Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 06 10 2016

'Dangerous' overflight No. 104696

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016

Price: $80

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...Guyana probes reports of Venezuelan aircraft in mapping exercise

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ICT not a luxury

‒ says President at the launch of ‘One Laptop Per Teacher Initiative 12

A trainee teacher of the Cyril Potter College of Education was presented with a laptop on Wednesday by President David Granger as part of Government’s roll-out of its One Laptop Per Teacher Initiative (Samuel Maughn Photo)

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Wife seeks justice in murder of 11 Tuschen taxi driver P.

DTL fires protesting workers 2 P.

Joe Singh to 3 investigate alleged corruption at GNBA P.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

DTL fires protesting workers

By Svetlana Marshall

THE eight workers who picketed Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) on Monday have been dismissed over what the company describes as “unlawful” behaviour.

Anita Croft, Cecilene Thomas, Nicholas Bobb, James Fraser, Derrick Toney, Kennard Freeman, Seaford McPherson and Vibert Richardson were all served with dismissal letters on Tuesday at the company’s Mabura Hill location.

The dismissal comes one day after the workers, with the support of officials from their union – Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), picketed DTL’s Head Office in Kingston, Georgetown, calling on the logging company to engage in good-faith negotiations with the union.

Bilateral negotiations between the union and the com-

pany reached a stalemate on November 17, 2015 after the company failed to approve any increase in wages and salaries. However, DTL had offered a Christmas Bonus of $5,000 to each worker after informing them that its financial state prevented it from offering an increase. Workers’ salaries were last increased in 2014.

On Wednesday, Cecilene Thomas, one of the sacked workers, told Guyana Chronicle that she reported to work on Tuesday, and after a hard day’s work was presented with the dismissal letter by Edwin Daly – one of the supervisors.

A section of the letter reads: “I have to and hereby inform you that as a result of the strike action taken by you unlawfully and without prior notice to the company on October 3, 2016, the company will no longer require your service.”

The workers who were picketing DTL Head Office in Kingston last Monday have been dismissed by the company

In response, Thomas, along with her colleagues, protested the company, this time calling on the Management of DTL to withdraw its decision.

“The company’s action is unjust. How could you dismiss us for picketing? You don’t have to give notice for a one-day picketing exercise.

This is not fair at all,” Thomas said as she expressed her frustration.

She had been in the employ of DTL for the past 14 years, and as a result of the dismissal, she stands the risk of losing her severance package.

“With this dismissal, they will only pay us our salaries

and maybe our travelling allowances but we will get no severance package and you have people here who would have worked with this company for 29 years. Some got 14 years, another got 10 and some got 15 years of service,” she lamented.

“One-day picketing is not a strike,” she added.

Anita Croft, another picketer, who was in the employ of the company since 1985, said DTL continues to disregard the rights of its workers.

‘EYE PASS’ “These people eyes pass we. First time they use to give us a vehicle for us to attend (union) meetings in Georgetown, now we got to catch them Mahdia buses. Other thing is, we weren’t picketing because we had no reason to, we were picketing because we haven’t had an increase since 2014 and that can’t be right,”

Croft explained.

According to her, the logging company cannot be allowed to continue operating as though it is above the law.

Nicholas Bobb, who had worked with the company for the past 17 years, said the company must withdraw its decision, positing that the workers were not even issued with a warning before such a decision was taken.

“I have a family to maintain, I have bills to pay; you just don’t dismiss somebody who would have worked for you for 17 years just like that.

Workers don’t have rights in this place man?” he lamented.

James Fraser, another employee who had been working with the company since 1995, said “they don’t want to increase our salaries; they said clearly they are not buying no bus, no ambulance, nothing, now they firing people if they picket. This is not good

enough, this isn’t right, they depriving us of our rights.”

In a press statement, GAWU said “this is the first time in history that an entity, private or public, has taken a decision of such an incredulous nature.”

GAWU said the decision by the company must be viewed as “yet another anti-worker and anti-union act which is occurring rather frequently these days”.

It was pointed out that DTL’s action is a clear violation of Section 8 of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act which prohibits the dismissal of workers for their participation in industrial action.

This right is further reinforced by the Constitution which provides the right for workers to engage in strike and protest action.

“The company’s high-handed, illegal and ominous act represents a decision which must be roundly condemned by all right-thinking Guyanese. It is a clear attempt to intimidate the workers and use extra-legal measures to deny workers their just claims for pay increase,” the union stated.

It is now calling on the Social Protection Ministry and by extension, the Government to ensure that the company observes the laws, conventions and norms of Guyana and that the dismissed workers be reinstated forthwith.

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'Dangerous' overflight

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

...Guyana probes reports of Venezuelan aircraft in mapping exercise

By Ariana Gordon THE Government of Guyana views with much concern reports emanating from the Venezuelan press that suggest that country’s Government is conducting overflights of Guyana with the aim of updating its atlas.

Foreign Affairs Minister and acting Prime Minister Carl Greenidge told reporters on Wednesday night that the APNU+AFC Government is extremely concerned about Venezuela’s escalating claims to Guyana.

“We have as recently as last week left with the secretary-general a document which sets out our concerns of the escalating behaviour of Venezuela towards us, escalating claims and about the consequences of some of the steps they are taking.”

Minister Greenidge said while Guyana has not been able to confirm the information published in the Venezuelan press, strong concerns linger.

“The published information suggesting that they are carrying out overflights over the Essequibo with a view to completing an atlas of Venezuela which would include two-thirds of Guyana. They are doing a digital mapping of the area with the purpose of getting the details. But the overflights themselves are illegal in international law,” he said.

According to the minister, if the reports from the Venezuelan press are proven true, “then these are serious matters”.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been informed of Guyana’s

concerns said the Foreign Affairs Minister, who noted that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has been provided with the reports out of Venezuela with the view of them following it up.

“This has to be substantiated,” he said. Government’s increased concern follows the 117th anniversary of the 1899 Arbitral Award observed on October 3.

Guyana has held steadfast that it has upheld and respected the 1899 Award and will defend its validity at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest International Court.

Guyana in a statement on Tuesday said Venezuela’s utterance on the anniversary of the 1899 Arbitral Award is “vituperative,” while noting that its Spanish-speaking neighbour has sought to spew falsehoods about the award.

Guyana has also said that Venezuela’s statement has proven the country “unworthy of a law-biding member of the international community”.

On Tuesday, a Venezuelan newspaper El Universal reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela said that the award represented fraud perpetuated on the Venezuelan Government by Guyana.

“In a communiqué, Venezuela claimed that Guyana has referred to ‘false protections based on lies and subterfuge’ to bring about an aggression situation against the country,” El Universal reported.

According to the report, Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ratified its commitment to peace in order to find a solution to the border dispute for the Essequibo region, while stressing the

country’s appeal to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to resume the Good Officers process.

The statement by Venezuela which referred to the Essequibo as part of Venezuela, also stated that the current administration has been motivated by “dark transnational interests and imperial favour for corporate centres, has taken an arbitrary, illegal and unilateral action by attempting to rebut the Geneva Accord and try to wriggle out of the Good Officer’s process”.

Meanwhile, when asked about Guyana’s capacity to monitor its landmass given the reports emanating from Venezuela, Minister Greenidge acknowledged that the GDF’s ability to monitor the entire land and maritime space is limited. “… but we have other

ways of getting this information,” he said, making reference to international cooperation.

He described the reported overflights by Venezuela as “irresponsible and dangerous,” while noting that this position has been put to the UN Secretary- General who is set to demit office in December.

“It is something we view with the greatest concern,” said Minister Greenidge.

Guyana has maintained its position that the Good Officer’s process has not proven successful, and as such, the only road to recourse is the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Venezuela has continued to mount its claim to the Essequibo region following the discovery of significant oil offshore by US Oil Giant ExxonMobil last year.

Joe Singh to investigate Old Age Pension likely to alleged corruption at GNBA reach $20,000 MAJOR-GENERAL (ret’d) Joe Singh has been appointed to investigate the allegations of corruption and misconduct made

by Kenwin Charles against two directors of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) board.

Major-General Singh received the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the investigation from Minister of State Joseph Harmon at his office, at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday.

The Ministry of the Presidency in a release said Mr Singh will conduct an inquiry into the allegations and is expected to submit his report to the Prime Minister of Guyana by October 31, 2016.

Minister Harmon, in a brief statement, said that President David Granger had requested that the inquiry be conducted. “[The President] is very confident that you’ll be able to discharge your responsibilities,” Minister Harmon told Major-General Singh after having provided him with the instruments of his appointment.

Minister Harmon also assured him of his full support throughout the course of the investigation.

In an invited comment,

By Ravin Singh

Minister of State Joseph Harmon hands over the Terms of Reference (ToR) to Major-General (ret’d) Joe Singh, for the investigation into allegations of corruption and misconduct made by Kenwin Charles against two directors of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) board

Major-General Singh said that he will work along closely with the Legal Advisor from the Ministry of the Presidency, Geeta Chandan- Edmond, to ensure emphasis is placed on gathering of detailed information so that a report can be completed and handed over to President Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in a timely manner. “[We are going] to

work closely with the legal advisor… to map out a time-table and a sequence of events; identify those persons who are pertinent in terms of receiving information from them, whether written or oral… and during that process asking the relevant questions to ensure that we can come up with the determination based on what the report is designed to do,” Major-General Singh said.

DESPITE no firm commitment from the Government, persons who benefit from Old Age Pension could possibly receive $20,000 from 2017 as Government strives to fulfil one of its pre-elections promises – a significant increase in Old Age Pension.

On Wednesday, at an event to mark the beginning of the Month of the Elderly held at the Umana Yana, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence hinted at a possible increase in Old Age Pension, which would take it to $20,000.

“We have begun to fulfil our promise of providing you with a pension of $20,000.

We are just shy of meeting that mandate by $1,800. And as you and I and so many of us continue to pray and ask God to shower his blessing, we will see what the Lord will provide for us when the Minister of Finance lays the budget in Parliament,” Minister Lawrence said.

The APNU+AFC coalition, during the May 2015

elections campaign had committed in a ‘100 Days Plan’ to provide a “significant increase in Old Age Pension.”

Upon assumption of office last year, the coalition Government increased pensions from $13,125 to 17,000. In 2016, it was again increased from 17,000 to 18,200.

And with an expected target of $20,000, the Government is just short of this amount by $1,800, which pensioners could possibly receive from next year.

However, confirmation of this will be announced in December of this year when Finance Minister Winston Jordan presents the 2017 Budget in the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, confirmation of a programme to support children and grandchildren of the elderly was given.

“In 2017, we will be looking at a programme where we can give assistance to your children and grandchildren by providing caregivers for those boys and girls who really need it, so they can remain in the home

Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence

and give that support.”

Following this statement, the minister went on to suggest that the senior citizens of Guyana are “celebrated” as is evident through efforts to recognise their contributions to Guyana and to protect their rights.

“I want to assure you that the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Social Protection will hold true to our commitment to honour you.

We want to do more. We will ensure that as we go forward with our policy that we seek to meet our mandate,” the minister said.

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Hurricane Matthew kills 26 in Caribbean on destructive path to US Hurricane Matthew twisted toward The Bahamas and Florida's east coast on Wednesday after killing at least 26 people and damaging a majority of homes in Haiti's south, prompting the hard-hit country to postpone a long-awaited presidential election.

The powerful Category 3 hurricane, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, whipped Cuba and Haiti with 140 mile-per-hour (230 kph) winds and torrential rains on Tuesday, pummeling towns and destroying livestock, crops and homes.

In the United States, more than 1.5 million people were urged to evacuate the southeastern coast and Florida Governor Rick Scott warned residents to prepare for a possible direct hit that could be catastrophic.

Hundreds of thousands of people had been evacuated from the path of Matthew, which caused severe flooding and killed four people in the Dominican Republic as well as at least 22 in Haiti.

The two countries share the island of Hispaniola.

The storm carved a path of devastation through

southwestern Haiti, dumping boats and debris on coastal roads hit by surging seas and flooding residential areas heavily.

Some 80 per cent of homes were damaged in Haiti's Sud Department, which has a population of more than 700,000, a government official said in a meeting with UN officials. Some 11,000 people were in shelters in the province.

In the town of Jeremie, people were cooking and sleeping outside because most houses were either knocked down or severely damaged. Similar scenes were reported across the coastal towns of the south.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, had been set to hold a repeatedly postponed presidential election on Sunday, but the country's electoral council delayed it again in the aftermath of Matthew. No new date has yet been set.

Matthew was down-

graded early on Wednesday from a Category 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of intensity, the US National Hurricane Centre said.

The storm had sustained winds of about 115 mph (185 kph) on Wednesday evening, but the NHC said it could strengthen as it approaches Florida.

The eye of the storm was about 270 miles (435 km) south-southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas at 8 p.m. EST (0000 GMT) and was expected to be very near the east coast of Florida by Thursday evening, the NHC said.

"Everyone in our state must prepare now for a direct hit," Florida Governor Scott told a news conference in Tallahassee. "If Matthew directly impacts Florida, the destruction could be catastrophic and you need to be prepared."

It was difficult to assess the full extent of Matthew's impact in Haiti because it knocked out communications in many of the worst-affected areas, including the main bridge that links much of the country to the southwest peninsula. (Reuters)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

Unlicensed teen driver knocks down young mom A 16-year-old Zeeburg Secondary School student is in police custody after he struck down a young mother at Red Spot Street, West Meten-MeerZorg, West Coast Demerara Wednesday afternoon.

This newspaper understands that the unlicensed teen driver stole his father’s canter truck and was observed speeding through the narrow street towards the main road, when he collided with the young woman who was walking out of the street with her mother.

“The young mother turned around when she heard the speeding canter, the canter then hit her in the face and the canter truck mirror break off and fall on the ground,” one eyewit-

The damaged canter truck’s mirror at the scene of the accident

ness said.

The mother and daughter reportedly live in back street Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD. Another resident said that the young lady recently gave birth two months ago.

“She mouth and face buss up,” another eyewitness told this newspaper.

Georgetown resident charged for illegal guns, ammo TWENTY–five-year-old Jermaine Flavius was remanded to prison Wednesday after he was charged with the illegal possession of two firearms and ammo before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the

Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Flavius of Hadfield Street, Georgetown, denied the allegation which stated that he had in his possession one .32 Taurus pistol and one .38 special revolver, without being the holder of a firearm license at the time. He also denied the charge with stated that on the same day, he had seven live rounds of .32 ammunition.

Police prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that police found the guns and ammo during the investigation of a murder. He added that a ballistic report is still outstanding, after the gun and ammo were sent to be analysed. The matter is expected to be recalled on October 26 for report and fixtures.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

No need to remove Ambassador Ally ‒ says Minister Greenidge

Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Shamir Ally

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has said that there is no need to remove Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Shamir Ally, for his decision to keep secret his past legal troubles in the United States.

Dr Ally has denied culpability in charges brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to a company he was employed with.

The SEC accused former President A Robert Mancuso and former Chief Financial Officer Ronald R Lanchoney of Acrodyne, a Public Man-

ufacturing Company, along with Controller Shamir Ally, of disseminating false financial information in press releases and commission filings in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Dr Ally was first employed at Acrodyne in 1999, the AFC noted. He, along with the co-accused, was required to pay a U.S.$10,000 penalty.

Greenidge told reporters on Wednesday night that while there is concern about the non-disclosure of information

by Dr Ally, he will remain on the job.

The Foreign Affairs Min-

ister made it clear that an investigation is ongoing in the matter and noted that Dr Ally has provided an informal explanation for his non-disclosure.

“There is nothing new; we are in the process of dialoging with him. He continues to serve,” said Minister Greenidge.

Asked whether there are plans to remove Ambassador Ally, the minister said, “We are looking into the matter and we need from him answers to some things and then we will take a decision.”

Minister Greenidge acknowledged that in some cases persons are asked to step down pending investigations, but contended in Dr Ally’s case this is not necessary.

“It depends on the nature of the infraction. In this particular case, there is not a danger in him being on the job at the moment.”

In addition, the minister said while the process is not yet complete, it is worrisome that Dr Ally did not disclose all of the information relative to his past legal matters.

“People in the course of applying for jobs, in the course of selling themselves, and [being] recommended…information is usually selective,” Minister Greenidge said.

He added that the question

Security guard on bail for allegedly damaging car A RESIDENT of Norton Street, Georgetown was granted $30,000 bail after he was charged with damaging private property.

Thirty-nine-year-old Neville Haynes appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the

charge, which alleged that on September 30, 2016 at North East La Penitence, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously damaged motor car PVV 3625, property of Otis Khan also known as ‘Clive’.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones did not object to bail, however he asked that the defendant be placed on a sub-

stantial amount of bail. Jones added that the defendant has a previous conviction after he was found guilty of wounding.

Haynes, who is attached to the Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc. as a security guard is expected to return to court on October 17, 2016 for statements.

5 years jail for Carpenter busted with marijuana SEION Odinga Brammer of Diamond, East Bank Demerara was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment [5 years] after he was found guilty of having 464 grammes of cannabis in his possession for trafficking.

The father of two, who is a carpenter by profession, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on May 13, at 8 Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, he had in his possession 464 grammes of cannabis for traf-

ficking. He was found guilty at the end of the trial.

The Magistrate in handing down her decision, told the court that she considered all mitigating factors in the case and concluded that he had possession and control of the drugs. The Magistrate also took into consideration the quantum of the drugs and noted that the court needs to send a message preventing others from committing a similar offense.

Seion Odinga Brammer

to be asked is how important is the information in this particular case. He also noted that his ministry does not have a

specific form asking whether a nominee has been prosecuted.

The Foreign Affairs Minister said a lesson has

been learned and noted that “there are many things that may need to be done differently.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 06, 2016

OP-ED

Challenges for Guyana’s National Border Institute Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

Haiti humanitarian crisis

ON Tuesday, Category 4 Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti. With winds travelling at 145 mph, the storm killed 17 persons, destroyed farmlands, towns and resorts, in what the United Nations (UN) has said is the worst humanitarian crisis since the devastating earthquake of 2010.

With Haiti still recovering from that earthquake and a cholera outbreak which followed as a result of infected water, the country will once again have to rely on the compassion of fellow human beings, governments, and organisations around the world to come to its assistance. Two years prior (2008) to the earthquake four storms (Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike) have lashed the island and reportedly destroyed 70 percent of the crops. Two years (2012) after the earthquake the country was rocked by Hurricane Sandy. The 2010 earthquake resulted in 230,000 deaths and approximately one million having to live in tents after buildings collapsed. Haiti, given its recent spate of incidents, is presently a defenceless country.

Considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, understanding Haiti’s poverty requires nuanced approaches given its complexities that date back to the 1789 slave revolution and the Haitians having to pay France for their freedom achieved in 1804, wanton excesses and abuses of François “Papa Doc” Duvalier and Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier governments, poor management and environmental practices, the absence of sustainable development, among others. That having been said, the intent of this editorial is not to stimulate ad nauseam argument on the poverty in that society, but more so what can be done to aid a sister Caribbean country to wade through, no pun intended, the present crisis that is bound to besiege the people and add to their burden.

Haiti faces a deforestation crisis and reportedly is one of the most deforested countries in the world, with less than two percent of the land that has trees. In the presence of this, more than 60 percent of the population’s energy comes from charcoal. Additionally, to what have evidently been poor environmental practices, a land known for its steep terrain has implications of suffering from landslides and mudslides. Further, where the foundation of infrastructures is poor, such could see buildings, bridges, roads, etc. crumbling or collapsing.

What the Caribbean region has on its hand is another natural disaster, with the impact being made worse by some bad manmade decisions. It further suggests that this will result in loss of material possessions, incomes, internal dislocation, Haitians leaving their country if and when possible, and in some instances will be added to the Refugee and Migrant crises the world is presently facing. In 2010, there was galvanising of support and resources from around the world, including that of countries, businesses, institutions, input from celebrities, medical and construction teams, powerful leaders, and politicians in a commendable humanitarian drive. Such support not only brought temporary assistance, but also helped in rebuilding and addressing socio-economic challenges, including, to some extent, managing a refugee and migration crisis.

Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

People will be looking to see the Caribbean’s response to not only providing aid via supplies, but also technical and humanitarian support. This new crisis will also raise the question, if we as a region can continue to treat Haiti as an estranged member, even

By Odeen Ishmael

ON August 4, 2016, the Guyana government announced plans to establish a National Border Institute aimed at providing advice and ideas on border-related matters, and to enable research to ensure the maintenance of Guyana’s territorial integrity. The institute is expected to be a repository of all documents, maps, charts relating to Guyana’s territorial boundaries with Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil.

As part of its research activities, this body will also be tasked with ensuring the maintenance of Guyana’s territorial integrity as well as to address issues relating to the nation’s airspace and continental shelf. According to the government, the institute will be semi-autonomous under the management of a board of directors, headed by the foreign minister. The board will comprise representatives from the attorney general’s office, the army, civil aviation, the Maritime Administration Department, the National Archives, the Lands and Surveys Commission, and the University of Guyana. The services of other Guyanese with the relevant knowledge will also be utilised.

On its establishment, the institute will, no doubt, function also as a “think tank” to develop and discuss ideas relating to Guyana’s border issues. It should also venture into the area of public diplomacy by encouraging reputable persons (including non-Guyanese) to publish op-ed articles supportive of Guyana’s position on the Guyana-Venezuela issue (in both the local and foreign news media), and audio and video commentaries also for local and foreign distribution and for publication on the internet. At the same time, it should be a most important provider of resource materials for education institutions as part of their curriculums in imparting knowledge of the history of the nation’s border relations. And to ensure its connection with the general public, it must encourage Guyanese to submit their views on a continuous basis on how to deal with specific problems surrounding the country’s boundary issues.

ANTECEDENTS The proposal for this forum has its antecedents from at least 1999 when, under the PPP administration, a parliamentary border and national security committee was formed following consultation between President

Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte. The report the committee submitted in June 2001 to Jagdeo recommended, inter alia, that the highest level of consultations for discussion and resolution of issues pertaining to border and national security issues should take place between the president and the leader of the opposition. At the level of the National Assembly, it also expressed the necessity for a parliamentary standing committee to be established to tackle border and national security issues through the engagement of ministers and shadow ministers.

In a statement after the submission, David Granger, who cochaired the committee, emphasised that the bipartisan process should be supported by a technical or academic component in the form of an institute of border studies, a strengthened frontiers unit of the foreign affairs ministry and the review or consolidation of existing institutions to prevent duplication in functions.

On October 15, 2013, Granger, as opposition leader, urged the foreign ministry to establish a permanent national borders commission to boost institutional strengthening on issues regarding Guyana’s territorial integrity and to take responsibility for accumulating data and documents on territorial matters.

He had earlier made this proposal during a meeting in January 2012 with Dr Norman Girvan, the UN “Good Officer” tasked with maintaining contacts with Guyana and Venezuela on the border issues on behalf of the Secretary-General.

In November 2013, Granger followed up by requesting Prime Minister Samuel Hinds to inform the National Assembly whether the government intended “to work towards establishing a standing parliamentary committee to address, specifically, border and national security issues as recommended by the border and national security committee” in its report of June, 2001.

In response to Granger’s proposal, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on December 19, 2013 informed the National Assembly that the government had no plans to establish a parliamentary committee to specifically address border issues. He explained that there was already a parliamentary committee on security, which had been established by an amendment to the constitution and which was intended to specifically be the forum for parliamentary consideration of national security

moreso in light of the recent UN General Assembly, where a special summit was held to address the world’s unprecedented refugee and migrant crises. More so, will Caribbean governments rise to the entreaty of United States President Barack Obama that crisis of such nature “is a test of our common humanity -- whether we give in to suspicion and fear and build walls, or whether we see ourselves in another.”

Member states may want to examine the wisdom of a special inter-CARICOM migration programme for Haiti. Hopefully,

matters, including border issues.

DOCUMENTARY TASKS OF THE INSTITUTE Now, with the firm decision made, it is expected that knowledgeable persons will be appointed to conduct the work of the Border Institute. On its establishment, the border institute will most likely begin to gather and archive documents related to the British and Venezuelan cases presented to the arbitration tribunal in 1898-1899. While the Foreign Ministry archives may have much of these, no doubt, the institute will have to explore the possibility of obtaining additional documentary resources from the British Foreign Office.

In addition, a wealth of material is located within the archives of British, American and French newspapers, which covered the arbitration in great detail and published daily reports of the proceedings. The Dutch and the Spanish archives hold a treasure of related documents as well.

Significantly, the U.S. Library of Congress has a large collection of related documents including the report of the U.S.-Venezuelan Border Commission that functioned in 18961897 after it was established by the U.S. Congress on a direct request by President Grover Cleveland. All of the documents emanating from the report of this Commission were provided to the Venezuelan government by the U.S. government to assist the former to prepare its case to the arbitration tribunal. In those days, the United States was an avid supporter of Venezuela with regard to the border dispute.

Guyana-Suriname border With respect to Guyana’s boundary with Suriname, the Corentyne River boundary is still not yet clearly defined. (The maritime boundary was finally settled in 2007 after the PPP administration headed by President Jagdeo decisively moved to request the intervention of the Law of the Sea tribunal, to which Suriname agreed.) Currently, the entire Corentyne River is regarded as being totally owned by Suriname, though there exists no specific agreement to this effect between the colonial powers (the United Kingdom and Holland), or between the independent nations of Guyana and Suriname.

The task of the border institute has to be aimed at developing ideas and a methodology to modify this situation. It will have to form a strong case to show that the boundary runs along the

thalweg (the mid-channel) of the river. Alternatively, the case must be made for the unimpeded and free use of the river by Guyanese if Suriname is to maintain ownership of the entire river.

With consideration to the New River Triangle, a comprehensive collection of documents from all sources to support Guyana’s ownership is necessary.

Significantly, the archives of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the British Foreign Office should be consulted to obtain all the background documents relative to the fixing of the Brazil-British Guiana-Suriname tri-junction point at the Kutari River, (the source of the Corentyne River) in 1936—which definitively fixed the south-east boundary of Guyana with Suriname and Brazil, and similarly, Brazil’s boundary with Guyana and Suriname at that point.

GUYANA-BRAZIL BOUNDARY As to Guyana’s boundary with Brazil which was finally settled in 1904, it is important that documents relating to the Brazil-British Guiana border dispute which was arbitrated in 1901-1904 should be compiled.

This is imperative, considering that the area ceded to Brazil (roughly 4,000 square miles of territory bounded by the Ireng, Takutu and Cotinga Rivers) was claimed by Venezuela during the 1898-1899 arbitration, but it was awarded to British Guiana.

It is of interest to note that in Venezuela’s current claim to Guyana’s territory (which it says it “lost” in 1899), that country is not asserting any demand to the area ceded in 1904 to Brazil after the arbitration conducted by the King of Italy. Logically, Venezuela should have also extended its spurious claim to this part of Brazil, but as is generally known, logic is not always synonymous with international political behaviour. Obviously, Brazil’s size and political and military power are determining factors for Venezuela’s reluctance in this instance.

[Dr. Odeen Ishmael, Ambassador Emeritus (retired), historian and author, served as Guyana’s ambassador in the USA (1993-2003), Venezuela (2003-2011) and Kuwait (2011-2014). He is the author of the trilogy, The Trail of Diplomacy – The Guyana-Venezuela Border Issue. He also serves as a Senior Research Fellow of the Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs.]

the spirit of Caribbean brotherliness would not prevent us from looking at ways of helping outside of the usual aid sent when there is a disaster. There is already a thought in the public domain that Guyana can examine resettling Haitians in areas where agriculture and food production can be advanced within the Green Economy.

Not to be ignored is that given the defenceless nature of Haiti, continuous deportation of a people who are evidently fleeing dire consequences in their country may not be seen as upholding the law, but shelving the needed humanitarian support.

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 06, 2016

Sam Hinds defends PPP’s support for black communities Dear Editor

I, SAMUEL A. A. Hinds have been differing with many of the views, opinions, interpretations and advocated world view and attitudes of Dr David Hinds.

Each person has a right to his/her view, but views should not fly in the face of facts. Allow me once more to state facts which should cause Dr David Hinds and every Guyanese to think again about the paragraph from HINDS’SIGHT in the Sunday Chronicle of October 2nd, 2016 which I quote: “The continued subsidising of the sugar industry in the form of massive bailouts has directly benefitted the mainly Indian-Guyanese community. The PPP never did the same for sectors heavily populated by African Guyanese. In fact, it sought to remove the electricity subsidy from Linden.”

Quite to the contrary, in the particular case of our bauxite sector and communities, Linden and most of Region 10, heavily-populated by African-Guyanese, it can be argued that even if it were only because of circumstances at the time, that area received proportionately larger attention, subsidies and support. We, the PPP/C, were even-handed in what we did, even if for no other reason than that we were being watched continuously from all sides, but I would proffer our commitment to all-round development of all Guyanese and Guyana, with an equitable sharing of whatever our na-

tion has, good and bad.

As I have noted before, we PPP/C in 1992 inherited an agreement entered into between the departed PNC administration and the multilateral financial institutions (MFIs) which funded and placed an international mining manager (IMM), MINPROC, in Linmine. The IMM was to determine and demonstrate whether Linmine could be made profitable or not: if profitable, it was to be privatised, if not, it was to be closed. Government was to extend no further subsidy.

When in 1994 Minproc declared that it could see no way to make the operations profitable, we the PPP/C would have been expected to close the operations but we didn’t.

Our oath of office required us to treat everyone without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

We knew the trauma which an abrupt closure, although not unanticipated, would have brought to our fellow citizens in Linden/Region10.

After the Minproc declaration, of no sight of profitability, we pursued a third MFI intervention: one to develop alternatives for Linden after the failure of the two earlier interventions to restore the bauxite operations to profitability. Early in our term, the young Bharat Jagdeo himself had led a team to learn of the socio-economic situation and future possibilities in Linden. This study provided the basis for this third approach (SYSMINS) which eventually materialised in LEAP, including LEAF. The PPP/C had to argue strongly against

concerns that the people of Linden were not yet ready to be converted from being employees in a 100% company town to entrepreneurs in an open town.

Whilst continuing to subsidise the company, improvements were pushed along and all non-core activities completely removed – health, education, electricity, water – and taken up by appropriate ministries and agencies of the Government. We began reconciling and clearing arrears of a number of accounts – the worker’s saving scheme, PAYE to GRA, GBPP(Guyana Bauxite Pension Plan), NIS, and setting aside termination payments at the eventual privatisation, altogether about G$2.5billion.

We advertised twice without success for credible interest in taking an equity position in the company. It may also be recalled that about 10 years ago, we redeemed the bonds issued to ALCAN at the time of nationalisation.

All the while we were additionally and separately subsidising electricity at increasing amounts approaching G$ 3billion per year. In 1992, we received the steam-power station and other electricity facilities very run down, as there had been little if any money for maintenance during the preceding years.

We advertised and sought a core investor to restore a good supply of electricity in Linden. As it happened, the selected bidder brought little improvement: we terminated the agreement and regained some losses in an arbitration

hearing.

After a number of successful contract arrangements, we and OMAI/CAMBIOR entered into an agreement by which OMAI/CAMBIOR gained a 70% equity position in the core bauxite operations renamed OBMI. All went well until sales fell precipitously and OBMI announced a two-month shut-down. We the PPP/C stepped in and provided basic pay to all workers requiring only that everyone from sweeper to manager spend some hours each week attending or providing an appropriate level course on the operations and use of computers. One of my political commentator friends was moved to lament in a letter (somewhat tongue in cheek I thought) that we PPP/C were pointing Afro-Guyanese to the IT future whilst working to keep Indo-Guyanese in the past, cutting cane – the hewers of wood and draughters of water.

When parent company CAMBIOR itself was in trouble, and was bought by another, the order was to sell off the bauxite operations or shut it down within about six months. We were again very concerned. We readily met the potential replacements brought by CAMBIOR and provided our no-objection in good time to their choice of BOSAI. (to be continued tomorrow)

their organisation’s rules and regulations to shape the outcomes of their organisations and society for the better.

Alternatively, individuals who feel forced to act against what is morally correct may, in the absence of any regulatory or institutional support, do so to improve the governance framework nationally. I have observed elsewhere that intelligence and soldiers have this in common: both are confounded by a

lack of moral judgment.

Another personal observation I have also made was that the Bible (Eccles.

8:4) says that we should, “Keep the command of the king, because of the oath before God. 3“Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.”

4 Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 He who keeps a royal command

experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.” Yet, Jesus Himself stood in defiance of this wisdom. Pastors are asked to refrain from responding to provide the answer we already know.

In this modern age of democratic government, we are fortunate that failing governments may be removed at the polls.

Regards Samuel A. A. Hinds Former President & Former Prime Minister

Respecting our seniors

Dear Editor,

AS a bouncy past three score and 10, I was delighted to read the nicely written letter by Everette De Leon, Chairperson of The National Commission for the elderly.

The writer deserves our highest compliments and praises and the Daily Chronicle which titled the letter, “Take a stand against ageism,” must be congratulated for publishing the instructive letter. Let me admit two things: first, the term ageism is new to me, and I was not aware of such a commission being active, many thanks.

But let me add these bits: (a.)

We are retired, healthy people with a wealth of experience and oft times when they have less family commitments and can therefore focus better on devoting more time to a given task, we have seen many of these folk gobbled up by institutions and agencies in the developed world and even in the CARICOM States, adding to our loss of useful human resources.

What is this fuss about older persons? What ought to matter is a person’s health, physical condition and mental alertness. Inasmuch as I am a Freddie Kissoon fan, I disagree strongly with him

when he was critical of the appointment of certain seniors; by jove, we need these men and women to help stable the ship of Guyana through storms and difficulties. Know something else, these elders, in most cases are settled and less likely to snatch and steal.

In Guyana, we have in every field people of advanced chronological age serving with competence and dignity. Early last year, I met 90-year-old Sylvannus Mc Kend of Meten-MeerZorg still chasing after his cows, rain or sunshine. Bud Lee in his mid-80s, still an excellent surgeon; in the courts we have Sasenarain, Ashton Chase , C. M. L. John, then there are the likes of Earl B. John, whose clear letters provide the wisdom the nation needs. There are others still kicking and can put to shame some of the young guns in all their 90s. As we encourage our young people to be a part of the grand design to build Guyana, let us not put those who still have the nerve, experience and time to serve aside. Up with youth, but hold steady the so-called elderly.

Regards Eric Moseley

Visual Arts photo The effectiveness of resignations competition off Dear Editor

GUYANA’S experience has shown that professionals working for corrupt governments inevitably get themselves sullied and go on to become national pariahs. However, resignations by professionals generally sink society into greater ineptitude.

Individuals faced by similar situations should rid themselves of tendencies toward anger, and instead apply themselves within

Regards Craig Sylvester

Dear Editor, FROM an independent standpoint with research investigation, I was fed with the disappointing news that the once-advertised Guyana Visual Arts Photography Competition scheduled for the 2016 Jubilee Year is no longer happening.

I wasn’t given a reason/s, but all I was told is that it is now scheduled for sometime in 2017.

Perhaps someone assigned as Communications Officer or Public Relations Officer from the Ministry of Culture,Youth and Sport/Castellani House/ Burrowes School of Art can publicly make an official announcement via the press, because my independent contribution is un-official.

Regards Trevor Pemberton

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

PNCR re-commits to ‘green development path’

By Ariana Gordon THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) on its 59th anniversary has committed to the Government’s thrust of a “green development path.”

Party leader, President David Granger on Wednesday at the party’s headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia, told party members and supporters that the PNCR as part of the coalition government has the duty to fulfil its mandate to maintain Guyana “as the greenest, most beautiful, most bountiful country in the Caribbean.”

“Our mission is to enable all Guyanese to enjoy ‘a good life’ which they deserve as citizens of a green’ state,” the President said.

He noted that the party founded by former President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham is committed to support the Government’s achievement of a “green economy.”

He alluded to rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions, prolonged droughts and floods ,associated with climate change which presents tremendous challenges to the country.

The PNCR Leader reminded supporters that it was under the party’s second leader Desmond Hoyte that a “green” pathway for the country was paved.

In 1989, Hoyte entered into a covenant with the world, Granger said to be an “exemplar of green growth.”

“We made a gift to sustainable development and to the protection of the environment through a generous grant of 371,000 hectares of our pristine forests to be used as an international model for green development,” he said.

President Granger said too that the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainfor-

PNCR Leader and President of Guyana David Granger addresses members and supporters on Wednesday during the party’s 59th anniversary celebration at Congress Place, Sophia

est Conservation and Development (IICRCD) – located in the heart of Guyana and at the centre of the Guiana Shield – survives and thrives as a testament to Guyana’s commitment to a “green” economy.

EMERGING GREEN STATE Guyana, he said, is an emerging “green state,” while noting that the country’s natural assets, its commitment to sustainable

A section of the gathering at the PNCR’s 59th anniversary celebration held on Wednesday at the party’s headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia. City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green is seated at second left

development, contribution to countering the adverse effects of climate change and collaboration with the international community in seeking solutions to global threats will ensure a secure future for the people in the pursuit of a “green” econ-

PNCR Chairman Basil Williams, party leader President David Granger and Central Executive Committee Member Amna Ally interact with General Secretary of the party Oscar Clarke on Wednesday morning at Congress Place, Sophia

omy.

“Guyana, by the grace of God, stands at the centre of the Guiana Shield – one of the world’s last remaining spheres of virgin tropical rainforest. The Guiana Shield spans 2.7 million km², an area larger than Greenland. The Guiana Shield is an incomparable, international asset. Its varied ecosystems of rainforests, rivers, savannahs, swamps, mountains, waterfalls and wetlands support a plethora of rare and endemic floral and faunal species. It contains 15 per cent of the world’s freshwater reserves and is one the world’s most biologically rich and diverse zones.”

The PNCR leader said Guyana’s forests and protected areas help the earth to breathe by sequestering more carbon than that emitted by the country’s human activities; store carbon and restore the balance of oxygen and humidity in the air, providing vital environmental services to all humanity.

The forests and savan-

nahs shelter some of the world’s rare and endemic floral and faunal species; they are the “green” home of giants – including the world’s largest anacondas, ants, anteaters, armadillos, bats, caimans, eagles, fish, jaguars, manatees, monkeys, otters, rodents, snakes, spiders, storks, toads, turtles and vultures, he added.

Meanwhile, President Granger said the PNCR celebrates with Guyana its 50th independence anniversary and noted that it was that party that led the colony of British Guiana into nationhood.

“Guyana, under our Founder-leader, strove to satisfy the needs of our people by expanding public education; by improving public health and public security; by increasing public housing; by introducing social protection; by enhancing social cohesion and by extending public infrastructure and the delivery of public services to the people,” he stated.

Rose Hall Estate workers end strike SUGAR workers attached to the Rose Hall Estate have returned to duty days after they had proceeded on strike over several issues.

The workers had expressed dissatisfaction over how the payment system was being applied. However, every piece-rated employee (harvester, planter, shovelman, fertilizing hand, etc.) within the Corporation, is expected to complete their respective shared tasks based on the agreed required standard, the Guyana Sugar Corpo-

ration (GuySuCo) stated in a release.

According to GuySuCo, a cane harvester is therefore expected to cut and load (manual) or cut and stack (semi-mechanical) no less 2.6 or 5.0 metric tonnes of cane per day, respectively.

“This is an established productivity index in the Corporation and the Estate management was simply enforcing the rules at the Rose Hall Estate. It should be noted that this procedure is observed at other estates,” GuySuCo noted.

On October 3, 2016,

GAWU representative Harvey Tombran gesturing on the picket line on Monday

management met with union representatives from the Rose Hall Estate on the prevailing situation and

after discussion, the union representatives were better informed that the ‘work shared, work cut’ principle

which has been a part of the rules for a number of years, was merely being enforced.

“The Corporation wishes to reiterate that the workers were at no time deprived of their normal payments. However, the workers were advised that payment for obstacle (extras) is based on a principle that the work shared must be completed to offset full payment of the extras. The misconception that workers payment for canes cut and loaded was withheld is misleading,” the sugar company clarified.

According to the company, management is pleased that the representatives’ saw the wisdom from the discussion to have normalcy prevail resulting in the resumption of duty, and is committed to working with the employees at Rose Hall, to ensure that the estate achieves its target for this Second Crop.

In addition, the parties agreed to reconvene a second meeting on Wednesday October 12, 2016 to have further dialogue on this issue and other related concerns.

‘I will not resign’

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

‒ says fraud accused Duncan

By Ariana Gordon FRAUD accused, trade unionist and Commissioner on the Public Service Commission, Police Service Commission and the Judicial Service Commission, Carvil Duncan, has made it clear that he will not be stepping down from his posts.

“I will not resign! Because I hold a constitutional office and my term in office is set out in my mandate, the instrument given to me,” Duncan told reporters on Wednesday morning.

Duncan’s statement comes almost two weeks after the David Granger-led administration swore in a three-member tribunal to inquire, investigate and recommend whether Duncan, the

Chairman and other appointed member of the Public Service Commission should be removed from office.

Duncan described the tribunal set up by President David Granger in September as “double jeopardy,” noting that he is before the courts based on the allegations of fraud levelled against him.

“The commission is double jeopardy--- you can’t try a person for a matter that is tried in court… and the Constitution speaks of a presumption of innocence until proven guilty,” said a beaming Duncan.

Duncan was charged with fraud following alleged financial irregularities at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated where he served as a board member.

That aside, he reportedly

Fraud accused Carvil Duncan

has not been functioning effectively as commissioner.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo wrote Duncan asking him to show cause why a tribunal should not be established to address the question of his removal from constitutional office.

Duncan never responded to the Prime Minister.

The APNU+AFC coalition government had attempted to remove Duncan from the commission, but was unsuccessful as Duncan refused to cooperate.

President Ganger had said that the criminal charges laid against Duncan as a commissioner on three Constitutional bodies did not augur well.

As such, Prime Minister Nagamootoo advised that Duncan ought to be given the right to defend the charges levelled against him.

Due to his failure to answer to the commission, the Prime Minister then recommended to President Granger that a tribunal be established to investigate whether Duncan should be removed from the constitutional bodies.

In accordance with Article 225 of the Constitution of Guyana, Justice Roxanne George , Chairperson of

the tribunal, Justice (ret’d) Winston Patterson and Attorney-at-Law Robert Ramcharran were sworn in before President David Granger.

The tribunal has begun its work and is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the President by the end of October.

“It represents the commitment of this Administration for due process. We are obliged that when matters are brought to our attention that the response should not be hasty, arbitrary or whimsical and that, we follow the Constitution both in spirit and in letter,” President Granger said at the swearing-in of the three-member tribunal.

Duncan, who is also President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union, was

charged jointly with former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) Aershwar Deonarine over the unapproved transfer of approximately $29M to their personal bank accounts from the PetroCaribe fund.

Duncan, when he was first charged, was placed on $1M bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. It was alleged that Duncan stole $984,900 from GPL on March 31, 2015 at Georgetown, after conspiring with Deonarine to commit the act of simple larceny. It is also alleged that Duncan conspired with Deonarine to commit a felony between May 7 and 8 in Georgetown, where he conspired to steal G$27,757,500, property of GPL. He has denied these charges.

“I am innocent” Cabinet seeks urgent …CN Sharma relieved after rape charge dismissed

By Crystal Stoll THE rape charge against leader of the Justice for All Party (JFAP), Chandra Narine Sharma has been dismissed after the victim refused to testify against him in the High Court on Tuesday.

Sharma was committed to stand trial in the High Court three years ago and the case was dismissed by Justice James Bovell-Drakes when the October session of the Demerara Assizes began Tuesday. He was charged with two counts of carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 years, three counts of carnal knowledge of a girl under 12 years, and one count of indecent assault. He was represented by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Sharma maintained his innocence and expressed relief, noting that the matter has been ongoing for some six years now. “I feel good because the matter has been dismissed; I am innocent,” he said.

He said he was unaware that the case would have engaged the court’s attention this week.

“Is the DPP put forward for the case to be dismissed. I was informed through Jaipaul

from someone at the court system. We were very surprised. Usually they would send a notice a week before the hearing, but this year no notice didn’t come,” the politician said.

THE RAPE ALLEGATIONS In a sworn affidavit, the victim alleged that Sharma sexually molested her and her sisters (who were at the time nine and five years old respectively), with the consent of their mother. The girl said the abuse stopped only when she refused to return to her mother’s home. The girl claimed that she would receive $2000 weekly from Sharma.

The JFAP leader was remanded to prison by then Chief Magistrate Melissa Ogle-Robertson in 2010, when he made his first appearance. The case was said to be very dramatic, since Sharma had collapsed in front of media cameras as he made his way out of the prisoners’ chute. As a result, he was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he regained consciousness. Sharma was later granted bail in the sum of $2 million.

Consequently, after a Preliminary Inquiry (PI), Sharma was committed to stand trial back in May 2013, after the

Chandra Narine Sharma

presiding Magistrate Sueanna Lovell found that a prima facie case had been made out against the popular television owner.

MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS Sharma, who became popular through his television programmes which gave a voice to the poor, said he has been unable to host the programme for quite some time due to his medical issues.

He said he has suffered three strokes and as a result he cannot deliver as before.

“I have a speech problem, I had three strokes, two head strokes, my memory completely gone,” said Sharma.

He hopes to appear on this Saturday’s ‘Voice of the People’ programme.

fix to poor math results at NGSA MEMBERS of Cabinet on Tuesday deliberated as a matter of extreme urgency and grave national importance, the unsatisfactory results in mathematics nationwide at the 2016 Grade Six Examination.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Education and Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine were engaged by Cabinet on the declining performance of students in Mathematics at this year’s Grade Six assessment, according to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP).

For many years, Guyana has consistently failed to achieve acceptable pass rates in mathematics, an important core subject, and it was noted that the previous approach to this problem has been inadequate.

This year for the first time the Ministry of Education contracted the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC)

to conduct the examination for the Grade Six students in Guyana. The basis of assessment used by the Caribbean Examination Council was radically different from what was used previously by the Ministry of Education. This year there was an increased focus on reasoning and a decreased emphasis on retention.

The new method to testing as implemented by CXC has exposed even more the weakness of the previous approach to education adopted by the Ministry of Education in previous years.

According to the statement, Cabinet considers this situation one of national urgency requiring its focused attention and commitment to finding adequate and appropriate solutions in the shortest possible time.

As part of a plan for short and medium-term measures, Cabinet called on the Ministry of Edu-

Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine

cation and its technical advisors to identify all appropriate steps needed to remedy this situation.

Those steps would include remedial training of teachers, better and more varied textbooks, more teaching aids and the better use of technology in the delivery of education, the MOTP statement concluded.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

Two in custody Young driver died from for rape, murder spinal injury to neck of granny Greenwich Park accident‌

TWO suspects are in custody as police investigate the circumstances under which a 65-year-old woman was found murdered in her Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home on Monday. One of the persons in custody is a fisherman.

The woman, who is believed to be mentally ill, was identified as Bibi Keneiz, of Ball Field Street, Cornelia Ida, WCD. The

mother of three was found in a hammock with almost a dozen stab wounds about her body.

Investigators are working on the theory that the woman, who lived in a shack, may have been raped before she was stabbed to death, because she was not wearing any underwear and her skirt was pulled up to her chest. Her body was discovered by her son who had visited the shack to

Dead: Bibi Keneiz

drop off food.

Residents said that Keneiz was last seen bathing at the seawall on Sunday, after which she went into her home.

A POST-MORTEM performed on the body of 23-year-old Budhram Jainaught revealed that he died of a spinal injury to the neck and other fractures about the body.

Jainaught, of Lot 5 Unity, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, lost his life on Friday last when he crashed his father’s car, PMM 9055 into a trailer parked on the Greenwich Park public road, East Bank Essequibo. He was cremated Tuesday at the Ruimzeight Cremation Ground, West Coast Demerara.

Police say the young man

Dead: Budhram Jainaught

was on his way to patch a tyre when he swerved to avoid hitting a female who was running across the public road. He then lost control of the car and the rear of the vehicle slammed into the back of a trailer that was parked on the roadway.

Public-spirited citizens rushed the young Jainaught to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A female passenger who was in the vehicle received minor injuries and was treated at the Leonora Cottage Hospital before being sent away.

Former CANU prosecutor found dead FORMER Special Prosecutor Oswald Massiah of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) was discovered dead Wednesday morning in his vehicle at the Parika ferry stelling, East Bank Essequibo.

The discovery was

made around 5:30hrs and according to reports, Massiah was heading to his Essequibo residence at the time of his demise. Police said Massiah was ill for years and may have succumbed to those illnesses, since his body bore no signs of trauma or vio-

lence.

A post-mortem is expected to be conducted in order to determine the cause of death. Massiah was a police prosecutor before taking up the position for the anti-drug agency. He had retired earlier this year.

Joint services intensify search for prison escapees MEMBERS of the joint services are now searching interior locations as the manhunt continues to recapture two convicted prisoners, who escaped from the Lusignan Prison facility on September 20, 2016.

The two men have been identified as 22-year-old Rajendra Deonarine, of

Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo, and 26-yearold Fauouse Shakir, of La Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

They are said to have used the Lusignan Golf Course as their route of escape. Once recaptured, the two convicts will face charges of escaping lawful custody.

Wanted: Fauouse Shakir

Deonarine was serving a two-year sentence for possession of cocaine and Shakir was serving a threeyear sentence for break and enter and larceny.

Prison officials noted that teams comprising joint service ranks have since searched many areas the men may have friends and relatives residing.

Wanted: Rajendra Deonarine

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

Wife seeks justice in murder of Tuschen taxi driver ‒ Couple would have celebrated 5th anniversary in two weeks

By Neil Marks

IT was about an hour after sunset Tuesday that Tarmattie Kumar received a phone call with news she never imagined she would get.

Her husband, the teenage sweetheart she had defied her parents’ disapproval to elope with, then later married and with whom she was nurturing their two-year-old son, was shot.

Roland Jodmie, or Vishal as most knew him, the one she shared five years of marriage with, was lying, bloodied, in the driver’s seat.

The car which, he worked hard to buy and had started to work as a taxi four months ago, was parked in some track at the dead end of the Tuschen new scheme, the East Bank Essequibo sugar plantation that is now a housing development.

Were they sure it was him? Who did it? Why? He isn’t...dead...is he? The questions raced through her mind and she was hoping to get to the scene as fast as she could.

From her mother’s house at Zeelugt, the village next to Tuschen, at most it would take about five minutes to get there. It was only four hours earlier that he had come off the road to have lunch. That morning he had decided not to go to the construction job at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

The plan was that he would work taxi for the day, starting from around seven in the morning so he would pick up children heading to school. He didn’t eat before leaving. When things slowed on the road he would come

home to have breakfast, she said.

He did come home at about 10, ate, and was back on the road. He returned home for lunch about two in the afternoon. This home was that of in-laws. It’s where they usually spend the weekend and then return to their home in the Tuschen new scheme. They were there a little longer this week, as their boy, Jairam, is not well and so her mother had suggested they stay on a bit longer.

Her “babe” wanted to wash the car and take a shower before going out back. But there was no water.

He told his “babe,” his Andreina, as he would interchangeably call her that he would go to Tuschen, have the car washed, take a shower and head back on the road to work.

She didn’t hear from or of him until the dreaded phone call. She arrived at the scene to a throng - neighbours, other taxi operators – gathered around the car. Her feet could no longer take it, but she had to push through, and after what seemed like an eternity, she caught a glimpse of the man she had an eye for ever since she was 13.

There he was, slumped in the car seat, blood gushing from around the area of his abdomen. Instinctively she tried to reach out for him, but others prevented her, telling her not to touch anything until the police arrived.

In between anger and frustration, she couldn’t tell which was greater, she obeyed. The police arrived soon after; someone checked

Tarmattie Kumar and Roland “Vishal” Jodmie on their wedding day

his pulse, and the word went out that he was alive!

She wanted to leap for joy, but she was constrained by the fact that he was still lying there, not moving a muscle as far as she could tell. He was placed in a vehicle and rushed to the hospital at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, a drive of roughly 10 minutes. Before her Vishal got there, he had breathed his last. Gone.

Dead.

Less than 24 hours after, the Guyana Chronicle talked with Tarmattie. We asked if

she had a family photo, and she went for the album. The photo she preferred was that of them on their wedding day; she in a beautiful white gown and he in a blue suit as handsome as she’d ever seen him.

At the time, she was just 16 and he was 19. He lived just opposite her house, and they had had a liking for each other three years before. They were both young and a commitment and living together was obviously out of the picture. They weren’t thinking of anything of the

sort anyways. They just liked each other.

Her parents would have none of it but she was insistent that Vishal was the one for her. They hatched a plot and eloped. Two days later, she was back at home and later plans were made for the marriage as soon as she was legally free to do so.

As she talked about it, the pain in her eyes changed just for a moment, as she blushed of the days he won her over from just across the street. In the years that followed, he proved her right.

“He never showed me a bad face.” Besides that, he was of the kind who “didn’t drink, didn’t smoke.”

“He was always from work to home, work to home.

That was his happiness; to make sure everything in the house was good.”

When their son came, her Vishal became a loving father. He would bathe the boy before leaving for work in the morning. In the evenings, he would feed him, and then the two of them would romp until sleep called.

He did mostly construction work and the taxi was just something he did on and off, and so the noise from the joy of a father playing with his son is what characterised their home most evenings.

Now, that would no longer happen. Tarmattie no longer has her beloved Vishal. Their boy no longer has his father. He still thinks his father has gone to work.

Tarmattie and Vishal would have celebrated their fifth anniversary on October 20. She knows she will no longer have his love and his attention. She is not yet ready to start figuring out how she will move on with life from here on.

Her primary concern is justice. She wants to know who killed her husband and why, and she wants them to face the full face of the law.

The Police have arrested one person thus far in the murder of Roland “Vishal” Jodmie. Reports are that he was hired by two men of Indo-Guyanese origin who asked to be taken to the area aback the Tuschen new scheme where they used a gun to take his life.

Senior cop suspended after fatal accident ASSISTANT Superintendent Jermaine Grant who was involved Tuesday in a fatal accident on New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara has been relieved of his duties pending an investigation into the matter.

Sixty-five-year-old Anmanie Deonarine of 144 New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara was struck down and killed on the public road by a motor

car being driven by the senior police officer.

The officer was stationed at Criminal Investigation Department within ‘D’ Division (West Demerara and East Bank Essequibo). A breathalyzer test revealed that there was no trace of alcohol.

A post mortem conducted Wednesday by Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh revealed that Deonarine died of multiple

injuries.

“She [Deonarine] was pushing a cycle at the extreme corner of the road, the driver hit her and fling her approximately 15 feet into the air and also 20 feet away from the point of impact where she landed on a solid concrete bridge. For no reason at all he drove off the road, soon after the police came grab her by the feet and hands, placed her in the police car and took off,”

an eyewitness said.

The incident occurred when the mother of three was 11 houses away from her home. Residents said Deonarine would visit relatives in the same village, and would usually walk the same path each time on a daily basis.

The Police officer was the driver of PRR 4446 and was reportedly driving in a westerly direction when he lost control of the vehicle

Dead: Anmanie Deonarine

and collided with the elderly woman. She was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Relatives described the 65-year-old as an easygoing individual. In a statement, police said that Traffic Chief Dion Moore is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident, which occurred at about 11:30hrs.

ICT not a luxury 12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

‒ says President at the launch of ‘One Laptop Per Teacher Initiative

By Ariana Gordon GIVEN their essential role in the field of education, teachers are now mandated to use information technology in the transfer of knowledge to their pupils.

“ICT education is mandatory; citizens of the 21st century must be trained in ICT in whatever area. Every child, every teacher must be schooled in computer science and it must be mandatory at this college,” said President David Granger on Wednesday at the Ministries of Public Telecommunications and Education’s launch of the ‘One Laptop Per Teacher Initiative.

The President said ICT should not be seen as a luxury or option but a necessity.

“Students, teachers, lecturers, the world, has entered the information age.

Information and information technology and innovation are transforming every passage of human existence.

ICT is revolutionising education, transforming the manner in which information is assembled… changing the way education is delivered in the classrooms,” he told a packed auditorium of trainee teachers, teachers and students at the Cyril Potter College of Education, Turkeyen.

The President said “any Government that wants an educated population has to have information technology as an obligation and not an option”.

He called on teachers to

vocational institutions in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and they are all connected to the Government network,” she said.

The launch of the Government’s programme was streamed to teachers and students at CPCE, Tain Corentyne. Minister Hughes said the event gives teachers an important tool to work with and is a “vital component of Government’s all-encompassing programme to raise the national level of digital literacy and to improve inter-connectivity and most importantly it is a means to introduce Internet access to our un-served hinterland and interior locations”.

President David Granger interacts with students and teachers in Berbice who were observing the launch of the One Laptop Per Teacher Initiative which was streamed live

be adequately prepared for the demands of the information age. The country’s future evolution is dependent in one way or another on teachers working with ICT. “Teachers are essential to education and I don’t want the students to be ahead of the teachers and you don’t want the students to be left behind; teachers must become familiar with technology, [and the] gathering of information... Teachers must have greater access to ICT and its benefits and that’s why we have the One Laptop Per teacher Initiative,” he added.

The President said his Government is committed to expanding Internet access to

all citizens and resolves to work towards every citizen having access to the information super highway.

MOVING FORWARD Guyana, he said cannot afford to be left behind in a world of ICT. “I shall continue to work to ensure that every teacher has a laptop… in the hinterland and coastland,” Mr Granger said as he thanked the Chinese Government and Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Limin for supporting the laptop programme. He also lauded the work done by Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes from January to now.

“Teachers must be geared

to fulfil their important role in educating the students so that they can enjoy a good life in this great country,” said President Granger.

Minister Cathy Hughes described Guyana’s push to become an ICT efficient country as “exciting times.”

Hughes, who was appointed in January this year to captain the new Ministry, said over the past three weeks, more than 100 educational institutions and organisations have been connected to the Government’s fiber-optic network.

“In one short year we have been able to provide Internet access to five regional development offices, university campuses, 10 technical

Some recipients of the laptops on Wednesday at the launch of the One Laptop Per Teacher Initiative stand with President David Granger, Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin, education officials and CPCE Principal Viola Rowe

DIRECT BENEFIT The Public Telecommunications Minister stressed that Guyanese students, teachers, parents, young professionals and entrepreneurs will directly benefit from the roll out of Government’s ICT programme.

“There is no doubt that higher levels of Internet penetration have a direct, positive impact on higher levels of Gross Domestic Product in countries and improves the standard of living of all citizens.”

Minister Hughes said teachers having laptops to perform their duties provides improved opportunities for e-education across the country. “…that is, using technology to carry a teacher in a classroom in Georgetown to an Indigenous community via platforms.”

There are additional spin offs, she noted, while showing that the E-government unit of her Ministry, known as the execution arm, began a countrywide programme a few months ago to set up ICT hubs in urban and rural community centres across Guyana.

“We started out in Berbice, as far as Liverpool and Baracara up the Canje Creek; we are setting up community hubs on the East Coast and East Bank of Berbice and Demerara and in the mining town of Linden.”

It is Government’s responsibility to ensure that physical infrastructure such as the fibre-optic connections and the Long Term Evolution Network (LTE) are provided along with equipment and

the appropriate housing to store them.

She disclosed that many of the equipment will be stored in community centres and or post offices.

Training will also be provided to citizens to ensure they can take full advantage of the opportunities when they present themselves.

“We will be training the community managers of these ICT hubs and very shortly, the first three tech support units will be set up in RDC [Regional Democratic Council] compounds in Anna Regina, Linden and New Amsterdam,” she added.

With much enthusiasm, Minister Hughes told the students, teachers and trainee teachers, that new opportunities and possibilities will be opened along the way.

“We are looking forward to the expansion of this programme that will extend the fibre-optic and LTE networks into inland communities – into new towns like Mabaruma and Mahdia, along existing communities such as Kwakwani and Orealla on the Berbice River and Hog Island on the Essequibo River.”

KEEP UP She stressed the need for Guyana to “catch up and keep up” so as to reap the benefits of living in the ICT age.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who is currently overseas, Technical Facilitator to the Minister, Vincent Alexander said the One laptop Per Teacher initiative is aimed at improving the country’s education system.

“What in effect we are doing is tooling teachers for improved delivery of education while preparing our students to better receive that education.”

This gesture clearly exemplifies the Government’s commitment to provide a quality education through the use of the latest technology,” he said.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin who also spoke, but through a translator, said he has been following the One Laptop Initiative closely and has been collaborating with the Government of Guyana to ensure that the project Turn to page 13 ►

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

The last of the ‘chemo Wednesdays’ CUE Bee Gees ‘Staying Alive’, insert John Travolta moves. Yes! Finally!

The last day… The 8th and FINAL chemo day was here and I was anxious and excited to have the IV stuck in my veins for what I hoped was the last time. Two of my closest friends accompanied me as I approached my chemo milestone.

So many thoughts were going through my mind as my friends made jokes and kept me lively with their banter. One of those thoughts was brought on by the per-

vading question everyone had been asking me “do you know if the chemo worked?”

I disliked this question because it forced me to consider the worst- case scenario -- the chemo not working.

Now that the poison cure pumped through my veins for the ( I hoped) last time, I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

There were two tests that would help to determine the progress of the chemotherapy; a CT Scan and the CA 125 blood test. The CA (Cancer Antigen) 125 is a protein that is a so-called tumour marker or biomarker,

which is a substance that is found in greater concentration in tumour cells than in other cells of the body.

When my cancer was first diagnosed, this was one of the first indicators used to determine that the tumour was not benign. This test is done periodically to monitor the levels in the blood before, during and after chemotherapy.

My last CA125 done around 50% completion of my chemo showed that my levels of the antigen were quite above the normal range, in fact, they had

Teachers aggrieved

increased since my initial diagnosis but from my online medical research I learned that nothing could be substantiated until after my therapy was complete.

A decreasing level generally indicates that therapy, including chemotherapy, has been effective, while an increasing level indicates tumour recurrence. Because of normal test variation, small changes are usually not considered significant.

A doubling or halving of the previous value would be important.

As my last session came

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald, GTUC President Leslie Gonsalves and other members of their unions at Wednesday’s press briefing

work. Notices of the disapproval were reportedly issued to the Regional Education Officers on Monday.

McDonald said while teachers in other Caribbean territories were allowed to socialise and reflect on the lives that they have transformed through their profession, in Guyana it appeared as though “World Teachers’ Day would have died”.

As a result, representatives from the teachers’ union carried a black flag signalling the death of the day.

“The Guyana Teachers’ Union is very, very disappointed and we feel very disrespected,” McDonald told reporters.

According to her, the decision by the acting Chief Education Officer Marcel

Huston took teachers by surprise, given that the union was given all assurances weeks ago that permission would have been granted.

“What I know for sure [is] that teachers have felt this blow and teachers are as flat as a tyre that is punctured,” she said.

However, McDonald said those in authority must remember that teachers are valuable assets to society, noting that such a decision should never be taken again.

As a result of the decision taken, many of the activities planned by teachers across Guyana were cancelled.

GTUC President Leslie Gonsalves expressed his disappointment as well, positing that the union should have been consulted before the

some of the nicest nurses I’ve ever met- they helped to make my treatment so much easier and I will forever be grateful for their kindness; we need more women like these in nursing. Nothing compared to the feeling of accomplishment I had when I left the hospital that morning; I finally crossed the finish line of my marathon run, the scorecard however was to be determined. In the meantime and post chemo recovery I would be ‘staying alive, staying alive..ah ah ah ah…..’

…unions flay MoE for modifying Teachers’ Day celebrations

By Svetlana Marshall THE Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), with the backing of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC), has criticised the Ministry of Education over its decision to modify World Teachers’ Day activities, limiting celebrations only to the classrooms.

In the past, World Teachers’ Day in Guyana was observed in a grand way with schools holding church services, rallies, concerts, and even visits to various resorts.

But when the occasion was observed on Wednesday, such activities were prohibited by the Education Ministry.

In fact, teachers were all required to work, contrary to the norm.

At a press conference held at GTU’s Head Office, General Secretary Coretta McDonald said the Education Ministry disapproved the customary “Managers’ Day” without consulting with or informing the union.

Managers’ Day usually paves the way for public educators to celebrate World Teacher’s Day outside of the classroom. As such, they are not required to report to

to a close, I was visited by one of my doctors who gave me a big hug and words of encouragement; I was reminded to visit her in the following two weeks for my clinic date when I would have my after chemo CA 125 test to determine my next stage of treatment, or should I say confirm my next treatment which would be radiation, provided that my chemo worked.

I climbed out of my favourite recliner in the chemo room, friends in tow, kissed my nurses (Nurse Singh, Benny & Griffith) goodbye;

decision was taken.

“It is unfair, unfitting and it is discrimination for the chief education officer to say on Monday that today teachers cannot observe World Teachers’ Day,” Gonsalves said.

He said too that the ministry, particularly the act-

ing chief education officer, should indicate clearly who disapproved the day and why.

“We believe that it was not only done at the level of the CEO, which is the chief education officer, we would want to find out what is the input from the Minister of Education himself regarding this whole issue,” Gonsalves opined.

He added that “teachers are hardworking people” and the decision is not only disrespectful, but takes away from the rights of GTU and its members and the rule of law.

The GTUC President said too that “The two months that are given to teachers that were made mention of, teachers during that period would

ICT not...

is a success.

He said given China’s location to Guyana, he requested of his Government to “increase the amount of spare parts for the computers” provided.

“Education is a very important aspect of national development… it can play a very critical role in the development of our country,”

have to attend workshops, seminars, and various areas of commitment as it relates to the teaching profession.”

The GTU had made several attempts to make contact with the CEO but was unable to do so. As a result, it is awaiting a written response from the Education Ministry to ascertain the reason behind the decision.

Attempts by this newspaper to contact officials from the Education Ministry proved futile. According to UNESCO, World Teachers’ Day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding, and appreciation displayed for the vital contributions that teachers make to education and development.

From page 12

Ambassador Limin said as he praised Guyana’s diplomatic relations with China over the past 44 years.

Also present at the launch was Chief Education Officer (ag) Marcel Hutson. Several of top performers at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations also received laptops.

The One Laptop Per

Teacher initiative is the successor to the One Laptop per Family programme and is based on President Granger’s belief that the Government should provide modern tools to ensure citizens, especially young people and children, are competitive on all levels.

Wednesday’s launch coincided with World Teachers’ Day.

14

Dr Charles unbothered

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

‒ says will not be distracted by negative media reports

By Ravin Singh GUYANA Water Inc (GWI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Richard Van-West Charles has described media reports against him for alleged wrongdoings as “distractions.”

The GWI boss said he will not allow the negative publicity to affect the delivery of his work.

The CEO made his position known during an interview before the start of

the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) 59th anniversary celebration at Congress Place, Sophia, on Wednesday.

“Honestly, I’m not going to be distracted by voices in the press. I’m focused on really delivering a service to the population,” Dr Charles said when asked about reports of him acting unprofessionally in his capacity as CEO. According to a Stabroek News report on September 27, 2016, the GWI board

has launched an investigation into the conduct of Dr Charles following serious complaints by staff.

The Stabroek News article further stated that “Senior staff members of GWI have tirelessly complained about the actions of the CEO, including him purportedly superseding the authority of various department heads and in one case even renaming a department without informing the person who was in charge of it.”

Further, Chairman of

the Board Nigel Hinds also disclosed that, “There is the issue of abuse of authority and it still continues… [The] majority of GWI senior staff members have made some very serious complaints against the CEO.” But, according to the CEO, he has an open-door policy whereby people can attest to the fact that staff at all levels are able to communicate with him.

“I have an open door.

Anybody will tell you that my staff at all levels can

come and speak to me. They can stop me [because] that’s the approach I’ve had in my years of working. One of the things that I try to ensure is that the workers’ rights are respected,” he said.

The CEO went on to explain that in many instances, many workers were disrespected. One example, he pointed out, was the fact that workers are offered a shift premium allowance of G$5.

RIDICULOUS “It is totally ridiculous,” he said, adding that these are issues which he is working to address and will not be distracted by voices in the press.

Not too long ago, the GWI board terminated the employment of Debt Recovery Manager Lear Goring, after it was discovered that he was not qualified for that position.

A convicted drug felon, Goring is said to be a close friend of Dr Van-West Charles, which some believed may have led to him being handed the position which was never advertised.

Additionally, Dr VanWest Charles is said to have also hired another close friend, James King, who serves as deputy chief security officer without this post being advertised.

As recent as Wednesday, unconfirmed reports emerged which suggest that Hinds is likely to resign due to these existing circumstances and grievances with the CEO. That same day, Dr VanWest Charles appeared in a published advertisement

where managers and staff of GWI endorsed him and expressed support for his contributions to the company thus far.

And in relation to the comments made in the press about him, Dr Van-WestCharles believes that these “voices in the press” are just distractions which he will not allow to hinder his work.

He went on to defend his appointment as CEO, stating that “I come with an experience of having worked nationally and internationally.”

According to the CEO, change always brings some “storming and forming.”

He said that it takes time, since not everybody is going to hold on to the trapeze and go with the change right away. He noted this change is not in the interest of management or the board, but change which is designed to benefit the population.

And despite the fact that not everyone will subscribe to this change, the GWI boss said that what he is focused on is delivering service to the population.

“I’m focused on really delivering a service to the population,” he said, adding that one of the priorities for him is the delivery of quality water and intensifying efforts to increase access.

He noted that in another two weeks, residents of Sophia and those is various communities on the Essequibo Coast can expect increased access to water, while efforts are also being made to distribute filters to schools in riverine communities.

Thursday, October 6, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Friday, October 7, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Saturday, October 8, 2016 - 09:03 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 6, 2016

Fury could lose licence Golden Jaguars depart Suriname tonight after cocaine admission for ...team upbeat and ready Tyson Fury has not fought since beating Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015

Coach Shabazz speaking with Chronicle Sport reporter Ras Wadada just prior to the start of the final training session last night.

WORLD heavyweight champion Tyson Fury could lose his licence after he revealed he was taking cocaine.

The British fighter, 28, who claimed he had retired on Monday before retracting the comment three hours later, has also said he is suffering from depression.

British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) general secretary Robert Smith said cocaine use is “against the law”.

The governing body, which meets on October 12, stripped Ricky Hatton of his licence after drug use allegations.

The British boxer lost his licence in 2010 and the former two-weight world champion has reportedly texted Fury asking him “to give me a ring” if he needs me.

The BBBofC meeting has not been called ex-

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clusively for Fury’s case, but Smith said the body “can’t ignore the law of the land”, adding: “It’s drug use and we will deal with it accordingly.”

BBC Sport has contacted the WBO and WBA - the two organisations with which Fury holds heavyweight titles - but is yet to receive a response.

The WBO and WBA are not governing bodies and can strip Fury of the title, declare the titles vacant, or he can vacate them.

Smith said: “We deal with the licence, so in theory, if we were to suspend him they would have no choice but to strip him because he can’t defend them, can he?

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do.”

Fury - undefeated in 25 professional fights - has not fought since November 2015 when he inflicted a first defeat on Wladimir Klitschko in more than 11 years, winning the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts.

He was stripped of the IBF strap within two weeks as he could not face mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov and a rematch with Klitschko has twice been postponed.

The Manchester-born fighter also faces a UK Anti-Doping hearing in November after traces of a banned substance were allegedly found in a urine sample in June.

On Monday, Fury tweeted: “I’m the greatest, and I’m also retired”. But three hours later posted: “I’m here to stay”. (BBC Sport) Tramore 09:15 hrs Figurative 09:45 hrs Icelip 10:20 hrs Father Jed 10:55 hrs Orchard Road 11:30 hrs Lip Dervice 12:05 hrs One Fine Morning 12:35 hrs Ballyegan Hero American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 Decent Race 2 Midnight Bounty Race 3 Tisbury Race 4 Kentucky Road Race 5 J. J. Jake Race 6 Great Stuff Race 7 Barre of Dreams Race 8 Roman Approval Race 9 Song for the Soul

THE Guyana Golden Jaguars will depart for Suriname tonight brimful of confidence ahead of their crucial 3rd round encounter against the former Dutch colony in the CFU’s Scotia Bank Men’s Senior Caribbean Cup 2016.

Head Coach, Jamal Shabazz,in an invited comment, prior to the final training session at the Leonora stadium last night, told Chronicle Sport that despite the lack of proper preparations he is happy to say that the team spirit is high and expectations are high for a positive result.

“We have an exciting bunch of experienced and young talented players, some of whom will be wearing the national colors for the first time. Generally,there is a strong desire to give of their best and the atmosphere in the camp is positive”.

“I must admit, given the kind of preparations we have had, this is the most difficult games for me since I have been in charge of Guyana. We,however,go forward with courage and confidence”, Shabazz declared.

The 20-man squad announced to travel to Suriname reads: Goalkeepers – Kai Lyle and Andrew Nestor; Defenders - Jake Newton, Samuel Cox, Quincy Adams, Walter Moore, Adrian Butters, Colin Nelson (Alpha United) and Anani Mohammed,; Midfielders – Dwight Peters, Cash London, Brandon Beresford, Trayon Bobb, Christopher Nurse (Captain), Warren Creavelle and Daniel Wilson; Forwards – Anthony Abrams, Vurlon Mills, Pernel Schultz and Marcel Barrington.

The Management and Coaching Staff: Head Coach – Jamal Shabazz, Assistant Coach – Wayne Dover, Goalkeeper Coach – Andre Hazel, Trainer – Anson Ambrose, Physiotherapist – Denzil Hernandez, Equipment Manager _ Trevor Burnette and Manager – Rawle Adams.

Saturday’s game is set for the Andre Kamperveen Stadium in Paramaribo, beginning at 16:30 hrs. Three days later the Golden Jaguars will tackle the Reggae Boyz at the Leonora Stadium. (Ras Wadada)

CONCACAF could rebrand after 'toxic' past...

From back page

dependent ethics committee.

Montagliani, also a vice-president of FIFA, said taking the helm had been eye-opening and the days when a president could do things "with a wink and a nod" were over.

CONCACAF last hosted a World Cup in 1994, in the United States, and Montagliani said it was time to bring the tournament back to the region in 2026.

Whether that should be a regional bid, or by one of the three big powers Mexico, the United States and Canada, remained open.

"The more I think of it the more it (a regional bid) makes a lot of sense ... it

would probably be consistent with how we govern soccer in our region," he said.

Montagliani backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino's suggestion that the tournament expand to 48 countries in 2026, with an initial knockout stage and then a 32-team group stage.

"I think it's obvious it's not going to stay at 32 for 2026," said the Canadian.

"The reality is that we need to look from a global perspective ... should we expand? I think the answer is probably yes and now it's what's the format and all that and it has to work from a numbers and a business standpoint."

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 06, 2016

Dubai and the West Indies team

By Rudi Webster

RECENTLY, Dwayne Bravo described the West Indies team in Dubai as a lost group. Bravo said, “I was

there in Dubai and basically the players were lost, the management was lost, everything just looked like we were school kids again, and the team meetings had

no sort of positive inputs or anything like that.”

Bravo claimed that the untimely sacking of coach Phil Simmons, who had the full support of the team,

disturbed the entire momentum (motivation) of the squad.

Surprise, surprise! The team in Dubai cannot be coached from an office in the Caribbean.

The West Indies team seems to be in a state of confusion. It is executing the basic skills poorly and has experienced a breakdown in leadership, teamwork, selfworth, self-discipline, and selfmotivation. This is serious stuff because these ingredients form the platform on which good performance is built.

his leadership team have done an awful job in these vital areas and cannot in any way be proud of their performance.

In war, no one has as yet found how to administer or manage people into battle. They must be motivated to fight. The same is true in sport.

In cricket, the battle is fought with balls and bats but it is the spirit and motivation of the man who leads and the players who follow that take the team to victory. The greatest leader in the world will never

Dwayne Bravo In professional sport one can never overestimate the importance of self-discipline and self-motivation. The level of a player’s performance depends largely on the depth of his motivation and selfdiscipline. In fact, experts in performance now claim that at the highest levels of sport the correlation between selfdiscipline/motivation and performance is twice as large as the correlation between ability and performance.

The Pygmalion principle is something that president Cameron and other leaders in the WICB should try to understand.

When a leader shares his vision and expectations with team members, communicates freely with them, clarifies their roles and responsibilities, and empowers them to feel like worthwhile and valuable people, he creates an awareness of purpose, a feeling of importance and a sense of belonging.

Team members then bring passion and commitment with them especially when they believe that they can truly make a difference to the performance of the team.

And when the leader correctly directs and focuses those energies, he satisfies a major requirement for success.

Unfortunately, Cameron and

win a campaign unless he understands and motivates the people he has to lead.

I am not sure that the director of cricket understands the culture and the psyche of the Caribbean people. And he does not seem to know how to motivate and empower his coaches and players. This I believe is a cause of his erratic behaviour and mediocre performance. The sacking of Simmons is a case in point.

The Board claimed that one of the reasons for the sacking of the coach was a difference in culture between the director/ WICB and Simmons. But the board’s culture is a losing culture that needs to be challenged and changed.

The board cannot continue to support and propagate that culture and expect the fortunes of WI cricket to change.

WI players must take full responsibility for their performance on and off the field but they will not be able to give their best if they continue to operate in the hostile and toxic environment that currently exists.

This begs the question, for whose convenience and benefit is West Indies cricket designed? Is it designed to serve the players and coaches, or is it structured to satisfy the needs of the president, board

members and the director of cricket in order to perpetuate their power to control and dictate? Democratic boards are designed to serve, support and empower rather than to direct, control and dictate.

As long as Cameron is in charge, the board will stick to its rigid ways and continue to resist change. It will work in a non-learning environment that stifles growth, innovation, development and good performance.

Teamwork and team spirit seem to be at an all-time low.

But what type of teamwork is needed to improve the fortunes of WI cricket?

In American football, the head coach is the king. He has great power and usually calls the shots. His counterpart in WI cricket is the director of cricket. The main priority of the team is the implementation of the coach’s plan. Conformity is the name of the game and dissent and individuality are not encouraged or tolerated.

Leadership and coaching have an inflexible and autocratic flavour.

In cricket, performance is built around the individual, so there is more emphasis on individual effort, style, motivation, and achievement.

Motivation of the individual and management of his assets and weaknesses are top priorities.

Having one rule for all can be counterproductive. Good presidents and cricket directors are smart enough to tolerate and accommodate internal differences and individual needs while focusing on the common goal. They value diversity and interdependence.

Teams run into trouble when the team plays one game and the administrators play a different game.

For example, when a cricket director manages his team like an American football coach most things revolve around him and his plan rather than around his coaches and players.

His need for control and conformity and his dislike of any kind of dissent invariably stifle individual talent and creativity and interfere with team dynamics and performance.

It is not too late for the director of cricket to change his ways. But will he be allowed to do so? He must stop behaving like an American football coach and start to play the same game that his team is playing - the game of cricket.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 11, 2016

Second Annual Nasir Memorial 5/5 Cricket tournament set for Sunday

Karunaratne, Cornwall star on second day

Leewards off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall grabs six for 87.

Bakewell Berbice Supervisor Andre Sukwa, hands over sponsorship cheque to Chanderpaul Govindan of the RHTY&SC M.S. while other members look on.

T H E R o s e H a l l To w n Youth and Sports Club M.S. on Sunday, October 9, will host the 2nd annual Naeem Nasir Memorial 5/5 cricket tournament with support from long-time official sponsor, Bakewell.

N a s i r, t h e f o u n d e r o f Bakewell died several years ago and is hailed as one of the main reasons why the RHTY&SC M.S. is widely considered as Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation.

Secretary/CEO of the Club, Hilbert Foster, hailed the late Bakewell CEO as a true friend and noted that his company since 2000 has invested millions of dollars into the club’s numerous programmes.

The 5/5 Cricket tournament, he stated, was part of the RHTY&SC efforts to keep Nasir’s memory alive and to pay tribute to an outstanding Guyanese icon and role model.

The tournament would bowl off at 09:00hrs at the Area ‘H’ Ground with twelve teams.

Among the teams are Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Rose Hall Estate, Fyrish, Toopoo Rising Star, Bush Lot United, Young and Restless, Goed Bananen and Belvedere United.

Teams would be allotted 20 minutes to bowl their five overs while only two fielders would be allowed out of the 30-yard circle for the first over. A maximum of five

fielders would be allowed out of the circle for the last four overs.

All teams are expected to report to the Area ‘H’ Ground by 08:30hrs with two red cricket balls.

Umpires for the tournament would be provided by the Berbice Cricket Umpires Association.

A prize package of over $100 000 would be given to the top teams and Man-of-theFinals.

The RHTY&SC M.S., he stated, would be organising a series of tournaments at the Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Female, Second and First Division levels in a major effort to ensure that cricket is kept alive in the Ancient County.

Bakewell has been sponsoring the Under-17 and Second Division teams of the RHTY&SC since 2000 and is the co-sponsor of over 20 other activities including the Annual Award Ceremony, A n n u a l Yo u t h R e v i e w Magazine, Christmas Village, Mother- and Fatherof- the-Year Programmes, Annual Cricket Award and Christmas Senior Citizens hampers, among others.

Foster expressed gratitude to Bakewell CEO, Rajindranauth Ganga, and the wife of the late Naeem Nasir, Mrs Annetta Nasir for their continued confidence in the RHTY&SC. He pledged that the tournament would be properly organised.

SRI Lanka-A’s commanding start to the innings - Test batsmen Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera putting on 167 for the first wicket - ensured they finished the second day against West Indies-A in a strong position.

Scores: Sri Lanka A 348 for 8 (Karunaratne 131, Perera 87, Cornwall 6-87) lead West Indies-A 276 (Vishaul Singh 96, Brooks 65, Gunaratne 3-27) by 72 runs.

The left-handed opening pair scored at 4.57 per over, with Perera especially going after a West Indian bowling that might have looked even more pedestrian had it not been for Leeward Islands off-spinner Rahkeem

Cornwall, who ended the day with 6 for 87, his third five-wicket haul in a row in first-class cricket.

Cornwall has taken 42 wickets in his last ten innings.

Cornwall broke the opening stand and further damaged Sri Lanka-A’s momentum as he picked up Lahiru Thirimanne and Roshan Silva shortly after. However, Karunaratne dug in and scored 131, setting up a fifth-wicket stand of 85 with Niroshan Dickwella, who scored 59.

Cornwall then returned to take three wickets for no runs as Sri Lanka-A slipped to 337 for 8. They finished on 348 for 8, 72 ahead of West Indies-A. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Walters preparing to knock Lomachenko out NICHOLAS, ‘The Axeman’ Walters, intends to make a spectacular return to the ring when he faces WBO World super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko in Las Vegas on November 26.

The 30-year-old former WBA featherweight champion, who fought to a controversial draw against Jason Sosa on December 19, 2015, intends to put that blemish on his unbeaten career behind him when he fights the Ukranian for all the marbles.

“I’m going to knock him out,” said Walters,

Former WBA featherweight champion Nicholas Walters who started training for

the fight in September at

the Pedro ‘El Rockero’

Alcázar de Curundú Gym in Panama.

“I’m training for that.

Just like I did to Nonito (Donaire), that’s how I’m going to defeat him.”

Walters, who can count the likes of former champions Donaire and Vic Darchinyan among his 11 knockout victims in his last 12 fights, believes he can do the same to the much-heralded Lomachenko who has lost once in his seven professional fights. ”Any fighter can be knocked out, no matter who he is,” said Walters.

“I like fighting the best

and I like fighting against great technical fighters like Lomachenko. (He) is great, he knows what he is doing in the ring. But I always look for a knockout against whomever I fight. If I can do it quick, I will.”

Lomachenko enhanced his fledgling, but already impressive reputation in June when he logged a sensational knockout over WBO World super featherweight title-holder, Roman Martinez. (Sportsmax.com)

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 06, 2016

Miller century clinches ODI series for Proteas (REUTERS) - David Miller blasted an unbeaten century as South Africa chased down a massive target of 372 in the third one-dayer against Australia at Kingsmead yesterday to clinch the series.

The hosts went 3-0 up in the five-match contest after winning by four wickets thanks to Miller’s brilliant 118 in 79 balls.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and posted 371 for six on the back of centuries from David

Warner (117) and Steve Smith (108).

Quinton de Kock made 70 as South Africa reached 217 for five in the 32nd over of their reply but an unbroken seventhwicket stand of 107 between Miller and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo (42 not out) saw them home against Australia’s inexperienced attack.The hard-

launches one down the ground, in his unbeaten 118,

SCORE BOARD

AUSTRALIA innings D. Warner c Duminy b Tahir 117 A. Finch c Rabada b Tahir 53 S. Smith b Steyn 108 G. Bailey c du Plessis b Phehlukwayo 28 M. Marsh c Miller b Steyn 2 T. Head c & b Rabada 35 M. Wade not out 17 Extras: (lb-3, w-8) 11 Total: (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 371 Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-234, 3-280, 4-300, 5-325, 6-371.

Bowling: D. Steyn 10-0-96-2 (w-1), K. Rabada 10-0-86-1 (w-4), D. Pretorius 6-0-420, I. Tahir 10-0-54-2, A. Phehlukwayo 8-0-581, J. Duminy 6-0-32-0.

SOUTH AFRICA innings Q. de Kock c Worrall b Tremain 70 H. Amla lbw b Hastings 45 F. du Plessis c Warner b Head 33 R. Rossouw lbw b Zampa 18 J. Duminy c Finch b Hastings 20 D. Miller not out 118 D. Pretorius c Warner b M. Marsh 15 A. Phehlukwayo not out 42 Extras: (lb-3, w-8) 11 Total: (for 6 wickets, 49.2 overs) 372 Fall of wickets: 1-66, 2-140, 3-164, 4-179, 5-217, 6-265.

Bowling: C. Tremain 10-0-65-1 (w-2), D. Worrall 9-0-78-0 (w-2), J. Hastings 10-0-792 (w-1), M. Marsh 10-0-61-1 (w-2) A. Zampa 7.2-1-55-1 (w-1), T. Head 3-0-31-1.

hitting Miller blasted 10 fours and a six after going into the game with a question mark hanging over his place, having not passed 50 in 19 previous innings.

Australian openers Warner and Aaron Finch (53) bludgeoned their way to 110 for nought in 13 overs while captain Smith was more measured as he

struck his sixth one-day ton.

The trio were particular severe on Dale Steyn (2-96) and fellow seamer Kagiso Rabada (1-86). Leg-spinner Imran Tahir (2-54) was the pick of the home bowlers.

The fourth match is in Port Elizabeth on Sunday before the series ends in Cape Town on October 12.

12th Annual Hand-in-Hand 11-race cycle programmes billed for Saturday LOCAL cyclists will be in action once again on Saturday when cycling coach Hassan Mohamed organises the 12th Annual Handin-Hand Insurance-sponsored 11-race cycle pro-

gramme around the inner circuit of the National Park beginning at 09:00hrs.

Overseas-based cyclists Raynauth `Obeah man’ Jeffrey, who won the event last year with a time of one hour

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

COMPLIMENTS OF: THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE 176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 1 (Rumman Raees) (2) 2 (Nicholas Pooran & Kesrick Williams) Today’s Quiz: (1) What has been the result of the recent 3-match ODI series between the WI and Pakistan?

(2) How many times Pakistan have now defeated the WI in ODI games?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

17 minutes 01.99 seconds, is expected to be present to try and defend his title on Saturday after just competing in the Tobago Cycling Classic which concluded last Saturday.

Apart from Jeffrey, there were a number of other Guyanese who were part of the Tobago Classic and they are all expected to be in Guyana by tomorrow. This makes Saturday’s feature 35-lap race an interesting one to witness, as they will all be using this race on Saturday as a warm-up for the much-anticipated Mohamed Kadir Memorial 80-mile cycle road race which carries a first prize of one ounce of raw gold.

Stephano Husbands who also contested the Tobago Cycling Classic finished second to Jeffrey last year while Hamza Eastman, Raul Leal, Junior Niles and Horace Burrowes occupied the other top four places respectively.

Jamaul John is the defending champion of the juveniles’ 10-lap race which he won ahead of Raphael Leung and Christopher Griffith respectively.

Shane Bourne won the five-lap race for mountain bikers last year ahead of Marcus Keiler and Seon Budhan respectively, while John Niles won the two-lap race for BMX boys 6-9 years old ahead of Christopher Goring and Alexander Leung respectively.

The defending champion of the BMX boys 9-12 years old three-lap race is Goring, while Adelui Hodge is the defending champion of the three-lap race for BMX boys 12-14 years old.

A representative of the insurance company is expected to witness the day’s proceedings and assist with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 06, 2016

Record-breaking Babar

secures Pakistan whitewash

A RECORD-breaking knock from Babar Azam lifted Pakistan to a 136run victory in Abu Dhabi and a whitewash in their three-match one-day international series against West Indies.

Babar notched 120 and 123 in the first and second ODIs respectively, and he racked up another 117 off 106 deliveries yesterday to take his total to 360 – more than any other batsman has

second clean sweep of the tour after being skittled out for 172.

The tourists will hope to step up their performances ahead of a gruelling Test series which starts in Dubai next week Thursday.

Azhar and Sharjeel Khan (38) started strongly, and any relief the Windies had from seeing the latter caught off Sulieman Benn (1-51) at long-on was shortlived, with Babar entering

A third century in as many ODIs from Babar Azam played a pivotal role in Pakistan completing a 3-0 victory over West Indies.

managed in a series of three or fewer 50-over matches.

His 147-run partnership for the second wicket with captain Azhar Ali (101), who bounced back from scoring just nine runs in the first two matches, set a formidable target of 309.

And the Windies were unable to save face with Denesh Ramdin top-scoring with 37 as they fell to a

the fray and quickly settling into a steady routine with his captain.

Every gap in the field appeared simple for Babar to spot as he surged through the gears, but his skipper was eventually undone by a slow ball from Jason Holder (1-63).

Pakistan lost Shoaib Malik for five but Babar was unperturbed, celebrating be-

coming the third batsman from his country to score hundreds in three successive ODI innings, by dropping to his knees.

Kieron Pollard (1-19) finally brought the curtain down on the youngster’s phenomenal knock for his 50th ODI wicket before Alzarri Joseph (2-62) removed Mohammad Rizwan (4) and Imad Wasim (4) in the latter stages.

Sohail Khan (1-34) replaced Mohammed Amir in the Pakistan XI and the move quickly paid off as the paceman made the breakthrough with the removal of Evin Lewis (22) in the 10th over.

Kraigg Brathwaite (32) reached the boundary three times before being trapped leg-before by Shoaib (1-23), and when Darren Bravo (17) and Marlon Samuels (13) soon followed the Windies were 93-4 in the 23rd over.

Mohammad Nawaz accounted for Pollard (11) before claiming the scalps of Sunil Narine and Benn in the same over, while Wahab Riaz removed Joseph (2) for his 100th ODI wicket.

Pakistan rounded off a brilliant display when Rizwan capitalised on a miscommunication between Ramdin and Shannon Gabriel to run the keeper out as the Windies’ meek reply concluded in fitting fashion.

(Omisport.com)

Bel Air RUBiS, Trophy Stall sponsor U-13 cricket TROPHY Stall and Bel Air RUBiS were the latest entities to put youth cricket at the head of their agenda when they launched an Under-13 tournament last week.

At a simple ceremony at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Lalta Gainda of Bel Air RUBiS and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market, jointly announced their intention to sponsor the tournament.

The competition is for teams on the East Coast Demerara.

However, teams or clubs from Georgetown area or any other area in Guyana are welcome to join.

The tournament will give exposure to the younger cricketers and will commence shortly.

It will feature matches of two innings with a duration limit of 30 overs in the first innings.

The second innings will be unlimited.

The organisers and sponsors decided on this regulation so as to make sure that there is at least a firstinnings result.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall said that he is delighted to be part-sponsor of

Left is Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall handing over the winning trophy to Anil Persaud of East Coast Cricket Committee in the presence of two Under-15 players and GFSCA representative Anil Beharry. this tournament and commended showing interest in the young his co-sponsor Gainda for the and upcoming cricketers.

The tournament, organised initiative.

He further stated that for West by Mohamed Ashmul Ali and Indies to turn around their Anil Persaud, is endorsed the Guyana Cricket fortunes, it has to start from the by grassroots level and he hopes Board and will play under the that this tournament will unearth guidance of the East Coast some Ramnaresh Sarwans, Cricket Committee.

Shivnarine Chanderpauls, Only players born during or Lance Gibbs and Clive Lloyds after the year 2004 will be among many other outstanding eligible. cricketers, produced by Guyana. Interested teams can make with Mohamed Speaking on behalf of the East contact Coast Cricket Committee, Anil Ashmul Ali on 222-0189/652Persaud thanked the sponsors 5896 or Anil Persaud on 624for coming on board and for 6098 for more details.

Sponsors hail Sharapova’s reduced ban

By Ian Ransom

(REUTERS)-Maria Sharapova’s reduced suspension for a doping violation is set to provide a healthy boost to her bank balance with corporate sponsors reaffirming their commitment to the Russian player.

The 29-year-old can return to the court next April after the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced her two-year ban by nine months on Tuesday.

Sharapova’s stunning admission in March that she had tested positive for

AG, was among those to suspend its relationship with the Russian.

However, in the wake of Tuesday’s verdict the German luxury carmaker confirmed it would discuss its tie-ups with Sharapova.

“We welcome the CAS verdict and are delighted for Maria,” Porsche said in a statement published by Russian news agency TASS. “No contracts have been terminated. We will be discussing a future collaboration over the next days and weeks.”

SCORE BOARD

PAKISTAN innings Az. Ali b Holder

101 Sh. Khan c Joseph b Benn

38 B. Azam b Pollard

117 S. Malik c Ramdin b Narine 5 S. Ahmed not out

24 M. Rizwan lbw b Joseph

4 I. Wasim c Da. Bravo b Joseph 4 M. Nawaz not out

4 Extras: (lb-7, nb-1, w-3)

11 Total: (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 308 Fall of wickets: 1-85, 2-232, 3-239, 4-280, 5-285, 6-303.

Bowling: A. Joseph 8-0-62-2 (w-1), S. Gabriel 5-0-37-0 (nb-1), K. Brathwaite 4-0-22-0, J. Holder 10-0-63-1 (w-2), S. Narine 10-0-47-1, S. Benn 10-0-51-1, K. Pollard 3-0-19-1.

WEST INDIES innings K. Brathwaite lbw b Malik 32 E. Lewis b So. Khan

22 Da. Bravo c S. Ahmed b Riaz 17 M. Samuels run-out 13 D. Ramdin run-out 37 K. Pollard c Malik b Nawaz 11 J. Holder b Wasim

26 S. Narine stp. S. Ahmed b Nawaz 0 S. Benn c So. Khan b Nawaz

0 A. Joseph c Malik b Riaz

2 S. Gabriel not out

1 Extras: (b-1, lb-4, w-6)

11 Total: (all out, 44 overs) 172 Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-75, 3-87, 4-93, 5-117, 6-159, 7-161, 8-161, 9-170.

Bowling: I. Wasim 8-0-29-1, So. Khan 7-0-34-1 (w-3), H. Ali 6-1-13-0, S. Malik 6-0-23-1 (w-1), M. Nawaz 9-0-40-3 (w-1), W. Riaz 8-0-28-2 (w-1).

Maria Sharapova meldonium at the Australian Open, and her subsequent ban by the International Tennis Federation, saw a number of sponsors distance themselves from her.

Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer cut ties with the former world number one while Porsche, a unit of Volkswagen

Nike Inc, the world’s biggest sportswear brand, initially suspended its partnership with Sharapova after her admission in March but said it would continue to work with the player after her two-year ban was announced in June.

“We are pleased that Ma-

ria will be back playing the sport she loves in April and look forward to partnering with her and enjoying her continued success on and off the court,” Nike said in a statement published by ESPN. Mineral water brand Evian and racket maker Head, long-time backers, also released statements hailing the reduction.

Head chairman and CEO Johan Eliasch, a robust supporter of Sharapova throughout the scandal, said “justice” had been served.

“We are very proud to have stood by Maria for the right reasons throughout these difficult and testing times,” he said in a statement posted on the company’s social media accounts.

Five-times grand slam champion Sharapova, the world’s highest-paid sportswoman, earned $29.7 million last year, according to Forbes magazine, most of it from endorsements, appearances and royalties rather than victories on court.

Sponsors’ moves to rekindle their relationships with Sharapova were viewed dimly by some sports fans on social media.

“So boss of Head reckons drug taking is fine. Tennis is a mess with sponsors like this!” tweeted David Cooke (@hirsty9).

Recordbreaking Babar secures Pakistan whitewash 23 P.

Golden Jaguars depart for Suriname tonight ...team upbeat and ready

Golden Jaguars (L to R) Daniel Wilson, Dwight Peters and Vurlon Mills getting warmed up before training started last night.

(Delano Williams photos) Story on page 19

›››

CONCACAF could rebrand after 'toxic' past, says new president

By Alan Baldwin |

UK-based Golden Jaguars (L to R) Marcel Barrington, Samuel Cox and Jake Newton doing some stretches at last night’s final training session at the Leonora Stadium

LONDON, England (Reuters) - CONCACAF could change its name to create a new brand image and distance itself from a "toxic" past, the president of the body that governs soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean said yesterday.

"We're going to go through an exhaustive process in terms of both brand, just the logo itself, and if you are going to look at the logo you might as well look at the name as well," Victor Montagliani told Reuters.

"Is it (the name) conducive to the brand, do we need to change so it's a little bit more slick?," the Canadian said at the Leaders sport business conference at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground.

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

"Obviously there has been some toxic waste there," he added. "But it's more looking forward ..."

Montagliani, elected in May, said the issue was on the agenda at CONCACAF's last council meeting.

The Miami-based confederation has been at the centre of a corruption scandal that has engulfed world soccer, during which 42 individuals and entities have been charged in the United States on a variety of graft-related offences.

Three past CONCACAF presidents, Trinidad and Tobago's Jack Warner, Cayman Islander Jeffrey Webb and Honduran Alfredo Hawit, have been charged.

The body voted for wide-ranging reforms in February, including a new inTurn to page 19 ►

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016