Guyana chronicle 21 01 15

GUYANA No. 104076 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2015

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

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President announces…

Elections Day Page

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May 11 PPP is ready, 5 confident and in elections mood Page

Mr. Clement Rohee

GECOM ready to go ‘full throttle’ Page

Dr. Steve Surujbally

– Surujbally

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– Rohee assures

Granger confirms quest for pre-election APNU/AFC 4 coalition Page

…welcomes date set by President Donald Ramotar

Mr. David Granger

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

President announces…

Elections Day May 11

By Vanessa Narine

AN end to the current political impasse that gripped Guyana for the last three years is finally in sight, following

President Donald Ramotar’s much anticipated announcement yesterday of a date for General and Regional elections – more than a year earlier than it was due.

The date set by the President is Monday May 11th , 2015.

During an address to the nation, televised on the National Communications Network (NCN) and broadcasted on radio, the Guyanese Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces disclosed that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has assured that it will be in a state of readiness for the return to the polls.

“I am advised that GECOM would be in a state of readiness for these polls on that date… meetings were held with the Guyana Elections Commission to emphasise the need for their readiness for holding free, fair, transparent and efficient elections,” the President said.

President Ramotar assured that international observers will be invited to be a part of the electoral process.

“I intend to invite international observers to be part of the elections process…you will recall that in December 2014, I had alerted international observers to the possibility of elections in 2015,” he said.

PROTECT DEMOCRATIC GAINS

PRESIDENT DONALD RAMOTAR

The President also appealed for stability, both during and after elections – all in the interest of protecting and consolidating the democratic gains Guyana has made to date.

“As usual, and I will expect the political parties, the security services and the people of Guyana to conduct themselves in a manner that would ensure continued peace and stability before, during and after the elections,” President Ramotar said.

“We have a collective obligation to ensure the protection of

“I hereby announce that General and Regional Elections shall be held on Monday, 11th May, 2015”

– President Donald Ramotar

the democratic gains we have made and for which we have endured so much as a nation to secure,” the President also urged.

Additionally, despite the criticisms levelled against his Government, the President made it clear that the current Administration paid strict adherence to the Constitution in administering the welfare of the nation.

“At all times I have acted in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana,” he said.

ALWAYS OPEN TO DIALOGUE President Ramotar stressed too that prior to the November

10 prorogation and even after the fact, he has been open to dialogue with the political Opposition.

“It is a door that I did not nor do not intend to shut, now or ever. In light of the Opposition’s sustained refusal to engage my Government in the dialogue we anticipated and in light of the commitment I made to you, the people of Guyana, I now move towards general elections,” he said.

“As usual, and I will expect the political parties, the security services and the people of Guyana to conduct themselves in a manner that would ensure continued peace and stability before, during and after the elections.

We have a collective obligation to ensure the protection of the democratic gains we have made and for which we have endured so much as a nation to secure” – President Ramotar

The Head of State bemoaned the fact that the opportunities that prorogation provided for continued dialogue and engagements with the Parliamentary Opposition parties did not materialise.

He said, “The Parliamentary Opposition adopted an inflexible position that they will not engage with me until Parliament

“My commitment to preserving and strengthening our democracy is unquestionable”

– President

is reconvened. I had hoped that they would have reconsidered this unproductive posture and meet with me so that we can discuss our differences and find solutions to advance the development of Guyana. “…in doing so (proroguing Parliament), I indicated that I was opting to preserve rather than end the life of the 10th Parliament. I was also attempting to avoid further political conflict and seek avenues of political accommodation between my Government and the parliamentary Opposition parties. I had hoped that the period of prorogation would have allowed for extant tensions to ease and for all of the parliamentary parties to constructively engage the Government.”

The Head of State also referred to the fact that there were regular interactions with national and international stakeholders to keep them abreast with developments and his Administration’s efforts to reach some level of political consensus.

“My commitment to preserving and strengthening our democracy is unquestionable,” the President declared.

The last General and Regional Elections were held in November 2011.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Clerk of National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs says …

Preparations for next Parliament to commence after Dissolution Proclamation

WITH the announcement of a date for elections, May 11, a proclamation to officially dissolve Parliament is expected to be made soon

by President Donald Ramotar.

And Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, told the Guyana Chronicle that once that is done, the current Members of Parliament (MPs) will be written to.

“Once Parliament is dissolved, I will write the MPs to notify them that they are no longer Members of the House and I will also be writing to the Auditor General to stop payments for their services in that post,” he said, in a telephone interview last evening.

Parliament stands prorogued, since November 10 last.

Given the current political gridlock and the posture of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), President Ramotar

STANDS PROROGUED

SHERLOCK ISAACS

RAPHAEL TROTMAN

According to him, until then, the business of the National Assembly will continue, as it relates to routine operational activities, given that

has always maintained that the need for dialogue was uppermost in his mind when he made his decision to Prorogue Parliament on

the House.

The effect of ending the first session of the 10th Parliament by way of prorogation is the suspension of

November 10.

Paving the way for greater dialogue among political parties, he contends, would have kept the 10th Parliament alive to address critically important issues currently before

the business of the National Assembly.

As a result, the Alliance For Change (AFC) sponsored ‘No-Confidence’ motion was not considered. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had, prior to November 10, signalled its intent to support the motion.

However, President Ramotar has made it clear that if these efforts prove futile, there will be a move to early general elections.

Since the prorogation, APNU and the AFC have made it clear that they will not engage the President in talks unless the prorogation is lifted.

The most recent contention of the current Administration, following these positions, is that the prorogation objectives have been

lost. Consequently, President Ramotar has since indicated that Guyana will head to early general and regional elections, just over three years since the November 2011 polls.

NEXT PARLIAMENT

Isaacs added that once the proclamation of dissolution is issued, preparations for the next Parliament – the 11th Parliament – will commence.

The new 65 Members, relative to representation in the House, will be decided based on the outcome of the upcoming General and

Regional elections and who those individuals are will be based on the names submitted, via a Candidates List submitted on Nomination Day, by the contesting political parties.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman, said, “Personally I am very happy. I think the nation is relieved that a date has been fixed, because the country is exhausted by the political gridlock and wants a resolution.”

The 10th Parliament was convened on January 12, 2012. (Vanessa Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Granger confirms quest for pre-election APNU/AFC coalition … welcomes date set by President Donald Ramotar

By Gary Eleazar A PARTNERSHIP For National Unity (APNU) has established a seven member committee to negotiate with the Alliance For Change (AFC) in exploring the establishment of a pre-election coalition.

Confirmation came through none-other than Leader of the combined Opposition Brigadier (rtd) David Granger who, following the announcement of an election date by President Donald Ramotar, yesterday, commented that while it was long overdue it is indeed welcomed.

The Opposition leader during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said the seven member team was set up yesterday by APNU and “we expect that the negotiations will be successful.”

COMMON AGENDA According to Granger, he is confident that the people of Guyana has had enough of the current administration and as such it is now up to the Opposition to convince the electorate that “a combined Opposition with a pre-election agreement will form a Government of national unity which will turn away from the old winner-takes-all politics.”

The Opposition Leader told the Chronicle, “If we can form a pre-election coalition with the AFC, I am convinced that the majority of the population would support such a coalition.”

According to Granger, the Opposition is actively working towards establishing the pre-election coalition, “that is what we are

working towards.”

Confident in its success, Granger said, “we feel that over the last three years of collaboration in the National Assembly, APNU and AFC have already arrived at a common agenda.”

The Opposition Leader reminded that on each occasion during the past three Budget debates “we (APNU/AFC) had a common agenda”.

He said it was as a result of this common agenda between the AFC and the APNU that the joint Opposition managed to disapprove a number of allocations. “In fact we approved more than we disapproved,” Granger declared.

According to Granger, the Opposition has already laid a foundation in place through collaboration over the years “and I am confident that we have a good platform on which to go forward.”

NO NITTY GRITTY Asked for specifics as to the make-up of the proposed coalition, taking into account the fact that the Working Peoples’ Alliance (WPA) held the slot for the Prime Ministerial Candidate of APNU, Granger said that would be premature at this point in time.

“Right now we are focusing on creating a coalition that is going to give Guyana good governance…we have not gotten down to the ‘nitty gritty’ but right now the goal is to establish a Government of national unity,” said Granger.

The Opposition Leader told the Guyana Chronicle that there isn’t a big concern currently among the electorate over ‘names and

labels’ but rather their quality of lives.

Granger also dismissed claims that the Opposition is currently cash strapped and said, “we are comfortable now.”

He did concede that with the elections date and inherent campaign activities, there will be a spike in expenditure.

“We have friends, and friends have started to come along and give us support,” said Granger.

The Opposition Leader did say that the announcement by the President of a May 11, 2015, General Election is welcomed.

According to Granger, the country has been eagerly awaiting the announcement given that since the Prorogation of Parliament, there has been a great deal of uncertainty which has also had an impact on business.

He said that with the announcement there is now some certainty and that people can now be more confident knowing that the process will come to an end shortly.

OUTREACHES The Opposition Leader told the Chronicle that in the coming weeks, APNU will continue with its outreaches as had been the case recently where a team visited some 28 communities in Rupununi, Region Nine.

He did point out that there will have to be a Claims and Objections period held before any elections and as such, APNU would want to ensure that communities are properly registered.

“There is some electoral work in terms of registration, birth certificates, claims and objections and there is political work in terms of putting our programme out to the people…

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there is also coalition work,” said Granger.

On the matter of the coalition work, Granger reminded that APNU is already a partnership of a number of political parties “and we have committed ourselves to engaging with the AFC.”

Opposition Leader, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger speaking to the Chronicle yesterday (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

GECOM ready to PPP is ready, go ‘full throttle’ confident and in – Surujbally elections mood

By Vanessa Narine

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is ready to move forward “full throttle”, according to its Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally.

His comments follow yesterday’s announcement of May 11 as the date for General and Regional Elections by President Donald Ramotar.

In an interview via telephone, he said, “Now that we have a date we can go full throttle. Our action plan will kick into operation.”

The Commission has been engaged by President Ramotar, who in yesterday’s address to the nation, said, “Meetings were also held with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to emphasise the need for their readiness for holding free, fair, transparent and efficient elections…I am advised that GECOM would be in a state of readiness for these polls on that date.”

Dr. Surujbally con-

firmed this, stressing that the Commission has a framework in place to facilitate the conduct of elections.

Within the framework, there are various statutory and administrative requirements, which must be completed and are relevant to the effi-

Dr. Steve Surujbally cient management and conduct of general and regional elections.

The GECOM Chairman explained that GECOM’s civic and vot-

er education programme will be “unleashed” to ensure that every eligible Guyanese is able to cast their vote come Election Day. “We are also working to enable persons with disabilities to ensure that they are also able to cast their vote,” Dr. Surujbally said.

In the last few months, GECOM has also engaged political parties, as well as several other key stakeholders.

He disclosed too that the logistics of GECOM’s work will have to be “fine-tuned” to ensure that concerns, particularly regarding the time within which the results are announced, are addressed.

“I have every confidence in GECOM’s A-List team under the supervision of the Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Keith Lowenfield, as well as the Commission itself,” he stressed.

The GECOM Chairman concluded that the current focus of the Commission is to “get it right” as was done in the last few elections.

– Rohee assures

THE announcement of May 11 as Elections Day prompted the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to reiterate its readiness to head to the polls and regain its majority in the National Assembly.

“The PPP welcomes the much anticipated announcement of Elections Day 2015…the Party is ready and steady for these elections,” said the PPP General Secretary, Mr. Clement Rohee, in a statement.

According to him, the Party’s machinery is “well-oiled” and its members, supporters and well-wishers are in the “mood” for a return to the poll – an undertaking that is expected to end the current political impasse.

“They are about to be afflicted by elections fever now that May 11th has been announced as ‘E’ Day. The Party will be going to these elections with a spirit of optimism and confidence,” he declared.

Rohee said the PPP will “exert every effort” to continue the long-standing Party tradition of achieving victory at the Polls as it did since 1957, save for the period from 1968 to 1992 when the Guyanese people’s democratic right to elect a Government of their choice was stolen from them by the People’s National Congress (PNC).

“The people won back that right in 1992 and Guyana was once again

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee placed firmly on the path to social and economic progress, coupled with the upholding of the political, civil and cultural rights of all Guyanese people,” Rohee said.

Consequently, the PPP General Secretary issued a call to all Guyanese to rally behind the winning symbol of the “Cup” to ensure that progress continues and the gains made to date are consolidated.

(Vanessa Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Editorial

Guyana

Hope and a prayer for peace WHILE mocking the religion of others is not to be condoned in any civilised society, the massacre of several ‘Charlie Hebdo’ staffers is a heinous act indeed. The fact that it was committed in the name of Islam, a religion that is supposed to be a propagator of peace, brotherhood and charity, is even more dastardly; but out of evil most often cometh good and the joining hands and hearts of the global collective of nations, including world leaders, give hope for the eventual realisation of man’s eternal quest for peace. After the deadly attacks in Paris world leaders joined a mass march in Paris, walking together arm in arm.

According to a Reuters report, the world leaders included Muslim and Jewish statesmen, who “… linked arms to lead an estimated million-plus French citizens through Paris in an unprecedented march under high security to pay tribute to victims of Islamist militant attacks. Paris police said the turnout was “without precedent” but too large to count. One organiser said he had indications it could be between 1.3 and 1.5 million people. Some commentators said the last street presence in the capital on this scale was at the Liberation of Paris from Nazi Germany in 1944.”

The report continued: “President Francois Hollande and leaders from Germany, Italy, Israel, Turkey, Britain and the Palestinian territories, among others, moved off from the central Place de la Republique ahead of a sea of French and other flags. Giant letters attached to a statue in the square spelt out the word Pourquoi? (Why?) and small groups sang the ‘La Marseillaise’ national anthem.”

The march was an immediate reflex reaction to what the

Reuters report described as “… the worst militant Islamist assault on a European city in nine years. For France, it raised questions of free speech, religion and security, and beyond French frontiers it exposed the vulnerability of states to urban attacks.”

The USA had experienced its 9/11 and other atrocities, and fifty-seven people were killed in an Islamist militant attack on London’s transport system in 2005. India has recurrent bomb blasts and these atrocious acts of terrorists who take innumerable lives and cause wanton destruction are replicated throughout the globe.

In the wake of three days of violence in Paris, seventeen people were wantonly slaughtered. The victims included journalists and police. The attack started with shots being fired at staff members of the satirical weekly publication, ‘Charlie Hebdo’, which is infamous for its satirical attacks on religions, including Islam, and prominent political figures.

The murder spree came to an end after three days at a Jewish deli in which four hostages and the gunman were killed.

Recounting events and interviews conducted during the march of solidarity, the Reuters report continued by quoting remarks of some of the participants: “We’re not going to let a little gang of hoodlums run our lives,” said Fanny Appelbaum, 75, who said she lost two sisters and a brother in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz?. “Today, we are all one.”

Zakaria Moumni, a 34-year-old Franco-Moroccan draped in the French flag, agreed: “I am here to show the terrorists they have not won – it is bringing people together of all religions.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi were among 44 foreign leaders marching with Hollande.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu – who earlier encouraged French Jews to emigrate to Israel – and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were also present.

Immediately to Hollande’s left, walked Merkel and to his right Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. France intervened to help fight Islamist rebels there two years ago to the day.

In a rare public display of emotion by two major-power leaders, cameras showed Hollande embracing Merkel, her eyes shut and forehead resting on his cheek, on the steps of the Elysee before they headed off to march.”

The reaction to the emotion of the moment by world leaders and the ordinary people to a tragedy that should not have happened should not be relegated to the media archives.

Instead it should be used as a wake-up call that the entire world is subject to the reign of terror by people who have lost their humanity and have become worse than beasts; and not just Paris, but these arms should be stretching to link the global family into one cohesive unit right across the world, heralding hope for eventual world peace where prayers are not relayed to God by the hands clasping the trigger, but by hands stretched out to the brother across the divide.

COMMENTARY:

The vociferous spouting from every This ‘wild west’ columnist writes vicious lies to damage Tom, Dick and Mary

people’s character

I AM terribly disappointed (this is an understatement), at the continuation of this madness of Kaieteur News columnist, Freddie Kissoon, of publishing highly damaging information - and in the process, damaging people's character - without validating same.

I have written about this issue several times now but Kaieteur News and Kissoon are hell-bent on continuing this despicable practice.

Those who are very vocal in their daily attacks on the Government, close their eyes and ears to these unwarranted attacks by Kissoon and Kaieteur News. It is a commentary on the value system of those who describe themselves as freedom fighters and human rights activists, yet remain mum on these incessant and vicious attacks.

The latest victim is the late Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud.

Kissoon publishes a highly scandalous article on this former PPP parliamentarian, and Persaud's daughter, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, responded to the malicious allegations of Freddie Kissoon.

She provided strong evidence to refute all these spurious claims by Kissoon. Again, the issue of validation comes into focus. How does Kissoon comes up with his information? How credible are his sources? Does he properly investigate his sources? Do his bosses (Harris, Lall and others) ask Kissoon to validate his information before publishing?

So many questions remain unanswered. Kaieteur News is equally culpable as Kissoon in this daily character assassina-

By David DeGroot

tion. In their nonchalant attitude to Kissoon, they are aiding and abetting him in his senseless campaign.

Miles Fitzpatrick at Stabroek News let Kissoon know, in no uncertain manner (when Kissoon was there) that he was responsible for all articles he (Kissoon) publishes. When Kissoon was sued, it was not the responsibility of Stabroek News but Kissoon. This is why Kissoon hates Fitzpatrick, but the latter was correct -- if a journalist cannot substantiate his information then he must accept the consequences, such as being sued.

Kaieteur News allow Kissoon a free reign like he is in the ‘wild west’. There are no rules, no boundaries, no limit to what Kissoon publishes. It is time Guyanese display the courage to speak up. Kissoon must also demonstrate that he has the testicular courage and fortitude to apologise for his huge indiscretions. He speaks of the many negatives in Guyana but he sits on top of the list.

Another issue that I want to write on is this decision by GRA to settle the tax evasion charges with Lall and his relatives. Why is there one rule for the rich and the powerful and another for the poor man. With all due respect to Khurshid Sattaur, Glenn Lall should face the courts like everyone else.

Lall used his paper to malign the character of Sattaur and his family for a prolonged period of time, yet he is negotiating a settlement. I thought Lall was innocent! We are only seeing one side of the story of Guyana’s dark side!

RAKESH SINGH

A COMPELLING rhetorical question has been pervading within recent times, left hanging without being conclusively answered.

Every Tom, Dick and Mary supported by political parties gone astray keep babbling about time for change and I am forced to ask: what is the change that is being so vociferously spouted conveying the clear impression that the spouters are themselves not sure of the opDavid DeGroot tion/s they have in mind for the change being called for?

Maybe the physical effect of the great advances taking place all over the country have dazzled their clear thinking and left them bereft of appreciating the truth of the development that is now taking place in the country. Or they permit their bitter hatred they have for the administration to surface in their spouting for change.

This scenario is a worrying phenomenon, but I remain strong in the belief that the Guyanese electorate will be aroused and correct past error of inflicting a minority government in the Parliament of the country. This must be corrected the next time around.

I have the greatest confidence that the electorate will respond in a responsible manner.

Vote well, and vote wisely the next time around.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

GAWU, GPSU commend President for his timeliness, sincerity

HEADS of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), yesterday welcomed President Donald Ramotar’s announcement of May 11 as polling day.

GPSU President Patrick Yarde told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that this step brings a resolution to the current political impasse. “It is a good move,” he said.

Yarde contends that the President’s call for peace and calm during the elections period is a sincere expression and commended

and unity among the people of Guyana,” said Yarde.

The President of the GPSU added that the en-

Komal Chand

the President for this.

“Unnecessary contentions should be avoided and good sense and respect for the law should prevail, so that during this period there can be more understanding

stated that the decision comes in a timely manner, as promised by the President in his address to the nation early last December.

‘It is a good move; unnecessary contentions should be avoided and good sense and respect for the law should prevail, so that during this period, there can be more understanding and unity among the people of Guyan’ --GPSU’s Patrick Yarde ergies of persons across Guyana should be used to develop a better and richer Guyana as we enter into the period of elections.

Meanwhile, GAWU President, Komal Chand,

Chand stated that the prorogation of Parliament led to the Government not being able to have certain measures addressed and also frustrated a lot of development plans.

Patrick Yarde

However, he underscored the fact that the decision to prorogue Parliament was not a bad one, considering that it gave the political parties a chance to engage in dialogue.

Nevertheless, Chand

stated that he hopes the level of campaigning of the political parties are not lowered “as we prep for what is hoped to be a calm, non-violent and peaceful election so that persons can go back to assisting in the development of a stronger and better Guyana.”

He stated that GAWU is relying on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to overlook and ensure that this election will be a fair and transparent one, as the last few elections have been.

The last general and regional elections were held in November 2011.

Private Sector welcomes President’s elections date announcement

--calls for climate of integrity, professionalism during hustings

Ramesh Dookhoo

AGAINST the backdrop of a prorogued Parliament and uncooperative opposition political parties seeking to stymie Guyana’s progression into First World development, President Donald Ramotar last evening announced that general and regional elections would be held in Guyana on May 11.

Major players within the Private Sector have collectively welcomed this announcement, and have called for a climate of integrity, professionalism and transparency to prevail during the period at the hustings.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Mr Ramesh Persaud, in simple terms, had this to say: “We are happy that a date has been set”. Persaud added that the announcement has

Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento deleted uncertainty from the Private Sector’s planning as business entities, and has removed uncertainty in the execution of their operations.”

He concluded his comments saying: “We look forward to the competition in the election to deal with the issues, and (we expect that everyone would) go light on the rhetoric and make sure that, in their campaign, we have a unified Guyana.”

Endorsing the PSC Chairman’s sentiments, Vice-Chairman of that Commission, businessman Mr Edward Boyer, called

Edward Boyer

for parties to display a level of maturity and respect the campaigning of their counterparts. He accordingly urged all parties to ensure that their campaigns are executed in a peaceful manner.

Head of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Mr Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento, was happy at this recent political development. He told this publication that he was extremely pleased at the President’s announcement, and termed it a manifestation of the President’s commitment to the Guyanese populace to announce a date early this year.

Captain Gerry Gouveia

“The President has honoured his pledge to the Guyanese people,” the tourism official said, adding that a high level of professionalism is expected during the election period.

Briefly commenting on the issue, major stakeholder in the Private Sector, and former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Captain Gerry Gouveia said: “The wait is over!” and added that it is time the country “get it on with” and take this step which would take the nation out of political stalemate.

Former Minister of

Maniram Prashad

Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr Maniram Prashad, issued a resounding call to all parties and stakeholders in the electoral process to not only respect the outcome of the elections, but the local and international observers who all make up the engineering body of the electoral process.

The strong statements made by President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), Mr Ramesh Dookhoo, sought to promote the need for integrity, professionalism and transparency to prevail during the elec-

Ramesh Persaud tions period.

While noting that politicians have, for quite some time now, neglected the expected level of professionalism, Dookhoo stressed that while they are “not setting a good example” for the populace, the politicians remain hell-bent on retaining their “consistent rancour”, which he said is polluting the political environment.

To this extent, he highlighted the importance of respecting the rights of citizens to align themselves with any political party of their choice, without having to face repercussions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Minister Sukhai pledges Government’s continued support for Masakenari ––says over $37M invested in community in last five years A GINA Feature

LIKE any other community, Masakenari has received tremendous support from Government, and over the past five years, this very remote village has seen $37M being expended in various support areas to further develop the community and its people.

said.

She said that while Government would like to do more, over the last three years it was faced with tremendous challenges at the level of Parliament, and all Guyanese, more so Amerindians, their livelihood, development and support interventions by government have been greatly threatened.

She acknowledged that it has been a

which will conclude the titling process, thereby granting ownership to the area that Amerindians occupy. This will also allow for better management, to deal with encroachment, and assign lands to residents and for investments.

“Therefore, demarcation is an important aspect of titling,” she said. “And this Government has over the years provided the funding to complete demarcation in many communities. The demarcation has begun; there are some procedures that have to be followed... The villagers will accompany the surveyors with respect to the demarcation.”

While there will be challenges, Minister Sukhai urged the community to collaborate with the surveyors in this regard. There will be about 16 villages benefiting in this regard during the first quarter of this year.

“I am happy that there was no objection

by Masakenari, because there are groups of people who claim to represent Amerindians, and who continue to try to influence Amerindians that demarcation is not a good thing and that is because they do not want Amerindians to be true owners of their

lands,” the Minister said.

Minister Sukhai presented financial assistance to the village’s toshao, Paul Chekema towards the development of the trail that leads to the village. The community has also applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a portion of their land to be a protected area.

Masakenari can be classified as having a subsistence economy; the primary economic activities in the community are farming, hunting, and fishing. Through funds provided by Government, this community benefited from a tractor and trailer along with an all terrain vehicle to assist in transporting goods and services.

Residents receive electricity via solar panels provided by government. The hot meal kitchen was completed and the ministry provided utensils, while the computer hub is currently under construction.

This community is one of many in Region Nine that has maintained their rich culture. The community will be embarking on the establishment of a museum as their Community Development Plan, to further preserve their culture.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai being welcomed by Masakenari’s Toshao, Paul Chekema Masakenari, a Wai Wai community located in the Deep South Rupununi, has a population of about 280 and is equipped with a school which houses over 56 nursery, primary and secondary students, a health centre, benab, women’s centre and water systems, and an airstrip located nine kilometers from the village.

During a visit on Saturday, Minister Sukhai lauded the residents for the successful completion and excellent management of their community projects.

“In a very short number of years, more than $37M has been expended in various support areas to Masakenari; and that is more than any other village. And that is not because you are special, but in the past, this village has not had much support; and we have to bridge that gap,” Minister Sukhai

struggle where Amerindian development is concerned since the combined Opposition slashed monies earmarked for the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF).

“This Government has taken a bold step to ensure that all the legal requirements are in place. And even though we have been told that we ought not to take monies from the Treasury to invest and spend on Amerindian communities for the betterment of Amerindians, this government has said that we will continue to develop Amerindian villages,” Minister Sukhai said.

Masakenari is also one of the villages that are currently in the process of being demarcated under the Ministry’s Land Titling and Demarcation project.

Minister Sukhai mentioned the importance of demarcating Amerindian lands

Grapefruits in abundance at Masakenari

Young faces of Masakenari

Masakenari, in Region 9

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

POLITICAL DELUSIONISTS THE development of a country is highly dependent on the unity of the people but more importantly, unity among the various political establishments.

It is absolutely important that in any democracy the government in power provides the environment that facilitates dialogue with Opposition groups to not only resolve their differences but to find common solutions in the best interest of the people.

But the onus is also on the Opposition groups to act with maturity since, as organised members opposed to the Government, they must demonstrate that they are fit to be viable alternatives to the Government.

In Guyana, this has been a major problem with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and its junior partner in Parliament, the Alliance For Change (AFC).

More than three years ago when they obtained a tiny majority following the General and Regional Election, it was only natural that the electorate expected that they would exhibit the leadership required to advance the interest and welfare of this fledging nation.

Quite the opposite has happened. In fact, the current situation has given full credence to the saying that “the Opposition is there to oppose”.

The Government’s budget catering for the needs of the people was repeatedly cut. Not even funding that will see the realisation of the Amaila Falls Project, an initiative geared to guarantee cheap energy and springboard expan-

sion of the manufacturing sector could have found favour with the combined Opposition.

The talk now is that the current Administration has no care for Amerindians but it should not be forgotten that it was the combined Opposition which, as recently as in the 2014 budget, voted down the Amerindian Development Fund, denying members of the indigenous community valuable support to improve their livelihoods.

Prior to 1992, the Amerindians were more of a lost people, and strangers to development. This aside, amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Bill have been deliberately stalled, with little or no interest about the negative impact the non-passage of the bill will have on the image of the country, particularly when it comes to doing business here.

These are just some of the travesties during the life of the 10th Parliament. And it was with this in mind that the President moved to prorogue the Parliament to both preserve its life and continue genuine dialogue between the Government and Opposition.

It is highly unfortunate that the President’s invitation to dialogue was shunned by the Opposition.

What is worst is their current cry that the Donald Ramotar-led Administration is a dictatorship.

This is despite the fact that they have refused dialogue with the Administration and have voted down vital de-

velopmental projects to improve the infrastructure of the country and well-being of the citizenry by utilising their one-seat majority in Parliament.

What the nation has seen from the Opposition during the past three years is a clear demonstration that might rather than sound reason is right, and yet, these are the very people who see nothing wrong in calling the government arrogant and to contend that it is a dictatorship.

Perhaps, it is this inability to see the wrong in their action that the combined Opposition cannot see common ground to even cooperate among themselves to challenge the government.

This is evident in their attempt to form a partnership to unseat the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in the upcoming elections as they have thus far been unable to have dialogue on this fly-by-night game plan.

Quite interestingly, when the idea was mooted, both parties declared that their leaders should lead any coalition to challenge the government. By now, it appears that the hope of the APNU and the AFC engaging in any formal dialogue or collating at the upcoming elections is more or less wishful thinking.

They have not demonstrated leadership material capable of managing the affairs of the state, and it was for this reason, it was not surprising at all that they cannot even talk among themselves.

But yet they believe they have the ability to lead.

Global unemployment on the rise over next five years as inequality persists - ILO 2015 report

GENEVA (ILO News) - Unemployment will continue to rise in the coming years, as the global economy has entered a new period combining slower growth, widening inequalities and turbulence, warns a new ILO report.

By 2019, more than 212 million people will be out of work, up from the current 201 million, according to the World Employment and Social Outlook - Trends 2015 report.

“More than 61 million jobs have been lost since the start of the global crisis in 2008 and our projections show that unemployment will continue to rise until the end of the decade.

This means the jobs crisis is far from over so there is no place for complacency,” ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said.

The employment situation has improved in the United States and Japan, but remains difficult in a number of advanced economies, particularly in Europe.

VULNERABLE EMPLOYMENT Two regions, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, accounted for three quarters of the world's vulnerable employment.

East Asia is among the regions that are likely to make the biggest dent in vulnerable employment, which is expected to be reduced in the region from 50.2 per cent in 2007 to 38.9 per cent in 2019.

The employment situation has not improved much in Sub-Saharan Africa, despite better economic growth performance. And in the Arab region and parts of Latin America and the Caribbean the employment outlook has deteriorated.

The steep decline in oil and gas prices, if sustained, may improve the employment outlook somewhat in many advanced economies and several Asian countries according to some

forecasts. By contrast, it will hit labour markets hard in major oil and gas producing countries, notably in Latin America, Africa and the Arab region.

Young workers aged 15-24 are particularly hit by the crisis, with a global youth unemployment rate of almost 13 per cent in 2014 and a further increase expected in coming years. By contrast, older workers have fared relatively well since the start of the global financial crisis in 2008.

In developing countries, the middle class now makes up more than 34 per cent of total employment. The biggest progress has been in emerging and low-income countries.

"The good news is that the number of workers in vulnerable jobs and working poverty has fallen around the globe. However, it is still not acceptable that almost half of the world's workers lack access to basic necessities and decent work," Ryder said. "The situation is even worse for women."

Growing and persistent inequality and uncertain prospects for enterprise investment, the report explains, has made it difficult for countries to rebound from the crisis.

"If low wages lead people to consume less, and investment remains subdued, this obviously has a negative impact on growth. Income inequality in some advanced economies now approach levels observed among emerging economies.

By contrast, the emerging economies made some progress in reducing their high levels of inequality," said the ILO head.

The report says income inequality will continue to widen, with the richest 10 per cent earning 30 to 40 per cent of total income while the poorest 10 per cent will earn between 2 and 7 per cent of total income.

These trends have undermined trust in governments and

kept the risk of social unrest high, the report warns. Social unrest is particularly acute in countries and regions where youth unemployment is high or rising rapidly.

In line with the global unemployment rate, social unrest shot up since the beginning of the crisis in 2008, and has now reached levels almost 10 per cent higher than before the crisis.

Only developed economies and countries in South-East Asia and the Pacific region have seen a reduction in social unrest - after peaks before or around the global crisis. But even there, levels of social unrest are significantly above historical averages.

CHALLENGES AHEAD Structural factors shaping the world of work, such as a declining labour supply - due in part to an aging population in many parts of the world - have subdued global economic growth, according to the report.

Other factors include major shifts in demand for skills.

At the global level, the share of both low-skilled, non-routine jobs, such as security personnel and some personal care workers, and high-skilled non-routine cognitive jobs, such as lawyers and software engineers, has increased. By contrast, routine middle-skilled jobs - like book-keepers and clerical workers - are declining.

"The trends we see are worrying but we can improve the overall economic picture if we tackle underlying weaknesses, in particular the continued lack of aggregate demand, stagnation in the Eurozone, uncertain prospects for productive investment, especially among small enterprises, and mounting inequality," said Ryder.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Region 2 in big preparation to host National Chutney Finals -at Anna Regina on January 31

Sudesh Moore, one of the victims injured on the Diamond Public Road last Saturday.

Allegedly drunk minibus driver hits,injures pedal cyclists TWO cousins are currently warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) with head and multiple other injuries, after being knocked off their pedal cycle by a speeding minibus on the Diamond Public Road on Saturday night.

The victims are : Sudesh Moore, 31 and Alex Sahadeo 14, both of 14 Big Diamond, Block ‘X’, East Bank Demerara.

Sudesh, a construction worker was at the time towing his cousin Alex, and recalled that around 19:00 hrs they were returning home after going to a nearby shop to buy potatoes for their grandmother , when an “out-of-control” minibus, said to be driven by a drunken driver, struck them from behind and left them prostrate on the roadway.

Sudesh suffered a fracture to his head; fracture to the right knee, as well as abrasions to the right and left hands.

Alex, on the other hand, suffered a fractured shoulder and fractured right foot.

Public- spirited residents on the roadway picked the injured young men up and placed them in a taxi which transported them to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. There they were stabilised and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Police visited the scene of the accident, apprehended and took the allegedly drunken driver into custody. An investigation into the accident is under way.

THE Region 2 Administration is making big preparations to host the finals of this year’s National Chutney Competition.

A release from that body has said that the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground is being prepared as the venue for the grand finale, expected to be very hot and spicy with some nineteen contestants competing for the championship.

Coordinator of the Mash Secretariat, Mr Lennox Canterbury, told this publication that 19 contestants would participate in the finals of the chutney competition, and they would be backed by the Shakti Strings Orchestra. He said four contestants would be representing Region 2 at the finals.

He also revealed that contestants from New York and

Canada would be challenging the local competition for the chutney crown.

The Coordinator said the competition winner would receive a cash prize of $600,000, while the second place winner would receive $420,000 and the third place winner would receive $265,000. Each winner would be presented with a trophy. Moreover, the contestant adjudged best newcomer would receive $115,000.

Canterbury said the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports would be sponsoring all the prizes and paying as costs associated with hiring the band and transporting all the artistes to Region 2, but the Region Two Administration would have responsibility for the venue and to advertise and promote the event in the

region.

Canterbury deemed the level and quality of the show important. He said a sponsor(s) is/are still needed to come on board for the grand finale.

Region 2 Chairman, Mr Parmanand Persaud,

said he is anticipating a show that would attract t h o u s a n d s o f p a t ro n s from across the region.

He called on the committee to seek out local producers/manufacturers in the region to sponsor the chutney show.

Flashback. A contestant performing at a National Chutney final

Coordinator of the Mash Secretariat, Mr Lennox Canterbury, addressing a meeting on the planning of the Chutney Finals in Essequibo on Tuesday

Guyanese teen commits suicide in Suriname RAYHAM, a 17-year-old Guyanese lad from the Region 2 Pomeroon River community, has reportedly committed suicide by hanging in Suriname.

An aunt, "Patsy" of West Bury on the Essequibo Coast in Region 2, told this publication that she received a phone call from another relative yesterday morning, informing her of the tragic death of the lad in Suriname.

Patsy said the lad had once lived in a community along the Linden highway before he migrated to Suriname to work; and his relatives in Guyana are in shock at his demise, and are wondering why he had chosen to end his life by suicide.

Patsy said she doesn't know where in Suriname the late Rayham had been working and living.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

UNASUR asked to ready Observer Mission for early elections - President announced date last evening

By Vanessa Narine THE Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) has “every confidence” in President Donald Ramotar and his Administration’s ability to resolve the issues plaguing the local political sphere, primarily by way of a return to the polls.

The foregoing assurance came from none other than visiting e UNASUR Secretary-General, Dr. Ernesto Samper Pizano, who made the observation yesterday during a press beefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here in the city.

According to Dr Samper, the November 10 prorogation of Parliament, as well as the President’s announcement that Guyana will move to early General and Regional elections were among several issues discussed at a meeting he held with the Head of State yesterday morning.

He said that based on the discussions he’s had with President Ramotar, he is confident that a date for General and Regional elections will be named soon. True to prediction, President Ramotar did make the announcement last evening.

May 11 is the date he gave.

The President has already asked UNASUR, during his meeting yesterday with the bloc’s Secretary-General, to ready an Observer Mission for the upcoming elections.

The move to early elections was as a result of the Administration’s failure to achieve the objective it sought by proroguing Parliament and opting instead to have dialogue, in the face of the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against the Government.

Given the posture taken by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), President Ramotar has always maintained that the need for dialogue was uppermost in his mind when he made the decision to prorogue Parliament on November 10.

Paving the way for greater dialogue among political parties, he contended, would have kept the 10th Parliament alive to address critically important issues currently before the House.

The effect of ending the first session of the 10th Parliament by way of prorogation is the suspension of the business of the National Assembly. As a result of that move, the AFC-brokered ‘No Confidence’ Motion was not considered. Also,

UNASUR Secretary General, Dr. Ernesto Samper Pizano (Photo by Adrian Narine) APNU had, prior to November 10, signalled its intention to support the Motion.

Had it not been for the proclamation to prorogue Parliament, if the no-confidence motion had been approved by the political Opposition, Guyana would have been headed to early general elections within three months. However, President Ramotar has made it clear that if these efforts prove futile, there will be a move to early general elections.

Since the prorogation, APNU and the AFC have made it clear that they will not engage the President in talks unless the prorogation is lifted and Parliamentary work resumes. The rejection of talks was also formally communicated by APNU Leader Brigadier (rtd) David Granger in a December 2 letter responding to the President’s November 18 invitation for talks.

As a result, the Head of State indicated, early last December, that Guyana will head to early general and regional elections, just over three years since the November 2011 polls.

Surendra to challenge Gov’t lawsuit in Court today GOVERNMENT is suing Surendra Engineering Company Limited (SECL) for over G$100M and US$4.3, sums that were lost in its contract with the company for the design and construction of the proposed Specialty Hospital, as well as other costs.

And the matter is expected to come up today in the Commercial Division of the High Court before Justice Rishi Persaud.

SECL had up to yesterday to file an Affidavit of Defence relative to the lawsuit; however the Guyana Chronicle was unable to confirm whether this was done.

The embattled company is currently facing a lawsuit filed by the Government for alleged breaches of contract, which forced the termination of the company’s engagement on the Specialty Hospital.

SECL’s contract for the design and construction of the Specialty Hospital was activated in September 2012 after a bid of US$18.1M. VIKAB Engineering Consultants Limited held a 12-month contract as a consultant on the project. VIKAB Engineering, according to Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, was working with a local evaluation team when irregularities and contract violations were uncovered.

The Government of Guyana had, since June this year, been engaging SECL on a number of issues regarding allegations of fraud and financial irregularities. Initially, the Government’s concerns were related to delayed milestones and inadequate accountability by SECL for public funds the company had received on signing the contract with the Ministry of Health, but the Government of Guyana subsequently discovered that SECL’s representative in Guyana had submitted a fraudulent document purporting to emanate from the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago. The fraudulent act by SECL has since been confirmed by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.

The investigation commenced after a dossier of documents had been submitted to the police by Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, with a letter requesting such a procedure. Following this, a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim were filed by Mr. Nandlall on October 16, 2014.

If SECL’s representatives fail to appear in court, judgment may be made in favour of the Government, according to the summons. (Vanessa Narine)

Essequibo flood update...

Water receding at Devonshire Castle, Walton Hall --Gov’t puts another mobile pump into operation

GOVERNMENT, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority [NDIA] and the Region Two Administration, has put another mobile pump into operation at Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast to speed up the drainage operation and get flood waters off the land faster in residential, rice growing, and farming areas in the villages.

Water is reportedly receding at a faster rate since this second pump has been put into operation near the Devonshire Castle sluice yesterday, and several residents of the two communities have reportedly expressed

their satisfaction that another pump has been put into operation to expedite the draining of flood water from the villages.

One resident has said that, since the second pump began One of the mobile pumps in full flow at Devonshire working, he felt relieved because the water level began re- Castle, on the Essequibo Coast ceding very quickly.

Residents of the villages have commended the quick Reports are that the Devonshire Castle sluice, known as response of the Government to address the flood situation the "Black Devil" because of its powerful draught, is back in and bring them speedy relief. They are also very thankful operation after the excavator machines mounted on the ponto President Donald Ramotar for his visit to the Essequibo toon in the Atlantic Ocean successfully cleared the blocked Coast to address the problem of flooding, and for bringing outfall channel. affected residents speedy relief.

12

President invited to become a Special UNASUR Representative

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar was yesterday invited to become a special representative of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) by the Organisation’s Secretary-General, Dr. Ernesto Samper Pizano, who is on a visit to Guyana.

The offer was made yesterday during a meeting at the Office of the President (OP) between President Ramotar and Dr Samper, who noted that their discussions included topics that are currently on UNASUR’s agenda.

He added that with Guyana being an important country in a strategic part of the Region, they also discussed the issue of social inclusion, a topic in which President Ramotar is very interested.

Dr Samper, who also met yesterday with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett “on issues of importance,” said his discussion with President Ramotar primarily focused on international projects, and how to deal with those of interest at the multilateral level.

A former President of Colombia, Dr Samper was appointed in August 2014 to President Ramotar welcoming UNASUR Secretary-General, Dr. serve a two-year term as UNASUR SecreErnesto Samper Pizano to the Office of the President yesterday tary-General. (GINA)

Digicel launches Mashramani Keep - Fit initiative

Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts (forefront) takes the would be revellers trough their paces at Monday’s event

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Two-day continuous rainfall hits Region Two - flood closes ARMS, postpones children's Mash competition THE Anna Regina Multilateral School [ARMS] was closed on Monday because of flooding of the compound and lower flat of the three-storey building.

Reports are that headmaster of the school was forced on Saturday to send home the children who were staying in the dormitory, because heavy and consistent rainfall -- which began on Wednesday night and continued for two days -- had caused the kitchen and dining areas in the lower flat of the dormitory to be flooded.

The Department of Education has also been forced to postpone its children's competition because of the flooded Anna Regina Community Centre Ground. A release from the Department of Education has said that the competition, scheduled to kick-off Mash celebrations in the region on Monday, will instead commence on Wednesday at the same community centre ground.

THE GCC Ground, Bourda, Georgetown exploded in festive colour Monday as telecommunications giant Digicel launched its 2015 leg of their Mashramani Keep Fit initiative.

Under the guidance of

Kross Kolor’s fitness enthusiast, Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts, potential Mash Day revellers took to the tarmac in joyous abandon, going through their paces as they readied their forms for the anticipated Mashramani revelling.

Speaking at the event, Digicel’s Communications Manager, Vidya Sanicharran, said that this event signalled their intention to participate in the 2015 Mashramani celebrations.

She added that the initiative is customarily used to prepare the revellers for the upcoming festivities, adding that this year they are anticipating some 100-250 revellers on the road come February 23.

She noted that in two weeks time, registration for costumes will commence, emphasising that the public will be alerted via the media and their Facebook pages.

As Miss Roberts took the large crowd through the various exercise routines, there were joyous giggles in some corners while in other areas the less fit and flexible of the lot groaned and grimaced under the strain of the routines.

Over the years, Digicel has been a “big time competitor” at the Mash Day festivities, carting off some of the top honours in the various competitive categories.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

High-level Guyana delegation headed to Washington DC - for inaugural US-Caribbean Energy Security Summit GUYANA will be participating in the first ever Caribbean Energy Security Summit beginning Monday in Washington, DC and hosted by US Vice-President, Mr Joe Biden.

Guyana will be represented by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who has portfolio responsibility for Energy, and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr Robert Persaud.

Biden will meet with a delegation of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders and representatives of the international community to promote a cleaner and more sustainable energy future in the Caribbean through greater access to finance, and donor coordination.

The Summit agenda will include remarks by the

Vice-President; an energy security roundtable with Heads of Government; and meetings and events with government officials, representatives from the private sector, and officials from multilateral institutions.

This Summit is a key component of the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative that the Vice-President had announced in June 2014, during a visit to Trinidad and Tobago, and will be hosted by the White House and the State Department, in partnership with the Atlantic Council, and the Council of the Americas. It will attempt to diversify energy sources for Caribbean countries.

In a Fact Sheet published last June, Biden's office identified energy security as being "a major

challenge" for the Caribbean. According to a report titled ‘Promoting Energy

and unattractive investment policies discourage investment necessary to build sus-

bean nations vulnerable to supply shocks."

VP Biden has claimed

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

Minister Robert Persaud

US Vice-President Joe Biden

Security in the Caribbean’, "The region is largely dependent on relatively high-cost imported fuel and electricity.

Small isolated economies

tainable energy systems. The high cost of energy diverts resources away from economic development, reduces competitiveness, and renders the energy sectors of Carib-

Dr Luncheon ...

Circumstances in a modern society justify use of National Intelligence Centre

HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon has justified the existence of the National Intelligence Centre (NIC) by explaining that it is an unavoidable compromise in the protection of national interest in a modern society.

Speaking Sunday on the programme, ‘Political Scope’, on the National Communications Network (NCN) , Dr. Luncheon said: “I do believe it is an element of trust between the citizens and its Government that is put on the table here.”

He added: “One has to Dr. Roger Luncheon concede that in protecting national interest, in the pursuit of national security, indeed, there will be instances where issues like safeguarding rights, protecting rights, (and) invasion of privacy, these issues will be compromised.”

Dr. Luncheon, who is also Secretary of the Defence Board, noted that if done as prescribed, and if there are checks and balances that the citizenry respect and rely on, then, like in most modern societies, agencies such as the NIC are rec-

ognised as “a necessary accompaniment of the enjoyment of the trappings of a modern society.”

He opined: “You cannot get the benefits of a secure state and national interest being protected indeed, in locking ourselves up in a cocoon of constitutional rights and guarantees.”

In the circumstance, he said, the issue begs the question about the common good of the pursuit of matters from a national-interest perspective.

He further noted that the Administration is cognisant of the new threats that have to be responded to, which were not within the mandate of the other disciplined services, recognise that it would have been inappropriate to thrust them in the existing structures, hence the movement to establish the NIC. He also pointed out that if the Government of Guyana wanted to be recognised and be treated as a State Party whose national interest must be respected, it then means that the Government has the responsibility of so doing and ensuring its protection.

“You have to be out there 24 hours a day,” he said, adding: “And all over the world, the convention of agencies dedicated to the acquisition of information; the programming analysis, and recommendation on interventions based on those recommendations, all over the world such agencies exist.”

Over the years, he said, the PPP/C Administration has established a Government that has presented itself as the basis

that energy support for the Caribbean is possible, having recognised that a "one-sizefits-all" solution may not be appropriate for all countries

in the region. Guyana eagerly welcomes additional support.

The Caribbean Delegation will include: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and CARICOM. Also slated is a meeting with Caribbean Heads of Government for a discussion on climate change, a critically important issue to the US and the Caribbean.

Topics will include climate change finance, adaptation, and how countries can work together this year to achieve a new global agreement on Climate Change in Paris. (GINA)

for enduring trust between the citizens and its Government.

He thinks that it is in that context that citizens, where ever, should keep examining the question of an invasion of their privacy. He said that it is probably inappropriate to select isolate concerns about trust when dealing with national security issues, when there is a bigger picture.

“As your administration addresses issues in a trustworthy way, not only national interest but the entirety of engagement with the people and leaders … that should be the picture that is taken into context.”

He added that this is where the administration stands in the context of its ‘comprehensive address of this issue of trust’.

“I want to believe that this administration, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has earned over the years the trust of the Guyanese people to adhere to the constitution, the rule of law and indeed to have made a primary responsibility of retaining the confidence of the Guyanese people that we are doing the right thing, and making available the information on the right things.”

Dr. Luncheon noted that even if it comes to examining the issue of national security, it is on the background of an enabling environment, one that clearly establishes this as a trustworthy administration and encourages the citizens to concede that which is evidenced in the other realms is more than likely to be applied in this particular one.

When the NIC was set up by the Government, the intention was not to replicate, displace or undermine the existing disciplined sources involved in similar national security, but to garner, in a comprehensive and particularly consistent way, national security information in a changing modern world.

The Cabinet Secretary also explained that national security is a never ending cycle that has to be attended to, at every second of every hour, of every day. “We have to respond to national security interest, equally important we have also to acquire information to help us to identify what those interests are, what the threat is to those interests, and what would be the best way of defending them.” (GINA)

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

ACP says...

Police ready for pre-and post-election period

ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police Balram Persaud told the Chronicle yesterday that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) should have all systems in place by this weekend as they prepare to fall in line ahead of President Donald Ramotar’s announcement of the date for holding the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

He said the GPF administration has been at an alltime-high level of preparedness for the tasks it would have to undertake in the period leading up to, during, and after those elections.

“No amount of preparation can be complete; and we have to work with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in this regard,” the Assistant Commissioner said. He said that training has been ongoing within the GPF, not only for those

elections, but for every other high-profile activity; and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the GPF is fully geared to deal with any eventuality even as its members continue their training regimen.

Asked about accommodation for police ranks who are often required to remain ‘in-lying’ during an election, Persaud explained that most of the facilities are already in place. He, however, pointed out that the police station in Berbice has not been fully completed, but the GPF has other options available to take care of the ranks during the period of in-lying, and he does not see the issue of accommodation for ranks being a problem.

On the subject of financing and the budget for accommodating ranks and pulling off other police activities

during elections, Persaud explained that the Force’s elections budget has been prepared since last year. He added that there may be some

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Administration), Mr Balram Persaud cases wherein items would have to be added and prices adjusted, given that prices fluctuate from time to time.

Asked about the exact

figure for the police election budget, Persaud said the Force has not yet finalized that figure, but all of those things are expected to be ironed out by this weekend.

Among expenses the Force is likely to incur during an election period are the following: feeding of ranks, the use of additional fuel, rental of vehicles, and paying ranks for conducting certain exercises. The Police would usually rent vehicles at times when they are unable to access a particular area because of the absence of a vehicle, or in some cases boats.

The Guyana Police Force is expected to utilize its full strength and manpower during the election period.

This includes activating ranks at all levels -- regular, community policing members, and rural constables.

In the area of riot control, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud had, in late December last year, said that the training of the SWAT Team was in keeping with SOPs that the Force is comfortable with, and that despite the many criticisms expressed, the Force administration had no immediate plans to alter the training and/or SOPs regarding deployment of the SWAT Team.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Two CJIA Special Constables remanded - on drug trafficking charge

TWENTY-nine-year-old Jermaine Bristol of Lot 2034 Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown, and 53-year-old Barbara Jacobs of Lot 200 Prospect, East Bank Demerara were on Monday remanded by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a trafficking narcotics charge.

Both Special Constables stationed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), pleaded not guilty to the allegation that on November 17, 2014, at the CJIA, they conspired with Anthony Collins and other person(s) unknown to traffic a quantity of cocaine.

The court also heard that between August 1 and October 31, 2014, at Stabroek, Georgetown, Bristol conspired with Anthony Collins and other person(s) unknown to traffic a quantity of cocaine.

Bristol pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru explained that American citizen Wilton Sinclair left Guyana on November 17, 2014 and was stopped at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in USA when authorities discovered that the four bottles of rum he had on him was laced with cocaine.

The Prosecutor said

CCTV footage from the airport revealed the two defendants operating in a manner beyond their normal duty. He noted that Bristol admitted that he had been paid by an individual, but denied having anything to do with the drugs, and Bristol had even told police that he had paid Jacobs to become involved in the safe passage of the drugs; but when questioned, the woman admitted to passing two duty free bags, but denied knowing they contained cocaine also.

Bristol was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Gordon Gilhuys, who said his client had been in custody since last

Wednesday, well in excess of the allowable 72 hours. He also claimed that Bristol had been badly beaten by a police sergeant and had to be rushed to the hospital by a constable.

Moreover, Gilhuys said that his client had no knowledge of a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Jacobs was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Folio Richards, who told the court that her client has been a member of the GPF for the past twenty years, is known for her impeccable character, and is not a flight risk. She asked for reasonable bail for her client.

Prosecutor Mangru objected to bail, citing that

no compelling reasons had been advanced by defence counsel. Bail was refused and the duo was remanded. The case will be called again on January 26, while an investigation is to be launched into Bristol’s allegation that he had been beaten.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Labour Minister urges GGMC workers return to work, pursue dialogue

MINISTER of Labour Nanda Gopaul has urged striking workers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

(GGMC) to return to work and engage the management of the Commission in meaningful dialogue in an effort to resolve the current

industrial dispute.

The workers proceeded on strike on January 6 at the urging of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), call-

ing for increased pay.

Asked Monday to comment on the matter, Minister Gopaul said: “Whatever the differences that exist in this

MINISTER OF LABOUR NANDA GOPAUL current dispute, the only way it that can be resolved is by workers returning to work and holding dialogue with the employer, If not at the bilateral level at conciliation and if not resolved, take it to the next level.”

The minister was at the time responding to a question on the apparent impasse between the GGMC and the GPSU in resolving the ongoing industrial dispute.

Some workers of the Commission proceeded on strike in January for what they claim was management’s failure to honour a pay increase that was agreed following similar action taken last November.

Sharing his opinion on a possible way forward to resolve the dispute, the minister said, “We can’t force the trade union or workers to go back to work, but we believe that it is in their interest… in industrial relations one has to remain flexible and having made the point, the only way industrial disputes could be resolved is through dialogue.”

The Commission had issued a press release following the action taken by the workers in January, stating that they had proceeded on strike action while negotiations were in progress.They had also written to the chief labour officer informing him of the action taken by the union. Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle, having investigated the circumstances that led to the strike had written to the acting General Secretary of the union, stating that given the union’s failure to follow the procedure outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the two parties, the strike could be considered illegal. The union has resisted this position and has insisted that the Terms of Resumption

signed in November 2014 following strike action taken by workers had given a timeline of December 31, 2014 to implement a certain action, failing which they could review their position.

The deadline has passed and they were legally entitled to resume their strike action,the union contends.

Minister Gopaul stated that the two parties have to be able to have discussions on the issue, but it was not good industrial relations practice to do so in an unstable industrial climate. “You can’t resolve an industrial dispute while on strike; you can’t bargain under duress.

It is a common and clear -cut tenet in industrial relations for there to be proper dialogue and proper negotiations; there must be industrial stability, it is a common and basic industrial relations principle.

The Labour Minister also called on the workers to return to work and honour the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Commission and the GPSU so that the dispute could be properly dealt with: “You can’t bargain under duress, no employer will like to do that and the faster the workers realise that having made their point there should be a resumption and the dialogue should continue, even if it has to be removed from the employer’s level to the Ministry of Labour and follow the CollectiveBargaining Agreement on the grievance procedure and take it to the arbitration if possible, to ensure that all the avenues are explored before there is conflict.”

Calling on the union to follow the international best practices for resolving industrial disputes, the minister said: “Under current-day industrial relations systems all over the world, they have systems and we want them to be followed. The ministry has made its point to the union and we hope good sense will prevail.”

The National Association of Agricultural, Commercial Industrial Employees (NAACIE) last week issued a press statement supporting the actions of the workers.

The GPSU has remained resolute in their action following a meeting with the chief labour officer and the Commission last Friday which ended in a stalemate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Gang rape of teen boy…

Persons at Vreed–en-Hoop foreshore say incident is nothing new

By Leroy Smith PERSONS along the jetty at the Vreed– en-Hoop foreshore are of the view that the claims of an 18-year-old boy and his mother that he had been gangraped by ten men have some element of truth.

On Sunday, the Guyana Chronicle paid a visit to the community where the incident reportedly took place and spoke with several persons who requested anonymity.

According to persons who agreed to speak without being recorded, there is a gang of boys in the area in question who would prey on young men and sexually molest them at a house in the neighbourhood.

This publication was also informed that in most cases, the acts would be consensual, as the perpetrators do find persons who would willingly comply with the activity.

The comments from residents come just days after this publication received information to this effect from a caller who also did not identify himself but said that persons in the area are aware of what goes on at the particular house.

On Sunday, the persons were very re-

luctant to point out the exact house where the acts would usually occur, but this publication was informed it is situated closer to the Demerara River, and has to be accessed through a slushy reserve area, passing several other little shacks which have been erected along the jetty.

Police sources related that they have also received such information about the regular activities at this house but persons have not been coming forward to speak on the record.

In addition persons have said that the police investigation would have gone further if the woman had taken her son immediately to the police station to make a report of the gang rape.

According to information reaching this publication, when the woman visited the police station with her son he seemed to be in good health and spirits but was having difficulty sitting. However the mother took the young man to the hospital instead, rather than allowing him to remain at the station to give a statement when he was able to.

The following day when police ranks visited the teenager at the hospital to take a statement from him and check on his condition, it was found that his health had deteriorated tremendously.

The police are now left to wait until the young man’s health is improved and he is able to speak to them. Until now all the information that the police have pertaining to the matter was reported to them by the young man’s mother.

Last week, the main suspect in the matter broke his silence when he spoke with the Guyana Chronicle in the presence of his parents and an aunt.

The suspect denied the allegation being leveled against him, and maintained that never at any time did he and others engage in any form of sexual activities with the now hospitalised teen.

The suspect admitted, however, that he did take his friend to two different parties but after his friend was behaving in a strange manner he placed him in a car and sent him home.

He also noted that for several hours

the young man was not in his company and suggested that the alleged rape victim and his mother should come clean and disclose where he was for that period of time, what he did and with whom.

Meanwhile, doctors have reportedly told the mother of the young man that he was raped repeatedly. The woman is refuting claims that her son has any mental illness as is being suggested by the main suspect in the case.

The police had picked up the main suspect and held him for 72 hours and then again requested his presence after the mother of the alleged victim claimed that the suspect and his father had showed up at the Georgetown Public Hospital and threatened them.

Efforts Monday to contact the mother of the alleged victim to get an update on his condition were futile.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

M&CC councillors balk at signing cheques for ––Sooba calls on Local two garbage disposal companies Gov’t Ministry for assistance

By Navendra Seoraj ACTING Town Clerk Carol Sooba is calling on the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) to assist in resolving several issues regarding

the Mayor and City Councilors (M&CC), some of which are recent and others that were on the cards for some time.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Sooba disclosed that recently con-

tractors involved with garbage disposal in popular city areas, namely Pooran Brothers Disposal Service and Morris Archer, had not received payments from August to now.

CEASE OPERATIONS She added that these two companies ceased their operations as of yesterday in Group 7 (East and West Ruimveldt, La Penitence…) and Group 8 (Queenstown, Alberttown and Newtown) after the failure of the finance councillors to sign the cheques.

Sooba alluded to the fact that since there is currently no chairman for the Finance Committee, as stated by law, “it was required to have two finance councillors of the M&CC to endorse the cheques so that payments could be made.”

This decision by the finance councillors, particularly Gladstone George, not to sign the cheques is absurd and there is no logical explanation for this step being taken by them, said Sooba.

Moreover the councillors also refused to sign vouchers for other important services and expenditures which they have outstanding.

CITIZENS SUFFER Citizens of the said areas will suffer tremendously in terms of garbage disposal

ACTING TOWN CLERK CAROL SOOBA unless the payments to the contractors are made. However, the ministry has been urging the contractors to continue operations for one week until this matter is resolved.

Apart from the payments of the contractors, Sooba added that the compactor trucks in some areas are in need of repairs, but sadly no action to deal with this situation has

been taken by the M&CC. 2015 SUBVENTION Another loss for the M&CC is the yearly subvention which is usually given to them by the MLGRD in order for them to carry out the works under their responsibility.

This loss of $21M, according to Sooba, came about because the Mayor did not sign the budget for 2015, despite the majority of the council agreeing to the budget.

She noted that these are only a few of the issues which are on the table.

“Recently there has been no useful decision taken by the M&CC, therefore making City Hall sink to its lowest ever under the political management, and this is surely of concern not only to her but also the MLGRD,” she disclosed.

In closing Sooba said that immense help from the MLGRD is needed in order to “relieve the crisis created

by Mayor Hamilton Green and his Councillors.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

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911 terror survivor launches ‘goodness’ initiative ––as Brahma Kumaris mark 40th Anniversary

THE Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre on Georgetown’s Main Street hosted an evening of Remembrance for Peace and Non-Violence last Sunday as part of activities to mark the anniversary of the founding of Brahma Kumaris.

The occasion also saw the launch in Guyana of the “7 Billion Acts of Goodness”, a worldwide initiative of the Brahma Kumaris.

Main speaker at the event, Ram Singal, a survivor of the 911 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in the USA, is here as part of a regional visit to launch this initiative.

Teachers and students of the centre and other invites were led in a period of meditation before Singal’s presentation. An engineer by profession, Singal said he became involved in the Brahma Kumaris nearly 40 years ago, and it has helped him find inner peace. He explained that it was that peace that allowed him to lead others to find their way out of Tower Two on September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attack.

Reminiscing on that experience, Singal said the persons in Tower Two were unaware of the tragedy that was unfolding in Tower One when the first plane hit that tower. When the aircraft hit the building, he said, everyone initially thought it was an earthquake, as the building was shaking.

When they were informed what had happened, they began to evacuate the building. Explaining how he got out, Singal said everyone went to the stairs as the power went off, and he remembers someone shouting, “Second plane!” as they started descending the stairs.

“I remember water gushing down the stairs, and it was so hard that we had to hold on or we would have been flushed down the stairs, because all the pipelines were broken.” He said.

Singal said he made it out of Tower Two, one and a half hours after the first plane had struck Tower One and just about five minutes before the collapse of Tower Two. “If the building had not collapsed inward and had fallen sideways, we would have been crushed,” he explained.

Singal spoke about the horror he saw in the eyes of the people as they were making their way out of the building, the hate and vengeance that he heard being spoken by people in the days following the attack, and his refusal to watch the television coverage, saying that the hate he heard being spoken allowed him to forgive himself as he recognised that revenge would only lead to more acts of violence, as everyone would be seeking revenge after an act of violence,

Ram Singal addressing the gathering at the Brahma Kumaris Centre thus continuing the cycle.

Addressing the reason for his visit, Singal said the Brahma Kumaris had embarked on an initiative aimed at creating goodwill and happiness in the world. The initiative, named “7 Billion Acts of Goodness”, is intended to have persons evaluate their actions to others. It requires persons to pledge to engage in three “acts of goodness” every day. This, he said, would allow every person to perform more than 1000 acts of goodness per year.

The hope is that, as people begin to experience the acts of goodness, they would return the favour to another person, thereby creating a chain reaction of goodness and happiness.

He explained that an act of goodness is considered a deed someone does which is above and beyond what that person would normally be required to do. He said that the initiative was started in the USA, and has also been introduced to other countries, including India. His visit to this Region would include Trinidad and Suriname.

Ram Singal was born in India, but migrated to the USA after completing his studies. He is a practicing Civil Engineer, and has also travelled around the world promoting the ideals of Brahma Kurmaris’ meditation. He would be the presenter at a special workshop to be hosted at the centre on Wednesday, January 21, at 18:00hrs. The workshop, attendance of which is free, is open to members of the public and would deal with the topic of domestic violence, “Empowering the Abused and the Abuser.”

Additionally, the public is also invited to participate in the weekly workshops on Mondays during the month of February. The Brahma Kumaris organisation was established in Guyana in 1975, and presently has centres in Georgetown, East Coast and East Bank Demerara, West Coast Berbice, and in Essequibo. Courses offered at the centre or at other venues are free of charge and include studies on Meditation, Self Esteem, Positive Thinking and Stress free living.

New Demerara River Crossing ...

$100M substantive feasibility study to finalise location, type, cost

By Gary Eleazar

HAVING already completed a pre-feasibility study which identified three possible locations for a new crossing over the Demerara River, Government is looking to finalise a substantive feasibility study.

This information was disclosed by General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, Rawlston Adams, who was among the many department heads at the Ministry of Public Works who this past week provided a performance review of their operations last year as well as projections for this year.

The feasibility study is pegged to be completed at an estimated $100M. “We are now at the stage where we are putting together the full Terms of Reference and what is required to have the

feasibility study and that is what we project …we have completed the pre-feasibility study,” said Adams.

Asked whether a Chinese company was favoured for the construction of the new bridge, Adams and subject Minister Robeson Benn; dismissed this idea, saying that to even consider this as a current reality is to be getting “way ahead of ourselves in thinking that there is a contractor or preferred contractor.”

According to Adams, “we are still at this position of feasibility study,” he said, adding that a decision has not even been definitively made on its location, type or even costs.

FAIRLY GOOD STATE Adams was asked to give an update as to the condition of the Bridge to which he responded favourably, saying

that the existing bridge is in a fairly good condition.

“We think based on all those works we have been doing, the bridge’s condition is in a fairly good state,” Adams said.

As a matter of fact, Adams was quick to point out that the bridge has not outlived its usefulness, a myth among some people that he sought to dispel.

He explained that because of the modular (segmental) construction of the bridge, defective components can be changed out, something that cannot be achieved with a fixed concrete bridge.

The DHB General Manager said that “once we have support from Government in terms of capital we can maintain the bridge.”

According to Adams, the thing that hampers the operations of the bridge is the growing volume of traffic and not its

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Guyana eyes Category One aviation safety rating ––as local airlift capacity boosted by 17 aircraft

By Gary Eleazar

GUYANA’S domestic airlift capacity was significantly boosted in the past year, with local operators expanding their fleet by 17 aircraft; and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) will continue to work towards achieving Category One rating under the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme.

This was reported by GCAA Director General, Zulficar Mohamed, who, in providing a performance review of the entity this past week, detailed the additions to the domestic aviation sector.

“During the year, several domestic operators were granted permission to expand their capacity with additional

aircraft, which totalled to 17,” Mohamed said.

These, he said, include two aircraft and one helicopter for Air Services Ltd; three aircraft, one of which is a Beechcraft 1900 D for Trans Guyana Airways; five aircraft, inclusive of one Beech King Air 350, one DHC6-300 Twin Otter, and a Challenger 601 for Jags Aviation Inc.; and three aircraft for Domestic Airways Inc. According to Mohamed, in 2014, two new aerodromes were also licensed; the licenses for six private domestic aerodromes were renewed, as well as those for the 57 owned by Government.

In addition, three operators were issued with Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), namely: Hinterland Aviation Inc., Domestic Airways, and Golden Arrow

One of the recent additions to the local airlift capacity (Photos by Adrian Narine) structure.

Over the past year the DHB administration has had to spend in excess of $337M replacing major components on the structure.

According to Adams, three pontoons were fabricated at a cost of $134M while another 18 were serviced utilising some $96.7M. The pre-feasibility study done for a replacement bridge had identified the best location for the bridge to be between Houston on the East Bank of Demerara and Versailles on the DHB General Manager, West Bank of the river.

That study did stress that Rawlston Adams “a detailed feasibility study should be done to incorporate exogenous costs and benefits not considered in this study, as well as a financial analysis that addresses the concerns of project-financing and environmental impacts.”

The existing two-lane floating bridge was constructed in 1978 by the UK firm Thomas Storey Engineers Limited and had a life of 10 years. From 1995 to 1998 the bridge underwent major rehabilitation by the Damien Ship Yards of the

Airways.

Regarding GCAA’s operations in the coming year, Mohamed reported that the GCAA would continue to improve and develop aeronautical surveillance using the Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast System (ADS-B).

“The development and expansion of ADS-B will increase efficiency and capacity of Guyana’s airspace to accommodate a larger volume of traffic/aircraft operations in the airspace and to track aircraft movement in real time,” Mohamed disclosed.

He said as well that the GCAA would continue the review, and look to develop appropriate safety and security legislation and policies to enhance the Authority’s oversight and enforcement capability.

Mohamed also observed that, during the course of 2015, GCAA will be reviewing the organisation’s structure along with a planned increase of staffing to enhance the oversight functions of the Authority.

He said that, this year, GCAA also plans to acquire new Air Traffic Control Simulator for training of Air Traffic Controllers in Guyana.

In his performance review of GCAA for 2014, Mohamed used the opportunity to point out that Guyana attended the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event in Bali, Indonesia as recent as November, met with representatives from 13 countries across the world, and held talks with them.

He reported that the confab led to 12 Air Services Agreements being inked with those countries.

The GCAA Director reported that while many countries across the world

Netherlands at a cost of US$9M and was given an extended life of 15 years, from 1995.

According to the pre-feasibility report, at present the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) carries out intensive annual maintenance and element replacement activities on the bridge structure to provide a continuous level of service, and this can be coupled with increasing traffic volumes and level of Government subventions to warrant consideration of bridge replacement.

At present, the DHBC is responsible for the management and collection of tolls, and the average annual revenue collection is approximately US$1.9M. Between 2002 and 2011 the Guyana Government provided in excess of US$12M in subvention to support the operations of the existing bridge. During that same period the revenue collected from tolls was about 75 percent of the subvention.

CONSULTATIONS The report indicates that while there were no national consultations during the pre-feasibility phase, these are planned for the detailed feasibility phase. It says too that major Private Sector stakeholders and agencies such as the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSC), Guyana Shipping Association, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), Guyana Association of Professional Engineers

GCAA Director General, Zulficar Mohamed have expressed an interest in operating in Guyana, “we have to ensure that we have the facilities to accommodate them when they’re ready to come…what we are doing here is that we are laying the groundwork for that.”

With the Agreements in place, he said, the way is paved for those countries to begin operating flights into Guyana when the CJIA expansion project is completed.

Mohamed said Guyana entered into agreements with China, Kenya, Curaçao (Kingdom of the Netherlands), Singapore, Ghana, United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Iceland, Qatar, Canada and Nigeria.

(GAPE) and the Ministry of Finance, were closely engaged.

The Demerara Harbour Bridge

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Inquiry into MV Sabanto running aground …

T&HD fires Captain, places helmsman, lookouts on month’s suspension THE Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) has fired the Captain under whose watch Essequibo Ferry, the MV Sabanto ran aground at Wakenaam Island Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) at midnight on Monday, November 17, 2014 last.

The T&HD has also imposed a onemonth suspension without pay on the helmsman and all the lookouts who had been on duty at the time of the mishap.

General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Marclene Merchant, on Monday disclosed particulars of the disciplinary action taken against the crew members who had been found guilty of negligence following an inquiry into the incident on the Essequibo River, which had taken place during the vessel’s run from Parika to Supenaam.

Reports at the time had suggested

that mechanical problems developed by the MV Sabanto had caused its steering wheel to become inoperable resulting in the vessel veering off course and running aground. However, last Friday, the media was told that there had been restricted visibility during the night when the MV Sabanto was en route to Supenaam Stelling, and that had reportedly caused the Captain and lookouts on the ferry to lose all sense of the vessel’s direction and position. It was determined that the Captain should have stopped the vessel, drop anchor, and wait for the weather to improve; but he continued to travel the vessel at an unsafe speed, given the prevailing conditions.

In the next few fateful minutes, the Captain then gave the wrong helm order, thereby causing the vessel to run hard aground onto the south-western side of the Wakenaam Island in the Essequibo

River. That is the reason why disciplinary action has been taken against the Captain and the look outs on duty.

All passengers and crew members eventually disembarked the grounded vessel and joined water taxis to complete their journey, there were no reported in-

juries as a result of the mishap.

During the vessel’s downtime, the MV Kanawan and MV Malali doubled up on their runs to maintain traffic movement at normal levels.

Favourable tides eventually aided the refloating of the vessel.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Accused in cocaine in ‘SSS Tonic’ case found not guilty THIRTY–four–year-old Deon Layne, a miner of Lot HH Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, the man accused in the ‘SSS Tonic’ deaths that claimed the lives of four persons, walked out of Magistrate Judy Latchman’s court a free man on Monday after the case of cocaine trafficking against him was dismissed.

Particulars of the case Layne faced detailed that on May 2, at Kokerite Street, Georgetown, he had in his possession 252 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The Prosecution’s case is that on the day in question, at about 21:00 hrs, the defendant went to the home of Candacy McGarrell’s niece, who was visiting from the United States, to request her to take some SSS Tonics for his brother in the USA. The court heard that the woman left Guyana without the tonic, and five occupants of the home ingested the substance. Later, six–year–old Jahaquel Blair and his parents -- 42–year–old Alex Blair and Simone Pryce; and a neighbour, 36–year–old Natasha George, all died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after ingesting the tonic.

The post-mortem revealed that those persons died from consuming the tonic, which contained liquefied cocaine; but 12-year-old Jamal Waterman survived.

The unrepresented defendant told the court that the police had taken his fingerprints while he was in custody, but those never matched any print on the box or bottle. In addition, the police never conducted an identification parade.

Layne noted that at no time did he ever make contact with Candacy McGarrel’s niece for her to take the SSS Tonic overseas; and that Jamal Waterman, the survivor who testified, said that he saw him talking with his father, but never saw him bringing anything.

The defendant begged the Magistrate for guidance and a fair trial, saying: “It’s a very sad situation, but I’m innocent.”

Inspector Vishnu Hunt noted that no indentification parade was necessary because the defendant was known and identified by the witnesses. Hunt noted that Layne was the one who had handed over the bottle containing the tonic, but he was now trying to get the Court’s sympathy.

Magistrate Latchman, in her ruling, noted that she is satisfied the defendant knew it was tonic in the bottle containing the cocaine, but she said the prosecution’s case was weak and unreliable since they could not provide the court with reasonable evidence to link Layne to the charge.

She therefore found Layne not guilty of the charge, and dismissed the case against him. “My Bible is my tool; I don’t need no lawyer to prove my innocence” were the last words of the free man before he left the court to go home to meet his two-month-old newborn baby and family, from whom he had been separated since his incarceration.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Magistrate orders psychiatric evaluation for murder accused MAGISTRATE Fabayo Azore has ordered psychiatric evaluation for 53-year-old Ali Mohamed of Lot 38 Providence Public Road, East Bank Demerara, who, on January 15 last, bludgeoned his elderly, bedridden father, Mohammed Suleiman, to death at their home.

Mohamed was not required to plead to the indictable charge alleging murder when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.

Police Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that the deceased had been bedridden for over three years, since he had been suffering from a stroke. On the day in question, Mohamed’s sister called on him to receive his medicine, but he retaliated by arming himself with a piece of wood with which he dealt his sister several lashes, causing her to run out of the house and seek safety elsewhere.

The accused then ran into the bedroom of his bedridden father and committed the act. Suleiman was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre before being rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was immediately attended to by doctors, but succumbed to his injuries.

Attorney-at-Law, Paul Fung-a-fat told the court that his client, Mohamed, suffers from a mental ailment, and respectfully asked for his client to be confined so that he could be examined and a determination could be made as to his mental fitness to stand trial.

The lawyer explained to the court that his client is a patient of Dr. Bhiro Harry’s clinic.

Mohamed will remain on remand until February 27, since investigations into the incident are still in progress.

Narcotics accused remanded for ‘ganja’ possession BASDAI Livan of 105 Second Street Craig, East Bank Demerara appeared Monday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Livan pleaded not guilty to the allegation that on January 15, at Craig, she had in her possession 33 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru said that on the day in question, at about 22:00 hrs, police on patrol duty received information that the defendant was selling drugs, and so conducted a search on her premises which unearthed a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems of what was suspected to be the plant cannabis sativa on the defendant’s dining room table. Livan then admitted to the police that the items found belonged to her.

The defendant was represented by attorney-at-law Mr. Harris. The prosecutor objected to bail, citing that no special reason had been advanced for its grant. The matter stands adjourned until Friday at the Providence Magistrates’ Court.

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‘Coolie Boy’ murder trial...

Justice Holder to rule in voir dire today

JUSTICE Franklyn Holder will this morning rule in the ‘Coolie Boy’ murder case voir dire (a trial within a trial).

The accused Justin Felix, called Justin Percival, is on trial for the murder of Paul Austin, called ‘Coolie Boy’ , which is said to have been committed on July 13 , 2008 in the County of Demerara.

The voir dire was initiated after defence counsel, Mr. Glenn Hanoman who in association with Attorney-at-law Miss Tanicia Daniels, objected to the attempt by Prosecutrix Mrs. Teshana Lake to tender in evidence an alleged oral statement by the accused.

This sparked off the voir

dire by the judge in the absence of the jury in an effort to determine the admissibility of the alleged statement..

Following the ruling, Mrs. Lake who is appearing for the prosecution in association with Miss Narissa Leander, is expected to deliver her opening address to the jury.

Witness tells Jury that accident left him with bad memory CHAMAN Singh the main eyewitness in the Hope Robbery Murder trial yesterday told Justice James BovellDrakes and the jury that because of an accident when he was 7 years old he suffered a fractured skull and a ‘hole’ in his head which left him with a bad memory.

He told defence counsel Mr. George Thomas that “is the reason why I cannot now remember certain aspects of the evidence.”

Singh said he was sitting in a lorry when the No 2 accused with a gold tooth and scar on his face turned up at Hope on 21st of August, 2010 before going on to

shoot Lakhram Bishundial.

The No. 1 accused, Shawn Anthony Thom and No 2 accused Orin David called ‘Plait Hair’ and ‘Malik’ are indicted with the murder of Lakhram Bishundial on the 21st day of August, 2010.

Lawyer Mr. Trenton Lake is representing Thom while Attorney Thomas is appearing for ‘Malik’ It was under cross-examination by Thomas that the witness Singh admitted that the accident since he was 7 years old left him with a bad memory According to him, “ I cannot read nor write but I can sign my name.

“ But I cannot remember whether the police nor the magistrate had read over to me statements that I had given them. But by virtue of my signature on the document I am inclined to believe that I did.”

When told that he was saying things that he did not tell the magistrate nor the Police, the witness insisted that he did.

He then complained that the accident had left him with a fractured skull , a hole in his head, and a bad memory.

The hearing is continuing.

Miss Natasha Backer and Miss Gooding are prosecuting.

Man arrested for forging Office of President stamp A SEVENTY-one-year-old man of Friendship, East Coast Demerara was yesterday afternoon arrested at his home after police received information that he was in possession of an Office of the President stamp.

The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the man who worked in the public sector several years ago had been forging documents for many years and was once arrested by the police in connection with such an offence.

Investigators who spoke with this publication confirmed that the man who is at present unemployed would usually write references and recommendations for persons and sign as a technical officer before affixing the stamp “Office of the President approves”.

The police are reportedly in receipt of three documents which the man has already signed. After the police received reports about the man’s illegal activities, they swooped down at his house and arrested him. He was told of the offence and police subsequently found a stamp bearing the text ‘Office of the President’ during a search of

his house.

There are also claims that the man previously had written letters on behalf of the Ministry of Housing and other state agencies.

The suspect is expected

to appear in court today.

Meanwhile, the police would like persons who have received references and recommendations from the man to come forward and give statements. (By Leroy Smith)

For Wednesday January 21, 2015: 05:00hrs For Sunday January 22, 2015: 05:00hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

3rd Petra/Milo Under-20 Football tournament ...

From Backpage

of the game.

“What we’ve noted is that we are now at a stage where we can demand more and that the sport can now contribute to the school system,” Sam said.

Milo Brand Manager Renita Sital, stressed that her company Beepat and Sons was more than willing to come on board for the third consecutive year since the tournament was a major success and had achieved its objective.

She made a call to par-

ents to come out and show support for their children, with Milo being the ‘Drink of Champions’ and assured the continuity of the tournament and its association with the brand.

Petra Organisation co-Director Troy Mendonca said that the Organisation was proud to be back again and applauded the sponsor Nestle Milo for placing faith in them to organise the tournament, one which is assisting in the development of young people.

He thanked both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health for

their continued support over the duration of the tournament. Mendonca also called on parents to come out and offer support to the students.

Meanwhile, Mendonca when quizzed about the thought of collaborating with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee (NC) to aid in their effort to develop the game from the youth level said that plans are in place to have the two entities engage in a meaningful discussion on the way forward.

Atwell to replace injured Lewis for ...

From Backpage in his own backyard.

Lewis’ manager and former amateur champion, Keith Bazilio, does not want to risk his charge taking the ring with Mullings, who became the WBC’s CABOFE welterweight champion in 2013 when he stopped Guyana and former European champion Howard Eastman at the CASH. The hard-hitting, explosive, dominant and destructive Mullings, also defeated Derick Richmond in 2013, stopping the Guyanese in the second round at the CASH, then going on to win the 2014 version of the Contenders Series which is an annual event on Jamaica’s boxing calendar.

The undercard of the 36-round card will have as its

main supporting bout, a female super middleweight contest between United States’ Loretta Rivas and Guyana’s own, Sharon Warde over six rounds.

The night’s opening fight will see two debutants in Guyana’s Travis Fraser and Barbados’ Charwin Estwick battle in a junior middleweight contest over four

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rounds.

A six-round catch weight contest is also on the cards involving Dexter Marques and Quincy Gomes matching gloves over eight rounds, while Edmond DeClou and Derick Richmond will do battle over eight rounds in a middleweight contest.

13:00 hrs Hollie Point 13:30 hrs Millionaires Row 14:00 hres Moulin Riuge 14:30 hrs Volunteer Point 15:00 hrs Little Miss Mighty 15:30 hrs Warbond 16:00 hrs Eastward Ho Irish Racing Tips Fairyhouse 09:10 hrs Arise And Go Now 09:40 hrs Altiepix 10:15 hrs Rebel Cry 10:45 hrs Zipporah 11:15 hrs Thunder And Roses 11:45 hrs Ardmillan 12:15 hrs Ten Times Better American Racing Tips Tampa Bay Downs Race 1 Monstrip Race 2 Hollywood Premiere Race 3 Learn the Longo Race 4 Silent Scream Race 5 Shayenut’ntonobody Race 6 Fifth Street Race 7 Ptolemic Race 8 Freestyler Race 9 Charming Verse

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Top seeds, former champions march on in Melbourne

By Greg Stutchbury MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams stuck to the Australian Open script with fairly routine victories yesterday, while men’s champion Stan Wawrinka and twotime winner Victoria Azarenka joined them in the second round.

The tournament had been turned on its

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a backhand return to Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia during their men’s singles first round match at the Australian Open 2015 tennis tournament in Melbourne, yesterday. head on the first day with eight women’s seeds, notably fifth ranked Ana Ivanovic, crashing out in the first round.

Yesterday’s matches went mostly as expected, however, with Djokovic barely troubled while Serena had some issues in the second set against players ranked more than 100 places below them.

Bidding to become the second man to win five Australian Open titles and touted by pundits and fellow players as the player to beat, Djokovic put in just enough effort to beat Slovenian qualifier Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in a shade under two hours.

“For a first round performance it was pretty good,” said Djokovic, who has been dogged by a virus this month. “Still need to

work on some things. I’m still developing my game so I’m glad to go through.

“It has been a rough two weeks healthwise but I’m getting there.”

Serena was at her ambivalently arrogant best in the first set, appearing to barely acknowledge Alison Van Utyvanck’s presence as she swatted aside the Belgian 6-0 in 21 minutes and then jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second.

Such was her dominance a ‘double-bagel’ appeared on the cards before the 20-year-old found her rhythm and range and forced the 18-time grand slam winner into a match, which caused some frustrations for the American before she ran out a 6-0, 6-4 winner.

“As always, I had the jitters going out in the first match of a grand slam,” she said. “It’s never super easy to be the one that everyone wants to beat.

“So I always have to be a little bit above.

But I felt okay (and) I definitely think I can improve a tremendous amount.”

TOP-10 WIN Despite taking a fall early in his match, Wawrinka was equally comfortable against Marsel Ilhan, the only Turkish man to have made a grand slam main draw.

“First grand slam is never easy, but I’m happy the way I played,” the Swiss told reporters. “I play some good tennis and I have confidence with my game in general.”

Kei Nishikori also had few problems, enjoying a 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 victory over former top-10 player Nicolas Almagro, who is on the comeback trail after foot surgery last June.

Eighth-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic also advanced, 7-6(3), 7-6(3), 6-3 over qualifier Illya Marchenko, though he admitted his laconic demeanour on court hides a tangled mess of high-strung nerves and personal demons.

“Everything bothers me deep down,” a smiling Raonic said after his 28th ace sealed the win over the 144th-ranked Ukrainian. “Everything. I’m not that re-

Smith to lead Australia against England, Warner rested

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Steven Smith will lead Australia in Friday’s tri-series match against England in absence of suspended George Bailey, Cricket Australia said yesterday.

Opening batsman David Warner has also been rested from the one-day international at

STEVEN SMITH

Hobart to recover from a sore hamstring, CA added in a statement.

Shaun Marsh and Cameron White will replace Bailey and Warner in the squad for Friday’s match, when Australia will target their third consecutive victory in the tri-series.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned Bailey, who was leading the side in place of injured regular skipper Michael Clarke, after Sunday’s match against India for a second over-rate offence in 12 months.

“Steven’s appointment was a straightforward decision given the excellent impression he made in charge of the side during the Test series when he stepped in for the injured Michael Clarke,” national selector Rodney Marsh said.

“It is unfortunate for George Bailey that he will miss the match in his home state but in Steven we have a dynamic player who leads from the front, by example, and we look forward to him doing so again on Friday.”

laxed.”

DARK HORSE Twice champion Victoria Azarenka, unseeded after an injury-ravaged 2014, proved she was a dangerous floater in the draw as she got back to her banshee-screeching best, raising the decibel levels on Hisense Arena in a 6-3, 6-2 win over American Sloane Stephens.

“Being an unseeded player, it’s not a surprise that I have a tough draw or tough opponents in the early round,” she said. “I

just need to go through that.”

The tournament does not get any easier for Azarenka with a second round clash against former world number one Caroline Wozniacki, who eventually outfought American teenager Taylor Townsend 7-6(1), 6-2.

“It’s going to be tough, she’s won here before (and) not the easiest on paper,” Wozniacki said of the second round clash.

“But at the same time ... whether you have to beat her in the second round or fourth round, whatever, doesn’t matter if you want to win the tournament.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Finn claims five for 33 as England overpower India by nine wickets

By Julian Linden BRISBANE, Australia (Reuters) - England thrashed India by nine wickets with more than 22 overs to spare yesterday to record their first win in the tri-series

tournament in Australia and boost their confidence ahead of next month’s World Cup. Fast bowler Steven Finn claimed his first five-wicket haul in a oneday international as En-

gland destroyed India’s batting lineup at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Finn took 5-33 from eight overs while Jimmy Anderson picked up four wickets as the pair skittled the reigning world champi-

Steven Finn takes three quick wickets to leave India stuttering in Brisbane. ons for 153 in less than 40 overs.

Ian Bell and James Taylor both posted unbeaten half-centuries as England cruised to victory in 27.3 overs, earning a bonus point for their lopsided win.

Bell finished 88 not out off 91 balls, inching closer to 5 000 ODI career runs, while the pint-size Taylor remained unconquered on 54 from 63 deliveries, chalking up his third fifty in eight ODI appearances.

The pair shared an unbroken partnership of 131 after England lost opener Moeen Ali for eight, the only hiccup in the romp.

“Outstanding. We really put a team performance, which I was delighted with,” England captain Eoin Morgan told reporters.

“And there were individual performances. Steve Finn got that bounce and made most of it. Jimmy (An-

derson) set the tone with an early breakthrough.”

The towering Finn, who stands 2.01 metres (6ft-7in) tall, tore through India’s fragile middle order with his pace and extra bounce, with three of his wickets coming through catches to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Finn got the prized wickets of Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and was on a hat-trick after he

INDIA innings A. Rahane c Taylor b Finn 33 S. Dhawan c Buttler b Anderson

1 A. Rayudu c Buttler b Finn 23 V. Kohli c Buttler b Finn 4 S. Raina stp. Buttler b Ali 1 M. Dhoni c Buttler b Finn 34 S. Binny c Morgan b Anderson

44 A. Patel b Finn 0 B. Kumar b Anderson 5 M. Shami c Ali b Anderson 1 U. Yadav not out 0 Extras: (lb-3, nb-1, w-3) 7 Total: (all out, 39.3 overs) 153 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-57, 3-64, 4-65,

clean-bowled Axar Patel for a golden duck.

Anderson gave England the perfect start when he removed Shikhar Dhawan for one in the third over and returned to mop up the tail and finish with 4-18.

With India’s world record holder Rohit Sharma skipping the match because of a minor hamstring complaint, the tourists needed someone else to make a big contribution but no-one did.

All-rounder Stuart Binny, who came in for Ravichandran Ashwin, top-scored with 44 while Dhoni made a patient 34 and opener Ajinkya Rahane 33.

“We have to use whatever time is left before the World Cup in a useful manner. Staying four and a half months away from home is difficult, but we have to switch on and switch off,” Dhoni said.

“We need to switch on and assess what needs to be done in the nets, or wait in the hotel if the need be.”

5-67, 6-137, 7-137, 8-143, 9-153.

Bowling: J. Anderson 8.3-2-18-4 (w-1),C. Woakes 7-0-35-0 (w-1), S. Broad 7-0-33–0, S. Finn 8-0-33-5 (nb-1, w-1), M. Ali 9-0-31-1.

ENGLAND innings I. Bell not out 88 M. Ali c Kohli b Binny 8 J. Taylor not out 56 Extras: (nb-1, w-3) 4 Total: (for 1 wickets, 27.3 overs) 156 Fall of wickets: 1-25.

Bowling: S. Binny 7-0-34-1 (nb-1), B. Kumar 2-0-18-0 (w-1), U. Yadav 6-042-0, M. Shami 4-0-23-0 (w-1), A. Patel 7.3-0-32-0 (w-1), S. Raina 1-0-7-0.

Ten-man Ivory Coast draw with Guinea

By Ian Hughes BBC Sport

IVORY Coast fought back to draw their Africa Cup of Nations opener with Guinea, despite having Gervinho sent off early in the second half.

Guinea took a 36th-minute lead when Mohamed Yattara volleyed in.

Ex-Arsenal striker Gervinho, who had hit the bar in the first half, was dismissed on 58 minutes for a slap.

Ibrahima Traore almost doubled the lead when his shot hit the bar, but Ivory Coast rescued themselves

Mohamed Yattara when Seydou Doumbia slotted low into the corner.

That outcome seemed unlikely when Gervinho was given his marching orders - he had been by far the

game’s best player, while his team-mates had looked well short of their potential.

Boasting the attacking talents of Wilfried Bony, now one of Africa’s most expensive players since his £28M move to Manchester City, plus new his club-mate Yaya Toure and Gervinho, the Elephants were expected to win comfortably, But Guinea showed all the character that had got them to the finals - they qualified despite not being able to play matches at home because of the Ebola crisis in their country - to hold their own.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Jaguars pay price for complacency and undisciplined batting ... Guyana finish atop the standings and will play first semifinal

By BRIJ PARASNATH In Trinidad & Tobago A COMBINATION of errors by the bowlers especially Raymon Reifer and poor strategy by Guyana Jaguars captain Christopher Barnwell gifted away their unbeaten advantage when the CCC Marooners romped to a sensational come-from-behind one-wicket victory over the Guyana Jaguars team in their final Zone A match, contested at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain on Monday evening.

Guyana Jaguars lost their unbeaten streak in the 2015 WICB NAGICO Super50 tournament but finished atop the Zone A standings with nine points while the CCC Marooners clinched the second qualifying spot with eight, ahead of 2013 champions Windward Volcanoes, who mustered six with the crushing win over dethroned champs Barbados Pride at Shaw Park, Tobago earlier that day.

The Jaguars were restricted to 171 for 9 off their allotted 50 overs while the CCC Marooners displayed remarkable fighting qualities and capitalised on the questionable bowling change made by Barnwell when they needed 45 runs for victory from 24 balls.

The Barbados-based team that comprised mostly Barbadians and Jamaicans ended up with 173 for 9 off 49.5 overs. And they gained four vital points that pushed them into the semi-finals.

Reifer moved “from hero to villain” status following his opposite performances in back-to-back matches. He was the batting hero in the previous encounter against Barbados Pride when he rallied the Jaguars to an exciting and heart-warming two-wicket victory with a mature and brilliant unbeaten 84. Although he is an all-rounder, he did not bowl in that encounter.

However, the roles reversed in the match against his former CCC teammates.

With the Jaguars holding the upper-hand and virtually cruising to victory, it was surprising and an act of sheer

complacency by the Jaguars captain to entrust the bowling honours to Reifer for the 45th over while Paul Wintz had bowled impressively in a prolonged spell with the new ball in tandem with off-spinner Steven Jacobs.

Wintz was the most penetrative with excellent figures of 7-0-24-2.

Wintz was never used again even when he could have been utilised during those closing overs and in particular for the final one after Reifer struggled in his first (48th) which yielded ten runs that swung the momentum in favour of the CCC Marooners.

Ravmond Powell was the chief wicket-taker for CCC Marooners during the Jaguars innings and he exhibited good temperament and showcased his undoubted all-round prowess to usher his team to a stunning victory with one ball remaining.

He struck Reifer for a four and followed up with massive six off the final ball of the over that produced ten crucial runs in his first over.

While his Jamaican counterpart Christopher Powell also displayed aggressive intent and clobbered Veerasammy Permaul for four while Ravmon followed up with a huge six. The equation changed dramatically and although Barnwell bowled smartly and eased the pressure in the 49th over, CCC still needed eleven runs to win off the final over.

Astonishingly although Reifer struggled in his first over and with the Powells in rampant mood, it was unbelievable that he was entrusted to bowl the final over while Wintz had three overs to complete his complement.

Tension was high but CCC’s Christopher Powell and number eleven batsman Ryan Austin, who replaced Ravmond who was dismissed by Barnwell; kept their nerves.

Reifer was guilty of bowling all over the place and even conceded three wides that left the equation down at three runs from two balls for victory while the Jaguars required one wicket to keep their unbeaten streak.

Reifer maintained the policy of bowling round the wicket and Christopher on-drove powerfully a fulllength delivery beyond the long on boundary rope and the CCC Marooners celebrated one of the greatest rear-guard fightback that catapulted them to second spot and a semi-final place ahead of the Windwards Volcanoes.

Ravmond Powell was deservedly voted man-of-thematch with his 3 for 20 and heroic 31 that was studded with three sixes off 30 balls.

unbeaten 84; did not last long and failed to make an impact. The 23-year-old was deceived and bowled comprehensively by leg-spinner Keron Cottoy whose spinning delivery zipped through between pad and pad and dislodged the bails.

It was a shocking experience for Reifer who had previously played all his regional matches for the CCC team, whose players were ecstatic to have nailed him for a relatively low score.

The left-handed stroke-play-

The CCC players are overjoyed after their final-over victory in the Group A match on Monday night at the Queen’s Park Oval.

(Photo by WICB Media/Ashley Allen) Christopher was undefeated on 27 that included four fours off 29 balls.

This was CCC first-ever victory over Guyana in the 50-overs-a-side tournament and the Jaguars have much work to do to regain the momentum they generated with sweet victories over Windwards Volcanoes and Barbados Pride.

When they batted, the Jaguars frontline batsmen struggled to get their rhythm and were dismissed cheaply.

Opener Rajendra Chandrika (26), veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul (33) and Royston Crandon (39) made useful contributions but were guilty of being in the defensive mood and absorbed too many deliveries.

Trevon Griffith (2) continued his miserable outing and faced 24 balls before he edged newcomer Christopher Powell’s delivery to wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton. The score was 18 for 1 off eight overs while Raymon Reifer, the batting hero against Barbados Pride with a match-winning

er made seven runs off 23 deliveries. It was 33 for 2 off 16.1 overs.

Medium pacer Ravmond Powell created a big stir when he bowled right-handed opener Chandrika with his first delivery. And then he sparked further jubilation among the CCC players by forcing the Jaguars captain Christopher Barnwell to edge the very next delivery and his first to wicketkeeper Walton, who made no mistake. The Jaguars were floundering at 44 for 4 off 21.2 overs.

However, 40-year-old Chanderpaul used his wealth of experience and skills to nullify the opposition and instilled confidence in Royston Crandon who gradually gained composure and a positive attitude, as they repaired the damage and restored some degree of respectability with a measured 54-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Chanderpaul attempted to up the tempo but succeeded in gifting his wicket to Ravmond Powell who

accepted the lobbed pull shot that travelled high and dropped on the on-side of the bowling crease where the bowling held on for dear life.

Chanders made 33 and struck only two fours during his watchful vigilance while Crandon played some bold strokes and hit three fours before he exited for 39 off 65 balls. They departed at 99 (39.5 overs) and 113 (42.5).

Nine runs later Steven Jacobs (2 runs off 4 balls) continued his wretched form with the bat and edged Cottoy to wicketkeeper Walton to leave the Jaguars in an embarrassing position at 122 for 7 off 46.1 overs.

However, Veerasammy Permaul once again rose to the occasion and demonstrated his wonderful allround ability with superlative strokes.

The ambidextrous player smashed three authoritative sixes to backward square leg, long off and mid-wicket positions and found a solid partner in Anthony Bramble, who struggled initially, but made contact to count one six and one four off 21 balls.

The Permaul-Bramble tandem stitched together a 44-run eighth-wicket partnership off 4.2 overs and guided the Guyana Jaguars to a challenging 166 (49.3 overs) when Bramble was bowled

by Kyle Mayers for 20.

Permaul, who hammered three sixes and one four off 15 balls; remained undefeated on 29 while Paul Wintz, who played in place of Ronsford Beaton, was the other not out batsman on two.

Ravmond Powell (3 for 20), Cottoy (2 for 45) and Mayers (2 for 27) were CCC’s successful bowlers.

In reply, CCC’s innings followed a similar pattern as the Jaguars. They lost four wickets for 44 runs.

Experienced openers Shacaya Thomas (1) and captain Walton were separated in the third over when Wintz found the edge of Thomas’ bat as the ball steered its course to wicketkeeper Bramble who gleefully accepted the catch. Walton was run-out by Royston Crandon for seven (15 for 2 off 3.6 overs).

Kavem Hodge (1) was brilliantly run-out by Cran-

don via a direct hit at the non-striker’s end while Kyle Hope was ruled lbw to Wintz for 16 (31 balls, 3x4s).

Cassius Burton (8 runs, 24 balls) was lbw to Permaul whose economical spell kept the CCC batsmen in check.

Paul Palmer survived an easy straight forward chance put down by Trevon Griffith at second slip off Wintz with the score at 21 for 2 off 7 overs.

The left-hander rode his luck and emerged as the top scorer before he was lbw to Devendra Bishoo for 32 that contained two fours off 94 balls.

With Kyle Mayers, they posted 35 runs for the sixth wicket and kept CCC’s chances alive for an upset victory. But both were dismissed at 95 with two consecutive deliveries. First to go was Mayers, caught

by Barnwell at first slip off Crandon for 15 (49 balls, 1x6) while Palmer was adjudged lbw to Bishoo with the first ball of the 37th over.

Bishoo was getting generous spin off the pitch and he also claimed Keron Cottoy (5 off 21 balls), via lbw.

But Barnwell’s tactics backfired badly and the two Powells, Ravmond and Christopher; capitalised and charted a historic victory for the CCC Marooners whose confidence would be boosted with such a fighting performance.

The Guyana Jaguars would have learnt a tough lesson and will appreciate that in professional sport there is very little room for complacency and sentiments.

It’s a rude awakening but they will seek to rebound and battle for a place in the final.

The selectors will have to rethink their strategy with the openers.

Chanderpaul should be asked to do the honours alongside Chandrika which will free up a place for either a fit Jonathan Foo or Vishaul Singh in the middle.

The final points standings for Zone A are: Guyana Jaguars 9 (1.03) C C C M a ro o n e r s 8 (-0.052) Windwards Volcanoes 6 (-0.870) Barbados Pride- 2 (-0.701).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

New Zealand win 4th ODI to take 2-1 series lead

… Williamson scores century for Kiwis WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - Kane Williamson hit a century and Luke Ronchi smashed 24 runs off one explosive over when the match was still in the balance to steer New Zealand to a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the fourth One Day International in Nelson yesterday.

Sri Lanka set New Zealand a testing victory target of 277 to win the match at Saxton Oval after being bowled out for 276 in 49.3 overs and the Black Caps reached the mark with 11 balls to spare for the loss of six wickets.

Williamson continued his rich run of form with the bat, scoring 103 off 107 deliveries to provide the backbone of New Zealand’s innings.

He was well supported by Corey Anderson, who made a quick-fire 47 before being run-out in the 46th over with the home team still needing 32 for victory.

New Zealand required 25 off the last 18 balls when Ron-

chi tied the scores in the blink of an eye, blasting three sixes, a boundary and a two off the 48th over from Thisara Perera.

Daniel Vettori spanked a boundary off the first ball of the next over to end the match, leaving Ronchi unbeaten on 32 from 15 balls.

“Really good effort from the bowlers to give us a score under par,” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said at the post-match presentation.

“Kane showed how experienced he is and how he can formulate a game plan; also finished off well by Corey and Ronchi.”

Sri Lanka’s big three batsmen all made significant contributions to their total but the tourists did not get enough runs from the rest of their lineup on a good batting wicket.

Mahela Jayawardene fell just six runs shy of a century and Kumar Sangakkara made a swift 76 after Tillakaratne Dilshan gave the Sri Lankans a solid platform with 44.

Kane Williamson makes his fifth ODI century in Wellington.

“After the start we got, I thought the lower order batted poorly,” Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said.

“I thought Dilshan, Sangakkara and Mahela batted beautifully. It was a very good wicket, didn’t turn as much or slow up, but it was a good batting track.”

Fast bowler Adam Milne

SRI LANKA innings D. Karunaratne lbw b Southee 5 T. Dilshan c Guptill b Williamson 44 K. Sangakkara c Guptill b Milne 76 M. Jayawardene c Ronchi b Anderson 94 A. Mathews c Ronchi b Milne 0 L. Thirimanne b McClenaghan 19 T. Perera c McClenaghan b Southee 5 J. Mendis c Vettori b Southee 12 N. Kulasekara run-out 4 S. Senanayake not out 1 R. Herath c Williamson b McClenaghan 0 Extras: (lb-2, w-14) 16 Total: (all out, 49.3 overs) 276 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-113, 3-180, 4-180, 5-245, 6-253, 7-268, 8-270, 9-273.

Bowling: T. Southee 10-1-59-3 (w-4), A. Milne 7-0-28-2 (w-1), M.

McClenaghan 9.3-0-58-2 (w-4), C. Anderson 3-0-19-1, G. Elliott 3-019-0 (w-1), D. Vettori 10-0-41-0, K. Williamson 7-0-50-1.

NEW ZEALAND innings M. Guptill c Sangakkara b Mathews 20 B. McCullum c T. Perera b N. Kulasekara 11 K. Williamson b T. Perera 103 R. Taylor c Sangakkara b Herath 8 G. Elliott c Thirimanne b J. Mendis 44 C. Anderson run out (Dilshan) 47 L. Ronchi not out 32 D. Vettori not out 7 Extras: (lb-1, w-7) 8 Total: (for 6 wickets, 48.1 overs) 280 Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-41, 3-63, 4-151, 5-230, 6-245.

Bowling: N. Kulasekara 9-0-51-1 (w-3), A. Mathews 4-1-16-1 (w-1), R. Herath 9-1-39-1 (w-2), T. Perera 8-0-58-1, S. Senanayake 9.1-0-57–0, J. Mendis 7-040-1 (w-1), T. Dilshan 2-0-18-0.

was the pick of New Zealand’s attack with 2-28 from seven overs, while opening bowler Tim Southee was expensive but finished with 3-59.

New Zealand lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 after they shared the first two games and the third match in Auckland on Saturday was rained out.

Jamaica make NAGICO Super 50 semi-finals after It’ll be tough to fix any World Cup matches - ICC chief nine-wicket win

By Tony Jimenez

LONDON, England (Reuters) - The chief executive of cricket’s governing body believes it will be tough for anyone outside the game to fix matches during next month’s 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

David Richardson also said yesterday that the International Cricket Council (ICC) would clamp down hard on bad behaviour in the tournament by the players.

ICC chief executive David Richardson

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Wednesday January 21, 2015) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)7 (2)20 Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI has struck most sixes in a single ODI innings?

(2)How many ODIs between the WI and SA have ended in ties to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

There have been several cases of corruption in the sport in recent years.

Pakistan have been hit the hardest with former captain Salman Butt, pacemen Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria all banned for fixing in the last four and a half years.

“On the corruption side it’s safe to say we’re the best prepared we’ve ever been,” Richardson said in an ICC interview.

“Our anti-corruption personnel have done a lot of work in entering into agreements, associations and arrangements with the local police and law enforcement agencies in New Zealand and

Australia.

“Our intelligence and information on who these corruptors are, and who may try and fix matches around the world, has grown. We know exactly where these people are and we have got a list of more than a hundred names we will be passing on to these law enforcement agencies,” added Richardson.

“It will be very difficult for anybody outside of the game to come and even attempt to try and corrupt players, umpires or anybody involved in the World Cup, to try and fix a match.”

The former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman, who played in the World Cup the last time it was hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 1992, said match-fixing or trying to rig games was now regarded as a criminal offence by the two host nations.

“This enables not only us but the police themselves to take much more specific and direct action against these people who are trying to corrupt the game,” explained Richardson.

The 55-year-old also addressed the issue of poor on-field conduct.

THE Jamaica Franchise eased into the semi-finals of the NAGICO Super50 tournament following an emphatic nine-wicket win over the West Indies U-19 team in their match at the NCC in Balmain Couva.

Batting first, the young West Indies side were pegged back from the beginning, mustering just 137 runs all out in 47 overs.

Things started badly for the youth team, who lost opener Shimron Hetmyer without a run on the board.

The U-19s were at one stage, reeling at 85 for 8, but their innings got some momentum through Michael Frew who made 33, batting at number 8.

Markino Mindley, Derval Green, Damion Jacobs and captain Nikita Miller picked up two wickets each.

The Jamaicans then made light work of the WI U-19s total, losing only the wicket of Nkrumah Bon-

Jermaine Blackwood ner for 10.

Left-hander John Campbell took home the man-of-the-match award for his unbeaten knock of 61 off 84 balls including five fours and a six.

Jermaine Blackwood was left not out on 53 from 69 balls with 3 fours and two sixes.

The Jamaicans, for the time being, moved to the top of Group B with 10 points. (SportsMax)

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday January 21, 2015

Petra/Milo U-20 Football Tournament

Chase Academy to offer four scholarships

By Rawle Toney

HENRY Chase, headmaster and owner of Chase Academy, one of Georgetown’s leading private learning institutions, will be offering four full scholarships to the top players from the 3rd Petra/Milo U-20 Football tournament which was launched yesterday.

“I’m a football fan, following the game for a long time and over the years I’ve always had the view that, in my lifetime, I would love to see Guyana go to the football World Cup. “I realise that our young men out there are very talented and they are many football players in Guyana who are cognitively inclined,” Chase said while addressing the media at the tournament’s launching.

Chase said that last year, nine scholarships were giv-

A gentleman’s agreement! Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca (left) and Chase Academy Headmaster Henry Chase (Adrian Narine photo)

en to students from the aforementioned tournament, which comes with his aim to further “allow students who are not performing in the traditional public school system, to come to Chase where continuously, they will continue to train in the afternoon with the hope

of doing many things of developing rounded individual or preparing young people who could represent Guyana (at the various levels)” The students are not expected to pay any tuition fees, according to Chase. “They come to school, they must main-

BCB pulls out of GCB elections

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday stated that its members will not be participating in the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) elections, owing to the illegality of the event.

“Based on the Cricket Administration Bill, the BCB will not be attending the GCB Annual General Meeting,“ the BCB said in a release.

According to the release from the BCB, its members met last Sunday (January 18) at the board office “and decided that based on the Cricket Administration Bill which is now law, they will not attend or in any way participate in the upcoming elections of the GCB. The bill states clearly that only the Minister of Sport has the authority to call the GCB elections, and that was again clearly stated by the Minister in Guyana Times Newspapers on Monday.

However, the release stated that the BCB is willing and ready to participate in any GCB elections that is properly conducted but will not defy the rule of the land.

Meanwhile, last Sun- chael Ramdeen, Junior Blair day’s meeting appointed executives and members of Cricket Development the committees and these are Vemen Walters (Chairthe names: man), Zaheer Moakhan, Shabeer Baksh, Ishwar Singh, Appointed Executives Orvin Mangru, Carl Moore, Hubern Evans, Albert Albert Smith. Rep from Smith, Julian Cambridge, UCCA Rabindranauth Saywack, Malcolm Peters, Imtiaz BacPublic Relations cus, Keith Foster Rajiv Bisnauth (Chairman), Anil Beharry, Carl Competitions Committee Moore, Angela Haniff, PlafCarl Moore (Chairman), fiana Milington Plaffiana Millington (secretary), Aubrey Collins, Leslie M a r k e t i n g / F i n a n c e Solomon, Sydney Jackman, Anil Beharry (Chairman), Rabindranauth Saywack, Vicky Bharosay, Imran SacWinston Smith, Zaheer coor, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, Moakhan, Ricardo Bachan, Qualis Muthusammi Permaul, Winter, Ishwar Singh, Carl Vishal Mahabir Moore, Hubern Evans, Sahadeo Singh Selection Committee (Senior) Disciplinary Committee Dhirendranauth SomDhirendranauth Somwaru (Chairman), Albert waru, Julian Cambridge, Smith, Hubern Evans, Niran Budhnarine Persaud, RoYacoob, Moses Samlall, Les- han Chandan, Vemen Wallie Solomon ters, The monthly meeting is Selection Commiittee fixed for the second Sunday (Junior) of every month with the Leslie Solomon (Chair- OGM on the last Sunday man), Andre Percival, Moses of March, June and SepSamlall, Julian Moore, Mi- tember.

tain discipline, and they must attend school and should not be involved in any negativity.

“I must admit also that our valedictorian last year is a member of our football team and he got 11 subjects.

We have this perception that footballers generally do perform, they don’t see school as important and I’m trying to reverse that backward mentality.”

Digicel’s schools football tournament is considered the Holy Grail of schools football championships but, from its inception four years ago, only once a city team (Government Technical Institute) won the title.

Christianburg Wismar

Secondary School (CWSS) featured in all four finals, only losing once and won three consecutive championships; something Chase said that he’s wary of, stating “I’m at pain each year to see Christianburg just winning the Digicel all the time and I will do everything in my power so that we can compete.”

He said that offering the scholarship to the top performers will also enhance his school’s chances of being the top football school in the country.

Meanwhile, Chase received high praise from Chief Education Officer (CEO) Olato Sam who said that he welcomes the private school’s intuition

at helping the education system through sports and hopes that others could follow in their (Chase Academy) footsteps.

“One of our weakness, for example, the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG), is fielding the most talented team because that has some academic requirement attached to it. Our programmes at all levels will only move forward if we only get some of these fundamental things right,” Sam said.

Thirty-two schools from Georgetown will contest this year’s Petra/ Milo U-20 football tournament with the winning team collecting $500 000 towards a project of their school’s choice.

Windies hoping to avoid ODI series defeat EAST LONDON, South Africa (CMC) - West Indies, facing a series defeat against South Africa, will attempt to strike back to keep their chances alive when both teams meet in the third of the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series at the Buffalo Park in East London today.

The West Indies will have to raise their game if they are to stop the South Africans from sealing the series with a win and two games in hand after they won the first couple of ODIs comfortably.

The Windies bowling attack is expected to particularly target the top three South Africa batsmen who have garnered most of their runs, protecting a vulnerable middle order from exposure.

South Africa lost five wickets for 34 runs between the 40th and 48th over in the first ODI and still look shaky at Number six and seven.

The pressure will be on senior middle order batsman Marlon Samuels, who has been criticised for throwing his wicket away, to bat with more responsibility as the Caribbean side face a series defeat.

The spotlight will also

Lendl Simmons be on maverick opener Chris Gayle who plundered the bowling in the T20 series but whose flagging form will be a concern.

Gayle has not scored an ODI century in 14 matches, dating back to June 2013, and has only managed one fifty in that time.

Lendl Simmons, who is part of the World Cup squad, is nursing a finger injury but could be slotted into the team in place of Leon Johnson to bolster the batting.

The only other change that could be made is in the seam department where

Jerome Taylor may be given a rest while Sheldon Cottrell is given a chance.

Taylor has been expensive, giving away 145 runs in the last two matches and claiming just three wickets.

Some commentators believe conditions are ideal for West Indies to bounce back.

East London’s pitch is much slower than Johannesburg and the ball is expected to be slow in coming on to the bat with very little assistance for the pacers.

Late evening rain is also forecast which may hamper the second innings.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Chase Academy to See offer four Story on Page scholarships 39

3rd Petra/Milo Under-20 Football tournament officially launched

By Rawle Toney

P

ETRA Organisation was hailed for having a very successful year in 2014, promoting Schools Football in all age groups, in keeping with its mandate to foster the development of the game at the schools level.

Yesterday, the organisation launched its third Annual Milo-sponsored U-20 Schools football tournament, featuring 32 high schools in Georgetown who will vie to not only dethrone defending champions Lodge Secondary, but also lift the tournament’s first prize of $500 000, which will go to their school.

The schools finishing second through fourth will win $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000 respectively.

This year Chief Education Officer (CEO) Olato Sam, while addressing the gathering of media officials

and sponsors at yesterday’s launching, stressed the importance of the participants from the various schools, demonstrating good behaviour and for the schools to ensure that their players have good attendance records, before allowing them to participate in the championships.

Sam is of the opinion that this year’s competition should see some amount of eligibility changes for students among which should be a minimum Grade Point average, thereby encouraging participants to see themselves as student athletes and not merely footballers, in keeping with the rest of the world.

The Education Ministry’s CEO showered Petra Organisation with praise for being a constant partner with his ministry, stating that they have been constant with fostering student athletes at all levels

See Page 34

Milo Brand Manager Renita Sital hands over her company’s cheque to Petra Organisation’s Troy Mendonca in the presence of Ministry of Education CEO Olato Sam and other members of the organising committee. (Adrian Narine photo)

Atwell to replace injured Lewis for CABOFE junior welterweight title fight

By Michael DaSilva CLIVE `The Punisher’ Atwell will replace Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis in a WBC CABOFE-sanctioned, Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC)-organised junior welterweight fight on February 21 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

According to GBBC’s match-maker Eion Jardine, the card is still on but Lewis has been replaced by Atwell due to an injury Lewis suffered while sparring with a French Guiana boxer on Sunday, in preparation for his ring date against Jamaican

Clive `The Punisher’ Atwell Sakima Mullings.

Jardine told Chronicle Sport that Atwell, having learnt of Lewis’ tragedy, immediately accepted the

offer to replace Lewis. The fight will still be a title fight over 12 rounds.

According to Jardine, the former World Boxing Association (WBA) suffered a hairline fracture to his collarbone and this was confirmed by GBBC’s doctor Dr Max Hanoman who said Lewis will be unable to box for another two months or so.

Mullings with a 17 (12)1-0 record is Jamaica’s junior welterweight champion.

Mullings had stated openly, according to a close source, that he wants to destroy Lewis

See Page 34

National Sports Awards winners to be announced on February 20

IT’S that time of the year when athletes, journalists and administrators wait patiently to see if they are fortunate enough to have their names etched in history as National Sports Awards winners. The National Sports Commission (NSC) will announce the winners next month.

The winners of the 16 categories will be announced after a meeting of the panel that comprises Editors of the various media houses and other members of the NSC committee on February 20 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Sportsman and Sportswoman awards are up for grabs in both the senior and junior categories along with the Sports team of the year 2014, most improved association, best primary and secondary schools, best community in sports, sports association and the journalist category for print and none-print media.

An Award will also be made to the outstanding persons drawn from Persons with Disabilities.

West Indies and Guyana’s middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was named Sportsman-of-the-Year while squash queen Nicolette Fernandes was the women’s equivalent.

Powerlifting champion and record holder Winston Stoby was runner-up Sportsman-of-the-Year and Lindener Dawn Barker (power-lifting) was runner-up Sportswoman-of-the-Year.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015