Guyana chronicle 19 05 14

GUYANA No. 103832

MONDAY MAY 19, 2014

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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President plugs need for cheaper, reliable source of electricity Page 2

––at official opening of new candy factory

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! The task of cutting the ceremonial ribbon fell to President Ramotar, with the help of, from left, Kaieteur News Publisher, Mr Glen Lall; Sueria Manufacturing co-owners, Ms Teshawna Lall and her hubby, Mr Frank Sanichara; their daughter, Sueria, after whom the company was named; and First Lady, Mrs Deolatchmee Ramotar (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Bravo, GPHC!

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Still a leader in medical care

More value-added products needed to - President capitalise on record rice crops Ramotar

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Craig woman reportedly killed by supernatural forces Page 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

President plugs need for cheaper, reliable source of electricity ––at official opening of new candy factory

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally A US$2M candy factory was officially opened on Saturday at Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara, putting ‘Kaieteur’ candies in five fruit flavours and three varieties of mint on the local market.

The company, Sueria Manufacturing Inc., also produces peanuts, and will expand its operations to cater for plantain chips and chewing gum.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frank Sanichara, said the company is cur-

rently providing employment for over 20 persons, and their planned expansion will eventually provide hundreds of jobs.

He further noted that the factory is a 24-hour operation, and although it is almost completely automated, there is still need for persons to man the machines. Sanichara said “we are looking to market the products locally and internationally, as the work to meet international standards continues. But our first order of business is to let our people know of the product.”

Glen Lall, publisher of Kaieteur News, in remarks at the launching function, thanked President Donald Ramotar for helping to make the factory a reality. He related that the inspiration to build a candy factory surfaced after schoolchildren visited a similar factory and were denied samples. He observed that the challenges were many, but determination and hard work paid off as always.

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP During his address, President Ramotar described the investment as an example of youth entrepreneurship, and said

“for a sustainable economy, it has to be rooted in production. I was excited at the investment, and advised that they should enter into contractual farming arrangements to ensure sustainable and quality supplies.”

Ramotar said a plea was

made to local supermarkets to ensure that these and other locally-made products are prominently displayed and promoted. He also reiterated the need for cheaper electricity, and the urgency to build the Amaila Falls hydroelectric project, which is set to return to the Inter-American

Development Bank (IDB) Board for consideration.

The President explained that the spending by government on the social sector, of more than 30% of the National Budget, is indicative of the need to See page 3

Something about these confectioneries must have brought back such sweet memories for President Ramotar he couldn’t help sharing them with Sueria’s CEO, Ms Teshawna Lall; First Lady Mrs Deolatchmee Ramotar; and Kaieteur News’ Publisher, Mr Glen Lall

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY May 19, 2014

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Man beaten and Victim recounts ordeal suffered at hands left unconscious in of four assailants at Pigeon Place, ECD Charlotte Street, G/town

By Shirley Thomas

POLICE are hunting four men who last Thursday brutally assaulted 41-yearold Karran Persaud at Pigeon Place, East Coast Demerara, and in the process severed his nose and inflicted multiple cuts to his face and throat.

Persaud’s wife, Barbara, was alerted by her son whilst the assault was ongoing, and she and other family members reportedly arrived at the scene just in time to retrieve the man’s nose which had been entirely severed from his face.

They rushed the profusely bleeding man to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where emergency theatre operations were performed to reattach his nose to his body, and corrective surgery attended his other injuries.

Karran Persaud remains warded at the GPHC, but he recalled being invited to a neighbour’s place last Thursday to have a drink, and that at around 15:00 hrs he was

By Shirley Thomas THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Sean Jackman of Old Road, Eccles, EBD left his home on Saturday evening to attend a fair in the city, but reportedly ended up being battered and left lying at the roadside in Charlotte Street, Lacytown.

An agitated Lynette Bacchus said that at around 06:30hrs on Sunday, she received word from a friend that her son was lying unconscious on the roadway somewhere in Charlotte Street. She raced to where she had been directed, and found her son in an unconscious state, with marks of violence about his body.

His battered head was covered with what appeared to be whitewash, suggesting that it had been repeatedly banged against a white-washed or emulsion-painted wall; his mouth was open and bleeding, revealing evidence of battery; and his knees had abrasions.

Bacchus rushed her injured son by car to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where he was treated and revived. Thereafter, he kept slipping in and out of consciousness.

He has complained of having severe pains in the head, back and abdomen, and has been taken to the X-Ray Department to have scans done.

Pensioner struck dead on East Coast Road by police vehicle

By Asif Hakim SIXTY–THREE–YEAROLD, Chanderpaul Sookdai of Bee Hive Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara was struck down by a car driven by a policeman on Friday morning, and was pronounced dead on arrival to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Police investigations have revealed that Sookdai was riding a bicycle at the time of the fatal accident with the private motor car driven by a policeman, who is now under close arrest as the investigation continues.

Sookdai’s sister, Mahadai

DEAD: Chanperpaul Sookdai Richard, who lives at Mahaica, said she was told that her brother was on his way to work when he turned on the road to meet some friends and in process was struck down. She said her brother had never previously been involved in an accident and nobody knew he would have died the way he did.

A relative who requested anonymity told this pub-

lication that Sookdai had awoken at about 06:00hrs and, after doing his morning chores, left for work on his bicycle; but a few minutes later, the family received word that he had been struck down on the road and had died.

That relative described Sookdai as always a very diligent man who used the roadways carefully. She said that when she arrived on the

scene, she could not believe the sight that greeted her.

“When I arrived on the scene I didn’t believe it was Sookdai that get knock down, because I know he is always a careful man.

Sookdai was very helpful, and always helping around even though he is old. How I’m feeling words cannot express; I never knew this would have happened,” the relative said.

President plugs need for ...

From page 2 enhance local human capital.

He also outlined the gains being made in education, particularly in interior locations, as part of the government’s human capital development thrust. And the move by the company to focus on exports was also commended by the president.

ANTI-CORRUPTION BILL Meanwhile, the President also repeated his call for support of the Anti-Money laundering Bill, which he described as an anti-corruption Bill, and said that he was calling “a spade a spade” when he stressed the need for the Bill’s passage. He also blasted the non-support of the opposition for many of the transformative projects which will benefit all Guyanese.

Joint CEO of Sueria Manufacturing Inc., Teshawa Lall said the new enterprise marks the culmination of an idea born years ago. Named after her daughter, Sueria, she said that every care has been taken to ensure very high standards, particularly as they face competition from the sole manufacturer who monopolized the local market for the last four decades.

“We are thinking big, and we’re thinking outside the box; but most of all, we’re thinking of you.”

Brief remarks were also delivered by retired Justice Claudette Singh and acclaimed local entrepreneur, Dr Yesu Persaud, who both congratulated the owners for their investment.

The factory is owned by Frank Sanichara and his wife, Teshawna Lall, who is the daughter of the Kaieteur News publisher, Glen Lall.

watching a game of cricket on TV when four men who were drinking at another table asked him to show them to the urinal.

Karran pointed them to a urinal which was at the side of the building, but they wanted him to get up and walk them to the urinal outside. He refused, and the men became irate and abrasive. One of them allegedly picked up a glass and hurled it at Karran’s head, causing him to slump to the ground unconscious; but, after a while, he regained consciousness and struggled to his feet.

Karran’s wife, Barbara Persaud, who related the incident to the Guyana Chronicle, said that after her husband got up, one of the men braced him to a car and “fired a lash at him”. Another pulled out a knife from his pocket and began gashing away at Karran, cutting off his nose, slitting the left side of his neck, and inflicting cuts about his face and to his head, chest and left hand.

Her son, who was in another yard, saw what was happening and called out to her. She alerted other family

The badly wounded Karran Persaud on a hospital bed

members, and they rushed to Karran’s rescue, but the men fled before they could reach them.

The badly wounded man was rushed to hospital, where he remains warded; but is much improved, thanks to the prompt and efficient intervention of the doctors on duty.

Barbara said that, based on what they did to her husband, she was left to contemplate whether they had ‘smoked’ narcotics and were on a ‘high’.

One of Karran’s assailants is reportedly from the

immediate Pigeon Island neighbourhood, while three others are from Better Hope.

Police are continuing their investigations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY May 19, 2014

India’s Modi grapples with first challenge: Filling his Cabinet

By Shyamantha Asokan and Aditya Kalra

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) - India’s prime minister-to-be Narendra Modi was huddled in discussions with close aides and advisers yesterday, finalizing the names of people to join his cabinet and grappling with the crucial decision of who will be his finance minister.

Two days after he won a thumping victory in the general election, there was little clarity about who Modi would include in his team, even in other key portfolios like defense, interior and external affairs.

The alliance led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 336 of the 543 seats in India’s lower house of parliament, making it the first time in a quarter of a century that the country will not be led by a coalition government.

One of his most important decisions will be whether to name front-runner Arun Jaitley to the finance minister’s post. Jaitley is eminently suited, sources in the BJP said, but he was defeated in his race for a parliamentary seat and that is a minus point.

Yet Jaitley is a former commerce minister, is regarded as a capable administrator, and is one of the few people in the party who has experience but is not too old at 61.

Modi and his inner circle have played their cards close to their chests and are unlikely to reveal who will take senior cabinet posts until a meeting of the BJP parliamentary leadership on Tuesday, one senior party leader said. Modi was considering merging some ministries to streamline government, other sources said.

The meeting is expected

to confirm Modi as the party’s parliamentary leader, after which he will meet President Pranab Mukherjee to formally start the process of forming the government.

He is likely to be sworn in as prime minister this week.

The BJP was last in power 10 years ago, and some of the ministers who served then are now past their sell by date, leaving Modi a relatively small pool of experience at his disposal. On the plus side, the party’s runaway success in the election has brought a lot of new faces into the decision-making lower house of parliament.

All government ministers have to be members of parliament, either the upper or lower house, although they have six months to comply.

Jaitley remains a member of the upper house.

Like outgoing finance minister P. Chidambaram, Jaitley is a corporate lawyer

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Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi (wearing a garland), the prime ministerial designate for India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), gestures to his supporters outside party’s headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday (Credit: Reuters/Ahmad Masood and a suave English-speak- a strong possibility. Whether that include Deepak Parekh, the chairman of the Housing ing politician seen as a mod- he lost is not a big issue.”

Another party source Development Finance Corerate in the Hindu nationalist BJP. He would be a popular concurred he remained the poration Limited, and K. V. Kamath, a former chairman front-runner for finance. choice with investors.

“If you look very careful- of Infosys and CEO of ICI“It doesn’t change the situation all that much,” said ly we don’t have too many CI, a bank.

Neither has political a senior figure in the party, options,” the source said.

Other sources close to experience but sources referring to Jaitley’s defeat Modi’s campaign say the have said Modi may look in the city of Amritsar. “He’s final decision on who will to competent leaders in already a member of par- become finance minister has the states, or even try to liament and he is a trusted not yet been taken, with oth- bring professionals into person for Modi-ji. It’s still er names being mentioned his cabinet.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY May 19, 2014

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Premier survives Jetgate crisis meeting

HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 18, CMC -- Premier Craig Cannonier remains the island’s leader after surviving a three-hour emergency meeting between ruling One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) MPs and members of the OBA executive at the party’s headquarters on Saturday over fresh fallout from a year-long affair dubbed “Jetgate”.

Asked if 51-year-old Cannonier was still the Premier of this British Overseas Territory, Deputy Premier Michael Dunkley replied: “Yes, he is.”

Cannonier ’s survival came hours after a government backbencher launched a withering attack on his handling of the affair and the opposition Progressive Labour Party (PLP) called for government heads to roll.

OBA chairman Thad Hollis said after the meeting:

“We had a great afternoon -- we’re working together through some difficult issues. The inquiry is still ongoing. We will have further to say when it’s concluded.”

It has been confirmed that US developer Nathan

CRAIG CANNONIER Landow and other businessmen had contributed US$300,000 to the OBA’s 2012 election campaign following a meeting with Can-

nonier after the Premier and two of his cabinet colleagues flew to Washington, DC on Landow’s private jet last year.

On Wednesday Hollis, who announced the party would conduct a full investigation into Jetgate, said the OBA had not received $300,000 from Landow and his associates.

There is no law that requires political donations in Bermuda to be publicly disclosed.

Following the meeting, Cannonier said: “We have had a good meeting, a fruitful meeting. I can simply state we will continue with our inquiry.”

OBA backbencher Leah Scott took to her social media account to distance herself from the under-fire party leader.

In a statement, Scott, MP for Southampton East Central, said: “I will no longer

Brace for more challenges says Jamaica’s Finance Minister KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) - A tight budget, public sector reform and the implementation of major projects, are some of the challenges which Finance Minister, Dr Peter Phillips says Jamaicans will be forced to deal with in the near future.

According to Phillips, with the fourth quarterly International Monetary Fund (IMF) test out of the way, the next phase which the country is about to enter, is more difficult than the previous one.

“It is easy to not spend in real terms, it is much more painstaking to tackle the details of the subtle changes that have to be made in each area of public administration .It does not attract a grand headline, but it is absolutely

important,” Phillips said.

On Friday it was announced that Jamaica passed its fourth quarterly IMF, test, under the current agreement for an Extended Fund Facility with the multi-lateral lending agency.

A recommendation will now go to the Executive Board of the IMF for approval for the disbursement of US$96 million to Jamaica.

The submission will be made next month.

Last week, Alejandro Warner, the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Director, commended the Government of Jamaica for maintaining political support and civility in the implementation of the Ex-

tended Fund Facility. He said this was admirable, in light of the complexities

Jamaica’s Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips of the programme and the social challenges that the country faces.

Colombia opposition candidate’s campaign hurt by video Colombia’s presidential campaign has taken an unexpected turn following the publication of a video of the leading candidate apparently discussing illegal interceptions with a former advisor.

The aide was later arrested on charges of illegal hacking and espionage.

The opposition candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga had previously denied any knowledge of the man’s alleged activities.

Colombians go to the polls next Sunday and Mr Zuluaga has a narrow poll lead.

His closest rival is the current president Juan Manuel Santos.

But now his campaign is on the defensive after the publication of the video by news magazine Semana, correspondents say.

It apparently shows Mr Zuluaga discussing illegal interceptions last month with Andres Sepulveda, who had been hired by Mr Zuluaga’s campaign as a computing security expert.

Mr Sepulveda was arrested earlier this month on charges of illegal hacking and espionage.

sit by and be quiet and allow myself painted by anyone’s brush as being one of those who is condoning this present activity by Craig Cannonier. And the fact of the matter is that this political and social situation has gone beyond even him. The OBA campaigned on transparency and accountability. Well, where is it?

“I stand on principle . . . and principle has no allegiances. I am not willing to sacrifice my integrity and character over the actions of a few. Integrity means being totally honest and truthful in every part of your life no matter what the cost. I ran for office because I wanted to be able to be part of effective change for Bermuda. I believed that the team that I was joining wanted the same thing.”

On Friday the PLP, called for a mass resignation of the OBA government following fresh revelations over Jetgate.

Opposition Leader Marc Bean, whose party has repeatedly accused government of covering up details, said his party would do everything possible to ensure parliamentary regulations were followed to the letter and that Cannonier and his cabinet resigned “forthwith”.

He described Jetgate as “the tip of the iceberg”, claiming that ruling party insiders were now leaking reports of alleged maladministration within government.

The call was made after Landow confirmed in Friday’s edition of the Bermuda Sun newspaper that he and a group of businessmen had contributed $300,000 in total

to the OBA’s 2012 election campaign after meeting with Cannonier.

Landow said the $300,000 was wired to a group called the Bermuda Political Action Club.

In March 2013, three months after winning the election, Cannonier, along with Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell and Attorney General Mark Pettingill, flew to Washington on Landow’s private jet to meet with the millionaire to discuss potential hotel development on the island.

Landow told the Sun that no deal was struck during the meeting and said he received nothing from the OBA government in return for his financial contribution to the party.

He said he was no longer interested in investing in Bermuda.

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GUYANA

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

EDITORIAL

Because King is a man CITY MAYOR, Hamilton Green’s proclivity for making war on females who assume leadership positions in the city’s hierarchal construct is well recorded, and three female Town Clerks prior to the appointment of Ms. Carol Sooba, as well as his new ally, Patricia Chase-Green, have been relentlessly persecuted and pilloried by Green.

Thieves do not like fellow thieves who trespass on their turf. During the period 2004/2005, Green had relentlessly campaigned to have city Public Relations Officer of Royston King relieved of his position on the basis of incompetence and mismanagement, and prosecuted for fraud and corruption.

In a motion dated August 6th 2004, with Green’s full support and endorsement, councilors had questioned King’s usefulness and posited that under his stewardship the Public Relations Department of City Council had failed to fulfill its mandate.

A New Guymedia release recalled: “The motion said that on many occasions, councillors and the Deputy Mayor had to make explanations in response to concerns. In the motion, several bills for expenditure were questioned and described as ‘unusual’. As an example of these questionable expenditures incurred by King, an amount for $47,500, purported to have been used for ‘Christmas Greetings’, was highlighted. The council found this expenditure to be strange, given that the council had both video and digital recording cameras that could have been used, and that the greetings were from neither Mayor, Deputy Mayor nor councillors. Many other instances were

listed.”

So what changed from then to now, so much so that Green is championing Royston King in his bid, not for head honcho position of a department, but in the management capacity over the city’s affairs?

And there is the recent expose` of his fraudulent acts, one of which was a debt write-off of a considerable sum for an entity under the pretence that he was mandated to do so as Town Clerk, even before the occurrence of the equally fraudulent act of the erstwhile Mayor and his minions in the City Council of appointing King Town Clerk, which they were fully aware was an act not within their remit.

And New Guymedia asks: “Why has King suddenly become the most suitably qualified person to replace Sooba in the eyes of Mayor Green and his PNC/APNU colleagues, who had waged a relentless battle to have him removed as PRO, citing corruption and incompetence?

Hamilton Green’s posturing and combative attitudes have held to ransom the citizens of Georgetown and its environs for too long, because his term in office has long expired.

Derelicts also have time expiration dates, and one would hope that that time is sooner rather than later, because derelicts are perilous to the welfare of the city and its citizens, and should be relegated to the garbage dump where they belong.

It is to be hoped that Ms. Sooba’s quest to restore the city to some semblance of accountability, viability and professional governance would continue to bear fruit; but she is a woman, and three other women before her have caved in to Green’s quest for supremacy and efforts at retaining his hold on the city’s purse strings, so that stealing from the coffers of the citizens of Georgetown remains the remit of a chosen few.

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY May 19, 2014

Flight MH370: The Mystery...

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Author’s claims Malaysia Airlines plane accidentally shot down angers victim

By Jonathan Pearlman in Sydney THE family of passengers aboard the missing Malaysia Airlines flight has criticised the release of the first book on the saga, saying the publication was premature, and its claims the plane was accidentally shot down were speculation.

The conjectural book by London-based author Nigel Cawthorne, titled ‘Flight MH370: The Mystery’, reportedly claims that the plane may have accidentally been shot down during joint United States-Thai military exercises in the South China Sea, and that the search may have been led astray as part of a cover-up.

The book, published this month by John Blake Publishing in London, is being released less than eleven weeks after the disappearance of the Boeing 777, which was carrying 239 passengers.

No wreckage from the plane has been found despite a continuing international search, which is focused on the southern Indian Ocean.

“The drill was to involve mock warfare on land, in water and in the air, and would include live-fire exercises,” says the book, according to Fairfax Media.

“Say a participant accidentally shot down Flight MH370. Such things do happen. No one wants another Lockerbie, so those involved would have every reason to keep quiet about it.”

Cawthorne, who lives in London, says on his website that he has written more than 150

No one seriously injured as crane topples on EBD road A CRANE en route to Linden last Friday toppled at the approach to a turn on the Pearl, East Bank Demerara public road, an eyewitness told this publication.

The eyewitness said the crane was driving at a reasonable rate, and he was driving close behind the equipment when it inexplicably toppled after approaching the turn.

The eyewitness described the experience as very scary. Of course he is very thankful that the crane did not topple onto his vehicle. He said it was also most fortunate that no one was seriously injured. However, according to the eyewitness, residents of that and contiguous villages are calling for better roads, not only on the main road, but also in the villages.

The eyewitness said the toppled crane effectively blocked most of the road, leaving stalled traffic to move at a virtual snail’s pace.

The toppled crane lying at the side of the road at Pearl

books, including the “Sex Lives” series, which examines the private lives of popes, US presidents, “Great Dictators” and other notable groupings.

His book on MH370 says the failure to find wreckage “in itself is suspicious,” and that even if the plane’s black box is eventually found, it may not be the original black box.

“Another black box could have been dropped in the sea 1000 miles from Perth while the search was going on in the South China Sea,” the book says.

The book was criticised as premature by Irene Burrows, an Australian whose son and daughter-in-law were on the flight.

“Nobody knows what happened, so why would anyone want to put out a book at this stage?” she told Fairfax Media.

“There’s absolutely no answers; it’s devastating for the families. There are so many theories that I only want to believe one: That they were all unconscious and didn’t know what was going on ... That keeps me sane. All I want is for somebody to find a bit of plane.”

Aviation author Christine Negroni is also writing a book about the flight, which she said on her blog will be released by Penguin.

A film loosely based on the ordeal, ‘The Vanishing Act’, is also reportedly being produced, with Rupesh Paul Productions promoting a trailer at the Cannes Film Festival.

The producers hope to make the film in India and the US and release it in September.

(The Telegraph)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

First-crop may yield 80,000 tonnes of sugar

––Minister Ramsammy says

By Vanessa Narine GRINDING at the East Demerara Estates and at Skeldon on the Corentyne is continuing during this first crop for 2014, and Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told this newspaper that 80,000 tonnes of sugar, a figure that is more than the 74,000 tonnes targeted, is within sight.

He said, “In the first crop, we catered for 74,000 tonnes, but because we have had good weather for most of the crop, we were able to meet the target and surpass it. At the end of May 15, we were close to 78,000 tonnes. We are still grinding at the East Demerara and Skeldon estates. We are going to get close to 80,000 tonnes for this first crop.”

According to him, the production for the first crop was “more in keeping” with the years when the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) sugar production was relatively good.

Ramsammy added that the challenge right now is ensuring that the sugar canes in the fields are ready and the next crop starts early enough, weather permitting, to meet the 2014 target of 218,000 tonnes.

“Up to early December or so, we should easily surpass the 218,000 tonnes’ target, once we have good weather,” he said.

REALISTIC TARGET Minister Ramsammy also stressed that the target for the first crop, and the overall annual target, was a realistic one.

He said, “While people say it was a low target to begin with, it is a realistic target and not a target that was easily attainable, given all the conditions.

“When GuySuCo was setting targets of 248,000 and 238,000 tonnes, etc., our critics said it was too high and not realistic. The fact is that it does not matter what target we set, there are those who will find it wrong and will criticise….

The production we are seeing is a good sign for GuySuCo.” Dr Ramsammy explained that the attainment of 218,000 tonnes will be dependent on the weather.

He said, “We believe we have enough cane in the fields to give us at least 218,000 tonnes. If the weather cooperates, we might be able to get more.

“For the first crop, what we did was to set a target that took into consideration the impact of the weather conditions over the last two to three years; because while everyone was looking at our production, the thing about bad weather is that it could impact what happens one and two years from now.

“Because this is agricultural production, when you have bad weather, it affects your ability to prepare the fields and plant the cane, etc. So how much sugar we are able to produce in any crop depends on how much sugar cane is available.

Culture Minister contemplates establishing regional museums

By Ravin Singh CULTURE, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, has disclosed his intention to establish regional museums to display the unique and germane historical and cultural elements of each of Guyana’s administrative regions.

Making this disclosure at an exhibition commemorating International Museum Day 2014 on Friday last, Minister Anthony said the Culture Ministry has also recognized the need for additional museums which will focus on sugar, science and sports respectively.

The sugar museum is expected to capture the introduction of the plant to Guyana and its impact thereafter.

Held under the theme “Museum collections make connections”, the exhibition will last until May 20th, with participation from the following museums: the Museum of African Heritage, Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, Linden Museum of Industrial and Social-Cultural Heritage, the Roy Geddes Steel Pan Museum, the John Campbell Police Museum, National Trust, the National Art Gallery, the National Archives, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre – Red House, the National Library, the University of Guyana Library; and, for the first time, the Military Museum.

The exhibition has displays from each of these museums highlighting the focal points of each entity. For instance, the

Military Museum has on display military uniforms, medals and pins. This year’s partnership gives the public a view of what the various museums have to offer.

Minister Anthony posited that the work of the museums is often taken for granted, and some are of the view that

A viewer at the Roy Geddes Steel Pan Museum

Bravo, GPHC!

Still a leader in medical care

By Shirley Thomas

THE FOLLOWING article is intended to let the ailing Guyanese public know about the expertise and competencies available at the Georgetown Public Hospital. It is hoped that this article proves instructive reading for those who have to undergo specialized medical treatment and are contemplating an approach to private medical institutions in this regard.

EIGHTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD Shamdeen Dass of 206 Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara fell off his bed on Tuesday, 29th April, and hit his head, resulting in internal bleeding.

On learning of the incident, his daughter Annette and his grandson, who live on the East Coast of Demerara, took the old man, on Thursday, May 1, to a private hospital in the city, where they were informed by a doctor that there appeared to be internal bleeding in Dass’s head, and there was need for a Computed Tomography (CT-Scan) to be performed to determine the extent of the injury.

The family claims to have lodged $80,000 that same night, and to have waited to be apprised of the findings of the scan at the end of the procedure.

However, from Thursday, May 1, when he was admitted to this private institution, up until Wednesday, May 7,

“So while the focus has been on how much we produce, no one focused on how much cane we were able to prepare in the field. The bad weather has an impact.”

Minister Ramsammy also told the Guyana Chronicle that GuySuCo is currently looking at replanting, which will affect next year’s production.

“Our replanting is a bit better than it was last year, and for next year we should have a good bumper crop to produce more sugar…if we manage, we can go back to normal kinds of production.”

RAMSAMMY EXPRESSED OPTIMISM GOING FORWARD. The sugar industry is projected to record an improvement of 15.6 percent in output to 215,910 tonnes in 2014, and a whopping allocation of $6B has been made to the sector in the 2014 Budget, given the industry’s important role in national development.

Among the measures to be undertaken to ensure a turnaround of the industry, which the allocation addresses, are: increased production and lower cost of production; diversified target markets, and expansion of value added production in order to survive.

In 2013, sugar exports accounted for 8.3 percent of total exports valued at US$112.2M, and the industry contributed 3.9 percent of the country’s GDP. much has not changed at the museum. He said: “That is not true, because, over the years, we have acquired other exhibits; and we would have tried to develop other exhibits so that people coming here would be able to learn different things; and that is the essence of the museum.”

The minister also stressed the importance of continuous renewal of artifacts and other museum collections, so as continuously educate the public. Over the years, the museum has added two new sections; one looking at pre-historic Guyana and the animals that existed at that time, and the other section consisting of maps of Guyana.

Dr Anthony also noted that the other museums have specific collections which tell stories of Guyana’s rich heritage and history.

The Culture Minister acknowledged the participation of all museums in the exhibition, especially those not operated by the Culture Ministry.

He urged students and teachers to visit the various museums, as he explained that there is much to discover and learn there. “Through education and appreciation, we will preserve Guyana’s cultural heritage” he said.

Administrator of the Guyana National Museum, Nadia Madhoo, in her overview of the exhibition, explained that the International Council of Museums (ICOM) was created in 1946. This non-governmental organization is said to be the only body that represents museums and its professionals in an international sphere.

In 1977, the organization established International Museum Day to encourage public awareness of the role of museums in the development of societies.

Madhoo underscored that the theme for this year’s observance is a reminder that museums are living institutions that help to create bonds between visitors, generations and cultures around the world. when the family eventually withdrew the old man from that institution, family members had to contend with a series of excuses whilst the old man languished in a state of progressive deterioration.

First, they were told on Friday, May 2, that the old man had to be treated for a head stroke, and that his blood count was very low; then, on Saturday, May 3, they were told that a CT-Scan had been done on him but they could not see the film nor were they told the findings.

This charade continued with one excuse after another and with numerous appointments to see the film up until Wednesday, May 7, when a specialist at the private institution told the family that the old man was suffering from a certain ailment that only the private institution could operate on, and that operation would cost between $600,000 and $1M. In lieu of a film representing the CT-Scan, the specialist gave the old man’s family members a slip of paper with writing on it.

Disappointed, the family members withdrew the old man from the care of that private medical institution and See page 10

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana ...

Opposition backtracks on weeding out corruption stance OLD KAI is not surprised at the opposition’s hasty retreat from one of the favourite topics they use to lambast the PPP/C Government: Corruption.

After all their talk of corruption in the public sector, it was just a matter of time before ‘Jook-fuh-Jook’ Granger, ‘Haul-Yuh-Ass’ Ramjattan’, and ‘Shut-YuhSuh-and-Suh-mouth’ Nagamootoo were elevated to sainthood status.

But now it seems that may not be possible, after they have taken a complete U-turn on efforts to weed out corruption, as they moved to attack the suggestion

by President Donald Ramotar that the use of integrity testing, popularly referred to as the ‘lie detector tests’, could become more widespread in the public sector.

In a most remarkable sequence of events, Opposition Leader David Granger is now apparently suggesting that it is ok to keep corrupt officials in their positions, once they are good at their jobs. How else can one interpret his statement, as quoted by the media: “I have no faith in the President’s proposal at all; I have never heard of it… You are bound to get people who are good at test and bad at performance.”

Obviously, if a head of an agency is ‘good’ after being administered a ‘lie detector’ test, that individual has his/her integrity intact; and as a result, the public will be more confident in the functioning of that agency.

But David Granger has turned logic upside down, and is indicating that it is not a big deal to establish whether someone has been compromised; rather, all that matters is if that person performs. He gives no indication of what his idea of performance entails, but if the infamous telephone recording of his current security adviser, Winston Felix, is taken into consideration, I have a pretty good idea where he is going with this.

Can you imagine Winston Felix taking an integrity test? Question: Have you ever attempted to frame an innocent citizen, a supporter of the very party you represent, by placing drugs on her while you were Commissioner of Police?

Question: The Number One you referred to in the conversation, was it someone from Congress Place or was it Dr. Evil’s trusted adviser #1 in the movie, ‘The Spy Who Shagged Me”?

Question: Did you ever try to cover up the real perpetrators of the Agricola massacre, based on instructions from Congress Place?

Small wonder Granger is not sold on ‘lie detector’ tests, and has sprinted from the idea faster than Usain

Bolt.

The current Commission of Inquiry into the assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney should have introduced these tests, and invited Granger to give evidence to establish exactly what he knows about that period, and if he was involved. Old Kai does not want to be the reason why the Opposition Leader suddenly develops an acute case of diarrhea, so I will shift focus.

Maybe Khemraj Ramjattan can put to rest, once and for all, the contention from the disabled man that he swindled him out of his property.

He can put aside doubts that he is covering up corruption within his party, involving an elite cabal which has caused so many members to publicly pack up their bags and move on.

We can know for sure that he was not trying to kill establishment of the Specialty Hospital because the company which employed him lost its bid for the contract to construct the facility.

Similarly, Moses can dismiss allegations that he is aiding Ramjattan in this process, and give clarity on who exactly removed those Mirror newspapers (his former place of employ when he was a PPP member) which detailed the period in which Dr. Walter Rodney was killed.

But, alas, this will apparently never be a reality.

Old Kai expected that the opposition would have jumped at the idea of having these integrity tests; after all, they have accused senior members of the PPP, who are Government Ministers and hold other portfolios, of being involved in corruption. Now, if indeed these officials were involved in corruption, basic common sense and a good understanding of the public accounts system would tell you that it will have to involve a great deal of collaboration within the bureaucratic apparatus.

There are many forms of checks and balances to guard against instances of corruption, and there is the fact that Ministers are not the financial accounting officers of their respective Ministries.

In some cases, if certain accusations by the opposition were true, it would have meant that entire Boards of Directors, which comprise a wide cross section of professionals and members of the very opposition, would have been compromised.

Hence, expanding the scope of integrity tests would easily confirm if this were indeed true. But alas, the Opposition has now turned around and attacked the suggestion by President Donald Ramotar.

This now calls into question the motive of the opposition. Do they have something to hide in all of this?

By their new stance, they owe an apology to the public

servants whom they have castigated in the past.

Don’t you find it strange that the Kaieteur News has remained silent on the issue when not a day goes by without it making an allegation of corruption?

Old Kai has an idea: Let us invite the publisher and editor-in-chief of the Kaieteur newspaper to do an integrity test, then we can all rest assured that the numerous accusations against these two have been false, and everything that appears in the newspaper is genuine. No make-believe sources, no human smuggling, no lies, no malicious attacks, no corruption, no evading taxes, no encouraging corruption by paying bribes for information etc.

Notice also that the Guyana Chapter of Transparency International has remained silent, along with other like-minded opposition front groups.

In the end, the People’s Progressive Party has been vindicated, but, sadly, we may never know how Congress Place acquired that large amount of foreign currency which allegedly disappeared, and the real motive behind the shooting and theft of a canister from the party’s general secretary minutes after he had left the party headquarters.

This stance by ‘jook-man’ Granger now raises even further speculation regarding the true reason for the opposition’s consistent effort at stalling the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism amendment legislation, which will be a significant boost to the PPP/C Government’s anti-corruption efforts. After they had run out of excuses, we are now told that they do not have a problem with the technical aspects of the amendment, but their concern is now political in nature. No specifics; just a broad, ridiculous statement.

Yet, the paragons of virtue, who enjoy attacking the Government for everything under the sun, pretend that the disturbing actions of our political opposition are non-existent.

The representative from SASOD, who attempted to break up a PYO vigil a few nights ago and was adorned with a placard #Bring back justice and accountability, should have instead gone in front of Congress Place and wherever the AFC office is currently located to picket.

But even in this day and age, that individual would not try that with ‘jook-fuh-jook’ Granger; or, then again, the effort at breaking up meetings might have found warm reception. As the old saying goes, ‘monkey does know which limb to jump on.’

Craig woman reportedly killed by supernatural forces

By Leroy Smith A 43-year-old mother of five was yesterday morning found dead, face down in a drain at Craig, East Bank Demerara, where she lives.

Initial suggestions by relatives are that the woman, Marcelle Cummings, was killed by some supernatural force which has been troubling her since last Tuesday.

Marcelle who once worked as a conductress on a minibus that she owned and more recently with a fishing trawler company reportedly documented her life and the way she would meet her demise.

This was confirmed when relatives yesterday morning discovered two exercise books with the

woman’s handwriting in which she has been chronicling her life’s challenges.

According to her relatives, of significance is the fact that in the books which no family members knew existed was the details of how the mother of five would meet her demise.

Uncannily, when her body was discovered in a drain yesterday morning, the position she was in and the location were just as she had documented in the books. The books were found under her bed at their home at lot 183 Third Street Craig, East Bank Demerara.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the area yesterday, the persons in front of whose home the woman was discovered in the drain said that they

retired to bed as early as 20:00hrs Saturday night.

However, when one of them looked out yesterday morning the woman was seen lying in the ditch motionless. An alarm was raised and the police were called in.

Over at the home of the dead woman, her brother spoke about his sister’s strange behaviour recently, which relatives, villagers, church members and co-workers noticed since last week Tuesday. Ivor Cummings told this publication that his sister related to him a dream where there were lots of money on the road and every time she attempted to pick up See page 11

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

RPA Head says focus on market expansion continues ––as rice expects another good year

By Vanessa Narine

HARVESTING in three of the five rice producing regions in Guyana has been completed, except for 10 per cent of the rice in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and one-fifth of the cultivated acreage in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne).

Head of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), Mr Dharamkumar Seeraj, told the Guyana Chronicle that 2014 is likely to be a good year for the sector, and the emphasis is on expanding the existing rice markets.

NEW MARKETS Seeraj disclosed that a team will be visiting Panama this week to examine available options for Guyana to export rice to that country. “The options there look very good for us,” he said.

Moreover, the possibility of expanding Guyana’s rice markets in Europe, which has been a good market for years, is being examined.

Seeraj also said that a third option involves exporting rice to a party in the United States of America (USA). That party has expressed interest in buying rice from Guyana.

“They are talking big numbers, and we have supplied the information they requested; so this is another area we are looking into,” the RPA Head said.

That aside, Seeraj said, shipments continue to Venezuela, Belize and Haiti; the latter two being new markets acquired as of last crop.

Meanwhile, the 2014 rice deal with Venezuela stipulates a shipment of 150,000 tonnes of paddy and 50,000 tonnes of rice, a total of 200,000 tonnes.

Last year, Venezuela took more rice than paddy, with a shipment of 80,000 tonnes of paddy and 120,000 tonnes of rice.

The Ministry of Agriculture has adopted a threepronged approach to marketing rice. This approach ensures increasing the volume of rice exported by increasing the market share in countries that have agreements with Guyana; re-entering old markets where there once had been a meaningful presence; and securing new markets.

DISLODGED Seeraj also disclosed that Guyana is increasing its exports to markets that have traditionally belonged to the USA, in particular in Jamaica and Haiti. “We are putting more rice into Jamaica and Haiti, traditionally US markets,” he said.

Last February, the RPA Head had indicated that dislodg-

ing the USA as a supplier to the Caribbean Region was an element of Guyana’s marketing thrust.

At the end of January, the scope for this endeavour was underscored in an Oryza Global Rice Quotes report. A recognised information source on rice market trends, the report said the sole rice mill in Jamaica completely replaced the United States of America’s (USA) paddy rice with imports from Guyana in 2013.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), according to the Oryza report, said that Jamaica did not import any paddy rice from the USA in 2013, and that was for the first time in recent history.

Traditionally, Jamaica’s rice imports consisted of 20 per cent of the USA paddy rice, but the share of USA paddy rice in Jamaica’s rice imports has been declining in the last five years.

The USDA said Jamaica’s total rice import market remains steady at about 90,000 tonnes. However, the USA paddy rice imported by Jamaica declined by a whopping 93 per cent, from around 46,000 tonnes in 2008 to 3,300 tonnes in 2012, and imports vanished in 2013.

Seeraj made it clear that both the quantity and quality of rice Guyana produces have improved significantly as a result of technology and better agronomical practices; and Guyana has the capacity to supply the rice needs of the Caribbean Region.

“If we can dislodge the US as a supplier it will be good for Guyana and local rice farmers,” he said.

Guyana also exports rice to Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, the latter to a lesser extent.

VALUE ADDED Another of Guyana’s major undertaking to ensure expanded markets is focusing on value added rice, Seeraj said. He explained that Guyana is looking into widening the market for its specialty rice, which is similar to the Indian Basmati rice line.

Seeraj said, “The aromatic line that we are developing locally -- and the plant breeders here have done a great job -- has the potential (to expand) specialised markets.”

Guyana’s aromatic rice, the Bengal Aromatic Rice, was introduced in late 2013, and was developed after years of experimentation at the Agriculture ministry’s rice research facility at Burma in Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

Guyana’s aromatic line of rice was researched and developed by a local group of rice researchers led by Dr. Mahendra Persaud at the Guyana Rice Research Centre. The team took about four years to develop the line before allowing the

Bravo, GPHC! From page 8

placed him in the Georgetown Public Hospital, but it was the best decision they could have made in terms of looking after the old man’s welfare.

They speak in glowing terms of encountering young, dedicated and courteous professionals at the GPHC, who started the process of looking after the old man from scratch.

When they could not produce a film representing the CT-Scan done on the old man, one of the GPHC doctors took it upon himself to go to that private medical institution to pick up either a film or a CD with the scan. It was from that incident that the old man’s family members got to know that the scan had not been captured on film because the institution’s machine had not been operational.

Nevertheless, both the scan and the operation were performed at the GPHC, and the old man is well on the way to recovery. But what the old man’s family members find mystifying is that when they had been paying off the private institution for the old man’s sojourn there, they had found on the bill, costing in excess of $200,000, a charge

for two CT-Scans having been performed by that private institution.

What is also mystifying to the old man’s family members is that, unlike what they had been told about this very special operation costing between $600,000 and $1M to be performed only at the private medical institution, the GPHC doctors did a CT-Scan which determined that there was internal hemorrhaging in the head, and that the blood had accumulated and was compressed and on the verge of exerting pressure on the old man’s brain.

The old man’s relatives say that even though he is still in a delicate position, they have seen definite signs of improvement, for which they are grateful.

And they appreciate that the doctors at GPHC have taken the time to discuss their patient’s condition with them and apprise them of every move being made, rather than treat them as though they were dummies.

However, the octogenarian’s doctors have cautioned the perturbed relatives not to expect dynamic changes overnight, because it will take some time before marked improvement is realized in his condition.

first commercial production.

The rice was harvested by a farmer in Bengal Village, Corentyne who has 60 acres of land, and was packaged by the Ministry of Agriculture.

On introduction, the rice was offered in limited quantities, with an introductory price of $270.

PRICES The RPA Head said farmers producing the aromatic rice receive a good price for their endeavours. Similarly, cultivators of the rice that is sold to the mill producing parboiled rice on the East Bank of Demerara receive good prices for their endeavours.

Seeraj said: “Some farmers are going to the mill on the East Bank (to sell their produce), which produces parboiled rice, which is higher-priced rice; and (that mill) will pay farmers better than the other markets.

“The prices (obtained at) the regular mills range from $3,500 to $3,700, with those farmers who produce the extra A-grade rice getting the higher prices.”

Millers paying rice farmers for their produce has been problematic, but Seeraj said there has been no complaint to date.

The current crop is expected to come to an end in midMay, and the production targeted is some 260,000 tonnes.

Some 40,000 people depend directly on the rice industry for their livelihood, and the industry provides employment for at least 20,000; while, in terms of food security, it has helped to secure Guyana’s status as a food-secured country.

Some $500M have been allocated to the rice sector in the 2014 Budget.

The rice industry contributed about five percent of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013, and accounted for more than US$240M in export earnings.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

Craig woman reportedly killed ...

From page 9 some, it would just disappear.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE He explained that the dream meant to her that someone might be robbing her spiritually.

Ivor told this publication that ever since that dream his sister began praying day and night and had been rallying her relatives to do the same, telling them she was involved in spiritual warfare.

It was reported too that since the woman got the strange dream, she started hearing from her relatives who had not contacted her for quite a while, including her children who remitted monies to her to repair her minibus which had been parked at a mechanic shop for some six months.

Ivor spoke too about his sister getting up in the wee hours of the morning and praying so loudly that she awoke the village. He recalled one

prayer session in which the woman was speaking to elements which were not visible to the eyes of those around her.

This publication was told that the woman’s behaviour got relatives very concerned and escalated on Saturday when co-workers called them to remove her from the worksite as her behaviour had become abnormal.

Ivor said that when he went to pick up his sister at her workplace, her resistance was so strong that it took three persons to wrestle her into a minibus.

The woman kept telling her bother that she needed to pray every five minutes and if she did not do that she would die.

Meanwhile yesterday she quietly slipped out of her room and went into the yard but relatives did not raise an alarm since they were now familiar of her early prayer sessions at all corners of her home and the yard. That was approximately 04:30hrs.

Subsequently, about six persons began looking for the woman in her room and in the yard and re-

alised that she was missing. Her brother said that since she had invited her other brother and his children to come by the house so that they can go to church together, he thought that she might have been walking to Diamond to reach her brother’s place.

Calls to her brother’s home, however, went unanswered. In the meantime, a relative saw a crowd building at a street in the village and after enquiring about the commotion, the family heard that Marcelle had been found dead and was lying face down in a drain. Relatives immediately rushed to the scene where they were able to positively identify the mother of five.

The police yesterday confirmed that the woman had no marks of violence on her body. After the police and the undertakers from Lykens’s Funeral Parlour moved the body from the location, en route to Georgetown they stopped at the Diamond Regional Hospital where a doctor confirmed that she was indeed dead.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

More value-added products needed to - President capitalise on record rice crops Ramotar

WITH the agriculture sector’s anticipation of a record level of rice production for this year, it may be time for stakeholders such as producers and investors to examine possible value-added products, according to President Donald Ramotar.

Drawing on his years of experience in the sector, the President made this observation following the recent declaration of 300,000 tonnes for this year’s first crop.

Noting that not only has production increased, but also productivity or “yield per hectare”, he said that success creates its own challenges and now there are expanded moves to find more markets for the locally produced staple.

“Maybe we should start thinking of producing cereals….for us to able to add value and even earn much more,” he said.

These ventures will create more employment, not only for workers, but also for many others. Specialised products such as “five- minute” rice would also help persons such as housewives and others who cook, to have more time for other essential tasks as they see fit, the President noted.

Guyana has a major export deal with Venezuela and CARICOM territories, and this is being capitalised on by many farmers and millers in the sector.

Last year a record 535,000 tonnes of rice was produced and this year’s production could exceed 600,000 tonnes.(GINA)

CARICOM-Spain Joint Commission convenes today THE third meeting of the CARICOM-Spain Joint Commission will be convened today at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, where the representatives of CARICOM and the Kingdom of Spain will identify priorities for cooperation for the next four years.

A press release from the CARICOM Secretariat at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, noted that the first CARICOM-Spain Joint Commission meeting was held in Madrid, Spain, in 2002, while the second was held in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2006.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

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Insel Air set to service GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally CURACAO carrier, Insel Air is set to officially begin its service to the Guyana market from June 18, 2014.

This was released at a Cocktail reception held at Roraima Duke Lodge on Wednesday to allow the Chief Executive Officer of Insel Air, Fredericks Noboer, and his marketing team to meet with stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry.

Nuboer said he is enthusiastic about commencing operations here, and thanked Roraima Airways as a strategic partner in the airline coming here.

Roraima Airways will serve as the Ground Handling Services and General Sales Agents for Insel. Destinations included into the scope of travel are Jamaica, St. Maarten, The Dominican Republic, and several South American destinations.

Nuboer noted that In-

Insel Air launch: Insel Air Sales and Marketing Manager, Nejeska Mesman; Tourism Minister (ag) Irfaan Ali; Insel Air CEO, Fredericks Noboer; and Captain Gerry Gouveia, Managing Director of Roraima Airways at the reception held at Roraima Duke Lodge sel Air will be bringing pre-clearance in Aruba for those travelling to the US, and opening a variety of airline options to choose from those operating out of Aruba going to Toronto and

Europe, among several other destinations.

“This is an opportunity to connect Guyana with all of the airlines that arrive in Aruba; and now that we are connecting Aruba to Guy-

ana, I have to go back and tell the Minister of Tourism, ‘watch out’, because maybe people will connect to Guyana instead of staying in Aruba,” the CEO stated.

Nuboer further explained

that Insel Airlines, which was birthed some eight years ago, is aiming to market Guyana’s tourism internationally through the provision of its services.

Commanding thirteen

fleets of aircraft, Insel provides flights out of Curacao to the neighbouring island of Aruba. Flights to Miami will also be provided via Aruba. The airline connects the Caribbean and South America, and services many other routes.

Tourism Minister (ag) Irfaan Ali underscored that with the thriving tourism sector in Guyana, the Government is committed to marketing Guyana as a tourism destination, and bringing more investments here to facilitate the linkages being built. Minister Ali noted that “modern tourists” are looking for a new tourism product apart from the “polluted cities” and “long stretches of white beach and blue water”.

“Tourists are seeking a new product; a product that is rich in nature; a product that rekindle them with the beginning of the world, and a product that is dynamic and versatile; and for my dear friends at Insel Air, you have entered the right

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e Guyana from June 18 GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 19, 2014

The handing over of the signed agreement between Roraima Airways and Insel Air by Captain Debbie Gouveia and Operations Manager of Insel Air, Domonic Van Wilgen. In the background is CEO of Insel Air, Fredericks Noboer (Photos

by Adrian Narine)

market; the right market that offers the right product for the modern day tourists to meet their expectations,” Ali noted.

Ali also expounded that the ministry is looking at linking the marketing strategies, so that tourists can be able to experience the beaches and water as well as all the exciting opportunities available in eco- and adventure tourism.

The airline’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Nejeska Mesman, said Insel Air will further integrate Guyana and bring more visitors here.

“Our promise is to help Guyana get out of the isolation it was (experiencing) in the past couple of years; but also not only for Guyanese people to go to other destinations, but also bring people to Guyana.”

She also related that, as part of the airline’s launch into the Guyana market, the

airline would be offering special introductory fares to Aruba, Curacao and Miami from Guyana. Vacation seekers and shoppers could fly to Aruba for US$256, to Curacao for US$299, and to Miami for $337. The special fares are all return fares and are inclusive of all taxes.

Travellers will have until June 15, 2014 to book flights for the special fares, and they will be able to travel on the special fares until December 15, 2014.

Bookings could be made through several local travel agencies and through Roraima Airways.

Captain Gerry Gouveia, Managing Director of Roraima Airways, stated that with major projects such as the Marriott Hotel and the Airport Expansion Project, the Government will have to develop a huge marketing strategy to attract people to Guyana, in order to fill the

hotel and make use of the airport facilities.

He added that Guyana and the airlines will have to collaborate to market the country, in order to fill those seats. He continued that with tourism on a drive, it is the right time for airlines to capitalise on the rush.

“Insel Air, like Copa Airlines, coming to Guyana is opening up an entirely new dispensation of travelling in Guyana. For many years, the bulk of our traffic continues to be to New York and Toronto,” Gouveia said.

Insel Air operates a fleet of MD-80 aircraft, which could accommodate up to 150 passengers and will service the Guyana route twice weekly. However, in the case of having more or less passengers, the airline will introduce other aircraft that are capable of facilitating the capacity of customers.

Guyana’s Lisa Punch performs at the Apollo Theatre in USA FROM winning the Star Guyana Show many moons ago, to becoming a celebrated Guyanese artiste under the DP Records label, Lisa Mary Johanna Punch is no stranger to the Guyanese music scene.

Lisa Punch has a new song set for release soon, and eventually she will release an entire album featuring 12 songs to be released incrementally under the DP Records Label. That album will be available at over 40 Online music stores, including amazon.com, Itunes, CD Baby and Rhapsody, to name a few.

But if she has her way, Lisa Mary Johanna Punch will soon prove that dreams do come true at any level. In fact, Lisa, who obtained her grounding as Host of the Caribbean Music Box Talk Show and Hard Vibes under the wings of Mondale Smith on BTVCh2, then branched into radio on NCN and Hits and Jams.

She migrated to the USA in December 2013, with her eyes set on the prize of being the first Guyanese to win The Voice.

After years at the local level, she wooed the audience at the Barbados Music Awards and obtained rave reviews in that nation’s main publications; and now she is spreading her wings all the way to the Apollo Theatre. She graduated from the American Bartenders’ School two weeks ago, and is now a qualified and certified bartender.

That apart, Lisa is presently taking GED classes to further her qualifications. But that’s just a side-track to what her goals are. “I’m aiming to complete my GED to get into the Manhat-

tan College to major in Communications and minor in Music.”

Recently, she auditioned for amateur night at the Apollo, singing the late Etta James’s “Rather go blind”, and made it to the next round. The judges only listened to 300 persons on the day Lisa auditioned, and she was number 83 listed to audition.

“When I started, they started cheering like they loved me right away,” Lisa confided to this publication.

There is another project that is even bigger than Amateur Night at the Apollo, and Lisa is working towards packing that vocal Guyanese punch in there as well, but she is not permitted to speak about it just yet, as she says: “I have to be absolutely discreet about this, but I’ll let you know before the end of the month.”

Getting back to her Apollo first experience, she admitted that despite all the experience she has had, she was nervous because she was not on home soil, and had no idea how an American audience would feel about her singing, but she got herself together because she channelled the Guyanese Love in that whole new environment, and she proved herself a worthy contender.

Though Lisa is an experienced singer/songwriter and onetime television/radio personality who is committed to the arts, she admitted thus: “After singing, I was still nervous; and they told me I got through, and I felt a sense of relief.”

Punch, popular for hits such as ‘One last Cry’, ‘Secret admirer,’ and ‘Momma’, has several recordings and videos to

This Guyanese song-bird has her eyes set on the Grammy’s her name, and aspires to one day be an international artiste as well as a media mogul.

Mostly easygoing with an outgoing side, Lisa also likes her quiet time. However, she says, “This should not be misconstrued to mean that I’m a walkover; yet I have great interest in listening to people and helping others; so I guess some may say I can be self-centred at times, which is not a bad quality when you think of ‘loving your neighbour as you would yourself’.”

Most at ease when singing, Lisa becomes playful whenever she is in the company of her little brother.

Coming from a Third World country to the USA, Lisa says, “It’s but a dream for many, but for me I see myself as being able to rise above the opportunity given to truly live and achieve the American Dream yet remain a proud Guyanese.”

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Racing Tips

ENGLISH Towcester 09:10 hrs Mont Royale 09:40 hrs Morestead 10:10 hrs Lion On The Prowl 10:40 hrs Ballyvoneen 11:10 hrs Thoresby 11;40 hrs Clonaaw Hero 12:10 hrs Catching Zeds Redcar 09:20 hrs Pomme De Terre 09:50 hrs Ever Rose 10:20 hrs Biscuiteer 10:50 hrs Moonvoy 11:20 hrs Another Wise Kid 11:50 hrs Sheriff Of Nawton 12:20 hrs Halation 12:50 hrs Vosne Romanee Southwell 09:30 hrs Incendo 10:00 hrs Mecca’s Mirage 10:30 hrs Politbureau 11:00 hrs Febrayer Star 11:30 hrs Abi Scarlet 12:00 hrs On The Cusp IRISH RACING TIPS Roscommon 12:55 hrs Gentry 13:25 hrs Kabjoy 13:55 hrs Toe The Line 14:25 hrs All About Alfie 14:55 hrs King Leon 15:25 hrs Sadler’s Risk 15:55 hrs Shabra Country SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Flamingo Park 08:20 hrs Vestal Virgion 08:50 hrs Call The Challenge 09:25 hrs Wind At Your Back 09:55 hrs Sudden Surprise 10:25 hrs Sir Newton AMERICAN RACING TIPS Philadelphia Park Race 1 Frozen Four Race 2 Manda Moo Race 3 Red Dirt Racer Race 4 Ibdancingtoo Race 5 Street Stuff Race 6 Life Factor Race 7 Cantona Race 8 Protect N Serve Race 9 Northern Berkshire

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GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY May 19, 2014

Arsenal fans hail cup-winning heroes

(REUTERS) - Tens of thousands of raucous Arsenal fans filled the streets of Islington in north London yesterday to hail their team’s come-back victory in Saturday’s FA Cup final.

In warm sunshine under blue skies, on the capital’s hottest day of the year, manager Arsene Wenger and his squad laughed, danced and waved during a celebratory open-top bus tour.

Arsenal recovered from two goals down in the opening eight minutes to defeat Hull City 3-2 after extra time at Wembley and lift their first trophy in nine years.

Their previous success came after beating Manchester United 5-4 on penalties in the 2005 final.

‘After 8 years 11 months 26 days 38 minutes and 20 seconds ... Arsenal win a trophy’ declared The Sunday Times, with a Jose Mourinho-esque sense of irony.

Wenger, who said it was the most important win of his career, had signalled that he was also set to stay at the club following the imminent expiry of his contract, but there was no official statement to confirm he will extend his 18 years’ in charge.

“This trophy is for him,” match-winning goalscorer

Aaron Ramsey told Sky Sports News. “He’s backed us and stood by us and he is so instrumental in the way we play.”

Wenger, soaked in champagne and given ‘the bumps’ by his players on Saturday, was once again dressed in his pristine uniform - of white shirt and black trousers - as he smiled for photographs.

His team’s success had not only ended the club’s second-longest spell without success since 1930, but

also answered their critics, including Chelsea boss Mourinho, who had labelled Wenger as a ‘specialist in failure’.

The parade included a pause for the squad to visit Islington Town Hall and pose for photographs with the mayor and staff before continuing to a red and white tickertape reception with thousands of fans at the club’s Emirates Stadium.

“The happiness is linked sometimes with the suffer-

ing, and the time you have to wait, and that’s why it’s such a great moment,” said Wenger, who has won the FA Cup five times with Arsenal.

In less sober style, his players shared a microphone to perform an impromptu karaoke of football anthems. Lanky German defender Per Mertesacker’s rendition of ‘Arsenal ’till I die’ triggered an impassioned chorus as past impatience was set aside and a new era of hope ushered in.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (R) holds the FA Cup trophy during a victory parade after Arsenal won the FA Cup final soccer match against Hull City at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Credit: (REUTERS/Andrew Winning)

Serena triumphs against injured Errani to win Italian Open

By Terry Daley ROME, Italy (Reuters) - Serena Williams won her third Italian Open title, crushing local favourite Sara Errani 6-3, 6-0 in Rome yesterday.

The world number one looked in top form against the 10th-seeded Errani, who was cheered on by a passionate home crowd but suffered a thigh injury towards the end of the first set and never recovered.

All the action was in the first set, which lasted longer than the 46-minute hammering Williams dished out to the Italian in the semi-finals of the French Open last year, when Errani won only one game.

The 27-year-old Errani, who has lost to Serena Williams, 32, in all seven of their meetings, had to leave the court after losing her serve in the eighth game of the first set to get at-

Djokovic downs Nadal to win third Italian Open title

ROME, Italy (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic came from a set down to beat Rafael Nadal for the fourth time in a row and claim his third Italian Open title with an impressive 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in Rome yesterday.

World number two Djokovic was broken twice in the first set, as Nadal moved towards an eighth Rome title but he came roaring back to dominate the defending champion after that.

Defeat for Nadal was his third on clay in a season for the first time in a decade and raised questions about his form ahead of the French Open which starts next Sunday.

Djokovic will arrive at Roland Garros on a high after collecting the 44th title of his career to draw level with former French Open champion Thomas Muster.

tention for her injury.

She was clearly less mobile after that, and the American rattled off seven easy games in a row to finish the match in one hour and 11 minutes, leaving Errani tearful in defeat.

Serena Williams of the U.S. poses with the trophy after winning the women’s singles final match against Sara Errani, yesterday.

Sport Minister urges ...

From back page

porters of the sport at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, just after the conclusion of the third stage yesterday, Dr Anthony stated that in order to register a faster time for the event club members need to work as a team “while we know individuals want the glory of winning, there must be team work.”

Minister Anthony recalled that when the event was first staged in 1983 the winner (Bissoon Pharbudin) returned an overall time of just over eight hours, but that time has been dwindling over the years.

Dr Anthony congratulated the participants and said he was pleased that so many took part in the event and that there were no issues with the discipline of the athletes.

He stressed that if the local cyclists are to compete at the international level, they must work harder and they must work as a team and not as individuals.

“I don’t feel we’re operating as a team, so we have to do just that; work on getting a team spirit,” Dr Anthony declared.

He said to this end, a special incentive will be given for the team that works best as a team during the Annual FiveStage Run For Life race which will be held later in the year.

Also speaking at the presentation ceremony was Director of Sport Neil Kumar who congratulated the participants and noted that the event was a historic one as it attracted the largest number of registrants since its inception. He noted also that the race attracted 85 starters, 77 of whom started stage two and 53 faced the starter for the final stage.

Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) president Cheryl Thompson also congratulated the participants and said it was a very special occasion since the event is now in its 32nd year.

She said it was a great pleasure for the GCF to work in tandem with the NSC and the Sports ministry to make the event the success it was.

Thompson urged the local cyclists to continue to strive for success.

The event was won by Barbados’ Darren Matthews of Team Coco, second was Guyana’s Geron Williams, third Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, fourth Alanzo Greaves, fifth Orville Hinds and sixth Mauricio Robeiro.

Akeem Arthur won the junior category ahead of Michael Anthony, while Robin Persaud was first among the veterans. Second was Junior Niles and third, Stephen Fernandes.

Demerara complete Inter-county ...

From back page kar Sewkarran (7) followed in quick succession.

The other four batsmen, Vivian Albert (4), Yenkini Favourite (2), Michael Shalim (1) and Matthew Shivtahal (2) failed to offer any resistance to the spin of Cleon McEwan, Chanderpaul, Hubbard and Sankar who took 2 wickets each for 10, 23, 25 and 38 runs respectively, leaving Gavin Moriah unbeaten on 11.

Needing to bat six overs before the lunch break, Demerara lost their skipper Brian Sattaur (7), who was caught by substitute Kareem Mentore at mid-on off Moriah, as the eventual victors took the break at 11 for 1 with Chanderpaul on 3 and Renaldo Renee 1.

The duo stretched their second-wicket partnership to 77, before Renee who struck two fours in his 57-ball 23, was bowled by Ryan Shun followed quickly by the wicket of Ramnarine Chatura, lbw to Albert for 7 at 104 for 3.

Despite the loss of Renee and Chatura, Chanderpaul posted the second half-century of the match off 118 balls with four fours, following which Rudolph Singh 13 (1x6) struck Waldron back over his head for 6, before he was lbw to the same bowler at 136 for 4 in the 48th over.

It was the last hurrah for the President’s XI, as Chanderpaul struck Mohammed for two fours in the 49th over to steer his side to victory, finishing unbeaten on 77 with Kemol Savory (2), to round off a painstaking win for Demerara, who made the final despite losing two of their three preliminary round matches.

Moriah (1 for 14) was the best returns for a President’s XI bowler, even as Chanderpaul for his efforts was named Man-of-the-Match.

At the presentation ceremony, he was the recipient of individual accolades after being named the Best Batsman (206 runs) and Most Valuable Player of the limited over phase of the tournament, with Berbice’s Arif Chan being the Best Bowler.

For the three-day phase, Berbice’s Balchand Baldeo was named Best Batsman for his 238 runs, Sankar Best Bowler (17 wickets) and Essequibo’s Kemo Paul Most Valuable Player, having picked up seven wickets and accumulated 234 runs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY May 19, 2014

25

East Coast Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’

Victoria Eagles needle Superstars 4-3; winning start for Plaisance

VICTORIA EAGLES needled Golden Grove Superstars 4-3 on sudden death kicks from the halfway mark after regulation time ended 1-1 when the second annual East Coast Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal football tournament commenced last Saturday night at the Haslington Market Square.

Kirk Warren pushed Victoria in the lead in the 15th minute, lashing his effort into the left corner of the net from the right side, before Michel Evans forced the game into penalty kicks, scoring with the very last shot in the 24th minute to the roof of the goal from the left side.

The opening round of penalty kicks finished at 2-2, as both sides missed an attempt each and the scores became 3-3 as both sides scored their following free kicks from the spot, forcing the shoot-out to move to the halfway mark.

Golden Grove Superstars, who gave a good account of themselves during regulation time in their match, missed their opening shot at the distance which struck the left upright, before Victoria then prevailed as they netted their opening kick from the same spot to seal the win.

Also recording a win on the opening night were defending champions Plaisance, who, through a Warren Gilkes’ fourth-minute goal, needled Nabaclis 1-0 to advance to Wednesday night’s quarterfinals which will be played at the same venue.

Beterverwagting-B (BV-B), led by an Edun Fraser double defeated Plaisance 2-0, with Fraser scoring his goals in the 12th and 19th minutes of play, even as Paradise emulated Plaisance with their 1-0 win over Ann’s Grove Punters, courtesy of Kwame Alfred’s 7th minute strike.

Victoria Church Yard United crushed Vryheid’s Lust 2-0, with Keyron Johnson and Nicholas Holder finding the back of the net in the 9th and 17th minutes of play respectively, while Melanie-A got past Mahaica via walkover.

Melanie-B needled Buxton-A 2-1 on penalty kicks after both sides failed to score in normal time while BV-A booked a spot in the next round through a walkover against Ann’s Grove

Young Warriors.

In the quarterfinals, Melanie-B face off with Victoria Eagles, Victoria Church Yard United tackle Paradise, BV-B will clash with Plaisance while Melanie-A oppose BV-A. After the quarterfinal stage is completed, the four victorious sides will contest the semifinals.

The winners of the tournament will walk away with $300 000 and the championship trophy, while the runners-up will receive $150 000 and a trophy with the third- and fourth-place finishers collecting $75 000 and $50 000 respectively. The two top teams will be eligible to represent the district at the national tournament. (Calvin Roberts)

Part of the opening night’s action in the second annual East Coast Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ competition

Tiger Bay football team gets gear from Commander Hicken ‘A’ DIVISION Commander Senior Superintendent Clifton Hicken on Saturday morning donated football gear to the Tiger Bay football team in the Rosemary Lane community.

The donation was part of the preparation for the launching of the Impact Tiger Bay project. At the time of the donation the members of the entire community of Tiger Bay, along with rep-

resentatives from the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and senior officers, were all present.

The captain of the Ti-

Senior Superintendent Hicken is seen handing over some of the gear.

ger Bay team thanked the Police Force for the donations. He further stated that this is needed for the community since Tiger Bay was the first-ever team in history to win the ‘Guinness Greatest of de Streets’ football tournament.

Tiger Bay’s first official match in years will be played this Wednesday against the Police Sports Club team at the Eve Leary ground.

Commander Hicken said that the Force will continue to support the community not only educationally but also with sporting activities. He recalled that years ago Tiger Bay had been one of the best football teams in the City and that he will make sure the community centre is renovated so that more sporting events can be added to the agenda.

Sri Lanka surge to spectacular win with 127 off 55 balls TILLAKARATNE Dilshan and Kithuruwan Vithanage powered Sri Lanka to a 10-wicket win over Sussex in their Twenty20 tour match as they chased down 127 in just 9.1 overs at Hove.

The home side’s 126 for seven, anchored by 63 from Matt Machan, was never likely to provide too stiff a task for the world champions but they could not have expected to be blown away in such fashion.

Dilshan scored 73 off just 31 balls with 16 fours while Vithanage contributed 52 off 24 deliveries with five sixes.

Sussex got off to a brisk start after winning the toss and were 25 without loss after three overs but Luke Wells (11) was the first man to go as he got a leading edge off Lasith Malinga and Dilshan claimed the catch.

That brought Michael Yardy to the crease and he helped the Sharks

reach a rather pedestrian 60 for one at the halfway stage but he also fell for 11, caught in the deep by Suranga Lakmal off Ajantha Mendis.

Rory Hamilton-Brown lasted just three balls before nicking Thisara Perera to Dinesh Chandimal and at that stage Sussex were 67 for three.

Ben Brown helped Machan, who brought up his 50 with a huge six, steady the ship but the scoring rate

was still slow and the former was gone for 14 in the 17th over.

The wicketkeeper was dropped by Lahiru Thirimanne but fell the very next ball when he top-edged Malinga to Sachithra Senanayake.

That prompted a late flurry of wickets and Machan’s 45-ball effort was ended as he found Lakmal off the bowling of Perera.

Gayle sparkles as RCB win to keep playoff hopes alive ...another victory for KKR

RANCHI, India (CMC) - Chris Gayle sparkled but inform Dwayne Smith suffered a rare failure, as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) kept their Indian Premier League playoff hopes alive with a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings here yesterday.

Chasing a modest 139 at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, RCB managed the ten runs required for victory off the last over, to post their fifth win of the campaign and move into fifth spot in the standings on ten points.

Gayle was at the heart of RCB’s successful run chase, striking a top score of 46 to give the visitors momentum early in their innings.

Batting on a difficult pitch, the left-handed West Indies star faced 50 balls and crunched three fours and three sixes, and added 61 with captain Virat Kohli who hit 27.

When Kohli fell at the start of the 15th over, Gayle added a further 35 runs with AB de Villiers (28) before he finally departed, bowled by off-spinner Ravi Ashwin (2-16) in the 17th over. de Villiers followed at the end of the 18th, setting up a tense finish before RCB pulled it off with a ball to spare.

West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree sent down a tight spell, with his three overs costing just 15 runs.

Earlier, Smith scored just nine at the top of the order as Chennai, opting to bat first, reached 138 for four off their 20 overs.

Suresh Raina top-scored with 62 not out from 48 balls, counting six fours and one six.

At the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Sunil Narine’s Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chased down 143 to beat the Darren Sammy-led Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets with two balls to spare.

Narine was his usual frugal self, claiming one for 21 from his overs to help restrict Sunrisers to 142 for eight off their 20 overs. Sammy scored just seven.

KKR were then lifted by opener Robin Uthappa’s top score of 40 to reach 146 for three.

26

TTFA: Players will be paid final $1.9M settlement

THE Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has stated that it has already paid $10M to members of the 2006 World Cup team, and that an outstanding final $1.9M settlement will come from development funds issued from FIFA and CONCACAF, the international bodies which govern football in this region.

The financially-challenged TTFA was responding to threats on Friday by the former World Cup footballers to “wind up” the local football body.

Several years ago, the players initially took court action against the local Association, arguing that they were promised a percentage of 2006 World Cup monies by former TTFA special adviser Jack Warner.

However, on the appointment of Raymond Tim Kee as new TTFA president, the parties reached an out-of-court settlement last year, which the players now argued has been breached.

The TTFA stated through a press release yesterday that it is making every effort to conclude the matter soon.

“The TTFA also wishes to advise that TTFA president Raymond over $10M has been Tim Kee given to the players since the new TTFA administration reached settlement in June 2013,” the release stated.

It said that $1.2M of the scheduled $3.1M payment was made and the remaining $1.9M is scheduled to come from development funds.”

“We have the assurance of FIFA and CONCACAF that all our obligations will be met in the interest of football.

“The TTFA is also engaging partnerships with FIFA, CONCACAF, the Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Tourism and our corporate partners to move football forward in Trinidad and Tobago,” the TTFA release added.

The TTFA also termed as “erroneous” assertions that it has the ability to target past leaders and advisers of the former TTFF to recoup $100M in funds accumulated during the 2006 World Cup campaign.

“Firstly, even if the TTFA was inclined to engage in an expensive and resource- draining legal battle to recover any amount of funds from the 2006 World Cup campaign, the statute of limitations to engage in such an endeavour expired some time ago.

Secondly, between 2007 and 2012, international football in Trinidad and Tobago was adversely affected, in large part, due to the protracted legal battle that took place between the former TTFF and the 2006 players.

The TTFA is of the firm belief that it would not be in the best interest of Trinidad and Tobago football to engage in another protracted legal struggle,” the release said. (Trinidad Express)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER 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: Rohit Sharma &GautamGambhir (MI vs KKR) Rajasthan Royals Today’s Quiz: How many teams have played in IPL finals to date?

Which one of the IPL franchises Mahendra Singh Dhoni captains?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY May 19, 2014

Williams-Mills wins; Gatlin clocks world-leading 9.92 secs in 100m SHANGHAI, China (CMC) – Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills snatched the 400 metres hurdles at yesterday’s Shanghai Golden Grand Prix to steal the headlines for the Caribbean, after sprint sensation Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce pulled out of the 200 metres.

However, American Justin Gatlin stormed to a world-leading 9.92 seconds as he won the marquee men’s 100 metres event, ahead of Jamaican Nesta Carter in 10.12 seconds, and fellow American Mike Rogers (10.18).

“I have much more left in the tank. I cruised at 9.92 with no wind. I felt I made it look easy,” an upbeat Gatlin said.

The only other Caribbean presence in the event, Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis, finished a disappointing fifth in a time of 10.25 seconds.

Williams-Mills, meanwhile, was the only bright spot for the region as she clocked 50.31 seconds to beat Botswana’s Amantle Montsho who was timed at 50.37 seconds.

Jamaican Stephenie Ann McPherson was third in 50.54 but her counterpart Kaliese Spencer was seventh in 51 seconds.

In the women’s 200 metres, Fraser-Pryce’s pull-out with a shin injury left the field open and in-form Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare capitalised to reach the wire first in 22.36 seconds.

Bahamian Anthonique Strachan followed her home in 22.50 seconds while American Kimberlyn Duncan finished third in 22.96 seconds Former World and Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown finished fifth with Anneisha McLaughlin, also of Jamaica, sixth in 23.33 seconds.

Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills Despite the poor result, Campbell-Brown was hopeful of getting back to top form.

“I know sooner or later I will get back into the shape I want to be,” the Olympic 100m bronze medallist said.

There were also disappointing results in the men’s 110 metres for the Caribbean, where former Olympic champion Dayron Robles of Cuba and former World champion Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados finished out of the points.

Robles was sixth in 13.48 seconds while Brathwaite finished seventh in 13.64 seconds, as China’s Wenjun Xie clocked 13.23 to win the event.

Pacers down Heat in Game One (REUTERS) - The Indiana Pacers delivered one of their most balanced performances in a shaky post-season to beat the Miami Heat 107-96 yesterday in Game One of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Pacers have not always been at their best in escaping the first two rounds of the playoffs, but against the defending champions Heat they again looked like the top seeds and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Paul George scored a team-high 24 points and had seven assists as Indiana had six players in double-figures on their home floor.

Dwyane Wade led Miami with 27 points and LeBron James put up 25 and 10 rebounds but the Heat trailed for the entire game. Indiana led by 10 at halftime and their advantage swelled to as much as 19 in the second half.

Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) dunks against Miami Heat guard Ray Allen (34) and centre Chris Bosh (1) in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY May 19, 2014

27

Linden men and women register comfortable wins against Georgetown

By Joe Chapman

THE Linden male and female teams turned back the challenge of their Georgetown counterparts and made a perfect start to this year’s Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s (GABF) Inter-Association basketball championship on Saturday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

Playing at home the Linden female bouncers outplayed their female rivals 59-44 and this was followed by a 58-50 victory by the male team from the mining town over the city men in

front of a tense crowd.

Revered Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight once said “basketball is simplicity and execution of fundamental skills, while defence is one of the most important of these skills”.

The Linden coaches Ann Gordon for the women and Kevin ‘Two-Feet’ Joseph the men’s coach somehow were able to have their teams demonstrate such abilities throughout the games.

The first game began well for the feisty girls from Linden who opened a 12-0 lead led by forward Nichola Jacobs who scored six points in the opening session which

ended 12-8, as the Georgetown girls sought to make it a close game.

But the Linden lasses were able to move into a comfortable lead by the end of the first half, 25-17, and seemed set to dominate the match-ups because of their speed and agility.

Georgetown bounced their way back into contention in the pivotal third quarter and, through some key inside plays, they trailed by three 32-35 when the period ended. Georgina Ifill led their charge as Natasha Alder by then had sunk three 3-point shots and ifill was making penetrations.

However, the bustling play of Tamara Hunter was significant along the way and she gave the crowd much to cheer about with the speed and ability to take it to the hoop. However, the Linden side kept their composure and were able to romp home

and when guard Chris Williams knocked in his first shot from the 3-point territory it was Linden taking a 7-6 lead with about 5:10 to go.

Williams followed with his second consecutive shot from beyond the arc and forward Dwayne ‘Brown

24-16 lead. Shelroy Thomas answered this with a 3-pointer for Georgetown to make it a 24-23 lead. The game was again close before Roberts and company were able to break open to a 29-23 lead and the third quarter ended with a neat reverse by Trevor

CULT/EBFA U-17 League

Agricola needle Timehri Panthers; Herstelling and Diamond draw THE inaugural CULT-sponsored East Bank Football Association Under-17 league got off to an exciting start last Saturday at the Grove Playfield with two exciting encounters.

In the feature game, Agricola Red Triangle defeated a game Timehri Panthers 1-0 while the opening game saw a determined Herstelling fight back to earn a draw against Diamond.

Company Secretary of the Continental Group of Companies, Percival Boyce, and the CULT Marketing team witnessed the afternoon’s proceedings.

Both Agricola and Timehri Panthers are new to this level of competition but displayed a high level of determination as they sought to outdo each other urged on by their respective supporters. The balance shifted back and forth with the Timehri boys enjoying the better part of the early exchanges.

But as the game progressed Agricola came into their own, although goals were hard to come by. Excellent goal-keeping by the Timehri Panthers goalie kept Agricola at bay for some time but they were able to eventually crack Timehri’s defence with a well-taken goal late in the second half which turned out to be the winning goal, off the boot of Mario Campbelle.

Opening play between Herstelling and Diamond set the tone for what was anticipated to be an entertaining competition as both teams battled energetically to the end.

A few days ago their respective senior teams, in the Stag Beer division-one league, had battled to a 1-1 draw; so the younger stars (some also played at the senior level) were out to secure a win but unfortunately did not.

Unlike the senior game, Diamond took the early lead nine minutes into the game, Nathaniel Paul rocking the back of the nets with a powerful right foot shot past custodian Quazim Yusuff at the near post, much to the delight of his teammates. It was hard going thereafter for Herstelling with both teams going hard at each other.

Diamond were able to keep Herstelling at bay, not allowing the nippy multi-talented Rickey Debydial any leverage to unleash his quick plays and spot on shots.

With full time approaching, Diamond looked like they were on their way to securing full points but Debydial had different thoughts. While his forward runs were being blocked the closer he got to goal, Debydial decided that he was going to take a shot from some distance.

He received as well-directed pass just inside the area. With the Diamond defenders giving him an opening he decided to shoot on the run which caught goalkeeper David Smith off guard in the 66th minute of the 70-minute encounter.

It was a well thought-out and directed shot that beat the keeper to his right. Prior to the matches, Boyce congratulated the teams for being a part of the tournament and challenged them to be good ambassadors while playing fair and respecting each other.

The players and officials observed a minute’s silence for the late Grove Hi Tech player Delon Barton.

Matches will continue on Saturday with another double-header at the same venue when Soesdyke Falcons come up against Grove Hi Tech at 14:00hrs with the feature game between Kuru Kururu Warriors and Diamond United.

Cult 1st day 035 – Diamond United’s Nathaniel Paul (left, No. 6) blasts this shot past Herstelling goalie Quazim Yusuff in the 9th minute.

In this Sonell-Nelson photo Georgetown and Linden men’s teams battle for supremacy on Saturday night. eventually 59-44.

Hunter was the leading scorer for the Linden team with 16 points, Jacobs had 14 and Shakeila Sampson 13, while for the Georgetown side Ifill had the best score of 13 with Alder getting 12 including two from behind the arc. Laquanta Gibson got seven and I. Joseph six.

The second game began with Georgetown taking an early lead 4-0 before Linden responded to knot the scores

Sugar’ Roberts’ inside hook shot pushed the Lindeners to a 17-11 first-quarter lead in what turned out to be a good night for the homesters.

Pure shooter Williams continued his good shooting on the night and connected on his first shot after the second quarter began , as Linden took a 21-13 lead with 7;48 left and Orin Rose nailed one from beyond the arc as the Linden side continued their crisp play for a

The next Brian Lara? … Trinidadian teen scores incredible 404 not out HAVE the West Indies discovered the new Brian Lara? It might be too early to say, but 14-year-old Kirstan Kallicharan is on the right path, scoring an unbelievable 404 not out in Trinidad.

Captain of the Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 team, Kallicharan posted the mammoth total for school side Vishnu Boys Hindu College, belting his century from only 35 balls.

Kallicharan wasn’t interested in running, hitting a ridiculous 44 fours and 31 sixes.

That’s 362 runs in boundaries.

And what makes it even more remarkable (if 404 not out isn’t enough), the match was 35 overs each; Kallicharan scoring at more than 10 runs per over by himself to Kirstan Kallicharan lead Vishnu to 1-548.

In what must be one of the most one-sided victories in history, Vishnu bowled out opponents Valencia High School for 89 to win by a staggering 459 runs. (CA)

Profitt which ended 31-24 for the mining town side.

Dave Causeway then led the scoring for his team with this big shot from outside as the City team trailed 2731 and Ryan Stephney for Georgetown had his side adrift 35-41 before Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai netted to bring the visitors with a basket 39-41.

But the Linden team quickly regrouped and took the game to their opponents with excellent team work.

By the end of the third quarter they had widened the gap for a ten-point cushion 4939 advantage, as the stanza ended with a 3-pointer from Orin ‘Six-Head’ Rose at the buzzer.

With 5:01 to go in the last quarter and in this final flurry, Linden triumphed by the reliant shooting towards the end from Williams and Rose when it mattered most and came away winning 58-50.

The scoring for Linden was centred on Williams with 13 points, inclusive of three from beyond the arc.

Roberts powered his way to 12 points, and Shane Webster added 10 for the victors. On a night when the Georgetown side were kept quiet, their best scorers were Kanhai with nine points and Travis Burnett and Jermaine Slater eight points each.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Sport Minister urges local cyclists to work as a team

MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony yesterday urged local cyclists to work as a team and not look at individual successes.

The minister made the call while delivering the feature address at the presentation ceremony for the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) 32nd Annual Three-Stage Cycle Road Race which concluded yesterday on Homestretch Avenue.

Addressing cyclists, parents of cyclists and sup-

Please see page 24

DeNobrega wins final leg of Three-Stage road race … but Barbadian Darren Matthews is overall winner

By Michael DaSilva

PAUL DeNobrega rode a well-judged race to win the final stage of the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) 32nd Annual Three-Stage cycle road race, but Barbadian Darren Matthews turned out to be the overall winner of the 175.5-mile event.

After being sent off from Kara Kara Linden yesterday morning, the bunch of 53 starters stuck together for a while with the lead interchanging.

There were several attempted breaks which were not established early in the stage.

However, as the riders approached the entrance to Camp Soweyo on the Linden Highway, Orville Hinds, DeNobrega, Matthews and four others broke from the pack and established a healthy lead which they maintained throughout the stage and from there the leaders interchanged.

Coming down Homestretch Avenue for the finish, DeNobrega outsprinted the bunch to claim first place ahead of Matthews who won the first stage (Corriverton, Berbice to New Amsterdam) and placed second in stage two (Rosignol to Carifesta Avenue). Third yesterday was Hinds.

DeNobrega’s time for 64.5-mile stage was two hours 46 minutes 14 seconds.

Matthews, representing Team Coco, registered an overall time of six hours 53 minutes 18 seconds to win the overall title ahead of Guyana’s Geron Williams who returned six hours 54 minutes 23 seconds for second place overall.

The third spot went to Marlon `Fishy’ Williams who clocked six hours 54 minutes 30 seconds.

Alanzo Greaves finished fourth with a time of six hours 54 minutes 59 seconds and he was followed by Hinds with a

time of six hours 55 minutes 22 seconds. Colombia’s Mauricio Robeiro placed sixth.

The winner of the junior category was Akeem Arthur who clocked six hours 56 minutes 25 seconds. Second was Michael Anthony.

Robin Persaud won the Veterans title ahead of Junior Niles and Stephen Fernandes respectively.

Despite the race being a very competitive one, no records were broken this year as compared to other years.

The current overall record-holder is Yasmani Pol of Team Coco who clocked six hours 44 minutes 55 seconds for the event in 2011.

That year Pol had also registered a record-breaking one hour 38 minutes 31 seconds for the 46.6-mile first stage and another record-breaking two hours 15 minutes 31 seconds for the 60.4-mile second stage.

The third stage (64.5 miles) record is being held by another Team Coco member, Ivan Doniniquez, who clocked two hours 42 minutes 39 seconds in 2012.

Guyana’s Paul DeNobrega (left) raises his had in triumph yesterday as he crosses the finish line to win the third stage of the NSC’s 32nd Annual Three-Stage cycle road race. At right is the overall race champion, Barbadian Darren Matthews of Team Coco, who placed second to DeNobrega yesterday.

Demerara complete Inter-county double with limited overs title win

By Calvin Roberts

The victorious Demerara Under-19 team strike a pose with coach Gavin Nedd (sitting right) and manager Robert ‘Pacer’ Adoni (sitting left), along with chairman of the Junior Selection Committee Nazimul Drepaul and secretary of the GCB Anand Sanasie standing right and left respectively.

FOLLOWING their emphatic triumph in the Guyana Cricket Board Inter-county Under-19 three-day tournament last week, Demerara completed the double by claiming the limited overs version yesterday, with a six-wicket victory over the President’s XI lineup at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

Responding to the President’s XI meagre 148 all out off 43 overs, of which Sunil Singh topscored with 54, Demerara rode on the back of Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s patient and unbeaten 77 (6x4) to score 153 for 4 in

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reply off 48.5 overs and to cart off the title.

Earlier, Singh provided the backbone in a mediocre President’s XI batting display, hitting four boundaries in his 85-ball innings on a slow pitch, after the President’s XI lost Ryan Shun (1) in the second over via lbw to the off-spin of Malcolm Hubbard.

Singh and Damian Waldron orchestrated a recovery from the dodgy start with a second-wicket stand of 51 in 14.4 overs, before Waldron 23 (3x4) played across a quicker delivery from Hubbard and was dismissed lbw, as he played across the line to a quicker delivery from Hubbard.

Just 5.4 overs later, the President’s XI had slipped to 58-3 when Nick Ramsaroop (1) departed, enabling Ronaldo Mohamed (23) and Singh to stage a mini-fight back by adding 40 valuable runs for the fourth wicket, during which Singh posted his half-century off 83 balls with four fours.

However, when Mohamed, who struck Steven Sankar for a six and four, was dismissed by the same bowler, the President’s XI lost momentum, creating relentless pressure on the middle and lower batsmen, as Singh and Avish-

Please see page 24 MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014