Guyana chronicle 28 07 14

GUYANA

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

RIGGING, CHAOS No. 103902

MONDAY JULY 28, 2014

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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at Congress Place

Page 3

* Gates closed to voters

*Norton pulls out of election race * Gunshot heard

*Granger wins by default

LOCKED OUT : Angry and disgruntled PNCR card–bearing members were yesterday locked out of Congress Place where elections were being held as part of the PNCR’s 18th Biennial Congress to elect a new leader of the party. Chaos and alleged widespread ‘rigging’ were said to be the ‘order of the day’.Arrow above points to locked gate (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Eid-Ul-Fitr message from Madame Deolatchmee Ramotar I GREET with overflowing happiness and embrace with deep affection the members of the Muslim community on Eid-Ul-Fitr 2014. This occasion officially marks the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and cessation of fasting and other acts of abstinence that were voluntarily undertaken by adherents of Islam during the Holy Month. It is now time to break the fast and, in so doing, to celebrate the special blessings and spiritual fortitude attained during Ramadan. In this way, Eid-Ul-Fitrrepresents a joyful celebration of spiritual renewal.

The joyfulness of the celebrations of Eid Ul Fitr is underscored by the acknowledgement that happiness is not a self-centred or First Lady selfish virtue. It is meant to be shared and shared Deolatchmee Ramotar with others, particularly those who are poor and in need. Therefore, inasmuch as there is a great deal of festivity associated with Eid- UlFitr, the celebrations are tempered by acts of charity.

Guyanese are amongst the most generous people in the world. Our hearts are quickly softened by the sight of those in need. It is therefore my hope that, on this Eid-Ul-Fitr, 2014, we will all find a special place in our hearts to remember those who are experiencing difficult and unfortunate circumstances. Let us all do all that we can to help them.

I trust that as we all join with our Muslim Brothers and Sisters in celebrating the end of the Holy Month, that we would all look around and identify someone who is in need and to help that person in whatever way we can. May we all have a happy, blessed and kindhearted Eid- Ul- Fitr!

Deolatchmee Ramotar First Lady

Congress Place gates closed to voters ––PNC/R members complain about ‘rigged’ process

By Vanessa Narine THE massive gates of Congress Place, the Sophia headquarters of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), yesterday were closed to many party members – several of whom were from Region 10 – even as the voting for new leaders was underway.

And the locked-out members raised concerns over what they dubbed a “rigged” process to ensure that the incumbent party leader, Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger, remained in power.

These contentions were also raised before today, as posters expressing this were mounted on utility poles in the vicinity of Congress Place.

Additionally, voting was delayed for several hours due to complaints over the delegates’ list.

TENSIONS ESCALATE The understandably peeved party members, after more than an hour of standing under the blistering noonday sun, eventually grew rowdy.

Up to earlier this morning, several party members, including contender for the Chairmanship of the party, Mr. Sharma Solomon, were without accreditation to attend the Congress. Persons without any form of accreditation to attend the Congress were not allowed to enter.

The complaint from the party members left outside the gates was that they were being “locked out” to prevent them from voting, as the voting was ongoing even as more and more persons turned up and were denied entry.

Tensions escalated to the point that tempers flared and there were confrontations with several party members and the security personnel, Kalibur Security Service, manning the gates.

One party member who told the Guyana Chronicle that he was a national candidate for the party in the 2011 elections was verbally abused by the security personnel, not shy about belting out expletives at him and other party members standing outside the gate.

One of the security personnel said, “You don’t mind me…I have my orders and you cannot come in.”

The party member returned, “When I have been donating US dollars to this party, where you been?”

Other party members outside complained, “We are party members who wuk hard for this party when is time to campaign, and now is elections time and we can’t

come in.”

Another woman was not as restrained in her responses, and at one point held on to the gates and rocked them violently while she blasted expletives at the security personnel. Eventually she pushed her way in as another member was being allowed in.

Other party members opted to jump down from the entrance bridge and sneak their way in via the unfenced left side of the property. Security personnel, however, were soon posted there and only two persons managed to sneak in.

Additionally, several of the persons standing outside were seen on their phones attempting to make contact with officials inside to come and vouch for the legitimacy of their presence at the Congress. However, up to 14:00hours, no official was outside.

At one point, embattled party stalwart Ms. Vanessa Kissoon was seen at the gate, as were her colleagues Ms. Annette Ferguson and Ms. Volda Lawrence. None of the three, however, was able to See page 7

One of the many posters found on the utility poles in the vicinity of Congress place.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Fighting in Gaza abates, but truce hopes look fragile (Reuters) - FIGHTING subsided in Gaza on Sunday after Hamas Islamist militants said they backed a 24-hour humanitarian truce, but there was no sign of any comprehensive deal to end their conflict with Israel.

Hamas said it had endorsed a call by the United Nations for a pause in the fighting in light of the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, expected to start in the next couple of days.

Some firing had continued after the time that Hamas had announced it would put its guns aside and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu questioned the validity of the truce.

“Hamas doesn’t even accept its own ceasefire, it’s continuing to fire at us as we speak,” he said in an interview with CNN, adding that Israel would “take whatever action is necessary to protect our people”.

Nonetheless, Gaza Strip residents and Reuters witnesses said Israeli shelling and Hamas missile launches had slowly quietened down through the afternoon, suggesting a de-facto truce might

An Israeli soldier carries a weapon near the border with the Gaza Strip July 27, 2014.

Credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

be taking shape an international efforts to broker a permanent ceasefire appeared to flounder.

However, Israel’s military has said it will need more time to destroy a warren of tunnels that criss-cross the Gaza border that it says is one of its main objectives.

Israel and the Hamas Islamists who control Gaza had agreed to a 12-hour ceasefire on Saturday to allow Palestin-

ians to stock up on supplies and retrieve bodies from under the rubble.

Netanyahu’s cabinet voted to extend the truce until midnight on Sunday at the request of the United Nations, but called it off when Hamas launched rockets into Israel during the morning.

Palestinian medics said at least 10 people had died in the wave of subsequent strikes that swept Gaza, including a

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Christian woman, Jalila Faraj Ayyad, whose house in Gaza City was struck by an Israeli bomb.

Some 1,060 Palestinians, mainly civilians and including many children, have been killed in the 20-day conflict. Israel says 43 of its soldiers have died, along with three civilians killed by rocket and mortar fire out of the Mediterranean enclave.

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Fighting complicates Ukraine crash probe, U.S., EU prepare Russia sanctions (Reuters) - FIERCE fighting in eastern Ukraine where a Malaysian airliner was downed further complicated an investigation on Sunday as Europe and the United States prepared economic sanctions on Russia over the conflict.

At least thirteen people were killed in clashes between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels which raged in five areas around the wider region.

International monitors said they had abandoned plans to visit the crash site due to fears it was not safe, even though Malaysia said earlier rebels had agreed to provide access.

Ukraine said it was trying to dislodge the rebels, but denied it was fighting near the crash site, saying the separatists had put the monitors off by falsely claiming that the army was operating nearby.

Russia dismissed U.S. allegations it was about to hand

over more missiles to the separatists, who Western leaders say almost certainly shot the airliner down by mistake with a Russian-supplied surface-toair missile.

The separatists deny any involvement and Moscow says it has not supplied them, suggesting Ukrainian forces were to blame.

“Kiev is trying to destroy the evidence of a crime by its army,” separatist leader Aleksander Borodai said, referring to a Ukrainian army offensive some distance from the site on Sunday.

With European states trying to minimize the impact of any future sanctions against Russia on their own economies, the U.S. State Department sought to bolster the case for robust action by releasing images it said showed Russian forces had fired across the border at Ukrainian military in the last week.

Destroy Hamas?

Something worse would follow: Pentagon intel chief (Reuters) - A TOP Pentagon intelligence official warned on Saturday that the destruction of Hamas would only lead to something more dangerous taking its place, as he offered a grim portrait of a period of enduring regional conflict.

The remarks by Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, the outgoing head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, came as Israeli ministers signaled that a comprehensive deal to end the 20-day-old conflict in the Gaza Strip appeared remote.

At least 1,050 Gazans mostly civilians - have been killed, and 42 Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel have died.

Flynn disparaged Hamas for exhausting finite resources and know-how to build tunnels that have helped them inflict record casualties on Israelis. Still, he suggested that destroying Hamas was not the answer.

“If Hamas were destroyed and gone, we would probably end up with something much worse. The region would end up

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with something much worse,” Flynn said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.

“A worse threat that would come into the sort of ecosystem there … something like ISIS,” he added, referring to the Islamic State, which last month declared an “Islamic caliphate” in territory it controls in Iraq and Syria.

Confined in the crowded, sandy coast enclave of 1.8 million, where poverty and unemployment hover around 40 percent, weary Gazans say they hope the battle will break the blockade that Israel and Egypt impose on them.

Israeli officials said any ceasefire must allow the military to carry on hunting down the Hamas tunnel network that criss-crosses the Gaza border.

Flynn’s comments about the conflict came during a gloomy, broader assessment of unrest across the Middle East, including in Syria and Iraq. Flynn said bluntly: “Is there going to be a peace in the Middle East? Not in my lifetime.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Obama: Migrant youths without claims will be sent home (BBC News) PRESIDENT Barack Obama has told Central American leaders that migrant children flooding into the US with-

by Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and El Salvador President Salvador Sanchez

“Children who do not have proper claims and families with children who do not have proper claims at some point will be subject to

US President Barack Obama (second from right) said more work remains to be done on the southern border crisis

out legitimate legal claims will be sent home.

The presidents of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador met Mr Obama at the White House on Friday to discuss the crisis at the US southern border.

More than 50,000 children, many unaccompanied, have been detained at the border since October.

Mr Obama said they must deter more children from attempting the journey.

“All of us recognise that we have a shared responsibility to address this problem,” Mr Obama told reporters at the White House on Friday, flanked

Ceren.

“The only thing he said was that he was scared” Rajini Vaidyanathan reports on America’s illegal child migrants He praised his Central American counterparts for their ongoing efforts within their own nations to deter children from travelling illegally to the US, but said more work must be done to combat the “significant challenge” and alleviate the conditions that move parents to send them on the perilous trip.

“We have to deter a continuing influx of children putting themselves at great risk,” he said. But he said,

repatriation to their home countries.”

The Guatemalan president, Otto Perez Molina, told the BBC that he felt frustrated and distressed by the situation. He called for the root of the problem to be addressed.

“At the heart of this are issues of extreme poverty and a lack of employment opportunities” he said.

“These are the real reasons for immigration and, as a country, we have to work hard to ensure Guatemalans don’t look towards the US, but rather find decent living conditions in Guatemala”, he added.

‘Colonial-era mass grave’ found in Potosi, Bolivia (BBC News) A GRAVE containing at least 400 people has been unearthed in the Bolivian city of Potosi, with the remains thought to be those of colonial-era miners.

The grave was found by workers carrying out excavations for the construction of a new building.

The mine at Potosi became the world’s biggest after silver was discovered there by the Spanish in 1545.

African and indigenous slaves worked the mines - it is estimated as many as eight million may have died.

The mines at Potosi were a source of huge riches for Spain until the end of colonial rule in the 19th Century.

“We are talking about a common grave found at about 1.8 metres (5.9 ft), and the human remains are scattered over an area of four by four metres,” Sergio Fidel, a researcher

at a museum belonging to Potosi’s Tomas Frias University, told AFP. The university intervened when it learnt that construction workers were piling the bones in a heap while work continued.

Last month the UN’s cultural body Unesco put Potosi on its list of World Heritage Sites in danger because of “uncontrolled mining operations in the C e r ro R i c o M o u n t a i n that risk degrading the site”.

CARICOM/ Japan summit starts today in Trinidad KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – ST VINCENT Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says CARICOM leaders will seek opportunities for ‘partnership in development’ when the first ever CARICOM-Japan Summit is held in Trinidad and Tobago today.

Gonsalves, however, said the 15-member bloc is aware that Japan is lobbying for its support as the Asian heavyweight seeks to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

“They are canvassing for it, but they are not the only people who canvass to get a seat as non-permanent members of the Security Council.

“The fact that he has to leave from Japan to come to the Caribbean is indicative of the importance of the countries in the region on a number of matters,” Gonsalves told the Caribbean Media Corporation Saturday.

In an indication that Japan

St Vincent Prime Minister and current CARICOM Chairman Gonzalves

holds a favourable status within the region on its quest for that UN seat, Gonsalves, the current CARICOM Chairman, said, “Japan is a very strong candidate...and they have had a history of working in the Caribbean, particularly in the area of education and fisheries.

“I will like to see that broadened. But they are a very responsible country,” he said, noting that of the developed countries, Japan has second largest economy after the United States.

Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, will meet CAR-

ICOM leaders Monday morning, then hold bilateral talks with each Head of Government.

A number of agreements are also to be signed.

“We are hoping that we can put together, individual countries and CARICOM as a whole, a programme for partnership in development, which will involve resources and also for us to collaborate together…to fight for peace and justice globally,” Gonsalves said.

This year marks 20 years of relations between CARICOM and Japan, and Monday’s meeting marks the first visit to the region by a Prime Minister of Japan.

A number of events are slated to recognise this milestone, including the designation of 2014 as ‘CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year’, and the proposal to convene the Fourth CARICOM-Japan Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tokyo in November.

Cops smash drug ring … driver held with US$.5m, machine gun (Trinidad Express) THERE might have been a shortage of US currency in the local financial system recently, but that did not seem to be the case in the underworld after police officers from the Northern Division Task Force smashed what they believe is a multimillion-dollar drug-smuggling operation and recovered close to half a million US dollars, together with a new Tec-9 automatic gun and several rounds of ammunition.

Police arrested a 51-year-old man. Bails of US currency were sprawled across a large table at the La Horquetta Police Station yesterday as police officers examined the money, closely counting the cash that amounts to more than $3 million, proceeds, police informed the Sunday Express and TV6 News, were from a drug transaction early yesterday morning.

Investigators said around 12.15 a.m., officers of the Northern Division Task Force, co-ordinated by Senior Superintendent David Abraham and headed by Inspector Mark Maharaj and Sergeant Harewood, intercepted a blue Nissan Navara pick-up in Nicholasville, San Juan, driven by the 51-year-old man from the same area.

The police officers, upon checking the vehicle, found a suitcase in the back seat.

Inside it, officers discovered a new Tec-9 automatic gun with 75 rounds of ammunition, as well as two magazines, sitting atop the pile of cash.

Packaged in tight plastic

were bails of US currency, mostly in 20- and 50-dollar bills, some held together by rubber bands.

Investigators say they obtained information the suspect had only hours ago sold a major quantity of cocaine to South Americans who had been waiting in a boat along the North Coast.

They say the money and gun was obtained after selling the product and are working on certain information as to who the money was being transported to and who are the other players involved in the drug smuggling operation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr amidst war

ACROSS the globe there are escalating tensions intra-nation and between nation-states that eventuate in full-scale war, even in the midst of holy celebrations, with warring parties who are precipitating and causing endless suffering on the innocents of the world, seeking the blessings of the Father of the Universe to bestow blessings on them so that they can achieve victory.

But what constitutes victory? Burning more public buildings – such as hospitals et al, destroying priceless artifacts and national infrastructure, as well as

homes of citizens who have harmed no one and wish no one ill?

Even worse, maiming and killing people – including little children and babies; creating homeless and starving refugees? What heroes!

Why should the Father in Heaven bless perpetrators of such evil? Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists – all religions pray to a loving, all-powerful Father; so on which of his children should he bestow his blessings to grant them victory over their universal siblings in humanity?

Id-ul-Fitr is one of the biggest festivals of

Muslims. The word ‘Id’ means happiness - literally it means breaking of fast: Therefore, Id-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawaal, the tenth month in the Muslim calender, to mark the end of a month-long fast during Ramzan or Ramadhan.

It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and with great fervour in Muslim communities throughout the world.

Id is a major festival that lays great importance on sacrifice and purity of life. It teaches us the values of love, brotherhood, mercy and compassion. Muslims keep fast for a month so that their souls are

purified.

They pray five times a day and give alms and food to the poor and the needy. They cherish a belief that Allah has given them health, strength and opportunities of life to fulfill their obligations of fasting and other good deeds during the month of Ramzan.

The day on which Id falls is a day of great merry-making. It is a day of love, affection, harmony and brotherhood. On this day, Muslims wear new colourful dresses to visit their respective mosques to offer Namaz and to seek blessings from

Allah, after which they visit their friends and relatives and share offerings to neighbours, friends and the poor and vulnerable.

They embrace each o t h e r, f o rg e t t i n g o l d grudges and ill-feelings. They wish each other Id Mubarak. A spirit of brotherhood prevails in every heart during this festival and there is no distinction between the rich and the poor on this day. All are treated as equal.

Similarly, every other religious body celebrates holy days with a spirit of camarade-

rie, goodwill and joy of being; so mankind should not merely celebrate specific days in such a way, but ensure that that communal harmony and brotherhood are foremost and they should be given top priority to strengthen the base of respective societies and the world at large.

The Board-of-Directors, Management and staff of GNNL, Publishers of the Guyana Chronicle, wish all Guyanese, especially our Muslim community, Eid Mubarak!

Blue CAPS commends Government GOVERNMENT must be commended for establishing the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). This unit, it is reported, will be “dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of suspected financial transactions”. The initiative to establish this agency within the Guyana Police Force forms part of Guyana’s obligation to comply with non-parliamentary recommendations as advanced by the Carib-

bean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) through its Mutual Evaluation Report of 2011.

A major criticism regarding the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is that it does not have the authority to arrest and prosecute individuals and organisations suspected of money laundering or financing terrorism. This SOCU is now expected to perform this vital role.

This important de-

velopment serves to remind us that the issue of the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering of the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill (AML/CFT) is still very much alive and warrants our collective attention as citizens.

Since the announcement from FATF at the end of June that Guyana will be subjected to a targeted review and development of an Acton Plan to address identi-

fied deficiencies in its AML/CFT framework, there has been a thunderous silence on demands for the passage of the requisite legislative amendments.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will meet again on October 20 to consider and deliberate on the results of the targeted review process.

We, as citizens, and the plethora of civil society organisations, should not wait until a month

or weeks before the review is scheduled to commence to be roused into frenzy and desperately implore our parliamentary representatives to pass the legislation.

Instead, let us start to demand the passage of those bills now, so as to receive a favourable review come October and save our nation any undesirable consequences for not remedying our AML/CFT deficiencies.

The passage of this Bill will test all our po-

litical policy-makers resolve to begin a process of cooperation that will put Guyana first, and would form the foundation of a more collective approach to governance.

Blue CAPS stands ready and committed to initiate a “Pass the Bill” campaign and we will also reach out to other civil society groups and partners to do so.

Clinton Urling Blue CAPS

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Congress Place gates closed ...

From page 3

of party members who picked up on this sentiment also noted that the PPP/C was hosting a fun day outside Freedom House, and suggested a move be made to that location.

It was only after hours of disorder that one party official came to the gate; and even then, only some of those who were still standing outside were allowed in.

ATTEMPT TO FLOOD VOTERS’ LIST At a press conference last evening, Granger charged that confusion at the main gate was as a result of an attempt to “flood” the official voters’ list with names of persons not qualified to vote at the Congress elections.

He contended that a “large number” of persons came down from a “particular region and many of their names were not on the final approved lists; as such, an attempt was being made to flood the lists with persons who were not qualified.

“The vast majority of party members supported the team that was elected today,” the party said.

Additionally, Granger stated that several meetings were held with Mr. Solomon and Mr. Norton to ensure that their concerns were addressed.

“I believe that the majority of people who remained in the hall were given an accurate picture of the opinions and interests of delegates countrywide,” Granger said.

At the same news conference, party

Chairman Basil Williams further explained that there were “administrative difficulties” over the delegate representation for Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice).

“A special effort was made by the leadership of the party and the accreditation committee to resolve all matters of concern.

Finally, it was agreed that, irrespective of the difficulties concerning the issuing of delegate cards, all accredited delegates from Region 10 and/ or any other region whose names were on the lists would be allowed to vote in the elections,” he said.

The party Chair added that both Mr. Sharma Solomon and Mr. Aubrey Norton were issued with the official list of delegates so as to allow them to “observe and scrutinize” the process.

“Earlier in the day (yesterday) two busloads of persons from Linden arrived at the Congress venue, all claiming to be delegates.

During the registration process they were advised that there were no delegate cards for them,” Williams said.

The party Chair pointed out that when the final lists of delegates were approved, there were some 98 persons from Region 10 represented on that list; however, when it came time for the substantial voting process, only 43 persons from Region 10 remained in the auditorium.

The PNC/R leadership maintains that the chaos at Congress Place main gate was as a result of misunderstandings.

Party members were peeved, the woman in the striped shirt making clear that she had a legitimate right to attend the PNC/R Congress

Determined to participate in the vote, these party members sneak in

Hours of disorder prevailed at the main gates of Congress Place yesterday This party member opts to leave after being unable to enter Congress Place

These Amerindians from Annai were also among those who were not allowed in, despite having been present at the opening of Congress last Friday

This woman is warned by a security personnel not to attempt to sneak in

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

PNCR Congress delegates’ behaviour tempered by gunshot INCREASING tensions during the last day of the People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNCR) 18th Biennial Congress were tempered forcefully, if only to an extent, after a single gunshot was fired into the air.

The discharge of the firearm sent delegates running; however, no one was injured. The PNC/R delegates gathered at Congress Place, Sophia to vote in nominated individuals into key leadership positions within the party.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed by inside sources that the bodyguard of the party’s incumbent leader, Brigadier (ret'd.)

David Granger, was the one who had fired the shot just after noon, as the voting got underway. Another source added that the gunshot was considered “necessary” to temper the behaviour of some of the delegates.

At a press conference last evening, party Chairman Basil Williams stated

A view of the PNCR headquarters

that the person who had fired the shot is unknown, but is believed to be a member of the Returning Officer’s team, and not involved in the party’s administrative matters.

“Being very dissatisfied, they (the delegates) then proceeded to block the entrance to the auditorium

where accredited delegates were assembling to vote. In the ensuring confusion, an explosive sound was heard, which caused momentary confusion. However, order was quickly restored and the Congress proceeded with its business,” he explained.

Noteworthy also is that

Mr. Granger’s bodyguard, who is always seen close to him, was not at last evening’s news conference.

Meanwhile, this newspaper spoke to several Members of Parliament (MPs) who contended that the wanton discharge of a firearm has left them worried for their safety

in the National Assembly, as Granger ’s bodyguard accompanies him to the sittings.

Attempts to contact the security personnel at the National Assembly, to query if the main Opposition leader’s bodyguard has his firearm on his person and is required to lodge the weapon

before proceeding up to the National Assembly’s Chambers, proved futile.

Additionally, according to Guyana’s laws, depending on the circumstances surrounding the discharge of a firearm, the licence to carry the weapon can be revoked.

An investigation into the incident has been started.

Aubrey Norton drops out of leadership race –Cites problems with election process CONTENDER for the leadership of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Mr. Aubrey Norton, yesterday dropped out of the elections race, citing serious problems with the election process.

At a news conference last night, Brigadier (rtd.)

David Granger, who was returned as party leader unopposed, acknowledged Norton’s contentions, but noted that the “vast majority” of party members supported his election.

“The vast majority of party members supported the team that was elected today…I believe that the

majority of people who remained in the hall were given an accurate picture of the opinions and interests of delegates countrywide,” Granger said.

Asked about engagement with Mr. Norton as well as contender for the chairmanship of the party, Mr. Sharma Solomon, the party leader made clear that he has never “disengaged” either party.

Granger said, “I have never disengaged Mr. Solomon…I have met with Mr. Norton here (Congress Place). Mr. Solomon and Mr. Norton are both members of the party, and the party has rules and structures, and both

of them are fully empowered and competent to participate in those structures. I will engage them if they want to see me. I have never denied them the opportunity to meet me.”

The fallout from Norton’s withdrawal from the race was also raised; however, the PNC/R leader noted that he is not worried.

“I am not worried…we have one party, there are a few dissidents, but we have one party. The majority of the people are loyal and hardworking members of the party. The party is not broken up into factions….I am satisfied that the party’s solidarity is very strong,” he said.

Granger added that if people want to serve the party, there are many avenues and opportunities by which this can be done.

“I am not in the business of excluding anyone from party office,” he stressed.

However, he expressed the hope that Norton would continue to work with the party.

“What Mr. Norton choses to do is a matter for him, but certainly we regard him as a longstanding member of the PNC and we expect him to continue to work with the PNC,” Granger concluded.

(Vanessa Narine)

Mr. Aubrey Norton and supporters leaving Congress Place yesterday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana…

Guyana needs the PPP today more than at any other point in our history OLD KAI has been quietly observing yet another farce of a congress by the People’s National Congress/Reform, and it comes as no surprise that yet again, there have been reports of gunshots being fired, members being verbally and physically abused, fraudulent elections, delegates cards for even persons vying for leadership positions mysteriously disappearing from Congress Place on the morning of the elections, and leadership contenders challenging the incumbency becoming ultimately frustrated and walking away from the process.

For many this may be the last time they ever set foot in Congress Place, such was the case at the last Congress and the one before that, and the one before that. One PNC/R member was quoted in the media as saying “the party bruck up.”

Now how does this relate to the People’s Progressive Party and its enhanced importance to all the people of Guyana you may ask?

The simply answer is discipline and stability.

Those two words could never be used to describe the PNC and all its name changes over time, but based on the occurrences at this most recent congress, and as has been observed by its membership, there has been a total breakdown of discipline and it has now

become a free for all. All the hallmarks of a Wild West environment have come to the fore with gunshots to add a touch of legitimacy.

We simply have to assess all the damage this erratic party has managed to inflict on Guyanese with assistance from its chief conspirator, the AFC, which also has challenges with party discipline, ever since they teamed up to use their one seat majority in the National Assembly over the PPP/C. They have even admitted this much, when their leadership referred to Guyanese as ‘collateral damage’.

They have done everything in their power to harm the expansion of our economy and pile on the pressure on Guyanese, hoping citizens will blame the Government and not the Opposition.

Their conduct has been nothing short of irresponsible and reckless in dealing with the nation’s business, but this is not surprising, as everyone is trying to outdo the other to gain an upper hand and the crabs in a barrel analogy is probably the most appropriate. No one will ever win with this approach.

Simply look at the aftermath of what occurred at Congress Place as a microcosm of what is occurring nationally. Even though Granger maintained an iron grip and emerged the winner, he also became the loser as no doubt the many empty chairs he was addressing at the opening of their

Congress indicates that the rot is creeping in.

Granger preaches about national unity and a national unity government; but can we imagine, based on how he and his grouping have treated their own supporters, what will be the end result for all Guyanese?

What Guyanese are feeling is really the effects of the crumbling political infrastructure of the Opposition, more specifically the PNCR, as the AFC had none to begin with.

On the other hand, the PPP must be credited for running a disciplined and grounded political party, even more so having been in Government for over 22 years. Stable political leadership is the only solution to advancing the development of our country and our citizens as it mirrors what will ultimately be the result at a national level.

This is something both the PNC/R-APNU or the AFC cannot provide; worse yet, were they to merge, which seems inevitable, as two persons drowning, they will ultimately clutch onto each other and will both go down.

Therefore for supporters and non-supporters alike, the People’s Progressive Party is needed more than ever at this point in our history, to guide this nation forward with its stable hands and tried and tested leadership, away from the murky waters where the PNCR and the AFC seem intent on taking us.

President Ramotar: ‘I don’t like lobbying and I don’t like lobbyists’ - slams speculation that former President Bharrat Jagdeo has lobbied for award of contracts HEAD of State Donald Ramotar was candid in rejecting claims about any conflict of interest shadowing the award of contracts and the speculation that former President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo is a lobbyist in this regard. “(Mr.) Jagdeo has not spoken with me about any contract. I can say that with all honesty and watch you full in the eye and say it. He has not lobbied me for any contract for anyone…Jagdeo has never asked me to give anybody any contract or any privilege,” President Ramotar said on Saturday at a news conference held at State House.

He noted that any contract that is awarded is done with, among other considerations, the interest of the Guyanese people in focus.

“I think that we should take our deliberate time and evaluate everything and the only thing for me, the most important thing for me, is the interest of the people of this country,” the President said.

Mr. Ramotar extended his rejection of the assertions about conflict of interest to rule out any involvement of Ministers of his Cabinet. “None of my Ministers will dare come to me with that either,” he said.

According to the Head of State, his position on

lobbying and lobbyist has been evident during his three-and-a-half-year tenure. “I don’t like lobbying and I don’t like lobbyists,” he said.

Mr. Ramotar’s comments follow publicly-aired views on Dr. Jagdeo’s alleged influence over the undertaking of the current Administration and the possibility of the former President’s involvement in the award of the contract to the New GPC for the supply of drugs to the health sector – which was announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon on Wednesday. (Vanessa Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Granger wins by default

By Derwayne Wills AMIDST widespread allegations of elections rigging and electoral fraud, Brig. (ret’d.) David Granger has once again assumed the mantle, unopposed as Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

Concluding the 18th Biennial Congress of the Party, Granger was re-elected to serve as Party Leader after the withdrawal of Region 10 Regional Democratic Chairman Sharma Solomon and party stalwart Mr. Aubrey Norton on claims that the voting process was marred by inaccuracies.

Speaking against these accusations, the new Party Leader, Brig. (ret’d.) Granger, stressed the connotative nature of some words to invoke chaos. “Rigging, padding; these words are very emotive... We don’t have any evidence”, Granger stated.

He added that in the event of there being evidence to support the many claims, “We will investigate the matter... [but] we cannot proceed on the basis of these allegations.” The PNCR Leader instead deflected the

10, about 40 delegates from that region remained in the auditorium.”

representation of Region 10, a special effort was made by the leadership of the Party and [the] Accreditation Committee to resolve all matters of concern”, Williams reaffirmed.

He related that it was agreed by the parties present that “irrespective of the difficulties concerned on the issuing of delegates’ cards, all accredited delegates from Region 10 and any other region, whose names were on the list, would be allowed to vote in the elections.”

Williams, in his capacity as Chairman, went the extra mile, giving all assurance that the final list of the “approved delegates” was issued to Regional Democratic Chairman Mr. Sharma Solomon and Mr. Norton, to allow for observation and scrutiny. However, he recorded that on the last day of the Congress, “Two busloads of persons from Linden arrived at the Congress venues, all claiming

to be delegates during the registration process, [and] they were advised that there were no delegate’s cards for them.”

Williams mentioned that the final list was submitted to both contenders, but “there were no monumental changes to that list.”

“Being very dissatisfied, they then proceeded to block the entrance to the auditorium where accredited delegates were assembling to vote. In the ensuing confusion, an explosive sound was heard, which caused momentary confusion. However, order was quickly restored, and the congress proceeded with its business”, explained Williams.

The PNCR Chairman made glaring accusations that the People’s Progressive Party Administration was somehow directly involved in the sabotage of the congress. He further added that the PNCR will investigate the known agents within its camp.

Questioned on the definitive number of representatives from the Region 10 group, Williams responded in the affirmative that 98 representative delegates were present from Region 10. The Chairman cited this figure, stating that “there were 80 delegates, and I think that the GYSM [Guyana Youth Student Movement] had 18... in total from Region 10.”

But “when there was the departure of Comrades Norton and Sharma from Region

REGION 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) representative, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) stalwart, and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Ms. Vanessa Kissoon, had her suspension from the party temporarily lifted.

This was according to leader of the PNC/R, Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger, yesterday at a news conference held at Congress Place.

The lifting of Kissoon’s suspension allowed her to be accredited for, and attend, the party’s 18th Biennial Congress.

She was suspended from the party following an alleged altercation with the party’s General Secretary, Mr. Oscar Clarke. A disciplinary committee is reviewing her case; however, Kissoon did not attend the last meeting of the review committee, which was held last Thursday. Also, the PNCR groups in Linden, last Monday in a statement, not-

ed that they advised Kissoon not to attend the meeting.

Granger told reporters that the disciplinary committee which was established by the Central Executive Committee (CEC) has completed its review of the incident, and its report will be sent to the CEC this week.

“The disciplinary committee submitted its report on Friday, and with effect from that date, it is assumed that the suspension was void,” the PNCR Leader said.

(Vanessa Narine)

From left, PNCR Public Relations Officer Ms. Malika Ramsey; new Leader, Brig. (ret’d.)

David Granger; new PNCR Chairman, Mr. Basil Williams; PNCR Vice Chairpersons Ms. Volda Lawrence & Dr. George Norton; and PNCR Treasurer Mr. Ronald Bulkan

accusations, remarking that “any indication of rigging were attempts to flood voting lists.”

When questioned on the move to abdicate the coveted seat and return to the ballots in bringing a fairer and more inclusive race, Granger rejected this suggestion, stating that, “We are not prepared to go back, unless there is evidence of wrongdoing, and there has not been evidence of wrongdoing.”

LACKING ELECTORAL INTEGRITY Also unopposed in his run for the Chairmanship post was the new PNCR Chairman, Mr. Basil Wil-

liams. During a press conference last evening at the PNCR Secretariat (Congress Place) Sophia, Greater Georgetown, Williams pronounced that Granger retaining the post is reflective of “the full acclamation of the thousands of delegates and observers.”

Meanwhile, he announced that Granger’s sole challenger, Mr. Aubrey Norton, declined his candidacy for the post “minutes before the commencement of the poll, and announced that he was withdrawing because he was dissatisfied with the process.

“Amidst administrative difficulties over the delegate

PARTY DIVISION Responding to questions of a possible division in the party because of the current impasse, Mr. Granger rejected the notion that the party is more divided than it has ever been. Addressing the actions of dissenting members, Granger noted that there were elements of dissenting voices in the party, which marred the biennial congress. He assured that, “those elements do not represent a majority of the Party to create such a massive division.”

“Certainly we would like to have a strong, united party, but I believe that the majority of people who remained in the hall were able to give an accurate picture of the opinions and influence of the delegates countrywide”, Granger said.

Other members who returned to their posts unopposed, other than Granger and Williams, were APNU Members of Parliament Ms. Volda Lawrence and Dr. George Norton, as Vice-Chairpersons. The only contested position was that of Party Treasurer, which was won

by APNU Member of Parliament Mr. Ronald Bulkan.

“I believe that the vast majority of party members support the present team that was elected... I believe that, in the long term, the majority of people will continue to support the PNC, and this is what was displayed in this very auditorium today.” Granger conclusively noted.

PNCR accuses PPP of sabotaging its Congress Vanessa Kissoon's suspension lifted temporarily – Granger THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairman, Mr. Basil Williams, last evening at a news conference, accused the ruling party, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), of an “orchestrated” attempt to sabotage its 18th Biennial Congress.

He said, “Earlier in the day, two busloads of persons from Linden arrived at the congress venue, all claiming to be delegates. During the registration process, they were advised that there were no delegate cards for them.

“Being very dissatisfied, they then proceeded to block the entrance to the auditorium where accredited delegates were assembling to vote. In the ensuing confusion, an explosive sound

was heard, which caused momentary confusion.

“However, order was quickly restored, and the congress proceeded with its business.

“It is the opinion of the leadership of the PNCR that these events were deliberately orchestrated by the PPP/C to sabotage the congress, but (they) failed miserably.”

Williams noted that the PNCR intends to mount an investigation to deal with the “agents” who helped with the PPP/C’s plan to sabotage the 18th Biennial Congress.

The party leader, Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger, when asked about the evidence of sabotage, stated that the ruling party was “certainly interested” in the outcome of the PNC elections at Congress. “That is the evidence

that we have,” he said.

Granger also referred to the appearance of advertisements in the daily newspapers addressing the party’s congress.

“We had noticed that the PPP/C, or some other agency with the funds to do so, had published whole page advertisements in the newspapers in the run-up to Congress, and there were certain statements that suggested that they were interested in seeing an outcome other than what happened today,” the party Chair said.

He noted, too, that the PPP has “ways and means” of influencing party supporters. “Mr. Joe Harmon was a member of the PNC’s campaign committee; look at him now,” Granger said.

(Vanessa Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

President responds to Opposition Leader’s remarks at PNCR’s 18th Biennial Congress…

Granger can help with investor confidence by passing the Anti-Money Laundering Bill

By Derwayne Wills PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has responded to claims made by Leader of the Opposition that the People’s Progressive Party Administration is to blame for the current state of Guyana’s economic development.

At the 18th Biennial Congress of the People’s National Congress Reform, Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, had hurled accusations at the current administration stating that, “Guyana’s economic development has been impeded... [and] its international competitiveness has been impaired.”

The President made no objection to there being threats to Guyana’s competitiveness but he rejected the claims made against the country’s investor confidence. He called on the Opposition Leader to assume the mantle since he himself can change the current situation.

Speaking on the role of establishing an effective Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime and the Amaila Hydro-

electricity Project, in international competitiveness and investor confidence, the President remarked that while he has not yet examined the Opposition Leader’s speech in its entirety, “I am surprised that he has made such a statement because he can help a lot in that regard by first passing the Anti-Money Laundering Bill.”

INVESTOR CONFIDENCE On the question of investor confidence the President rejected the claim and stated that, “if you look at the investments we have been having in our country... it is very high,” adding that, “I think he is wrong in the one count about investors’ confidence.”

He similarly noted that not only has there been great investment in infrastructure but there has been much interest expressed in Guyana from international investors.

“I think investors’ confidence is extremely high and he can help... he is impeding some of these issues that we can move much faster on by not wanting to support the Anti-Money Laundering Bill,” said President Ramotar.

Chairman of the PNCR, Mr. Basil Williams in his address to the 18th biennial congress had solidified his party’s position stating that, “APNU [A Partnership for National Unity] refused to be railroaded into passing the AML/CFT Bill without the APNU amendments being adopted by the Government.”

FLASHBACK: AML & AMAILA Calls had been made even before the first advisory by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) by both Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

President of the GMSA, Mr. Clinton Williams had warned during a business luncheon held in honour of the visiting Trinidadian Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development, Dr. Bhoendradatt Tiwarie in June last that ahead of the Eighth Americas Competitiveness Forum to be held in the twin-island republic in September, “We will be tarnished to the extent that people (from the Americas Competiveness Forum

President Donald Ramotar

(ACF)) will not want to talk to us, much less invest.”

The Eighth Americas Competitiveness Forum is scheduled to be held in Trinidad and Tobago in October 2014, and Guyana is set to participate in deliberations of the business sector in that meeting.

Williams expressed the view that Guyana’s representation at that forum would more likely suffer from interventions taken by the rest of the world to deem Guyana a risk for money laundering and the financing of terror-

ism, as recommended by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

As regards market opportunities, the GMSA president noted that what often persists in small nations like Guyana and those within the rest of the Caribbean is an inability to garner funds for investment opportunities. He said that for such small nations, investment capital is difficult to come by, and no responsible investor would invest in an environment which does not adhere to international regulation.

At that very event, speaking on the need for energy in competitiveness, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh stressed that available and reliable energy sources remains one of the major issues faced by the Caribbean region.

The Finance Minister observed that the GMSA and other private sector businesses are fully aware that the most severe impediment to growth and expansion and even to competitiveness and profitability in the business sector is the cost and reliability of available energy.

He added that manufacturing businesses have been

burdened by investing in redundant sources of energy because a power outage on the production line would ultimately stymie efficiency.

“We have a situation in Guyana where, to put it bluntly, the supply of electricity off of our national grid is more expensive than it should be and it is not as reliable as it should be,” Singh acknowledged.

“We understand the challenges of the electricity company and the grid services such a widely dispersed population.”

Dr. Singh pointed out that the Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project and the availability of a reliable energy source is one of the most topical issues which transcends to the core of the whole membership. The crux of the matter, he noted, is that there exists a problem with the provision of energy which needs to be addressed.

The solution, he stated, was devised by the Government of Guyana working along with some of the largest and most credible international institutions and credible international investors.

Eid message from the U.S. Embassy

Bryan Hunt

THE U.S Embassy in Georgetown wishes to extend Eid-ulFitr greetings to all Muslims in Guyana and around the world, as they mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. We congratulate all Muslims on their intense

devotion, reflection, service, and spiritual rejuvenation achieved during the month of Ramadan.

One of the many common bonds between our two countries is respect and appreciation of religious freedom and tolerance. Our countries are comprised of people of all races and religions, and it is that diversity that makes us strong as we address challenges of the 21st century. As President Obama has said, Eid is part of a great tapestry of America’s many traditions.

As Muslims worldwide recommit themselves to honour their faith by reaching out to the less fortunate through everyday acts of faith, kindness, charity, service, tolerance, and selflessness, we also encourage all to share in the spirit of Eid and to embrace these values which are so important in culti-

vating cooperation, promoting cross-cultural understanding and sustaining humanity.

It is in that spirit that we hosted an iftar at my residence, and through our Humanitarian Assistance Programme

(HAP) we have donated shoes, clothing, and equipment to the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG). The HAP is also working with the CIOG on a medical outreach programme in Tuschen, Region 3 in Au-

gust. We will continue to reach out to the Islamic community to find ways to improve the lives of all Guyanese people.

During this festive period of renewal, we join in sharing your optimism for a brighter

future and we wish you a joyous and blessed Eid ul-Fitr.

Eid Mubarak!

Bryan Hunt U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires

12

President ‘extremely concerned’ over continued delay with AML/CFT Bill

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

By Vanessa Narine PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar last Saturday expressed his “extreme concern” over the continuing delays with the passage of the -Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill and the fact that the Parliamentary Special Select Committee reviewing the Bill has not been meeting.

“I am extremely concerned about this. It is important for us. It is a very serious issue,” he told reporters at a news conference at State House.

Mr. Ramotar stated that the current Administration continues to advance efforts to improve Guyana’s AML/CFT framework, as it relates to non-legislative actions to ensure Guyana’s compliance with international standards.

NO MEETINGS Chair of the Committee, Ms. Gail Teixeira, told the Guyana Chronicle last week that she has again President Donald Ramotar been unable to get the combined Parliamentary Opposition to meet before the National Assembly goes into recess on August 8.

“I have been trying to get a meeting of the Committee for weeks now,” she said. “I suggested July 8 and 10, but was told that the PNCR (People’s National Congress/ Reform) will be hosting its Congress. The last date I suggested was July 30, after the Congress, but Mr. Williams has said that the Opposition will be unavailable to attend any meeting prior to recess. He also said that Mr. Ramjattan will be out of the country during the time suggested for the meeting,” Teixeira had said.

Without a meeting of the Committee to conclude its review of the AML/CFT Bill, its passage remains in limbo, even in the face of possible international sanctions for Guyana.

The President noted that he was surprised at the nonchalant disposition of the combined Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), given that Guyana will be taken up for review by the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF).

IMPORTANT REVIEW FATF, earlier this month, officially confirmed its decision to commence a targeted review of Guyana, in a letter dated July 9, 2014, prior to its October 2014 plenary meeting.

And the international watchdog body made it clear that the purpose of this targeted review will be to examine the most significant deficiencies in Guyana’s AML/ CFT framework that pose a risk to the international financial system. According to FATF, its review will identify steps that should be taken to address those deficiencies through the development of an Action Plan.

FATF said in its letter: “This review will be conducted by the International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG), Americas Regional Review Group (ARRG), co-chaired by Ms. Darlene Boileau (Canada) and Ms. Maria Fernanda Garcia-Yrigoyen Maúrtua (Peru).

“In our capacity as ICRG Co-Chairs, we now request your full cooperation in assisting the ARRG to conduct this work, including by providing up-to-date information on your jurisdiction related to AML and CFT issues as requested by the ARRG co-chairs.”

Guyana, according to the letter, will be given an opportunity to review the draft targeted review and to have a face-to-face meeting with the ARRG. At its next meeting on 20th -24th October, 2014 in Paris, France, the FATF is expected to discuss the results of Guyana’s targeted review. If Guyana is deemed non-compliant a public statement from FATF to its member countries will be issued at that meeting advising recommended sanctions against Guyana.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

55 females among 120 students Graduate from GSA

By Sandy Agasen

A BATCH of 120 students, including 55 females, graduated from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) last Friday at the institution in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, and during an impressive ceremony the agriculture sector’s impact on the economy was highlighted.

Of the 120 graduates, 22 were from GSA Essequibo and 98 from GSA Mon Repos, while 55 were females.

This year the Chief Executive Officer’s prize went to Hussain Ali. This award is given to the best graduating student in any of the two-year programmes offered by the institution at its Mon Repos campus and the Chairman’s Prize (the best graduating student in any of the two programmes offered by the institution at its Essequibo campus) went to Benny Augustus.

The graduates, during their tenure at the institution, pursued diploma and certificate programmes in agriculture, animal health and veterinary public health, fisheries studies, forestry and for the first time, agro-processing.

This is the institution’s 50th anniversary (1963-2013) and graduation exercise.

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Lesile Ramsammy, delivering the keynote address said that the 50th class was a testimony to the strength of the institution. He noted too that the institution has been playing a fundamental role in agriculture education in Guyana and in the wider Caribbean, in building capacity.

One of the graduates is in fact a scholarship student from St Vincent and The Grenadines.

He said, “For those of you graduating today, you should feel a sense of pride that you are graduating from a school that has a long and good history, and you will add to its reputation…I look forward to seeing many of you contributing to the success of agriculture in our country.”

Dr. Ramsammy explained that the Government is committed to moving forward the role of agriculture to meet the future needs of the country and to the development of human resources.

In this regard, the Government of Guyana is investing annually $1.2M per student at the Guyana School of Agriculture. The Government is investing approximately $600M to GSA and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for the training of young people to participate in the development of agriculture and the country.

The graduates of the Certificate in Agro-Processing were awarded with test-kits to assist them with their future endeavours

DEVELOPMENT Minister Ramsammy explained, “We see agriculture as a vehicle to accelerate our development. Agriculture has been responsible for bringing Guyana as a least developing country to low middle income country. It is now time that we move towards a high middle income country and I am confident that agriculture is the vehicle that will take us there.”

Investment in an agricultural workforce through human resource development was highlighted as a priority in the Ministry of Agriculture’s 2013-2020 National Development Strategy.

According to the strategic plan, agriculture will be transformed and used as a vehicle to promote national prosperity, end hunger and provide opportunities.

MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRY Dr. Ramsammy stated that the government recognises that the development of human resources is vital and continues to invest in training persons, particularly for careers in the agriculture sector in recognition that the sector has helped the country to move from least developing to being a middle-income country, with the potential to continue the movement to an even higher middle-income status.

He challenged the GSA management to commit to further developing the school curriculum and to introduce new courses and further distance learning for the school.

NEW COURSES With the transformation of the agriculture sector, GSA has introduced a new course, the theoretical and practical aspects of the operation of the tractor as well as other courses. In addition, to cater for the agro-processing sector and to give students the opportunity to establish their own agro-processing ventures, a new one-year Certificate in Agro-Processing was introduced for the academic year

2013/2014.

He indicated that the various farms operated by the Guyana Livestock Development Board (GLDA) and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) can serve as attachment centres for the students, who could be facilitated in short specialist courses.

Dr. Ramsammy said that specialised courses will provide better education. He also pointed out that many individuals practice agriculture in Guyana without a good sense of the cost of production and reiterated that it should be a part of the curriculum. “GSA students should have the skill of utilising the tools of Cost of Production,” he said.

He explained that agriculture has the potential to guarantee Guyana and Guyanese a better life and with agriculture as the vehicle, by or before 2025, Guyana will take the lead in ending hunger in the

The GSA graduates at the 50th graduation exercise (Cullen-Bess Nelson)

Caribbean and Latin America.

Minister Ramsammy said that agriculture will ensure that economies like Guyana and other countries will continue to move forward and onward.

He lauded the performance of the rice industry thus far. According to him, $23B in paddy was sold to millers, of which US$150M in paddy and rice was exported. “There is no industry as large as agriculture in Guyana,” he noted.

Country Representative, Inter-American Institution for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Wilmot Garnett, who delivered the charge to the graduates this year, urged them to recognise their importance and to contribute to the modernisation of agriculture.

He said, “Our Ministry of Agriculture is Guyana’s vehicle to sustainable economic

development…this vehicle requires a sustainable service plan to remain viable.”

“Agriculture production can be for both domestic consumption and for the export market. Being able to provide for oneself is important but in order for any country to be progressive and competitive in this forum of globalisation, we must ensure that our agricultural products meet the international standard,” he said.

“Those of you from the rural communities, remember you are privileged to be selected to lead and empower, especially our small farmers.

You have been educated to modernise agriculture,” Garnett said.

He noted that the GSA has done its part in ensuring that students are well-rounded and ready to meet the challenges of agriculture and encouraged

the students to be steadfast in their approach and proactive in confronting these challenges. Garnett also urged the maintaining of zeal and professionalism and encouraged continued learning and networking, to keep up-todate on new technologies and practices.

The students successfully completed the following programmes at the GSA institutions across the country – Diploma in Agriculture; (Mon Repos) with 45 graduates, (Essequibo) seven graduates, Diploma in Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health 10 graduates, Certificate in Agriculture 15 graduates, Certificate in Agro-Processing five graduates, Certificate in Forestry (Mon Repo) 23 graduates and (Essequibo) 15 graduates.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Storm destroys buildings, uproots trees and power poles at Linden Asif Hakim A FREAK storm of considerable violence descended on the Upper Demerara mining town of Linden yesterday at approximately 16:00hrs; and by the time it had passed, some thirty minutes later, several buildings -- including the Linden/Mackenzie Sports

Club and numerous homes -- had been destroyed; and GPL power poles and numerous trees had been uprooted, disrupting electricity to extensive parts of Linden.

A resident who made telephone contact with this reporter said she was walking home when she heard turbulent winds coming;

and although terrified, she managed to save herself by lying flat on the ground and embracing for dear life anything she could wrap herself around.

“When I hear the heavy breeze (coming), I remember when I used to read books (in which) they said (you) must lie flat on the floor, cause I thought it was a

tornado. I then was looking up to see if anything would fall on me. I saw people roof start coming off and wires start sparking. There was a tree not far from me that uproot!” the excited resident narrated.

The woman said that after the storm had subsided, she rushed home to see if her family members were all

right. Thankfully, she said, neither her home nor those of any of her relatives had been affected by the storm, although power had been disrupted for approximately another 30 minutes.

A senior police officer attached to the Upper Demerara/Berbice division of the GPF confirmed that a freak storm had indeed

A GPL pole that had been fallen by the storm, causing power outage

Linden after the storm

passed through the mining town, and had blown off the zinc sheets of the Divisional Headquarters barracks rooms. He also confirmed that numerous buildings had been damaged and that GPL poles and trees had been uprooted; but he said there had been no reports of anyone being seriously hurt.

A tree uprooted by the storm

Plumber allegedly found with ammo at wake remanded until August 13 TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAROLD Calvin Dover appeared on Friday before Georgetown Magistrate

Fabayo Azore charged with unlawful possession of ammunition in a charge that detailed that he had two

live rounds of 9mm ammunition in his possession when he was not the holder of a firearm licence, on

July 22 in Georgetown.

The prosecution’s facts are that on the day in question, at around 18:00hrs, Dover was arrested pending investigations into an allegation that he had discharged a loaded firearm. He was taken to the Alberttown Police Station, where a search was conducted on his person and two 9mm live rounds of ammunition and one metal police badge were found in his back pants pocket. He was told of the offence committed and was arrested and charged.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, and Attorn e y - a t - l a w M r. A d r i a n Thompson, representing the defendant, told the court that his client was at a wake when there was an explosion, and persons ran away from the scene but his client remained, and he faced a subsequent confrontation about a firearm and whether he was the holder of a licence.

The attorney said the police were called in, and Dover was arrested and taken to the station, where he

had been kept in custody since Tuesday last, although he had been placed on an ID parade but did not fit the description.

Thompson also argued that the information presented in court by Police Prosecutor Adduni Inniss to the effect that Dover was searched at the station is not proper police investigation, since Dover should have been searched at the scene of the crime.

However, Dover was refused bail and will be remanded until August 13.

Murder accused disagrees with statement police allege he had given KENRICK Light (no address given), accused in the Goate Creek, Region 7 murder of Osman Fiedtkou, which allegedly occurred between July 9 and 13, complained to Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, on Thursday last, that he does not agree with particulars of the statement a police rank had written on his behalf.

Light claimed he told

the police that he could neither read nor write, and had asked the police to wait until his lawyer arrived before taking any statement from him, but the officer allegedly told Light that he would write the statement for him.

Light said the rank wrote his own date, and he did not agree with the statement when the rank reread it to him.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant did not detail

the prosecution’s facts to the court, but he asked for a short report date after informing the court that there were two points raised by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) that needed to be clarified.

L i g h t ’s m a t t e r w a s tran sferred from th at Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for July 30, and he was not required to plead to the capital offence.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

15

Eid-ul-Fitr message from the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman (Allah is Great, Allah is Great, and there is no God save Him. Allah is Great, Allah is Great, and all praises are for Him)

EID UL FITR, the greatest festival of Muslims, is being observed by over one and a half billion people worldwide. Every nation has its celebration, and today is our celebration. It is the celebration which marks the end of a month of fasting and sacrifice. It is an occasion for rejoicing and an opportunity for Muslims to gather in joy, as well as in remembrance of those less fortunate. It is a day of graduation for all those who have faithfully observed the commands of God Almighty. It is also an opportunity for all of us to rededicate ourselves, not only to achieving spiritual growth, but also to the cause of peace among all people of the earth. Today, the responsibility is on us as Muslims, to erase the negative stereotype created about Muslims. No Muslim is a weapon of mass destruction nor a person who inspires fear! It is our common challenge and our shared responsibility to create a better world for ourselves and our children.

Fasting is a trial of physical endurance and also a way of developing empathy for the poor and destitute. It is a bridge by which

Muslims can reach out to the needy in all communities. Muslims today represent an increasingly important element in the tapestry of human society. Civilization was made stronger by the core values of Islam, we must not allow anyone, within or without of us to destroy that.

Muslims the world over are also united in their commitment to being an integral part of the human family and building a society rich in diversity and grounded in mutual respect. The world is made stronger by the core values of Islam -- commitment to family, compassion for the disadvantaged, and tolerance for other human beings and groups.

As the appearance of the new moon brings to a close the holy month of Ramadan, we all pray that it will usher in a year of reconciliation and peace. We extend to all Muslims a blessed celebration of the Eid Al-Fitr and peace, health, and prosperity in the year ahead. May peace be with you and your families.

Badruddin Hassan President

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Fun and games at PPP street fair IT was fun, games and entertainment last evening when the People’s Progressive Party held its family fun fair; one of the best summer events for all ages and interest.

The fair saw hundreds gathered with family and friends to enjoy the live entertainment and the best local food. The PPP Street Fair offered wholesome family Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds also graced the event and was seen chatting with patrons and having photo opportunities with them.

As part of the activity,

booths were set up along the way on Robb Street outside Freedom House to offer patrons various services.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) welcomed visitors to their booth. The Guyana Prison Service, in their both, displayed art and crafts made by the inmates.

One of the more popular attractions was the Kiddies Corner, which added excitement to the Street Fair. There were a number of booths with art and craft including jewellery and other trinkets on sale.

Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds chatting with the Head of Government Information Agency (GINA), Neaz Subhan at the PPP Family Fun Fair

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Henna designs being done at one of the booths at the fair

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The Guyana Police Force booth displaying uniforms and the Narcotics Branch (Delano Williams)

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Ms. World Guyana donates finance to Help and Shelter’s fight against domestic violence

By Michel Outridge

REIGNING Miss World Guyana, Rafieya Husain, has presented a cheque to Help and Shelter to assist that charitable organisation in its fight against domestic violence.

In a handing over ceremony arranged on July 24, 2014, Ms. Margaret Kertzious, Coordinator of Help and Shelter, expressed gratitude for Ms. Husain’s donation and said it would help continue Help and Shelter’s efforts at eradicating domestic violence and giving support to victims. Kertzious also said that more young people with the passion of Ms. Husain are needed in this fight.

A press release said Ms. Rafieya Husain, whose platform at the local pageant was ‘Initial Signs of Domestic Violence’, noted that this cause is close to her heart, since she had been a victim of domestic violence herself.

She committed to the coordinator that while the donation may be small, it is only the beginning, as

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Aries - March 21 - April 19 At the moment, you're feeling out of control as far as money is concerned. You want to spend it, but you're afraid you'll overdo. You want to save it, but lately, that's easier said than done. Well, here's a thought: Why not look into taking on a part-time job?

Or think about turning your hobby into a second source of income? More cash coming in will mean more fun when you spend it.

Taurus - April 20 - May 20 You were busy for weeks, and now you've completed what you were working on.

Congratulations are definitely in order, but you know how you get when you have too much time on your hands. If you're starting to feel worried and anxious, but not quite sure what about, this sense of restlessness might be the problem. Sit down and think about it: Is it time for a new project?

Gemini - May 21 - June 21 Telling you not to go overboard is useless. It's like admonishing you not to speak your mind. You'll be on a mission to perfect both those talents today -- excess and bluntness -- so expect to raise a few eyebrows. A few more than usual, that is. Yes, you'll once again have them rolling in the aisles -- that's nothing new. But you may acquire a couple of choice new stories and adventures for your repertoire.

Cancer - June 22 - July 22

Miss World Guyana, Rafieya Husain

she is determined to use this platform to help people understand the seriousness of this social ill.

She also pointed out that she would continue to seek local and international help in the fight against domestic violence.

Ms. Husain is currently in Guyana for a number of outreach programmes as she prepares for the international pageant, set for later this year in London.

Miss World is the largest and longest running international beauty pageant in the

Monday, July 28, 2014 - 05:00 Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - 05:00 Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - 05:00

world. Launched in 1951, it has become one of the world’s most watched annual events, with a viewing audience of over one billion people. It is the only pageant that has a Beauty with a Purpose competition -- the name of a special annual awards programme that singles out and recognises the Miss World contestant who, through charitable works, has shown herself to have made a real difference to needy people in her country.

The Miss World Guyana organisation focuses on raising money for charity and mirroring the role and spirit of Miss World at a national level. Under new directorship since 2013, Miss World Guyana pageantry is held annually to identify young Guyanese women who exemplify beauty, talent, intelligence and compassion.

The organisation aims to create and empower role models who would serve as regional ambassadors, role models, charity representatives; enrich the perception of beauty; and enhance a new strength, energy and spirit for the advancement of women, while positively impacting their communities.

Miss World Guyana is not only the most holistic and aspiring assignment for any young woman to have, but it is also one of the most prestigious titles to achieve as an accomplishment. The winner of Miss World Guyana represents Guyana with over 130 other countries at the annual Miss World finals. Each year Miss World Guyana entrants and finalists raise money for either chosen charities or projects supported through donations to local charities in need of assistance.

After one more day of wishing you could just crawl under a rock and disappear because you just don't want to deal with a certain person's nonsense any longer, you'll be ready to come out. Big time. You'll be so ready to come out you'll be unwilling to hide anything you're feeling. Anything at all. So heaven help anyone who tries to stifle you -- that temper of yours is just waiting to rear its ugly head.

Leo - July 23 - August 22 This is perfect astrological weather for someone like you -- someone who's already adaptable, versatile and perpetually able to see the good in any person or situation.

You'll sail right through the challenges that might come up over the course of the day and be well on your way to a great evening. Be gentle with anyone who isn't quite so fortunate, though, and try to give them some pointers along the way.

Virgo - August 23 - September 22 Be careful not to lose any money today -- and not just in the lottery or the stock market. Quite literally, you'll need to be extra vigilant about not losing your money. Keep a careful eye on your wallet or purse. In fact, keeping your money on your person -- in a safe pocket, for example -- might really be best. Oh, and don't carry too much at one time. Better safe than sorry, right?

Libra - September 23 - October 22 The universe has arranged a gift for you, a little token of appreciation for how wonderful you've been to so many for so long. Your prize is a perfectly peaceful day that's absolutely tailor-made for sharing warm, loving feelings with family and friends. Enjoy it, because you've certainly earned it. Oh, and there may be another little gift on the way. Check out that person across the room -- who's been doing the same to you.

Nice smile, huh?

Scorpio - October 23 - November 21 Last night, you were treated to a sneak preview of what you can expect over the coming week: An awful lot of hurrying up and waiting. These days will be marked by miscommunications, delays, bad directions and just missing whomever or whatever you desperately needed to see. In short, this is definitely what inspired Murphy to pen Murphy's Law. Talk about a good time. Better start practicing that famous patience -- and giving some lessons, too.

Sagittarius - November 22 - December 20 What you could use is a giant dose of spontaneity right about now. Too much planning and organisation can suck all of the fun out of life -- to avoid these contrivances, let go and allow things to flow. Just think about what you want to do today and go about doing it; don't schedule things or get too obsessed with watching the clock.

You have enough discipline in your life right now: You certainly don't need any more -- loosen up.

Capricorn - December 21 - January 19 You may be super focused on the task at hand, but you also know when it's time to take a load off. So after days of drilling away at a project, it's finally done. You may be tired, but you're ready to move on and concentrate on an entirely different subject: The person who's been impatiently waiting for you to finish this latest venture.

Aquarius - January 20 - February 18 Connecting, and reconnecting, is what it's all about for you now. It definitely won't be easy, but if you're up for the challenge of actually meeting the person you've been in contact with via phone or email -- or reuniting with someone you've been separated from for far too long -- then there's really no time like the present. It might take two or three shots, though -- and maybe even more. Be persistent. Once you make the connection, it will all be worth it.

Pisces - February 19 - March 20 Better pencil in some time alone -- not necessarily entirely alone -- but far from the maddening crowds. You need some privacy, and after the day you've had, it's no wonder. Since you've always believed that cleaning can be therapeutic, you might just spend the evening getting a jump on your cleaning schedule. Then, once your place is spic and span, why not invite someone over to see it?

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

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South Africa lose Petersen in stiff run chase … Morkel picks up four in Sri Lanka’s second innings (REUTERS - South Africa lost the wicket of opener Alviro Petersen for a duck as they chased 369 runs for victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Petersen was caught at silly point by Kithuruwan Vithanage as he prodded forward to a length ball from Rangana Herath that turned appreciably to take the edge of his bat.

On a pitch that was assisting the spinners, South Africa were spared further damage when bad light ended play with 21 overs still remaining to be bowled for the day.

Dean Elgar was on 13 and wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, promoted up the order, on 21, as South Africa ended the day on 38 for one wicket.

South Africa, who lead the two-Test series 1-0, require a further 331 runs to win on the final day with nine wickets in hand.

“Sri Lanka have played most of the cricket in this Test match, more credit to them but we are still in the

Dale Steyn takes his 374th Test wicket to go past Waqar Younis on the fourth day of the second Test. and keeping the ball along slot,” South Africa batsman the ground,” he added.

AB de Villiers told reporters.

Kumar Sangakkara “We have the batters said the hosts’ approach in the whole team and we was to win at all costs. are not going to give it up.

“The South Africans We rate ourselves very have played very well both highly and we like to back in the ODI series and in the ourselves to win and finish first Test,” he said. on a high.

“We were bit poor in “By tea time if South Galle and we need to be Africa have wickets in good for tomorrow and hand the possibility would push for a win. Our chancalways be there, said de es are pretty good. It’s a Villiers. tough wicket for the lefties “You’ve got to find a with Rangana (Herath) balance of keeping it positive bowling on to the rough.

“If we can keep the pressure with Dilruwan (Perera) bowling from the other end that would be good,” he said.

Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews completed his second half-century of the match and went past 1 000 runs for the calendar year before declaring at the fall of the eighth wicket on 229.

The right-hander followed his first-innings 63 with a similar knock to remain unbeaten on 63 with two sixes and two fours.

FINAL SESSION Sri Lanka lost two wickets in the final session with Imran Tahir bowling Dilruwan Perera for seven and Morkel claiming his fourth wicket of the innings by having Herath caught by de Villiers for four.

Sangakkara and Mathews led Sri Lanka’s hunt for quick runs with a fourth-wicket partnership of 81.

Sangakkara regis-

tered his 50th Test half-century with an aggressive 72 off 90 balls, including eight fours, before he was dismissed edging Morkel to de Kock.

Morkel picked up his 200th Test wicket when Kithuruwan Vithanage (seven) was caught splendidly by Faf du Plessis at backward point off a top edge.

Niroshan Dickwella (16) fell to Dale Steyn when he top-edged a pull to lob up an easy catch for de Villiers at square leg.

Wicketkeeper Dickwella was earlier fined 10 percent of his match fee and officially reprimanded by the match referee for

SRI LANKA first innings 421 South Africa first innings 282 SRI LANKA second innings (o/n 11-0) U. Tharanga c de Kock b Steyn 30 K. Silva c Philander b Morkel 26 K. Sangakkara c de Kock b Morkel 72 M. Jayawardene c Elgar b Tahir 0 A. Mathews not out 63 K. Vithanage c du Plessis b Morkel 7 N. Dickwella c de Villiers b Steyn 16 D. Perera b Tahir 7 R. Herath c de Villiers b Morkel 4 Extras: (b-1, lb-2, nb-1) 4

claiming a catch on the bounce off de Villiers and celebrating it by throwing the ball in the air on Saturday.

Sri Lanka lost three wickets in the morning session, including that of first-innings centurion Mahela Jayawardene for a duck.

Jayawardene was given out caught off his glove when he attempted to reverse sweep leg-spinner Tahir.

He immediately referred the decision but as there was no conclusive evidence to overturn the umpire’s call, Jayawardene had to go and he trudged off unhappily, certain that the ball had hit his arm guard.

Total: (eight wkts decl.

53.4 overs) 229 Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-82, 3-83, 4-164, 5-173, 6-203, 7-214, 8-229.

Bowling: Steyn 13-1-59-2, Philander 11-3-35-0, Tahir 18-0-762 (nb-1), Morkel 9.4-1-45-4, Elgar 1-0-9-0, Duminy 1-0-2-0.

SOUTH AFRICA second innings A. Petersen c Vithanage b Herath 0 D. Elgar not out 13 Q de Kock not out 21 Extras (lb-4) 4 Total (one wicket; 17 overs) 38 Fall of wicket: 1-4 Bowling (to date): Herath 8-5-7-1, Perera 6-1-24-0, Mendis 3-2-3-0.

GABF issues Cook 95 and Ballance century put England in control suspensions of ...

By Liam Morgan

SOUTHAMPTON, England - (Reuters) - Under-fire captain Alastair Cook at last found his form but fell for 95 as he and century-maker Gary Ballance put England in control at the end of the first day of the third Test against India yesterday.

Ballance was unbeaten on 104, which included 15 fours, and beleaguered captain Cook silenced his critics for now with a battling innings as England reached an imposing 247-2 at the close.

Ian Bell (16) and Ballance safely negotiated the new ball to ensure both will resume today.

Cook, in dreadful recent form which has led to calls from former England captains Michael Vaughan, Geoffrey Boycott, Mike Atherton and Kevin Pietersen for him to resign the captaincy, had a huge slice of luck on 15 when he was dropped by Ravindra Jadeja at slip.

He survived to add 158

Gary Ballance goes through to his third Test century on the first day at the Ageas Bowl. with Ballance, who joined an elite group of players with his third century in five Tests for England.

Cook batted with few alarms and was looking good for his 26th Test century, when he feathered a faint edge down the leg side off Jadeja and was caught

by Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps.

He did, however, reach a personal landmark as he overtook David Gower and

moved into third place in the list of England’s all-time leading Test run-scorers, on 8 257. Graham Gooch leads the list with 8 900 from Alec Stewart on 8 463.

Cook made the brave call to bat after winning the toss and despite a hint of movement for the seamers, they lost only Sam Robson for 26 to Mohammed Shami before lunch.

The afternoon session belonged to England, al-

though India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar and debutant Pankaj Singh began to find their length with much greater consistency.

Ballance survived a close caught behind call and several deliveries whistled just past the outside edge, before he and Cook reached tea with an unbroken partnership of 131.

Ballance had upped the scoring rate and he reached his century with a perfectly-timed boundary.

He was well backed

by Bell, who himself was fortunate to still be there at the close following a close leg-before shout off Singh.

India, who lead the fivematch series 1-0, made two changes from their victory at Lord’s as Singh replaced the injured Ishant Sharma and Rohit Sharma came in for Stuart Binny.

England themselves opted for three changes as Jos Buttler took the place of Matt Prior, Chris Jordan replaced Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes was preferred to Liam Plunkett.

From Backpage in good condition or the GABF is compensated for the uniforms. Failure to return the uniforms by February 1, 2015 results in an additional fine of $70 000 being reimbursement for the uniforms,” the GABF said.

Female National player Necosia Mitchell also found herself in some hot water for

making false statements to coach Ann Gordon, who the GABF feels impacted the composition of the women’s national team.

A source close to the situation said that Mitchell was knowingly pregnant but failed to make such findings known to the GABF and as such, a six-month ban was instituted, effective from July 28.

Vincenzo Nibali seals ...

From Backpage

for photographs with race officials.

The pace finally quickened as the peloton reached the outskirts of Paris for eight laps of a seven-kilometre route that had earlier been used for the women's La Course, which was won by Dutch world champion Marianne Vos. France's Sylvain Chavanel was the first rider to attack on the Champs-Elysees

on the opening lap in Paris, while Germany's Jens Voigt was allowed to race clear on the second lap, in recognition of it being the 42-yearold's 17th and final Tour.

There was a slight scare for Peraud, who crashed on the third of the eight circuits of Paris, but Nibali, as Tour etiquette dictates, told the peloton to slow down to allow the Frenchman to rejoin the main bunch.

(BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Australia, Kenya strike marathon gold on streets of Glasgow

By Sam Holden GLASGOW, Scotland (Reuters) - Australian Michael Shelley and Kenya’s Flomena Cheyech Daniel took gold in the men’s and women’s marathons as the Commonwealth Games took to the streets of Glasgow yesterday.

Shelley, who won silver four years ago in Delhi, became the first Australian to win the Games marathon for 20 years and the first to claim consecutive medals

Kenya’s Flomena Cheyech Daniel crosses the finish line to win the women’s marathon gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday.

(Credit: Reuters/Russell Cheyne)

in the event since Steve Moneghetti in 1990 and 1994.

K e n y a ’s S t e p h e n Chemlany clinched silver and Abraham Kiplimo of Uganda took bronze - both winning the first medals for their countries in Glasgow.

It was also Uganda’s first Games medal ever in the men’s marathon.

More Kenyan medals followed soon afterwards when Daniel capped an excellent performance to win

gold ahead of compatriot Caroline Kilel.

Australia Jess Trengove added to her country’s burgeoning medal tally when she crossed the line for bronze to cheers from a large crowd on a drizzly day in Scotland.

“I’ve got to pinch myself, it is very exciting,” Shelley told reporters.

“To come back and actually win is indescribable. Now I have had a bit more experience, to come

away with my first win is indescribable.

“You just try to run the best you possibly can and it was a dream, to be honest.

I’m still buzzing, I can’t believe it. It probably wasn’t until a kilometre out that I got a bit of a feeling.

“I just kept pushing on. My main idea was to stay relaxed and I was always there in the lead group. At 35 kilometres there was a surge. I just had to stay strong and it paid off.”

Ricciardo wins dramatic Hungarian GP

By Alan Baldwin BUDAPEST, Hungary (Reuters) - Red Bull’s Australian Daniel Ricciardo won a dramatic Hungarian Grand Prix yesterday while Lewis Hamilton stunned championship-leading Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg with the drive of the day from pit lane to podium.

F e r r a r i ’s F e r n a n d o Alonso took a fighting second and Rosberg, who had started on pole position looking like a runaway winner, finished fourth and saw his 14-point lead over Hamilton trimmed to 11.

The German was caught out by two safety car interventions that turned the race on its head - and also by Hamilton refusing to give anything away despite being asked controversially to let him through.

With eight races to go, and double points for the last in Abu Dhabi, Rosberg has 202 points to Hamilton’s 191. Mercedes have a 174-point lead over champions Red Bull in the con-

structors’ standings.

Ricciardo, a revelation in his first year at Red Bull, bellowed in elation after he took the chequered flag 5.2 seconds ahead of Alonso for his second win of the season and his career.

“It feels as good as the first, it really does,” beamed the Australian, who was triumphant in Canada in June, after a rollercoaster of a race packed with incident.

“The safety car at the beginning played to our advantage ... when the second one came out it didn’t really help us, but we managed to pull it off at the end.”

All of the top four had led over the course of a race that started after a brief downpour, was interrupted by two big crashes, continued with the ever-present threat of rain and finished on a knife-edge.

Just 6.3 seconds separated the top four, with Hamilton crossing the line just half a second clear of Rosberg.

TYRE GAMBLE Ricciardo, who had led earlier in the race and was on fresher tyres, swept past Hamilton three laps from

Winner Red Bull Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo a podium finish that had the end and then overtook a looked improbable on Satdetermined Alonso to regain urday, but he was unhappy the lead for good. with his team for asking “We took a gamble. We him to let Rosberg through risked today just trying to with a third of the race get the victory and we went remaining. very close,” said Alonso of The German had yet to his second podium finish of make his final stop, wherethe season. as Hamilton had done his “We need some crazy final tyre change already races to get some podiums and knew Rosberg was sure and today we took the op- to come back at him with portunity.” a vengeance in the closing Behind them, Rosberg stages.

- who made three stops to “I’m not letting him pass Alonso and Hamilton’s two - me, if he gets close enough was closing in remorselessly to overtake he can overtake,” and was all over the back of Hamilton had said over the his team mate’s car as they radio. started the final lap.

In the end Rosberg did Hamilton hung on for not get close enough to pass

and eventually pitted.

“Just because he had one more stop than me doesn’t mean I am not in the same race,” Hamilton told reporters later. “I was very, very shocked that the team would ask me to do that.

“But to be honest he didn’t get close enough to overtake. I was never going to lift off and lose ground to Fernando or Daniel to enable him to have a better race.”

Hamilton, who had won for the last two years in Hungary and was chasing a record fifth win in the country, had finished third in Germany last weekend after starting 20th and he said he was pushing as hard as he could to see where he ended up.

The Briton started from the pit lane, behind Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen whose McLaren was also moved off the grid, after his car caught fire in qualifying without completing a lap.

He spun at the second corner, skimming the wall with his front wing, and was 21 seconds down on Rosberg after the first lap with a

mountain to climb.

By lap seven Hamilton was up to 14th and events played into his hands when the safety car was deployed after Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson crashed his Caterham at turn three.

While the top four decided not to pit, in what proved out to be a game changer, Hamilton and others did.

Ricciardo then took the lead when they came in a lap later.

Frenchman Romain Grosjean kept the safety car out for four more laps when he crashed his Lotus on lap 11 and there was a further interruption on lap 23 when Force India’s Mexican Sergio Perez speared into the wall on the pit straight.

Brazilian Felipe Massa was fifth for Williams while Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen raced from 15th to sixth and his highest finish of a disappointing season so far.

Quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who spun and was lucky not to emulate Perez in crashing into the wall, was seventh after starting on the front row.

ICC urges respect for judicial process THE International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday urged all relevant parties to respect the judicial process in relation to the alleged incident that took place during the first Test at Trent Bridge which has resulted in charges being brought against England’s James Anderson and In-

dia’s Ravindra Jadeja.

In a statement, ICC chief executive David Richardson said: “England captain Alastair Cook and, more recently, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni have made public comments relating to the alleged incident that took place during the first Test at Trent Bridge,

the latter of which is critical of and undermines the ICC disciplinary process.

“The ICC would also like to reiterate its full support of the process followed and respect for the decision made by David Boon.

ICC Code of Conduct hearings of this nature are, generally speaking, difficult

processes to work through, with detailed legal submissions, witness statements and oral witness testimony.

We are satisfied that Mr Boon carefully and comprehensively considered the evidence and submissions presented to him at the hearing, which included conflicting evidence from

both sides, prior to making his decision.

“In legal matters such as this, the ICC takes extremely seriously its duty as administrators of the game. Therefore, I request all stakeholders to respect the process which remains ongoing and remind them of their duties to the integrity of the process

and the sport so that we can focus on the game of cricket itself.”

The hearing of England bowler James Anderson will be held on Friday August 1 in Southampton and will be conducted by the Judicial Commissioner, His Honour Gordon Lewis AM.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

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Hetmyer and Sankar propel Guyana to commanding position

By Calvin Roberts

INDEBTED to a solid maiden ton in this format from West Indies Under-19 opener Shimron Hetmyer, backed by control spin bowling from Steven Sankar, host Guyana were large and in charge at the end of the penultimate day of their second round West Indies Cricket Board Regional Undert-19 three day fixture against Windward Islands at the Everest Cricket Club ground yesterday.

Resuming the day on 44 without loss in response to the visitors’ 139, Guyana were bowled out for 243

after being 121 for 1, with Hetmyer stroking 13 fours and four sixes in his 125, receiving support from Ashkay Homraj 40 and Tagenarine Chanderpaul 24.

Dorian Edward took 3 for 42, while Gidron Pope and Deron Hypolite took 2 wickets each for 26 and 67 runs respectively for the Windwards, who in their second knock at the crease close play on 79 for 4, after facing a deficit of 104 runs, with Roland Cato on 15 and Anson Latchman 12.

This was after they lost Pope, caught at the wicket

by Kemol Savory from the second ball of their innings off the bolwing of Kemo

Regional Under-19 Guyana Under-19s vs Windward Islands Under-19s W I N D WA R D S U N D E R - 1 9 s 1 s t Innings 139 GUYANA UNDER-19s 1st Innings (overnight 44 without loss) S. Hetmyer c Jno-Lewis b Edward 125 T. Chanderpaul c Cato b Edward 24 *B. Sattaur c Cato b Hypolite 0 B. Baldeo lbw b Edward 7 K. Paul run out 1 S. Ramcharran b Hypolite 9 A. Homraj c and b Pope 40 +K. Savory c Pope b Lewis 15 D. Waldron not out 11 S. Sankar lbw b Pope 3 N. Smith b Phillip 1 Extras (lb4, w1, nb2) 7 TOTAL (all out, 67.5 overs) 243 Fall of wickets: 1-108, 2-121, 3-155, 4-159, 5-159, 6-188, 7-219, 8-233, 9-242 Bowling: Lewis 12-2-47-1, Phillip 8.50-36-1, John 6-3-21-0, Hypolite 17-267-2, Pope12-2-26-2, Edward 12-3-42-3 WINDWARDS UNDER-19s 2nd Innings G. Pope c wkpr Savory b Paul 0 M. Gordon lbw b Ramcharran 17 T. Simon c Baldeo b Sankar 21 K. Jno-Lewis c Baldeo b Sankar 10 *R. Cato not out 15 +A. Latchman not out 12 Extras (b2, nb2) 4 TOTAL (4 wkts, 35 overs) 79 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-29, 3-48, 4-48 Bowling: Paul 4-1-14-1, Baldeo 6-2-190, Ramcharran 9-3-13-1, Sankar 11-322-2, Waldron 4-2-5-0, Chanderpaul 1-0-4-0 Position: Windwards Under-19s trail by 25 runs with six second innings wickets standing Points-to-date: Guyana Under-19s 6.2, Windwards Under-19s 4.1 Barbados Under-19s vs Trinidad & Tobago Under-19s T&T UNDER-19s 1st Innings 199 BARBADOS UNDER-19s 1st Innings (overnight 21 for four) L. Gaskin c Roopnarine b Phillip 0 D. Wilson b Joseph 0 A. Greenidge lbw b Joseph 0 *J. Drakes c Phillip b Seetal 13 J. Toppin b Phillips 4 +L. Boucher c wkpr Christmas b Roopnarine 28 S. Springer lbw b Roopnarine 23 M. Jones not out 81 C. Williams c wkpr Christmas b Jadoo 17 K. Harding c Jaggernauth b Roopnarine 5 N. Persaud c Phillip b Roopnarine 10 Extras (lb4) 4 TOTAL (all out, 66.4 overs) 185 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-5, 5-27, 6-69, 7-80, 8-120, 9-137 Bowling: Phillips 7-3-12-2, Joseph 21-9-30-2, Roopnarine 15.4-2-64-4, Jadoo15-3-46-1, Seetal 8-1-29-1

T&T UNDER-19s 2nd Innings 199 A. Jangoo not out 44 *J. Solozano lbw b Springer 0 +B. Christmas not out 30 Extras (lb2, w1) 3 TOTAL (1 wkt, 40 overs) 77 Fall of wickets: 1-0 Bowling: Harding 6-1-20-0, Springer 6-0-20-1, Jones 2-0-4-0, Williams 15-723-0, Persaud 11-7-8-0 Position: T&T Under-19s lead by 91 with nine second innings wickets standing Points-to-date: Barbados Under-19s 5.4, T&T Under-19s 5.3 Umpires: D. Butler, S. Crawford Match referee: R. King

Jamaica Under-19s vs Leeward Islands Under-19s (AT THE DEMERARA CRICKET CLUB) JAMAICA UNDER-19s 1st Innings 117 LEEWARDS UNDER-19s 1st Innings (overnight five without loss) D. Weste c wkpr Morris b Smith 2 R. Powell c McCatty b Lewis 22 K. Carty c (sub) b Lewis 40 S. Martina b Burnett 0 S. Williams c Thomas b Walters 8 +J. Clarke run out 22 M. Wadwha c wkpr Morris b Smith 2 *J. Louis not out 17 A. Joseph b Mansingh 0 C. Archibald run out 2 T. Bussue c Lewis b Mansingh 2 Extras (b1, lb3, w1, nb3) 8 TOTAL (all out, 53.4 overs) 123 Fall of wickets: 5, 51, 58, 78, 78, 92, 115, 115, 117 Bowling: Smith 13-2-34-2, Thomas 4-0-10-0, Lewis 25-11-32-2, Walters 7-4-8-1, Burnett 11-2-30-1, Mansingh 3.4-1-5-2 JAMAICA 2nd Innings O. McCatty b Louis 12 *R. Lewis c wkpr Clarke b Joseph 0 R. Francis b Joseph 0 M. Parchment lbw b Joseph 8 R. Morris c wkpr Clarke b Joseph 5 A. Mansingh lbw b Martina 28 N. Walters lbw b Archibald 15 R. Burnett not out 15 O. Smith b Martina 0 L. Lugg not out 0 Extras (b8, lb2, w1, nb3) 14 TOTAL (8 wkts, 31 overs) 97 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-2, 3-24, 4-28, 5-48, 6-74, 7-89, 8-93 Bowling: Joseph 7-0-38-4, Louis 7-126-1, Archibald 4-2-5-1, Wadwha 7-113-0, Martina 5-2-5-2 Position: Jamaica Under-19s lead by 91 runs with two second innings wickets standing Points-to-date: Leewards Under-19s 5.1, Jamaica Under-19s 3.2

Shimron Hetmyer hit 13 four and a six in his 125 Paul, while Sankar made a double strike in the 20th over, removing Kersakie Jno-Lewis and Tonis Simon, to catches taken by Balchand Baldeo at long on off successive deliveries.

Earlier in the day, Hetmyer and Chanderpaul pushed their first wicket partnership to 108, with

the former posting his half century from 71balls while batting for 82 minutes and hitting six fours, posting Guyana’s 100 from 22 overs, with Chanderpaul on 20 and Hetmyer 75.

However, after stroking Edward gloriously to the long off boundary for his fourth four, Chanderpaul offered Cato a catch low down to his right at slip which he gleefully accepted to break the partnership with the second hour of the day’s play.

His 24 was scored off 50 balls and 110 minutes batting in which he struck four fours, while Guyana slipped to 159 for 5 shortly after, but not before Hetmyer got his maiden Regional Under-19 three day ton.

He faced 109 balls while batting for 127 minutes and struck 13 fours and one six,

opening up his shoulders after reaching the landmark to hit three more sixes, before he was dismissed along with Brian Sattaur (00), Paul (01) and Baldeo 07.

At lunch, Guyana were 161 for 5 with Homraj on 2 and Shiraz Ramcharran yet to score and after the break, Homraj who got his maiden ton against the same opponents in last year’s tournament, punched Edward through point for four, suggesting permanence to his teammates.

Ramcharran was bowled behind his back sweeping to Hypolite for 9, enabling Savory to join forces with Homraj and add 31 for the seventh wicket, but Pope wasted little or no time in wrapping up the home team’s innings, removing Homraj

whose 40 took 58 balls to aggregate from 69 minutes at the wicket in which he struck four fours.

The Windwards began their second innings after the tea break and saw Pope, edging the second delivery off Paul to Savory, before Melvin Gordon, fought back with back to back fours off Baldeo in the second over, a feat that was emulated by Simon who did the same to Paul.

Ramcharran trapped Gordon lbw at 29 and when Sankar removed Jno-Lewis and Simon in that order at 48 for 4, the visitors were wobbling, but Cato and Latchman took them to safety at the close of play, while they need 25 more runs on a wicket that is offering assistance to the spinners on today’s final day.

Jangoo, Christmas extend T&T’s advantage over Barbados GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) – An unbroken half-century stand between Amir Jangoo and Brian Christmas forged Trinidad & Tobago further ahead, after a career-best half-century from Matthew Jones failed to ignite Barbados’ batting in the Regional Under-19 Championship here yesterday.

Opener Jangoo was not out on 44 and wicketkeeper/ batsman Christmas, unbeaten on 30, as T&T reached 77 for one in their second innings at the close on the second day of their second round match at the Guyana National Stadium for an overall lead of 91.

The two left-handers batted resolutely and have shared 77 so far for the second wicket, after their captain Jeremy Solozano, another southpaw and a West Indies Under-19 batsman, was lbw to Shamar Springer for a duck in the

Matthew Jones second over of the innings about 25 minutes before tea.

Jangoo has collected half-dozen fours from 106 balls in 155 minutes of batting and Christmas just one one boundary from 131 balls in close to 2-½ hours at the crease.

Earlier, left-hander Jones, batting at eight, was unbeaten on the top score of 81, as the Barbadians were bowled out for 185 in their first innings about 40 minutes before tea, conceding a lead of 14.

Starting the day on 21 for four, Barbados slumped

to 80 for seven within the first hour of play before Jones led a rearguard action to bring some respectability to his side’s feeble batting and anemic total.

Jones swung a delivery from Tevin Jadoo to wide longon for four to reach his 50 from 66 balls and hit the ball crisply throughout his near 2-½-hour stay in the middle.

He added a valuable 40 for the eighth wicket with vice captain Chad Williams and further frustrated T&T in a last-wicket stand of 48 with Neil Persaud.

Off-spinner Samuel Roopnarine was the most successful T&T bowler with four for 64 from 15.4 overs, Justin Joseph ended with two for 30 from 21 overs of left-arm spin and fast bowler Anderson Phillip grabbed two for 12 from seven overs.

The Barbadians suffered a setback in the second over

of the day, when their captain Joshua Drakes was caught at slip off Akil Seetal for 13.

About 40 minutes later, Leniko Boucher, with whom Drakes added 42 for the fifth wicket, was caught behind for 28 driving loosely at Roopnarine before Springer was lbw to the same bowler for 23.

Williams came to the crease and batted through all but the last four balls of the remainder of the morning period before he was caught behind down the leg-side from a top-edged sweep for 17.

Barbados were 120 for eight at lunch and lost Keon Harding soon after the resumption, when he was caught at deep mid-wicket off Roopnarine for five before Persaud joined Jones and made T&T work for the final wicket.

Roopnarine brought the fun to an end, when he had Persaud caught at mid-on from an ambitious drive for 10.

Joseph spell leaves Jamaica in trouble GEORGETOWN, Guyana, , (CMC) – An incisive spell from promising fast bowler Alzarri Joseph rocked Jamaica and put Leeward Islands in a strong position to win their second round Regional Under-19 Championship contest here yesterday.

The right-armer sliced through Jamaica’s top order with a haul of four for 38, leaving them on 97

for eight in their second innings at the close of the second day at the Demerara Cricket Club.

Jamaica lead by just 91 runs heading into today’s final day and face a tall order if they are to avoid defeat.

Joseph, who has already played for West Indies Under-19s, knocked over four of the first five batsmen to fall as Jamaica slumped to 48 for five.

Abijai Mansingh then propped up the innings with a top score of 28, putting on 26 for the sixth wicket with vice-captain Nicholas Walters who got 15.

Off-spinner Shaquille Martina, who finished with two for five, got the breakthrough when he prised out Mansingh and he then struck again to leave the Jamaicans reeling.

Earlier, the Leewards

were dismissed for 123, to take a first innings lead of six runs.

Resuming at five without loss, the Leewards got atop score of 40 from Kacey Karty and 22 from Ross Powell and Jeremiah Louis.

Mansingh (2-5), Ramaal Lewis (2-32) and Odean Smith (2-34), all finished with two wickets apiece.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

Jamaica grab podium finishes but T&T suffer disappointment EUGENE, Oregon (CMC) – Jamaica snatched silver in the women’s sprint relay while their men were forced to settle for silver, on the penultimate day of the IAAF World Junior Championships here Saturday night.

The team of Sasha Forbes, Kedisha Dallas, Saqukine Cameron and Natalliah Whyte clocked a season-best 43.97 seconds to finish second behind the United States who took gold in a junior world-leading 43.46 seconds at Hayward Field.

Germany copped bronze in a season-best 44.65.

For Jamaica, it was their first medal in a women’s event at the current Games, and Dallas said the performance had come as a result of a big

Trentavis Friday leads the US to victory as Jevaughn Minzie trails in third. (Photo courtesy IAAF)

Jaden Samuels table tennis

By Jadon Samuels NIGEL Bryan contemplates stepping down from competitive Tennis-says GTTA boss must go now or there will be no growth and I will not play unless this is being sorted out.

Guyana’s most decorated table tennis player Nigel Bryan is presently contemplating quitting competitive tennis after many years of hard work; plenty of success, but remains at a standstill after the administration continues to put favouritism and friends first.

Bryan during an interview with chronicle yesterday mentioned that it

Nigel Bryan hurts to be the best and not be selected especially for this year’s Commonwealth Games currently ongoing in Scotland, Moscow.

When asked why he think he was not selected for the games, Bryan mentioned

CRICKETQUIZ CORNER

(Monday July 28, 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 Tuesday’s quiz: (1)Kieron Pollard (61) (2)Andre Russell (16) Today’s Quiz: How many ‘ducks’ were made in LCPL 2013?

Who was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ at the end of LCPL 2013?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

that president of the GTTA Godfrey Monroe has chosen his friends full stop, and is calling for the Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony to look into the matter since this is not the first time Monroe is cheating the system.

Nigel Bryan’s performance on the local Table Tennis scene and overseas surpasses that of some of the players chosen for the team. He recently defeated Shemar Britton at the Goodwill Games in Suriname back in march this year and also at the 2014 Independence Tournament.

He emerged as the Men’s Open Champion at the Goodwill Games where he competed against players from Suriname and French Guiana.

Bryan mentioned too that apart from the records showing a better reading than that of Idi Lewis and Christopher Franklyn, these two have not played competitive tennis for the past two years, whereas Bryan started training for the games since January of this year.

The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) had named Christopher Franklin, Paul David, Shemar Britton, Idi Lewis on the Men’s Team and Trenace Lowe, Chelsea Edghill, Nathalie Cummings and Jody-Ann Blake on the Female Team. Godfrey Monroe has also attended the games as manager/coach.

team effort.

“It was all about executing it right, getting the baton around. We worked great together as a team,” she said.

Cameron, who ran the third leg, added: “Once I had the baton in my hand it was just about running hard and making sure nothing goes wrong with the pass.”

The U.S were out front from the first exchange thanks to Teahna Daniels and though Jamaica chased, they failed to do enough to overhaul the Americans.

“I’m the anchor, so I only have one hand-off,” Whyte said. “I just took the baton and ran as fast as I could on the homestretch.

Team Jamaica thumbs up.”

Trinidad and Tobago finished quickly in 44.75 to claim fourth spot, narrowly failing to rein in the Germans.

In the men’s equivalent, Jamaica experienced their

worst finish at a World Junior Games in 12 years, after taking either silver or gold at previous events since 2002.

Jevaughn Minzie ran a great final leg to almost overtake Japan for the silver medal, but had to settle for bronze in the end in 39.12 seconds, a season-best.

United States won gold in a junior world-leading 38.70 seconds while the Japanese clocked a season-best 39.02.

Raheem Robinson, who led off the team that included Michael O’Hara, Edward Clarke, said there was no disappointment in the camp.

“I just came out here to represent my country. I got a good, fast start and it was a good race for our country,” he said.

“Being here has been great. We’ve had a lot of fun and enjoyed ourselves and got the job done at the

same time. We’ve dreamt about this since we were kids. It’s a dream come true.”

Clarke, who ran the third leg, agreed: “It feels good to be following in a strong Jamaican tradition. We’re trying to set up some stepping stones for ourselves and our country.”

There was disappointment for T&T, however, as they finished sixth in a season-best time of 39.92 seconds.

The Games ended yesterday with Jamaica and the Bahamas contesting the final of the men’s distance relay and Jamaica doing battle in the women’s equivalent.

Barbadian Akela Jones, who won gold in the long jump, will go in search of her second medal when she lines up in the high jump along with Kirsta-Gay Taylor of Jamaica.

Wellman X1 beat Dan X1 in softball encounter WINNING the toss and batting first in front of a small but vocal crowd Wellman XI reached 110 in their 15 overs which eventually proved too much for the Dan XI who reached only 107 in reply.

Batting for the winning team, Samuel Kingston led from the front with a wellplayed 43 and was supported by O. Batson who also

played well for his 32. The pick of the bowlers for the Wellman side was O. Gregg, who took three wickets for 32 runs.

In response B. Lall batted well for his 42 and O Gregg, also contributed 36 but that was not enough to save their side from a two-run defeat.

Mahesh Chunilall was the bowler with the most wickets taking 3-38.

T h e t w o - d a y t o u rnament was in honour of former softball player Royston Ramsarran.

However, it was restricted to just one game after mechanical problems with the lights forced the postponement of the remaining matches which were scheduled for Saturday evening at the Banks DIH ground.

Lakeram Singh of Mike’s Pharmacy collects the winning trophy from Janice Ramsarran of Dan X1 last evening. (Photo by Delano Williams)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 28, 2014

31

Audacious Lewis crushes luckless St. Lucia Zouks PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Evin Lewis stroked his second cameo half-century in as many days, as Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel steamrolled St Lucia Zouks with minimum fuss, to post their fourth game on the trot in the Caribbean Premier League here yetserday.

Chasing an uncomplicated 137 for victory at Queen’s Park Oval, Red Steel raced to their target in the 15 th over, to complete an easy nine-wicket triumph and their fifth of the competition.

The left-handed Lewis followed up his 72 against Jamaica Tallawahs on Friday with an equally electrifying top score of 77 from a mere 45 balls, as he put on an up tempo 129 for the first wicket with Irishman Kevin O’Brien who finished unbeaten on 55.

Lewis smashed 12 fours and two sixes to decimate the docile Zouks attack and by the time he top-edged a pull at off-spinner Shane Shillingford to Johnson Charles at mid-wicket in the 14th over, Red Steel’s victory had been assured.

O’Brien played second fiddle but was by no means any less effective, cracking three fours and three sixes in his 44-ball innings.

It was he who took Red Steel over the line, lifting left-arm spinner Garey Mathurin over mid-wicket for a couple.

The victory put Red Steel top of the standings on ten points, two clear of Guyana Amazon Warriors on eight points, and Tallawahs and Barbados Tridents on six.

Zouks, meanwhile, remained winless and rooted to the bottom of the table

bowled for four after missing a heave two overs later.

Van der Merwe struck two fours and a six and looked to be leading a revival when he picked out Badree at third man with a loose shot to an ordinary delivery from seamer Javon Searles in the ninth over, leaving Zouks on 52 or three.

Evin lewis was in destructive mood again. without a point from four outings. Antigua Hawksbills, also winless, are above them only on net run rate.

Opting to bat first, Zouks struggled from the outset and stuttered to 136 for nine from their 20 overs.

Captain Darren Sammy top-scored with an unbeaten 46 from 35 balls, with a four and four sixes, while South African Roelof van der Merwe got 21 and Keddy Lesporis 20.

Leg-spinner Samuel Badree, charged as usual with bowling the new ball, delivered a splendid spell of two for 13 from his four overs that strangled the Zouks’ scoring.

His four overs came on the trot and accounted for both openers – Johnson Charles stumped for 15 after charging and missing a googly in the fourth over and Andre Fletcher,

PMCC, MCYS to coordinate one-week camp from today THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) in collaboration with the Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) will be hosting a one-week summer camp commencing today at 09:00hrs, at the Club’s ground.

Included in the camp is a one-hour Cricketing Skills session. Etiquette, Grooming, Public Speaking, Fire Prevention Tips, Devel-

opment Value of Youth in Guyana and Respect for the Elderly among other topics are also on the programme.

Youths between the ages on 15 to 25 are the ones being targeted, and according to a report coming out from the club, approximately 60 participants are expected. Certificates will be awarded along with trophies for outstanding performances.

The over from Searles, his first, leaked 14 runs, however, as Lesporis crunched back-to-back leg-side sixes. His fireworks were also short-lived as he played on to medium pacer Dwayne Bravo in the next over.

It was then left to Sammy to rally the innings, punishing speedster Fidel Edwards

with two giant sixes in the penultimate over that went for 18 runs.

The real fireworks though were the remit of Lewis. He announced his intentions by taking three fours from left-armer Sohail Tanvir’s second over, the third of the innings, before destroying Sammy in the

seamer’s opening over, carting him for two fours and two sixes in the innings’ fifth over that cost 20 runs.

He reached his half-century from 23 balls and then survived a chance to Mervin Matthew at third man off pacer Ray Jordan when 56, to strike a few more lusty blows.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Audacious Lewis crushes luckless St. Lucia See Story on Page 31 Zouks

GABF issues suspensions of national players

By Rawle Toney THE Guyana Basketball Amateur Federation (GABF) yesterday issued a release, suspending and fining 12 members of its Men’s national team and a lone female player after a questionable executive meeting which was held on Thursday, July 26 at Cara Lodge.

According to the GABF release, “after the Financial Report was presented on the funding and expenditures related to the 2014 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships held in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI); the other significant item considered on the agenda was the off-court misconduct of senior basketball players during CBC Championships.”

Among the executives who deliberated on the appropriate sanctions to be taken against the players were president Nigel

Rawle Marshall Hinds, vice-presidents Michael Singh, Kenrick Thomas and Haslyn Graham.

The release states that reports were also received from the men’s team manager Junior Hercules and head coach Mark Agard.

However, the legality of Singh’s portfolio as vice-president is highly questionable, given the fact that on Tuesday July 8, Singh had tendered his resignation from all aspects of basketball. Singh was also the president of the Georgetown Amateur

Basketball Association (GABA).

Moreover, the players did not face a disciplinary committee as stated in the GABF constitution.

Nonetheless, the GABF said that the fines were unanimously agreed upon and the cause for disciplinary action was due to the refusal of the players to return team uniforms and warm-up suits when requested. The suspensions and fines are in effect from July 28, 2014 and will be

Dwayne Roberts in effect until the fines are fully paid; uniforms are returned in good condition to the GABF and/or the

Andrew Ifill suspension period expires.

Despite having returned all uniforms and warm-up kit, Shelroy Thomas, Akeem Kanhai and Ray Victor were each fined $20 000 and will not be allowed to participate in any tournament, clinic, or tour held or approved by the GABF or its members until the fines are fully paid.

Ravens point guard Ryan Stephney, who returned all the GABF gear except the white uniforms, was fined $30 000.

The GABF release reveals that Stephney will not

be allowed to participate in any tournament, clinic, or tour held or approved by the GABF or its members until the fine is fully paid and the uniforms returned to the GABF in good condition or the GABF is compensated for the uniforms. Failure to return the uniform by February 1, 2015 will result in an additional fine of $25 000 being reimbursement for the uniforms.

Amelia’s Ward Jets’ Shane Webster, Ravens’ Ryan Gullen and overseas-based players Andre De Florimonte, Keron McKenzie and Gordon Klaiber were listed as players who refused to return any of the uniforms and were fined $40 000 each.

“These players will not be allowed to participate in any tournament, clinic, or tour held or approved by the GABF or its members until the fine is fully paid and the uniforms are returned to the GABF in good condition or the

GABF is compensated for the uniforms. Failure to return the uniforms by February 1, 2015 results in an additional fine of $70 000 being reimbursement for the uniforms,” said the GABF. Meanwhile, the GABF said that former Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers shooting guard Rawle Marshall who was also the team captain; along with Andrew Ifill and Dwayne Roberts played leading roles in usurping the authority of management and refused to return any uniforms.

“These players were each suspended for one year and each fined $80 000. They will not be allowed to participate in any tournament, clinic, or tour held or approved by the GABF or its members until the fine is fully paid and the uniforms are returned to the GABF

See Page 27

Vincenzo Nibali seals Tour de France win

VINCENZO Nibali won the 101st edition of the Tour de France as he finished the final stage on the Champs-Elysees in Paris safely in the peloton.

The Italian is the sixth man to win all three Grand Tours - the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

His winning margin of seven minutes 37 seconds over Jean-Christophe Peraud in second is the biggest since Jan Ullrich won by more than nine minutes in 1997.

Germany's Marcel Kittel won yesterday's traditional final-stage sprint finish.

The Giant-Shimano rider outsprinted Norway's Alexander Kristoff to win his fourth stage of this year's Tour, with Garmin-Sharp's Lithuanian Ramunas Navardauskas in third.

For Nibali, the 21st and

After 21 stages, Nibali celebrates victory on the Paris podium in the race winner's yellow jersey. ner of the race since Marco final stage was all about rider dominated the Tour Pantani in 1998 "It's very difficult to reaching the finish safely be- from the moment he took cause Tour tradition dictates the race lead on stage two in make a comparison between that the leader going into Sheffield and wore the race Pantani's victory and my the final stage should not be leader's yellow jersey for 18 victory, because Marco won his in the last week, two days challenged. of the race's 21 days.

The 29-year-old Astana He is the first Italian win- before the end," the Sicilian

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said.

"For me it's the contrary - I had the yellow jersey on my back after two days.

"After winning the Vuelta, the Giro and the Tour, I'll keep focusing on Grand Tours but I'd also like to crown it all with a world champion's rainbow jersey one year."

He added: "The Vuelta was perhaps the most important competition because it gave me the strength to go into the Giro and the Tour in the following year.

"The Giro was an important competition for the Italian public. Within the context of the Tour de France it's something even greater than the Giro. It's a more emotional, intense moment."

Nibali won the hilly second stage in Yorkshire, that had begun in York, and strengthened his position

on the cobbles of northern France on stage five, finishing more than two minutes ahead of two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador, while Britain's defending champion Chris Froome crashed out.

Contador was then forced to pull out with a fractured leg after crashing on stage 10, as Nibali tightened his grip on the race by winning his second stage.

A third stage victory followed in the Alps and a fourth in the Pyrenees as the Italian underlined his superiority in the race.

Yesterday’s 137.5km stage began in pedestrian fashion in Evry with Nibali collecting champagne flutes from his Astana team car to distribute among his team-mates and then posing

See Page 27

MONDAY, JULY 28, 2014