represented by Mr. Peter Hugh, was accused of murdering Latoya Woolford on February 8, 2009.

It is said that the accused had fatally stabbed the woman in the abdomen.

Following the jury’s disagreement on a verdict, Justice Navindra Singh remanded the accused to prison with directions that he should face a retrial at the next session.

Ruckus at Meadow Brook Squatting Area lands duo in court

By Geeta Rampersaud AN employee of Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. was ordered to post $15,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond to answer assault and disorderly behaviour charges yesterday.

Thirty-two-year-old Leon Nero of Meadow Brook Squatting Area pleaded not guilty to both charges. According to the particulars of the charges, on March 8 at Meadow Brook Squatting Area, he unlawfully assaulted Clermont Ellis. On the same day, he allegedly behaved disorderly at East La Penitence Police Station.

Meanwhile, Ellis (no address given) was also charged with threatening behaviour. He pleaded not guilty to the offence before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, which said on March 8 at Meadow Brook Squatting Area, with a cutlass he made use of threatening behaviour to Nero.

He was placed on his own recognizance and his matter was transferred before Magistrate Chandan-Edmond and both parties will return to court on April 7.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12 2014

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Defence no-case submissions in felony murder overruled“We are innocent” accused maintain

By George Barclay

The hearing is continuing.

You might not realise it at first, but whenever you’re in a group of people today, laughing and having a good time, you are actually creating something -- energy, strong support and friendship. Right now, you’ll find that group settings are a great source of productivity, even if the group is a chatty and relaxed one. So try to be as collaborative as possible.

Even if it’s just you and one other person, you’ll get way more done than you would get done by yourself.

Taurus April 20 - May 20

Below rates for March 11, 2014

CALLED for a defence, the two accused Shawn Thom and Orrin David, accused of the robbery murder of Lakhram Bishundial, maintained they are innocent and claimed they did not know each other before the murder allegation.

And they asked the judge and jury to find that they did not kill Bishundial and committed the $500,000 robbery on August 20th 2010, as alleged by the witnesses.

The accused, who claimed that he was the only Rasta on the 10-man ID parade when he was allegedly picked out, said that he was at home with his relatives at Linden at the time when it is alleged he was on the East Coast of Demerara.

And his lawyer indicated to the court that he was seeking to call as a witness, the brother of the accused who was somewhere in the interior but was not expected to be in court before today.

Consequently, he applied for an adjournment to today to enable the witness to testify in the matter.

Justice Franklyn Holder granted the application.

It will be recalled that on 23rd of August 2010 Government Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh performed a post-mortem examination on the body of Lakhram Bishundial and found that he had sustained one gunshot wound. He gave the cause of death as perforation of the liver and spleen due to gunshot injuries.

Based on investigations by the police, the number two accused Orrin David was arrested on 10th September, 2010 in Linden. The following day, Inspector Parris held an identification parade in which two witnesses positively identified Orin David as the shooter of Bishundial, the prosecution had earlier disclosed.

Mr. Trenton Lake is representing the number one accused Shawn Thom, while Mr. George Thomas is appearing for Orin David.

Senior State Counsel Mrs. Judith Mursalin is prosecuting.

Aries March 21 - April 19

Currency G$/US$ G$/GBP G$/CAD$ G$/euro BDOS$ G$/EC$ G$/TT$

Buying 205.98625 341.97422 185.17148 271.48379 101.74500 75.36667 31.78836

Selling 208.43594 346.25378 187.30855 274.92316 102.76500 76.12222 31.10704

Some weird behaviour that has been going on in your social circle right now might be meant to get a rise out of you -- and you simply can’t ignore it anymore. Give it some of your attention today, and push back when the comments get too pushy or provocative.

Set aside time early in the day to start the conversations you need to have. Be bold and honest -- get to the bottom of things as quickly as possible. You will be very relieved when you do.

Gemini May 21 - June 21

New people can add vitality and energy to your life, but they can also distract you from other important things. There are many work or school issues that need your full attention right now. Be careful about accepting too many invitations or going out on too many dates -- you might not have as much free time as you think you do, and it would be a real shame to start something you can’t follow through with.

Cancer June 22 - July 22

Just as one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel, one bad idea (if left unchecked) can ruin a healthy team dynamic. So watch out for unusual, untested theories today. You have to be diligent in your professional role and stay focused on the greater good. Don’t let peer pressure, fancy titles or outright bullying intimidate you into going along with the crowd if you know that the crowd is going in the wrong direction.

Leo July 23 - August 22

Someone you know who has a huge ego is going to get knocked down a peg or two today -- and you are going to find the spectacle exceedingly entertaining. But seeing another person humbled should not make you gloat. You can be proud of being a bit wiser than certain people -- but if you get too cocky about it, you’re sure to end up making a fool of yourself, too! Humility makes wise people like you seem even wiser.

For Wednesday March 12, 2014 -14:30hrs For Thursday March 13, 2014 -14:30hrs For Friday March 14, 2014 -14:30hrs

Virgo August 23 - September 22

If you don’t have anything to look forward to right now, then make something to look forward to -- you need to remind yourself that you’re in charge of your life. It’s time to stop waiting for other people to make things happen! Reorganise your day -- do your morning routine in the afternoon for a while, and see how that feels. You’ll be surprised at how a slight change in your schedule can energise you.

Libra September 23 - October 22

Someone you know very well could be working too hard at having a good time. This person wants to be the life of the party but is perhaps losing sight of what ‘fun’ really means. Try to schedule some time for just the two of you -- create a relaxed situation that will encourage him or her to talk about what’s going on. Your listening skills are needed in this situation, so don’t feel obligated to provide answers. Just offer a sympathetic ear.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21

Change affects different people in different ways. Expect your reaction to a major transition to be unlike anyone else’s. You have always been open to new experiences, and right now you are very eager to see things get mixed up in your life. This is not the case for everyone close to you, though -- and you must be sensitive to this fact. When the change happens, ask people what their feelings are, and work with them until everyone is on the same page.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21

The give and take of ideas is not always an effortless experience -- your ego can get involved, and trying to ‘win’ a debate can distort the exchange. Whenever you share ideas, you need to focus solely on accurately conveying what you think, not on proving that you’re the only person who’s ‘right.’ And you definitely can’t make things personal. If a debate gets too heated today, you should be prepared to agree to disagree, and just walk away before things go too far.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19

You can never be sure what the future will hold -- but you should still try to plan for it.

To some extent, you can make your future happen the way you want it to. Today, try to lay the foundation for a few important things you hope to do someday -- whether that means requesting vacation time from work, upping the ante on your retirement savings or figuring out the best time of year for your dream wedding.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18

The fact that you’ll have a lot of high energy today will do more than fuel your own productivity -- it could make some inspiring changes within your group of friends. In all your activities, your enthusiasm will bubble up from deep inside you without any effort on your part -- and this enthusiasm will be contagious. Without realising it, you’ll show people options they’ve never considered before. If they decide to follow you, welcome them warmly and lead them fearlessly.

Pisces February 19 - March 20

If you have a somewhat busy day today, make an effort to get things done as soon as you can -- you will need some free time in the afternoon so you can daydream about your future. Sound silly to schedule fantasy time? It’s not -- in fact, it’s just as important as a doctor’s appointment or a staff meeting. Your imagination requires maintenance, and you need to get some imagining done so you can recognise a dream coming true when it happens.

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Santokie, Sammy clinch T20 series for Windies BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) - A blistering knock from captain Darren Sammy led West Indies to a five-wicket win over England in the second T20 International at Kensington Over here yesterday.

The win ensures West Indies have secured the threematch series following Sunday’s win and with one match remaining.

Sammy took charge hitting two sixes and smashing three fours to race to 30 in just nine balls, swinging the match back in West Indies favour after England had made some inroads by taking quick wickets and suppressing the run rate.

Sammy’s men reached the target with seven balls to spare after England, who won the toss and chose to bat, were restricted to 152 for 7, undermined by Jamaican seamer Krishmar Santokie who

finished with an outstanding four-wicket haul.

Santokie led the onslaught by removing opener Michael Lumb and frontline batsman Moeen Ali for single digits to throw the England innings into disarray at 26 for three.

But a fourth-wicket partnership of 76 between Joss Buttler and Alex Hales pulled the Englishmen out of the slump.

Hayes scored 40 while Buttler top-scored with 67 before Santokie struck again shortly after he was recalled into the attack late in the England innings.

Santokie, who was named man-of-the- match, had Buttler caught while attempting a big shot and removed Ravi Bopara for 14 to finish with figures of four for 21, his best T20 figures.

Dwayne Bravo picked up two wickets for 34 runs.

Buttler and Bopara had also teamed up for a 5th wicket partnership that produced 35 runs.

Earlier, Chris Gayle put on an opening stand of 48 with Dwayne Smith and led the West Indies scoring with an entertaining innings of 36

ENGLAND innings (20 overs maximum) M. Lumb lbw b Santokie 4 A. Hales c Simmons b Bravo 40 M. Ali lbw b Santokie 5 E. Morgan c Simmons b Badree 3 J. Buttler c Sammy b Santokie 67 R. Bopara c Bravo b Santokie 14 L. Wright not out 7 T. Bresnan c Ramdin b Bravo 7 Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-1) 5 Total: (7 wickets; 20 overs) 152 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-21, 3-26, 4-102, 5-137, 6-143, 7-152.

Bowling: Badree 4- 0-16-1, Santokie 4-0-21-4, Samuels 2-0-17-0, Rampaul 3-0-30-0, Sammy 1-0-17-0, DJ Bravo

which included a four and four sixes.

Three of Gayle’s sixes went flying onto the roof of the stands and out of the ground.

Smith scored 30, Marlon Samuels 28 while Lendl Simmons scored 19 from 13 balls.

West Indies who were coasting along at 111 for three, lost two wickets in two balls as Tim Bresnan threatened to derail their chase.

Bresnan dismissed Samuels then Andre Russell to leg-side catches forcing Sammy to step

up on arrival to play a captain’s knock batting alongside Dwayne Bravo.

West Indies found themselves needing 30 runs from three overs and then 9 runs from nine balls for victory before Sammy exploded.

The West Indies captain was particularly severe on Bresnan hitting him for two sixes and a winning boundary in the penultimate over to seal the series.

West Indies and England play the third and final T20 on Thursday.

Final batch of World Cup tickets to go on sale SAO PAULO -(Reuters) Soccer fans will get their last chance to buy tickets for the 2014 World Cup when the final sales phase begins today,

4-0-34-2, Russell 2-0-13-0.

WEST INDIES innings (target: 153 runs from 20 overs) D. Smith c Bresnan b Dernbach 30 C. Gayle b Bopara 36 M. Samuels c Hales b Bresnan 28 L. Simmons c Buttler b Wright 19 A. Russell c Hales b Bresnan 2 D. Sammy not out 30 DJ Bravo not out 8 Extras: (w-2) 2 Total: (5 wickets; 18.5 overs) 155 Fall of wickets 1-48, 2-75, 3-111, 4-116, 5-116.

Bowling: Bresnan-3.5-0-51-2, Dernbach 3-0-30-1, Tredwell-4-0-27-0, Bopara-4-0-10-1, Parry-2-0-17-0, Wright 2-0-20-1.

English Cheltenham 09:30 hrs Irving 10:05 hrs Trifolium 10:40 hrs Holywell 11:20 hrs Hurricane Fly 12:00 hrs Quevega 12:40 hrs Foxrock 13:15 hrs Ohio Gold Southwell 09:55 hrs Jaeger Train 10:30 hrs Arabian Flight 11:05 hrs Dancing Freddy 11:45 hrs O ‘Gorman 12:25 hrs Hail Promenader 13:05 hrs Docofthebay 13:35 hrs Bethan

FIFA has announced.

Some 345,000 tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sales begin at midday central European time and will run until April 1 at the FIFA.com website.

Tickets are still available for 60 of the 64 matches that will take place in June and July in 12 cities across Brazil.

The opening match and the final are both sold out, as are the two semi-finals.

“Starting on Wednesday, Brazilian and international fans once again have the chance to guarantee their seats in the event, which will certainly be one of the most amazing moments in sporting history,” said Thierry Weil, FIFA Marketing Director in charge of ticketing.

“Fans from 212 countries and territories have already secured their tickets.”

South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:35 hrs Stirling Leaves 09:10 hrs Cervantes 09:45 hrs Sea Shadow 10:20 hrs Savage Wind 10:55 hrs Principled 11:35 hrs She’s A Looker American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 Honey Springs Race 2 Barbara’s Beauty Race 3 Megador Race 4 Noah’s Dream Race 5 Demographic Trend Race 6 Rock My World Race 7 Ifyougotthenotion Race 8 James Lee

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12 2014

Oscar Pistorius had ‘big love’ for guns

A FRIEND of Oscar Pistorius has told his murder trial that the athlete “had a big love” for guns.

Darren Fresco said that he had been with him on two occasions when a gun had been fired in public.

Mr Pistorius had once accidentally fired a gun in a restaurant but made him take the blame, Mr Fresco said.

The Paralympic athlete denies intentionally killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and says he mistook her for a burglar.

Mr Fresco said that on another occasion, he had been driving when Mr Pistorius fired a gun out of a sunroof after police stopped him for speeding.

He said Mr Pistorius had become angry after a police

officer handled his gun, which was on the back seat of the car.

“You can’t just touch another man’s gun,” said Mr Pistorius, according to Mr Fresco.

“Now your fingerprints are all over my gun. So if something happens, you’re going to be liable for anything that happens,” Mr Pistorius reportedly warned the officer.

The BBC’s Pumza Fihlani says Mr Pistorius was far more composed than on previous days. He sat cross-legged, looking straight at his friend and taking notes.

Mr Fresco’s testimony, our correspondent adds, has given the court a glimpse into the fast life he shared with his friend - guns, sports cars, beautiful women and a seeming disregard

for police officers.

Mr Pistorius’ ex-girlfriend described the same incident in court in the first week of the trial.

Samantha Taylor said both men had been agitated after police stopped them and had joked about “shooting a robot (traffic light)”.

Mr Fresco denied making the joke and said that the mood had been calm before the shot was fired “without warning”.

He said he had been left feeling as if his ears were bleeding and that Mr Pistorius had laughed after firing the shot.

The trial has now been adjourned until today.

Earlier, Mr Pistorius’ defence team questioned a pathologist’s finding that his girlfriend

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had eaten less than two hours before he killed her.

This contradicts the athlete’s account that the pair had

been in bed for several hours before the shooting.

Pathologist Gert Saayman said Ms Steenkamp had been

shot three times, in the head, hip and arm but that he did not know the order of the injuries.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Where are we taking our beloved game of cricket?

Ask Calvin Roberts

IT WAS disgusting for me to sit in the scorers’ area for the first three days of Guyana’s

second round West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional four-day game against Barbados, and watch as the Guyanese, led by Christopher Barnwell, put on a pathetic

… Why was Hemraj given the axe?

batting display to lose by 136 runs.

First of all, how is it that

Chanderpaul Hemraj innings are 0, 13, 50 & 9, while a team which has within its Fudadin’s contribution reads ranks, batsmen of the calibre of 21, 33, 0 and 12 - absolutely paSewnarine Chattergoon, Narsthetic for a trio with a combined ingh Deonarine and Assad Futotal of 25 Test matches under dadin - all with Test experience their belts, for the West Indies.

- coupled with Barnwell, Vishal Singh has scored 18 and Singh and Anthony Bramble, 73 against Jamaica and 5 and 1 found it difficult to score 184 against Barbados, while Barnfor first innings points after the well, who was entrusted with bowlers had done an incredible the captaincy position following job to restrict the Barbadians injuries to appointed skipper on a track that was conducive Leon Johnson and his deputy to batting.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, has To crown it all off, they to date chalked up scores of 34, were given 10 minutes before 14, 2 and 4. dinner and four sessions – inLooking at the squad to clusive of the final day’s play, face Windward Islands in the 230 to record a come-fromthird round from tomorrow, behind victory and that same a team that has defeated Guybatting lineup crumbled for ana at this level for the past 94, their second lowest score three successive years, one at the venue following the 78 would see young Chandrapaul they made against England Hemraj being given the axe Lions in 2010. for the returning Shivnarine Yes, some may say that the Chanderpaul. pitch was inconsistent with its So my question to Messrs bounce, but whatever happened Rayon Griffith and company on to application, and that aside, the Senior Selection Panel of the we have become accustomed to Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) players making excuses for their is, ‘What has Hemraj done failures, that when they make wrong and why was he given such comments, especially both the axe, when he was not given Fudadin and Deonarine, one can the slightest chance to showcase just smile. his talent?’

In Guyana’s first innings, Another thing Mr Selectors, Deonarine clearly displayed ‘How do you expect our young a lack of fitness and mental cricketers to react and/or feel, toughness, when he was run-out when they have witnessed the by the full length of the pitch, treatment meted out to Hemraj, after calling 17-year-old Tagewho can either do worse or betnarine Chanderpaul through for ter than some members of the a single. present squad?’

Prior to that, Fudadin We hang onto the likes of went back first ball to a delivthe Chattergoons, Fudadins ery from Ashley Nurse in the and Deonarines, who come first innings, offering Shane into the local competition that Dowrich a catch at the wicket, is used to select the teams, rich while it was the military mediwith form, but fail to reproum pace of Carlos Brathwaite duce such, especially when which accounted for him in it matters for Guyana at the the second innings lbw, for Regional level. which he claims to have gotten The selectors are the ones an inside edge onto his pads. who get carried away with a Deonarine started with a 0 century here and there on the loand 38 against Jamaica, a game cal scene but what about playing Guyana lost by seven wickets for pride and country? and he followed it up with a pair To my mind, our team against Barbados. Chattergoon’s lacked such in their two games scores to date from the four

so far, while I must say that Barnwell at times failed to exhibit patience and confidence in his bowlers, when in the field.

The 20-year-old Hemraj, who underwent his first stint at the WICB’s High Performance Centre last year, has played three first class matches for Guyana since making his debut against Trinidad and Tobago two years ago, aggregating 57 runs at an average of 9.50 with a top score of 29.

He last played for Guyana in last year’s Regional four-day tournament against Jamaica at the venue for tomorrow’s encounter and judging from the present form displayed by the only fit 11 against Jamaica and Barbados, should have been included in the 13-man squad and not excluded.

It is time we do like some other countries and take the bull by the horns, irrespective of the name of the player/s, as no one is bigger than the game.

In the recently concluded WICB/NAGICO Super50 tournament, Barbados named Kirk Edwards in their lineup and he even flew to Trinidad for the tournament, but having refused to sign for his playing kit for personal reasons, he was sent home.

At the time, Edwards was in a rich vein of form, coming off the back of a successful ‘A’ team tour for the West Indies, but indiscipline was not going to be encouraged by either Hartley Reid (manager) or the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).

We have to start somewhere with our cricketers, letting them know they came and met the game and will die and leave it too, as it does not depend on them for survival, but the other way around.

Our players make tons of excuses when they are dismissed cheaply and foolishly, but when they go and play for the West Indies and even some other professional team/teams around the world, they buckle down and put their hearts into it, for the sake of being recalled or retained.

It is time we put our hands up and be stern with our players, especially the senior ones, for at the end of the day, cricket is our national sport and many people irrespective of race, age, gender and creed, follow the team and when they do badly, the spectators are the ones who feel it.

So to Griffith and company, let us stop the recycling; for it seems as though the GCB boardroom is a recycling plant for our players and start looking towards further development of the game without those players who tell themselves they are bigger than the sport or the sport cannot do without them.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12 2014

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Australia, South Africa in four-Test talks

By Daniel Brettig AUSTRALIA and South Africa are in talks to expand the size of their future Test series meetings from three matches to four, following the dramatic and high quality series completed at Newlands last week.

As part of the range of FTP agreements being negotiated between ICC Full Member nations following the approval of a series of resolutions that will bring fundamental changes to the way the game is run, Cricket Australia’s chairman Wally Edwards said there was a desire to recognise highly competitive match-ups by playing them over a longer duration.

Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards Australia’s 2-1 victory remained in doubt until the final half-hour of the series following an encounter of many fluctuations. Edwards

is strong in his desire to see such contests become more frequent in world cricket, not only among the currently strong nations but also those looking to improve.

“We’re talking to them at the moment about more,” Edwards told ESPNcricinfo during the Cape Town Test, during discussions with Cricket South Africa. “They deserve more, and you’ve got to recognise the quality of the cricket I think it’s not a bad stepping stone to have recognised quality by another Test or two. That principle might come out.”

Australia and South Africa have played Test series of three matches in every meet-

ing but one since the latter’s readmission to international cricket in 1992. The previous series in South Africa in 2011 was shortened to two matches, a decision CA expressed some disappointment about at the time.

Under the commitments made by Australia and England to play each of the top eight nations at home and away over an eight-year period, the boards will also work to find additional windows for fixtures against lower-ranked nations, which had been increasingly marginalised in recent years.

Edwards acknowledged that Australia may consequently return to the scheduling of international matches

in the Northern Territory and Queensland during the winter months in order to better accommodate their new obligations.

“Half the challenge is fitting this in,” Edwards said. “But Test series have been getting quicker, more compressed because that’s life. It’s the way the world is, faster, closer and quicker. I think you always want a warm-up game or two, because one might be washed out, that’s why you’d want two. [But] this has been a very good series.”

It is also believed that South Africa’s future series with India may also be played over four Tests, rather than the two their most recent encounter was shrunk down to

following a period of considerable doubt about the BCCI consenting to tour at all.

That stand-off was emblematic of the troubles Edwards had witnessed at the ICC since his arrival on the executive board as a reform-minded CA chairman in 2012.

He has spoken to ESPNcricinfo about the pathway from the rejection of the Woolf Report to the current resolutions, and about the difficulty of achieving meaningful change at the ICC following his successful campaign to streamline Australian cricket’s governance and add independent voices to the CA board table. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew banned for seven games NEWCASTLE United boss Alan Pardew has been given a seven-game ban for his headbutt on Hull’s David Meyler, a Premier League record for a manager.

Pardew clashed with the Republic of Ireland midfielder in the 72nd minute of his side’s 4-1 win on March 1.

An independent Football Association commission ruled the first three matches imposed are a stadium ban, with the remaining four a touchline ban.

Pardew, 52, was also fined £60 000 and warned as to his future conduct.

It is the first stadium ban for a Premier League manager Pardew told the club’s website: “As I have made clear, I deeply regret the incident and again wholeheartedly apologise to all parties for my conduct, which I understand was not acceptable.

“I will accept the punishment handed down by the

was dispersed, Meyler was booked and Pardew sent from the touchline.

Speaking after the match, Pardew said: “I did not mean any damage to the guy but I have moved my head forward.

I tried to push him away with my head.

“I apologise to everyone. I should not have got involved in it.

“I don’t think it was a headbutt. It wasn’t a motion that was quick Alan Pardew clashes with David Meyler during the Premier League match between Hull City and Newcastle United on March 1. (Tony Marshall/ ler shoved past him in an atFA. My focus now turns to tempt to retrieve the ball to take preparing the team for this a throw-in. weekend’s game against FulThe pair came together, ham and finishing the season with the former Reading and as strongly as possible.”

Southampton boss pushing his Pardew was fined £100 head into the face of the Hull 000 by his club hours after the player. incident and given a formal A fracas involving playwarning. ers and staff from both sides With the Magpies 3-1 up, followed and, when the crowd Pardew was angered when Mey-

Bayern oust Arsenal, Costa inspires Atletico LONDON, England - (Reuters) - Holders Bayern Munich kept Arsenal at bay to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 aggregate win yesterday while Diego Costa scored twice as Atletico Madrid won 4-1 on the night to knock out AC Milan.

Bayern, defending a 2-0 lead from the first leg, increased their grip on the last 16 tie when Bastian Schweinsteiger was left unmarked to convert a Franck Ribery cross from close range.

Arsenal’s former Bayern forward Lukas Podolski gave the visiting fans hope of an unlikely comeback when he beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at his near post, but Bayern finished stronger with Thomas Mueller missing a stoppage-time penalty.

Atletico welcomed Milan to the Calderon with a 1-0 lead from the first leg and increased their aggregate advantage to 2-0 after three minutes when Costa launched himself acrobatically into the air to hook home a Koke cross from close range.

Milan drew level when Kaka headed in at the far post just before the half-hour mark but the wind was taken out of their sails when Arda Turan scored with a deflected effort from distance five minutes before the break.

Raul Garcia headed in a third with 19 minutes left and Costa made it 4-1 on the night and 5-1 over the two legs with a clinical finish across the face of goal that went in off the post.

In their statement, released six hours after the game ended, Newcastle said Pardew’s actions were “unacceptable” and “not the behaviour we expect from the manager”.

BBC pundit, and former Wales international Robbie Savage said Pardew should be banned for the remaining 10 games of the season.

Pardew was given a twogame ban for pushing an assistant referee in 2012 and has been at the centre of a series of

controversial incidents.

In January, he said sorry after television cameras caught him verbally abusing Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini during the Magpies’ 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park.

In November 2006, he apologised to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for his celebrations following a winning goal against the Gunners, eight months after he denied Wenger’s claims he was a racist or xenophobe. (BBC Sport)

Munich court hears football boss dodged more tax than he admits

By Jens Hack MUNICH, Germany - (Reuters) - The president of German football team Bayern Munich, who has admitted evading millions of euros of taxes, hid even more income than he said, a tax inspector told his trial yesterday.

Uli Hoeness, a World Cup winning player for West Germany in 1974 who has led Bayern to domestic and European glory, faces up to 10 years in jail in a case that has shocked his club’s fans and prompted thousands of German tax dodgers to own up.

As his trial opened on Monday, Hoeness admitted to evading more than five times the 3.5 million euros he had been charged with, around 18.5 million, hoping his admission and apology would mitigate his punishment.

But a tax inspector told the court yesterday that documents he had submitted shortly before the trial showed the real amount was 27.2 million

Uli Hoeness euros, a blow for the defence which hoped to show Hoeness informed authorities early and comprehensively enough to avoid jail.

Hoeness told tax authorities in January 2013 that he had evaded taxes, but tax inspector Gabriele Hamberger told the court that her office had waited for more than a year for Hoeness to turn in bank records, despite repeated requests.

A USB stick that the defence gave prosecutors last month contained a document first created a year earlier, she said, indicating it could have been submitted much earlier.

A data expert will appear in court today to testify on the

electronic documents.

Hoeness made massive profits on the financial markets, earning as much as 30 million euros in some years and held 150 million euros with Swiss bank Vontobel in 2005, Hamberger said.

“We always knew there were documents,” said Ken Heidenreich, a spokesman for prosecutor Achim von Engel, outside the court.

“We repeatedly asked the defendant and his lawyer for the documents. Unfortunately they were only presented just before the trial.”

Hoeness, 62, remains chairman of Bayern and intended to attend yesterday’s Champions League match against Arsenal at Munich’s Allianz Arena, just 12 km (7 miles) from the courtroom.

He told the court on Monday he was glad the tax evasion was “all out in the open now.” “ I d e e p l y re g re t m y wrongdoing. I’m doing everything I can to put this unhappy chapter behind me,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12, 2014

Fixtures announced for Scotiabank/Pepsi Football Academy

CHARLESTOWN Secondary will defend their title when the 4th annual Scotiabank/Pepsi-sponsored Guyana Sports Development Foundation (GSDF)-organised Football Academy kicks off on Saturday, March 15 at the Ministry of Education Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue.

At a press conference held yesterday at the Carifesta Sports Complex, organisers rolled out the fixtures for the four-month long tournament which is set to see more than 100 games played across Georgetown, Linden and Berbice.

The 12 male teams participating are divided into two groups, Group ‘A’ which includes St George’s High, Tutorial High, North G e o r g e t o w n S e c o n d a r y, School of the Nations, Lodge Secondary and Campbellville Secondary.

Group ‘B’ consists of Queen’s College, Chase Academy, Bishops’ High, Tucville Secondary, defending champions Charlestown Secondary and Christ Church Secondary.

The female competition will see five teams in Group ‘A’ - Tutorial High, Lodge Secondary, East Ruimveldt Secondary, Tucville Secondary and Charlestown Secondary battle, while Campbellville Secondary, Christ Church, North Georgetown and St George’s are included in Group ‘B’.

“The 2014 Scotiabank/Pepsi programme will continue to focus on males in the 10 to 15

… set to kick off Saturday, March 15

Sponsors and executives during the Launch of the Georgetown leg of the Scotiabank/Pepsi Guyana Sports Development Foundation Schools Football Academy. age groups, but will widen the range for the females from 10 to 17 years.

The main purpose for expanding the age range is to have more female teams participate, Victor Wright Chairman of the GSDF organising committee opined during yesterday’s press conference.

Wr i g h t f u r t h e r a d d e d that “in preparation for this uniquely developmental, 2014 Scotiabank/Pepsi Academy Programme 24 teachers participated in the Coaching classes and a total of 68 teachers have been trained over the past four years”.

He noted that there was also participation from 31 students and a total of 80 new assistant referees have been trained over the past four years.

Meanwhile, Corporate Guyana continues to lend unwavering support to the GSDF. “‘The programme is about to start and I know the players and coaches are looking forward to implementing all that they’ve learnt over the past few weeks but we need to remember that in all the excitement of the game that this phase is very important too because this is where we are going to see who are able to implement all they have learnt and most of all play as a team,” Scotiabank’s Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani said during her remarks at the press conference.

She said Scotiabank is pleased to note that it is the lone financial institution that invests heavily in the development of female football at this level across the country.

Kick U.S. out of World Cup, Russian politicians tell FIFA

By Dmitriy Rogovitskiy MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) - Two Russian politicians are demanding the United States be kicked out of this year’s World Cup and have their membership of world football’s governing body FIFA terminated.

The petition to FIFA was made by Aleksandr Sidyakin and Mikhail Markelov, deputies from the Russian State Duma, which is the country’s lower parliament house.

The politicians cite aggressive actions against Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya as well as attempts to encroach on

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Wednesday March 12, 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: 36 Tests; 139 wickets Carlisle Best and Ian Bishop Today’s Quiz: Who is the first WI to register a triple-hundred in Test cricket? Where and when?

Which Englishman has scored most ODI runs to date?

How many?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Syria, as reasons for asking for the ban.

Sidyakin said the written demand was a reaction to a letter sent by American Republican senators Mark Kirk and Dan Coates asking FIFA to exclude Russia from the 2014 World Cup. “It’s an eye for an eye, a ball for a ball. Don’t let the USA take part in the 2014 World Cup! End their membership of FIFA,” Sidyakin wrote on Twitter.

Sidyakin represents the United Russia party, which is the largest in the country and is closely associated with President Vladimir Putin, who was once its leader.

Markelov is a member of the Fair Russia party, though neither is seen as a high-profile politician within the country.

When contacted by Reuters, a FIFA spokesperson said the organisation had no comment.

The 2014 soccer World Cup will be staged in Brazil from June 12 to July 13.

Demerara Distillers Limited through its Pepsi Brand

is also on board.

“As the co-sponsor of this academy, it is with great pleasure that DDL/Pepsi continues to play its role in supporting youths and grassroots programme in the communities in which we operate,” said Executive Manager Larry Wills.

Female teams: East Ruimveldt Secondary meet Tutorial High in a Group ‘A’ encounter on Saturday to kick-start the tournament from 11:00hrs.

This follows a march past of the participating teams with the school team from each area being adjudged and the best will receive a desktop computer.

Berbice and Linden area schools will hold their launch on March 22, 2014

Fixtures: S a t u r d a y M a rc h 1 5 , 11:00hrs: East Ruimveldt vs Tutorial High Female - Group ‘A’ Sunday March 16, 09:30hrs: Tutorial High vs Campbellville Sec. Male Group ‘A’ Sunday March 23, 10:300hrs: Lodge Secondary vs Charlestown Sec. Female Group ‘A’ S a t u r d a y M a rc h 2 9 , 10:00hrs: St George’s vs North GT Sec Male Group ‘A’ S a t u r d a y M a rc h 2 9 , 11:30hrs: Queen’s College vs Chase Academy Male Group ‘B’ Sunday March 30, 11:30hrs: Charlestown vs Tucville Sec. Male Group ‘B’

Argentine Zarate turns down World Cup chance with Chile BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - Former Inter Milan and Lazio striker Mauro Zarate, the top scorer in the Argentine league this year, has turned down an offer from Chile to be part of their World Cup squad.

Zarate’s father is Chilean, which makes the forward eligible for the South Americans, but he said yesterday he dreamt of one day being picked by Argentina, the country of his birth.

“It was a difficult decision saying no to Chile but I can’t

kill off the dream of playing for Argentina,” the 26-yearold told TyC Sports after being approached recently by Chile’s Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli.

Zarate, an Under-20 World Cup winner with Argentina in 2007 with Sergio Aguero as his strike partner, was also approached by Italy, his mother’s home country, in 2009 but turned them down.

He is being kept out of contention for Argentina’s likely squad for the World Cup finals in Brazil by the

quality of coach Alejandro Sabella’s preferred forwards Lionel Messi, Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio.

Zarate returned to Velez, his first club, last July after six years abroad in Qatar (Al-Sadd), England (Birmingham City) and Italy (Lazio and Inter).

He scored five goals for Velez in the Inicial championship, the first of two championships in the 2013/14 season, and leads the charts in the Final with a tally of six after seven matches.

Mauro Zarate of Argentinas’s Velez Sarsfield celebrates a goal against Colombia’s La Equidad during their Copa Sudamericana soccer match in Bogota.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday March 12 2014

35

O’Neil and Gibson to fight for vacant WIBA heavyweight title

By Rawle Toney FORMER Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) heavyweight champion Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil will have another shot at the title she first held in 2010, against compatriot Shelly Gibson, according to president Ryan Wissow.

Wissow told Chronicle Sport that the fight will take place in Guyana, while a venue and other details relating to the fight will be announced later this week.

According to the WIBA founder, he’s “very happy about this fight and “I very much look forward to return-

Shelly Gibson

ing to Guyana for this fight.

Gwendolyn is attempting to regain the title, and Shelly is a solid challenger”.

The fight would be the first meeting between the 35-yearpld Gibson and the 45-year-old O’Neil, whose name was placed in Guyana’s history books in 2004, when she became the country’s first female world champion.

It’s been almost three years since O’Neil has stepped into the ring, dating back to her WIBA light heavyweight title defence against fellow Guyanese Pauline London on October 29, 2011, winning by a split decision.

Guyana’s first female world champion Gwendolyn O’Neil Apart from losing her 2005won Women’s International Boxing Council (WIBC) title in

2008 to Carlette Ewell, O’Neil was stripped of both her light heavyweight and heavyweight WIBA titles due to inactivity.

O’Neil has fought 26 times during her 15-year career, winning 18 fights, seven via the knock-out route but she has also lost seven of those bouts, feeling the canvas on three occasions.

She was put down on her debut in 1999 against Trinidad and Tobago’s Kim Quashie in Port-Of-Spain and then twice to Laila Ali (2004 and 2007).

Meanwhile, for Gibson it would be her first shot at a World title although she has fought fighters who are highly ranked in the world.

She burst onto the scene in 2003 with a TKO debut win over Cheryl Greaves at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, but she went on to lose two consecutive fights, with her ring record now standing at seven losses and five wins from 12 fights.

Her last encounter was against Shondell Parks on December 26 in Linden at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground where she gained a unanimous decision win.

The WIBA is considered the most respected sanctioning body in women’s professional boxing. O’Neil and Shondell Alfred are the only Guyanese fighters to ever hold its titles.

LABA to stage Schools Under-19 Jamaica edged championship next month Leewards in Warner … Meeting set for today at 15:00hrs Park thriller

THE 10th Linden Secondary Schools Under-19 basketball championship will be staged next month according to a release from the organizers, the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA).

There will be a meeting this afternoon at 15:00hrs with representatives of the schools involved as the association seeks to inform the coaches and managers of the teams about their expectations for this year’s championship.

The schools to be represented are the defending champions Christianburg/Wismar Secondary, New Silvercity, Linden Technical Institute, Linden Foundation, Mackenzie High and Wisburg with Harmony

Secondary School.

The meeting is to be held at the Mackenzie Sports Club pavilion and Organising Secretary of the LABA, Ashton angel (Jr), will deal with the plans for the tournament. Angel can be contacted on 444-2712 or 644-6657 for further information. It is necessary for the schools to be represented as the details of the playing dates will be confirmed.

Secretary of LABA, Joseph Chapman, said that plans are on stream to have the tournament played from April 4 through April 25 during the height of the Linden Town Week celebrations.

The schools last year were presented with new uniforms for the tournament and Chapman

said it is hoped that they have retained them for this year’s tournament.

He said that this being the tenth year since the tournament was started by former National women’s coach Linden Alphonso, who now resides in the United States, will see them seek to have the tournament be a grand success.

Last year LABA took over the running of the tournament which was staged through the Victory Valley Royals basketball club. However, Chapman said that based on discussions members of the club will be involved in an effort to ensure the tournament remains the most popular among schools in Linden.

GNRA `A’ win Queensway Cup

GNRA ‘A’ Team which comprised Gordon Richards, Dr Johann DaSilva and Ryan McKinnon amassed 726 points to win the Queensway Cup Team Shooting competition, organised by the Smallbore Section on the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) Sunday at the Timehri pistol ranges.

GNRA made a clean sweep of the top three places while the Guyana Police Force had to settle for fourth and fifth places.

GNRA ‘B’ Team made up of David Dharry, Lawrence Layne and Vidushi Persaud finished second with 703 points while their ‘C’ team of Murtland Smith, Harold Hopkinson and Azaad Hassan finished third with 611 points.

Police ‘A’ Team comprising

The GNRA `A’ team celebrate.

M. Melville, A. Easton and E. Scott placed fourth with 603 points while the Lawmen ‘B’ team completed in fifth position with 600 points.

The competition attracted eight teams, four representing the GNRA, two from the Guyana Police Force and two from Bank of Guyana Security.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Tail-ender Jamie Merchant smashed ten runs in two balls as Jamaica edged Leeward Islands by three wickets on the fourth day of their second round, Regional Four-Day match here Monday night.

With Jamaica needing ten for victory with 12 balls remaining, Merchant hit a six and a four to stun the local crowd and secure the second consecutive win for his side under lights at Warner Park.

Set 218 for victory, Jamaica coasted to 67 for the loss of one wicket by tea on the fourth and final day.

John Campbell top-scored with 43, Nkrumah Bonner 30 and later Jerome Taylor with 24 laid the foundation to the run chase.

However in a riveting crescendo to an engaging contest, Leewards fought back to reduce Jamaica to 154 for six.

The Jamaicans found themselves needing 151 runs to win off 26 overs, a situation requiring greater urgency.

Carlton Baugh and David Bernard added 49 for the seventh wicket to take them within reach of the target.

Bernard was run-out for 30, disrupting the Jamaica momentum amid tense moments.

Merchant’s heroics in hitting a six and a four in consecutive balls secured the win with ten balls to spare.

Gavin Tongue, Kelbert Wal-

John Campbell was voted player-of-the-match for scoring 110 and taking four wickets

LEEWARD ISLANDS 2nd innings (117-3 o/n) K. Powell stp. Baugh b N. Miller 86 M. Hodge c Baugh b Richardson 5 M. Richards lbw b Taylor 11 S. Joseph b Merchant 8 D. Thomas lbw b Merchant 94 J. Hamilton b Merchant 4 T. Willett c H. Miller b Campbell 21 H. Walsh b Campbell 2 G. Tonge b Campbell 0 K. Walters lbw b Campbell 0 A. Martin not out 1 Extras: (b-8, lb-4, nb-2) 14 Total: (all out; 86.5 overs) 246 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-30, 3-40, 4-182, 5-194, 6-242, 7-244, 8-244, 9-245.

B o w l i n g : Ta y l o r 11 - 3 - 3 8 - 1 , Richardson 2-1-5-1, Merchant 26-5-101-3, Bernard 7-1-18-0,

ters, and Anthony Martin picked up two wickets each.

Leewards resumed Monday with a lead off 77 runs from an overnight score of 117 for three.

Devon Thomas, 53 not out and Kieran Powell 33 overnight consolidated the innings by compiling 142 runs for the fourth wicket.

Thomas went on to top score with 94 while Powell reached 86 in efforts which put Leewards in a position to force an outright victory.

Thomas also shared in a 6th wicket stand with Tonito Wi l l e t t t h a t p r o d u c e d 4 8 runs.

John Campbell finished with impressive figures of four wickets for 15 runs while Merchant grabbed three for 101.

Campbell was voted player-of-the-match for scoring 110 in Jamaica’s first innings and a four-wicket haul.

Miller 29-10-42-1, Lambert 3-0-15-0, Campbell 8.5-1-15-4.

JAMAICA 2nd innings (target: 218 runs) H. Miller b Tonge 13 J. Campbell b Walters 43 N. Bonner lbw b Walters 30 T. Lambert b Martin 15 J. Blackwood c Walters b Martin 19 J. Taylor b Tonge 24 C. Baugh not out 27 D. Bernard run-out (Thomas) 30 J. Merchant not out 10 Extras: (lb-5, nb-2) 7 Total: (7 wickets; 37.5 overs) 218 Fall of wickets 1-20, 2-87, 3-90, 4-114, 5-148, 6-154, 7-203.

Bowling: Tonge 8-0-58-2, Walters 11.5-0-70-2, Martin 15-0-66-2, Willett 3-0-19-0.

Points Jamaica 19, Leeward Islands 6

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Final batch of World Cup tickets to go on sale on(SeepagStory 30)

Santokie, Sammy clinch T20 series for Windies (See Story on page 30)

Krishmar Santokie makes an impact on his return to the side, taking four for 21.

Skipper Darren Sammy celebrates his winning boundary to see West Indies to victory.

Santokie ready for the big stage

By Renaldo Matadeen in Barbados

KRISHMAR Santokie is hoping that his Man-of-the-Match performance over England in the second T20 victory will be enough to force him into the West Indies starting XI come the World T20 title defence in Bangladesh.

Santokie claimed 4 for 21 and proved very troublesome from the onset via a disciplined spell that pegged England to 21 for 2 by their fourth over after electing to bat.

West Indies edged home in a close five-wicket win to seal the series and Santokie said his confidence had grown and he was ready to be thrust on to the big stage.

“I’ve only played four games so far but let’s hope after this performance, I can be a consistent performer in the team,” Santokie said.

“I bowl wicket-to-wicket as most batsmen like to free their hands so I keep it close to the batters, not giving them any width.

Making my debut [against England] a couple years ago, it was good to come back and play them again and win the Man-of-theMatch. It was fantastic.”

With Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy and Dwayne

Bravo again struggling for economy, Santokie said he felt no extra pressure coming to the fore against England. He said despite his lack of international inexperience, he was not intimidated and said that he wanted to improve the versatility of the team to boost their chances of repeating as World T20 champions.

Santokie said the key to his strong performance was spending a lot of time assessing the pitch conditions and also studying footage of the England batsmen, something he has focused on since being recalled to the team.

“I wouldn’t say there’s extra pressure [on me] because we have a good all-round team,” he said. “All our players have their part to play and so do I, if given the opportunity. I just need to remain confident and be positive at all times. After watching the first game on Sunday, I got a few ideas and watched some videos of the batters so I have an idea of how to bowl to them - the areas they like and the areas they don’t. I just made sure I bowled in the right areas today.”

He said that Samuel Badree’s early pressure on the England batsmen reduced the boundary count which allowed him to persist with slower deliveries to stymie England’s charge. Santokie

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also added that batsmen viewing him as a bowler within the medium-to-slow end of the spectrum often proved to his benefit.

Santokie said it was “very disappointing” to have missed out on T20 opportunities in the past for West Indies despite “performing over and over” but said he was now eager to grasp any available opportunity.

He was the leading wicket-taker and Player of the Tournament in last year’s inaugural Caribbean Premier League with 16 wickets and was labelled as “the best bowler that isn’t playing West Indies cricket” by his coach, Curtly Ambrose, with the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

He said he found no difficulties in making the transition from the regional to international stage via several domestic seasons playing against the likes of Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith.

“I’ve played for the West Indies Under-15 as well as Jamaica’s Under-15 and Under-19s and also, for the last five years in the Caribbean T20,” Santokie said. “I also played club cricket in England for six years and from all this cricket, I don’t see any problem moving to the international stage. It’s about how you go out there and perform on the day. (ESPN Cricinfo) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014