Guyana chronicle 21 02 14

GUYANA No. 103746

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2014

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

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At town hall meeting…

Lindeners call for passage of AMLCFT Bill Page 7

– not in favour of APNU proposal on seizure of currency

Money changer shot, killed in $1M robbery Page 2

Albouystown man on way home after buying oranges

55 school children, 4 teachers escape fiery death - as bus caught fire

SIXTY persons, comprising fifty-five students, four teachers and a bus driver narrowly escaped death or serious injuries when the sixty-seater bus they were traveling in caught fire.

Chronicle was informed by fire officials that the bus was returning from the city to a school in Berbice when smoke began emanating from the engine area before a fire broke out and engulfed the entire vehicle. There were lots of screams and shouting by the teachers and students alike and the driver pulled the bus to the shoulder of the road and there was a quick evacuation of all on board.

The passengers were taken to a safe distance from the scene and were quickly bundled into other vehicles and proceeded on their way home.

Brijlall Persaud minutes after he was shot and robbed

gunned down

Presidential Advisor on Governance Ms. Gail Teixeira interacting with a Linden resident after wrapping up the town hall meeting on Wednesday last.

Page 6

Facebook buys 8 WhatsApp for US$19 billion Page

- in one of the largest tech deals in history

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Money changer shot, killed in $1M robbery

By Michel Outridge A MONEY changer was shot and killed yesterday morning during a robbery in Lombard Street, Georgetown.

The murder took place in the vicinity of Builder’s Lumber Yard and INDESCO, a supplier of industrial tools and equipment, as other people were on their way to work.

Police reported that, at about 08:10 hrs, Brijlall Persaud, 42, of Eccles, East Bank of Demerara, was driving his motor vehicle along Lombard Street, when he was attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

The shooter fired several rounds at Persaud, hitting him in the head and other parts of his body and both men escaped with a bag containing some $1M cash.

Persaud was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) and investigations into the shooting are continuing.

DEAD: BRIJLALL PERSAUD At the scene yesterday morning persons who were in the vicinity said that the incident happened so quickly they

did not even have the chance to react, as most of the businesses were about to open and some had not yet opened their doors.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014 Most of them said they heard the gunshots and realised something had taken place when they went to the vehicle and saw the mortally wounded man, with his seatbelt still on, slumped in the driver’s seat.

There were pools of blood and broken glass on the road where Persaud was murdered on his way to America Street, another part of the city where he operates his money-changing business.

Eyewitnesses said that the gunman escaped in a waiting

sliver grey Toyota Allion.

Unconfirmed reports said the police managed to locate a vehicle. It is also understood that a security guard was arrested yesterday and the person remains in custody up to press time last night.

At Persaud’s home yesterday, his wife and children were too distraught to speak to the media and other relatives declined to comment.

Persaud is reported to have had no known enemies.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

Gov’t welcomes inputs for budget 2014 from any quarter

- Finance Minister THE Parliamentary Opposition parties are still to respond positively to government’s invitation to participate in pre-budget consultations even as preparations for its presentation in the National Assembly remain ongoing.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said that despite formal invitations to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), both parties have declined to participate in the consultative process with officials of the Ministry of Finance.

“I don’t know whether they will shift their position; but as of now, there is an open invitation from government to the Opposition to meet with them on Budget 2014, and as of now, they have not accepted that invitation. Indeed, they have gone as far as to say that they have no intention of meeting with us,” Dr Singh said during an interview.

Asked about the recent meeting between opposition parliamentarians and the hierarchy of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the signals of support for the military, the minister said that government is happy that everyone is on board and supportive of efforts to strengthen and protect Guyana’s borders and ensure compliance with local laws.

He made the observation, however, that despite the platitudes and expressions uttered by the political Opposition, it has been proven “time and time again, that they are not faithful to their word and cannot be trusted.”

The minister recalled that when a request was made for supplementary funds via the Parliament by the GDF, it was APNU which led what was described as an “unprecedented assault” on the query, requesting details about the need for additional funding.

The Finance Minister noted that the National Budget will be presented as it is constitutionally mandated, and he is hopeful that

…hopes Opposition will rethink their stance

Minister Dr. Ashni Singh

the Opposition will be supportive of every ministry’s allocations.

“If they keep it up, at that rate, hopefully we’ll have a smooth passage of the budget, intact. They should meet with NCN and GINA…like I said, we welcome support from any quarter, but this Opposition cannot be taken on their word as they have proven time and time again.”

The minister noted that Government’s policy is to engage with various stakeholders, particularly with regard to shaping policy and for input on key issues. Through this mechanism, the constant exchange of views is enabled, and suggestions, issues, challenges and concerns are noted. “We are able to learn what their priorities are; we are able to explain issues and challenges so that they are better informed to formulate their own positions on issues,” the Finance Minister stated.

Consultations have been held with several stakeholders, including the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), and all have been described as a good series of engagements, according to the minister.

“The door is always open, there must be no doubt in their minds about that, and there must be no doubt in the minds of the people of Guyana that the Government of Guyana is open, willing and ready to meet with the Opposition at any time on the matter of Budget 2014, indeed on any matter of national importance, but more particularly on Budget 2014. That must be made crystal clear”.

The minister said that he remains optimistic that there will be a re-think within the ranks of the Opposition, as other key stakeholders have used the opportunity to have their views considered as Budget 2014 is compiled. (GINA)

Home Affairs announces overseas training for officials THE Ministry of Home Affairs announced yesterday that the following persons will be attending training programmes:From the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Assistant Superintendent Ewart Whittaker will attend a Hemi-

spheric Workshop on Best Practices in Travel Document from February 26 to 28, in Miami, Florida, United States.

It will promote the exchange of information and experiences on the issuance and control of travel documents

Passport office will be closed to public on Tuesday THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) is informing the general public that the Central Immigration and Passport Office at Camp Road, Georgetown, will be closed for business on Tuesday, February 25, 2014.

This closure is necessary in order to facilitate the changing over of equipment for the continued proper management of the Border Control System and the issuing of Passports.

and identity management in the member States of the Organisation of American States (OAS) to identify the key challenges, gaps in knowledge training and support needs for the future.

Senior Superintendent Maxine Graham will be at a regional workshop to enhance the capacity of women involved in Major Events Security from March 10 to 12, in Ottawa, Canada.

That will focus on strengthening the capacity of female security practitioners with the potential to advance to management level in the fields of crime prevention and security governance, including managing elements of major security

events.

From the Ministry, Major General (ret’d) Michael Atherly will attend: * The continuation of the First Plenary of the Governmental Expert Group (GEG) of the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) for the Sixth Evaluation Round from February 24 to March 1, in Washington, D. C. The purpose of it is to complete the review and evaluation of the draft reports of the Sixth Evaluation Round and * A Regional Workshop on Major Events Security and Annual Focal Point Meeting from March 12 to 14, in Ottawa, Canada. The

purpose of the latter is to gather all National Focal Points from participating member States, along with selected subject matter experts, to exchange best practice and lesson learnt in the field of major events security and crime prevention. * Ms. Narima Mohamed, Immigration Staff of the Ministry will be at a Hemispheric Workshop on best practices in travel documents from February

26 to 28, Miami, Florida.

That forum will promote the exchange of information and experiences on the issuance and control of travel documents and identity management in the members of the Organisation of American States (OAS), to identify the key challenges, gaps in knowledge training and support needs for the future.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

After Ukraine’s bloodiest day, EU tries to broker peace (Reuters) - UKRAINE suffered its bloodiest day since Soviet times on Thursday with a gun battle in central Kiev as President Viktor Yanukovich faced conflicting pressures from visiting European Union ministers and his Russian paymasters.

Three hours of fierce fighting in Independence Square, which was recaptured by anti-government protesters, left the bodies of over 20 civilians strewn on the ground, a few hundred meters from where the president met the EU delegation.

The ministers, from Germany, France and Poland, shuttled through “a night of difficult negotiations” with him and the opposition, said EU officials who hoped a plan for an interim government and early elections could bring peace.

Earlier in the day, riot police were captured on video shooting from a rooftop at demonstra-

tors in the plaza, known as the Maidan. Protesters hurled petrol bombs and paving stones to drive the security forces off a corner of the square the police had captured in battles that began two days earlier.

The health ministry said 75 people had been killed since Tuesday afternoon, which meant at least 47 died in Thursday’s clashes. That was by far the worst violence since Ukraine emerged from the crumbling Soviet Union 22 years ago.

The trio of EU foreign ministers met for a marathon four hours with Yanukovich and extended their stay until Friday to put a roadmap for a political solution to opposition leaders after colleagues in Brussels imposed some targeted sanctions and threatened more if the authorities failed to restore calm.

Vitaly Klitschko, an opposition leader, said he hoped for a deal overnight but added there was no clear result so far.

In global diplomacy at the highest level, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel who in turn discussed Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin “stressed the critical importance of an immediate end to bloodshed, the need to take urgent measures to stabilize the situation and suppress extremist and terrorist attacks” the Kremlin said - sharing Yanukovich’s view that he faces a coup.

The White House said Obama and Merkel agreed it was “critical” U.S. and EU leaders “stay in close touch in the days ahead on steps we can take to support an end to the violence and a political solution that is in the best interests of the Ukrainian people”. Earlier this month, bugged and leaked diplomatic phone calls exposed EU-U.S. disagreement on Ukraine.

Anti-government protesters detain a policeman (2nd L) during clashes in the Independence Square in Kiev February 20, 2014. Credit: Reuters/ Yannis Behrakis

Death toll from Islamist attack in northeast Nigeria doubles to 98 (Reuters) - GUNMEN from Nigeria’s Islamist Boko Haram sect killed 98 people in the northeastern town of Bama on Wednesday, residents there said after burying their folk, more than double the figure given by police a day earlier.

Gunmen stormed the town in the early hours of Wednesday, firing on a school, shooting or burning to death dozens of people and trashing the palace of a traditional ruler of one of

West Africa’s oldest Islamic kingdoms.

The area of the attack was a wasteland of burnt buildings that still smelt faintly of charred flesh, according to a Reuters journalist who toured the scene with local officials.

Women and children could be seen gathering what few possessions they had from the ashen wrecks of their houses, many of them carrying them off on their heads as they trekked out to find somewhere else to

Mortar attack on crowded market in Iraqi town kills 20 (Reuters) – AT LEAST 20 people were killed in Iraq when three mortar rounds struck a crowded market in a mainly Shi’ite Muslim town of Mussayab on Thursday evening, police and medics said.

It was not clear who fired the mortars or from where, but the Shi’ite community is a target of Sunni Islamist insurgents who have been regaining ground in Iraq over the past year and in recent weeks overran several towns.

The attack on Mussayab, 60 km (40 miles) south of the capital Baghdad, also wounded 35 people. Police said the death toll was high because the market is usually crowded with shoppers in the evening when the attack took place.

Last year was Iraq’s bloodiest since sectarian violence began to abate in 2008.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki says the upsurge is a spillover from the civil war in neighboring Syria but critics say his own policies are at least partly to blame for reviving an insurgency that climaxed in 2006-07.

Many in Iraq’s once-dominant Sunni Muslim minority feel they have been sidelined in the Shi’ite-led political order that took shape after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 that toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein.

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“We recovered 98 bodies that have already been buried since the attack,” Akura Satomi, a pro-government civilian militia leader responsible for security in the town, told Reuters.

That made 200 killed this week in just two attacks. The insurgents, fighting for an Islamic state in northern Nigeria and posing the main threat to Africa’s top oil producer, seem to have adopted a tactic of maximum civilian casualties.

On Sunday the Islamists killed 106 people in the village of Igze, one of their deadliest assaults so far. That prompted the Borno state governor to say the rebels were better armed and motivated than government forces, a charge the military denied.

The United States condemned that attack as “senseless”.

President Goodluck Jonathan ordered extra troops into northeast Nigeria last May to crush Boko Haram, which wants to create a breakaway Islamic state in the largely Muslim north.

But the offensive, backed by air power, has so far failed to crush the rebellion. The government’s co-opting of poorly armed civilian militia has also spurred massive Boko Haram reprisals against civilians.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

Highest award for Sparrow

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar with veteran masman Peter Minshall, left, and Calypso King of the World Slinger (Mighty Sparrow) Francisco during the Siparia Women’s Association’s Kiddies Carnival competition at Bhupsingh Park, Penal, yesterday. PHOTO: TONY HOWELL

(Trinidad Guardian) THE Mighty Sparrow, Slinger Francisco, is to receive the highest national award, the Order of T&T, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Wednesday . Persad-Bissessar made the announcement at the annual Siparia Women’s Association’s Kiddies Carnival celebrations at Bhupsingh Park, Penal. The State will also cover the medical expenses Sparrow incurred during his recent illness in the United States, she said. Last September Sparrow suffered a stroke and spent three months in a New York hospital.

Persad-Bissessar also presented veteran masman Peter Minshall with the deed for the government house in Federation Park where he has resided for many years. Both men were on hand as the PM unveiled Government’s plan to reward them for their contribution to culture in T&T. She hailed them as two of the greatest icons in T&T and paid tribute to them for their contribution in their respective

Cabinet says no to big salary hikes (Trinidad Guardian) THE big salary increases proposed by the Parliamentary House Committee for Members of Parliament, including the House of Representatives, Senate and the Tobago House of Assembly, have not been accepted by Cabinet, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday.

She said Cabinet, however, has agreed to implement the more modest increases recommended by the Salaries Review Committee (SRC), which is a standing body appointed by the President under the Constitution.

Persad-Bissessar was speaking to the media while attending the annual Siparia Women’s Association’s Kiddies Carnival competition at Bhupsingh Park, Penal Junction.

Following the interview, Persad-Bissessar issued a statement giving details on the decision.

She stated that based on legal advice concerning the removal of benefits currently being paid to office holders, Cabinet has agreed to retain the practice of allowing the exemption of import duty, VAT and motor vehicle taxes for MPs. “In its 98th Report, the SRC, after careful deliberations, including receiving for the first time direct representations from Members of Parliament, had recommended interim increases for the Prime Minister, Attorney General, Cabinet and non-Cabinet ministers, Speaker, President of the Senate, Leader of the Opposition and MPs, pending a comprehensive job-evaluation exercise and compensation survey,” she said.

The SRC, however, also proposed removal for MPs of the exemptions covering the purchase of motor vehicles—taxes and duty.

Persad-Bissessar stated several Members of Parliament strongly

Convicted Jamaican cop killer to be executed in Florida February 26

(Jamaica Gleaner) A JAMAICAN man sentenced to death in the American state of Florida for the killing of a state trooper 22 years ago, is to be executed next week.

Florida Governor, Rick Scott, informed prison officials on January 17 that the Jamaican, Paul Augustus Howell, should be executed by lethal injection on February 26 at 6pm.

Howell was convicted and sentenced to death for the slaying of state trooper Jimmy Fulford in 1992.

He was scheduled to die by lethal injection on February 26 last year but a day before, the Court of Appeal for the 11th Circuit Court granted a stay of the execution.

The stay was granted because Howell’s attorneys had filed an appeal.

However, in his letter to prison authorities, Governor Scott said the state’s Attorney General certified on January 15 that the stay of execution had been lifted.

Scott said Florida state law requires that a new execution date be set within ten days.

argued the SRC had not recognised the realities of current demands and the considerable time and effort required to serve at the parliamentary level.

“This, many felt, virtually required parliamentary representation to be full-time, precluding the ability to earn additional remuneration,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar said the SRC’s report was in turn studied by the Parliamentary House Committee, which bears responsibility for the “comfort and convenience of members of the House of Representatives”.

Higher levels of salary increases, plus new duty, professional and housing allowances, were proposed, against what the House Committee said were compelling arguments, highlighting, among other matters, assessments with comparable private-sector jobs, she stated.

“St Joseph Member of Parliament Terrence Deyalsingh had publicly reflected the sentiments of many members that new standing regulations would have required even greater input from members who will now be required to sit on additional standing committees.

“Cabinet noted it was mindful of the arguments made in the House Committee Report, including the fact that the last pay increases for MPs were implemented eight years ago.

“In the last SRC review of 2008/2009, it was recommended and agreed by the then Cabinet to maintain existing salary levels.”

spheres.

Saying she could not leave the country today without paying tribute to both men, Persad-Bissessar said their work had been recognised nationally and internationally. “As Prime Minister of our land, I am very pleased to announce today in your very distinguished presence that I have advised his Excellency the President, Mr Justice Anthony Carmona, to confer on you, Dr Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, the prestigious Order of T&T, the highest recognition and honour which can be awarded to any citizen,”she told Sparrow.

Announcing the Government had agreed to pay his medical expenses, Persad-Bissessar said by the grace of God he had

successfully recovered from his ailment. “In the immortal words of your calypsoes and the unique style of your showmanship, you have entertained our senses and challenged our sensibilities.

“Your words have inspired, reflected, caused serious introspection and at times have just provided sheer musical and lyrical delight,” Persad-Bissessar said, adding: “Sir, you are literally one of a kind, emulated but never imitated.” In true Sparrow style, the Birdie said it was with great pride and pleasure that he accepted the honour. “I want to thank the people for their love and kindness and I only hope I will be around to give you more and more,” he said.

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GUYANA

Albouystown man gunned down on way home after buying oranges

By Michel Outridge

EDITORIAL

Correlation between spousal murder and substance abuse

ABUSE, especially domestic abuse, is spiralling out of control, to the extent where there has been an inordinate loss of lives in recent years because of domestic violence.

The abuse of substances – societally-acceptable ones such as alcohol, as well as illicit substances such as hard drugs -- has risen in direct correlation with what now seems to have become an epidemic: Spousal murder.

There seems to be no end in sight, and various interventions to address this social ill seem ineffective, as the headlines continue to highlight the continuum of spousal murders.

One of the suggestions made is to make a report to the nearest police station, but the police seem to be woefully lacking in the necessary training to address many of the social ills of the nation.

Those who are supposed ‘To Protect and Serve’ most often have provided the catalyst for a tragedy to occur by their attitude, attention, or lack thereof, and plain don’t-give-a-damn attitude when a complainant drums up the necessary courage (most often with great difficulty) and lodges a complaint.

Many victims of continuous abuse are killed because of the complacency of the members of the Police Force who refuse to investigate complaints and lay charges, or take the actions necessary to protect the victim from further abuse.

Guyanese have seemingly stopped being our brother’s (and sister’s) keepers because, in many communities, neighbours witnessing a continuum and escalating instances of abuse refuse to become involved. They prefer to enjoy the unfolding tragedy, even adding to it with malicious rumour-mongering and strife-making, because the titillation of feuds and wars within families find a corresponding resonance in the dark nuances resident in every soul, and the average person refuses to rise above their more decadent equivalencies to achieve a higher plane of thought and action, enough to maybe intercede, and probably save a family from ultimate destruction.

And one wonders what part the Church bodies and religious leaders play in melding communities into units cohesive enough to fashion strategies for interventions within families and the general society, in efforts to divert energies into more productive and peaceful approaches to conflict resolution, even to the point of empowerment.

The acceleration in violence-prone conflicts within families and societies is spiraling out of control, to the extent where many lives have been lost, with many more dislocated, and there seems to be no end in sight.

Unless there is a holistic, proactive approach, where all stakeholders in the nation are made aware that this cause and this fight is a national one -- because, more often than not, it is our children, the future generations of our nation, who are the statistics of domestic violence –- valiant and committed as they may be, every effort made will prove woefully inadequate, because domestic violence is a national tradition entrenched in the Guyanese psyche.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

AN Albouystown resident was shot and killed in an apparent execution early yesterday morning while on his way home after purchasing oranges.

Dead is Vibert Samuels, 53, of Lot 22 Coconut Walk, Callendar Street, Albouystown.

Police said that about 05:30hrs yesterday, the body of Vibert Samuels was found with a suspected bullet wound in the back on the roadway at Coconut Walk and Callendar Street, Albouystown.

He succumbed while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Investigations are in progress.

Sister of the deceased, Marine Samuels yesterday said she was at the time in her bed and heard an unfamiliar man’s voice saying, “Don’t f****** move” before she heard a gunshot.

The grieving woman stated that it was then she got out of bed to see what was happening and saw her brother lying in a pool of blood. He had been shot by a man who escaped on a bicycle.

The woman said that her brother went to the corner of Callendar Street, a short distance away, to buy oranges as he often does and was on his way home when he was killed by a lone gunman.

Samuels was a gardener/ painter and the father of three children, ages 22, 19 and 14.

It was said that he was not a trouble maker of any sort and his murder is a total shock to his family.

Some relatives were too devastated to talk about the incident yesterday while others were in obvious disbelief

Executed: Vibert Samuels and were clueless as to why he was executed.

Man shot in Church Street robbery listed as critical --warded at private city hospital

IN a daring daylight robbery, a man was yesterday shot and his wife robbed of a bag containing $150,000 and valuable documents.

Sunil Ramesh, 39, was shot in the chest and shoulder as he was about to enter a bus on Church Street, across the road from Assuria Insurance Company. In the process his wife Anjanie Ramesh, 36, was relieved of her bag containing the cash and documents.

An eyewitness recalled that the robbery happened so fast it greatly shocked the woman who struggled to hold her shot husband

Mahaica murder trial…

Conductor of ID parade says No. 1 accused was not identified

By George Barclay INSPECTOR Denise Charles who conducted an identification parade to pick out the killer of Lakhram Bishundial at Mahaica in 2010, yesterday told the jury that the number one accused Shawn Thom was not identified.

The accused Shawn Thom and Orin David, called ‘Plait hair’ are facing indictments of felony murder, accusing them with the murder of Lakhram Bishundial, called ‘Mohan’, on the 21st of August, 2010, and robbery under arms the same day.

Mrs. Judith Mursalin of the DPP Chambers is prosecuting.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Trenton Lake is defending the number one accused Shawn Thom while Mr. George Thomas is representing Orin David.

On the same day that persons were rushing the injured Lakhram Bishundial to hospital after he had been shot and the money bag was taken away, the party saw at Victoria Gas Station what appeared to be money flying around and a man who had the money bag.

The number one accused was also arrested that day.

Inspector Denise Charles who at that time was attached to the Sparendaam Police Station stated that she assisted in the police investigations.

According to her she made arrangements for the holding of an Identification Parade at Turkeyen Police Station. Nine persons were on that parade, including the suspect.

She told Defence Counsel Lake that as far as she was aware, the witnesses at the ID parade did not identify the number one accused.

Their task was to pick out the person who was concerned with the shooting of Lakhram Bishundial on the 21st of August, 2010.

The hearing is continuing.

up, even as he bled profusely from the chest. “I was standing across there, and just heard about three gunshots. When I look ah see the woman struggling to hold up the shot man, but he was bleeding really bad from his chest,” one man at the scene said.

Ramesh was rushed to a private hospital in the city where his condition was said to be critical.

The incident happened around 12:30hrs when, according to passersby, two men rode up on a motorcycle and launched their attack on the couple. The assailants then escaped on their motorcycle. Police are investigating.(Shirley Thomas)

Businessman on ‘furious driving’ charge - allegedly hit down man he accused of stealing his Nike boots, Prada slippers

By Geeta Rampersaud BUSINESSMAN Burnett Hutson, (no address given), who was charged with furious driving was ordered to post $500,000 bail by Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, particulars of which said that on February 14 at Jackson Street, Tucville, Georgetown, he drove motor vehicle GPP 9260 in a furious manner and hit down Marlon Dolphin, causing him to receive injuries.

Police Inspector Joel Ricknauth, prosecuting, said the complainant was riding his bicycle along the southern side of Jackson Street, when Hutson drove the vehicle and hit him from behind. Dolphin fell to the ground and received injuries.

The defendant then approached Dolphin and dealt him several lashes about his body and accused him of stealing his boots.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Dolphin of Lot 286 Beverley

Charlestown murder trial begins before Justice Navindra Singh A JUDGE and a mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes yesterday heard about the chopping up of a couple in Charlestown in 2010.

Dead are Cedric Blackman and Chan-A-Koon of Howes and Russel Streets, Charlestown and William Lyte of Charlestown is accused of their murder.

Lyte is accused of murdering Cedric Blackman and Chan-A-Koon on 26th October, 2010.

He has pleaded not guilty and is being represented by lawyers Mrs. Bettina Glasford, Mr. Maxwell Mc Kay and Mr. Brenden Glasford.

The hearing is continuing.

Close, South Ruimveldt Gardens, was slapped with a simple larceny charge in the same court. He pleaded not guilty to the offence, which said that between December 10 and January 3 at Georgetown, he stole Nike Air Max boots and Prada slippers, together valued $115,000, property of Hutson.

The prosecutor said that on December 10 last, Hutson left the articles mentioned on his stairways and retired to bed. He said further that subsequently he made checks and discovered the items missing. Hutson inquired from his son and wife but neither of them had any knowledge of the missing articles.

Later that day, Hutson saw Dolphin at Turning Point Hangout Bar wearing a pair of the missing sneakers. After he confronted him, Dolphin told him he got it from a man called ‘Two Pac’.

Dolphin claimed that he was still suffering injuries from being struck down by the vehicle and he was assisted to speak by a male relative who was in court. The relative informed the magistrate that Dolphin is on bail after being accused of committing a robbery at Survival Supermarket where he was employed.

However, he was granted $115,000 bail and both men were ordered to return to court on March 10.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

At town hall meeting…

Lindeners call for passage of AMLCFT Bill AT the town hall meeting hosted by the Government in Linden to sensitise and bring the people of the mining town up to speed with the status of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Bill, Linden residents were very clear that they want the bill to be passed.

“I am concerned with the bill, and I want the bill to be passed…I don’t expect anything different from them (Opposition),” one resident stated at the event held at the Watooka Guest House on Wednesday evening.

Another resident lauded the initiative by the Government for seeing the need to hold such a meeting as it served its purpose of sensitising them on the intricacies of the bill.

The residents were not in support of the Opposition’s recent proposal to the bill, that is seeking to give Police and Custom Officers the power to stop and search persons, and if they are found with $2 million worth of currency or more, that currency can be seized and the person arrested, if the police or Customs Officer has reasonable suspicion that it is the proceeds of a serious offence or the subject of money laundering.

To this, residents say consideration should not be given since it will be contrary to their rights to move around

– not in favour of APNU proposal on seizure of currency

freely with currency.

Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira and Minister within the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill were well received by the packed audience, despite efforts by some elements of the Linden community, to suggest that the meeting with the Cabinet members had been cancelled.

With the aim of sensitising

Presidential Advisor on Governance Ms. Gail Teixeira emphasising a point during her presentation during the town hall Meeting in Linden.

and bringing the people of the mining town up to speed with the status of the Bill, Minister Edghill set the mood for the meeting.

During her detailed presentation to the eager audience, Teixeira first sought to highlight the urgent need for the passage of the bill in keeping with the requirement of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). She told the gathering that it was in their best interest that the billed is passed without any hindrance and delays since Guyana is currently at risk of being blacklisted.

The Presidential Advisor went on to inform the gathering of what the bill entails for the ordinary man, as well as for business owners who have built their businesses from an honest living. On this note, she elaborated that the bill will provide for tracking of money being ‘washed’ to build legitimate businesses.

“Money from the narcotics trade was being used, washed, and sanitised and put into the legal system What this means is that someone who sells cocaine which is illegal and makes $10M has to get it into the legal system…it means you have to get it into the economy by one way or the other”.

With the passage of this Bill, Teixeira explained that the law would now allow the

Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to follow the money trail of money launderers.

Globally it is by these same methods as outlined in the Bill that several drug lords were captured and prosecuted, Teixeira highlighted.

“Globally, the United States and Colombia, they were able to seize, arrest, charge and convict some big

Minister in the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill speaking at the Linden town hall meeting

drug lord, not by nabbing them with the cocaine, but through their paper trail of following where the money went, be it through banking, insurance, cambio and so on.”

Te i x e i r a e x p l a i n e d some of the implications the non-passage of this bill will bring for numerous of Guyana’s thriving export businesses, and urged the residents to speak out and implore of their leaders the importance of the speedy passage of this bill.

In addition, Minister within the Ministry of Finance Bishop Juan Edghill re-emphasised the need for the urgency in getting this bill passed; more so the importance of getting citizens involved in the process. The Minister noted that the visit to the mining town was not about scoring political points, but to get the ordinary citizens involved in nation building and decision-making.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has not recommended that Guyana be put to the attention of the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) for review, but Guyana has to file a report

by February 28, 2014 to the CFATF for their review and report to plenary members in May 2014.

This report will include Guyana’s plan of action to correct its deficiencies as part of the ongoing process. Guyana is expected to attach to that report the conclusions on the AMLCFT Amendment Bill No. 22, 2013 which is before the Parliamentary Special Select Committee and a copy of the said enacted Bill to be analysed, correlated to the deficiencies to provide the report to Plenary in May, 2014.

Between February and May it is expected that there will be dialogue and discussions with CFATF with regards to the preparation of the report for CFATF plenary.

The passage of the bill has been in limbo for more than 10 months with no support given by the Opposition. It was only recently that they brought proposals for amendments, but these were not in respect to the bill, but the principal Act that was passed several years ago.

Having already missed several extended deadlines, members of the Cabinet are currently holding town hall meetings in the different regions with the aim of sensitising citizens on the bill and its importance. A second such meeting was held last evening in New Amsterdam while a third is scheduled for Bartica today at the St. John the Baptist Primary RC School. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

Facebook buys WhatsApp for US$19 billion - in one of the largest tech deals in history

F

Facebook Owner Mark Zuckerberg

ACEBOOK’S acquisition of the hugely popular messaging service WhatsApp for US$19 billion is one of the largest tech deals in history.

According to a report yesterday from CNN, it dwarfs Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram for US$1 billion in 2012 -- and even that was considered an astonishing number by many.

The New York Times report that the frenzy to acquire WhatsApp reached new heights on Wednesday when Facebook announced it would pay at least US$16 billion for the highly popular text messaging application with 450 million users around the world who pay little or no money for it.

The eye-popping price signals the lengths to which Facebook’s co-founder and chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, will go to protect his company’s turf as the dominant social network on the web, and is sure to fuel the debate on whether consumer Internet companies are overvalued.

Facebook, based in Menlo Park, California in the United States will pay US$4 billion in cash and $12 billion worth of shares for WhatsApp. But the ultimate cost of the deal could rise to US$19 billion, with WhatsApp employees and founders receiving an additional US$3 billion in restricted stock units, which would vest over the next four years.

The New York Times report noted that by any measure, Facebook is paying a steep price for a service that is widely used internationally but is less known in the United States. WhatsApp does not sell advertising and has very little revenue. It charges users a flat fee of US$1 a year to use the service, and the first year is free.

The purchase price dwarfs the US$1 billion Facebook paid for Instagram, the photo-sharing service. At the time of that deal in 2012, critics assailed Facebook for overpaying, and this megadeal is sure to attract similar scrutiny. And the price is also much higher than the $3 billion Facebook unsuccessfully offered to acquire Snapchat, another messaging service, late last year.

But Mr. Zuckerberg is clearly willing to spend big to acquire hot messaging technologies,

which typically attract younger people than Facebook does.

“Facebook is constantly working to not lose anybody,” said Nate Elliott, an analyst with Forrester Research. “Sometimes that is them innovating on their own, sometimes that’s them mimicking competitors, and sometimes that’s them buying competitors.”

The acquisition also reflects a new strategy at Facebook: The company intends to acquire or build a family of applications instead of simply buttressing its core social network.

Now a 10-year-old social network with 1.2 billion users globally, Facebook has become so ubiquitous in many countries that it risks losing some of the attention of users.

In buying WhatsApp, which is growing faster than its rival Twitter and other social services, Facebook gains access to customers who prefer communicating one-on-one or with very small groups rather than sharing information more widely.

Facebook has also struggled to gain traction in the message space in recent years, a big motivation for its failed offer for Snapchat. While Facebook Messenger, the company’s chat platform, is popular with users, recent attempts to create its own direct messaging service have failed.

Facebook is justifying the price of this deal by citing WhatsApp’s startling growth, which has been even faster than Facebook’s own in its early years. On a conference call with analysts, Facebook’s chief financial officer David Ebersman compared WhatsApp to companies with the potential to grow to 1 billion users.

“The primary thing we focused on was how healthy this network is and the pace at which it was growing,” he said. “We looked at other networks that have achieved those kinds of scale” and that helped provide a framework, Mr. Ebersman said.

In the announcement on Facebook’s website, the company said that WhatsApp’s messaging volume is now approaching the entire volume of all text messages sent globally.

Based on global estimates, that number could be as high as seven trillion messages sent on WhatsApp a year.

In the conference call, Jan

Koum, WhatsApp’s co-founder and chief executive, played down the idea of putting ads on WhatsApp and said he was satisfied with its current subscription model.

“Monetization is not going to be a priority for us,” Mr. Koum said.

The two companies have held informal talks for two years, but the deal came together quickly. In the spring of 2012, Mr. Zuckerberg first reached out to Mr. Koum. The two met at a coffee shop in Los Altos, California, and spoke for an hour, then took a walk for another hour and a half. Later that year, they began a series of dinners, and continued to discuss messaging and communication services during meals and walks in the hills above Silicon Valley.

Mr. Zuckerberg asked Mr. Koum to dinner at his home on Feb. 9, where he formally proposed a deal and invited Mr. Koum to join the Facebook board. Mr. Koum thought about it for a few days, and the two men met again on Valentine’s Day. Mr. Koum came over to Mr. Zuckerberg’s home, crashing the dinner Mr. Zuckerberg was sharing with his wife, Priscilla Chan.

They negotiated over a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries intended for Ms. Chan.

By the end of the weekend,

WhatsApp’s founders Brian Acton, left, and Jan Koum at its offices in Mountain View, Calif. (Peter DaSilva for The New York Times) They have denounced the according to Dow Jones Venin revenue — in Instagram’s model of relying on ads for tureSource. case, from advertising. revenue. And in an interview Facebook had US$7.9 bilWhatsApp, which is based last year, they made clear they lion in revenue last year, most of in a small office in Mountain were not quickly adding users it from advertising. Mr. ZuckerView, California, was founded with the goal of selling their berg said that money would help

by Mr. Koum and Brian Acton, business. give WhatsApp the breathing two former Yahoo executives, “Selling the company is room to focus on growth within 2009. easy,” Mr. Koum said last year. out needing to come up with Mr. Acton and Mr. Koum “It happens in Silicon Valley all an immediate plan for making have enjoyed portraying the time. Anybody can build a money.

WhatsApp as the antithesis of company and sell the compaIn that sense, Mr. ZuckerSilicon Valley. Unlike many ny the next day. That doesn’t berg is following the successful young start-ups that clamor for make you special, it doesn’t strategy he used for Instagram, attention, the WhatsApp foundmake you unique, it doesn’t allowing the service to grow ers often turn down interviews make you all that great.” quickly before gradually adding with the press.

Since US$19 billion is a sum most of us can hardly comprehend (and because it’s fun to imagine), CNN came up with a list of other things Facebook’s co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and his team could have purchased for US$19 billion. Mark Zuckerberg and crew could’ve built four new World Trade Center skyscrapers, at a cost of US$3.94 billion each (CNN photo) they had struck a deal.

Corporate advisers played some role as well. Michael Grimes, the Morgan Stanley banker who orchestrated Facebook’s flawed initial public offering in 2012, was this time on the other side of the table, advising WhatsApp on its sale.

A big winner is Sequoia Capital, the venture capital firm with a long track record of success that provided WhatsApp’s principal funding.

By some metrics, the cash and stock being paid for WhatsApp make it among the richest deals of all time. With 55 employees, WhatsApp is commanding a price equivalent to US$344 million an employee, Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines and killed more than 5,000 or about US$28 a user. And it is people. The recovery may cost US$6 billion -- less than one-third of what the largest acquisition ever of a venture capital-backed start-up, Facebook paid for WhatsApp. (CNN photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana…

Nigel, the Nightingale: Singing of his effortless spending of millions –but yet couldn’t pay his taxes or mortgage IN assessing the recent statements made by Nigel, the name Samuel Langhorne Clemens readily came to Old Kai’s mind.

You will remember Clemens by his pen name, Mark Twain.

And you will also remember one of his most famous quotes, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

Nigel is now being referred to as the ‘Nightingale’, which, we are told, is a small, passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old-World flycatcher, Muscicapidae, and belongs to a group of more terrestrial species, often called ‘Chats’.

Living up to his name, Nigel has been ‘chatting’, or rather ‘singing’ away, hoping to deflect attention from very damning allegations. But in all his melodramatic singing, he has only succeeded in incriminating himself even further.

In AFC’s statement on February 17, which started like a ‘Dear John’ letter, our ‘Nightingale’ responded to allegations that he has been representing criminals responsible for several murders during the crime wave at no cost, and also regarding accusations, that he was guilty of taking part in the compensation from Lindeners, even though he had said he was representing them pro-bono.

Old Kai was wondering whether Nigel’s version of ‘Pro-Bono’ was ‘Promise of a Bonus’ or maybe Promise of something else from those incarcerated criminals he represents.

As old people say, ‘There is always some truth in a rumour’, but I will refrain from delving into that.

Nigel, however, denied such allegations, and, in so doing, made some glaring revelations, such as the fact that he personally expended millions to bring in his ballistics expert from the UK during the Linden COI, only for the individual to disprove his contentions.

He is quoted as saying, “I personally expended in excess of

US $25,000 financing the professional services, travel and accommodation of the pathologist, Professor Hubert Daisley from Trinidad, and the ballistic expert, Dr. Mark Robinson from the UK.” He goes even further, “The cost of travel for the family members of the deceased to travel to Georgetown, along with their overnight accommodation in Georgetown when they attended the post-mortem examination were also donated by me.”

That’s a lot of money! But if, by his own admission, he has access to so much cash, why was he taken before the Courts for not paying taxes for one of his companies? Rather than honouring his lawful obligation, the Courts had to instruct him to pay over the outstanding taxes which his company was unlawfully withholding.

Then there is the recent revelation that he sold the proprietress of Mae’s Schools a property which he had taken out a mortgage on; and because of his failure to settle his outstanding debt to Hand in Hand, the company had sought to recoup its losses by auctioning the property, and, in the process, displace over 300 students preparing to write the CSEC exams.

On Wednesday, February 19, our ‘Nightingale’ again, through the AFC, announced that he had privately settled the matter with the woman. This is after she was forced to bring a civil action in the High Court against him, seeking to save her property, and the future of those innocent children who stood to be affected because of this predicament.

As expected, Nigel could not shut his mouth. He continued to sing away, in hopes of softening the negative reaction from outraged members of the public, and, obviously, to extricate himself from any guilt, as he noted that the balance of the purchase price, $8M, was not paid to him until the said Wednesday.

Then, as is typical of our ‘Nightingale’, he further sang, “This is despite the millions the purchaser stated she invested in the property.”

The first point here is that the woman had to be crazy to make a full payment to Nigel, and then hope that, in his good faith, she would have received the transport. She had paid $4M

upfront, and another $8M subsequently. Clearly, she had some suspicion to justify not making that final payment until she was fully satisfied of getting sole possession of that transport for the land which Hand in Hand was also laying claim to.

Her suspicion proved true, and we have to ask at this point: Why did it take the woman being forced to go public with her story, and then moving to the Courts for Nigel to rush and settle the matter with her?

This situation has been brewing for several years.

Why could he not, with all his ‘legal expertise’ and ‘good intentions’, have sorted this situation out before it reached such a crisis stage?

Old Kai also hopes that the people at GRA are taking note of the millions Nigel claims he is spending left, right and centre, as it would be interesting to know if those millions correspond with his tax return figures over the past few NIGEL HUGHES years.

On a closing note, I have also noticed some of the defenders of our ‘Nightingale’ in the past have taken to labelling him a patriot in the ‘cause of struggle’. I will end with Mark Twain’s definition of a Patriot: “The person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about.”

Action plan for domestic aviation industry approved

By Clifford Stanley A POLICY proposal and action plan for the domestic industry identifies aviation safety and security as its number one priority.

Crafted by local airline owners, operatives and other stakeholders, it was formally accepted by the Competitiveness Strategy Steering Committee chaired by Minister Irfaan Ali and, subsequently, approved last week by the National Competitiveness Council, headed by President Donald Ramotar.

Implementation is to be over the next two to three years and, at the end, will see the Ogle International Airport and the operations of local airlines at Ogle in full compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and recommended practices.

The disclosures were made by Mr. Michael Correia (Jnr), President of the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana (AOAG) during a media briefing on the initiative being

undertaken by the grouping to take the development, regulation and safety of the sector to a higher level.

The engagement was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre and Correia was flanked by domestic airline owners and operators and several senior officials within the sector.

He said: “Given the fact that the density of air traffic

within Guyana has increased ten–fold in recent years and flights operating each day into the hinterland, generally, encounter challenging weather and geographical conditions and poorly maintained airstrips, the aviation industry in Guyana has good reason to be satisfied with its safety record.

“But the industry’s emphasis will be on making it better. One accident is one

accident too many,” Correia declared.

THE GROUP He said the group which drafted the proposals comprised of Mr. Hugh Denbow, Chairman of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and its staffers, Mr. Saheed Sulaman, Ms. Artie Heeralall and Mr. Abraham Dorees; staff of Air Services

Limited (ASL); Ms. Annette Arjoon-Martins and Mr. Bryan Latchman, Chief Executive Officers of the Ogle International Airport and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA); Mr. Anthony Mekdeci and Mr. Ramesh Ghir, respectively, member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Mr. Daniel Fraser; representative of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Mr.

Mr. Michael Correia (Jnr) President of the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana (AOAG) with the microphone, flanked by representatives of owners of domestic airlines and senior officials within the aviation sector at the media briefing yesterday.

Mortimer Livan and other industry representatives, among them Captain Gerry Gouveia of Roraima Airways.

Correia said, under his chairmanship, the Aviation Sub-Group, at the National Economic Forum, had started work since July last year without any doubts there was considerable room for regulatory improvement and enforcement within the sector.

He said among the industry’s recommendations for immediate attention were independent aircraft accident investigation and prompt public reporting of the findings of these and actions taken by the GCAA to avoid a recurrence.

This was aimed at ensuring transparency within the industry.

The recommendations also included immediate action on the establishment of a national search and rescue system, with appropriate protocols under the Civil Defence Commission (CDC); implementation of industry recomSee page 10

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

Action plan for domestic aviation industry ...

From page 9 mended works for hinterland airstrips development to accommodate larger aircraft and with sufficient funding to support an efficient maintenance and rehabilitation programme and funding to achieve and maintain ICAO standards and

requirements.

CRITICAL ROLE Correia also said: “Pivotal to the industry moving forward is the critical role of the GCAA. In the medium term, we urge the strengthening of its administrative and technical capabilities, so that

it can efficiently deliver on its responsibilities. In the immediate term the flight operations oversight function must be strengthened and enforced.”

He said the sub-group has been positively enthused to see that the GCAA had embarked on a number of positive initiatives which concur

with its recommendations.

Among these, he confirmed, is that the GCAA had agreed to hold regular meetings with industry stakeholders, in order to generate greater collaboration across the board on addressing the needs of aviation.

Training of air traffic controllers had been enhanced with international input from which many had benefited.

The GCAA has also agreed that, in the interest of transparency, to post reports of aviation accidents on its website.

There had been a commitment, by government for funding to take the operations to ICAO level and $80M had already been allocated for the introduction of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast Programme.

GCAA has committed, as well, to networking with industry personnel and the Ministry of Agriculture to

discuss collaboration with the Hydromet Service operators in hinterland locations to pass on pertinent and critical weather information to aircraft operators.

POSITIVELY CONVINCED Correia said he is positively convinced that the only way to build Guyana was through the Government, the Private Sector and Civil Society working to meet and overcome the challenges together.

He said he is confident that the Guyanese domestic aviation industry is on solid ground.

“The wheels are beginning to turn in the right direction,” he asserted, while emphasising that the major scheduled airlines flying out of Ogle maintain extremely high maintenance standards which measure up to any international comparison for

the class of aircraft they operate.

Correia said, too, that pilots flying aircraft in Guyana are trained to the very highest international standards and are required to, consistently, upgrade and update those.

According to him, the combination of international standards of pilot training and aircraft maintenance procedures has resulted in statistically good safety records in the industry over the last 20 years, in spite of the recent accidents.

His comments were endorsed by several of the airline representatives who were part of the briefing.

Gouveia agreed that there had not been any falling off of passengers in the sector due to recent accidents.

“People remain confident about our ability to get them to their destinations safely,” he reported.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY FOR MASHRAMANI FLOAT PARADE 2014 THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) is informing the general public that the undermentioned streets will be closed to vehicular traffic between 06:00 hrs and 18:00 hrrs on Sunday February 23, 2014, in order to facilitate the smooth movement of the Mashramani Float Parade.

In addition, Thomas Road from J.B Singh Road to Camp Road; and Albert Street, from Woolford Avenue to Thomas Road, will be closed for the duration of the Float Parade.

Persons desirous of entering the National Park in motor vehicles are required to do so from the Carifesta Avenue Entrance.

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In Region 2…

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

Minister Baksh inspects new sluice to boost farming

By Rajendra Prabhulall

MINISTER within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Alli Baksh, while on a recent visit to Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), inspected a new sluice that was constructed on the Charity River Defence Dam to boost drainage in the area that is earmarked for township status.

The sluice was constructed by the Agriculture Ministry, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA)

and the Region 2 administration.

Minister Baksh was accompanied by Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, Mr. George Jarvis; Regional Chairman Mr. Parmanand Persaud; Regional Vice-Chairman, Mr. Vishnu Samaroo and NDIA Engineer, Mr. Jaffon Permansingh.

Baksh said the structure will boost the system in the Charity environs, especially the growing housing scheme.

According to him, the government’s focus is to enhance the drainage network in com-

munities so that excess rainfall water can be drained off the land as quickly as possible.

The new sluice was constructed in an area where an old one was located many years ago and water will be discharged from it to the Pomeroon River.

Residents of Charity said the addition will greatly assist them and have expressed thanks to the government for the project.

One farmer said it is further testimony to development that is taking place under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government and farmers at Charity will also be able to cultivate more food for the nation.

Minister Alli Baksh with PS George Jarvis inspecting the new sluice at Charity

Swollen body of missing labourer recovered

THE swollen body of a labourer who was reported missing after he disappeared in the Pomeroon River following a boat accident on Monday, was recovered at around 13:00 hrs on Wednesday afternoon.

The corpse of Ronald Ewart Newyear, from Land of Canaan, East Bank of Demerara,was found in the water at Aberdeen, where a collision involving two 40 horse power outboard engines had occurred in the Lower Pomeroon River.

Police are investigating the circumstances.

Continuing feud results in couple being hospitalised DESPITE the intervention of a religious leader and a Magistrate’s Court, a feud between pharmacist assistant Victor Yearwood and his Cuban-born wife, Illiana Pairol Urrutia-Yearwood escalated on Wednesday, resulted in both individuals being patients at the New Amsterdam Hospital in Berbice.

During a midday visit of the institution, this reporter saw them screened in different wards and no visitors were allowed.

However, it was revealed that Urrutia-Yearwood, a medical doctor is experiencing bouts of diarrhoea while her husband is in and out of consciousness, suspected of having ingested the weedicide gramazone and given a dose to his wife of almost two years.

Urruttia-Yearwood, who has been living in Guyana since 2012, was previously employed at the New Amsterdam Hospital before going to Eureka Labs and the New Amsterdam Prison.

According to witnesses, the woman suffered injuries to her head and other parts of the body after being attacked with a hammer by her husband who, subsequently drank the poisonous liquid, causing the couple to be rushed to the hospital where they were employees.

Victor Yearwood had been previously charged with threatening behaviour, an offence which stemmed from a misunderstanding with his wife.

He appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in New Amsterdam Court, on July 17, 2013 and was recommended for counselling at the Grace Temple Assembly of God Church pastored by Reverend Doreen Henry.

He was also placed on a bond to keep the peace. However, shortly afterwards, his wife filed an application under the Domestic Violence Act but it was dismissed because she failed to attend court hearings.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

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Mash preparations heat up AS Mashramani draws nearer, designers and their workers are busily putting together colourful and resplendent costumes in time for the costume and float parade on February 23, in keeping with this year’s theme “Cultural Folklore celebrating 44”.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) on Wednesday visited the Ministry of Education and Digicel Mash camps where designers and workers were busy putting on finishing touches on their creations.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand along with Technical Adviser and Head of School Board Melcita Bovell visited and inspected the costumes being created at the Education Ministry’s Mash see page centre

Some of the workers displaying the costumes at the Education Mash camp, Ministry of Education Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue

One of the Digicel workers displaying a female head-dress

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

AG presents CCJ with copies of Laws of Guyana, law reports

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall on Wednesday handed over copies of the revised Laws of Guyana, as well as the country’s law report, to President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Charles Dennis Byron, as the court concluded its first itinerant sitting in Guyana at the Guyana International Conference Centre.

Justice Desiree Bernard had previously donated from her own personal collection of the pre-revised version of the country’s laws to the CCJ. “As far as we know, this is the first time a State has made a donation of this sort to the Court, and I express appreciation to you for it,” Sir Byron said.

Under the Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank’s Modernisation of the Justice Administration System (MJAS) project, the Law reports and the Laws of Guyana were updated and digitalised.

Copies of the Laws of Guyana and a compilation of the country’s law reports that were handed over to the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall officially handing over the country’s laws and law reports to President of the Caribbean Court of Justice Sir Charles Dennis Byron.

For Friday February 21, 2014 -08:30hrs For Saturday February 22, 2014 -09:30hrs For Sunday February 23, 2014 -11:00hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

Mash preparations heat ...

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and Melcita Bovell, Technical Adviser and Head of School Board inspecting the costume From page 13 camp, at the Ministry’s Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue.

Designer Nelsion Nurse, who gave an overview of the concept behind the costumes, stated that the ministry will be fielding a 50-member contingent in the full costume small band.

Nurse explained that the costumes will depict one of Guyana’s myths about the old Dutch ghost Cloot De Nieunkirk who lurked about at night, and people would hear the “clip- clop” of the hooves of his white horse as Cloot made his way home from his plantation. The costumes are white, and highlighted by glitter.

Meanwhile, Digicel’s assistant designer, Julius Payne said that the phone company will be going out 500 strong, in Egyptian style costumes come Mash Day, also in the individual male and female and the queen float. He said that they are at the finishing stage of creating the costumes and are now in the process of registering revellers.

The costume were designed by Olympia Small-Sonoram, and as usual, Digicel will be “putting on a show” for the patrons.

Workers busy at the Digicel Mash camp at the company’s Head Office, Kingston

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

CONTACT NO: 604- 3518/ 616-0301

KI is International Chutney Soca Monarch for 2014

KI is jubilant upon being crowned Chutney Soca Monarch for 2014 MANY competed at the 2014 International Chutney Soca Monarch competition held recently in Skinner Park, San Fernando, Trinidad, but it was ‘boombastic’ Kris “KI” Persad -- who created history as the youngest artiste to be crowned Chutney Soca Mon-

arch in 2012 -- who again took the top honours.

Now aged only twenty-eight, ‘KI’, as he is more popularly known, exploded with sizzling ‘chutney fervour’ that the competition certainly could not match.

Performing in 19th posi-

tion, the lead vocalist of JMC 3Veni band delivered what was described as a superb performance, telling the story of his wife who ran away while he was on tour.

Persad’s song, “Runaway”, has been one of the most popular songs on local radio stations and at Carnival events. For his exploits, he received a whopping $2 million, reportedly double the cash prize of last year’s competition.

Samraj “Rikki Jai” Jaimungal and Ravi “Ravi B” Bissambhar tied for second position and would each receive $400,000; while Kenneth Supersad placed fourth and Nishard Mayhroo placed fifth.

Last year’s winner, Raymond Ramnarine, reportedly did not defend his title, as he was not paid his full prize money.

Ramnarine had won first place with his song, “I ain’t marriding again”, and was expecting to receive $1 million, but reportedly received only $800,000 instead.

Sources had indicated recently that Ramnarine and other winners from last year

KI

would receive their outstanding balances. Bombshell can-

not ascertain whether those balances were paid.

A & S Lumber Yard Crew presents Flood Light Cricket/Chutney Soca Party as part of Mash festivities ALL around, Fulani is buzzing with activity as entities and individuals prepare for the Mash

2014 festivities.

And on the Westside, the A & S Lumber Yard Crew is

staging a massive ‘Five A Side’ ‘Champion in Action’ Floodlight Cricket and Chutney Soca Party, tomorrow at the Tuschen Community Centre Ground, East Bank Essequibo. With their customary heart of giving working with precision and accuracy, they have put up for grabs over $400,000 in cash and prizes. Each team is required to pay $15,000 as an entrance fee to ensure they cash in on the lucrative jackpot.

While music will be provided by Stereo Sonic and 71 Sounds, the event is being staged with the kind compliments of Stag Beer, Chico Boat

Service, To-To Gas Station, A & S Lumber Yard, Classic Culture Gas Station, Pharbu General Store, Toney’s Variety Store, Ruben Sawmill, Dumb Boy Gas Station, and other entities.

Shout-outs go to diehard fans: G Money Family, Hard Boy Mini-Bus Crew, and the Hire Car Posse.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21 2014

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LINK SHOW 30 OPENS AT PARC RAYNE (Rahaman’s Park) WITH LOTS OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS THE Managers of Link Show 30 have decided to move its opening to a new venue, in order to provide a more comfortable environment for patrons. They communicated this decision to Bombshell via a press release dated February 13.

The Show opens on February 20th with a Gala event, wherein cocktails would be available between 7.15pm and 7.55pm, before the show starts at 8.00pm. Other performances are slated for February 21st, 22nd and 24th. The show on February 24th begins at 7.00pm.

Tickets are already on sale at Giftland OfficeMax, Nigels, Ashmins and Rent-A-Tent offices for the generous prices of

$2000 & $1500. Secure parking for vehicles is assured within the compound.

Since its inaugural performance in 1981, the Link Show has been staged annually, except for the years 1984, 2007 & 2008.

Link Show has become an institution in Guyana, attracting over 10,000 viewers annually.

It is the theatre production that has survived the longest and has attracted the largest audience support. The Show has toured Canada and USA for six (6) years, between 1997 and 2002.

The Theatre Company and GEMS Theatre Productions, producers of the Link Show, would like to assure patrons of a show that would be equally

enjoyable at any venue as at the Parc Rayne. The seats are all numbered, and sections of the rear would be raised. The enclosed section of the building is fully air conditioned, while other parts have fans and open ventilation. Covers will be placed on the outer area in the event of rain.

Parc Rayne is located at Houston, East Bank Demerara, where Rent-A-Tent offices are located.

The actors involved in Link Show are Henry Rodney, Rajan Tiwari, Michael Ignatius, Sonia Yarde, Sherry Ann Dyal, Leslyn Fraser, Mark Luke-Edwards, Kijana Lewis, Tashandra Inniss, Nirmala Narine, Nicola Moonsammy, Paul Budnah,

Manu Birthnite Bash slated for National Park -brand new Toyota ICT up for grabs THE National Park in Thomas Lands, Georgetown is rapidly becoming the location for various party concepts and live shows.

Come Saturday, April 14, 2014, the venue will be transformed into a ‘dancehall fiesta’ as Good Vibes Entertainment brings to the forefront

the much-anticipated ‘Manu Birthnite Bash’.

The hype of this event is centred around dazzling performances by international artiste ‘Busy Signal’. A local platter has also been prepared with ‘entertainment heavyweights like reigning Carib Soca Monarch, Kwasi ‘Ace’ Edmondson;

Shelly G

Scenes from past Link show episodes

Sean Budnah, Raymond Persaud, Lavonne George, Simone Dowding, Mark Kazim, Sean Thompson and Nuriyyih Gerrard. They have all accepted the challenge that the Show’s move to Parc Rayne entails, and are working feverishly to ensure patrons of a quality show.They are all under the direction of

veteran director Ron Robinson.

P ro d u c e r G e m M a d hoo-Nascimento assures patrons that Link Show 30 has much to offer. In addition to a bellyful of laughter nightly, there will be lots of prizes up for grabs. There will be nightly giveaways of small home appliances from the Lucky

Dollar megastore; gemstones from Kings Jewellery World; gift vouchers and shopping bags from Bounty Supermarket and Germans Restaurant, and other prizes from Nigels Supermarket, Hurakabra River Resort, Arrowpoint Nature Resort, and Splashmins Resort.

Flashback…

Entertainer Rawle demolishes competition in sprint at HJTV Day of Sports

-whoever said ‘phat’ means ‘slow’ was dead wrong THERE is this stigma in Guyana that once an individual is ‘phat’, he or she cyant run, jump, skip, or “fling it up like Mary”, because that kinda thing is reserved only for the ‘ultra slim hotties’.

Of course that assumption is wrong! Because HJTV’s ‘Entertainer Rawle’, deemed by some skeptics as “slightly too plump for comfort”, proceeded to deliver a sound thrashing on his colleagues, Kerwin Bollers et al, when they competed in the 80-metre dash at the HJTV’s first ever Day of Sports, hosted at the Police Sports Club Ground at Eve Leary in Georgetown last Sunday.

Many were the pre-race opinions expressed with the haughty scoffer’s disdain that the slightly smaller athletes (Bollers et al) would have dominated the event; and all clad in Spandex, Bollers looked the part of an internationally acclaimed athlete. But as the race came down to the final twenty metres, Entertainer Rawle, sporting ‘his over-buffed Caribbean figure’, made a surge like an enraged buffalo, and left his struggling contenders behind.

Rawle was representing Team Quick, while Bollers was rooting for Team Lightning. Apparently that Lightning needed the help of some storm clouds, or perhaps a large dose of a strong purgative would have sufficed.

A huge crowd packed the Police Sports Club ground at Eve Leary on Sunday to witness the Director of Hits and Jams, Rawle Ferguson, dashing past Team Lightning’s Kerwin Bollers on his way to victory for Team Quick.

What many may not recall is that Rawle Ferguson is a former national athlete who ruled the roost in his day. He was pleased with the victory, and hopes to repeat the win next year when the event is held again.

Meanwhile, Team Wickedee was the winner of the football competition, while Guyana Times/ TVG/RGI’s Treiston Joseph won the media race at the event.

Busy Signal dancehall sensation ‘Hector Jory; Fojo; Soca Queen Shelly G, and the popular Super Ray One Man Band.

How much luckier can fans of ‘Manu’ get? Folks, promoters are putting up for grabs a brand new Toyota ICT as a gate prize for a certainly lucky patron. Added to that, fans can win other consolation prizes that come as part of the birthnite surprises.

Early bird tickets are being sold for an amazing price of $1000., and the event is powered by Mackeson, HJTV, Star Party Rentals, Marcus Trading, HGP TV, M. Lewis Gold; Diamond Investment, and others.

Entertainer Rawle made light work of the competition in this sprinting event.

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You Shouldn’t Do That!

Shouldn’t this silly dude know better than to endanger lives so wantonly???

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

WANTON ENDANGERMENT OF INNOCENT LIFE AND LIMB WHILE on one of my many treks around Guyana, I was almost run over by a young man jetting by on a bicycle. As I jumped and scurried to safety, I was aghast to note that this youngster seemed to be ‘dancing with death’, as he fetched two very young school children who were perched in rather precarious positions on the speeding bicycle, whilst he, adventurous as ever, filled their nostrils with dust and sand as he darted in and out of the impatient midday traffic.

I became very incensed at this irresponsible cyclist, and, dropping my belongings, I sped after him, bellowing at the top of my voice. I finally caught up with him as he slowed to take a turn, and dashing before him, I managed to take this photograph.

Now, my good people, take a long and hard look at this photo, and ponder on the endless horrific possibilities that could have ensued had the chain of this bicycle been broken, or slipped; had the breaking mechanism failed, or a tube exploded from a puncture.

Even if you do not care sufficiently about this reckless youth rider, what would have happened to the two innocent little children who were entrusted to his care?

What some people do not realise is that transporting children in this manner, especially on busy roads with riotous traffic, is not the wisest course of action to take.

Readers, if ever you see someone practising this dangerous stunt, get them to stop and immediately give them a deserved tongue lashing.

Courts launches Mash band for 2014 COURTS (Guyana) Limited launched its Mashramani Band 2014 last Friday, with Marketing Director Molly Hassan declaring that the company is elated to again be participating in the Mashramani Road Parade.

Ms Hassan explained that Courts would not have a float this year, but would place revellers on the road to form its Mash contingent.

The company official disclosed that it would take a number of local soca artistes to Berbice to participate in this year’s competition. The artistes performed their renditions for the large gathering of persons who came out in support of their number one furniture store. MC Adrian Dutchin entertained the crowd and encouraged persons to come out on Mash Day and gyrate with Courts.

Persons desirous of participating in the Courts’ activities on Mashramani Day can make contact with the mega store’s Main Street office for details on how to acquire their costumes

A section of the Courts Guyana Mash Band

East Coast villages ready for Buxton/Foulis Mash 2014

VILLAGES on the East Coast of Demerara are feverishly preparing for the much-anticipated Buxton/ Foulis Mash festivities, and promoters have just announced the official route mapped out for the Mash Tramp and Costume Parade.

Speaking exclusively to Bombshell, Promoter Ian Havercone announced that, this year around, a large contingent would be coming from Plaisance village and will join the awaiting revellers at the Buxton Railway Line. They would

then ‘tramp down’ to the Melanie Damishana Market Square and circle the entire Buxton Village before congregating for the ‘Night Time Revelry’ at the Buxton Community Centre Ground.

The Buxton/Foulis Road Parade and Soca Bacchanal is slated for Sunday, March 16, 2014; and while the promoter remains tight-lipped about his choice of international artiste for this year’s festivities, Bombshell has managed to garner from him that he has planned a thrilling line-up of local artistes,

while two surprise international acts are expected to perform.

Music for the event will be supplied by Fusion Sounds, Stereo Sonics, Determine Sound System and TRS Sounds. A riveting face-off is expected between the Super Ray and Venom one-man bands.

Sponsors for this exciting event are, so far, Star Party Rentals, 94.1 Boom FM Radio, HGP TV, ANSA Mc AL Trading, NCN, Junior & Sons Art Shop & Auto Window Screen Repairs, and Money Max Jewellery.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21 2014

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Let’s tell it like it is….

Some pastahs does mek dem chuch de devil’s playground

PEOPLE, dis story very shacking, and it gon mek you livah tun ovah inside ah yuh if yuh is a Christian. Plenty ah dem so-called pastahs does bring bad name pon de whole idea and praxis ah Christianity.

Yes! When Bombshell get de predicts on dis story, ah was so very shacked and dissapinted, because ah know dis pastah well, and ah de always think he was a really good man. Too bad fuh me, I just waste a whole thawt.

Dis pastah belang to ah certain church pon Norton Street, where ah lat ah highfulootin bigshat sistas does attend. He wife nevah know dat he does be hustling de young sistas, and also pestering dem lil gurls at he wuk place. Imagine pastah demonstrating at de private classes he does guh to at a tertiary institution, and showing positions of how people does sex fuh de amusement ah he friends dem. Shame! Shame!!

Shame pon yuh man!!!

Lately, he start fuh pounce pon a certain sistah who wukking wid wan ah dem govament ministry. He texting she late late in de night begging fuh sex videos and asking fuh sex positions

The very enraged wife

sistah let loose pon de pastah wife wid a stream ah profanities like de Nile Rivah, and it was wan big dutty cuss-out in de chuch; and de whole Bible or prayer meeting bruk up.

Dem adda sistahs couldn’ta ketch dem breath, and deh

Don’t mess with this fiery sistah

mussee still traumatized by de whole big dutty explosion.

De wife call dis sistah a “flat batty Jezebel”, and de sistah call de wife “ah gigantic tub ah Egyptian lard”, and is Shame pon you pastah

and all dat.

If you think dat is all, yuh dead wrang, meh people. Dis pastah going pon dem porn site tuh check out men having sex, and he enjhaying it wid glee!!

He wife certainly gat fuh check he out.

Eh-eh, he molesting de sistah phone till he even mek she and she baifriend get wrang tuh.

Dis pastah suh stupid dat he leff all he text messages in he phone, and he wife run de phone and find dem, and went after de sistah wid fyah and brimstone in she blood.

And guess wheah de big volcano erupted? Upstairs ah de chuch in de middle of a Wednesday night Bible meeting!!!

People, can you believe dis?

But it ain’t surprise me, because I went tuh de chuch twice and dem sistas babbling and chattering during de sermon, and enjoying biscuit and drink without a care in de world. What happen to de reverence we supposed to get before God? Shame on y’all, and pon de pastah who encourage dis disrespect fuh de House ah Gawd.

If yuh see how de wife wade into dat sistah dis pastah deh molesting fuh sex positions; blaming de poor gyal fuh de whole thing, instead of attacking she husband who initiated de whole thing!

Well, it look like de sistah is a fireball sheself, because de

East Coast Mash to feature Lil Million and Guyanese ‘James Bond’ IT looks like revellers on the East Coast of Demerara are quite in for a treat this year. Bombshell has been informed that, for 2014, the ‘East Coast Mash Tramp’ will be heightened with appearances of dancehall hottie ‘Lil Million’ and the newly famed Guyanese artiste ‘James Bond’.

Speaking to Promoter Luke yesterday, Bombshell was informed that the Road Tramp will commence at the Melanie Damishana Market Square on March 01, 2014, and will conclude at the Victoria Ground, where the ’After Mash Wash Down’ will be held.

Other attractions will include face painting for the kids, Bouncy Castle, Trampoline, and sizzling performances by the popular ‘Fire in de Land’ masquerade band out of Victoria.

Coming to the platter on the ‘masquerade’ side of things will be a riveting showdown amongst the Bam Bam Sally, Mad Cow, Long Lady, and other character dancers.

Since the event is family oriented, kids can enjoy goodies like pop corn, ice cream, and photo opportunities.

This year, the proceeding will be infused with appearance of several rated DJs and entertainers, and music will be provided by TRS Sounds, Freedom Sound, Gold Rock, Slingerz, Stereo Sonic, Foundation, Peir 1, Gully Ras, the Supa Ray One Man Band and Love Vibration.

The event is sponsored by Mackeson, HGPTV, Remington Solutions, HJTV, 94.1 Boom FM, and others. All will be admitted free before 18:00 hrs (6 pm)

suh de two ah dem let loose at each adda in de big dutty cussout until de sistah storm out de chuch wid she weaving flying, leffing dis pastah wife heaving and puffing behind.

What a big dutty shame and disgrace!!! Dis pastah gat a lat fuh tell de Creator if he don’t change he nasty ways.

Hey, pastah, or should I say pata, yuh know yuhself…

Get on yuh knees and beg Gawd fuh change yuh dutty ways! yuh driving more souls to hell instead of heaven…

Yuh lucky we spare yuh and ain’t call de name ah yuh chuch! Pull up yuh sacks, bassman…

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

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Racing Tips ENGLISH Lingfield 09:30 hrs Honiton Lace 10:00 hrs Mahadee 10:30 hrs Gabrial The Terror 11:00 hrs Assertive Agent 11:30 hrs Consistant 12:00 hrs Al’s Memory 12:30 hrs Club House 13:00 hrs Waveguide EXETER 10:20 hrs Sun Wild Life 10:50 hrs A Shade Of Bay 11:20 hrs Astigos 11:50 hrs Legacy Gold 12:20 hrs Saroque 12:50 hrs Thomas Wild SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Fairview 08:55 hrs Varuna 09:30 hrs Untamed 10:10 hrs Tribal party 10:45 hrs Speck Of Light 11:20 hrs Sound Surround IRISH RACING TIPS DUNDALK 14:15 hrs Stoichkhov 14:45 hrs Iron Major 15:15 hrs Komitoe 15:45 hrs Master Of Time 16:15 hrs General Bunching 16:45 hrs Lord Kenmare 17:15 hrs Shake The Bucket AMERICAN RACING TIPS AQUEDUCT Race v1 Rock Me Mama Race 2 Chloe Bear Race 3 Julesco Race 4 Village Warrior Race 5 All My Medmories Race 6 Oliver Zip Race 7 Onthewhistle Race 8 Private Tail Race 9 Wee Freudian

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

UEFA to investigate Pellegrini comments (REUTERS) - UEFA has launched an investigation into Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini’s controversial comments after their Champions League defeat by Barcelona, the governing body said yesterday.

Pellegrini questioned the impartiality of referee Jonas Eriksson and accused the Swede of deciding the outcome of Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Spanish champions.

“UEFA has mandated a disciplinary inspector to commence an investigation concerning the press interviews given by the Manchester City FC head coach Manuel Luis Pellegrini,” UEFA said in a

MANUEL PELLEGRINI statement.

“Based on the outcome of this investigation, a decision will be taken on whether disciplinary proceedings will be opened.”

Pellegrini told a news con-

ference that Eriksson should be very happy “because he decided the match”.

He added: “The referee was not impartial. He did not have any control of the game.”

City fell behind in their last16 first-leg clash when Eriksson awarded a penalty to the visitors in the 53rd minute for a foul by Martin Demichelis on fellow Argentine Lionel Messi that appeared to take place outside the area.

To compound the punishment, Demichelis was sent off, leaving City to play the rest of the match with 10 men.

Messi fired home from the spot and Dani Alves added a second goal in stoppage time.

Windies were outplayed by the Irish, says captain Sammy KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - Captain Darren Sammy says he is making no excuses and has admitted that West Indies were outplayed by Ireland in their opening match of a two-game series at Sabina Park on Wednesday.

Ireland scored a huge upset, trouncing the home side by six wickets after restricting them to 116 for eight from 20 overs.

“Ireland played well and deserved their victory. We were a bit rusty and they came hard at us and in the end were the better team on the day,” Sammy said after the match, the first ever T20 International at Sabina Park.

“We were outplayed today.

We can’t make any excuses; we just have to get it right”.

The Irish innings was built around a solid 40 not out off 49 balls from Ed Joyce.

The experienced lefthander, who took home the Man-of-the-Match award, added 58 for the fourth wicket with Andrew Poynter, who contributed 32 off 30 balls.

“We never took them for granted. We weren’t complacent. They bowled well against us and we just didn’t handle it as we should have,” said Sammy.

“Then when we bowled, we did a good job of trying to defend a small target, but they had one good partnership of over 50 runs and that won the match for them.”

No West Indian batsmen crossed the 20-run mark including Chris Gayle who topscored on 18.

Gayle and Dwayne Smith who scored 14 put on an opening stand of 31 runs before the collapse began.

The two teams will play the second and final T20 International today at the same venue.

“We have to come back hard at them on Friday and put in a performance that shows we are worthy of being the world champions,” Sammy added.

“We will have a full training session tomorrow (yesterday) and look to get everything right on Friday (today).”

Keen tussle on today as panel decides ....

From back page hockey player Alysa Xavier and athlete Cassie George got nominations for the sportswoman of the year award.

Track athlete Jason Yaw, badminton player Narayan Ramdhani, table tennis player Shemar Britton and squash player Nyron Joseph have been nominated for the Junior Sportsman of the year.

On the distaff side, badminton player Priyanna Ramdhani, table tennis player Chelsea Edghill, track athlete Jevina Straker and Victoria Arjoon have all received nominations for the Junior sportswoman of the year.

Stabroek News’ Orlando Charles and Aubrey Crawford, Kaieteur News’ Franklin Wilson and Guyana Times’ Avinesh Ramzan have all been nominated for the sports photographer award, while for the sports journalist (non-print) award, Esan Griffith, Stephan Sookram, Sean Embrack and Alethea Grant-Charles have been nominated.

For the Sports journalist (print) award, Stabroek News’ Emerson Campbell and Chronicle’s Calvin Roberts lead the way in terms of nominations, but Stabroek News’ Duncan Saul and Guyana Times’ Triston Gomes are also in contention.`

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

South Africa rue rash shots as de Villiers stays hot

… Elgar top-scores with 83

By Nick Said

Kumar Sangakkara scores 128 as Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Sangakkara leads the way for Sri Lanka with 17th ODI ton KUMAR Sangakkara starred with the bat as Sri Lanka won the second one-day international against Bangladesh by 61 runs in Dhaka to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Sangakkara (128) scored his 17th ODI century and shared in a crucial 114-run stand with Ashan Priyanjan (60) that helped Sri Lanka recover from 63 for three to reach 289 for six off their 50 overs.

And that proved to be well beyond Bangladesh, who despite a fine knock of 79 from captain Mushfiqur Rahim, were bowled out for 228.

Lasith Malinga, Sachithra Senanayake, Thisara Perera and Ajantha Mendis picked up two wickets apiece for Sri Lanka as they wrapped up the win with seven overs to go.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Sri Lanka found themselves in some difficulty as Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal all failed to reach double figures.

However, Sangakkara and Priyanjan helped the tourists recover before captain Angelo Mathews added some late mo-

mentum with an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls, including the only six of the Sri Lanka innings.

Priyanjan scored his runs off 90 balls as he collected his second half-century in his fourth ODI appearance, while Sangakkara had struck 14 fours before his superb knock was brought to an end when he was snared by Arafat Sunny in the 47th over.

That was a little too late for Bangladesh though, with Sangakkara’s 83-run partnership off just 9.4 overs with Mathews ultimately pushing the game out of their reach.

The hosts then suffered a miserable start to their reply when they lost Shamsur Rahman to Malinga in the opening over, but his fellow opener Anamul Haque (42) helped them recover to 57 for one.

However, aside from Anamul and then Mushfiqur, no other Bangladesh batsman could hang around long enough to cause Sri Lanka any serious problems with their third top-scorer being Shakib Al Hasan with 24.

Sri Lanka will now attempt to wrap up a 3-0 series whitewash when they play the third match in Dhaka tomorrow. (PA Sport)

Pakistan bowling coach wants rotation policy for pacemen LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan, stung by injuries to key bowlers, will soon implement a rotation policy for their pacemen to prolong their careers, the team’s bowling coach Muhammad Akram said.

“We have spoken about it and I have discussed it with the two captains and coaches and it is something we will be implementing soon,” Akram told reporters yesterday.

Pakistan have suffered a spate of injuries to their bowlers including top fast bowlers Umar Gul and Muhammad Irfan.

The latter has also been ruled out of the forthcoming Asia Cup and World T20 tournaments in Bangladesh.

“Obviously in our set-up every captain wants to field his strongest bowling line up in every match,” he said.

“But the realisation is there now that with the amount of matches being played these days bowlers need to be nursed and

handled with care.

Akram, himself a former Test bowler, said that the loss of Irfan had been a big setback as had been Gul’s ouster from cricket for nearly eight months due to a knee surgery.

“We are confident about having a rotation policy because we now have good backup talent coming up and our spinners are world class,” he said.

Pakistan bowling coach Muhammad Akram

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa were left to rue the loss of cheap wickets after battling to 214 for five on the opening day of the second Test against Australia yesterday.

Bad light brought a premature end to the day after 83 overs were bowled with AB de Villiers not out on 51 and JP Duminy on two at the close. de Villiers passed 7 000 Test runs and became the first player in history to score half-centuries in 12 Tests in a row.

It might well have been a better day for the hosts after they won the toss and elected to bat, but Dean Elgar (83) and debutant Quinton de Kock (seven) gave their wickets away with rash shots.

The pitch did not have the devil of Pretoria and rendered Mitchell Johnson less effective, the South Africans playing him with relative comfort once the shine had been taken off the new ball.

“This is probably the slowest I have ever seen the pitch in Port Elizabeth,” Elgar told reporters.

“Here patience is one of the key things teams look for. I knew I had to bat long to put us in a good position, first-innings runs here at St George’s are golden.”

It has been a bitter-sweet week for Elgar, who found out he would play in this Test match on the same day Cricket South Africa decided not to renew his central contract.

“I got the bad news first then they softened me up with the good news,” he said.

Proteas captain Graeme Smith (nine) said at the toss his side wanted to bat first and put Australia under pressure, but it was South Africa who felt the early heat.

Smith was struck on the back leg by Ryan Harris with the total on 10 and the umpire had no hesitation in giving him out lbw. In the next over, Johnson breached the defence of Hashim Amla who was also trapped leg-before for a duck.

But Elgar and Faf du Plessis (55) batted patiently for a third-wicket partnership of 112 before the latter gave a catch to Steve Smith at short leg off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.

Left-handed opener Elgar, brought back into the side for the

SOUTH AFRICA first innings G. Smith lbw b Harris D. Elgar c Harris b Lyon H. Amla lbw b Johnson F. du Plessis c Smith b Lyon

AB de Villiers not out Q. de Kock c sub. b Smith JP Duminy not out

9 83 0 55 51 7 2

Extras: (b-4, lb-2, w-1) 7 Total: (for five wickets, 83 overs) 214 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-11, 3-123, 4-181, 5-200.

Bowling: Harris 18-5-36-1, Johnson 15-2-44-1, Siddle 22-7-61-0, Lyon 23-6-47-2, Warner 1-0-2-0, Smith 4-0-18-1.

Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis strike fifties to help South Africa reach 214 for 5 on the first day against Australia in Port Elizabeth. sick Alviro Petersen, added a further 58 with the fluent de Villiers before he tried to smash Lyon to the boundary and skied the ball to Ryan Harris at mid-off.

That brought de Kock to the crease one place higher than expected, with Duminy slipping down to seven, and the confident 21-yearold got off the mark in Test cricket with a boundary.

But the brashness of youth got the better of him and presented with the part-time leg-spin of Smith, he too tried a mow the ball over the boundary but succeeded only in lofting it to substitute fielder Moises Henriques at mid-off.

Lyon (two for 47) was the pick of the Australian bowlers, while Johnson, so ferocious in the 281-run victory in the first Test in Pretoria, managed just a single wicket at a cost of almost three runs an over.

“We thought it was a good day on a slow pitch, our quick bowlers put in a fantastic effort, the energy they showed was brilliant,” Lyon said.

“We must take the new ball tomorrow and get the last five wickets and let our batters have a crack.

“There was not much going on (with the pitch), even with the new ball, so we need to bowl with patience and build pressure.

Test cricket is all about patience, it’s a mental game; we need to make sure we outlast the opposition.”

Dhoni out of Asia Cup with side strain M.S DHONI has been ruled out of the Asia Cup in Bangladesh because of a side strain. Virat Kohli will lead India in Dhoni’s absence and Dinesh Karthik slots in as the replacement wicketkeeper.

Dhoni suffered a grade-one strain to his left side during the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington and will undergo rehabilitation for ten days. The Indian squad landed in Mumbai today after failing to win a single game in New Zealand.

Kohli has led India in eight ODIs previously, when Dhoni was injured during a tri-series in the West Indies involving Sri Lanka and then rested from a tour of Zimbabwe in July and August 2013. India won seven of those matches. Karthik has not played for India since the tour of Zimbabwe last year either.

India’s first game in the Asia Cup is against Bangladesh on February 26. The tournament ends on March 8, and the ICC World Twenty20 begins on March 21, also in Bangladesh. (ESPN Cricinfo)

MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

Flying Ace/Benjamin team up for second 50-mile cycle race on Monday THE Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice will team up with Sancho Benjamin to stage a second 50-mile cycle road race in Berbice on February 24.

The race which is being held in honour of Benjamin’s 80th Birth Anniversary will get under way from the Denvent Sports Club and will make its way to the Number 66 Bridge

Flying Ace Club coach Randolph Roberts on the Corentyne Coast before returning to the place of origin

for the finish.

Participants will be rewarded for their performance at the end of the race as the winner will take home $80.000, while the other top six finishers will also be rewarded financially.

The first three juniors as well as the first three veterans and first three females will also receive prizes for their performances.

The veterans’ category is opened to Under-50 cyclists only.

Benjamin’s children who are based in Canada are the persons who are putting on the show in honour of their father and have been registered as the sponsors of the event.

Interested participants who are up for the challenge can

GSA/Bounty Farm Mash Squash Tournament

contact the second coach of the organising club on telephone number 621-1951.

Though the turf ground is in Region 6, the race is open to cyclists from across the country with an expectant number of 50 persons taking part in the actual start of the race.

Asked by Chronicle Sport about the improvement in cycling in Berbice, club coach Randolph Roberts said that there are two other cycling clubs in the region which have recently started working with persons in the area.

There are approximately 25 registered cyclists in Berbice one of whom is said to be a national rider.

T h e c o a c h , h o w e v e r, pointed out that there is a need for a park or some other facility in Berbice to assist in the enhancing of the sport since cyclists are usually using the main roadways as their practice grounds.

Recently one of the region’s cyclist suffered injuries in an accident while carrying out his routine daily practice session.

Khalil continues winning ways with 2nd round victory over Phang Slingerz FC/Stag Beer West Side Mashramani Champions Cup kicks off tonight JASON-Ray Khalil continued his winning ways when the Guyana Squash Association (GSA)/Bounty Farm Annual Mashramani Handicap tournament continued on Wednesday evening at the Georgetown Club Courts.

Khalil, a former Junior Caribbean champion who has a minus 22 handicap and who disposed of Medhi Ramdhani in the first round on Tuesday, returned to the courts on Wednesday evening to brush aside Matthew Phang (plus nine handicap) 15-12, 15-4 to advance to the quarter-final round which was billed for last evening.

Also chalking up victories in the open category were

former Senior Guyana and Caribbean champion Regan Pollard, (minus 16 handicap), Ben Mekdeci (minus 10 handicap), Antonio Joseph (plus 12 handicap) Ryan Rahaman (plus six handicap), Nicholas Narainj (minus eight handicap), Anthony Islam (plus 12 handicap) and Lloyd FungA-Fat (plus seven handicap).

Pollard who drew a bye to the second round disposed of Daniel Islam (plus 11 handicap) in three sets after dropping the first set 9-15. He won the other two sets 15-13, 15-3.

Mekdeci defeated Stephen Fernandes (plus seven handicap) 2-15, 15-13, 15-13, while last year’s open category run-

ner-up Nicholas Narain beat Ashley Khalil (minus three handicap) 8-15, 15-7, 15-7 and Joseph defeated Alec Melville (plus two handicap) 15-11, 15-5.

Anthony Islam beat Mundini 15-11, 12-15, 15-13, Rahaman defeated Robin Lowe 14-16, 15-13, 15-12 and FungA-Fat beat Rebecca Lowe (plus four handicap), last year’s Category `A;’ champion 15-12, 1q7-15.

Mekdeci was down to face Pollard last evening while Narain had to face Anthony Islam, Joseph was down to play Jason Ray Khalil and Rahaman was scheduled to face Fung-A-Fat in the other quarter-final fixtures.

The Category `A’ com-

petition got under way on Wednesday evening with six matches.

In those results, Braydan Debidin beat John Phang 15-9, 15-12, Madison Fernandes defeated Dominic Collins 15-12, 12-15, 15-12, Nathan Rahaman who drew a bye lost to Paige Fernandes 11-15, 12-15, Makeda Harding beat Ethon Jones 15-10, 15-10, G. Carpenter defeated Sarah Lewis 15-9, 15-4 and will meet J. Edwards who got past Maya Collins 16-8, 1115, 15-13.

The tournament will continue this evening and conclude tomorrow at the same venue with a fundraising Barbecue.

Sponsors being sought for Regional 4-Day tourney PORT-of-Spain, Trinidad Sponsors are being sought for the Regional Four-Day Tournament, according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Muirhead.

Speaking at a WICB media conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain on Monday, Muirhead noted,

“We are actively pursuing some prospects and we’re confident that we will have some sponsorship for the Four-Day (Tournament).”

The tournament is expected to begin on February 28.

Muirhead added, “the FourDay (Tournament) itself, from an economical perspective, is

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Friday February 21, 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: Conrad Hunte and Basil Butcher (44 Tests apiece) WI/AUST/ENG (in Australia, 1979-80) Today’s Quiz: Who is the first man to hit a double-century and take a five-wicket haul in the same Test?

When and where did Everton Mattis make his ODI debut?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

WICB Chief Executive Officer Michael Muirhead not like a Super50.

It doesn’t command that kind of fan base which is what drives the sponsorship.

“We know that it may be less sponsors that we would get but, nonetheless, we are going to make it attractive so that we can get their presence and gain an interest.

“It may not realise a lot of sponsorship funding, but we’re certainly looking to get some sponsorship, or companies interested in sponsoring. So there is a future.

“That’s the route that we’re

taking.”

There are plans for daynight matches during the Four Day Tournament and, asked if there may be special marketing to bring out the crowds, the Jamaican responded, “yes we are.

“Our intention is to have a day-night game in every territory.”

How he will describe these current times for West Indies cricket?

Muirhead replied, “when you are faced with the challenge of where we are, in terms of how West Indies cricket is run, and we do some introspection, it certainly begs for some action to be taken.

“We’ve brought on board the director of cricket (with a) vast amount of experience to really bring a change to West Indies cricket, how we really develop cricket in the West Indies.

“We’re rolling out a plan which will effect that.

“So it’s a critical moment for us.”(Trindad&Tobago Newsday.)

THE second annual Slingerz Football Club/Stag Beer ‘West Side’ Mashramani Champions Cup will kick off tonight at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground with what is expected to be an exciting double-header.

Following the opening ceremony at 18:00hrs, Young Achievers will go head-to-head with the re-formed Pouderoyen Football Club then the home side and last year’s runners-up Den Amstel will clash with Eagles FC. Action continues on Monday, February 24 at the Uitvlugt Community Centre, when defending champions and tournament hosts Slingerz FC face Bagotville and Uitvlugt will play Stewartville. $500 000 will be awarded to the winners; second through fourth will pocket $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000 respectively.

Last year, thousands of football-loving fans on the ‘West Side’ flocked the Den Amstel ground to mark the launch of Slingerz Football Club. One year and two titles later, the club has grown to become a household name in the sport.

“This tournament means a lot to Slingerz FC and the people on the west side and our followers, because this is where we started. It’s the first time as a team we played in an official tournament,” said general manager Collin ‘BL’ Aaron.

Before the assembling of Slingerz FC, Den Amstel football club were the ‘team to beat’ in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA). That didn’t change much, except now, the club, once the most feared on the ‘West Side’, are trying to reclaim the spot that they had before last year.

Ranking second in the league which was won by Slingerz who made an impressive unbeaten run, Den Amstel would be gearing up to avenge their 3-0 loss in the 2013 final.

Though they have never won a title, Eagles FC are one the WDFA’s most competitive clubs and are also known for being the spoilers in any tournament they feature in.

It’s back to basic for Pouderoyen FC. The club that once reigned supreme had undergone several make-overs; even changing their name to Seawall FC, but organisational reform and the return of some of their old stalwarts have forced the name change to its original one once again.

Fans are eager to see if the return of ‘Pouderoyen’ would make a difference on the field of play against an aggressive Young Achievers team.

With Slingerz FC celebrating their first anniversary, there would be nightly giveaways to lucky fans.

Except for the opening game tonight, all other matches (February 24, March 1 and 8) will be played at the Uitvlugt community centre.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

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CHRONICLE

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

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday February 21, 2014

Slingerz FC/Stag Beer West Side Mashramani Champions Cup kicks please see off tonight story page 30

Sammy promises Windies comeback in final T20 against Ireland

West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy has vowed his team will rebound today.

President Ramotar to commission new National Sports Resource Centre today PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar will today commission the National Sports Resource Centre, located in the compound of the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue at 16:00 hrs.

The National Sports Resource Centre, which is the forerunner of the Guyana’s National Sports Institute, will accommodate a library with various reading materials for athletes, coaches, teachers, officials, officers of clubs and associations/federations and technical persons and will provide effective preparation and proper planning and organising. Online researchers will also be accommodated.

It also houses a conference room for approximately seventy-five persons, which will be used for theoretical training and presentations.

“The commissioning of this facility is definitely a positive development for sports in Guyana. It is therefore imperative that all concerned must make adequate use of it,” the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport said in a Press release.

After the commissioning ceremony Professor Clem Seecharan will deliver the very first lecture at the National Sports Resource Centre, entitled ‘The History and Development of Guyana and West Indies Cricket – 1890 to 1960’.

Prof. Clem Seecharan BA, MA, PhD, Professor of Caribbean History; Head of Caribbean Studies, London Metropolitan University, a Guyanese, a writer and historian of the Indo – Caribbean experience as well as a historian of West Indies Cricket.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - Captain Darren Sammy has vowed that West Indies will rebound from a six-wicket thrashing at the hands of Ireland when the two teams meet in the final game of their two-match series today.

Sammy has promised that his team will give an improved showing in keeping with their status as reigning ICC World Twenty20 Champions.

“We are definitely coming hard on Friday (today) and we, no doubt, have to put in a much better performance to show why we are world champions,” Sammy said.

“We are disappointed in the result, but we are going to bounce back come … and look to continue our preparation to what is the bigger picture, which is the World Cup.” The West Indies made a modest 116 for eight off their allotted 20 overs, Chris Gayle top-scoring with 18 playing his first competitive game since picking up a hamstring injury on tour of India last November.

Ireland replied with 117 for four, securing victory with five balls to spare inspired by an unbeaten 40 from man-of-the-match Ed Joyce.

“It is very disappointing, but it is just a little bump in our preparations,” Sammy commented.

“I am not looking for excuses, but a few of our guys have been out injured (and are) now coming back into cricket.”

Ireland are preparing for next month’s play-offs where they will bid for a place in the Super 10 stage of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh from March 16 to April 6.

The final T20 starts 15.00hrs eastern Caribbean time.

Keen tussle on today as panel decides sportsman, sportswoman of the year IT will be a keen tussle today for the panel that will select Guyana’s most outstanding sportsman/sportswoman, coach, administrator, association and sports personality of the year 2013.

The special panel, which is made up of journalists from the various media houses and officials from several organisations, will come together at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 10:00hrs and start deliberations.

But already, there are speculations as to who will win the respective awards.

Most of the associations that are registered with the National Sports Commission have made their nominations and some have nominated their athletes, while others have nominated athletes and administrators and athletes who are not a part of

their organisation.

There will also be the case where a member of the panel can nominate someone who was not considered by his or her federation/association.

From correspondence received from some of the associations, weightlifter Winston Stoby and distance athlete Alika Morgan have received the most nominations for the sportsman and sportswoman of the year awards respectively, while West Indies batsman Shivnarinje Chanderpaul, 2012 Olympian Winston George, cyclist Alanzo Greaves, squash player Alexander Arjune and Kevin Jeffrey are also in contention for the sportsman of the year award.

On the distaff side, squash player Nicolette Fernandes, WINSTON STOBY

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see page 28

ALIKA MORGAN

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013