Guyana chronicle 20 06 14

GUYANA No. 103864 FRIDAY JUNE 20, 2014

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No dice with AML/CFT Bill...

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President braces nation for the worst PRESIDENT DONALD RAMOTAR

–as Opposition doggedly holds Government to ransom

Manickchand lays historic Finance Minister 8 Education Bill in National tables Paper whole Education Bill since to 2 Assembly First Guyana gained Independence restore * provides for modern education system and to meet needs of students of all ages $4.6B and abilities * caters for de-centralised education cut system of management * mandates establishment of National from Advisory Committee on Education * regularises the operations of private Budget schools which must now have permit, Page

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FINANCE Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

be registered

* comply with standards

Ms. Priya Manickchand, Minister of Education

* prescribes severe penalties for assault and abuse of teachers by parents and students * makes education compulsory from nursery to secondary

Guyana misses chance to exit blacklisting trap

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Manickchand lays historic Education Bill in National –First whole Education Bill since Assembly Guyana gained Independence

By Vanessa Narine

A PROPOSED Education Bill, the first of its kind since Guyana gained independence, according to subject Minister, Dr. Priya Manickchand, was tabled in the National Assembly yesterday, and read for the first time.

The current Education Act being utilised in Guyana came into being since 1876, and was last amended sometime in 1976. The proposed Bill, on the other hand, is intended to repeal the Education Act; reform the legal framework for education in Guyana; and provide an effective system of education related to the needs of the people.

The 126-page Bill includes legislative provisions for several first-time undertakings, and addresses several areas, ranging from administration of the

sector, to special-needs education. And with regards to the latter, the Bill outlines the determination of special educational needs, special needs appeals, and the establishment of a council on special education.

SPECIAL-NEEDS EDUCATION According to the Bill, the Chief Education Officer shall provide a special education programme for any student of compulsory school age, and may provide education for a student beyond that age, who, by virtue of intellectual, communicative, behavioral, physical or multiple attributes or other conditions, is in need of special education.

It says, “A student who is entitled to a special education programme shall have the programme delivered in the least restric-

tive and most enabling environment that resources permit, and that is considered practicable by the Chief Education Officer in consultation with the principal and professional staff of the school and the student’s parents, having regard to the educational See page 11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

No dice with AML/CFT Bill...

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President braces nation for the worst –as Opposition doggedly holds Government to ransom

WITH the Parliamentary Opposition refusing to come to a compromise on passage of the Anti-Moneylaundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, so as to spare Guyana the ignomy of being the black-sheep of the international financial community, President Donald Ramotar yesterday took to the airwaves to bring the nation up to speed on the issue, and to crave their understanding that he’s done all he could to prevent our beloved country from coming to such a pass, and would continue doing so, come what may.

THE following is the full text of his address: “My Fellow Guyanese, “I have decided to address you today on an issue that has been occupying the nation’s attention for more than a year now.

“As you are aware, the government laid in the National Assembly the AML/CFT Bill in April of 2013. This Bill, as was stated before, came out of an international process.

I thought that because of the nature of the Bill and the serious consequences that can follow from the National Assembly not passing the Bill, that it would have passed unanimously and easily through the National Assembly.

“That, unfortunately, was not to be. The Bill was sent to a Special Select Committee by the joint Opposition, on the grounds that they had amendments to make. From April to November that year, they made no proposals for any change.

“The Bill was then taken back to the National Assembly in November of 2013, just before the CFATF meeting.

This was done because that regional body had confirmed that the Bill met the requirements of that body.

“Unfortunately, on November 7, 2013, the Joint Opposition voted against it. The Bill once again went back to the National Assembly on November 19, 2013. The Joint Opposition again sent it to a Special Select Committee.

“From December 2013 to February 7, 2014, they made no proposals for amending the Bill. It was not until Sunday, February 8, at 9 pm in the night, that they proposed some amendments.

“The amendments they proposed made the Bill non-compliant with CFATF standards. This was not only the government’s position, but was later confirmed by CFATF assessor, Mr. Roger Hernandez when he was invited to address the Select Committee.

“Despite knowing this, the Opposition continued to hold on to their amendments. Moreover, they also put conditions, including that the President should sign all

Bills passed by the National Assembly, and that the Government must agree to a Public Procurement Commission, without the issue of Government’s concern of maintaining Cabinet’s role of granting its no-objection to all contracts above $15M (GYD).

“On Friday last, June 13, 2014, Gail Teixeira, Chairperson of the Special Select Committee tried to summon a meeting of the Committee in an attempt to have an anti-money laundering legislation passed in the National Assembly before the FATF meeting on June 23, 2014 in Paris.

Her efforts were re-buffed by the Opposition members.

“On Monday, I spoke to the Leader of the Opposition, urging him to have the members of his side attend the Parliamentary Special Select Committee meeting to be held on the same day or the next day. I even told him that if he could not get a meeting for Monday, then they should meet on Tuesday.

“I told him that I was willing to excuse the four (4) Government members sitting on the Special Select Committee from attending the Cabinet Meeting of Tuesday, June 17, 2014, so that they could meet.

“On Tuesday night, contact was made with the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, informing him that the Leader of the Opposition wanted to meet with me soonest.

“On Wednesday morning, I called the Leader of the Opposition, and he asked that we meet at 5 pm on the same day. I met with the Leader of the Opposition on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, and I proposed to him that the Government was willing to pass the Bill with the Opposition’s amendments, even though we felt it was non-compliant, and even though we did not agree with it that we would vote for it so that we can have a Bill before the FATF meeting later in June, 2014.

“I also proposed to him that if CFATF and FATF were to find that the Bill had non-compliant provisions, that the Opposition would support amending the Bill accordingly.

“I also proposed that because of the urgency of the matter, that the Opposition would not link my offer to pass their Bill to their other demands: (1) My assent of all Bills passed by National Assembly; and (2) my support for the Public Procurement Commission being established without Cabinet retaining its role in granting no-objection to awards above $15M (GYD). The Opposition Leader declined my offer.

“Fellow Guyanese, “We have worked hard to get the Legislation through, because we believe that the consequences could be very serious for our people. We said before that it was a patriotic duty to have this Bill passed, and spare you the Guyanese people the negative consequences of not doing so.

“Unfortunately, the Opposition seems to have put more importance on its own narrow political, Party agenda before the welfare and interest of our people.

“Compatriots, I wish to assure you that we would continue to do all we can to protect our nation’s interests. Regrettably, this is now being made much more difficult because of the clear unpatriotic stance taken by the Opposition, APNU.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

NICIL clears the air on ‘China Railway’ land arrangement NICIL’s response: “We wish to refer to a report in the Kaieteur News of 4th May, 2014, questioning the transfer of 1 acre of land at Lillendaal from NICIL to China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc. (CRFG). We are pleased to provide the facts on this matter.

In early 2013, on the expectation of the Amaila Falls project starting in late 2013, negotiations were held with CRFG on key matters related to the start of the project that resulted in two pieces of land being committed to CRFG. The key matters that were negotiated with CRFG related to:

THE National Industrial & Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) yesterday issued a statement detailing an arrangement between itself and the China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc. (CRFG) over a one-acre plot of land at Liliendaal, on the East Cost Demerara.

The statement is in response to a Kaieteur News article on May 4, querying the arrangement. The following is the full text of

* Engineering, Procurement and Construction

(EPC) Contract Price Validity: the price on the contract with CRFG executed in September 2012 expired in June of 2013; in early 2013, given the expected delay of postponing Financial Close until the latter part of 2013, it was necessary to have the EPC price extended.

* Access Road: Completion of the access road was a pre-requisite to starting construction of the main project; local contractors were unlikely to complete the most difficult section of the road (Section 7) in 2013 and it was, therefore, considered prudent to engage CRFG to complete the road, but at a reduced price to their tender.

CRFG was already identified as the contractor for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, and established as a much more experienced contractor. The satisfactory completion of the road was, also, at the time, a critical component in meeting the deadlines specified for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

In the first quarter of 2013, the CRFG agreed to the following terms, approved by Cabinet, for the construction of Section 7 of the road and extension of their price validity on the EPC contract:

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* A reduction of the amount of its original bid of US$11.2M to a cash contract price of US$8.5M. * The transfer, by way of Deed of Gift, from government of 2 lots of land --1 acre at Lillendaal (completed) and 7.5 acres at Friendship (in the process of being transferred). The CRFG would use the land at Lillendaal for building their Head Office and the land at Friendship for a materials marshalling yard. * A fixed price contract in preference to a measured works contract. * The CRFG would extend the price validity of its Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Agreement for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project from June 2013 to December 2013. (Ongoing negotiations for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project have resulted in the extension of the EPC price validity being extended to October 2014.)

The award of the contract to CRFG for Section 7 was a public record with funding approved by Parliament in 2013. In fact, as part of the engagement with the opposition on the Amaila Falls Project, opposition members were afforded the opportunity to inspect the

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progress of the road.

It will be recalled that the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, in March 2014, in responding in the National Assembly to questions asked

by APNU Parliamentarian, Mr. Carl B. Greenidge, on the cost of the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) access road,reported that on the termination of the original contract with Synergy Holdings Inc. by the government, represented by the Ministry of Public Works and the National Industrial & Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL), the scope and specifications of the road were revised and amended with respect to negotiations ongoing with the CRFG. The Minister noted that new and separate contracts were awarded for sections of this road to be constructed under separate tenders. The contract for Section 7 of the road was awarded to H.N Pasha Construction as the lowest bidder. This contract was, however, terminated

in April 2013 because of its slow rate of progress by the contractor and on 19th April, 2013, the Ministry of Public Works awarded the contract for the construction of Section 7 to the China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc. (CRFG), the second lowest bidder.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, in the course of the recent Budget debate, noted that the government and all of the parties concerned in the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the China Development Bank (CDB), China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc. (CRFG), Blackstone and Sithe Global groups, continue to remain engaged in the Project. He advised the Assembly that the government anticipates the imminent completion of the IDBs due diligence of the Project and its consideration by the Bank’s Executive Board by the third quarter of this year.”

U.S. cancels military exercise in Uganda over homosexuality law (Reuters) - THE United States on Thursday canceled a regional military exercise in Uganda, imposed visa restrictions, diverted funds for a health institute to another country and cut funding for a Ugandan police program in response to a law that imposes harsh penalties for homosexuality.

Senior U.S. administration officials, speaking before the announcement by the White House, said the stepped up measures were carefully targeted at those responsible

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for abuses related to implementation of the anti-gay law and involved in corruption.

The officials said the steps would not directly impact HIV/AIDS and food programs that benefit ordinary Ugandans.

“The idea is to send a signal to perpetrators and would-be perpetrators that we are indeed monitoring, that we are indeed prepared to take measures, and that there are consequences,” a senior administration official told Reuters.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Chikungunya virus spreads through Caribbean to Cuba (BBC News) HEALTH authorities in Cuba have confirmed six cases of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus on the island.

Cuba is the latest Caribbean nation to confirm cases of the virus, which resembles dengue fever and can cause high fever, skin rash and joint pain.

According to the Pan American Health Organization, there had been 4,600 confirmed and 166,000 suspected cases in the Caribbean as of mid-June.

There is currently no vaccine or treatment for chikungunya.

The Cuban health ministry said those affected had

Fumigating the mosquitoes which spread the virus is one of the ways of slowing its spread recently travelled to Haiti or The Dominican Republic, where thousands of people have reported suffering from

the severe headaches, high fever and intense joint pain symptomatic for the virus.

Officials said they

would “strengthen surveillance and control measures of travellers arriving from countries at risk of the disease, mainly in the Caribbean”.

The virus has long been present in Africa and Asia but it was only detected in the Caribbean in December.

O n We d n e s d a y, t h e Central American nation of El Salvador put seven municipalities on alert after its first cases were confirmed.

The virus is also spreading quickly in The Dominican Republic and Haiti, and there have been confirmed cases in most of the Caribbean island states.

Mexico drugs war: Mass grave found in Verazcruz (BBC News) THE authorities in Mexico have found more than 30 bodies in a mass grave in the eastern state of Veracruz.

There is no word on the cause of deaths and officials have warned that the number of corpses could rise.

The region has seen fierce fighting between rival drug gangs.

Thousands of Central American migrants pass through the state each year, heading to the US. Drug-related violence in Mexico has left more than 85,000 people dead since 2007.

Drug-related violence has left more than 85,000 people dead in Mexico since 2007 A military official said the grave contained the bodies of 24 men and seven women. Earlier, prosecutors had put the figure at 28 bodies.

The grave was found after an anonymous call at a farm near the border with Oaxaca state.

Marines are guarding the area as investigators try to re-

cover more bodies, and start the process of identifying those already unearthed.

In recent years, Mexican authorities have discovered several mass graves with hundreds of corpses of victims of the drug gangs who fight for control of territories useful to their trade.

The Gulf Cartel and the Zetas gang have been battling over the state of Veracruz.

Some mass graves have also been filled with the bodies of migrants killed after refusing to join the gangs.

Minister on death of girl, 4: T&T needs prayers (Trinidad Guardian) THE tragic end of fouryear-old Kimora Millette, who died in a fire on Tuesday, shows the need for collective prayers, says Minister in the Ministry of the People and Social Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin. After a visit to the infant’s family home at Betsy Street, La Romaine, yesterday, Alleyne-Toppin said Kimora’s death was one that she would never forget. Dispelling rumours on social media that there was something spiritual claiming the lives of children, Alleyne-Toppin said sometimes unexplainable incidents occur.

“It is very unfortunate, very sad and you never know, therefore we say it is by the grace of God. I never know what will happen because I was brought up to say ‘God is in charge.’ “We cannot understand why some things happen, we just have to find a way to find peace in the promise of our Saviour. “I have gone to so many of these for the past two months and it is to me, something that tears my heart but I cannot attribute it to any other factor.

“I can say, however, that we must pray and however much you can pray and however vigilant you can be, sometimes things come and we do not understand,” Alleyne Toppin said. She said despite the spate of child deaths, she believed T&T was a prayerful nation for if it was not no one could tell what would have happened. She said her visit came as an order by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the Government sympathised with family members during their grief.

After learning of Kimora’s death Monday night, she said she was determined to provide support for the family. Two counsellors accompanied her to the home where she met the girl’s parents—Ronan Millette and Marsha Carabana—and other relatives to provide bereavement counselling.

Alleyne-Toppin said her ministry was providing meals for Kimora’s wake and financial support for the funeral. Even the room that was destroyed by fire would be restored by the National Social Development Programme (NSDP), she said. “We also are going to use our NSDP to refurbish the burnt-out room and to make it look as bright as possible and to bring back a good feeling.

“Whatever we can do from the Ministry of the People, with respect to replacing books and uniforms and all of those things... furniture, furnishing and appliances... whatever was lost in the fire, we will do.” As preparations were being made for her funeral at 2 pm on Saturday, Kimora’s home was filled with relatives and friends expressing condolences to the family. Carabana, who became ill after learning of the child’s death, said it was too much grief to speak of the death.

Kimora’s death came shortly after 8 am as she and her twin sister, Kiara, were in a bedroom watching television. They were awaiting their school bus to take them to their Head Start Pre-school at Pond Street. Police said as their grandmother, Brenda Millette, tended to a customer at their parlour, Kiara ran out the room and alerted them of the fire.

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Enforcement of laws needed …or women will continue to be abused ABUSE of women has assumed pandemic proportions in Guyana; but the Government has driven and instituted many laws and amendments to extant laws that address many of the issues.

Yet every day there are stories arresting the attention of the populace where the abuse continues unabated, even to the point of murder.

What is distressing, however, is the callous attitude adopted by the guardians of the law toward women who have suffered at the hands of their spouses in a multiplicity of ways, and one calls to mind a letter in the media relating where one person, on personal business at a police station, witnessed first-hand the dismissive way a police rank treated a woman who had gone to make a report about being abused.

Many times, even when victims have garnered courage to take the perpetrator to court, they cannot receive justice, either because the abuser has powerful connections, or enough money to purchase the justice system.

The following was posted on a social site: “Madodrie Beharry” I don’t know if my situation has far past the time to seek public help, as it has already gone in the legal hands, but I am still looking forward for any kind of advice at this point. No matter how much I try to think positive, I still live in constant fear. I was married according to Hindu rites (not legally) to my husband of 18 years; but three years ago, I walked out of the marriage. We have three children together, two of which are adults and the last boy is now 16 years old. My ‘ex-husband’ still operates a ‘rum shop’ at No. 60 Village, Corentyne, where we spent all the years of ‘marriage’. I can never relate all the many forms of abuse I suffered at the hands of this man.

To relate a few - (1) Physical beating is a norm which leaves me black and blue - too many times to count. (2) Daily insults that I come from nowhere - my parents from Black Bush and they are nothing, my sisters are wh.......

(3) Since my marriage all shopping for the home and moreso for myself and children during my pregnancy, and even with babies, he does all purchasing, because, according to him, I am not smart enough and he can’t trust me with his money. Imagine he sends his sister to buy me pregnant dresses and all baby stuff. (4) There were many incidents which are too numerous to mention which took place because his parents, and brother and family lived

next door, which further added to my misery as his mother was a regular visitor to our home. I need not explain the rest. It was as if I were serving a jail sentence. (5) This is what really topped it off, when my father was critical and subsequently died. I am the eldest; my parents lived three villages away and I couldn’t go to visit my ailing father and render support. On the day he died, my husband objected to me going to support my grieving mother. Of course this was too much as I went without his permission. He sent ‘spies’ to see if it was true that my father died. He didn’t attend the funeral, neither did he send any of my children to their grandfather’s funeral. With the many upheavals, fights, police reports, I ended up in court one time. I eventually made a bold decision and left him and went to live with my mother. For three years I am still trying to accept my fate, I took nothing with me so I am literally existing through my mother for these past three years. My children used to talk to me if I called or saw them anywhere, but recently if they told him that I spoke to them, he would call me and verbally abuse me; if my mother answered the phone she got it too.

Few weeks ago, to my great shock, he summoned me to court to finance the upkeep of my children. The magistrate gave me two weeks to find a job and go back to court. I tried looking for employment, have good promises but will have to wait for a while. By the way, I didn’t finish school when I got married, so it’s no easy job to find a job. I do see the need to work so I am looking forward for the time when I will be earning my own money. I don’t know legally where I stand in a case like this. This man doesn’t want my children to have any communication with me. He states that he doesn’t ever want me back, but he went to this domestic violence place at Skeldon, where he was advised to seek legal action for child support. I am the one being abused by this man my whole 18 years. I have nothing to show, save and except a few pieces of clothes which my sister would send now and again. I spent near three years trying to recover from the trauma of my life with him and only recently when I started visiting one of my ex-teachers who operates a small boutique in Skeldon, that I started to feel a bit better and feel like picking up back my life and leaving the past.

He saw me there when he passed, and once he came and abused me in front of the business place. The saddest part is, this man projects a very decent outgoing personality to the public. Nobody who knows him - by the way he is a very popular character in many reputable places - would believe

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Guyana

EDITORIAL that this man behaves like this to his wife. By the way, he is also a very dedicated father, and has always been dedicated to our children. It would be beyond anyone’s imagination because he speaks well, makes speeches at public places, he is in many organizations, etc. This man has left me with the scar of abuse which can never be removed. I have evidence of the abuse I suffered at the hands of this man. Now that I am finally pulling myself together, he steps in and takes me to court for child support. I am asking you folks to advise me on this matter on what steps I can take in a case like this. I do know that if I can afford to, I would be happy to assist with my children, but right now, I am in no position to do so. What can I do? I have to go back to court in one week. The very place that runs the domestic violence place which I should be seeking help from, this said place has advised this abuser to take me to court for child support. By the way, the property which houses the domestic violence place is owned by the magistrate who is presiding over this matter and if I am not mistaken, he is also a part of this domestic violence programme.

This newspaper is not endorsing the post; but surely such accusations deserve investigating from the authorities?

How could a woman, deprived of all her rights, be further deprived of her children? Why does a woman, who slaved for almost two decades without any rights, joys, or material benefits to enable a man to accrue wealth, be deprived of her right, according to recently-passed legislation, to equal parts of the conjugal property?

And why does a magistrate uphold the abuser’s suit and further heap injustice on the woman?

If there is merit to the foregoing accusations, then surely the authorities need to investigate this case and accord justice, and if the magistrate has shown partiality and been unjust in her ruling, then surely shouldn’t she/he be exposed and/or sanctioned?

There is a multiplicity of stories like these and legislations on paper mean nothing without enforcement of enacted laws; and until and unless urgent and immediate steps are taken to give these victims a real voice, with the power of the law behind them, the paper on which the laws are written may just as well remain blank.

Does the DPP need a witness for this case?

DOES the DPP really need a witness to fully secure a conviction for those who confessed to criminal acts without a shadow of doubt?

I was talking with a friend of mine in Guyana, who is a total stranger to any of these people, who cried every time she sees this news. She told me her son is of the same age as the murdered boy and the boys that killed him, and that she is afraid to buy him (her son) a car.

I told her exactly what is on my mind – that is if there are no “buyers”, then there would be no “sellers”, therefore no killing him (her son) for his car.

I told her that there might be a possibility that these two young murderers may go free because the DPP wants the main mastermind - the “buyer”, to testify for her against these two already “confessed” killers. If these killers get great le-

gal minds to fight their case, they will win.

She (my friend) said if she could get a chance to leave Guyana, a country she loves dearly, she would move her family and never return. This is what Guyana’s officials do to its citizens.

TED KING

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

No PSSC EU joins Opposition to Report sabotage EU/FLEGT Voluntary presented Partnership Agreement to National Assembly

KINDLY permit me to refer to Guyana’s European Union (EU) Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process.

Guyana is currently engaged with the EU by way of consultations and negotiations so as to arrive at a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) based on FLEGT and known as Guyana’s EU FLEGT VPA by September, 2015.

The EU FLEGT basically is an initiative which seeks to stop illegal lumber from entering the European Union, thereby promoting sustainable forest management in exporting countries such as Guyana.

So with a signed voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) with the EU by September, 2015, Guyana will have open access to the European markets for legally produced timber. It must be noted that the European market is growing, and moreso for timber that is legally harvested and where this legality can be established.

The EU FLEGT is a requirement for Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), according to the joint concept note (JCN) between Guyana and Norway; and so far, since 2009, there are ongoing consultations with relevant Stakeholders of Guyana’s Forest Sector, including Guyana’s Indigenous peoples, consistent with Guyana’s EU FLEGT roadmap.

The EU FLEGT can play an important role in Guyana’s LCDS, since it is about stopping forest destruction and promoting sustainable forest management in the fight against global climate change.

But what is currently disgraceful and counter-productive to Guyana’s EU FLEGT process is the granting of 150 thousand Euros to the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) by Guyana’s EU office to purposely sabotage Guyana’s EU FLEGT process under the pretext of “Indigenous Rights.” In this regard, the APA claims that it will be holding “EU FLEGT Workshops” in Amerindian communities to ‘educate’ Amerindians on the EU FLEGT process. But since the APA is known to be hostile to Guyana’s LCDS and the EU FLEGT is a requirement of the LCDS, it is clear that the APA will be using the 150 thousand Euros to mislead Guyana’s indigenous peoples about

Guyana’s EU FLEGT process, so as not to give their support, thereby helping to contribute to Guyana’s LCDS failure. So let me make it quite clear that should the APA be a hindrance to Guyana’s current EU FLEGT process, paid for by Guyana’s EU office, the alternative should be the withdrawal from the EU FLEGT process by the Government of Guyana.

On the 13th, 14th & 15th of June, 2014, the APA held its first “EU FLEGT Workshop” in the Barabina Community of the Mabaruma Sub-Region of Region 1 (Barima/Waini) and, according to information gathered, lots of mis-information and irrelevancies were delivered by the APA presenters, which were not consistent with Guyana’s EU FLEGT roadmap.

For instance, what do land titling and the need for redrafting the Amerindian Act 2006, thereby implying that Amerindians will not be allowed to do logging, have to do with the current EU FLEGT process? Is the Guyana EU office, through the APA, helping to promote erroneous information about the goal of the EU FLEGT process and indirectly supporting the evils of forest destruction in Guyana’s Amerindian communities? Fortunately, experts from the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MOAA) attended the APA’s “EU FLEGT Workshop” and they corrected the misinformation that was delivered to the workshop participants. This means that the APA’s remaining workshops must be attended by the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) which overlooks the activities of the EU FLEGT process in Guyana.

Finally, the National Toshaos Council (NTC) and the Guyana Forest Products Association (GFPA), two key Forest Sector bodies which were refused funding by the Guyana EU office for EU FLEGT awareness activities, including other Non-Governmental Organisations, need to vigorously condemn the unfairness of the Guyana EU office in granting funding for the EU FLEGT awareness activities in Guyana.

PETER PERSAUD

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––Guyana misses chance to exit blacklisting trap

By Telesha Ramnarine THE “sad reality” of yesterday’s sitting of the National Assembly is that it was not graced with a report from the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) that is considering the amended anti-money laundering Bill.

Hence, any expectations of a Bill that could be enacted, that could be assented to at this or subsequent sittings, has essentially been lost, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon observed Wednesday.

Speaking at his usual post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President in Georgetown, Luncheon said that for Guyana, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-compliant anti-money laundering legislation “is a must” to exit the blacklisting trap that Guyana currently is in.

Luncheon said efforts by the government to get the PSSC as an instrument of the parliamentary politDr Roger Luncheon ical parties to timely consider newer perspectives appear “unavailing.”

The government has been attempting to engage with newer initiatives and the necessary engagement meetings have yet to take place. What is significant about that loss is for whatever worth it provided, a CFATF/FATF legislation taken to the FATF plenary that is occurring next week and the opportunity of Guyana appearing with CFATF legislation, is also lost.

“It goes without saying that whatever it was worth, that loss is going to confirm, it is going to contribute to a heightening of the blacklisting of Guyana and its financial sector.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Finance Minister tables Paper to restore $4.6B cut from Budget

By Vanessa Narine

FINANCE Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, yesterday in the National Assembly tabled a Statement of Excess on the current and capital estimates in a $4.6B Financial Paper, the first such document for 2014.

The paper is a first in a series of papers expected to be brought before the House in a move to restore critically important funds cut from the $220B Budget for 2014.

Included in the $4.6B Paper is the full return of $6.1B to the Office of the President. The allocation, for current expenditures, included monies for the Government Information Agency (GINA) and the National Communications Network (NCN). Also, the sum of $450M has been returned to the President’s office for capital expenditures under the Administrative Services category.

A portion of the capital expenditures under the Ministry of Finance’s policy and administration has also been returned, and includes $424M for the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) programmes; $225M for the University of Guyana’s student loan funds;

and $67M for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The Amerindian Development Fund’s $303M allocation has been returned to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, as has the $359.8M for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA)’s expansion project.

The Minister’s move was premised on his reliance on the constitutional grounds and rulings of the Court to initiate, as of today, an exercise to restore funds from the 2014 National Budget that were voted down by the combined Opposition in the National Assembly.

RECURRENT Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, on Wednesday told the media that the restoration exercise will be a recurrent one that will take until the end of the year.

Noting that every act of restoration by the minister carries with it a constitutional obligation for its timely presentation to Parliament, Dr Luncheon said that the minister is not constrained to a single act in his restoration functions, abilities, powers and authorities.

Said he: “The reference to constitutional and the court rulings should not

be a novelty. The Constitution specifically addresses expenditure and shortages; inadequacy for agencies in

year.

“It is clear that the Constitutional Court has ruled on this subject; and

aid, among other initiatives; $10M for the Office of the First Lady; $73.5M for the Guyana Energy Agency;

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh in Parliament yesterday discharging their work programme in any fiscal year.

And the Constitution does offer remedies that we have collectively termed restoration.

“But of course, it carries with it the specifics of the constitutional remedies; and that is to say that restoration indeed refers to a range of constitutional remedies to provide for expenditure that has not been appropriated in any fiscal

it is equally clear that the Constitutional Court rulings have been used by this Administration, by the Finance Minister, to undo the unconstitutional acts that have been perpetrated by the Opposition.”

Under the allocation for the Office of the President, the cuts include: $245M for the Presidential Guard services; $95M for the provision of developmental and humanitarian

$119M for the Guyana Office for Investment (GoInvest); $122M for the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST); $17M for the Integrity Commission; and $28.5M for the Office of the Commissioner of Information.

The other cuts include: $18.5B for the LCDS initiatives; $450M for loans for University of Guyana students; $725M for the poverty alleviation programme;

$7M for the different rights commissions; $795M for the Basic Needs Trust Fund; and $4M for support to non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

The following programmes were also decimated: The Specialty Hospital, $910M; upgrading of regional and district hospitals, including Port Kaituma, Kwakwani, Linden, Bartica, Eye Surgery Operating Room at Linden etc, $360M; ambulances, ATVs and boats, $42M; surgical equipment and instruments, $32M; the Amerindian Development Fund, $1.1B; other Amerindian programmes, such as ATVs, tractors etc., $40M; the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) modernisation project, $6.6B; Civil Aviation, $50M; and hinterland airstrips, $185M. In total, a whopping $37.4B was cut from this year’s Budget, making it the third consecutive year of cuts under President Donald Ramotar’s administration, the largest reduction in the estimates since the commencement of the 10th Parliament.

The tabled Financial Paper is expected to be considered at the next sitting of the National Assembly.

Disbursement mechanism for education grant being finalised

By Vanessa Narine EDUCATION Minister, Dr. Priya Manickchand, yesterday told the National Assembly that the mechanism for the disbursement of the $10,000 education grant for all students in the public school system is being finalised.

The disclosure was in response to a question from Shadow Education Minister, Amna Ally, as to what mechanism will be employed by the Ministry of Education to disburse the $10,000 per child, as has been promised in Budget 2014, and when will the monies be disbursed.

Minister Manickchand

replied that the monies will most likely be disbursed at the beginning of the Christmas Term, or even during this same term, so as to ensure that students on roll, and newly registered ones are captured in the roll-out of the disbursement.

She said that consultations are ongoing with parents, teachers and other stakeholders so as to decide on the best mechanisms for disbursement.

Minister Manickchand assured the House that Members of Parliament (MPs) will be kept abreast of what mechanism of disbursement has been finally agreed upon, which is both efficient and effective.

More than 188,000 stu-

dents, she said, are expected to benefit from the grant, including over 3,000 additional nursery school students, given the change in the entry age from three years, nine months to three years, six months.

She surmised that the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, may have to return to the House for a supplementary provision to cater for the increased number of children expected to be enrolled in the public school system, once the new school year commences.

Additionally, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP, Vanessa Kissoon, has suggested that the voucher system, which is used to offer uniform

assistance for students, be employed to efficiently undertake the disbursement of the education grant.

The grant was approved by the National Assembly in April, during the 2014 Budget debates, and was one of several measures announced by the Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, to contribute to the improvement of the lives of the Guyanese people. The provision caters for each nursery, primary and secondary school child in Guyana.

After the announcement of the financial support, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, in April said that Cabinet is currently exploring ways through

which the $10,000 per child cash grant can be disbursed.

“The main focus is access…whether the access would be unfettered, essentially open-ended, and the parents have absolute discretion…,” the HPS had said at the time.

He said too that Cabinet was also looking at ways through which this disbursement could contribute to a cashless transaction, or at least promote the development of financial services in Guyana.

The Ministries of Finance and Education and entrepreneurs alike have all recognised that handling disbursements in a cashless manner can help improve the financial sector.

According to Dr. Luncheon, ‘cashless’ does not involve an actual cash transfer; instead, a voucher can be given to the parents as is done in the uniform assistance programme, whereby specific items of clothing and other school requirements can be purchased.

The other possibility is not exactly cashless, he noted, in that public officers could receive this grant, along with their salaries and other emoluments, which are deposited in Bank accounts.

T h e p ro p o s e d c a s h grant initiative will benefit approximately 188,406 families, and will cost the government a total of $2B.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana ...

A series exposing Hamilton Green’s evolving position at the helm of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council

Mayor Green has forgotten that he once blamed the state of Georgetown on the PNCR …and praised the PPP/C Government for their support towards the M&CC OLD KAI was not surprised that Mayor Hamilton Green has sought to put 100% blame on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government for the present state of our capital city, while responding to President Donald Ramotar’s recent observation that City Hall has become a ‘disaster’. Over the past few years, successive PPP/C administrations and leaders have become his ‘get out of jail’ excuse for the present state of our Capital City under his watch.

I cannot recall any point during his tenure where Mayor Green has ever sought to take responsibility for issues in the City, rather someone or something else is always to be blamed.

Now it is the Town Clerk, Carol Sooba, and the PPP/C Government. Previously it was Town Clerk, Yvonne Pluck, and before her it was Town Clerk, Buelah Williams, and before her it was his current ally, Royston King, and before him it was basically everyone in the City Council, and before and during this period it was the PNCR, now APNU. You do not believe Old Kai? Well before Hammie rushes to sue Old Kai again, he may want to sit down for this bit of revelation.

Once upon a time, a bit over 10 years ago, it was no less than PNC/R General Secretary, Oscar

Clarke, who had described the competence of Mayor Green in a Stabroek News article of March, 2003, “I don’t think Green’s leadership on the Council has been exemplary.” Why? Because Green has “had very bad relationships with the most senior members of the council,” Clarke stated. He said that his relationship with “the Town Clerk, with the City Engineer, with everybody has always been topsy turvy.”

Further, Clarke contended, “If you are the leader and you have such a terrible relationship with the top administrators, how could you get their support? It can’t be that all of them are bad. Something got to be wrong with you.” As a friend and colleague, he said, he has advised Green to examine himself.

Readers will have to decide if the goodly Mayor took the advice of his PNCR colleague seriously when considering his attitude towards the current Town Clerk, Ms. Sooba.

It does not end there, as back then, Mayor Green not only sought to blame officials at the M&CC, but specifically his current ally, the PNC/R, for the state of our City. The Stabroek News article noted that from the outset, Green said, the councillors from the opposition parties “seem to be opposing some of what I wanted to do.”

Old Kai will encourage Mayor Green to sit on the floor for this next revelation as there is a strong possibility he may fall off his chair. Currently, he never

‘Value-chain approach’ essential for agricultural development

- Dr. Ramsammy

By Clifford Stanley MINISTER of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has urged the adoption of a value-chain approach to agricultural development in Guyana, saying that the absence of such an approach can lead to frustration and impoverishment rather than the development of the sector.

(The term ‘agricultural value chain’ normally refers to the whole range of goods and services necessary for an agricultural product to move from the farm to the final customer or consumer).

Minister Ramsammy said that organisation of a value chain approach was necessary as it would take into consideration every factor impacting on the ability of farmers to

access markets profitably.

He made the comments recently while delivering an address to the annual accountability seminar of the local body of the Inter- American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA).

Listing some negative impacts from the absence of the value chain approach, Dr. Ramsammy said that in recent days he has had calls from several farmers who didn’t know what to do with the plantains they are producing because the local market for fresh plantain is overwhelmed and their prices have collapsed.

This had happened because of the lack of attention to the whole range of activities and services necessary for plantains to move from the farm to the final consumer- the value chain approach.

He further said: “I get calls for agricultural produce but Guyana even with the rich resources that we have

misses an opportunity to lambaste the PPP/C for never supporting him in his position of Mayor or the Council for that matter. He has accused the Government of constantly trying to undermine the M&CC, but this was not always the case.

Rather, 11 years ago, he was full of praise for the PPP/C administration and especially for their support towards improving Georgetown.

We are told by the Stabroek News article that Mayor Green said that apart from the cooperation he got from the President and the Ministers, “beyond that it is frightening,” adding that politics had conspired against him “in the sense that the PNC, under former PNCR Leader, Desmond Hoyte, did not want me (Green) to be a successful mayor.”

He contended that the PNC worked very closely with these senior officers of the Council who have been carrying out a campaign to discredit him.

So there you have it; in 2003, Mayor Green had laid the blame for the state of the Capital City squarely at the feet of the PNC/R, now APNU, but now he has teamed up with these very people, apparently suffering from a memory failure, and is seeking to shift this blame to the PPP/C. (More damning exposures will follow in the next episode which will be featured in the Monday edition of the Guyana Chronicle.)

sometimes cannot respond to the calls . So when I get a call for 100 tons of plantain flour we don’t have it right now to meet the demand; when I get a call for 32,000 litres of coconut water every month to supply a super market chain in Europe, we don’t have that amount to meet the demand.”

He said that due to the absence of this approach to agricultural development it was a scandal that some hinterland communities grow cassava and get yields that are a mere fraction of what was possible even after interventions by some agricultural development organisations.

He said that all the talk about increased productivity on a particular product is idle talk unless productivity is seen as part of a value chain for that product.

He commended IICA for consistently working with the Ministry of Agriculture in adding value to the agriculture sector with the development of these chains.

He said that this approach to agricultural development required a broader range of interventions from other donor organisations.

He urged these development organisations to re-examine what they are doing and, if they are not already doing so, to focus much more on the development and enhancement of agricultural value chains in their assistance programmes than they currently do.

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N/A Multilateral hosts inaugural school-leaving ceremony

By Michael Khan THE New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) once again led by example as the premier learning institution in Berbice when it hosted an inaugural exercise in the form of a school leaving ceremony for the class of 2014.

A section of the outgoing class of 2014

The innovative event was held Wednesday in honour of 181 students who recently sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

The 2009-2014 batch of 235 pupils is the largest intake in the history of the school so far. However, 54 of them did not complete the five-year programme at the institution.

Guest speaker at the history-making event was former headmaster Elton Lewis who congratulated those who made it through to the CSEC level and reminded them that the learning process is yet to be completed.

“In school, you are taught a lesson then given a test; in life you are given a test that teaches you a lesson.” He added, “This is a proud moment not only for you but for the stakeholders in the education process.”

The retired educator also stressed the need for further investment in the education sector, and quoted U.S. President Barack Obama who said, “We have an obligation and responsibility to pay emphasis in our students and schools; we must make sure that the people who have the grace, desire and the will, but not the money -- can still get the best education possible.”

MEMORABLE HISTORY Deputy headmistress of NAMS, Shaundel Phillips, in her remarks to a gathering of parents, invitees, teachers and students, noted that the class of 2014 is a batch with a memorable history.

“We know the journey was challenging, we have had our moments where we were up, in the center and moments when we were close to the bottom but never fell,” she recalled.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Mrs. Gloria Beharry presents a medal to a student.

It was revealed that the group had a ‘high level of energy’, which kept teachers on their heels and, forced them to develop new ideas in ensuring the effective delivery of education in a conducive atmosphere.

“Even though at times I had to tell you about your utterly disgusting and reprehensible attitude, I did remind you that you have a purpose (at school),” Phillips said. “Unless you stay focused, your goals will not be achieved,” she cautioned.

President of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), pastor Carlton Charles and school board member Mrs. Gloria Beharry also extended best wishes to the outgoing class and urged them to remember their alma mater.

Medals were presented to each student, while awards were given to those who were consistent in their academic performances and other outstanding performers in sports and co-curricular activities.

‘Put some wheels on your heels’ ––Deputy Police Commander tells Berbice women in abusive relationships

By Michael Khan

and their actions must be reported, so that the relevant steps can be taken to assist them or deter such practices.

“Domestic violence is as big as a gun crime because one slap or punch can initiate murder. I say to those women who live in denial and often defend their abusive spouses.... you or your family will be sorry in the future,” he cautioned.

The Deputy Commander then explained that once incidents of domestic violence are not reported to the police,

violent behaviour is manifested; and finally there will be the grand explosion,” he informed.

IN an effort to foster good relations with residents of PUT WHEELS ON YOUR HEELS rural and depressed communities, the ‘B’ Division police The Senior Superintendent pointed out that many continue to reach out to the village folks by meeting and women remain in abusive relationships because they have listening to their concerns and implementing programmes children to maintain and a need for financial resources that will benefit them. and probably low self-esteem.

On Tuesday, Deputy Commander and Senior Superinten“Women, do not stay in abusive reladent Stephen Mansell led a team of officers, tionships! Put wheels on your heels and run! including the officer-in-charge of the No. One Lift your self-esteem, and engage yourself sub-division, Assistant Superintendent Guy meaningfully and become independent!” he Nurse, and Superintendent of Court Seseupaul implored.

Jhagroo, to the village of Plegt Anker which is Assistant Superintendent Nurse also echoed located some eighteen miles from New Amthe remarks made by his superior and remindsterdam, to hold discussions with residents of ed the gathering about the effects of domestic that community. In delivering opening remarks violence. at the Plegt Anker school, Mr. Mansell stated “It is a very serious issue that leads to a that the ‘B’ Division Police administration is breakdown in communities and it has rippling exploring means that will better the lives of effects where children often take an example those who are ‘beyond reach’ and address their from the perpetrators, which may not only be concerns to create room for trust and intelliphysical but also verbal,” he stated. gence gathering.

In the absence of the national police He urged them to be vociferous against and a Community Policing Group (CPG) crimes such as the narcotic trade, the establishin the upper East Bank of Berbice district, ment of illegal liquor shops and spousal abuse, the ‘B’ Division senior officers proposed which is an issue of grave national concern. the establishment of a group that will create The Deputy Commander urged the woma network with the Sisters Village Police enfolk and the neighbourhood in general not to condone any act of domestic violence. Senior Superintendent Stephen Mansell flanked by Superintendent Seseupaul Station (also on the East Bank) where ranks He reminded them that it is their duty to be Jhagroo and Assistant Superintendent Guy Nurse at the community meeting there will relate to the Divisional Headquarters in New Amsterdam, since domestic ‘watch dogs’ of their community and report at Plegt Anker, some eighteen miles from New Amsterdam violence is becoming prevalent in that part all forms of spousal transgressions so that of the country. the police can take action.

Last Thursday, 15-year-old student Tamesha La Toya there is a likelihood of a recurrence. He added: “There is Adams was knifed to death in Sisters Village by her DOMESTIC VIOLENCE a cycle which domestic violence takes, the first stage of spurned lover who later committed suicide. The ‘B’ DiviWhile recounting a number of cases where domestic that cycle is the ‘honeymoon’ stage where the perpetrator sion police want to put and end to this ill practice through violence led to the death of women, Mansell said that per- ‘sweet talks’ the woman to calm her down after abusing community support. petrators need help so as to curtail their violent tendencies her; then sometime after there is tension again where the

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Manickchand lays historic Education Bill ...

From page 2

needs and rights of other students.

“A special education programme may take the form of an individual education plan tailored to the specific or individual needs of the student.”

The proposed legislation further empowers students with special needs, by stipulating that if it is determined that a student will require an individual education plan, then the cost of developing, providing and maintaining the plan shall be split between the parents and the Ministry.

Provision has also been made for the establishment of a Council on Special Education, which will advise the subject Minister on the guidelines for implementing a special education programme.

ADMINISTRATION In terms of administration, the Bill stipulates that the Minister shall, subject to the resources of the State, ensure that all citizens of Guyana, regardless of age, race, creed, gender, physical or mental ability or socio-economic status, are given the best opportunity to achieve their full potential through equal access to quality education, as defined by the standards and norms outlined by the Ministry. The section dealing with administration also addresses the de-centralised education system of management; the responsibilities and powers of the Education Minister; and the establishment of a National Advisory Committee on Education The Bill specifies that the functions of the Advisory Committee shall be to advise the Minister on: Matters relating to education; matters respecting the discharge of any of the Minister’s responsibilities or the exercising of the Minister’s powers under this Act, as the Minister refers to the Advisory Committee; and on any other matters relating to the promotion of education that the Minister requests advice on from the Advisory Committee.

Several detailed parameters by which private schools should be guided are also mentioned in the Bill.

DECENTRALISED SYSTEM On the matter of decentralising the education system, the Bill states that the Ministry of Education, headed by the Minister, Permanent Secretary and the Chief Education Officer, has responsibility for: * National education strategic planning and research; * Policy formulation and development; * Resource mobilization; * Providing centralised services in relation to teacher training and development, facilities of school inspection, curriculum development, text and exercise books, school feeding, administration of examinations,

sibilities, accountability of students, the return of setting of academic and non-academic standards; * Monitoring and evaluating education delivery and property and the exercise of rights.

Parents’ rights and responsibilities are also dealt policy implementation; and * Reporting on the performance of the education with in the Bill and takes into consideration several system throughout the ten administrative regions, in- areas, such as: Choice of education; rights and responsibilities of parents or guardians; student records cluding the Georgetown education district With respect to the ten Regional Democratic and reports; Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs); sugCouncils, they are responsible for the management of gestions and wishes of parents to be considered; and the country’s ten administrative regions, except the school committees.

Other areas are: The admission of students, mainteGeorgetown district; and their responsibility extends to the general supervision of education in each region, nance of order and discipline in schools, categories of and to the actual implementation of the education pro- schools and the stages of education and management gramme through the Regional Education Departments. of public educational institutions and the attendance The Georgetown education district is managed by the of students.

Relative to the latter, the Bill says, “It shall be the Ministry of Education, through a Principal Education duty of the parents or guardians of a child of compulsoOfficer.

The Regional Education Departments, according to the Bill, will be directly responsible for the management and supervision of the day-to-day implementation of education in their respective regions, with among their major areas of responsibilities being: * Management of the delivery of education at the regional level through regular monitoring, supervision and inspection visits to schools; * Communication of education policies; * Advising a Regional Democratic Council on education and providing feedback to the Ministry; Minister Manickchand stops by to say ‘Hello’ to some St. Stanislaus * Establishing and College students who were at Parliament yesterday maintaining good school and community relationships through the involvement of a Parent Teacher ry school age to cause the child to regularly and punctually attend school unless the child is excused from Association in every school; * Ensuring overall consistency of the regional work school attendance as prescribed by the regulations. The plan and school improvement plan with the strategic parent or guardian of a child of compulsory school age who wishes the child to be exempt from compulsory plan of the Ministry; and * Ensuring that the non-academic standards are met. school attendance may apply for a certificate of exempAdditionally, the employment of teachers, qualifi- tion from attendance.”

Additionally, provisions addressing distance cations of teachers, requirements for employment as a teacher, and the appointment of teachers to public learning and continuing and adult education are also schools, etc., are clearly stipulated in the Bill. The Cyril included.

Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and development Potter College of Education (CPCE) is to be governed in the sector and the purpose of monitoring, evaluation, by this piece of legislation too.

Also, the institution of a national curriculum, reporting and development also form and important guidelines addressing core and foundation subjects, part of the Bill – all in the interest of providing an adassessment stages, determination of attainment targets equate frameworks for the delivery of high quality, contemporary education, to better develop each student’s and the establishment of subject panels are included. potential and maximise their educational achievement.

The move to draft a new Education Bill to adeOTHER AREAS Another section of the quately address the modern education issues and Bill that deals with stu- challenges currently experienced by the sector dents’ rights and respon- began in 2005. The Bill tabled in the House reflects sibilities includes the right information gleaned by the Ministry through a to education, compulsory number of public consultations held countrywide education, free tuition at between the Ministry of Education and all key schools, students’ respon- stakeholders.

Queen’s College students and their headmistress and Education Officer, Ms. Melcita Bovell who were all present to witness the historic Bill being laid in the House

* Provides for modern education system and to meet needs of students of all ages and abilities * Caters for de-centralised education system of management * Mandates establishment of National Advisory Committee on Education * Provides for the establishment of a Council on Special Education * Regularises the operations of private schools which must now have permit, be registered, comply with standards. * Prescribes severe penalties for assault and abuse of teachers by parents and students * Makes education compulsory from nursery to secondary.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Pandemonium on our roads

GNRSC appeals to all road users to be more responsible in using the roads

ACCIDENTS have claimed the lives of 52 persons, and a number of persons have been seriously injured although this year is only six months old.

The Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) said in a statement on Tuesday that in light of the recent mayhem that has been occurring on our roads, it is appealing and urging all road users to be more responsible in their day-to-day activities on the roadways, in order to help put an end to this “pandemonium”.

The GNRSC said there has been a recent increase in the number of serious road accidents in and around the city, in outlying areas, and in other regions of our country, and this is mainly due to speeding, recklessness, and driving under the influence (DUI), all of which reflect total neglect of our traffic laws.

The body said that major accidents resulted in loss of lives and serious disability to persons involved. Almost all accidents impacted financially on our economy, and have distressed all parties involved, emotionally and physically. Also, serious accidents have significantly disturbed the social welfare of all the affected families.

The GNRSC noted that habitual blunders by many vehicular drivers and motor cyclist are speeding, driving under the influence (DUI), total neglect for our traffic laws, and total disregard for the five Cs: Care, Courtesy, Consideration, Caution and Common Sense when using the roads.

The body said that blatant disregard for traffic laws and traffic advisories are the major contributing factors for road accidents; which we, as responsible Guyanese, are desperately trying to reduce substantially.

Pedestrians and cyclists are also to be blamed for their carefree and sloppy attitudes when using the roadways. These behaviours should be discontinued immediately, to put an end to some of these ‘needless road crashes and deaths, the body has said. These victims didn’t need to die, the GNRSC concluded.

Comparison statistics below reflects this current road chaos:

“Fellow road users”, the body appealed, “please be advised that the reduction of road accidents can only be achieved with your input. So again, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) is pleading with all road users and responsible Guyanese to join with us in our campaign to help stop the road carnage by correcting the careless ways we use our roads and by adhering to the road safety and traffic laws to make our streets and roads safer.

Road Safety is everybody’s business, the body says.

“Remember if it is important to you, you will find a way; if it is not, you will find an excuse.”

Sowing for second-crop rice already started in some areas RICE sowing for the second crop has already commenced in some areas, according to General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj.

Seeraj said the major challenge with the winding down of this year’s first crop is the timely payment to farmers, a recurring challenge with each crop.

He told the Chronicle that, to date, a number of farmers in a few of the rice producing regions - in hotspot areas such as Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) and Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) - have not been paid in full.

According to him, two of the millers in Region 2 are having difficulties

with payments to the rice farmers. Currently, they are encouraging the millers to meet with their bankers to seek assistance in this matter.

From an industrial perspective, the amount owed to farmers is 20 to 30 per cent of the total amount that was purchased. Seeraj noted that when looking at it from the rice producing regions, 80 per cent of the total amount purchased is owed.

MARKETS Seeraj also said arrangements are being made for Guyana to export rice to countries in Central America. That aside, he said shipments to Venezuela, Europe and Haiti are continuous. Shipments

to Belize, a new market acquired last year, has commenced.

T h e c u r r e n t c r o p ’s production target 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-secure country.

The rice industry contributed about five percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013 and accounted for more than US$240M in export earnings. Some $500M was allocated to the rice sector in the 2014 National Budget. (Sandy Agasen)

Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

NGSA students at a particular Region 1 school to be reassessed on July 2 and 3 STUDENTS in a particular school in Region 1 who were affected by the integrity of the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) through irregularities, will be reassessed on July 2 and 3.

This was announced

by Superintendent of Examinations, Sauda Kadir, at a Ministry of Education press briefing last Thursday at the National Center for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Battery Road, Kingston.

In a press release on May 30, the Ministry of Education announced that there

were irregularities in the conduct of the NGSA in Region 1 which has affected the integrity of that school’s NGSA results. The Ministry at the time indicated to the public that they were actively considering various options and would make interventions where its paramount consideration will be what is in the best interest of the affected students.

QUALITY ASSURANCE In recent years, the Ministry of Education established a number of quality assurance mechanisms to ensure

that examinations and their subsequent results are of the highest integrity. In fact, it was these measures that allowed the Ministry to identify this problem in the affected area and school. No other irregularities were found in any of the other schools in Guyana.

NO REASSESSMENT Meanwhile, three children who were on their way to participate in the second day of the NGSA at the Academy of Excellence at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, were injured in a vehicular acci-

dent that prevented them from completing the examination. The Ministry of Education

has since announced that these students will not be reassessed but other measures

will be taken to award them a secondary school. (Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

ECHO welcomes ongoing fogging exercise THE Environmental Community Health Organization (ECHO) has welcomed the ongoing fogging exercise in local communities but is raising some concerns about the dissemination of information.

ECHO said in a press release that inadequate notice to residents of local communities is affecting the effectiveness of the campaign and some

––calls for better information dissemination

citizens have expressed surprise about the exercise in their area.

ECHO said further that residents have no information about the chemicals being used in the fogging exercise and what are the likely side effects, if any, particularly for residents who are living with respiratory challenges. They

need to know in order to take appropriate measures to protect themselves from any potential risks, ECHO noted.

The dissemination of information is a vital aspect of any public health campaign because it allows likely beneficiaries to understand and appreciate the benefits of it

and the role they ought to play to enhance its effectiveness.

Therefore, ECHO is calling on the competent authorities to provide citizens with all the necessary information about this exercise.

The fogging exercise began on Tuesday in various communities in Georgetown such as East, West, North and South Ruimveldt and throughout South Georgetown. The exercise was conducted twice daily - at 05:00hrs and at 22:30hrs.

Wednesday the fogging activity continued in Meadow Brook Gardens, Durban Backlands, Lodge, Charlestown,

North East La Penitence, Werk-en-Rust and Wortmanville.

And yesterday,the fogging continued in Greater Georgetown in Newtown, Alberttown, Queenstown, Bourda, Cummingsburg, Lacytown and Stabroek.

Tomorrow the exercise will continue in Kitty, Campbellville, Prashad Nagar, Bel Air, Sophia and surrounding areas. (Asif Hakim)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Orphanage proprietor refutes claims that young boys sodomised

By Jeune Bailey-Vankeric

FOLLOWING allegations that a former teen resident of the Berbice Anjuman Orphanage in Philadelphia Street, New Amsterdam had been sodomised, five minors have been taken into protective custody after it was alleged that they had also been sexually violated.

The boys, aged between ten and six, were allegedly forced to perform oral sex on one of their caregivers at the orphanage; and the man accused of committing the dastardly act on the minors has since been placed on $100,000 station bail, after he had been detained by police for several days.

An investigation has since been launched into the reports, and

the file containing the alleged victims’ statements has been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for perusal.

In the meanwhile, owner of the orphanage, Mr. Abu Bakkar Mandal, has refuted ‘allegations’ peddled in some sections of the media that a child had been sodomised at the orphanage.

The Canadian cit-

izen has also claimed to be unaware of the reasons why officials from the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) took custody of the five boys, who are all under ten years old.

Mandal invited sections of the print media to the Orphanage in order to ‘clear the air’, after the June 5 edition of the Kaieteur News had published the article under the caption, “Students flee New Amsterdam Orphanage, claim sexual assault.’

The apparently disturbed Mandal said one of his charges named Akash had raised allegations of being sexually molested, “but that is not true”, he emphasised.

“After (Akash) had left the orphanage, he

subsequently returned on May 23, last with a female plainclothes police officer. He was asked to identify where the incident occurred, and he pointed to a spot beside his bed. He was asked at what time the incident occurred, and he responded 7pm. He was asked if he liked it, and he responded no. He was then asked by the officer if Mr. Deen [the Manager] was on his back, and he responded ‘no.’

According to Mandal, the teen claimed to have been asleep during the assault, and confessed to not being violated by the manager.

However, following that confrontation, which was held in the presence of other officials within the orphanage, Mandal said

he decided to hold a personal investigation into the matter, and discovered that ‘Akash’ had not been at the institution on the date of the alleged assault.

“Akash was to be the Muezzin who was scheduled to do the Azan (prayer), but he did not, and instead I heard another child saying the prayers, and on inquiring I was told that Akash left the compound and headed in an eastern direction with a red bicycle.

“A few days later, his step father came and reported that someone had beaten Akash.

At no time did he say the child was sexually molested.

“On May 27, his mother Surajdai See page 17

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Orphanage proprietor refutes ...

From page 16 Premraj came and collected a younger sister who was also staying here. When she signed for the children’s release, she did not make any allegation of sexual misconduct. I was very surprised when I saw the article in the Kaieteur News. No one came to investigate; they just took out some pictures and wrote the story.

“I am aware that (there is) a medical report which supports the allegations, but it did not happen here, it happened somewhere else….”

A report from the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School, where the teen is a student, revealed that the teen has

behavioural problems.

The student has very poor cognitive ability, and cannot cope with classroom teaching.

Additionally, it was noted that the student is always mentally preoccupied and confused during contact sessions, and exhibits qualities of an introvert. He can be violent when provoked.

However, it was recommended that the teen needed to be taught the basic concept using pictures and colours, and should be encouraged to socialise, the report concluded.

Responding to questions posed by this reporter, Mandal said he drove to the Special Needs School in New Amsterdam on May 28, accompanied by

the secretary. He said he drove to where he had intended to uplift two students of that institution, but after some delay, he was informed by a teacher that officials from the welfare department had taken them into custody.

“No one had informed the Orphanage. We subsequently made searches, but came up empty-handed. I then left to pick up students from the St Aloysius Primary School. During this period I received a call on my mobile phone, informing me to visit the Office of the Child Care and Protection Agency in New Amsterdam. On visiting, I was told that three additional children are in protec-

tive care.

‘I was then told why the children were in protective custody. I was told that ‘Akash’ made some allegations against the manager’.

“Nevertheless, despite the allegations, I and my manager are willing to submit ourselves to an polygraph test to prove our innocence’, he concluded.

A source close to the investigation informed this reporter that the police file is currently gaining the attention of the Director of Public Prosecution .

However, the source

denied that the alleged victim was questioned in the presence of the staff of the orphanage.

Instead, the teen was asked to identify the area where he was sexually violated, and ‘he pointed to the second bed’ the source emphasised.’

Currently the alleged perpetrator is on $100,000 station bail, after being detained for seventy-two hours In addition, this newspaper was reliably informed that the five boys who were taken from two schools within the New Amsterdam environs were

confirmed to have been sexually violated.

T h e u n d e r- a g e d boys reported that the named manager forced them to have oral sex with him.

The alleged victims have since been taken into protective custody and are currently out of the jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, a senior official from one of the schools observed that her charges were “once happy and extraverted children, but since the alleged incident, one has become withdrawn.’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Four prisoners BERBICE MATTERS With Jeune Bailey Vankeric request to plead to capital offence - But State can only accept two

IN a Gaol Delivery read in the Berbice Assizes, Senior Superintendent of Prisons, Mr. Linden Cornette, revealed that four inmates of the New Amsterdam Prison who are facing murder charges are requesting to be allowed to plead when their cases come up for hearing at the Berbice Assizes.

Those who have submitted written statements to support their claim are murder accused Bheem Evans, Navin Sugrim, Roy Lewis, and Fazal Mohammed.

But in an invited comment, State Prosecutrix Ms. Renita Singh told the Guyana Chronicle that only two of the men would be allowed to plead, as their cases are listed for hearing during the June sessions of the Berbice Assizes. “We will have Sugrim and Mohammed brought for hearing as early as possible, but we are not in possession of the files pertaining to Evans and Lewis. Those files have to go through an administrative procedure before they are perused by the Chambers and affixed to the list,� she stated.

In the meantime, 38 male inmates are committed and are awaiting trial at the Berbice Assizes, and Senior Prison Superintendent

Linden Cornette said 23-year-old Omar Bacchus, the longest serving committed prisoner, who had been admitted to the New Amsterdam Prison on September 5, 2008 and had been committed by then Berbice Magistrate Chandra Sohan on December 12, 2011, is yet to stand trial in the Berbice Assizes.

It was noted that of the thirty-four inmates who are all requesting early trial, 28 are listed for murder, with the oldest accused being 57-year-old Roy Pestano, who is facing a retrial; and the youngest being 17-year-old Warmish Rambalee.

Additionally, three inmates -- Joseph Moore, aged 46 years; Abdool Mohammed, aged 48 years; and Amdat Persaud -- remain at the penal institution for the offence of sexual penetration; while Mahendra Doodnauth is committed for the offence of escape from lawful custody; convicted prisoner David Andrews for being in possession of firearm without licence; and Doodraj Dass for unlawful and malicious wounding.

Giving sworn evidence before Justice Brassington Reynolds, Snr. Supt. Cornette further stated that there are no female prisoners listed for trial at the Berbice Assizes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

MATTERS Almost naked man BERBICE With Jeune Bailey Vankeric taken to station after found in house with teen

EIGHTEEN-year-old Deraj Persaud was taken “as is” to the Sisters Police Station, East Bank Berbice after his girlfriend’s mother found him aback her house in the neighbouring Broth-

er’s Village, East Bank Berbice almost naked.

Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that his 16-yearold friend, Fabiola, had invited him to the home on Sunday to watch a movie, but

her mother returned home shortly afterwards, forcing her to usher him through the back door while she rushed to open the front door to admit her agitated mother.

Speaking with a Trini-

Drunken driver slapped with 10 charges ––after death of three victims

MOTORIST Nakesh Persaud appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court to answer to ten traffic violation charges, including three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was not required to plead to the charges, which stemmed from an accident on Wednesday, June 11, at Phillipi Village, Corentyne.

Persaud, called Romel and ‘Fat Boy’, allegedly caused the death of 19-year-old Tabitha Bagot; her sister Wanita, aged 17 years; and their three-year-old niece Shamaine Cort.

Police have instituted three counts each of failing to render assistance and failing to stop after an accident, and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol.

At the Court, former Magistrate Mr Krishendat Persaud held the brief for Attorney-at-law Rodwel Jugmohan, while the case was prosecuted by Police Corporal Althea Soloman.

Presiding Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh upheld the prosecution’s objection to bail and remanded the defendant to the New Amsterdam Prison until July 2.

Nakesh Persaud, aka ‘Romel’ and ‘Fat Boy’

dadian accent acquired from living in the twin-island republic for six months, Persaud recalled: “After I was pushed out by Fabiola I went and hid, but Kishan, the young man who was chosen to marry Fabiola, found me.

He had returned with the girl’s mother. He found me.

“He held onto me and shouted, ‘Auntie Kutie, I get a surprise for you.’”

Referring to Fabiola’s mother as Aunty Kutie, Persaud said, “She came and called on her son to bring a piece of wood. In the meantime, she started to cuff me across my face. I pleaded with her son not to bring the wood, but he did, and she lashed me across my head and face. I started to scream

for help, but no one came to my rescue.

“Kishan viced me and pulled me into the house.

She asked for a cutlass, but her son did not bring it. Aunty Kutie asked her daughter, ‘How many times you and this boy had sex?’

She said, ‘We did not have sex’. (Auntie Kutie) started to beat her, and the girl started to cry. “‘Oh you crying?’ Auntie Kutie shouted. You crying because you man getting beat up?’ You all tek off you clothes!’” she demanded.

Persaud said he was afraid, as blood was flowing from the wounds on his head and face, and so he complied by undressing, but kept on his underpants.

“She continued to beat me before walking with me to the Sisters Police Station.

I was taken there in my underwear,” he said.

A report was subsequently made, and the matter was transferred to the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, were a medical form was issued.

A visit to the New Amsterdam Hospital resulted in a medical certificate being issued in Persaud’s favour.

Persaud intends to have the matter prosecuted. He said he sustained seven blunt traumas to the head and right eye; lacerations to the head; and abrasions to the face, abdomen and mouth.

Investigations are continuing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Health Minister welcomes 11th Chinese Medical Brigade ––honours departing Tenth Brigade

Minister Ramsaran presents one of the Chinese doctors with an award

By Asif Hakim THE 16-member 11th Chinese Medical Brigade, consisting of Orthopaedic specialists, Plastic and Burn Surgeons, General Surgeons, Nephrologists, Ophthalmologists, Gynaecologists

had given to the Government and People of Guyana. He said it regrettably was time to say goodbye, even as he informed them of the gratitude and appreciation of the Ministry of Health and the Government of Guyana for the work they each had done. “ I u rg e t h i s n e w team to not only work hard in the hospital, but also practise outside of the hospital. This is a hallmark of the Chinese medical team, and ev-

ery time they keep getting better. Guyana is the only country in the Latin America with a Chinese Medical Team, and I hope the eleventh team continues to make the Chinese flag fly high,” Minister Dr Ramsaran said.

“You represent a strong foundation of what South/South cooperation represents.

You have brought the new perspective on China. China is making its mark in the Caribbean, your presence

perform duties at the Georgetown Public Hospital and at the Linden Hospital Complex, and would be engaged in medical outreaches for two years.

Members of the outgoing Tenth Chinese Medical Brigade were present at this function,

The newly-arrived 11th Chinese Medical Brigade

Minister Ramsaran making brief remarks at the function and Paediatricians, among other vital medical skills, was warmly welcomed to Guyana by Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran at a reception held at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House) in Kingston, Georgetown on Tuesday evening.

This brigade will

and Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran gave each an award along with a token and a book detailing the history of Guyana.

It was obviously a bitter-sweet moment for this departing brigade. Dr. Ramsaran hailed their hard working nature, and thanked each member for the sterling service they

The outgoing 10th Brigade

here is significant,” Dr. Ramsaran said.

He told the incoming medical team that the Government had constructed living quarters to better accommodate them, even as Guyana hopes to see an increase in their numbers.

Also at the event was Director of Medical and Professional Services, Sheik Amir; Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Yuying Liu; and GPHC CEO, Michael Khan.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Middle Road accident ...

21

Post-mortem reveals child suffered brain, other injuries A POST-mortem performed on the body of seven-year-old Joseph Quallis on Monday has revealed that besides injuries to the brain, he also suffered a broken neck, broken ribs and backbone, and fractured hands and feet.

The St. Pius Primary School pupil was killed when a speeding car pinned him against a fence on Middle Road, La Penitence last Thursday.

The driver of motor car PPP 5931, Jermaine Carrol, 28, of Stevedore Housing Scheme, also appeared on Monday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, as well as driving a vehicle which did not have its third party insurance, in force.

The motorist, who pleaded not guilty to both charges, was

‘I want to know who will repair my fence’ - Irate property owner

refused bail and remanded to prison until July 4.

The dead child’s parents, Andre Quallis and Shelly-Ann Hutson, told the Chronicle Tuesday evening that they were hoping to bury their son by weekend, but they also expressed disappointment that the owner of the motor vehicle has not yet taken any responsibility for anything in relation to the child’s death.

The child’s deeply distraught father said, “All we’re getting is promises, promises, and nothing tangible...

“Instead, we understand that a section of the media has published that the owner had promised to look after expenses for the wake. Well, I want to say that that is a lie from the pit of hell.”

He said the owner of the car had promised to meet with

The seven-year-old was pinned between this car and the fence on the ill-fated afternoon

Dead: Joseph Quallis the bereaved family on Tuesday, but failed to show up. And when contacted on Wednesday, the man said, “Tomorrow!,” but could not decide on the time of day.

Meanwhile, the woman against whose fence the car had crashed and destroyed little Joseph Quallis is peeved that to date, neither the owner of the car nor the driver’s relatives have come forward to tell her anything about repairs to her property.

“The fence has been torn down, and is just parked by old zinc sheets. In the meantime, the security of my home is threatened. I want to know who will repair my fence,” the woman said.

On June 12, seven-year-old Joseph Quallis was rammed and pinned against a fence on Middle Road, La Penitence

by Jermaine Carrol, who drove motor vehicle PPP 5931 dangerously, resulting in the death of the child. (Shirley Thomas)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

YES folks, we are back with a bang!!! And as you can see, the fashion hotties as here, rearing to unleash their sexiness. There were many to choose from as we went on our Entertainment treks to various locations, but these were the divas that won themselves a spot on this page. Move on to the next three pages, and enjoy rich and pulsating entrainment, served up ‘Bombshell Style’

My, my...

None can match this double dose of tropical sensuality

As expected, these hotties set the pace for many to follow

So saucy, so enticing, so provocative....

The queen of high fashion has landed...

Telephone Contact #: 616-0301 or 227-5216

The very epitome of feminine ultra sexiness

Good things always come in threes

She's hot, she's downright electric!!

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

The ladies soliciting corner Bombshell’s Hottest Dudes…

Andres Garib to the rescue with endless sensual talents

Photo of the Week

NOW, ladies, I have been found guilty; and you have all the right to impale me to a fence, or castrate me, or even take my head off.

I would accept any punishment you mete out, because I have been found guilty of teasing your erotic taste buds each week without supplying the phone numbers of the red hot tropical morsels I have featured in this corner.

SOME local damsels just seem to stand out at any forum, and that’s just what happened when our sweet, adorable and dashing Miss Guyana India Worldwide franchise holder, Chandini Rambalack, landed in Dubai, India with our beauty ambassador, (Divya Sieudarsan) to compete at the international leg of the pageant.

Rambalack certainly created a stir when she stepped out to dine at a restaurant there, and had heads turning as she strutted one of her simple fashion ideas. Here she is, as appealing as ever, and smiling as she usually does. Thumbs up to you, girlfriend…. That’s the way to do it -- make heads turn wherever you go!

2014 ‘Champion of Champions Vehicle g in g a st ly Ju r fo d te a sl ’ ff -O d n Sou Take a good look ladies. Your dreams have come true…

Andres is waiting patiently for you But I beg your forgiveness, my fiery divas, and plead to be allowed to correct my wrongdoings by bringing to the platter a ‘sturdy and bucking Arabian Stallion’ who has raved that he is the only male species with endless sensual talents to reduce you to a mere pulp, or make your knees buckle with erotic fulfillment.

Ladies, it is my pride and pleasure to

present the energetic and dominating Andres Garib, who informed that his bulging biceps bring with them romance from another horizon. He said his chiselled form (which he has concealed to make you get into frenzied anticipation) is riddled with provocative glories at each pulse point, all ready to take you to the very centre of the galaxy.

And, my dear ladies, I would prefer to have him tell you the remainder of our interview.

Now that I know I have got the attention of you salivating females, I urge you to run to the phone and make your dreams come true by dialling phone number 661-3668. Andres will be waiting there for you.

Come on now, girls; don’t be bashful….

It’s not every day you get to meet a man of such wild surprises. And you had better believe it… The stampede among the feminine species has already begun.

Good luck, ladies… Just do not dig out eyeballs or scratch faces if you realize some other woman has beaten you to the punch. And do call to give me the details…..

WORD is out that due to inclement weather, the 2014 ‘Champion of Champions Vehicle Sound-Off’ that was slated for June 07, 2014 has been postponed to the second week in July 2014.

While a date is still to be set for the much-anticipated event, Promoter Benjie of Benjamin’s Entertainment has announced that the event is still tabled for the Goed Fortuin Community Centre Ground, West Bank Demerara.

He added that close to twenty-five participants have so far signed up for a competition that would see steamy clashes between contenders vying for top honours in the twelve-, and eighteen-inch speaker categories.

The top finalists will be awarded lucratively from a whopping prize package of over $250,000.This venture will see SUVs, cars, vans, bikes and mini-buses facing off in a ‘boombastic sound clash’ to determine which vehicles are fitted with the hardest, loudest, and cleanest sounds.

Parents are urged to bring out the kids, since

this event will also feature a merry-go-round, bouncy castle, trampoline, and more for the family. Hot, spicy barb-que will also be on sale.

Amongst the many attractions are guest appear-

ances from the 2013 Miss Bootilicious Lingerie Divas.

Music will be supplied

by Stereo Sonics and TRS Sounds, alongside Entertainer Ras. Admission is easy….

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Let’s tell it like it is…

Some musicians mar their chances at stardom by greed and covetousness WELL, my dear readers, today I will tell you about a Rastafarian musician who goes about the place exalting himself and pretending he has arrived. Ah gon expose he dutty story becawz he deh bout de place rabbing people and moving from wan location tuh de next, and doing de same thing tuh innocent poor people everywhere he goh!

Well, this terrible man moved to a village in West Berbice, and the last word received is that he is living home with a poor innocent Berbician girl who has no idea that she

is sleeping with the Devil himself.

De man is a talented but crookish musician; he ‘wrang deal’ me tuh, so Ah would not mince matters in disclosing he evil ways!

When I met this musician, years ago, I and two other friends thought we had met the man who could make our singing dreams come true. Wrang bang!!! In no time at all, we began to find out what a conniving crook he was.

He took us to a foreign land, where we did not know the language, and made us sing our hearts Hey you, Rasta, dem people out as he robbed us blind. want dem money!

Central Mahaicony for Village celebrations THE entire Mahaicony District is abuzz with news of an entire weekend of celebrations, as a promoting group there is set to host the Fifth Annual Mahaicony Village Week event.

Speaking to Mr. Steve Jones, who happens to be one of the coordinators, Bombshell was informed that the event is geared at bringing together residents of the Mahaicony district, and at fostering better relationships amongst villages.

While the celebrations commence on August 01, 2014, this event will be officially launched on July 01, 2014.

Jones has indicated that activities will include an Emancipation Fair and Gospel Concert, which is a new addition to the list of existing events.

The main agenda on the activities’ calendar is however, the Prime Minister’s Basketball Tournament, which seeks to honour Prime Minister Samuel Hinds for his exploits over the years, which have benefited people of the ‘countryside’.

This will be a countrywide event, and the promoting body will be working in collaboration with the Guyana Basketball Association.

This tournament will be staged, like all other events, at the Mahaicony Community Centre Ground on August 01 and 03, 2014.

There will also be the hosting of a Mahaicony Market Day, aimed at enhancing the state and functions of the Mahaicony Market Square; while domestic workshops are planned for the third week in July for residents, amongst other items on the agenda. This venture will be an effort assisted by the Ministry of Education.

During the last week in July 2014, a Spelling Bee Contest will be staged for

Miss Earth Mahaicony 2013, Keisha Gibbons the kids, while plans are in place to, soon after, stage the Perth Village Day celebrations.

On August 02, 2014, students who excelled at the SSEE and CSEC examinations will be honoured at a special ceremony. There is also a special session to honour a centenarian and three stalwarts from the district on this date.

Other plans will include cycle races amongst youths from various villages, with the Miss Earth Mahaicony Pageant will be staged on August 03.

I suspected he had something up his sleeve, so I made every effort to learn the language of that land, and that I did very quickly!

My goodness me! My findings almost sent me into a coma!! This man was making arrangements with promoters for our band to play at events for large sums, which he would collect without us seeing. Then he would split the grand total into two halves, and would keep one half for himself. The second half of the total he would then split in three, and take one third of that for himself.

Yes we were angry as ever when we discovered what he was doing, but we could do nothing about it because we were stuck under his control in a foreign land.

Well, we soon came back to Guyana with nothing to our names but horrid memories, and dis scampish promotah tried to make up by forming a band and having it play at one of the most popular nightclubs on the ‘Back Road’. We needed the money, so we had no alternative other than to comply.

This man really displayed his true colours there, and soon there was bickering in the band as well. He was envious of me because I possessed the better voice, and would bluntly refuse to provide the harmony for our songs, while he expected us to provide the relative backup singing for his.

Well, de bank bruk up when a big story bus out dat several ah de band members (males) does deh sleeping wid wan anadda. Oh me mama whoy!!! Dis story want moh people.

Well, after a while, he came back begging; and since jobs were hard to come by in Guyana, we decided to go with him one last time.

He took us to a big dance in Berbice, and the people turned out in large numbers, but when time fuh de dance start, dis ‘Rastafarian Scamp’ was nowhere to be seen, and was refusing tuh answer he cell phone!!!

Well, you know we received a robust Berbician thrashing from de people, because it turned out dat de promoter had already paid we bass (who played the keyboard) half ah de money fuh de gig, and he tell we a big lie dat he nah collect

The latest promoter he has robbed wailed in anguish when large crowds walked away from an event he had paid this Rasta crook to play at. anything!

We were forced to hitchhike our way back to Georgetown, and I am not ashamed to say that I cried like a baby.

Well, we did not see him for months after that, and as usual, he had his sleek fancy stories to tell, so I decided to take my revenge. And my, oh my, my revenge was certainly satisfying…. Hmmmm….

He was trying to be extra nice to make up for all his wrong doings, and offered to let me stay at his place, since my home was miles away from the gigs we were getting. (And yes, he was robbing us blind all over again, but I had a plan….)

One night, I came home and let myself in as quietly as a mouse. When I was about to enter the bedroom, I saw him rummaging behind some clothing that were on the wall on several hangers. He had this wicked smile on his face and this cunning gleam in his eyes, so I decided to conceal myself from his view.

Not knowing I was there, he soon got on his cell phone and began making arrangements to meet a girl in the city for a sleep over. I waited until he showered and left, and then decided to ‘do ah fine search fuh meself’.

Lo and behold, de man had a nice black handbag concealed between he clothes, and it had a padlock and key, but like de phone call had prevented him from locking it.

When Ah open de bag Ah nearly dead from heart attack!! Imagine, I beg duh man duh same marning tuh lend meh $500, and he seh he ‘flat broke’.

I counted all the cash, and it amounted to almost $200,000, and there were receipts he provided to several promoters, dictating almost three times the sums he had

declared to us.

I calculated MY FAIR SHARE according to the receipts he had in the bag, then I summed up my compensation for the robbing we had in the strange land, and I took everything save for the $300 I left him to pay his fare to the city the next day.

Dem seh dat two thief mek Gawd laugh? If yuh ain’t gat nutting, yuh certainly can’t lose anything.

I went out and left the door open, so when he came back he thought he had forgotten to lock it, since I was expected till the following day.

If yuh hear how he going into hot flashes and catching kumfah when he find out dat de money gaan!

He call me and said he lost something precious, but would not disclose what it was. I told him I was in Georgetown, but I was outside giggling in the downstairs latrine.

If yuh see de crocodile tears and de snot coming out he nose! And he eyes get red like a Tortollian Vampiah!

Well I just told him, two days later, that I was tired of his drama, and I left with all my belongings. (To enjoy the sweets of my hard labour, of course…).

Now he is living in Berbice because he has taken money from several promoters in Guyana and has failed to turn up to play at their functions. “Eh-eh! Before ah fuget…. He was playing in Mahaica using de club ownah keyboard, and he disappear wid de man instrument.

Talk half and lef half….

Well, I hope the persons he has robbed read through the lines and go to Berbice in search of him; and when they find him, they must give him a good thrashing!!

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Miss India Guyana Style Mission 2014 churns up an set for for tomorrow tomorrow inferno in India set industry.

With diverse and considerable knowledge and experience in the performing arts arena, Hashim Alli and Melicia Partab pooled their creativity together to establish Nachle Designs“Yours & Hers”.

“I really enjoy being part of the building process for your designers,” Sonia Noel told them.

The event will also feature theatrical performances and a Dutch auction. The Sickle Cell Awareness Walk is also tabled for tomorrow morning. Persons can support the cause by purchasing a ticket, a pin, or bumper stickers.

Those involved are expected to assemble for the walk at 6:00 hrs at the Nurses Association Building at Charlotte and Alexander Streets, Georgetown.

Divya Sieudarsan poses with one of her many admirers as she blazes a trail at the Safari in Dubai, India

THE dazzling Miss India Guyana 2014, Divya Sieudarsan, recently arrived in Dubai, India to battle against queens from around the world for the Miss Indian Worldwide 2014 crown.

While Mother India was more than ready to welcome her, her citizens certainly were not prepared for the torrent of interest she created, and have since been left in awe as she continues to churn up an inferno in the land with her sultry good looks and jaw-dropping feminine assets.

Whether or not she wins, India will always remember the Caribbean fire she brought with her to the motherland, and the awesome manner in which her licking flames of dazzling beauty scourged everything in its path, causing her to shine like a rare jewel not yet discovered by earthly hands.

Come on, Guyana! Support our queen as she does everything in her power to bring back the prestigious crown to the local shores.

Bulletin!! Bulletin!!Bulletin!!

Lake Mainstay to present 5th Annual Car & Bike Show & After Party ALL roads lead to the Guyana Pegasus Hotel tomorrow, as veteran designer Sonia Noel and her crew ready themselves for the mega event ‘Style Mission’, which kicks off at 16:30 hrs (4pm).

The annual charity show, which is hosted in aid of ‘Sickle Cell Awareness Observations’, will feature Noel’s new collection hot on the runway of Caribbean Fashion Week. Other designers to be featured at the event are Meleesa Payne, Nelsion Nurse, Deborah Matthias, Chennay Wong, and Hashim Alli, who will be launching his designing career at this forum.

During the last two weeks, the cast had a number of flash mobs at several Scotia Bank locations.

What started off as a mere thought from compliments received will be launched as Nachle Designs “Yours & Hers”. This unique Western-and-Eastern fusion brings a creative touch to everyday fashion.

The duo designers of this new, well conceptualized designers’ line are not strangers to the entertainment

The walk will commence at Alexander Street and proceed into North Road, then on to the Avenue of the Republic, before turning into Brickdam. Thereafter, it will proceed to the United Nations Place, before branching off into Croal Street andheading back to Alexander Street, where it will finish.

The Sonia Noel Foundation for the Creative Arts, Pegasus Hotel, ScotiaBank, Water Chris Hotel, Young’s Mining, Icon Media and Amsterdam Workshop are partners collaborating to stage the event.

LAKE Mainstay Resort will be hosting its caption event on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at the Lake Mainstay Resort Beach at Mainstay/ Whyaka Village.

This will, of course, be the resort’s fifth Annual Car and Bike Show and After Party.

The gates will be opened from 10:00 hrs (10.00am) and the show commences at 14:00 hrs (2.00pm).

At this forum, competitors will clash in categories to determine the winners in the Best Car, Best Sound Car, Loudest Car, Luxury and Classic segments. This also applies to SUVs and buses; while those facing off in the Bikers’ arena will battle for the Best Small Bike, Best Bike and Super Bike categories.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Lethal Suarez ...

From Backpage

rampaging forward screwed his shot wide.

England gradually regained the initiative with Rooney, widely criticised for his performance against Italy, at the heart of all their best work.

The number 10, who had never scored in the World Cup, picked up the scraps from a Leighton Baines delivery and brought a terrific save out of Muslera in the 55th minute.

Just as it looked like England would never find the net Rooney breathed new life into them.

Full back Glen Johnson worked his way into the box

after delightful work by Sturridge, and his square ball was rammed home by Rooney at the far post, sending the massed ranks of England fans behind the goal into frenzy.

England were in the ascendancy but when Gerrard failed to deal with Muslera’s punt Suarez was away, outpacing Gary Cahill and slamming the ball past Hart.

England pushed for an equaliser but Uruguay held firm, picking up three points that could go a long way to putting them in the knockout stages.

“We did a perfect job, all the players,” Cavani said.

“We worked from the first minute and that’s what gave us the win.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

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Ian Bell honoured to reach 100 Test caps IAN Bell says he is happy to play anywhere in England’s top order as he prepares to celebrate the “incredible” milestone of 100 Test appearances.

The 32-year-old will become the 12th man to reach a century of England Test caps when he plays against Sri Lanka at Headingley today.

Bell, who hit 56 and nine in the drawn first Test, has 20 hundreds and 40 half-centuries from 99 matches so far.

“I’m really honoured,” said Bell. “I’ll bat anywhere for this England side.”

Joe Root, who was

Ian Bell will become the 12th man to reach a century of England Test caps. dropped for the last Ashes the first time in three years Test in Sydney, played at at Lord’s. five and scored 200 not out In the second innings, as England passed 500 for Root’s Yorkshire team-mate

Gary Ballance hit an unbeaten 104 at number three in only his second Test.

Bell, who came in at four between the less experienced pair, has been touted as the natural replacement for the absent Jonathan Trott as England’s number three. But he insists he has no concerns over his place in the order.

“I’m really happy at four. If I was asked to bat at three, I’d bat at three,” he told BBC Sport.

“It seems very quickly we’ve got a nice compact middle order, which is what you need at this level.”

Bell’s landmark Test arrives 10 years into an England career that has taken in four Ashes series victories.

Three of his 20 Test centuries came in last summer’s home win against Australia, an achievement that contributed to his being named England’s 201314 Player-of-the-YearIn reaching 100 Tests, the Warwickshire batsman follows in the footsteps of captain Alastair Cook and former team-mate Kevin Pietersen, as well as the likes of David Gower, Ian Botham,

Graham Gooch, Geoffrey Boycott and record caps holder Alec Stewart.

“It’s an amazing feeling.

The names that have played 100 Test matches for England - to be part of that will be absolutely incredible,” Bell said.

And he added: “The way I’m playing at the minute is exactly where I want to be, and it has been like that for the last 12 months.

“I feel like right now is where I want to be as a Test player and hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”

(BBC Sport)

the Inter-zone? Then something is wrong with the procedure of selection,” argued Seubarran.

A disgruntled Seubarran said he is calling on the BCB’s parent body in the Guyana Cricket Board to intervene in the matter, since several players not only from PMCC< are being treated unfairly by the BCB’s Selection panel and this needs to stop.

In an invited comment with BCB Junior Chairman of Selectors Leslie Solomon, Chronicle Sport learnt that never before was a junior player selected for the Ancient County without playing in the Inter-zone tournament and he (Solomon) would not go against such precedence.

According to Solomon, both Jagjit and Samaroo scored a total of 204 with a highest score of 59 not out against Sand Reef. The latter backed up his 18 wickets with a best of 7 for 7 against Whim, in a match where he ended with 13 for 29.

Both were selected in the Inter-zone team.

“Unfortunately for Samaroo, there was another off-spinner who played in the Inter-zone for another team and performed creditably, while in the case of Jagjit, he did not get a chance to play in the Inter-zone, while the other named leg-spinner did play,” said Solomon.

When told that a senior official within the BCB confirmed that the preferred leg-spinner who was chosen ahead of Jagjit does bowl well but not in comparison to Jagjit, Solomon said, “That same official would have eaten off my head and even go around the place condemning the selection of the team if his spinner was not selected.”

Amidst all the fuss and fight, Chronicle Sport learnt that even the BCB’s president was unaware of the selection or ratification of the team, when contacted by PMCC to intervene on the matter, prior to the Berbice Under-17 team leaving the Ancient County to compete in the GCB Under-17 tournament that is currently ongoing.

at Royal Ascot 2013 en route to victory in the St Leger.

The colt grabbed the lead late in the two mile four furlong contest.

B r o w n P a n t h e r, c o owned by former England and Liverpool football player Michael Owen, was fourth.

“Always when you win it’s a good race. There is no such thing as a bad winning race,” said 21-year-old Jo-

seph O’Brien after riding his first Gold Cup winner.

“I kept a straight line all the way up the straight, Ryan (Moore on Estimate) was looking for a bit of room as he was well entitled to and I was quite entitled to keep on the run that I had.

“When we got to the front he had a little look and he just came out for a stride.”

Port Mourant Cricket Club management cries foul at non-inclusion of Under-17 duo

By Calvin Roberts

DESPITE having several impressive performances for their Under-17 side in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/Memorex Under-17 Inter-club competition, Port Mourant Cricket Club’s (PMCC) Vivekanand Jagjit and his skipper Daniel Samaroo, still found it hard to break into the Ancient County Under-17 Inter-county team.

For this, PMCC’s president Vicram Seubarran, who is an ardent cricket fan and enthusiast, is crying foul at the mediocre treatment being meted out to the duo, who, he felt, should have been in the squad, since their returns for the club in the aforementioned tournament have been impressive.

“What is the purpose of the BCB hosting the Memorex Under-17 tournament from which they select the players who performed creditably to compete in the Inter-zone tournament and they are not being selected?” asked

Calls on GCB to intervene

The two players from PMCC who were overlooked for the Berbice Under-17 team are Daniel Samaroo (left) and Vivekanand Jagjit.

Seubarran. used to select the Under-17 He added, “All match team is a fraud, because while reports were submitted to some may say playing in the the BCB in a timely man- Inter-zone is the criterion for ner, from which they could selection, the BCB selectors have seen that both Jagjit picked the team from one and Samaroo had consistent match and there are some performances for Port Mou- players who did not perform rant, thus guaranteeing them creditably in that match, but a place in the final 11 for the were selected.”

Inter-zone matches.

Seubarran, who is the “To my mind, this whole sole sponsor of Guyana’s selection process that is being T20 champions the Universal

DVD Titans, cited as an example the preferred leg-spinner chosen by the BCB Junior Selection Committee, ahead of Jagjit, who is head and shoulders above the preferred individual.

“Jagjit played all the matches for us and performed well with the ball and bat. In fact, in four matches, he has taken 32 wickets including five five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls, with his best bowling per innings being 6 for 20 in the match where he took 11 for 46.

And when you look at his returns with the bat for the same period, he has scored a total of 103 runs with a topscore of 44 against Whim, in the same match for which he took a combined total of 3 for 33, with a best haul of 2 for 10.

So are they saying that such overall performances do not guarantee him a place in the 14-man squad for the Inter-county tournament even though he has not played in

Favourite Leading Light wins Ascot Gold Cup

By Andrew Nutting ASCOT, England (Reuters) - Leading Light, the 10-11 favourite, won a thrilling Gold Cup on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot yesterday.

The colt landed the first prize of £212 662 to hand Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien

his sixth victory in the Group One race.

Leading Light finished a neck in front of Queen Elizabeth’s horse, 2013 winner Estimate (8-1). Outsider Missunited (40-1) was a short head away in third place.

“Your heart was in your

mouth there,” O’Brien told Channel 4 television. “I thought he had a lovely position and finished well and when the race came on he was a little bit slow to react.

“I thought Joseph did well as he was just very lazy when he got there,” added the trainer in refer-

ence to his son and Leading Light’s jockey.

“We’re delighted. I’m so lucky to have the horses and to be working with the people I’m working with.”

Four-year-old Leading Light has only been beaten once since October 2012 and won the Queen’s Vase

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts ready to sweeten CBC 2014

By Rawle Toney THEY call him the ‘Darth Vader’ of Guyana’s basketball while some even refer to him as ‘Bane’ - all fictional characters - but their roles in Star Wars and Batman movies were villains that some people ironically love to hate, when the truth is Dwayne Roberts is just someone who always wants to win.

He plays fearlessly, he is obstinate at both ends of the floor and sometimes his dogged style of play lands him in trouble with the custodians of the game.

“For me, I always want to win, I play hard and always hope that my teammates do the same,” Roberts said in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport.

Roberts, whose alias is ‘Brown Sugar’, is probably one of the most popular local players and though the national team is yet to be named, pundits and even those with little or no knowledge of the game locally know fully well that the powerful forward will be selected.

Though being one of the most dominant players in Guyana, Roberts only featured

once internationally when Guyana attended the 2011 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) tournament in the Bahamas.

“I wish we had really tried to get the local players exposed more often, even if its blending it with the overseas-based players because it will certainly make us better and give us something to look forward to,” Roberts said, speaking on the fact that apart from the CBC tournament, Guyana’s senior men’s national team is relatively dormant.

In his CBC debut, Roberts

totalled 43 points from five games (Jamaica 11, USVI 8, Antigua 12, Bermuda 4 and St Vincent 8), averaging 8.6 points per game and shooting 40.5% from the floor, finishing with 4.4 RPG average.

This time around, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) solicited the services of its best available overseas players – something Roberts believe should have happened a long time ago.

“I think this time we’re going to have a far better team.

It’s not that we had a bad team in 2001, but we didn’t play much basketball in Guyana that time. We went against guys who either play for a living or do so on a continuous basis, at a high level,” Roberts noted.

Former Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers shooting guard Rawle Marshall who now plays in Europe, answered the call for help when the GABF reached out and has formed part of what many are calling one of the best National team Guyana has produced in a long time.

“Marshall is a big plus for us, but I played at that level and I know it will take a complete team effort to take us all the way. We have some very good overseas players and blended them with the best of us here in Guyana, I’m sure we can go and win this tournament,” the Retrieve Raiders power forward said.

“We have a far more athletic team than 2011; we have way more talented players who can score because that was a problem for us the last time. But I’m looking forward to playing with Marshall and trying to lead this team to victory,” Roberts said.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) employee said that he has faith in the Mark Agard-led coaching staff, to select the best team to represent Guyana, stating “all the guys have been working hard.

Everyone is showing that he is capable of making the team, but it’s now up to the coach to say who he is willing to carry to win that tournament.”

Like many, Roberts said

that he’s been anxiously awaiting the CBC tournament this time around since his game has improved and his confidence is sky high.

“The last time we didn’t know what to expect other than it’s going to be hard. People wrote us off from day one because they said a local team can’t compete. We did though.

It was hard but at least now we have a more compact team with better players, I must say, and even the guys from the last time have all improved.”

The tournament will feature eight teams and Guyana are aiming to finish with at least a qualification to the Centrobasket where they can compete for spots in the FIBA Americas Championship, from which they can qualify for the FIBA World Championship or Olympics.

Guyana are placed with defending champions US Virgin Islands, tournament hosts BVI, and Barbados in Group B of the Men’s championship which begins on July 1 and concludes on July 5.

Carmichael leads HTCC to back-to-back victories … enjoying stint in England

By Calvin Roberts

MALTEENOES Sports Club all-rounder Kellon Carmichael last weekend piloted Hadleigh and Thundersley Cricket Club (HTCC) of Essex in England, to back-to-back victories over Hutton Cricket Club (HCC) and Sabina Cricket Club (SCC).

On Saturday, HTCC faced Hutton at their Polo Field home ground, won the toss and invited their hosts to take first strike. They limited them to 203 for 9 from their 50 overs, despite opener Chris McNally leading the way with 55 (49 balls, 7x4, 1x6).

He got support from his fellow opener Stuart Feety who scored 48 from 64 balls with eight fours and one six, as they posted 87 for the first wicket, before Carmichael, who ended with 4 for 36 from his 10 overs, bowled McNally.

He followed it up with the wickets of Hanuma Vihari Gade (01) and Feety to leave Hutton on 113 for 3, enabling his skipper Adam Soilleux (3 for 25) to rout the middle order, before Carmichael returned to remove Nick Vanner (4), leaving Jamie Vanner unbeaten on 31 (49 balls, 3x4).

In their turn at the wicket,

HTCC reached 206 for 7 from 48.1 overs, thanks to Soilleux’s unbeaten 78 (87 balls, 9x4), 29 from Herry Callaway, 27 from opener Paul Tibberman and an unbeaten 21 from Richard Revell, who faced 16 balls and struck four fours.

Carmichael failed to contribute with the bat, as he was run-out at 43 for 3, in his attempt to steal a cheeky single, during his third-wicket partnership with Callaway, even as Jon Hammond and Jamie Vanner took 2 wickets each for 55 and 45 runs respectively for Hutton.

The following day, HTCC hosted Sabina in a South London Sunday League Division One contest at Sydenham High School ground and was asked to bat first by their opponents who bowled them out for 180 from 36.2 overs.

Lawrence Farnum topscored with 45, Richard Deer and Sean Grant offered support with 36 and 33 respectively while Carmichael contributed 11 to the team’s total, as Bunty Suthar took 6 for 33 and Nilesh Panchal 2 for 39 for Sabina.

However, in their turn at the wicket, Sabina fared worse and were bowled out for 119 in 35.2 overs, with Nirav Parekh’s unbeaten 36 being their leading score, as Car-

michael ripped through their top order to end with 4 for 10, backed by Alex Lorimer’s 2 for 24.

LEADING In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport via telephone, the 26-year-old Carmichael revealed that he is enjoying his stint with his adopted club, for whom he is the leading wicket-taker thus far, having claimed 30 victims from 12 games.

“So far I am enjoying my cricket over here especially on the bowling side. I have been bowling well, picking up wickets regularly, because the condition here suits my type of bowling and I think my returns will give testament to that.

On the batting side, the confidence is getting better every game. It is a lot difficult due to the conditions which favour seam bowling, but I have had some good returns, including two half-centuries and a few scores over 35, but I am digging deep to get the returns my team need me to get for them,” said Carmichael.

The soft-spoken medium fast bowler said he is working assiduously in improving all areas of his game, as he intends to make the Guyana team for the next Regional four-day tournament.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

Colombia beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to close on knockout round

By Iain Rogers BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Colombia moved to the brink of their first appearance in the World Cup knockout round in nearly a quarter of a century when they beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in another action-packed World Cup clash yesterday to take firm control of Group C. The South Americans, who fell to Cameroon at the last16 stage in Italy in 1990 with a team featuring the likes of Rene Higuita and Carlos Valderrama, had not qualified for football’s global showpiece since 1998.

They were deserved winners in an entertaining encounter in Brasilia and have now won two games at a finals for the first time in five appearances.

After a tight first half, the game exploded into life with three goals in nine minutes midway the second, starting when Colombia’s James Rodriguez beat substitute Didier Drogba to the ball and thumped in a header from a 64th-minute Juan Cuadrado corner.

Juan Quintero ran clear to

make it 2-0 after 70 minutes after Rodriguez had robbed Serey Die in midfield but Gervinho cut in through three defenders to score an excellent individual goal three minutes later to halve the deficit.

Colombia held out reasonably comfortably, though, to the delight of thousands of their yellowclad fans thronging the national stadium, and topped the standings with six points ahead of Ivory Coast on three.

Greece and Japan, who met in Natal later yesterday, are pointless after their opening game defeats.

“We have had two wins with players who are playing their first World Cup,” Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said at a news conference.

“It’s very positive for us but we can’t get ahead of ourselves,” added the Argentine, who was in charge of his native country when they beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in the group stage at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

“I’m very happy, this is a united group. We never lack that courage and valour.

“We’re happy to have

Pablo Armero of Colombia celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group C match between Colombia and Greece at Estadio Mineirao, yesterday in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

(Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images defeated such a good rival.

We have a lot of young players, this is going to help them grow.”

R A P T U R O U S RECEPTION Hordes of travelling Colombia fans transformed the giant arena in the Brazilian capital into a sea of yellow, with only a handful of patches of the orange of Ivory Coast, and gave a rousing rendition of the national anthem before kickoff.

After a cagey opening few

minutes Colombia started to push forward, with midfielder Juan Cuadrado at the heart of their attacks.

It was Cuadrado’s ball out to the left that released Rodriguez in the 28th minute but his fine cross was scuffed wide by striker Teofilo Gutierrez unmarked in front of goal.

Ivory Coast had their first genuine chance three minutes later when lively fullback Serge Aurier cut inside his marker and his low shot forced a good save from Colombia goalkeeper

England sucker-punched by British goal - Hodgson

By Andrew Downie SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - England were sucker-punched by a typical British goal they should have known how to defend against, manager Roy Hodgson said yesterday following their 2-1 World Cup Group D loss to Uruguay.

The winner came five minutes from time when Luis Suarez latched on to a long punt upfield that came off the head of England captain Steven Gerrard.

“It’s a goal we don’t expect to be conceded,” Hodgson told reporters. “Long goalkicks with the sort of players we have in the team.”

Suarez put Uruguay ahead after 39 minutes with a deft header. England drew level after 75 minutes thanks to a Wayne Rooney goal but Suarez decided the match

with his killer strike. “We’re devastated, we believed we could get a result having worked so hard to counter that goal and getting back to 1-1,” Hodgson said.

“I fully believed we would go on to win or draw and to concede that second goal is really an unbelievable blow.”

Hodgson said the defeat, coming so soon after they lost their opener to Italy, means they have an “unbelievably slim” chance of reaching the knock-out stage of the tournament.

England must beat Costa Rica in their final match and hope other results go their way.

“Our chances are unbelievably slim,” Hodgson said. “We depend on Italy winning their next two matches and us beating Costa Rica by the requisite number of goals.”

“To continue we needed a

England manager Roy Hodgson result today. We needed a victory and we didn’t get it.”

Hodgson said Suarez, who underwent a knee operation last month and was not fit to play in Uruguay’s opening match loss to Costa Rica, was quiet for most of the match but produced two moments of ruthlessness to separate the teams.

“I thought we controlled Suarez well in general play,

he did very well to get away to the back post for the first goal but frankly for long periods of the game we kept him quiet.

“We are normally used to seeing him more active in and around the penalty area.

“The second goal was an unfortunate flick off Steven Gerrard’s head and when he gets free with the goalkeeper he doesn’t miss.”

Downcast and laconic, Hodgson would not be drawn on what happens now for England.

“I think that in both games we’ve shown some elements of playing some good football and we’ve shown we are a team making progress,” he said.

“But results decide everything and both results have been negative.”

Italy play Costa Rica today before the final matches in Group D on Tuesday.

David Ospina.

Cuadrado again looked the most dangerous player on the pitch in the second half and he skipped into the Ivory Coast penalty area in the 59th minute before blasting an angled shot that clipped the gloves of keeper Boubacar Barry and shaved a post on its way to safety.

Ivory Coast talisman Drogba replaced the ineffectual Wilfried Bony a minute later to a rapturous reception from both sets of fans but was at fault for the opening goal and made little impact during the rest of the game.

After Colombia’s quickfire double and Gervinho’s response, Ivory Coast

pressed hard for an equaliser, Salomon Kalou, another substitute, shooting straight at Ospina when well placed five minutes from time.

“It was very tough, but the team showed class and personality, and we scored at the right time,” Quintero said.

“At the end, we gave them the ball, but that’s normal because you can’t overrun a team like Ivory Coast. We ended tight and we stuck to our tactics.”

Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi said his team had not deserved to lose and a draw would have been a fair result.

“We need to recover and be proud of ourselves,” he told a news conference.

“I feel we lost unfairly today and we need to fight for a victory against Greece,” added the Frenchman.

“A very experienced Colombia team waited for us to make mistakes and we did make mistakes.”

Ivory Coast have never made it to the knockout round, finishing third in their group on their debut in 2006 and again in South Africa four years ago.

Colombia play Japan on Tuesday in Cuiaba, when Ivory Coast take on Greece in Fortaleza.

Ten-man Greece hold Japan to goalless draw NATAL Brazil (Reuters) - Ten-man Greece held Japan to a goalless draw in a largely forgettable World Cup Group C clash yesterday that kept both sides in with a chance of making the knockout phase It was a first point for both teams but neither showed anything to suggest they might have enough quality to progress from a group currently led by Colombia, who have

won both their matches.

Ivory Coast sit second with three points.

The Greeks had midfielder and captain Kostas Katsouranis sent off after 38 minutes for a second yellow, leaving his team mates facing a tough second 45 minutes.

They defended determinedly though as the Japanese, who moved the ball well enough, lacked any killer punch despite dominating possession.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

4TH DIGICEL INTER-SECONDARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL C’SHIPS

South Ruimveldt Secondary and St John’s drub opponents

By Calvin Roberts BOTH South Ruimveldt Secondary and St John’s Secondary inflicted humiliating defeats on their respective opponents, when first-round action in the fourth annual Digicel-sponsored Inter-Secondary School Football Championships continued across Guyana yesterday.

Playing at the Ministry of Education ground, South Ruimveldt rode on the back of skipper Keith Caines’ helmet-trick which was backed by a brace from Xavier Scott, to defeat Christ Church Secondary 9-1. At the Police Sports Club ground Eve Leary, St John’s blanked Sophia Special School 7-0, thanks to Tyrese Ford’s helmet-trick.

At the Walton Sports Club ground in Essequibo, Aurora defeated Abram’s Zuil Secondary 4-1, while New Opportunity Corps (NOC) proved too strong for Johanna Cecelia, coming away with a perfect 10-0 win to advance to the second round.

After a sedate start in overcast conditions, Scott

… Three players hammer home helmet-tricks

Chronicle Sport Adrian Narine was on hand to capture part of the action between South Ruimveldt Secondary in red tops and Christ Church Secondary at the Ministry of Education ground, which the former won 9-1. opened the scoring for South Ruimveldt with his 8th minute goal, after receiving a pass from Caines, who two minutes later made it 2-0 with his first of four goals.

After a see-saw battle for possession in Christ Church’s half, which underlined South Ruimveldt’s dominance of the encounter, Caines made a solo run on the right hand side and sent a wonderful pass to an unmarked Scott, who placed the ball at the back of the net in the 24th minute.

One minute later Caines, who displayed an unselfish attitude, made another run

and completed the play to make it 4-0 in favour of South Ruimveldt, who fought hard to deny Jovanty Best exploiting their defence and piercing their goal area.

When play resumed in the second half, Abdul Edwards and got a flick pass from Caines, which he lobbed over the head of the defender and sent a first time volley into the back of the net and even though South Ruimveldt had a 5-0 lead with Edwards’ goal, they continued to attack their opponents relentlessly in search of more goals.

They got two more off

the feet of Jamaine Beckles in the 47th minute, while Christ Church’s Lonsdale George had the opportunity to reduce his team’s deficit to five, when he made a solo run but shot wide of an empty goal after eluding South Ruimveldt’s custodian.

Wayne James missed the opportunity to put South Ruimveldt further ahead from a Caines corner kick, but Kevin McPherson did not muff his chance, when he made it 7-0 with his 54th minute goal, before Shamar Codrington pulled one back for Christ Church in the 58th minute, after a spirited solo run from Joshua Ali, who took the ball from his own third, deep into South’s box and made the cross.

Tw o m o r e g o a l s b y Caines, scored within six minutes of each other, (62nd and 68th minutes) completed his helmet-trick and also South Ruimveldt’s dominance over Christ Church, who were sent back to the

Routes confirmed for national cycling championships

FOLLOWING an executive meeting held last Tuesday, the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has confirmed the routes and dates for this year’s National Cycling Championships, in which Commonwealth Games selectee Raynauth ‘Obeah Man’ Jeffrey is the defending Time Trial and Road Race champion.

This year’s championships will be held over two days, with the time trials for Junior, Senior, Veterans, Ladies and Juvenile cyclists

taking place on Saturday, June 28, from Long Creek on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, proceeding to Loo Creek and back to the place of origin for the finish. Cyclists are asked to be at the starting point for 09:00hrs.

The following day, the National Road Race championships will pedal off from Homestretch Avenue at 07:00hrs, with registration starting at 06:00hrs.

Cyclists will proceed to four different turn-back points on the highway, ac-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Friday June 20, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL -Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Chris Gayle-317 & 333; Brendon MCCullum-302 (2) Brendon McCullum-156 sixes Today’s Quiz: How many wickets New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee took in Tests?

(2) How many New Zealanders have led their team in ODI cricket?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

cording to the category of riders.

The seniors will proceed to Kairuni Creek and return to Homestretch Avenue, covering exactly 100 miles, while the juniors will turn at the Police Outpost on the highway and return to starting point, for a distance of 60 miles.

The veterans and female riders will turn back at Kuru Kuru and head to Georgetown, covering a distance of 45 miles, while the juveniles will turn back at Coverden, for a distance of 40 miles.

Improved times should be the order of the day for this year’s championships, especially with the participation of some of the cyclists who have been chosen by the GCF to compete in next month’s Commonwealth Games set for Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August 3.

At the moment, Jeffrey, and his national teammates in Alanzo Greaves, Geron ‘Super Buck’ Williams, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams, Scott Savory and United Kingdom-based Claire Fraser-Greene, are undergoing intense preparations for the

Games.

Riding for Team Coco’s (Guyana), the 20-year-old Jeffrey clocked an overall time of 3h: 48m:40.71secs to take last year’s national road race from Greaves, who stopped the clock three minutes later followed by Greaves’ Roraima Bikers Club teammate Warren McKay. In the Junior division Michael Anthony emulated Jeffrey by copping both the time trial and the road race, clocking 2h 59m 36secs for the former ahead of Shaquille Agard and Hamzah Eastman.

Naomi Singh of East Coast Demerara finished almost two minutes ahead of Linden’s Hazina Barrett to cop the female title, while England-based Fraser-Greene, who won in 2012, occupied third spot.

The top three finishers in the Veterans Over-45 race were Ian Jackson, Raymond Newton and Gary Benjamin, while Junior Niles comfortably won the Veterans Under-45 ahead of Ralph Williams and Sybourne Fernandes.

(Calvin Roberts)

drawing board to start early preparations for next year’s tournament.

At Eve Leary, Forde found the back of the net in the 9th, 29th, 35th and 86th minutes of play, backed by Tyrone Arthur’s brace scored in the 19th and 52nd minutes and a solitary strike from Tafari Persaud in the 15th minute to hand St. John’s the win over Sophia Special School.

In Essequibo, David Belgrave became the third player to nail home personal helmet-tricks yesterday, as he did so for NOC in the 5th 35th, 76th and 84th minutes to guide them to the win after receiving support from Stephen Apple who got a double in the 25th and 37th minutes of play.

Four other players, namely Ossie Dey (10th), Keyoma Pilgrim (30th), Keston Browne (52nd) and Shemar

Davis (69th), added support to Belgrave and Apple for their team, while the goalscorers for the contest between Aurora Secondary and Abram’s Zuil Secondary which the former won, were unavailable.

First-round action continues today with Wakapoa opposing Charity and 8th of May facing Cotton Field at Charity, Beterverwagting Secondary meeting Golden Grove at Victoria, Covent Garden and Camille’s Institute clashing at Grove, GITC going up against St Winefride at Ministry of Education and Business School looking to take care of business against Morgan Learning Institute, at Eve Leary.

With the exception of the two matches at Charity from 14:00hrs and 16:00hrs, all other matches will kick off at 15:30hrs.

GLTA/GBTI Open Tennis tournament serves off

GBTI and GLTA officials witness the launching of the GBTI Open Tennis Tournament yesterday. (Sonell Nelson photo) THE Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) served off their Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI)-sponsored Open Tennis Tournament yesterday at the Bank’s Recreational Club, Kaieteur Street, Bel Air Park courts.

Considered one of the most attractive events on the GLTA calendar of activities, the tournament will feature some of the best racquet-wielders all vying for top honours and bragging rights.

“We’re hoping to bring out the best in our players and the only way for it to happen is to have them involved at a high level continuously,” said

president Grace McCalman at the opening ceremony.

The tournament will see players compete in the Men’s Open Singles and Doubles, Ladies’ Open Singles and Doubles, Men’s Over-35 Singles and Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Open Singles and the Novices Singles and Medley Doubles categories.

According to the GLTA, the Open category will be played on a best-of-three format while the Men’s Over-35 will play a super tie-breaker for the third set and the Novices categories will play one set.

Games will be played from 16:30hrs Monday to Friday and at 08:00hrs on weekends.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday June 20, 2014

39

West Indies on brink of winning second Test against Kiwis (REUTERS) - West Indies were on the verge of winning the second Test against New Zealand despite a stubborn fightback from the visitors on the fourth day in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday.

An unbroken 45-run partnership between BJ Watling and Mark Craig for the ninth wicket helped New Zealand avoid an innings defeat and push the match into a fifth day at Queen’s Park Oval.

When stumps were drawn, New Zealand were 257 for eight in their sec-

ond innings, leading by 18 runs with only two wickets in hand and a full day to play in Port of Spain.

Watling was unbeaten on 38 with Craig 29 not out after the pair had come together after tea with New Zealand, 1-0 up in the series, still 27 runs short of making West Indies bat a second time.

Resuming on 73 for one, New Zealand began the day cautiously, adding just 21 runs before the first drinks break and losing opener Tom Latham for 36, caught by Kraigg Brathwaite at silly point

off the bowling of leftarm spinner Sulieman Benn.

K a n e Wi l l i a m s o n reached his half-century off a painstakingly slow 166 balls before he edged paceman Kemar Roach to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin for 52.

Benn then took a sharp return catch to remove Jimmy Neesham for seven to leave the Kiwis reeling on 129 for four at lunch before West Indies captured two more scalps in the middle session.

Ross Taylor departed for 36 when he got a thick

edge behind off medium pacer Shannon Gabriel then Hamish Rutherford, who went in at seven after a stomach bug prevented him from opening the innings, fell for 13, trapped leg-before-wicket by Jerome Taylor.

West Indies looked to be heading for an innings victory when Roach dismissed Ish Sodhi for 14 and Tim Southee for 15 before Watling and Craig knuckled down and survived through to stumps.

The third and final Test in Barbados starts next Thursday.

Kemar Roach celebrates dismissing Kane Williamson for 52 on the fourth day of the second Test. (WICB photo)

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 221 WEST INDIES 1st innings 460 NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings T. Latham c Brathwaite b Benn 36 B. McCullum lbw b Taylor 3 K. Williamson c wkp. Ramdin b Roach 52 R. Taylor c wkp.Ramdin b Gabriel 36 J. Neesham c & b Benn 7 BJ Watling not out 38 H. Rutherford lbw b Taylor 13 I. Sodhi c wkp. Ramdin b Roach 14

T. Southee c Edwards b Roach 15 M. Craig not out 29 Extras: (b-9, lb-2, w-1, nb-2) 14 Total: (8 wkts, 127 overs) 257 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-84, 3-108, 4-121, 5-153, 6-176, 7-193, 8-212.

Bowling: Taylor 25-8-46-2 (nb-1), Roach 21-6-53-3 (w-1), Gabriel 19-3-56-1 (nb-1), Benn 49-16-62-2, Gayle 13-3-29-0.

Position: New Zealand lead by 18 runs with two wickets remaining.

Boldon talks on Development of Elite athletes as Sports Management Workshop continues … Jackson delighted with turnout

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association, Kit Nascimento was one of several presenters yesterday.

Youth and Sport-sponWarning that athletes

By Tamica Garnett sored National Sports should not be written off THERE are many bench- Management Workshop basically because they marks for what makes continued at the Resource may not fit the conventional criteria for what an elite athlete, and four- Centre.

Boldon’s presentation make up an elite athtime Olympic medallist, Ato Boldon, yesterday under the heading ‘Devel- lete, the track and field enlightened an attentive opment of Elite Athletes broadcaster regaled the audience of Guyanese – A Framework for Prog- audience with tales of his administrators on how ress’ identified some of the development to becoming to identify and develop behavioural patterns that an elite athlete himself.

“It was because I was their elite athletes, as he observed, over years, comfortable with the unthe Ministry of Culture, among elite athletes.

comfortable; I was comfortable with things that would kill everybody else,” Boldon shared, talking about his days of training as an athlete.

Boldon also delved into the kind of mindset that elite athletes usually have, noting that building an elite athlete is a progressive journey.

“Elite athletes look at the small goals instead of focusing on the big picture. Elite athletes understand that the big games come from the little steps … (they) improve a little each day and that is where the progress comes from.”

Boldon said.

Meanwhile, Trinidad Olympian Grace Jackson, who also made a presentation on elite athletes prior to Boldon’s presentation, shared with Chronicle Sport that she was very pleased with the turnout at the threeday workshop which began on Wednesday.

Both presentations followed an earlier session on Sports Marketing where those in attendance were given pointers on critical issues such as garnering

corporate sponsorship and the mutualistic relationship that sports administrations share with the media.

The morning session was opened by the president of the Tourism and Hospitality Association and former Rugby union president, Kit Nascimento, who spoke about important issues that administrations should consider before the hosting of a sporting event.

The workshop got more interactive when Marketing and Communication Practitioner, Michelle Johnson, took the floor to explain what companies are looking for when sporting associations approach for corporate sponsorship to raise funds.

The Republic Bank re p re s e n t a t i v e p o i n ted out that it was all about presentation, noting that conflict within sporting bodies usually dissuade corporations from wanting to put money behind good sporting initiatives.

“When a business supports an event it’s a unique marketing opportunity.

Companies want value for their money, financial accountability is very important to us. If you are going to seek sponsorship do not approach with a sense of entitlement or self-importance … organisations are under no obligations to give money, and there are systems in place that need to be followed,” Johnson said.

Johnson warned that other factors that discouraged corporations from sponsoring included demands for unrealistic sums without justification, tardy receipt of requests, as well unknown budgets, lack of other fundraising activities, and unwarranted follow-up correspondence.

The afternoon session of the workshop closed with presentations from Jackson, Digicel’s Jacqueline James, and June Rudder who presented ‘Connecting with the People – Through Event Planning and Management”.

The workshop is set to conclude today.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

West Indies on brink of winning second Test against Kiwis (See Story on Page 39)

Lethal Suarez gives Uruguay 2-1 win over England

By Peter Rutherford

S

Lethal Luis Suarez of Uruguay celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Uruguay and England at Arena de Sao Paulo, yesterday.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

AO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Luis Suarez struck twice including a dramatic late winner to earn Uruguay a 2-1 victory over England in a pulsating World Cup Group D match yesterday.

Restored to the lineup after injury, Suarez nodded home Edinson Cavani’s cross in the 39th minute and after Wayne Rooney equalised in the second half the Uruguayan took advantage of slack defending to slam home the winner five minutes from time.

“I dreamed about this,” a sobbing Suarez told Brazilian TV. “I am enjoying this moment for all the criticisms that I had to take.”

The result left England, who lost 2-1 to Italy in their

opener, bottom of the group and with little hope of reaching the last 16. Italy play Costa Rica in the other group match today.

“The second goal was a defensive mistake on our part,” England manager Roy Hodgson said. “We came here with great hopes but were unable to deliver. It’s a major, major sadness for me.”

After a tense start at the Corinthians arena the game burst to life when Rooney, restored to his more favoured central role, whipped a wicked free kick just wide of Fernando Muslera’s post with 10 minutes gone.

Rooney went even closer after half an hour when he met Steven Gerrard’s inswinging cross but his closerange header smacked back off the woodwork while he

landed in the net.

With England fans jeering Suarez’s every touch, the stage was set for him to turn the game on its head.

A lucky break in midfield sent the ball out wide to Cavani and Suarez escaped the attentions of Phil Jagielka to nod back across England goalkeeper Joe Hart for a 1-0 lead.

Suarez, who had been well policed by England’s centre backs until that point, wheeled away with a huge smile on his face, kissing his wrists and gesturing frantically in delight.

After the break, Uruguay had England on the ropes and Cavani should have done better when put clean through on Hart by Suarez, but the

(See Page 34)

Jamaica Olympian Grace Jackson gets first hand view of synthetic track

By Michael DaSilva THREE-time Jamaican Olympian Grace Jackson, yesterday got a first hand view of the synthetic track that is under construction at Leonora, West Coast Demerara and made certain suggestions to Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport officials who accompanied her there.

Jackson, who is in Guyana along with Trinidad and Tobago’s four-time Olympic medal winner Ato Boldon for a three-day workshop which ends today, said the facility is a very nice one and she was glad to have the opportunity to see it.

According to Jackson who represented Jamaica at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games, a facility similar to the one being constructed at Leonora has been built at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus in Jamaica and

… makes certain suggestions

Jamaica’s three-time Olympian Grace Jackson (centre) fields questions from the media yesterday at the synthetic track after having a first hand look of the facility. Others in this Cullen BessNelson photo are Steve Ninvalle DPS MCY&S (left) and Permanent Secretary Alfred King.

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all that is needed for that facility to be completed is the spectator stands.

She suggested that Guyana source moveable discus equipment and provide a small land space for shot put and discus events. This she said would preserve the international football size pitch which is in the middle of the track.

Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King asked Jackson for the source where the ministry can get the equipment and she promised to not only assist with the sourcing of that particular piece of equipment but whatever else is needed.

Jackson said the stands are already taking shape and that is very good, since once the two stands under construction are completed and the track is marked, things can start happening.

The Olympian queried if the two stands under construction will be the only two stands at the facility, but the ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) Steve Ninvalls was quick to point out that two more stands are to be built on the southern part of the ground.

Jackson then suggested that instead of waiting another year to complete two more stands, use temporary seating. “Don’t build seating accommodation for thousands of people when you can’t attract them, use temporary seating in the meanwhile.

She said building such a facility is a positive move that shows testimony that the government is serious about the development of sports.

“You have a facility that offers the opportunity for others to come in and support what you are trying to do.” Jackson stated.

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014