Guyana chronicle 23 01 14

GUYANA No. 103717

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

THURSDAY JANUARY 23, 2014 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $60

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Copa Airlines to fly

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Panama-Guyana route from July

Two held with grenades, Former beauty M16 rifle and ammo Page 3

The gun, ammunition and grenades police said they seized from two men yesterday (Police photo)

- in South Ruimveldt

queen remanded on same murder charge Page 3

Accused Carol Ann Lynch

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

At the Copa Airlines launch, from left are Mr Indranauth Haralsingh, Mr Clinton Urling, Mr Ron Webster, Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister Irfaan Ali, Ms Manuela Munoz Angel, Mr Kit Nascimento and Mr Guillermo Gomez. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

Copa Airlines to fly Panama-Guyana route from July

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally

PANAMA-based Copa Airlines has announced the commencement of their service to Guyana starting in July this year.

The Guyana route will begin operations with flights twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, to Panama City, Panama, and passengers would have the leisure of booking connecting flights to a number of other destinations such as Montreal, Canada, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and New York.

Sales Manager of Copa Airlines, Mr Guillermo Gomez, in making the announcement at a press conference, said that “as a member of Copa Airlines and speaking on behalf of the entire company, we are very glad that

Guyana will become one of our most important achievements in 2014, the 30th country on our network and our 68th destination.”

Several steps had to be taken to encourage Copa Airlines to begin operations in Guyana and settling the visa arrangements posed one of the major issues, Minster of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett pointed out.

ENORMOUS POTENTIAL The Government of Guyana, therefore, has decided to waive visas for citizens of Panama, Peru and Costa Rica. Citizens of these countries can now

visit Guyana without the need for a visa and spend 90 days in the country when approved by immigration.

Minister Rodrigues-Birkett also said at the press conference that “the government recognises the enormous potential for trade and investment for tourism with Panama.”

The announcement of a new airline comes at a time when Guyana is looking to attract more tourists as well as other airlines, “when we seek to expand our horizons into new opportunities that await us with the commencement of Copa’s operations,” said acting Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali as he welcomed Copa Airlines

to Guyana.

SPEAKING SPANISH Ali reaffirmed that “our front line staff from immigration, customs, GTA, and THAG would have to change their approach to business, and the first order of business, which started in the Ministry of Tourism and GTA, is to ensure that the staff can speak and understand Spanish.” This is essential as “we expand into new markets and bridge the language gap which over the years has caused many barriers between Guyana and Latin America, he added.

Copa Airlines serve at

present 68 destinations in some 30 countries with over 300 scheduled daily flights in North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.

It is recognised for its leadership in international connectivity, punctuality, quality of service and for having one of the most modern fleets in the industry. Copa Airlines was founded in 1947 as the national airline of Panama and is a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A. as well as a member of the Star Alliance. The airline is also the main operator and owner of Colombian airline Aero Republica, currently known as Copa Airlines Colombia.

Former beauty queen remanded on same murder charge

FORMER beauty queen Carol Ann Lynch, accused of killing her husband Farouk Razack on May 7, 2007, faced the charge, again, before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday.

Particulars of the capital offence said it was committed at Lot 106 Ireng Place, Bel Air Park, Georgetown, where then Swiss House Cambio managing director was found dead.

Lynch was represented by attorney-at-law Ms. Latchmi Rahamat, in association with other attorney-at-law, Mr. Peter Hugh.

Rahamat reminded the Court that Lynch had been previously charged for the same crime and the case was dismissed by then Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys on the basis of insufficient evidence.

The lawyer speculated that the outcome would be the same, this time, stating that there is no new evidence.

Defence Counsel also requested that the matter remain before the Chief Magistrate, to expedite it and the accused was remanded to prison until February 5 for a date to be fixed to commence the preliminary inquiry (PI).

Lynch, accompanied by her lawyers, had turned herself over to the police last Tuesday morning after being on the police

wanted list for more than three years, since the director of public prosecutions (DPP) recommended that the charge be reinstituted against her.

In a press statement on Monday, the prisoner had said:“I am pleading for a speedy hearing so that I can, again, attempt to put these false accusations behind me once and for all. I am willingly turning myself over to the Guyana Police Force and I am asking that members of the public be vigilant, because I have no faith, confidence or trust that my preliminary inquiry will be expedited, in an attempt to keep me locked up.

“I am confident that I will, again, be discharged because I am innocent. I loved my husband dearly and our beautiful family. My only regret in handing myself over to the authorities is that I will be away from my daughter for a period of time that is still undetermined.”

Accused Carol Ann Lynch

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Components from downed Cessna aircraft for further analysis today - Benn says tighter surveillance to be introduced

By Vanessa Narine

THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) and other stakeholders are expected to return to the crash site of the Cessna Caravan today to begin removing the necessary components of the aircraft for further analysis as the investigation continues.

The aircraft, on its way to Imbaimadai, was moving some 2,800 pounds of fuel to the location when it went down Saturday. The incident claimed the lives of the only two persons on board, the pilot, Blake Slater and cargo-loader, Dwayne Jacobs.

According to Minister of Transport, Robeson Benn, the GCCA officials will return to the crash site with special equipment to aid in the removal of the different components, including the aircraft’s engine.

He stated that Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks are currently on the ground at the crash site to protect the integrity of the downed aircraft to allow for proper investigation.

The site is under the control of the GCCA investigators, he said at a press conference at his office in Wight’s Lane yesterday.

Benn said, “In keeping with the protocols and procedures for accident investigations, the GCCA investigators have identified and commenced interviewing material witnesses and are gathering the necessary documentary and photographic evidence at the site for analysis.”

He noted that the GCCA is in contact with Cessna, the aircraft manufacturer; the engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney; Transport Canada, the country where the aircraft’s engine was manufactured; the National Transport Safety Body of the United States; Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS); and the Civil Aviation Authority of Suriname (CASAS) – entities that have indicated their willingness to provide assistance to the GCCA for the investigation.

“Transport Canada Safety Board has already accredited an inspector for this accident’s investigation,” Minister Benn said.

He added that Trans Guyana Airways, the operator of the aircraft, has also pledged full cooperation to the Authority for the investigation.

TIGHTER SURVEILLANCE Benn said the incident has resulted in the decision to tighten the level of surveillance of local aircraft operations.

He said, “We have been quite concerned over a number of incidents and mishaps…we have been discussing additional measures, additional oversight, in respect of tightening the level of surveillance with respect to aircraft operations.”

The minister added that the increased surveillance will include increased frequency of ad-hoc inspections on the coast, as well as in the interior, of aircraft operations.

He added that the focus of this effort is to ensure that all

Minister Robeson Benn, centre, with GCCA and other stakeholder officials at yesterday’s press conference (Photo by Adrian Narine) standards, as it relates to loading of aircrafts, etc., are strictly followed.

Benn noted that the recent spate of accidents has given rise to operational concerns at the level of the ministry.

He stated that the local airline operators are aware of these concerns, which will be addressed at a formal stakeholder meeting, in an effort to tangibly address them.

The minister explained that stakeholders in the local aviation sector have met from time to time to address concerns arising from reports at both the Ogle and Timehri towers.

ASSURANCE Even as he outlined his concerns of local operations, Benn stressed his assurance that, despite the recent accidents, all efforts have been made and will continue to be made to ensure the highest level of safety in local aircraft operations.

He noted that domestic travel has increased significantly, with some 50,000 flights annually, 130 flights daily.

He said, “There are things that we have to look into arising out of this investigation. ….comparatively speaking, statistically speaking, we have much more activity and the entire system has been responding to this increase in the level of activity and responding to the amount of effort required to manage the overall system.”

He reiterated his assurance to the public about the safety levels and added that as part of the local efforts, assessments and overall reviews of operational mechanisms are being done continuously.

Benn made it clear that the focus is on ensuring that the concerns are mitigated, to avoid a reoccurrence of Saturday’s accident.

ELT MALFUNCTION GCCA’s Director General Zulficar Mohamed, also on hand for the press conference, when asked about the reported malfunction with the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), explained that this is still to be confirmed.

Mohamed said once confirmation is made legal advice on the way forward will be considered.

He, however, acknowledged the reports that the ELT does not activate on impact during a crash.

According to him, the reports of faulty ELTs have surfaced not only in Guyana, but several other countries, following a global move to introduce a new brand of the said equipment.

Mohamed added that Guyana has several ELT suppliers and there has been no contract with the manufacturer that supplied the equipment used on the aircraft.

The GCCA Head concluded that once the reports from the investigations are in, the necessary steps will be taken.

Mohamed said the completion time for the investigation is dependent on several factors, including the number of stakeholders involved in ensuring proper completion of the process.

The aircraft, registered 8R-GHS, broadcasted a ‘mayday’ emergency call at approximately 10:56hrs on Saturday and an aerial search was commenced immediately. The search and rescue team located the aircraft on the jungle floor around midday on Sunday and GDF ranks were rappelled into an opening one mile from the site. The bodies of the two persons who perished were extracted late Monday and transported to Georgetown early Tuesday morning.

The incident is the second crash for 2014 but the first fortunately was not fatal.

Two held with grenades, M16 rifle and ammo - in South Ruimveldt

The gun, ammunition and grenades police said they seized from two men yesterday (Police photo)

By Michel Outridge

POLICE yesterday arrested two men who were found walking on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, with a cache of arms.

Police reported that the find was made at about 11:15 hrs yesterday, when ranks of a police motorcycle Anti-Crime Patrol observed the two men walking along Aubrey Barker Road in South Ruimveldt.

As the police ranks got closer to the men, one of them threw away a bag that he had in his possession.

The bag was retrieved by the police and found to contain an M16 rifle along with two magazines and 60 rounds ammunition, a fragmentation grenade and a concussion grenade.

The two men were arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday nine persons were arrested during a police dragnet in the city and on the East Bank of Demerara. Four men were arrested pending investigations into armed robberies; two men and two women were arrested for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking; and a man was arrested after an unlicensed .32 Taurus pistol along with two magazines and 25 matching rounds were found in his home. He was also wanted for questioning pending investigations into another matter where a firearm was recovered at Ogle, East Coast of Demerara.

Tuesday morning a party of lawmen conducted an operation within the areas of Diamond and Providence, EBD; and Ruimveldt and Tucville, Georgetown.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Syria Geneva II peace talks witness bitter exchanges (BBC News) SYRIA’S government and main political opposition have traded bitter accusations on the first day of a major peace conference in Switzerland.

The opposition and US said President Bashar al-Assad had no legitimacy and must step down from power.

Syria’s foreign minister had a terse exchange with the UN’s Ban Ki-moon over the length of his speech and said only Syrians could decide Mr Assad’s fate.

The conflict has left more than 100,000 dead and millions displaced.

The summit is discussing the Geneva communique which lays out a political transition plan for Syria.

Wednesday’s initial meeting, involving speeches from

40 or so foreign ministers - has now ended. The direct talks are scheduled to begin in Geneva on Friday.

At a fractious evening news conference, during which there were repeated calls for calm, Mr Ban spoke of the suffering in Syria, saying: “Enough is enough. The time has come to negotiate.”

He said that “the really hard work begins on Friday”, adding: “We have a difficult road ahead, but it can be done and it must be done.”

Mr Ban dwelt on the Geneva communique, which calls for a transitional government in Syria, saying he was disappointed with the attitudes of both the Syrian government and its ally, Iran.

UN mediator Lakhdar Bra-

himi said he would speak to the Syrian government and opposition delegations separately on Thursday and that he hoped both teams would meet in the same room on Friday.

This would be the first faceto-face meeting between the Syrian government and the main opposition - the National Coalition - since the conflict began in 2011.

At his press conference, US Secretary of State John Kerry stressed that the Geneva communique and its call for political transition was the paramount focus of the summit.

“Every delegation, with one exception, embraced the Geneva communique,” he said, referring to the Syrian government. “Noone has done more to make Syria a magnet for terrorists

than Bashar al-Assad,” Mr Kerry said. “You cannot save Syria with Bashar al-Assad in power.”

A member of the Syrian team, UN ambassador Bashar Jaafari, criticised the exclusion of Iran from the meeting, and condemned many of Wednesday’s speeches as “provocative

and repetitive statements based on hatred towards the Syrian government”.

He also accused Gulf states of “inciting terrorism” in Syria.

‘INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC’ The BBC’s Paul Wood, in

Montreux, says there were some extraordinarily ill-tempered scenes and some very direct language at the morning meeting.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said some states attending the talks had “Syrian blood on their hands” and called the opposition “traitors”.

Anti-government protesters staged a mock funeral, calling for an immediate ceasefire

Mandela statue: Row over rabbit in Nelson’s ear (BBC NEWS) SOUTH Africa’s government has ordered sculptors to remove a bronze rabbit they hid in the ear of a Nelson Mandela statue, unveiled after the former president’s death last month.

It wanted to “restore dignity back to the statue”, a spokesman told the BBC. The sculptors reportedly inserted the rabbit as a trademark signature and to denote the haste with which they had to complete the statue.

Rabbit in the Afrikaans language is “haas”, which also means haste.

“We don’t think it’s appropriate because Nelson Mandela never had a rabbit on his ear,” Mogomotsi Mogodiri, the spokesman for the Department of Arts and Culture, told the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio programme.

“We’d want people to see that statue as a symbol of hope, not about something like a rabbit.”

Mr Mandela, who died at the age of 95, was widely acclaimed for his role in fighting white minority rule and promoting reconciliation after being elected South Africa’s first

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black president in 1994.

‘NO TROUSER SIGNATURE ALLOWED’ The nine-metre (30ft) bronze statue was unveiled on 16 December, a day after Mr Mandela was buried.

It stands at the Union Buildings, the government headquarters in the capital, Pretoria.

Mr Mogodiri said the sculptors had apologised for any offence caused to the government and Mr Mandela’s family by placing the rabbit in the statue’s right ear.

“Discussions are on-going about when the rabbit will be removed. Government wants it removed as soon as possible to restore dignity back to the statue,” he said.

The sculptors, Andre

Prinsloo and Ruhan Janse van Vuuren, said they had added the rabbit to the statue after the department refused to allow them to engrave their signatures on the trousers of the statue, South Africa’s Beeld newspaper reported.

They said it also represented the tight deadline they work under.

“The time factor was big and at times we had to work hard,” Mr Prinsloo is quoted as saying.

He said the “small symbol” was hidden in the ear and it did not take anything away from the statue.

“You need a long lens or binoculars to see it,” he said.

“During the moulding process a lot of people had seen the statue up close and nobody noticed it.”

The statute intends to show that Nelson Mandela reached out to all South Africans

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Woman pleads guilty to smuggling cocaine in wedge heels from Jamaica

SM Jaleel:

Juice labels fake (Trinidad Express) THE labels on the Trinidad Juices cans seized by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) last month are counterfeit, local soft-drink manufacturer SM Jaleel has said.

In a release Tuesday on its website, the company, which produces the popular juice drink, said an internal examination showed the labels used on the Trinidad Juices cans found at the Port of Norfolk are “not real. They are fake”.

“The colour of the text disclosing the net fluid ounces (at the bottom front) on the original and authentic labels are light green whereas the colour of that text on the product which has been seized is dark green,” SM Jaleel said, along with an accompanying photograph of its orange juice product and a screen shot of the seized canisters.

CPB officers at the Port of Norfolk in the US state of Virgina seized 732 pounds of cocaine concealed in cans bearing the labels of Trinidad Juices orange and grapefruit drinks on December 20 last year.

The wholesale value of the cocaine is about US$12 million and has a street value of as much as US$100 million, according to Customs officials.

The company again stated its innocence.

“The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been investigating this matter since December 20, 2013. To date, SM Jaleel has not been contacted by the DEA, which indicates a lack of suspicion of SM Jaleel and its legitimate involvement...,” the release said.

The company did add its lawyers in the US have been in contact with the DEA to ascertain and confirm details of the shipment.

Correctional services worried about attempted suicides (Jamaica Observer) THE Department of Corrections has admitted that it is challenged by incidents of attempted suicide in both adult and juvenile institutions under its watch.

According to a report presented to a meeting of the Internal and External Affairs Committee of Parliament Tuesday, the department said that in recent months three adults (two females and one male) and 14 wards (three females and 11 males) attempted suicide.

The department, whose team was headed by Major General Stewart Saunders, permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security, said it, however, “recognises the need to build capacity to manage the psycho-social needs of inmates and wards”.

It said suicide or self-harm was included in the training programme for the last two intakes of correctional officers, and also reported that presently mental health services are provided by three sessional psychiatrists and psychological services by one sessional and two full- time psychologists.

The issue of suicide behind bars took front and centre for

weeks following the November 21, 2012 suicide of teenager Vanessa Wint at the Horizon Adult Remand Centre in Kingston. Also in January of last year, some four underage girls from the same institution were hospitalised after overdosing on antidepressant tablets.

In the meantime, the department has admitted that although it tries to meet the needs of mentally ill inmates it does not have adequately trained staff, appropriate infrastructure and an environment conducive to effectively treat and rehabilitate them. It said those who are “unfit to plea are particularly vulnerable”.

The department said since there is no determinate sentence they must remain until they are deemed fit and brought back before the court.

Murder victim Aleah Cain, 15. This photograph was taken while she was pregnant.

15-year-old mom shot dead

...companion escapes injury, murder toll now 40

( Tr i n i d a d E x p r e s s ) A 15-YEAR-OLD mother of one has become the 40th murder victim for the year. Aleah Cain was shot in a drive-by in Belmont Tuesday night, police said.

Cain’s baby girl is one month old.

According to police, at around 10 p.m. Cain and the father of her child were walking along Belmont Circular Road, when a car slowed as it drove past them.

Someone pointed a gun through a car window and several shots were fired. Cain, who was shot in the chest, died while undergoing surgery at the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Her companion escaped injury, police said.

Cain is the first child to be killed this year, and the fifth

female. Sharon Bahadoor, 47, was stabbed to death along with her husband on January 1, in Princes Town. Amanda Persad, 22, was shot and killed by an estranged lover in Barataria on January 4. Radha Ramdeen was murdered along with her husband in Cedros on January 7. Dian Paladee was beaten then shot dead by her estranged husband in St Augustine on January 9. And Abigail Persad, 32, was shot and killed outside the family home in Arima. Thirty of the murders were committed using guns.

(Jamaica Gleaner) A 25-YEAR-OLD woman has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle nearly two kilograms of cocaine in wedge heels from Jamaica.

According to the Caribbean Media Corporation, Iveliza Perez pleaded guilty to the charge following an investigation by US Customs and Border Protection, the Philadelphia Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations.

Reports indicate that she had been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23.

Perez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison with a maximum potential sentence of 40 years.

According to case records, Perez was approached in May 2013, by two individuals soliciting her participation in a cocaine smuggling operation.

She accepted US$500 before travelling to Jamaica and was promised between US$3,000 and US$4,000 upon successful delivery of the drugs into the United States.

The authorities say her co-conspirators paid for her flight as well as lodging in Jamaica, and arranged for her bags to be packed with three pairs of wedge heels, altered to conceal narcotics.

Perez was reportedly caught with 2 kilograms of cocaine upon her entry into the United States.

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GUYANA

UKRAINIAN LESSONS FOR CARIBBEAN INTEGRATION

By Saieed I. Khalil

EDITORIAL Deliberately infecting others with deadly diseases is premeditated murder A FEW years ago, a $50 million reward was offered for the capture of notorious criminal Rondel “Fine Man” Rawlins, who was accused of several crimes, but for the crime of murder his reward notice was capped with “Alive or Dead”.

Many others have paid with their lives, or with life-long incarceration, for slaughtering other human beings.

But with the definition of taking lives with intent, how does one who has a highly-contagious disease that is a certain killer, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, who knowingly and deliberately infects others who are unaware of their ailment, rate in this equation?

While one could empathise and sympathise with someone who is ill, especially with a life-threatening disease, one cannot condone – certainly one can scarcely forgive someone-who deliberately infects another with a deadly disease.

Contracting HIV is in effect a death sentence, with lifestyle changes and proper medication with optimum care – later rather than sooner, but definitely one that heralds a contracted lifespan, with death imminent through unavoidable medical complications.

One can only agonize over the unnecessary loss of lives.

However, there are umpteen cases – registered and unregistered, known and unknown-whereby innocent persons have been infected by persons whom they have trusted implicitly.

Marital partners, for instance, have in many instances engaged in extra-marital relationships without considering the consequences of their lust then, knowing full well the danger they can bring to their marital bed, they engage in normal conjugal relationships with their spouses.

Sometimes, in macabre irony, the one who infected his/her partner is saved for years from getting full-blown AIDS, long after the partner dies; and many times the guilty party accuses the innocent one of infecting them.

There are countless persons with such sad stories, with variations, but with the same outcome, all over the world.

Murder One is defined as the taking of the life of another human being with intent. The unintentional loss of a life as a result of another’s actions can be deemed manslaughter, or Murder Two, by the institutions of the law.

Many lives are lost or compromised as direct and indirect consequences of deliberate and intentional actions of carriers of infectious, life-threatening diseases, whose actions are just as effective as if they had put a gun to the heads of their victims and blown their brains out, which may have been a merciful death. They are no less criminals than the notorious Rondel “Fine Man” Rawlins and others of his ilk, and they should be prosecuted as the murderers they are.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

IF there’s one thing the mass protests in The Ukraine can teach regionalists in the Caribbean, it is that the impetus for regional integration does not lie solely with a clique of experts and policymakers, but with an enthused and hopeful citizenry as well.

In November 2013, rallies erupted in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and in other cities across the former Soviet Republic after that country’s President, Viktor Yanukovych, suspended preparations for an integration and trade accord with the European Union in favour of pursuing closer ties with Russia.

The decision infuriated Ukrainian citizens, nearly a million of whom poured into Kiev’s Independence Square (popularly referred to as the ‘Maidan’) to denounce the measure. The grassroots outburst in favour of European integration caught Yanukovych’s administration by surprise. It has also heartened observers within the European Union, who see the street demonstrations as a shot in the arms of Europe’s ordinary citizens and policymakers, many of whose zeal

statesmen, academics and newspapers, the response from the general Caribbean public was overwhelmingly mute. As a result of the lack of civic solidarity behind the regional project, the political paralysis on Caribbean integration remains and if possible, worsens.

But who among us will participate in the uprising to galvanise policymakers to act? In The Ukraine, some estimates put the portion of youths under 30 participating in the protests at 90%! Many of them are students and wield degrees. This leads us to the second lesson of the Maidan protests: a mass of young, educated people who are sufficiently mobilised can lead the strike for regional integration.

Why them, and not older folk? As The Ukraine demonstrates, in an epoch of technology-fuelled interconnectedness and social networking, the old allegiances and prejudices harboured by the older generations are taking a backseat, as energised and youthful citizens forge new bonds that transcend geographic and cultural barriers. In the CARICOM Region where national policymakers are jealous of their sovereignty, the formation of region-wide bonds will finally lend impetus to regional policy coordination.

As the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., writing on the American Civil Rights Movement, pointed out: ‘It was the people who moved their leaders, not the leaders who moved the people. Of course there were generals, as there must be in every army. But the command post was in the bursting hearts of millions...When such a people begin to move, they create their own theories, shape their own destinies, and choose the leaders who share their own philosophy. A leader who understands this kind of mandate knows that he must be sensitive to the anger, the impatience, the frustration, the resolution that have been loosed in his people.’ for the European project has sagged.

As Harvard fellow Slawomir Sierakowski writes, “If the European Union ever seeks to shoot an ad, it will find no better visual than the masses of Ukrainians protesting in the winter streets under the EU flag.”

Therein lies the Maidan’s first lesson for deeper CARICOM integration: broad-based civic agitation is the cure for official lethargy. In 2011, during a Heads of Government retreat in Guyana, CARICOM Heads of Government took the fateful decision to put a “pause” on the implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) framework, a much vaunted pillar of the Caribbean integration process.

The CSME was enacted in 2006 and anticipated to be fully operational by 2008, a deadline which, however was extended to 2015. With this pause, though, there is now no clear deadline for CSME’s operationalisation. Apart from a few moans from elder

However, what could motivate young people to mobilise in the name of regional integration? Surely, it cannot be for regional integration’s own sake. This brings us to the third lesson: regional integration must offer citizens something worth fighting for. For Ukrainians, integration with Europe portends an embrace of liberal European values of democracy and a break from Soviet-style autocratic governance and economic subjugation by Russia.

Meanwhile, what can CARICOM integration offer youths that would inspire them to mobilise in its name? For starters, economic development. In this debt-burdened Region which has been constantly grappling with economic contraction, imbalance of trade and worsening fiscal deficits, unemployment, especially among youth, is severe. Just as the Ukrainians saw the trade accords between Europe and The Ukraine as a catalyst for wider (PLEASE SEE PAGE 7)

EU flags billow prominently above a sea of demonstrators in Ukraine

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

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GPF to implement recommendations of Disciplined Forces Commission

MINISTER of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, met recently with senior officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), including Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell and divisional and branch commanders, to review 71 recommendations compiled by the Disciplined Forces Commission in 2004 for the improved working of the Force.

The Force yesterday said in a statement that the highly interactive session was held on January 18 at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary, and also participating were the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Shalimar Ali-Hack; Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, Mr. Cecil Kennard and members of the civilian-based Strategic Management Department of the Force.

According to the statement, intense discussions, in a sincere and open manner, were held with the view to analyzing developments that had taken place within the Force in terms of the implementation of the recommendations and to garner additional recommended actions on the way forward.

Minister Rohee highlighted the work of the Special Select Committee established by Parliament which reviewed the Disciplined Forces Commission’s report on the GPF, with specific focus on their recommendations as to how the decisions were to be implemented, which were taken on board during the discussions.

During the presentation by the Force, and arising from the interactions, a high level of appreciation was expressed for the work already done in effectuating most of the 71 recommendations.

The GPF is at present compiling a working document, inclusive of all the applicable recommendations made during the one-day session, in keeping with its thrust to ensure that the Disciplined Forces Commission’s recommendations are implemented. (Michel Outridge)

UKRAINIAN LESSONS FOR ...

(FROM PAGE 6) socio-economic transformation, there exists for the CARICOM bloc a panacea for the Region’s economic malaise viz. the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) agreement.

The Single Market and Economy, as conceptualised, would permit the free trade of goods and services within the Region. More importantly, however, the Single Market and Economy would permit the free movement of labour, capital and entrepreneurship in the Region. It is generally accepted that the nations that constitute CARICOM are too small to achieve many of their development goals on their own.

A 2010 CARICOM report on youth development says that enlightened youths between the ages of 15 and 29 believe that with the CSME they can “accomplish more, make more money and build regional relationships; learn social and cultural history of other countries and better appreciate their own; rise above mistakes made early in life (a second chance); travel, work, establish business and access education opportunities not available at home and respond to labour and skill shortages in other countries; [as well as] access better quality goods and services and enjoy an affordable standard of living.”

Further, the report notes that “they also see the CSME as enhancing the ability of countries to: open up borders, unify the country and populate under-developed areas; reduce the impact of the brain drain; compete with trading blocks and have a bigger market space; market the Caribbean and boost tourism levels; reduce inter-country discrimination and stigmatisation; and increase productivity and prosperity.”

If more youngsters are edified as to the benefits of this agreement, there is greater potential for political mobilisation by this segment to end the afore-mentioned paralysis on the Agreement’s implementation. Political parties in the Region would find great electoral incentive in endorsing and agitating for the implementation of the CSME by their governments.

The greatest economic and political transformations are always driven by mass grassroots activism.

As the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., writing on the American Civil Rights Movement, pointed out: “It was the people who moved their leaders, not the leaders who moved the people. “Of course there were generals, as there must be in every army. But the command post was in the bursting hearts of millions...When such a people begin to move, they create their own theories, shape their own destinies, and choose the leaders who share their own philosophy. A leader who understands this kind of mandate knows that he must be sensitive to the anger, the impatience, the frustration, the resolution that have been loosed in his people.” (This article first appeared on the Wordpress blog of Caribbean feminist group, “Code Red for Gender Justice.” It has been republished with the author’s permission)

The pennant of the Caribbean Community

Minister Clement Rohee with Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell during the meeting.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Crime Chief plugs use of CCTV cameras for businesses and homes

- a form of security with many advantages

By Michel Outridge

IN the wake of brazen armed robberies in the city and its environs within recent times, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud yesterday said that the use of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) as a form of security has many advantages and is a plus for any business or home.

In an incident at the Mambo Bar last year Shelliza Basir-Lall, 33, of Lot 2 Charity, Essequibo Coast was gunned down while Raymond Lall, 36 and Parmanand Persaud, 32, of Lot 27 Block ‘B’, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara as well as the Lalls chauffeur, Badatunde ‘Reggae’ Nedd of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, were injured.

At about 23:00hrs on the fateful night, the Lalls went to the Mambo Bar on Barr Street, Kitty with three friends to hang out.

As midnight approached, a white Toyota Carina AT 212 car pulled up and two masked men exited and started to shoot.

The woman got up and was running for safety when she was shot. It was reported that at least 19 9mm spent shells were recovered at the scene.

This popular bar has CCTV cameras, but they were not functioning at the time of the shooting and that has put a damper on the probe.

DETERRENT Persaud yesterday told this publication that CCTV cameras are a deterrent to criminals because they don’t want to get caught, so once they are aware that CCTV cameras are at a specific business place or residence they change targets.

He explained that CCTV footage is admissible in court and also assists the police in investigating crimes.

He noted that the use of CCTV cameras in any business or residence is a plus for the owners in so many ways.

Persaud added too that people also need to be more security conscious and once they can afford to install CCTV cameras, they should by all means. This should be on the agendas of all business places as it gives a security advantage.

On January 8, 2014, three robbers descended on Pencil and Sur Pools Bar at Lot 106 Gandhi Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara. This business place has CCTV cameras but the system was not operational at the time. However, following the robbery the owners have installed cameras in and around the premises.

Police had reported that at about 20:40 hrs businessman

Surindra Ramjass, 30, was in his liquor restaurant with three customers when three men entered, two of whom were armed with a handgun and a chopper.

The men held up Ramjass and the three others and took away cash, cell phones and alcohol before escaping.

Later, police ranks at a road block at Cove and John, ECD, observed that a car which was approaching suddenly turned back. The police pursued the vehicle and subsequently caught up with it. Two men escaped from the vehicle, while the third man was arrested.

The man has been identified as one of the perpetrators of the armed robbery at the liquor restaurant. A cell phone, identified as belonging to one of the victims, and a quantity of alcohol were recovered.

President Donald Ramotar warmly greets and welcomes his compatriot, Dr. Ivelaw Griffith (right), to the Office of the President, as US Ambassador, Mr. Brent Hardt looks on appreciatively

Guyana-born security specialist calls on the President

GUYANA-born political scientist and Caribbean security expert, Dr. Ivelaw Griffith, on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on President Donald Ramotar at the Office of the President.

He also met the same day with Members of Parliament to discuss issues related to security in the Region.

Here on a two-day visit, Professor Griffith will also be calling on other Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, to discuss said issues with key officials in those jurisdictions as well.

A specialist on Caribbean security, drugs, and crime, it is in

this capacity that Dr Griffith has been advisor to such international organisations as Canada’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ministry; and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Besides authoring seven publications, he has also written more than 50 articles on his area of expertise, and penned the highly-acclaimed ‘Drugs and Security in the Caribbean: Sovereignty Under Siege’.

Suddie Hospital now boasts spanking new ambulance ---to help boost healthcare delivery in Essequibo THE Government, through the Ministry of Health and the Region 2 Administration, on Tuesday handed over a brand new ambulance to the Suddie Hospital to help with the delivery of healthcare services to the region.

At the handing over ceremony, which was held in the Regional Office compound at Suddie, Regional Chairman, Mr. Parmanand Persaud said the ambulance, which cost a whopping $11M, is testimony of the government’s massive investment in the healthcare sector, as well as its commitment to providing efficient and proper healthcare to the citizens of the Cinderella County.

That said, Mr. Persaud called on whoever will be behind the wheel of the ambulance to always drive carefully while transporting patients in emergency cases to hospitals in either the region or Georgetown.

Vice-Chairman, Mr. Vishnu Samaroo, said the new ambulance is much more (PLEASE SEE PAGE 10)

The inside of the Ambulance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

GECOM shortlists applicants for Chief Elections Officer

By Vanessa Narine

PUBLIC Relations Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Mr Vishnu Persaud, told the Guyana Chronicle that the Secretariat is moving to the interviewing and selection stage in the process to appoint a new Chief Elections Officer.

To date, he said, short-listing of applicants has been completed, but GECOM is yet to meet for the new year, when officials would discuss in greater detail the appointment of a new chief elections officer.

He added that the substantive post has attracted several applications.

The post of Chief Elections Officer became vacant after GECOM declined to renew the contract of Gocool Boodoo following concerns raised by the Opposition over a computing error made in the allocation of seats in the 2011 elections. That mistake had been rectified.

Boodoo’s late submission of notice of his intent to seek renewal of his contract also affected his prospects of being reappointed to the position.

GECOM invited interested persons to apply for the position last August, and applicants had until the end of September to submit their applications.

The Chief Elections Officer is required to play the key role in the Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), having responsibility for implementing all aspects of GECOM’s operations, and ensuring that results achieved are consistent with the laws of Guyana and policies determined by the GECOM Chairman and its Commissioners.

The Chief Elections Officer acts as the Commission’s primary point of contact with staff members of the Secretariat, whose activities include registration of registrants; distribution of ID Cards; provision of information, and guidance on electoral operational matters to community organisations and other stakeholders.

The person appointed as Chief Elections Officer would also be required to represent the Commission’s policies and activities in interactions with stakeholders and other interest groups, including political parties, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), donor and international agencies, in matters relating directly to the operations of GECOM.

Niranjan was beaten to … court told death in bicycle row

By George Barclay FISHERMAN Sadeek Mohamed yesterday told Justice Franklyn Holder and a mixed jury about the day when Niranjan was beaten unconscious by fellow fishmonger Desmond and a gang of men.

Mohamed testified as the Georgetown Prison was giving evidence at the Demerara Assizes for the prosecution at the Niranjan murder trial.

Parsram Lalchand called ‘Desmond’ is still giving his evidence-in-chief which is being conducted by State Counsel, Dhanika Singh in association with Mercedes Thompson.

Attorney-at-law, Huckumchand is the defence counsel.

The witness who was accompanied to the witness box by a prison officer testified that in July 2008, he lived at Lot 66 Lusignan, East Coast of Demerara. He said that while he knows the accused as a co-worker, he knew Niranjan as a family man.

In answer to the prosecutrix, he recalled that on July 27, 2008 at about eight o’ clock in the evening he was sitting at his grandfather’s desk having dinner when he saw Nirangan’s bicycle at a nearby shop.

According to him, he went over to the shop and upon enquiring Desmond said that the bicycle was his and that he borrowed it from someone who was at home watching television with his wife.

Niranjan later saw the bicycle and said something to Desmond.

Niranjan later said that the bicycle was stolen from his premises and this led to an investigation and this led to an argument and a fight.

The witness said that at one time, Desmond and others armed with pieces of 1 x 4 wood and a cutlass were seen chasing and beating Niranjan who fell unconscious.

Niranjan was later picked up by a police patrol and placed in a private bus and taken to hospital.

The witness said that on one occasion after Niranjan fell, he heard him shout, “Ow.” He later saw Niranjan lying on the ground bleeding from a wound on the head and bruises on his hand.

The witness told the judge and jury that the following day the men who had beaten the deceased were rounded up and taken to the Vigilance Police Station.

When the hearing resumes today the witness will continue his evidence.

Bad weather stalls work on Moruca Bridge WORK on the Moruca Bridge, in Region 1 (Barima-Waini), has been hindered by inclement weather, but will resume shortly, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Ganga Persaud, reported Monday.

He told the media during a press briefing that the Moruca Bridge has had more than its fair share of problems, due to its being one of those projects whose contractor has a propensity for not only shoddy work, but for not delivering on time as well.

He used the opportunity to apologise, via the media, to Moruca residents, particularly the schoolchildren, for the continued inconvenience caused them by the contractor.

As regards the upgrading of the approach to the bridge, he said that both Cabinet and the Tender Board have approved the request, and the contract has already been awarded.

Due to the heavy rainfall of late, however, that bit of work has seen a two-month delay in getting the equipment together.

And, touching on the many complaints he’s received about the substandard work the contractor has done on the revetment, Minister Persaud said: “The ministry went and checked, and saw that the conMinister tractor was indeed not keeping Ganga Persaud within the specification... Then heavy rain came and obstructed those remedial works again, and then school reopened...”

The situation as it now stands, he said, is that the contractor has since sub-contracted the supply of sand, which to residents, seems like he’s clandestinely abandoning the project altogether.

“The genuine concern of the citizens was that this guy left the project, because some of his equipment were being removed,” Minister Persaud said.

Conceding that, that particular contract was not properly executed, he said his ministry will be making the necessary interventions in due course.

Meanwhile, the regional administration has been instructed to make the region’s boats available to transport schoolchildren to Church Landing, so as to make it easy for them to get to school. (GINA)

QC rewards 200+ students for exceptional performances in 2012/2013

By Vanessa Narine THE Queen’s College (QC) held its annual Speech Night and Prize Giving Ceremony in its Camp and Thomas Roads, Georgetown auditorium, yesterday, and more than 200 students were recipients of prizes and certificates in recognition of their exceptional performance at both academic and extra-curricular activities.

QC Principal, Ms Jackie Benn, in an invited comment, said: “We are recognising our students -- as we do every year -- who perform well at CAPE and CSEC, as well as those who performed well from Forms One to Four.

“We also recognise students who excelled in sports and other social activities, as well as those who represented our school.”

In addition to the prizes at the Form levels, students were honoured with the Allsop Prize, the Giftland Prize, the Mattai Prize, the Dalgety Prize, the Parent Teachers’ Association Prize and the Priya Manickchand Prize, among other prizes; as well as with certificates for the National Grade Nine Assessment and the Queen’s College Prizes, which includes the Queen’s College Literary Prize.

The occasion was graced with the presence of Minister Dr. Frank Anthony of the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry; and Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, besides parents and well-wishers.

The students who performed exceptionally for the year 2012-2013

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Rice Industry – star of the agri sector in 2013

THE star performer in agriculture was clearly the rice industry in 2013, having scored a record-breaking production level, achieving the equivalent of more than 535,000 tonnes, a 27 percent increase over the 2012 figure of 423,000 tonnes.

Production per regions were; Region 2 – 99,062 metric tonnesmt, Region 3 – 56,360mt, Region 4 – 24,972mt, Region 5 – 207,509mt and Region 6-147,652mt. Again Region 5 is the highest producing region.

This was the first time ever

that a Caribbean country recorded more than 500,000 tonnes of rice in a calendar year. This also made Guyana one of the largest producers of rice in the Americas.

More than 200,000 acres of land was under cultivation in 2013, making it also the first time cultivation acreage exceeded 200,000. Yield overall was five tonnes per hectare, again for the first time in Guyana’s history. In 2010, the yield was about four tonnes per hectare and in the late 1980s and early 1990s,

yield was between two and three tonnes per hectare.

The success of the industry is an acknowledgment of the enthusiastic participation of the farmers of Guyana, both small and large. They persevered under difficult weather conditions, and learnt to work with climate change to successfully improve their yield and production. In 2013, farmers confronted the challenge of a drought and paddy bug infestation during the first crop and heavy rainfall in the second.

Farmers invested in improving the capacity in the industry by procuring more than 1,000 tractors and 90 combines during the year. Millers continued their investment by building mills, and increasing drying and storage capacity for paddy.

In 2013, the drying capacity across the country increased by 2,269mt per day, whilst storage capacity being increased by 27,678mt. Region 6, the region most deficient in storage capacity, accounted for 16,965mt of this increase in storage, whilst significant investment were also made in Regions 2 and 5.

Guyana’s rice export for 2013 amounted to about 395,000 tonnes. Approximately 58 percent of the rice was exported to Venezuela with other significant buyers being Europe, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean countries.

The Government’s support to the industry was strong in 2013. When farmers faced high

prices for urea, an important commodity in their fertilizer regime for the crop production, Government invested approximately $400M to procure urea from Venezuela and worked in collaboration with the Rice Producers Association (RPA), and made it available to the farmers at about $5,000 per bag. As the first crop advanced, farmers were being charged between $7,000 and $10,000 for a 48kg bag of urea. Such an intervention saved farmers more than $300M per crop.

In addition, Government also made other inputs into the industry to provide support to farmers. These included the supply of an insecticide to farmers to combat the high levels of paddy bug, VAT exemption to farmers for tractors and spares, and investment in drainage and irrigation infrastructure, among others. (GINA)

$250,000 bail for woman on larceny, embezzlement charges Rice being harvested in Region Five

Suddie Hospital now boasts...

(FROM PAGE 8) equipped to handle emergency cases than those the region had previously, and supported the Regional Chairman’s call for drivers to take due care on the road while transporting patients to hospitals in emergency cases.

According to Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Sunil Singh, the vehicle was purchased by the government through the Region’s Capital Programme for 2013.

Also present at the handing over ceremony were Regional Health Officer, Ms. Allison Brown, and other senior staff of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). (Rajendra Prabhulall )

Regional Officials handing over a new $11M Ambulance to Health Officials in the Regional Compound at Anna Regina on Monday.

BIBI Ameena Hamza, 22, of Lot 397 Parika, East Bank Essequibo, was, yesterday, granted $250,000 bail on charges of larceny by clerk and embezzlement.

She appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pleaded not guilty to the charges, one of which said, between Wednesday, December 25, 2013 and January 8, 2014, at Lethem, Rupununi, she stole 6,532 litres of diesel and 3,932 litres of gasolene, together valued $2.7M. The other charge that said during the same period, being employed as a clerk or servant at Lam’s Service Station, she embezzled the sum of $48,000 cash, taken into possession by her or in the name or account of her employer.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said the defendant was employed with Alisha Laikram at Lam’s Service Station, Lethem, as a pump attendant and, during the time, she embezzled the money and stole the fuel.

The prosecutor did not object to bail, stating that, during the investigations, the defendant fully cooperated with the police.

Attorney-at law Mr. Jerome Khan, representing Hamza, said she was lured to work at the gas station in Lethem since May 2013 and, during that time, she suffered from dengue fever and received treatment at the Lethem Hospital.

He added that, at the time, the owner’s son was in charge of the business and the only person who had access to the cash box.

It was after Hamza resumed duty that she discovered the money missing, the lawyer said.

He added his instructions were that the defendant suspected the owner’s son who took the money and sent it to his mother-in-law in Boa Vista, Brazil, due to some family issues.

Hamza was admitted to bail, on condition that she reports every Friday, until March 3, at Eve Leary, to Sergeant Holder.

Defendant Bibi Ameena Hamza

Trafficking in persons accused must post $1M bail LORETTA Hyman, of Lot 1801 Parika, East Bank Essequibo, charged with trafficking in persons, was, yesterday, ordered

by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to post $1M surety.

The 45-year-old shopkeeper faced the indictable charge that said, between January 13 and 20, 2014, she recruited and transported two women to Mowasi Backdam, Potaro District, for the pur-

Accused Loretta Hyman pose of sexual exploitation.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said the daughter of the accused recruited two women in their early 20s to work as a cook and a shopkeeper at their business place in Mowasi Backdam.

However, on their arrival there, the accused told them that there is no vacancy for the positions of which they were told. Instead, there is employment for sex workers and that is the reason they came.

But the virtual complainants refused to sell their bodies and managed to contact their relatives, who informed the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

The police then made contact with the accused and the two victims related their stories.

The prosecutor had objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and the fact that investigations are pending. He said the police are trying to locate the whereabouts of the daughter of the accused and it is likely she will also be charged.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Lyndon Amsterdam, representing Hyman, made application for the granting of pre-trial freedom, claiming that the accused works at a shop with her daughter and, at no material time, recruited the virtual complainants or caused them to travel to the area.

Counsel, noting that the prosecutor said investigations are still pending, suggested that the charge is premature and the facts are not clear.

In addition, he said there is no evidence to satisfy the element for which the accused was charged and the prosecution ought to satisfy the Court, at this stage, for bail to be denied.

However, the objection was overruled and the case was put off to February 3.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Health Ministry to target children in healthy lifestyles quest THE Ministry of Health will this year work with the Ministries of Education and Culture, Youth and Sport and other stakeholders to address the issue of unhealthy eating habits, and physical inactivity in children.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) during an exclusive interview: “In terms of nutrition, we are working on several standards, like food safety, in terms of whether the food is wholesome or contaminated with bacteria. We will also like to look at nutrition requirements; so, foods that are labelled as having fats and heavy salt; are high in sugar content... we really want to reduce those, and increase in everyone’s diet, foods that are high in fibre. So, CHIEF MEDICAL its low on those three things, OFFICER, DR. but high in fibre...”

SHAMDEO PERSAUD He said that besides ensuring that the food sources that service the canteens of the country’s schools supply healthy meals, the ministry would also like to tackle the serving of alcoholic beverages to children at school activities. “People offer kids drinks; we want to reduce that; work with the Ministry of Education to not have alcohol served at school functions,” Dr Persud said.

Noting that the ministry has already started addressing this issue, he said that in addition to raising public awareness on the subject, some measure of counselling and treatment is being provided to people who are addicted to alcohol.

The Health Ministry will also be collaborating with other ministries, faith-based organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations to have students engaged in more physical activities as well.

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Ministry embarks on policy framework for capital risk management in gold mining

- gold and diamond miners for interactive

By Clifford Stanley cludes the need for them to session tomorrow

THE Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNR&E) along with the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has secured the services of a Voluntary Advisor from the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) to assist with the development of a policy framework on capital risk management for the gold mining sector in Guyana.

The CESO expert has been identified as Mr. William Oates and the MNR&E has disclosed that an interactive session has been set with Mr. Oates for 09:30hrs tomorrow in its Boardroom on Brickdam.

INVITATION All gold and diamond miners have been invited to attend

Cane Grove Reunion Group continues supporting the elderly

THE Cane Grove Reunion Group has continued its annual charity effort, aimed at supporting the elderly and vulnerable in the community.

Last month, the group made the donation at the Virginia Primary School, where a total of 90 food hampers were distributed, 84 to recipients in Cane Grove and six to a charity in Grove, Mahaicony, also on East Coast of Demerara.

The hampers, valued about $6,000 each, contained one live chicken, rice, flour, chowmein, macaroni, milk, sardines, oil, sugar, salt, onions, garlic, peas, potatoes and a soda.

Assisting in the distribution were Lieutenant Colonel, Jaswick Williams of the Guyana Defence Force and attorney-at-law and former Member of Parliament, Jerome Khan, both distinguished sons of Cane Grove.

The benefactors also expressed sincere appreciation to several supporters of the charitable initiative, which goes some way towards improving the lives of those less fortunate in the community.

The Cane Grove Reunion Group is a New York-based non-governmental organisation run by a team of overseas-based Guyanese, a release stated.

Some of the beneficiaries of the charity drive

and participate. The initiative by the ministry is the latest move to help miners to adjust to falling gold prices and high operational costs and keep their operations afloat.

A source in the industry said that it is timely, particularly since the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) recently noted that a 2014 prediction by experts in the Gold Commodities Market is not very optimistic.

The GGDMA recently advised gold and diamond miners to review their operations and provided guidelines for doing so.

Among these guidelines

was the advice that all categories of mine workers should be paid on the basis of production, not on a fixed monthly rate.

“This in particular extends to excavator and other heavy machinery operators.

Doing so will ensure that care is taken of your machinery and that staff work together to keep the operation functional and profitable,” the GGDMA said.

Miners were also advised to take serious steps to improve on the efficiency of their sluice-boxes to take average gold recovery rates above the current 40% to 50%.

Other advice to them in-

spend more time planning, setting production targets and budgeting themselves so that they are aware of levels of production required to make their operations possible.

The GGDMA has also requested that there be a reduction in the unreasonable prices charged by some transporters, fabricators, and equipment and spare parts distributors.

“Their prices have gradually increased over the years as the price of gold had escalated, now that it is on the decline we expect that they will also respond to this changing tide by reducing their prices,” the association stressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Murder probe leads to suspected carjackers CRIME Chief Seelall Persaud disclosed, yesterday, that following the brutal murder of taxi driver Rudrinauth Jeeboo on December 28, 2013, a suspect was held for questioning several days ago but, so far, no charges have been laid although the probe continues.

Jeeboo’s mutilated body was found in a pile of refuse on Cane View Avenue, in South Ruimveldt and his motor car aback of Guyhoc Gardens, another part of the city, stripped of several parts.

The victim had been attached to Pegasus for many

years and had picked up a couple in the compound of the hotel after which his whereabouts were unknown.

A post-mortem revealed that he had suffered blunt trauma to the head.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law Enforcement) said while they have no new information as regards the Jeeboo homicide, they have been arresting and charging persons who are targeting taxi drivers.

Persaud explained that this was the case with slain taxi driver, Raphael Campbell, whose body was found on the Railway

Embankment at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, on January 3, 2014, for which three men were arrested and charged.

Persaud made the disclosure in response to questions about a possibility that two gangs of carjackers may be operating in the city, seeking out vulnerable and unsuspecting taxi drivers after which they are lured, killed and relieved of their vehicles.

Raphael Campbell, 30, of Simpson Street, Beterverwagting, East Coast of Demerara, was killed between January 2 and January3 last.

It is reported that Campbell picked up some male passengers on Thursday, January 2, in Camp Street, Georgetown and took them to East Coast of Demerara, where he was slain.

His body was found the following day.

According to the police, on January 3, several men, including the three, who have since been charged, were stopped at a roadblock on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway in a black Toyota Premio that was stolen from the murdered driver.

A post-mortem on the body gave the cause of death as gunshot injuries to the head.

Murdered: Raphael Campbell

Murdered: Rudrinauth Jeeboo

Jail, fines for illegal gun, ammunition TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Terry Phillip (no address given) was sentenced to 58 months imprisonment, together with a $90,000 fine on each of two charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The penalty was imposed on him by Magistrate Judy Latchman, for having, on September 16, 2013, on Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, one .38 special Taurus revolver and three matching rounds without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Melville Duke, who represented the prisoner during his trial, said, in mitigation, that he is a vendor and father of two with no prior convictions.

Magistrate Latchman said she considered the mitigating factors, which include the time he spent in prison, before the sentencing.

Based on the evidence on which he was found guilty, the sentences will run concurrently, she said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Nothing new in Sheema Mangar murder probe NOTHING new has surfaced, to date, since the November 26, 2013 disclosure, by Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was in receipt of the results of a DNA sample, sent to Barbados for testing, earlier in that year, to aid in the murder probe of bank employee, Sheema Mangar.

The Deputy Commissioner (Law Enforcement) said, yesterday, that following the negative match, they do not have any suspect but, once new information is received, the investigations will continue.

For now though, the probe has been temporarily suspended but they are in talks with Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack on a way forward.

After the killing of the former Demerara Bank staffer, on September 10, 2010, potential evidence was dispatched overseas to be tested.

Mangar was at North Road and Camp Street, in Georgetown, awaiting transportation when her Blackberry cell phone was snatched from her.

The 21-year-old woman persued the snatcher who entered a motor car that drove off

and she placed herself in front of the vehicle, in an effort to stop it but was run over and dragged several feet before it sped away.

Public-spirited citizens rushed her to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), from where she was transferred to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and died there the next day.

Murdered: Sheema Mangar Initially, two suspects had been held but were, later, released.

However, investigators took parts of the retrieved fabric she was wearing from under the getaway car for examination.

CLOSE INTEREST On May 23, 2013, the

Ministry of Home Affairs, in a press release, promised to maintain a close interest in the matter, adding that it shares the sentiments of the grieving parents and relatives and wished to see it brought to a closure to the satisfaction of the Mangar family. “The ministry is of the view that, by now, more progress should have been made in this matter and maintains that this crime would be, ultimately, solved by the Guyana Police Force as has been done with so many other serious crimes,� the ministry said.

The ministry said it reconfirmed that two submissions were made to the Barbados Forensic Laboratory, on November 5, 2010 and August 30, 2011, respectively.

A report on the first submission was received in August 2011 when a GPF representative travelled to Barbados to make a second submission.

According to the ministry, it was only recently revealed that the Barbados Forensic Laboratory recommenced operations in late 2011, having been closed for repairs from 2009. But it continued to accept submissions.

- Crime Chief

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At Anna Regina...

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Lima Nursery wins over crowd and judges

--as Children’s Mash Competition enters third day THE annual Children’s Mash Competition, now underway at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, saw a huge turnout yesterday as the event entered its third day.

Held under the theme, “Cultural folklore: Celebrating 44”, the contest began Monday with Dramatic Poetry and Calypso, and continued yesterday with Dance and Masquerade.

Yesterday’s event began with nursery-age schoolchildren from schools in Kabakaburi, Dartmouth, Riverstown, Lima, Reliance, Richmond and Anna Regina competing in Group Dance.

At this, Lima Nursery so thrilled the crowd with their colourful dance moves, they succeded in winning the hearts of the judges to award them First Place, thereby affording them the opportunity to represent the Region at the national leg of the competition in Georgetown.

Coming in second was Riverstown Nursery, while Richmond Nursery placed third.

In the 8 to 10 Category, Lake Mainstay Primary danced their way to the top of the pack, which feat makes them eligible to also represent the Cinderella County at the nationals.

Primary and Secondary Schools pupils were also in hot contention in the masquerade leg of the contest, and the beating of the masquerade drums and flouncing of students on stage so moved the audience they took to their feet as the atmosphere briefly changed into one of Christmas masquerading on the Public Road.

The competition concludes tomorrow at the same venue. ( Rajendra Prabhulall in Essequibo)

Students of Lima Nursery with their trophy after winning the first place in competition

A student of ARMS doing a dance at the Children’s Competition at Anna Regina

A student hotly competing in the masquerade competition at Anna Regina

Students of CV Nunes Primary school doing an Indian group dance at the Child Regina

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

A student of Aurora Secondary doing a dance at the Children’s competition

the Nursery group dance

dren’s Competition at Anna

A student of Aurora Secondary dancing to the Masquerade drums at the Children’s competition

Students in a group dance

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GuySuCo in process of finalising first crop target - Bhim

By Vanessa Narine GUYANA Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is in the process of finalising the target for the year’s first crop, according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Paul Bhim.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that the company is completing preparatory works at the factories and employees are expected to begin working, once these efforts have been completed, before the end of the month.

The CEO said, too, that, currently, during the off-grinding season, three of the estates have their entire workforce on one week’s leave, while only some of them are on similar leave on the other four estates.

Some of the sugar workers are expected to turn out at the end of the month and others in the third week of February.

Other ongoing works, prior to the commencement of grinding operations, include cleaning of canals, fertilising and chemical weed control.

Heavy rains earlier this month had halted land preparation efforts across the industry but Bhim reported that these works have resumed.

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told the Guyana Chronicle that a new industry target is possible and emphasised that GuySuCo needs a good year to support the turnaround of the industry.

In a previous interview, he had speculated that a possible target for 2014 is 230,000 tonnes.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

Photographer sued over topless photo atop Empire State Building (Reuters) - THE management of the Empire State Building on Monday filed a $1 million lawsuit against a photographer who shot topless pictures of a model atop its iconic 86th floor observatory.

Last August, a model climbed to the crowded observation deck and took her top off as 30-year-old photographer Allen Henson captured the image on his cell phone.

The photo quickly went viral on the internet and angered the owners of the Empire State Building, one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York City, who said the observation deck was full of tourists, including children, at the time the photo was taken.

“We were doing a social experiment,” said Henson, adding he has been photographing fashion models for three years and also shot photos of topless women in Central Park and in Manhattan’s Peninsula Hotel.

Henson began taking the series of photos after becoming aware of a May 2013, New York City memorandum that prevents police officers from arresting women who expose their breasts in public.

Henson said he wanted to test the social implications of the rule, but added that the

pictures atop the Empire State Building were not taken in a professional capacity.

Aries March 21 - April 19

Whoever has been telling you that you are selfish is merely projecting their own selfishness on to you -- you know what you have done, and you know that you’ve done enough!

There is too much noise coming at you from people who think that they know how you should run your life. Get some space from these know-it-alls and go spend time with a person who never tries to tell you what to do. You deserve unconditional love right now.

You know where to get it, so go there as early in the day as possible.

Taurus April 20 - May 20

Have you gotten a bit lazy about exploring new things? It can seem like a lot of work to try something new or investigate a new restaurant to go to with friends. The tried-and-true is so easy and safe! But unless you add a new element of the unfamiliar to your life, how are you going to find any exhilaration or inspiration? Try someplace new today, or start a conversation with a stranger. Keep trying new things until something exciting happens.

Gemini May 21 - June 21 For Thursday January 23, 2014 -09:00hrs For Friday January 24, 2014 -10:30hrs

There could be a personality clash between a couple people in a group today, but it will be very entertaining -- you’ll have a front row seat to all the juicy drama that goes down and you won’t believe some of what you hear! You don’t have to shy away from tossing in your two cents, either. Feeding the fire isn’t usually a good idea, but on days like today the higher the fire goes, the better. These folks are getting a taste of their own medicine, and it’s delicious -- for you.

Cancer June 22 - July 22

You can depend on the people who are offering to help you out right now, so throw all your doubt out the window. They are even more impatient than you are about making progress, so let yourself lean on them more than you normally would. They are more than happy to cheerlead. They want to keep you feeling positive, so let them! They are able to show you that there is a light at the end of this tunnel -- you just need to keep walking towards it.

Leo July 23 - August 22

You should try to accept all the oddities that you encounter today, because when you mix a little bit of weird into your normal routine, it creates a good combination of unpredictability and stability! There is no such thing as ‘normal’, and people who have lots of idiosyncrasies are going to be incredibly interesting to you -- at least for today. You’ll love striking up conversations with people who look, talk and think differently than you do.

Virgo August 23 - September 22

Interpersonal conflicts might distract you from important tasks you need to deal with, so try to clear the air as early in the day as possible. You have a few tough choices to make, but having an indecisive nature is no excuse for taking too long to make your picks. If you have to, flip a coin! Or ask a friend who has been in your situation before to hear you out -- do not worry that you will come off as weak. Asking for input shows that you are collaborative and intelligent.

Libra September 23 - October 22

Today, your small actions can trigger monumental events, so you should apply a judicious amount of restraint to everything you do and say. The last thing you should do is act too impulsively or aggressively, especially around new people. You could be starting in on something you don’t really want to get involved with. And on that note, watch how friendly you are with new people -- they could easily confuse your kind and polite behaviour with something more. They might think you are flirting with them!

Scorpio October 23 - November 21

Other people have been awfully hard on you lately, seemingly for no reason, and it’s been affecting your self esteem. To get back in balance with your confidence, you need to start being easy on yourself right now -- don’t take all of the criticism being tossed your way seriously. A lot of it is rooted in jealousy and in resentment, so consider the source each time you hear a complaint. You deserve what you have, so don’t think twice about celebrating your achievements.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21

Today you are well-suited for conversation and laughter, but not so much ready to put your shoulder to the wheel and work really hard. So take a step back today and just let things simmer for a while. Put your energy into cultivating and strengthening your personal relationships and just have fun hanging out for a while with your favourite people.

There is no stop clock running on you, so there is no need to hurry. You’ll get things done when they need to be done.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19

You have a lot of momentum going with one of your new projects, so you can afford to put things on auto pilot for a while. Slow down today and give yourself a chance to kick off your shoes. Sit down and get comfortable. Reacquaint yourself with some friends you haven’t been able to spend that much time with. Things can’t always happen as quickly as you want them to, but they will happen -- you have to have faith in that. In the meantime, get back to living your life.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18

Complicated issues and processes won’t phase you in the least today -- your brain is razor sharp, and it is ready to dissect issues, untie intellectual knots, and come up with some mind blowing solutions. Right now is the perfect time for you to sign up for a class, start a challenging novel, or try to learn a new hobby. Learning is a snap for you right now, and it will offer you a great sense of achievement. Experiencing something that tests you will show you what you’re made of.

Pisces February 19 - March 20

Avoid lending anyone any money today, especially your close friends. It’s not wise to set up a dynamic where one person owes something to someone else right now. You could get too preoccupied with settling a balance due to you than in just enjoying the friendship. You don’t need the distraction, and they don’t need the money that badly. Or if they do, they can get it from someone else. Keep finances and friendships as separate as you possibly can.

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New Zealand win sends Aussies top of ODI rankings AUSTRALIA are the world’s No.1 ranked ODI team after New Zealand hung on to win the second one-day international against India in a nail-biter in Hamilton last night..

The victory drops India down to second spot on the Reliance ICC ODI Rankings system. It is the first time India have lost top spot since January 2013.

Australia reclaims the No.1 ranking for the first time since August 2012 when England ended a 35-month period of dominance.

India started the match on 119 ratings points, one ahead of Australia. But the loss dropped them two points, handing Australia the No.1 ranking without bowling a ball.

In fact, the Australian players were being put through their paces in a gruelling training session to blow out any cobwebs after this week’s Allan Border Medal celebration.

The Aussies’ hold on the No.1 spot may be short-lived,

Man-of-the-Match Kane Williamson is extremely fluent during his half-century, which keeps New Zealand going at more than five an over. however, with India able to matches against South Africa regain it with a victory over in March.

New Zealand in the third game India looked like they in Auckland on Saturday. Howmight chase down the Duckever, should New Zealand win, worth-Lewis adjusted target of Australia will hold the No.1 297. Virat Kohli smashed 78 ranking until their one-day from 65 balls while captain MS

Dhoni promoted himself up the order and hit 56 from 44 balls to put the jitters amongst the Black Caps.

India needed 22 runs entering the last over but did not have the wickets in hand to be able to challenge. But after Kumar was caught in the deep off the first ball of the 50th over the rain returned. The final wash-up saw New Zealand win by 15 runs on the D/L method.

Another whirlwind innings from Corey Anderson blasted New Zealand to 7-271 in their innings that saw eight overs lost to rain. Anderson continued on from an unbeaten 68 in the first ODI in Napier on Sunday, and a 36-ball century against the West Indies in the New Year’s Day one-dayer.

The 23-year-old left-hander belted 44 off 17 balls, stroking two boundaries and sending five sixes into the Seddon Park crowd, including one which snared one fan NZ$100 000 (A$95 350) when he took a one-hand catch in a marketing promotion.

Jesse Ryder again had the Black Caps off to a quick-fire start with 20 from 11 balls, but bottom-edged a shorter ball from Mohammed Shami for wicketkeeper MS Dhoni to take a regulation catch early in the sixth over.

Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson put on 89 for the second wicket, before Guptill was tempted into a pull shot and the top edge flew to Shami at fine leg.

Guptill’s measured 44 came off 65 balls, and included five boundaries and a six off Ishant Sharma over the long-on boundary.

Ross Taylor joined Williamson with the score at 2-114 after 21 overs, and the pair built a solid partnership until steady rain halted play with the score on 2-170 after 33.2 overs.

Williamson added only one more run to his tally when play resumed. Using his feet against Ravindra Jadeja, Williamson was beaten by flight and drift, leaving Dhoni an easy stumping to dismiss him for 77.

That brought Anderson to the crease to keep the runs flowing until he was out with one ball remaining in the 39th over, skying a slower ball from Sharma to Shikhar Dhawan at long-on.

That signalled something of a mini-collapse, as Brendon McCullum (0), Taylor (57) and Nathan McCullum (1) disappeared in the space of six balls.

Shami was particularly effective in halting the onslaught in the final overs, picking up 3-55 off seven overs.

On Sunday, the Black Caps won the first ODI in Napier by 24 runs. The third game in the five-match series is scheduled for Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. (CA)

BCB partners with Corbin Media Group...

From Back Page of the Diamond Jubilee Magazine.

To this extent, the BCB over the last five years has been the only board to publish an annual cricket magazine and the board is pleased to announce a partnership with Corbin Media Group, publisher of the popular GEM Magazine, as the publisher of their Diamond Jubilee Magazine.

Last Tuesday in the studios of the National Communications Network, both the BCB and Corbin Media Group who were represented by their Chief Executive Officer Simeon Corbin, affixed their signatures to an Agreement of Understanding (AOU) for this undertaking.

According to Public Relations Officer of the BCB Hilbert Foster, the Magazine will feature the history of the BCB, its achievements along with profiles of outstanding players and officials.

There would also be several

pictorial reviews, articles on the BCB All Time XI and Hall of Fame and it is expected to be finished by the end of May and will be made available as a souvenir to the general public, with the kind compliments of the BCB. Prior to affixing his signature to the AOU, Corbin applauded the BCB for their hard work put in over the years, while saying his Company was delighted to be chosen.

“This is an organisation (BCB) which has many years of tradition, producing quality players for Guyana and West Indies and on behalf of our company I would like to say that we are honoured to be chosen as the producer of your Diamond Jubilee Magazine.

It is always our aim to produce the best in quality for international standards in our magazines and we will be working to produce that same quality for you in your Diamond Jubilee Magazine,” said Corbin, who along with the BCB’s secretary Angela Haniff, signed the AOU.

GCB/RADO hosts Anti-Doping session ...

From Back Page

coach Julian Moore and manager of the Guyana team Alvin Johnson.

Notable absentees were Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, but those present were informed of the many ways in which a person who uses drugs and compete in sports can be affected.

According to Corbin, the Caribbean RADO found that doping is: “harmful to athletes, the respective sport, fellow

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athletes who compete clean and those individuals, communities and countries that have stood behind the athlete, supporting and motivating them.”

He said the controlling of doping is conducted for the protection of sports ethics and the health of the cricketer/athlete, while Dr Pilgrim told her audience the list of banned substances is released on January 1 of every year and updated in October of the said year.

08:50 hrs Siddharth 09:30 hrs Tzigane 10:05 hrs Weekend Special 10:45 hrs Tomorrow’s Miss 11:20 hrs Perfect Winter Irish Racing Tips Gowan Park 09:15 hrs Abbyssial 09:45 hrs The Doorman 10:15 hrs Zaidpour 10:45 hrs Federici 11:15 hrs Los Amigos 11:45 hrs Followmeuptocarlow 12:15 hrs Black Hercules Arab Emirates Racing Tips Meydan 10:30 hrs Masamah 11:05 hrs Handsome Man 11:40 hrs Mont ras 12:15 hrs Windhoek 12:50 hrs Tamaathul 13:25 hrs Vasily

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

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Federer wins Murray dog fight, Nadal gets lucky

By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Roger Federer’s revival gathered pace as he edged Andy Murray in a late-night dog fight to set up a blockbuster Australian Open tennis semi-final with world No.1 Rafael Nadal who earlier yesterday had ridden his luck to beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Swiss Federer played sublime tennis to open a two-set lead over Murray but had to withstand a late charge from the Briton before claiming a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 win in the first ‘Big Four’ clash of the year.

Nadal had dug himself out of a hole to suppress an inspired Dimitrov, winning 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(7), 6-2 after his opponent had squandered a golden chance to win the third set.

Victoria Azarenka could only blame herself after she was earlier shown the door 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 by Agnieszka Radwanska to leave the tournament without a defending champion in the last four of either draw for the first time in the professional era.

After ending Azarenka’s hopes of a third straight title, Radwanska will face Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova, who crushed Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0, to decide who meets China’s Li Na or Canadian teenager Genie Bouchard in the final.

With Tomas Berdych meeting Novak Djokovic’s conqueror Stan Wawrinka in the first men’s semi-final today, the winner of the Nadal-Federer clash will like their chances of adding another grand slam title to their considerable hauls.

“It’s going to be a good match,” 32-year-old Federer, who had reached only one grand slam semi-final since claiming a 17th major title by beating Murray in the 2012 Wimbledon final, told reporters of tomorrow’s next instalment of his Nadal rivalry.

“It’s going to be brutal and all those things. Looking

… Radwanska upsets Azarenka; Cibulkova hammers Halep

Roger Federer forward to slugging it out with him in a couple of days.”

A free-flowing Federer had looked in total command against Murray until late in the third set when he served for the match at 5-4, having just broken the fourth seed’s serve.

Murray broke back and forced a tiebreak and then hung in doggedly to overturn a 4-6 deficit and force a fourth set.

Federer shrugged off missing his chance, however, keeping his cool through an hourlong fourth set to outlast a tiring Murray and avenge his defeat in the semi-finals here last year.

“I’ve been in these positions before,” Federer, who has reached the semi-final for an 11th straight year at Melbourne Park, said. “For me it was just a matter of staying calm and forgetting about it a little bit.

“The match was great until that point when I couldn’t get it done really.”

Having lost three finals, Murray has endured plenty of heartache in Melbourne but the Wimbledon champion was philosophical in defeat given his recent return to action after back surgery curtailed his 2013.

“I’ve come a long way in four months,” he said. “Obviously right now I’m very disappointed.

“Wasn’t too far away in the end.”

Thirteen-time grand slam champion Nadal’s match with Dimitrov turned on the third set tiebreak and there was

enough entertainment in those 16 points alone to justify the ticket prices.

Dimitrov, desperate to shed the ‘Baby-Fed’ tag he acquired because of his stylish game and step out of the shadow of girlfriend Maria Sharapova, had produced some brilliant tennis in his first grand slam quarter-final to take the first set.

Struggling to maintain his control over his racquet at times because of a painful blister, Nadal almost inevitably battled back to even up the match but Dimitrov was not finished.

The 22-year-old had three chances to go two sets to one up but shanked a return to blow one at 6-5 on Nadal’s serve, blew another in the tiebreak when he went long with a forehand and a third when the Spaniard cut off a volley.

“I got lucky,” said Nadal. “(But) if that ball, that forehand from him, goes in and he wins the third, I (am) going to keep fighting, because I felt that I was ready for the fight.

“I will keep fighting until the end.”

Nadal made the most of the reprieve to clinch the tiebreak 9-7 and race away with the fourth set, leaving Dimitrov shattered.

“I shed a few tears, but it should hurt. It should hurt. And it does hurt,” he said.

Radwanska went for broke to snap Azarenka’s 18-match winning streak at Melbourne Park with a thoroughly deserved victory.

Azarenka came into the match as the only woman not to have given up a set in the tournament but Radwanska, who had lost 12 of their 15 previous meetings, wasted no time in giving her a reminder of how it felt.

The Pole, scuttling around the court to retrieve everything thrown at her, raced out to a 5-0

Bravo to the fore as Renegades end Strikers’ season WEST Indian Dwayne Bravo starred with bat and ball to inspire the Melbourne Renegades to a one-run triumph against the Adelaide Strikers in last night’s KFC T20 Big Bash League match.

Man-of-the-match Bravo cracked 47 from 33 balls in the Renegades’ 6-155 at Adelaide Oval then claimed two key wickets as the Strikers mustered 7-154 in reply.

Bravo helped derail Adelaide’s run chase, snaring the prized scalps of Alex Hales (32 from 25 balls) and captain Johan Botha for a duck just three balls later.

The Windies’ stalwart sent down eight dot balls from his initial 10 deliveries, a span which returned two wickets for two runs.

The Renegades’ Australian

Test quick Peter Siddle, who took 3-35 from four overs, was in awe of Bravo.

“He has got it all, with bat and ball,” Siddle said of his teammate.

With Adelaide needing 14 runs from the final over, the Renegades turned to Bravo and, in a frantic finish, striker Kane Richardson scored two from the last ball, when needing four to win or three to force a deciding ‘super over’.

Bravo’s first victim with the ball was Adelaide’s English import Hales, whose lack-lustre BBL campaign ended in disappointing fashion.

Hales, who entered the BBL as the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 batsman, made just 149 runs for the Strikers, without a half-century, at an average

of 21.87.

The Englishman’s failures mirrored that of his Adelaide outfit, who have never made the finals in three BBL tournaments.

The Renegades will also miss this year’s finals despite Bravo’s heroics.

The West Indian smacked four sixes as he top-scored in a consistent batting effort from the Renegades.

Openers Michael Hill (30 from 24 deliveries) and Dan Harris (31 from 32 balls) built a solid platform with a 63-run opening stand.

Bravo and Ben Rohrer (30 from 24 balls) cashed in, reaching a half-century partnership from just 34 deliveries.

Adelaide spinner Jon Holland was the pick of their bowlers with 2-19 from four overs while pacemen Shaun Tait and Kane Richardson each took two wickets. (CA)

lead and went a set up after 33 minutes.

Azarenka charged back to clinch a tight second set with a fierce forehand winner but the shriek with which she celebrated failed to galvanise her and Radwanska whipped through the decider in another half an hour.

“I really had nothing to lose,” said Radwanska, the

losing finallist at Wimbledon in 2012.

“She was defending the title, not me. I was really trying to play my best tennis, go for every shot I could.”

Azarenka made 47 unforced errors and knew she made a hefty contribution to her own downfall but leavened her self-flagellation with some praise for the fifth seed.

“It’s not the end of the world,” she said. “I’m not happy with what I did today (but) I can’t take away what she’s done. She played amazingly.”

An aggressive game plan also paid dividends for 20th seed Cibulkova as she demolished a hapless Halep to reach her maiden grand slam semi-final.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

FIFA threat to Brazil’s World Plans in the pipeline to kick off Caribbean Cup host city of Curitiba Pro League next year

FIFA has warned Brazil’s World Cup 2014 host city of Curitiba that it could be excluded unless work speeds up.

Secretary general Jerome Valcke said that work at the Arena da Baixada stadium was seriously behind schedule.

A decision on whether Curitiba, in southern Brazil, will remain as a host city will be announced on February 18, he said.

Less than five months before the tournament kicks off, six out of 12 venues are still unfinished.

Four matches are due to be played at the 42 000-capacity Curitiba stadium: Spain-Australia, Honduras-Ecuador, Iran-Nigeria and Algeria-Russia.

After a visit to inspect the work at the Arena da Baixada, Mr Valcke described the situ-

Jerome Valcke has been an outspoken critic of Brazil’s preparations for the World Cup. Renovation work at the privately-owned stadium is behind schedule and above budget. ation as “delicate” and “very been criticised for downplaying complicated the seriousness of the delays in “Let’s be honest. We do not Curitiba and at several other like the current state of the stavenues, says the BBC’s Wyre dium. This is not only delayed, Davies. it is way behind schedule,” he The Arena da Baixada stasaid. dium, which is 90% complete, The warning should come is privately owned. It opened in as a wake-up call for Brazil’s 1999 and is being renovated for organising committee which has the tournament.

It belongs to one of the city’s main football clubs, Atletico Paranaense, but a substantial part of the renovation cost is being financed by public money.

FIFA and the Parana state government have promised to inject an extra $17M (£10M) to speed up work at the venue.

The World Cup will begin on June 12. The opening match is scheduled to be played at the Arena Corinthians (or Itaquerao) in Sao Paulo, but work there is also running late.

The final match will be played at the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which has been ready for nearly a year.

Brazil’s preparations for the World Cup have been hit by cost overruns and public protests over what is seen as wasted resources. (BBC Sport)

FICA urges others to block proposal favouring ‘big three’

FICA executive chairman Paul Marsh

CRICKETQUIZ CORNER (Thursday January 23, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 12 Tests; 34 wickets 2 wickets Today’s Quiz: How many dismissals wicketkeeper Junior Murray effected in Tests?

Who were the captains involved when the WI played an ODI in the Caribbean for the first time?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

(REUTERS) - The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) urged Test-playing nations yesterday to reject the controversial proposals that would effectively place Australia, England and India in charge of the world game.

A working group of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Finance and Commercial Affairs committee has come up with the proposal recommending international calendar and revenue share be controlled by the three boards who bring the most income to the game.

Cricket boards of South Africa and Pakistan have objected to the restructuring proposal, while FICA said it was “extremely concerned about the future of international cricket”.

“This proposal is designed to vest control of the game in the three Boards of India, Australia and England,” FICA executive chairman Paul Marsh said in a statement.

“The game deserves far better than this and all within FICA call on the other seven ICC Board members to reject this proposal at next week’s board meeting. The future of

the game depends on them doing so,” he said.

The proposal will be put to the ICC Executive Board at its quarterly two-day meeting in Dubai starting on Tuesday and would need votes from seven of the 10 member countries to be passed.

Australian Marsh said cricket chiefs have a duty to put ICC’s interest ahead of those of the individual boards and questioned whether it was met in this case.

“It is not in the best interests of the global game and we have real fears that it will only serve to strengthen the ‘big three’ countries whilst the rest are left to wither on the vine.”

The proposal would also give the ‘big three’ a bigger share of the ICC’s revenue pot, which Marsh feared would only increase the gulf separating them from other teams.

“The result of this will be the countries that need ICC income most will receive the least, whilst the ‘big three’ will get the lion’s share even though they are already financially healthy because of the value of the rights to their bilateral series.”

ORLANDO, Florida (CMC) - A California-based company and a firm registered in Barbados have come together to stage a professional soccer league for teams in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean Football Trust Limited with offices in Florida and Canada and Concorde Sports Agency headquartered in Beverly Hills say plans are in the pipeline for a kickoff date of September 2015.

Both organisations have already signed an agreement and are pressing ahead with plans for the tournament expected to attract 20 teams competing for the league title and over US$3M in prize money.

The organisers say prize monies are expected to grow to US$5M after the first three years.

The proposed league, dubbed Major League Futbol (MLS), will be the subject of a meeting in Orlando Florida, February 25, involving the Caribbean Football Trust, an advisory group of investors, regional government officials and other stakeholders of the league concept.

Concorde Sports Agency is a sports marketing firm which focuses on domestic and international player representation, player scouting, image rights and branding.

Cricket Australia chairman defends controversial proposal to control the sport SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) - Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards has defended a plan to centralise power in world cricket with India and England.

Edwards, a key figure in the drafting of a proposal, has broken his usual silence in the face of heavy criticism from the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA).

The proposed changes which have become the subject of major debate will come before members during the quarterly meeting in Dubai on January 28 and 29.

“Traditionally, CA does not comment on ICC discussions it is about to have - we talk to other ICC nations across the table rather than via the media,” Edwards said.

“But we were today disappointed to see the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations question whether CA and others have met their fiduciary duties as ICC members.”

FICA, which represents player associations in seven of the ICC’s ten full member countries, had declared itself “extremely concerned” with the leaked proposal.

Edwards is the first chairman of the three nations tabling the proposal to speak publicly about it.

“Setting aside the fact that we are yet to discuss and vote, CA’s approach internationally is consistent with its approach at home where we have made significant strides improving the governance of Australian cricket,” said Edwards.

“There will be a discussion in the next few days among the ICC’s full member nations about possible changes to how the ICC works”.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) was due to continue a meeting, by teleconference, yesterday discussing the subject.

Wally Edwards

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday January 23, 2014

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Rest XI win first day/night contest by 32 runs

By Calvin Roberts

DESPITE a commanding bowling display from skipper Christopher Barnwell and a crafty half-century from his deputy Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the Sewnarine Chattergoon-led Rest XI defeated the National XI by 32 runs in the first day/night practice match at the Guyana National Stadium, last Tuesday night.

Scores: Rest XI 250 for 6; National XI 218 all out off 47.2 overs.

Asked to bat first in hazy conditions when the contest bowled off at 1330hrs, the Rest XI on the back of half-centuries from Rajendra Chandrika (62 (77 balls, 4x4; 1x6), 55 from Chattergoon (91 balls, 5x4) and 49 from Vishal Singh (54 balls, 2x4), posted 250 for 6 from their 50 overs.

Barnwell led his bowlers well in the field and with the ball, by claiming 4 for 44 from nine overs of steady medium pace bowling, while Royston Crandon was the next best bowler with 1 for 41 for the National XI who, in reply, were bowled out for 218 off 47.2 overs, with Chanderpaul topscoring with 77 (121 balls, 5x4, 1x6).

This was scored in the face of some penetrative bowling from the Rest XI, led by Keon Joseph, 3 for 27, Amir Khan 3 for 37 and Raun Johnson

… Half-centuries for Chanderpaul, Chandrika and Chattergoon

Dependable Guyana and West Indies middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (hands akimbo) stands at the non-striker’s end and looks on as Robin Bacchus plays a defensive stroke to this delivery from Shaquille Williams. The wicketkeeper is Jason Sinclair. second wicket, with Chattergoon realising his 50 from 85 while Chattergoon rode his luck 2 for 65, after left-arm swing balls with four fours. after being given a life early in bowler Andre Stoll troubled Guyana’s 2013 first class his innings, to hit Paul Wintz all the batsmen at the top of season skipper Veerasammy for four, even as Griffith got a the order including ChanderPermaul then bowled Chatpair of boundaries off Beaton’s paul, on his way to finishing tergoon, who looked to cut at fourth over and the seventh of with 1 for 35. a delivery that was too close the innings.

A sedate start between Chatfor comfort, enabling Singh Barnwell had Griffith, his tergoon and national opener to join forces with Chandrika, Demerara Cricket Club teamTrevon Griffith 22 (4x4) saw following which they added mate caught at the wicket by the pair adding 41 for the first 47 for the third wicket with Anthony Bramble in is second wicket, with Griffith hitting some deft running between over, before Chattergoon and Ronsford Beaton for boundarthe wickets.

Chandrika posted 82 for the ies in the first and third over, They pressured the fielders on the outskirts, turning ones into twos, as Chandrika posted his half-century from 66 balls, decorated with three fours and six off Devendra tournament could not cause Bishoo, before he was caught any interference.

by Beaton off Barnwell.

“Had the situation been otherwise, then (according to Article 70 (3) the GFF would have had authority to ‘issue special regulations’ since in such a situation - the GFF competition ‘shall take priority.’ According to Article 72 (1), the UDFA - as a member - is the ‘original owner(s) of all of the rights emanating from competitions … coming under (its) … jurisdiction, without any restrictions as to content, time, place and law,” Solomon said.

For two years, the Georgetown Football Association Sharma Solomon (GFA) Banks Beer ran parallel of his eight-year suspension to the Kashif and Shanghai TRUE to their word, the St from the sport.

Football Tournament and it’s Lucia Amateur Boxing AsMeanwhile, the UDFA did on that notion, Solomon pointsociation last Tuesday joined not acknowledge the letter of ed out “in previous years, the with the Jamaican Boxing Assuspension from its parent GFF has allowed the culture sociation by announcing their body, as the Linden affiliate of more than one Association participation in the Guyana noted its executives posit that conducting tournament finals Boxing Association (GBA) no disciplinary action should simultaneously on the January Goodwill Series, set for the be taken against the President February, 14 to 16, 2014 at a or the UDFA for ‘gross insub- 1 date without any subsequent disciplinary action taken against venue to be named. ordination’.

President of the GBA, Steve In using the GFF’s constitu- any Association; the GFF did Ninvalle, yesterday told Chrontion as a guide, the UDFA point- not give official notice of any icle Sport, the St Lucians have ed out, according to Article 70 change in policy regarding the named a six-man squad head(2) of the GFF Constitution, the hosting of only one tournament ed by their president David UDFA (and other Regional As- finals on January 1.”

‘Shakes’ Christopher and head sociations, Leagues, Members The UDFA’s contention coach Conrad Fredericks (foror others) has delegated ‘author- is that there has been a clear merly known as Conrad Hunte), ity to organise competitions.’ show of bias in favour of one who in his own right is a former In the letter signed by its Association over another, reboxer from these shores. president Sharma Solomon, ferring to granting the GFA Brian McDonald has been the UDFA mentioned, since permission to host their tourtasked with the managerial there were no competitions nament finals on January 1, duties of the boxers who are: organised by the GFF on 2014 while denying them the Linden Micillen (64 kg), Ron January 1, 2014, the UDFA’s same opportunity.

GFF officially suspends UDFA

By Rawle Toney THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has finally dispatched official documents to the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) informing them of their suspension while providing in detail, the reason.

Signed by General Secretary Noel Adonis, the GFF stated “I refer to my letter of 13th January 2014, notifying you of a charge of ‘gross insubordination’ brought against you in respect of your failure to comply with a decision of the Congress of the GFF in relation to the date set for the finals of the UDFA/ Banks Beer tournament and to a subsequent response date 16th January 2014, received on your behalf from Mr Sharma Solomon.”

The letter further added, “Kindly note that after careful perusal and consideration of the response and other attendant circumstances, the Congress of the GFF, at a special Extraordinary Meeting held on 17th January 2014, at the GFF headquarters, has decided that you should be and are hereby, suspended from participation in the administration of football and all other football-related activity for a period of five years commencing from the date of the Extraordinary Congress.”

Solomon, however, received a separate letter with similar wording, informing him

The in-form Rajiv Ivan looked the part in the middle order with two fours off Crandon and Bishoo, before he was deceived by the former and lost his off stump, while Jonathan Foo displayed his power hitting that came to the fore in 2010, blasting 22 from 19 deliveries with two fours, before the same combination that accounted for Griffith, dismissed him.

Singh fell agonisingly short of his half-century by one run, when he was bowled by Barnwell in his bid to up his team’s scoring, but some lusty hitting from Khan, who used 11 balls for his 18 runs including 14 in the final over that was bowled

by Barnwell, pushed the Rest XI to their final score.

The National Team’s response was slow and dreary, with Chanderpaul and Assad Fudadin - who faced 25 balls for his 8 - posting a meagre 15 for the first wicket from 8.1 overs in the face of a testing spell from both Joseph and Stoll, who between them sent down three maidens, with Stoll being responsible for two.

The slow scoring rate took its toll and Fudadin, who picked out Ivan off Joseph, before Robin Bacchus 26 (27 balls, 4x4) and Chanderpaul added 38 for the second wicket, with Bacchus hit Raun Johnson for two fours in successive overs.

The National XI lost the services of Bacchus who struck one back to Shaquille Williams (1 for 30), Narsingh Deonarine-who picked out Ivan at long

on off Khan for 21, Crandon (25) and Barnwell 10, who were both caught by Jason Sinclair at the wicket off a lively looking Raun Johnson.

All the time, Chanderpaul was content to nudge the ball around and rotate the strike, picking up the odd boundaries off Williams, who had a no-ball problem, and Raun Johnson, who was struck back over his head by Deonarine for six.

Bramble came and helped push the score closer to the 200run mark, but saw the demise of Chanderpaul who picked out Foo at long off, when he looked to hit Khan over that area, even as Leon Johnson (5) and Wintz (0) were sent back by Joseph, with the former holding out to Ivan at long on while the latter nicked one through to Sinclair, who, along with Ivan, held three catches.

Following an Anti-Doping session under the tutelage of Dr Karen Pilgrim and Charles Corbin two officers of the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation which is based in Barbados and acts as the secretariat for anti-doping issues, the squad participated in another fielding session at the same venue yesterday.

The fifth and final practice match is set for the Guyana National Stadium tomorrow, following which the players will break camp the following day while they depart for Trinidad and Tobago to compete in the WICB/NAGICO Super50 tournament next Tuesday.

GBA GOODWILL SERIES

St Lucia confirms participation, no word yet from T&T Bastian (69 kg) and Arthur Nangillur (75 kg), who will be doing battle against their counterparts from Jamaica, who named their team last year and the host country Guyana.

The St Lucians are expected to arrive here on February 13 and leave the following day after the Goodwill Series climaxes, while their counterparts from Trinidad and Tobago, will make a pronouncement sometime today on their participation.

According to Ninvalle, the GBA has named a squad of boxers who have started training not only for the Goodwill Series, but also several other Championships on international soil, such as the Commonwealth Games and Cardova Cardin Champion-

ships in Cuba.

“Other than this upcoming Goodwill Series, the GBA has its eyes set on sending a team to the South American Championships which will be held in Chile from March 13 to 18 of this year, so this Goodwill Series will serve as warm-up for our boxers. In addition to that, it will also give our team of coaches and technical staff, the opportunity to assess our boxers,” said Ninvalle.

The hard-working GBA head said the squad of boxers will undergo an encampment period soon, as the GBA intends to leave no stone unturned in ensuring success not only at the Goodwill Series, but also at the other tournaments they envisaged to compete in this year.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

GCB/RADO hosts Anti-Doping session with national team

Here is what you need to know as cricketers, gentlemen! THE CARIBBEAN Regional Anti-Doping Organissation’s Charles Corbin addresses the national cricketers in the Conference Room of the Guyana National Stadium yesterday morning. In the background is Dr Karen Pilgrim, who also pays keen attention. (Photo by Adrian Narine) tional federations, parents, en Pilgrim and Charles

By Calvin Roberts doctors and other health proThe Caribbean RADO is Corbin, who took time out fessionals, and particularly a member of the Institute of from their schedules yesHE CARIBBEAN Rethe youth.”

National Anti-Doping Organiterday morning to host an gional Anti-Doping OrHence the Guyana Cricket sations (NADO) and is supportAnti-Doping seminar with ganisation (RADO) is based Board (GCB) joins forces ed by the World Anti-Doping the players at the Guyana in Barbados and acts as the with Caribbean RADO to Agency (WADA).

National Stadium. secretariat for anti-doping educate its members, who “Its main aim is to elicAlso present were GCB’s issues for Antigua & Barbuda, are in an encampment phase it excellence from athletes Territorial Development Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbaprior to their departure for by ensuring that all sport Officer and former Guyana dos, the British Virgin Islands, this month-end’s West Inis free from doping and is and West Indies fast bowler Cayman Islands, Dominica, dies Cricket Board/NAGICO played fairly and as much as Colin Stuart, chairman of St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Super50 tournament, on the athletes are the most critical selectors Rayon Griffith, Vincent & the Grenadines, dangers of drugs, usage and stakeholders, we collaborate coach Esaun Crandon, BerGrenada, Guyana, Suriname, presence in the body. with their support personnel, bice Cricket Board head Trinidad and Tobago and The Caribbean RADO coaches, sports administraTurks and Caicos. was represented by Dr Kartors, national and interna-

T

See Page 24

GFF officially suspends UDFA See Story on Page 27

T&T to compete in the Las Vegas Invitational Rugby Tournament PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) - The Trinidad and Tobago men and women national rugby teams will participate in the Las Vegas Invitational Rugby Tournament from January 23- 25.

The ‘Calypso Warriors’ are registered to play in the Las Vegas Invitational men and women Elite Sevens division.

The T&T women will battle with teams from Canada, Japan, France and the USA. The men will face national teams from Belgium, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Cayman Islands and select sides from Canada and USA. Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) president Leslie Figaro said the Invitational Sevens will be separate from the prestigious IRB World Sevens Series USA Sevens and represents an excellent opportunity for the T&T players.

“The men’s team are preparing for the Hong Kong Sevens World Sevens Qualifier which will take place in March. To compete in the Las Vegas Invitational while at the same time watch Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Samoa, Argentina, Kenya etc. is of immense benefit,” Figaro said.

“Our women are in preparation mode for important tournaments later this year. I expect the players to return even more motivated.”

Linden Secondary Schools Under-17 basketball final set for tomorrow

THE Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) has announced that the Linden Secondary Schools Under-17 basketball championship final between Mackenzie High School and Christianburg/Wismar Secondary will be played tomorrow at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

Organisers said that the 2013 inaugural competition was not held for several reasons including the uncertain weather pattern since last year.

However, expectations are that tomorrow’s weather forecast would suggest favourable conditions for the staging of the long-awaited final.

The go-ahead has already been given by the Regional Education Department in Linden and the schools should be ready for the final fling.

The championship game between Mackenzie High and Christianburg/Wismar Secondary will be at 16.30hrs and the third place playoff game between New Silvercity Secondary and Linden Foundation Secondary will be played at 15:00hrs.

BCB partners with Corbin Media Group for Diamond Jubilee Magazine

By Calvin Roberts SEVENTY-FIVE years is a long time in the history of any organisation. Years of existence may be easy to achieve, but what really matters is the achievements that occurred during that period.

This year, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will be observing its Diamond Jubilee and there is much to celebrate during 2014 and the board’s achievements over the years have been unmatched.

With that in mind, the BCB intends to have a year of

celebrations to mark this historic event, with the month of September being earmarked as the special anniversary month, and one of the projects undertaken for this accomplishment is the publication

See Page 24

And it’s a done deal! The Public Relations Officer of the Berbice Cricket Board Hilbert Foster looks on as Chief Executive Officer of Corbin Media Group, Simeon Corbin, (left) and Angela Haniff sign the agreement. (Photo

by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014