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Jordan winds up debate SATURDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2016

No. 104461

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‒ insists measures will address needs of the poor

Jagdeo ‘cut and run’ 8

…after demanding 50% pay hike for public servants

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday led a PPP walked out of the National Assembly after making his contribution to the budget debates

Nagamootoo ‘Reckless’ flogs Jagdeo for driver turns misinformation self in 4

Geneva 9 Agreement 50 years after P.

‒ diplomats say ICJ only viable option to settle Guyana-Venezuela border controversy

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

President, UN SG for NY meeting on border …will also raise issue with Caricom heads next week AS THE 50th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement nears, President David Granger is slated to meet with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Kimoon next week, where he hopes to further press Guyana’s position for a juridical settlement of the decades-old border controversy between this country and Venezuela. The Head of State will advocate for Guyana at the 27th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Belize on February 16-17, and later in the week will engage the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, at a meeting in New York, to

President David Granger greets Sir Shridath Ramphal during his visit to the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday

continue to push for a juridical settlement of the issue. “February 17 is the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement, and the Secretary General has specific responsibilities under the Geneva Agreement. Guyana has already signalled to him, in no uncertain terms, that we are prepared to go forward to have a juridical settlement, and we are calling on him to exercise his mandate in accordance with the Geneva Agreement… We emphasised the role that he has to play,” the President stated, following a meeting with Sir Shridath Ramphal. President Granger noted that even as Venezuela continues to claim Guyana’s territory, it has also launched a “propaganda offensive,” purporting that the Geneva Agreement invalidated the 1899 Tribunal Agreement. “There is nothing in the Geneva Agreement which suggests an invalidation of an international agreement by which borders have been drawn 116 years ago… Nothing in this agreement deprives Guyana of any territory, and this is the message we are sending. But in addition to that, we are looking to the United Nations Secretary-General to perform the functions, which have been

given to him under the Geneva Agreement and bring this matter to a swift and successful conclusion. We are quite fed-up of the Venezuelan aggression and harassment,” President Granger said. The Geneva Agreement allows for the UN SG to choose, as one of his options, a juridical settlement to the dispute. Guyana has indicated that it prefers such a settlement. “Venezuela has not agreed to the line that Guyana has taken, that is, to proceed to juridical settlement, and Venezuela is attempting to use the observance of the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Agreement to falsely convey the notion that the Geneva Agreement somehow or the other invalidates the 1899 Accord,” President Granger said. The Head of State noted that despite the Secretary General’s intervention at a meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Council last year, Venezuela is still to accredit Guyana’s Ambassador to that country. He added that Venezuela’s continued claims to Guyana’s territory have limited national development. “A lot of the actions that the Venezuelans have taken over the past years have driven investors out. This must be

the last year that Guyana has to suffer the indignities and aggressions of Venezuela. We look forward to having a juridical settlement so that we can pursue the development of our natural resources,” President Granger said. Sir Shridath discussed the significance of the 50th Anniversary of the Geneva Agreement. Sir Shridath, who was then Minister of State in the Forbes Burnham Administration, was a member of the British Guiana team which partnered with the British delegation to present Guyana’s case at the Geneva Conference in February 1966. Sir Shridath said that a great deal of vigilance and diplomatic actions are now needed as February 17, 2016 – the date of the signing of the Agreement – approaches. “This is the day when the Foreign Affairs Minister would have to defend Guyana against a new Venezuela thrust,” Sir Shridath said. “We would be hard at work because Venezuela is now the Chairman of the United Nations Security Council and we can expect no favours… this is not just the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Agreement, but the 50th anniversary of Guyana.” According to the Geneva Agreement, which was made between Venezuela and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on February 17, 1966, just months before Guyana gained Independence, a mixed commission “of Guyanese and Venezuelan representatives would be established to seek “satisfactory solutions for the practical settlement of the controversy between Venezuela and the United Kingdom, which has arisen as the result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void”. According to the Agreement, if, following the report of the Commission, Guyana and Venezuela do not reach an agreement, then the countries must choose “one of the means of peaceful settlement provided in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations.” A juridical settlement is one such option available to the Secretary-General. Nowhere in the Agreement does it even suggest that the 1899 Arbitral Award had been nullified. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Jordan winds up debate GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

‒ insists measures would address needs of the poor By Svetlana Marshall SINCE its presentation on January 29, Budget 2016 has been a trending topic, gaining the support of the masses, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, as he wound up the debates on Friday evening in the absence of the Opposition. “Budget 2016 is a pro-working class budget,” he said, while alluding to sentiments expressed by former President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Clinton Williams, who was quoted in the Monday, February 1, 2016 edition of the Guyana Chronicle under a report dubbed “People’s Budget – Private Sector hails Budget as pro-working class.” Williams had told this newspaper that the $230B budget sets the stage for the “good life” that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government envisions for the people of Guyana. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) have also thrown their support behind the budget. Addressing the concerns raised during the debates, the Finance Minister said it would appear as though the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) either did

not read the budget in full or does not understand the particulars of the financial document. The Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, before staging yet another walkout, told the House that the APNU+AFC Government continues to undermine the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project by pushing to have a power purchase agreement signed with a private developer for a US$50M Wind Farm at Hope Beach. But Minister Jordan, in his quest to offer greater clarity, alluded to his earlier statements during which he told the House that the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project is not viable in its current state, and that the Government of Guyana and the Kingdom of Norway are currently engaged in discussions for a final review and determination of the future of the project. Additionally, the Government proposes to prioritise the construction of four mini-hydro power stations at Kamaira, Kumu, Tumatumari and Tiger Hill. It was also a common cry of the Opposition that the Government had repackaged many of the Opposition party’s projects, but the Finance Minister, in flipping back the pages of history, recalled

Finance Minister Winston Jordan wrapping up debates on the 2016 Budget

that the PPP/C, during its early years in Government, had executed many of the projects and programmes initiated by the People’s National Congress (PNC). “This PPP Government, in that 23 years, in the first four-five years, were implementing projects that were set up by the PNC!” he told the House. NATURE OF BUSINESS He added: “We are not blaming them or telling them anything about that, because that is the nature of the business! You can’t just come in and dump projects that have already started.” Rhetorically, he asked, “What is wrong with Government moving ahead with projects that have already at-

tracted significant funds and continue to take up the fiscal space, thereby preventing Government from initiating projects of its own?” However, he said Government is already experiencing enormous problems with many of the projects. The Finance Minister pointed out that the US$65M were already advanced to the contractor for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion and Modernisation Project before the APNU+AFC Government took Office. “Go there and see if you see US$65M of work done at CJIA,” Minister Jordan urged. The contentious Specialty Hospital was among projects placed in the limelight

during the heated debates. “US$4.3M down the drain,” the Finance Minister said, while alluding to the project. According to him, the project was manipulated to give someone who does not even have the knowhow to build a “health hut”, much less a specialty hospital. The project, to which a US$18M loan was acquired, was awarded by the PPP/C Government to Surendra Engineering in 2012, but was subsequently terminated by the same Government following allegations of fraud. The APNU+AFC Government, upon entering office, had asked the EXIM Bank of India to cancel the Line of Credit (LOC) for the Specialty Hospital and to reallocate the balance of funds to a project to modernise three primary healthcare facilities, but the Government of India (GoI), in its response, while indicating its no-objection and support for the modernisation of primary healthcare facilities, suggested that GoG should consider salvaging the Specialty Hospital as it will complement primary healthcare facilities in Guyana. Minister Jordan told the House that the proposal put by the Government allows for both projects to be completed and an additional US$14M secured. Complementing the proposal put by India, the Fi-

nance Minister said Fedders Lloyd, one of the initial bidders for the project, has signalled its interest in having the project completed. TO THE RESCUE “The people who know about building specialty hospitals…they came to our rescue, they came to our rescue…they say come hell or high water they will do it,” he posited. In November, 2015, the Finance Minister had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fedders Lloyd for the construction of the Specialty Hospital. Fedders Lloyd, in entering the MoU, will review the works already started; conclude for the hospital a design that is acceptable to the Government; and commit to fully equip the facility on completion of its construction. Work on the Specialty Hospital was halted after allegations of impropriety and fraud had been levelled against Surendra Engineering – the contractor who had won the bid for its construction in 2012. Updating the House on the project, Minister Jordan disclosed that, on Friday morning, the new design was submitted by Fedders Lloyd. “Using the piles that they met there, they were able to readjust the design,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday February 13, 2016

Nagamootoo flogs Jagdeo for misinformation

FORMER President and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has reportedly done what some would not have believed, according to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo: Jagdeo has reportedly manufactured figures to deceive the Guyanese people. The Prime Minister skillfully articulated his argument in the National Assembly last evening as he spoke extemporaneously, yet he commanded attention of the House. Unfortunately, the Opposition party, which occupies the western half of the House, had staged a walkout just prior to Nagamootoo’s presentation. That party holds only 32 of the 65 seats

in the National Assembly. Nevertheless, with confident tone and upright posture, the Prime Minister trashed the presentation of Jagdeo, who had been the speaker immediately before him. The first issue that the PM pronounced on was rice, which is considered one of the pillars of Guyana’s economy. According to the Prime Minister, the PPP’s contention on the expiration of the PetroCaribe deal is not reflective of “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”. Nagamootoo revealed that the PetroCaribe deal had prematurely come to an end while the PPP was in office, but that party had not told the Guyanese public, particularly rice farmers.

“It was not this Government which was responsible for that!” a fired up Prime Minister declared. Further, he charged that if Jagdeo was so concerned about the welfare of rice farmers -- as he attempted to prove during his presentation -- he should have interrogated his own colleague, head of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Dharamkumar Seeraj, about the $100M taken from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB). “If he was so concerned, he would have had Mr Seeraj return the money, and give it to rice farmers to help them with difficulties. And the $2.5M a month that was paid over many years to the RPA could have been money given to help rice farmers,”

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Nagamootoo said. Last year, following the presentation of the Coalition Government’s maiden budget, Jagdeo, at a press conference, had commented that the Government had promised to pay rice farmers $6000 and $9000 per bag of paddy. “I hope that it’s real money, because it will allow APNU/AFC to pay the $6000 and $9000 per bag of paddy they had promised the farmers,” he was quoted as saying at the press conference held at the Party’s Freedom House Headquarters. This assertion, sadly, appears to have been one of the figures manufactured by the former President, who also once served as Finance Minister. In rebutting this

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contention, which has on several occasions been ventilated by Jagdeo, the Prime Minister noted that no such promise was ever made by the Government, since it was not even featured in the party’s manifesto. Flaunting the manifesto in the absence of Jagdeo, he stated, “They are inventing these things! These figures were invented and [are] being thrown around.” Surprisingly, that was not the only allegation manufactured by the former President. “The biggest thing manufactured was when he [Jagdeo] said the 2015 Elections were rigged… That was an excuse to justify the defeat,” he said. And while the Jagdeo/Ramotar Administration demitted office with 40 per cent of the country’s population living below the poverty line, the Prime Minister noted that this was coupled with an $82M debt that GuySuCo owes. What he also deemed hypocritical was the PPP’s cry that the Administration is doing nothing to save sugar, when they themselves failed to defend sugar workers when they were most in need. The PPP Administration presided

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over the closure of two sugar estates. With the recent announcement of the closure of Wales Sugar Estate, Nagamootoo related, the agony of the workers and their families is shared by many. CROCODILE TEARS “But we need to have conversations with workers and let them know what opportunities are opened up to them,” he said, adding that he cannot accept the “crocodile tears” of the PPP members, who came to the House to talk about Wales’ problems. Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to sugar, he referred to the $9B subvention for GuySuCo in the 2016 Budget and the already approved $12B which was pumped into the industry last year. And while the Government’s commitment has been tangible, he noted, the PPP Government was “pinching the purse when it comes to the sugar workers”, and putting workers on the breadline. The issue of Guyana’s energy potential also engaged

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 13, 2016

Nagamootoo flogs ... From page 4 the attention of the Prime Minister, who at this point in his presentation showed no sign of exhaustion. Wi t h J a g d e o h e a v i ly touting the idea that the PPP-piloted Amaila Falls Hydropower Project would have been cheaper and more beneficial to the people of Guyana, the Prime Minister said one photograph of the falls having “no water” discredited that contention. “All their [PPP] claims were answered by one photograph: ‘No water!’” Nagamootoo said. Then it was claimed by the PPP, when the Government had announced its intention to explore wind-generated energy, that wind was not guaranteed. But this was done in a cunning fashion, as the PPP had been exploring this very option when they were in office. The Prime Minster revealed that on May 27, 2014, when the then Cabinet met, a document was signed by then Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, which registered approval to execute the Hope Beach Windfarm Project. And surprisingly, the investor at that time was Guyana Windfarms Inc, whose Director is Lloyd Singh, a man whom the PPP of recent has staunchly maintained is a coalition financier who is being awarded the windfarm contract by this Government due to his political affiliation. Jagdeo had even disclosed at a press conference last month that Singh was a key player in assisting the Alliance For Change (AFC) to establish a permanent headquarters at Railway Line, Kitty, Georgetown. And finally, PM Nagamootoo dismissed the Opposition Leader’s claim that the Coalition Government had promised public servants 20 per cent salary increase once elected to office. Utilising the manifesto once more, the Prime Minister stated that he had spent a considerable time attempting to locate in the manifesto the promise of increasing salaries by 20 percent, but this had proven futile. According to him, page 22 of the manifesto states that a payment increase of 10 per cent will be made, and this was done. Subsequently, unions were to be consulted on the method of allocation and what was to be given to workers.

Last year, the Coalition Government announced salary increases for public servants at varying rates, ranging from 6.0 per cent to 26.4 per cent. Additionally, all public servants earning less than $500,000 per month were given a $50,000 one-off tax free bonus in December. This year, the Government has announced that collective bargaining has been reintroduced and the outcome of that activity would provide a framework to guide Government’s policy on what more could be offered to public servants. “We promised, and we are delivering what we promised on!” a zealous Nagamootoo declared.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Former UN climate chief to be charged over sexual harassment INDIAN police are expected to charge renowned climate scientist Rajendra K. Pachauri with crimes related to sexual harassment within the next two weeks after a year-long investigation into the case, a Delhi court heard. The former chief of a United Nations climate panel was accused last February of sexual harassment by a 29-year-old researcher working at the Delhi-based think-tank - The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), where Pachauri was Director General. Police told the Delhi High Court - which was hearing a plea on Thursday by the woman’s lawyer against granting Pachauri anticipatory bail - that their investigation was near completion and they would present a charge sheet within the next 15 days. “If the court feels the charges are very serious, it is possible that they will reject Pachauri’s request for anticipatory bail, and then he could be arrested,” said Prashant Mendiratta, lawyer for the complainant. The woman claims Pachauri, 75, began harassing her soon af-

ter she joined the non-profit think-tank in September 2013 via email, Whatsapp and text messaging, but Pachauri persisted, despite her requests that he stop. Pachauri - who quit as chair of the Nobel-winning U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) over the allegation - denies the charges and has accused the complainant of using the media to sensationalise the case. But Mendiratta said pressure was mounting on Pachauri as a second former TERI employee on Wednesday told Indian media she was also sexually harassed by the scientist between 2003 and 2004. The woman, who cannot be named under Indian law, claimed that Pachauri had harassed her and many other employees. “There has been a pattern to his sexual harassment. Not just me but a lot of female colleagues. His harassment was a topic of corridor gossip,” the woman told New Delhi Television (NDTV). “He would stand very close, try to kiss or hold me, call me on weekends. When I complained to TERI, I was laughed at,” she said, adding that this is why she did

not lodge a police complaint. Pachauri’s lawyer Ramesh Gupta said that all the allegations being made by both women were false and fabricated. “I know the police will file charges against my client, but it is all false allegations,” Gupta told the Thomson Re-

uters Foundation. “My client is being victimised. This is all concocted.” Pachauri headed the think-tank for more than 30 years. An internal inquiry committee of the think-tank found Pachauri guilty of misconduct and the organisation said it was removing him as director general. However

he continued in the role until earlier this week, when he was appointed as TERI’s executive vice-chairman. Some students at TERI University who are due to graduate on March 7 have refused to accept their degrees from Pachauri, who is the university’s chancellor. (Reuters)

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Restoring ethics

THE BusinessDictionary.com defines ethics thus: The basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human conduct. It includes the study of universal values such as the essential equality of all men and women; human or natural rights; obedience to the law of the land; concern for health and safety; and increasingly also, concern for the natural environment. No one can honestly deny that this country is at a crossroads here. Hardly a day goes by without persons having to confront this matter, and questions seep into the mind as to whether the understanding of ethics is universal. The daily news expose information that the average person knows goes against the laws. The prevailing concern is why some, and not all, are held to account. Mayor Hamilton Green had, sometime ago, called a national moral and spiritual revival. It may be opportune to re-examine this call as a matter of urgency. To this end, it may be necessary to have ethics as part of the nation’s education and training curricula in the schools and in the public sector. Constitutional education also aids the process. When persons are knowledgeable, they are empowered to conduct themselves in a particular manner, and hold others to like standards. It is recognized that ethics in diverse societies can mean various things to various people. An analysis done by Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer of the Markkula Centre for Applied Ethics, of the Santa Clara University in the USA, on the question “What is Ethics?”, makes for good reading. The named persons, in their work, referred to the work of Sociologist Raymond Baumhart, who posed to business people the question “What does ethics mean to you?” Among the replies were the following: “Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong.” “Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs.” “Being ethical is doing what the law requires.” “Ethics consists of the standards of behaviour our society accepts.” “I don’t know what the word means.” Reviewing the responses, though representative of diverse thinking and outlook, to preserve and strengthen this society’s fabric and aspiration as One People, One Nation, One Destiny, we must strive to make doing what the law stipulates as universally acceptable and enforceable. Guyana carries the taint as the most corrupt country in the English-speaking Caribbean. Given that unethical behaviour fuels corruption, efforts must be made not only to stamp out corruption, but also the very appearance of

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday February 13, 2016

Was the GFF General Council consulted on Bunbury’s appointment? Dear Editor, I HAVE nothing personal against the Canadian Football Hall of Famer, Guyana-born Alex Bunbury, I’m very appreciative of the individual’s commitment and vision towards the establishment of an Academy along with the other off shoots, ie: hotel, golf course and training venues. I wish him all the best of success in his endeavours. As a matter of fact, way back in 2010, during the tenure of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, I had publicly advocated that the Government should engage its Brazilian counterparts towards funding/loan for the construction of a modern, state-of-the-art training facility in Lethem; since apart from the Brazilian economy booming at the time, the economic benefits for this country and the

region would have been significant, ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. How time flies, and nothing has been done! Meanwhile, it wasn’t until the publication of an article in your daily that I was aware of the Guyana Football Federation appointing Mr Alex Bunbury as its International Ambassador! Firstly, who mooted the idea? Secondly, was the idea subject to discussion at the executive level prior to submission to the General Council for ratification and subsequent approval? Thirdly, what would be the roles and functions of the International Ambassador? Fourthly, what benefits in terms of finance, infrastructure and development of the sport locally would the nation’s football derive through the GFF’s involvement? Fifthly, was an agreement

“menu of measures” inked covering, among other issues, the role to be played by the GFF? Would local national teams benefit from encampment and training at a subsided cost? In the event of a foreign team pursuing a twoweek pre-season training programme, would the coaches’ association be able to send a contingent to observe, interact and acquire techniques and knowledge? Would the foreigners engage local clubs in practice matches? In the final analysis, though, I may be wrong; and when this occurs I’m subject to correction. My humble opinion is that Mr Bunbury should have been conferred with a Life Membership, Patron, or Honorary Executive status, and definitely not just be made an International Ambassador. An in-depth and comprehensive study has to be undertaken to arrive at the conclusion, and

BIGA is ready! Dear Editor, THE Bartica Independent Green Alliance (BIGA) is one of three groups contesting in the upcoming Local Government Elections for the Municipality of Bartica. However, unlike its two competitors, this group is absolutely independent from affiliation to any of Guyana’s political parties. Having received the green light from the Guyana Elections Commission to participate in these elections, BIGA has embarked on full planning and execution of its campaign strategies, including the establishment of its Facebook page, titled “Bartica Independent Green Alliance BIGA”, community consultations, house-to-house visitations,

television programmes, and the compilation of its manifesto. BIGA, the LGE group that is creating more waves and capturing the imagination of more people at Bartica with its status of “independence”, is built around a corps of business persons, local professionals, school teachers, university graduates, miners, farmers, housewives and students, among others. It is funded by donations from members and supporters, along with input from the group’s fund-raising projects. At its planned launch -scheduled for Tuesday, February 23th -- the group intends to officially unveil its list of electoral candidates alongside the release of its manifesto. Our manifesto is fine-tuned to be a parallel of President Granger’s Green Vi-

corruption. Guyanese know morally and legally that stealing is wrong, and that a person so accused should be held to account; yet there is no mistaking the duplicity of our actions when we hesitate to ensure that the accused are held to account or that the wrong-doer is stripped of any immunity to account for his actions, given their political connection or influence. In cases where the accused are placed before the court, the society expects that the ethical thing would follow in terms of accused persons removing themselves from public or constitutional office until at least the matter is resolved through their being vindicated by the court. Although our common-law system considers an accused person innocent until proven guilty, it is unethical for an accused person to remain in a position -- moreso a constitutional

sion for Bartica, with a feel for the community’s involvement and the ways in which it will be affected. Our public meeting will commence following the official launch. The Bartica Independent Green Alliance takes careful note of the many untruths being circulated within the local political sphere, all of which are aimed at discrediting its movement and granting unfair advantage to another group. Among these fibs is the accusation that our group is being funded by the PPP/C and is anti-government. If anything is further from the truth, maybe it is the circulating sermon that another group is doing a “great job” to restore the physical environment of Bartica…the

this is time consuming! If anyone from the diaspora truly deserves that accolade, surely it’s Mark Rodrigues, Head Coach of Lady Jags. But, again, that’s my opinion. Operating for years under adverse and challenging circumstances, Rodrigues was still able to do remarkably well with his charges in pursuit of major accomplishments for female football. Moreover, in the absence of a structured female programme locally, compounded by the fact that the Lady Jags are drawn from no less than four countries, preparation had been made more difficult for him. That this time around, in 2016, an Olympic berth is possible, speaks volumes, and can be a defining moment for Guyana. What is Bunbury’s resume, by comparison? Respectfully yours, LESTER SEALEY same of which is a Government-of-Guyana-funded project which is part of the National Restoration Project and part of the preparations for Bartica’s township launch and Independence activities. All Bartica is invited to be a part of this great movement. To become a member and to get involved, simply visit our office at Lot 24 Second Avenue, Bartica and sign the members’ register. Bartica Independent Green Alliance is here to stay, and will continue to rally the cause of development in Bartica. Our group slogan paints the perfect prescription for the development of Bartica: “BIGA United, Bartica Strong”. Regards, BARTICA: “BIGA UNITED, BARTICA STRONG”.

one that requires upholding of the law -- when that person has been accused of committing an infarction of the law. In other societies where ethics are held in esteem, an accused person voluntary removes him/herself from holding office, or the rules of the organization or laws of that State are enforced. Acts of corruption constitute not only betrayal of the public’s trust, but violation of the laws; and according to the United Nations, a human rights violation of government. No right-thinking government wants to be so accused, even less so when policies and actions are being expedited to curb corruption. Confronting corruption is not only reliant on placing persons before the court, but also ensuring that those placed before the court do not hold public or constitutional office until the court pronounces on their moral standing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 13, 2016

Tertiary education needs revamping

…professionals were bullied, coerced By Alva Solomon A CULTURE of bullyism and coercion of professionals in the tertiary education sector here has marred its delivery, Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has said. He outlined that the education system under the previous PPP administration focused on the achievement of certificates at the expense of the education of citizens. Dr Roopnaraine made the comments during his contributions to the budget debates, which concluded on Friday. The minister cautioned that the sector is one in which both sides of the House can find common ground. He said the “stark reality” is that the education system under the previous PPP administration focused on the achievers of certificates at the expense of the education of citizens. He called on the entire nation to contribute towards the enhancement of the sector. “Education is an area of our work in this National Assembly, over which we do not need to fight,” he said, noting

that it is an area within the society where both sides can find much agreement. “I don’t think there is anyone in this House who would argue that there is nothing more important than the formation of our young people,” he challenged. For this to happen, Dr Roopnaraine said, the effort would require active collaboration between everyone, including parents, teachers and other stakeholders. He said Government is aware of the critical shortcomings of the education system which it inherited from the PPP administration, and pointed out a few of those areas. Dr Rooparaine noted that there has been a neglect of tertiary education: the significant appropriations for the sector, which were far from optimum; a gap between programme rationalisation and programme implementation; also, politically motivated decision-making, and coercion and intimidation of professionals. He said there also existed the highlighting of the stellar performances of a few in

ers; reforming the school’s curriculum; reforming the schools for the teaching of contrast to poor and declining ICT-selected subjects; and results overall. rescuing the University of He said the Government’s Guyana. manifesto clearly provides an unambiguous direction RESEARCH in relation to how the issues PROGRAMME which exist in the education Dr Roopnaraine said the system should be remedied, University of Guyana (UG) and provides the central issue, should establish research prowhich requires attention. He grammes to determine the said Government clearly iden- causal factors of ethnic and tified the creation of “a unit- racial tensions and conflict ed, peaceful and developed within the Guyanese society, Guyana as its core objective,” and to make recommendations adding that the objective, or on how to address these. This any of its component, is not position of Government was achievable in a society which announced by Education Minhas not benefited from “real ister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine education.” during the budget debates in He explained that educa- the National Assembly on tion, being a state of knowing Thursday evening. and learning, engenders the The minister noted that appreciation of human beings; the APNU/AFC Government of their existence biologically recognises the plural nature of and socially. the Guyanese society, and has While referring to the determined that UG should “good life” plans of the ad- establish research programmes ministration for the sector, to determine the causal factor he highlighted a few areas on of ethnic and racial tensions which government plans to fo- and conflict in the local socicus its attention. These include ety, and to recommend how to meeting the nutritional and arrest the issue. transportation needs of priAs regards the budget, he mary and secondary schools; said that in Finance Minister retaining and recruiting teach- Winston Jordan’s 2015 bud-

Sugar still holds many possibilities Dear Editor, I RESPECTFULLY disagree with the contents of a letter written by George Daniels and titled “Sugar future is long gone”. My disagreement is on ground that the main thrust of Daniels’s submission rests upon the premise of low and declining global sugar consumption. I wish to point out that the data does not lend credence to the assertion made. The facts, according to Czarnikow, are that global sugar consumption was 179.1 million tonnes in 2013/14 and 183.1 million tonnes in 2014/15; and it is expected to rise to 186.1 million tonnes in 2015/16. The APNU/AFC Parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud, in recently defending

the Government in the National Assembly as it brings about the demise of Wales Estate, also pointed to the lower sugar consumption. Mr Daniels also contended that many sugar industries had benefited from state subsidies, and this depresses the World Market Price (WMP). Indeed, all of the more than 100 sugar-producing countries in the world offer different forms of support or subsidy to their sugar industry. In Guyana, there is moral and social justification for a sugar subsidy -- because of the people and the economy’s dependence on the industry. There is, at this time, simply no alternative/s to adsorb this large workforce should the sugar industry be callously abandoned by the Government. In the Caribbean, Bar-

bados, Jamaica and Belize have all kept their industries intact. The industry in St Kitts was closed prior to the 36 per cent European Union (EU) price slash, which had been implemented around 2006; and while Trinidad and Tobago ceased sugar cultivation, since its petroleum-based economy has no need for sugar support. An interesting piece of information regarding Guyana’s industry was made known by the Caribbean Development Bank in 2014 when it assessed GuySuCo’s request for funding for the Sugar Mechanisation Project. The bank, in its assessment, found that “it is economically viable for GOGY [Government of Guyana] to continue subsidising and protecting the cultivation and harvesting of sugar

cane and processing of sugar for export and local consumption”. Certainly, an institution as the CDB would have recognized our sugar industry, not just from a financial perspective, but from the broader economic and social aspects as well. In Guyana, sugar holds many possibilities for a bright future. Diversification around sugar into areas like co-generation, refining, distilling and other forms of value-added production holds the key for making the industry once again a viable. Solidarity with the industry is very much critical to our country’s future and development. Yours truly FREDRICK YUVRAJ

get speech, it was projected that education must become a means to, and an end at, sustainable development. He said Minister Jordan emphasised the intended vision of the Government, wherein all of Guyana would have equal access to high-quality education and learning activities, and where education is positioned as the key intermediary: “where you lay the foundation for a competitive economy and a cohesive social environment.” In that budget, Dr Roopnaraine said, the intention is intimated to establish a commission of inquiry into the education system with a view to locating precisely where to start in the quest to fix the system. As he highlighted the Education Ministry’s planned approach, he noted the establishment of a national advisory council and a stakeholder forum which would guide an education-based strategy that is based on a broad framework for education development and contextualization, among other factors. He said there were several areas identified for revisiting, and those include a review of the education tax grant programme “which seem not to be serving the intended purpose”. In addition he noted the expansion of the warm meals and general school feeding programme, provision of equipment to teachers, revamping of school broads and parent teachers associations (PTA), and subsequent re-establishment of regional education committees.

He emphasised an improved service delivery to the disabled and a more enlighten approach to such persons. The Education Minister noted that the year 2015 was a “severely truncated year” for Government and for the Ministry to carry out its mandate. He said the budget for last year was available for access only in September, and the Ministry had embarked on its plans in conformity with Government’s manifesto. He said that against this backdrop, in keeping with the Ministry’s action plan and view of the actual state of the education sector, a number of policies and initiatives were formulated and initiated. Most notable ones he identified are the use of Grades 2 and 4 assessments purely for diagnostic purposes, and the Grade 6 solely for the determination of placement in post-primary schools. In addition, the Ministry addressed the lowering of the age range for entry to nursery schools from 3 years plus 9 months to 3 years plus 6 months. He said the Ministry also engaged the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) to develop and administer Grades 2, 4 and 6 assessments while building capacity of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) in that area. He also said the Ministry had developed a mechanism to ensure that Caribbean Secondary Education Council (CSEC) school–based assessments (SBAs) are submitted by January 31 each year.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

PPP were preparing to up fees for gun licences

…but now protesting against proposed hike By Alva Solomon “I HAVE here a Cabinet paper since 2012, to come into operation in 2013 -- signed by Dr Roger Luncheon to increase fees for shotguns from $2000 to $5000; so I don’t know what they are rowing about”. This was the sentiment expressed by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan as he spoke on the contentious increases on the costs of gun licences, which increase became topical during the budget debates this past week. While addressing the National Assembly on Thursday evening, Ramjattan informed that the Opposition PPP/C had planned to increase the fees for gun licences. As he brandished a paper while speaking, he said that for reasons which may be political, the increases were not made; and he noted that the issue had been debated and passed at the Cabinet level during the PPP/C’s term in office. He said handgun licences were slated to be increased from $5000 to $20,000, and rifle licences were to be increased from $25,000 to $40,000. Those increases were to have been implemented this year. “They did not implement it because probably for political reasons, but it was debated and they passed it in their Cabinet,” Ramjattan said. As he shed light on issues raised for clarity by Opposition members including former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Ramjattan said the administration of SOCU, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), falls under the Public Security Ministry. He informed that

that agency was created when Rohee had headed the then Home Affairs Ministry. “The law, the protocols have been already drafted. That was done, as far as I understand, under Mr Rohee’s administration,” he said. Ramjattan said the protocols on SOCU’s operations are outlined in a 6-page document which would be made public to ensure everyone is aware of the agency’s functions. Those functions, he noted, accord with the standing orders of the Guyana Police Force. He said the Opposition had also raised the issue of pardons, mainly for women prisoners, and according to him, the Parole Board and arguments of the Office of the President under the Grant of Pardon saw a dozen women between the ages of 37 and 60 years being released late last year. While arguing his points, he said if information were needed, his phone lines were open. He noted that, for political reasons, there might be misinformation as a result of no information. STRATEGY Rohee had earlier queried the mandate of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Government’s drug fight. Ramjattan explained: “So we do have a strategy. The Public Security Ministry also has a final draft of the Drug Master Plan which was further refined; that which was there during the Rohee administration”, he informed. Noting that former Chief of Staff of the GDF, Michal Atherly, was fine tuning the plan, he informed that CANU’s mandate fell under the umbrella of the Public Secu-

rity Ministry. He added that CANU, the police Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) would work in tandem with each other under the organisation, the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA). “They will have their autonomy, these units; but they will come under an umbrella organisation for purposes of ensuring that their work can be integrated… So CANU, in a way, would know what the Police Narcotics are doing or the GRA is doing.” On this note, he said integration would be needed at a time when it is deemed necessary. Speaking on the Ministry when he assumed his current post, Ramjattan said there were many recommendations which he found extraordinarily useful. He said stopping crime and violence is not going to be merely the task of law enforcement, as he alluded to points mentioned by Rohee. He spoke on the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP), a $3B threepronged programme which was launched recently by the Government to tackle crime. “I want to tell Honorable Rohee and the members on the other side that the Citizen Security Programme is a 5-year plan, it is not a oneyear programme,” Ramjattan said, noting that the project’s execution was already underway. He said figures from an assessment done through the CSSP indicated that 52 per cent of Guyana’s crimes were committed in the capital city, and he added that such figures were reflected at police divisions across the country. He said the CSSP involves community-based in-

National Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

puts, noting that such groups were being tooled and better resourced. He said more vehicles would be provided to the community groups, and on this note he clarified that, indeed, vehicles had to be reassigned from the community groups to assist the Force, as he criticised Rohee for under-equipping the Police Force in terms of transportation. Ramjattan said the Government would increase the effectiveness of the Police Force, noting that the CSSP programme would be intelligence-led. Ramjattan expressed appreciation to the United States authorities for providing assistance to the drug fight, and he alluded to the recent opening of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Georgetown, for which he commended the American authorities. SUPPORT He said Government has received support from the British authorities who were

assisting the police in the area of immigration, as some 30 officers were being trained in the field. He said, too, that a number of policemen were going to Florida as well as New York and El Salvador for further training. “In last year’s budget debates, I indicated how policemen weren’t having these training,” he said, adding that this was because of “certain controls”, over the Police Force. “You are saying that, but the police are telling me differently,” Ramjattan said as he looked across and replied to Rohee in the Opposition benches. Later, as Ramjattan spoke on the upgrades to the police force, he was interrupted by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira. “You will not fix my agenda, Madam, you never can do that!” Ramjattan spoke nonchalantly as he continued to outline the Government’s plans for the sector. He addressed the infrastructural upgrades for the police force, and he noted

that when the facilities are comfortable for the officers to work, they would deliver. He said that sums would be expended on a number of projects. These include rehabilitation of officers’ quarters at Port Kaituma ($7M), rehabilitation of Special Branch Admin building ($24M), the Leonora Police Station ($6M), Mounted Branch stable ($31M), the East La Penitence Police Station ($5.6M), construction of the Brickdam Lockups, upper flat ($20M) and the police band room refurbishment ($74M), with new drums for the Force’s band. He added that a brand new police station would be built at La Parfaite Harmonie on the West Bank of Demerara, while police units such as ballistics ($10M) and communication equipment ($60M) will also see upgrades. The Force’s canines will receive a $4M upgrade. Ramjattan said the Ministry recognises the importance of the other aspects of its mandate, including the Fire Department, which he noted would be realigned further in the years ahead. “It is going to be hard work, we are also getting support from the diaspora”, he said, adding that the Guyana Fire Service would receive assistance from overseas- based Guyanese who once served in that department. He said the difficulties of crime and violence would not be solved in an overnight success, noting that the issue was also as difficult here as in neighbouring Trinidad and further afield in Jamaica. He said the police force, the prisons, the drug enforcement agencies and other bodies were working together. “We are going to beat this scourge,” Ramjattan said.

Jagdeo ‘cut and run’

…after demanding 50% pay hike for public servants OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called on public servants to demand a 50 per cent pay hike from the Government. That was shortly before he led a walk-out of the House in protest at being carded to speak before Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. The Prime Minister, in response, has called Jagdeo’s action nothing but a “defeatist strategy”. After addressing the National Assembly for more

than one hour and forty minutes, thereby surpassing the stipulated one-hour duration, Jagdeo told House Speaker Dr Barton Scotland that “until this House fixes the problem, until the other side agrees with something that has become an age-old tradition of this House, where the Leader of the Opposition is the penultimate speaker, we will not listen to the debates of the speakers after me”. His colleagues rose to their feet in an attempt to exit

the Parliament Chambers, but were stopped by the Speaker, who asked them to reconsider their decision. He posited that the people of Guyana would want an explanation, but despite his caution, the Opposition MPs walked out of the Chambers. In a direct response, the Prime Minister told Jagdeo: “Oh boy, you cut and run! You can’t take it…what a shame!” Prime Minister Nagamootoo subsequently told

reporters that the Opposition MPs’ decision to walk out during the budget debates was nothing new. He pointed out that the same had been done during the 2015 budget debates. The PPP/C is in protest of Government’s decision to disallow the Opposition Leader being the penultimate speaker during the annual budget debates, saying it is a breach of parliamentary convention. The Prime Minister, however, thinks the move by

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

the Opposition MPs move is nothing but a “defeatist strategy.” “They are now raising it as a contention that the Opposition Leader should be allowed to say all that he wants to say as long as he wants to say (it); things that are irrelevant, damaging, malicious, speculative, hearsay…anything that he says! He wants to be able to say that and then pack up like a little spoiled brat, pick up his bat and say that he is not playing anymore and walk out. That is the tantrum of a

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

Geneva Agreement 50 years after

‒ diplomats say ICJ only viable option to settle Guyana-Venezuela border controversy By Ariana Gordon EVEN as Guyana, on February 17, will observe the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement, renowned Guyanese Diplomat Sir Shridath Ramphal asserts that the only available means towards resolution of the age-old controversy between Guyana and Venezuela is to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Sir Shridath was at the time part of a panel discussion on the Geneva Agreement. That panel also comprised Ambassadors Cedric Joseph and Ronald Austin. The Guyanese diplomat, who was present upon the signing of the Agreement on February 17, 1966, said he would like to see a proper conclusion to the matter, and more specifically, he “would like to see the fulfillment of the Geneva Agreement”. “That article that calls on the [UN] Secretary General to act has come. I would like to see that activated. We have begun the discussions with the Secretary General. I would like to see that taken to completion and the Secretary General hand the resolution of the issue over to the International Court of Justice,” said Sir Shridath Ramphal. He said that having closure to the controversy would mean a lot “for the world; for the rule of law; for the sanctity of treaties, which is of importance to the whole world. It would mean everything for relations between Guyana and Venezuela.” The diplomat said the people of Venezuela are “good people” but they have been “indoctrinated by their Governments”. Guyana, he said, holds out a hand of friendship to the people of Venezuela. He also noted that one of the great achievements of the settlement would be “an op-

Longstanding Guyanese Diplomat, Sir Shridath Ramphal

portunity for true friendship to develop between the peoples of Guyana and Venezuela”. Sir Shridath explained that the signing of the Geneva Agreement was in a sense an essential part of a “larger picture of Guyana’s Independence”, as it was premised around the outrageous claims by Venezuela to more than half of Guyana. “Guyana was on the cusp of Independence, we were about to be free,” he remarked. He explained that Venezuela attempted to stall Guyana’s Independence by agitating its claim to the Essequibo. Britain, Guyana’s colonial masters, strongly resisted the claims by Venezuela, and from their standpoint there was no question about Guyana’s move to become an Independent State. The British Government arranged for a meeting of representatives of Britain, Venezuela and the about-to-be-independent Guyana. “It took place in Geneva, on the 16 and 17th (February 1966). The agreement was signed on the 17th between Britain and Venezuela, and Britain invited the new Government, the Burnham Government, to be at the meeting, because the new

Ambassador Cedric Joseph

Ambassador Ronald Austin

Guyana would inherit whatever would be the conclusions of the meeting,” Sir Shridath recounted. Guyana, of course, became party to the agreement when it attained Independence a few months later, said Sir Shridath, who today is probably the only person alive who had witnessed the signing. Venezuela, he said, was adamant, and threatened Guyana, thereby resulting in the Geneva Agreement being signed. He posited that the agreement had to be signed if Guyana wanted to attain its Independence.

Venezuela’s claims have changed over the years, the diplomat said, noting that some 50 years later, Venezuela claims that the controversy was more or less set aside at Geneva and the controversy is really Venezuela’s old historical claim. “…you are not to worry with the award. Why? Because, if you took that issue to any international law body, it would be rejected out of hand,” said Sir Shridath, who noted that Venezuela has failed to produce one iota of evidence in support of its claim. “They have tried all manner of deeds…they have not produced a shred of evidence, or even an argument that that award must be set aside. Venezuela’s claim really rests on Spanish colonialism, and it is so far out of tune that to talk about Bolivar, this is the very opposite of what Bolivar would be seeking after, which is Guyana’s freedom,” he remarked. He stressed that the only way for Guyana to rid itself of this controversy is to have the matter settled by the highest international tribunal, the International Court of Justice.

CONTRIVED PRESENTATION The international public servant describes the claims by Venezuela as “very callous”. He noted that its presentation on the Geneva Agreement was a “contrived presentation.” “The Geneva Agreement talks about the controversy, and sets out a procedure by which that controversy could be settled, and it defines what controversy was. Controversy was the row, the dispute that arose out of their contention that the arbitral award from the 1899 tribunal was null and void because of their account deriving from…all those years ago.”

Jagdeo cut... little boy! (The) tantrum of a very emotional and unstable person politically!” the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister has said that this decision by the PPP/C will become part and parcel of its disruptive political agenda. He contends that Jagdeo wants to destabilise politics in the country. UNFORTUNATE “It is unfortunate that

this tactic is being played out in the highest forum, and it shows contempt for Parliament,” the Prime Minister added. Earlier in his presentation, Jagdeo had called on the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSC) to demand, at the very least, a 50 per cent increase in wages and salaries for public servants -- a consideration he never contemplated while being

From page 8

President. Finance Minister Winston Jordan, during his 2016 Budget presentation, said Government would not announce an increase in wages and salaries for public servants before completion of collective bargaining. “Mr Speaker, an announcement on salary increases for public servants for 2016 has to await the conclusion of discussions

A LEGAL ISSUE “It is a legal issue, legal contention, and must be setwith the relevant unions. The Government understands the disappointment this will create among public servants, but wishes to assure them of our commitment to their welfare and advancement. We ask that they give the collective bargaining process an opportunity to work,” Jordan had said. The Opposition Leader has also said that he is patiently awaiting the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the public service, launched by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, to see if

tled by the ICJ; and Guyana has said strongly that that is the direction in which it will go. Fortunately, the Geneva Convention provides a means for this to happen.” It is for the United Nations Secretary General to decide at this point the means provided by the Charter to have the controversy resolved. Guyana has been party to conciliation, mediation and arbitration; the only avenue available to Guyana at this point is juridical settlement. “Guyana calls on Secretary General of the UN to help the world to be rid of this source of conflict,” Sir Shridath said. He noted that Guyana can be rid of this “impediment” by going to court. “It is a bold and courageous thing to do, but we are so confident that justice is on the side of Guyana that it is the proper thing to do.” The Geneva Agreement, he added, continues to have relevance after 50 years, as it is the machinery through which Guyana can have the controversy resolved. “It is a means to finality,” Sir Shridath concluded. Ambassador Cedric Joseph explained that Venezuela accepted the agreement, and even contributed to the spirit of the agreement, and he asserted that there “can be no more option premised on diplomacy”. Like Sir Shridath, Ambassador Joseph said the only available option to the controversy is a juridical settlement. “How do you nullify or disregard an international agreement of 116 years?” he asked, noting that Guyana will no longer negotiate on the matter. He believes it is for Venezuela to put its contention to test at the ICJ. The ambassador urged the Government of Guyana to keep the subject alive internationally, and urge the UN

Secretary General to move the matter to the ICJ for definitive positions on points of law. Ambassador Ronald Austin, a Guyanese diplomat for more than 35 years, noted that it is difficult for Venezuela to hold back on its claim. He said there had been no claim from Venezuela for 63 years, but just before Guyana attained Independence, the claim surfaced. “Venezuela’s problem is that after the reopening of the demarcation of the borders, they virtually backed themselves into a corner. They have educated their public to believe that they have been cheated out of their territory, which according to them should belong to them.” What Venezuela has done is reject the 1899 arbitral award. “One must concede to give Venezuela some credit that this process has been intense, relentless, and has been going on for a very long period.” Ambassador Austin said Venezuela is not going to pull back from its position. He noted that they are in a difficult position. “It is hard for them; I don’t think any Venezuelan Government at the present time can say let us settle this matter and survive for more than 24 hours. It is in the schools; the Navy in Venezuela has a special department which has a mandate to study this issue on a regular basis,” he added. Ambassador Austin said Venezuela has been “quite reckless, and has breached that agreement on so many occasions” that it leaves one to wonder if the country would honour any legal agreement with which it is presented. “Venezuela is a threat; the Venezuelan controversy is an extension of a threat to this country, and every single Guyanese child and adult must understand this,” the Ambassador asserted.

Government will follow the recommendations. He said from the experience of a previous CoI, Government doesn’t seem inclined to follow the recommendations presented. Last year, the Coalition Government announced salary increases for public servants at various rates, ranging from 6.0 per cent to 26.4 per cent. Additionally, all public servants earning less than $500,000 per month were given a $50,000 one-off, taxfree bonus in December. Jagdeo said the APNU-AFC Government was

living in an illusionary world, noting that the ideal of “a good life” for all Guyanese was not a reality. “Mr Speaker I have heard a lot about the pandemic of the Zika virus that is sweeping across Latin America and the Caribbean, and about its possible affliction on Guyana. It seems as though we don’t have only the ZIKA pandemic to deal with in this country; we have an epidemic fast becoming a pandemic…an epidemic of make-believe in this Government.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

Harmon to PPP: Stop griping …come to the table By Ariana Gordon MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon, on Friday reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening the Public Service, while calling on the Parliamentary Opposition to be solution-driven rather than creating problems. On the last day of budget debates, Harmon told the National Assembly that it was Government’s primary aim to strengthen the public sector and make it into a division that was free of political interference and one that would serve the people. “We believe that public service has to be reformed so that it understands its role of being servants of the people,” the Minister of State said, noting that the report from the Commission of Inquiry into the public sector would pave the way forward. That report, he announced, would be presented to Government on February 29. He added that the Public Service must be uniformed, well trained, highly motivated and properly remunerated. In keeping with Government’s agenda to strengthen

the Public Sector, Minister Harmon said the Public Service Staff College would soon be opened. At the college, students would be required to undergo six months of training, three of which would be theoretical and the remaining three practical. The students would be attached to a Public Service entity during the practical training session. The prospective public servant would be exposed to training in many areas, the minister said, noting that over the next five years, 500 persons would be trained via the college. “Every public servant must become computer literate,” Harmon declared, adding that the division responsible for Public Service Affairs would receive significant funding from the department’s budget. This would see senior level staff receiving tremendous help from the Canadian Department of Foreign Trade, Foreign Affairs and Development to the tune of Cdn$20M. Additionally, Minister Harmon said Government would continue to offer

scholarships to Guyanese. He said Government had moved to make the Scholarship Division “more transparent”, thus a review panel would be introduced to provide recommendations before approval by the subject minister. Scholarships, he said, would be awarded in areas that were deemed critical to Government’s developmental agenda, and would include mining, petroleum engineering, environmental science, information technology, agriculture, and civil engineering. Some 574 scholarships are to be handed out, of which 268 would complete their studies this year. Speaking to Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s declaration in his January 29 budget presentation that increases in wages and salaries would be announced only following negotiations with the unions, Harmon said that under the PPP Government there was no collective bargaining. PPP ARBITRARY ACTION This, he said, proved frustrating for the unions, as workers were arbitrarily given an increase by the former Government. He highlighted

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

the action of the former Government from 2001 to 2015. “Mr Speaker, the point to be noted here is that the [PPP] administration has a track record of not negotiating with the unions in good faith, and then arbitrarily imposing an increase that they decide,” Harmon said. He said the PPP has called on the unions to demand at the very least a 50 per cent increase, but had failed to subscribe to its own recommendations while in Government. According to Harmon, the Opposition, as opposed

to highlighting problems, would be better served taking solutions to the Government. The Minister said Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo ought to stop pandering before the television cameras and be constructive. “Don’t just gripe, come to the table and let’s talk. Where are the recommendations?” the State Minister questioned. Harmon said an invitation had been extended to the Leader of the Opposition to speak with Government on matters of national importance, but that invitation has not yet been taken up. He also said that Government was awaiting Jagdeo’s views on the closure of the Wales Estate factory. “It is not just a matter, Mr Speaker, of going to the television and saying I know this and that, and not come to the table and talk. While some gripe, we have a nation to build; and in a global environment where there is serious competition for investment funds for development, we have to be clear about the message we are sending to the world,” he emphasised. Harmon commended the Finance Minister for presenting a budget that presents “happiness” to the nation,

while stating that over the past 23 years, the PPP administration’s vision for Guyana was blurred. “Let us face reality: after 23 years in Government, the PPP has become tired. (They are) a tired administration, their ideas were tired, (their) vision for Guyana had become blurred,” Harmon said as he noted that the APNU-AFC coalition was on the right track to restoring confidence to Guyanese who had lost hope.

Lethem couple remanded

TWO SENIOR citizens were on Friday remanded after they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer a charge of possession of narcotics. Wilfred Francis, 66, and his wife Marcella Francis, 58, of Tabatinga, Lethem, both pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on Wednesday, February 10, 2015, they had in their possession five grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. The facts presented by Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones stated that the police, having received information, went to the defendants’ home to carry out a search. There, they found two black bags containing leaves, seeds and stems of what was suspected to be cannabis in the back room of the house. As he made his presentation for reasonable bail, the defendants’ lawyer told the court that his clients were not the only persons occupying the house, but the other occupants of the house were not charged. He also told the court that both of his clients were suffering from various medical complications for which they were receiving treatment. The prosecutor objected to bail being granted, stating that the defendants’ lawyer had not submitted any special reasons for bail to be granted. Magistrate McLennan remanded the couple saying that no special reason had been offered. The matter has been transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for March 1, 2016.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

West Coast home invasion…

Murder accused gives sworn testimony By Michel Outridge

MURDER accused Alvin Semple led his defence on Friday in the trial for the April 16, 2011 murder of minibus driver Balram Teekaram, after the prosecution closed its case in the High Court before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a 12-member jury. Semple elected to give sworn testimony from the witness box. He told the court that he is 27 years old and used to live by his aunt at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara. He said that on April 13, 2011, while on his way to his sister-in-law’s residence, he was picked up

by the police, and days later he was charged for murder. He said that as a prisoner he was taken to the Vreeden-Hoop Magistrate’s Court three days after his arrest, and was told that he was wanted for questioning for robbery. Semple told the court that he used to work and would play cricket in the community on weekends, and that is how he knows Yougindra Teekaram, called Randy, son of Balram Teekaram. He said that on the evening of April 13, 2011, he was at his aunt’s home, and he slept there that evening and went to the city the

next morning; and upon his return there, he encountered the police, who took him into custody at the Leonora Police Station, where he was locked up for four days. Semple said he was denied a phone call although he had not committed any robbery; nevertheless, he cooperated with the police. Under cross-examination by State Prosecutor Tamieka Clarke, Semple said he had not been friends with Randy, but had known him by seeing him play cricket at least twice monthly. It was put to Semple that he had had problems with Randy, but he denied this, saying they had no con-

versation and he had never asked him if his father had a gun. Semple said he had known Randy for about five years, but they had never spoken to each other, not even once, and he had never been in Randy’s house and had never owned a red rag and did not own a gun. Defence witness Dhanrajie Gurdai, aunt of the accused, told the court that she is known as ‘Aunt Leila’. She said that on the evening of April 13, 2011 she was at home and her nephew was also there. The elderly woman related that she recalled that evening because she is a diabet-

ic and suffers from swelling of the feet, and would go to the washroom about four to five times per night, and she would have to pass Semple’s bed to get there. She said her house is a small zinc building with one bedroom, a small hall and kitchen area, and the lights are usually on at nights. Aunt Leila said she used to care for her nephew because he has been living with her since his mother passed away, and she has an interest in the case. The state prosecutors are Shawnette Austin and Tamieka Clarke, while the Defence Counsel is Madan Kissoon.

According to reports, Balram Teekaram and one of his two sons were at home when, in the wee hours of the morning, three bandits entered their home and robbed them. He was shot in the process, and later succumbed from an injury to his eye inflicted by a gunshot wound. The route 32 minibus driver had been in critical condition and had been hooked up to a life support machine before he died. The robbers reportedly took away $700,000 in cash, a silver chain, a cell phone, some other jewels, and an iPod from the Teekarams’ home.

‘Reckless’ driver turns self in THE DRIVER of the ill-fated minibus, BPP 2259, that claimed the life of 16-year-old Nirvan Baichu, a student of the Skeldon High School, on the Bengal Public road on Thursday, has turned himself in. According to a police source, the driver hails from Number 69 Village and is said to be in his late 20s. At about 19:00hrs on Thursday, in the vicinity of the Rambrich Gas Station, minibus BPP 2259 attempted to overtake white Toyota Primo motor car PSS 5063 and came into contact with

the right side of the car, pushing it into a parked truck, GPP 8542, before the driver lost control of the bus, which toppled several times before crashing into a concrete fence. At the time of the accident, the minibus was transporting home students from the Skeldon High and Tagore Memorial Secondary schools from the Schools’ Mashramani Competition held at the Albion Sports Complex earlier in the day. The injured were rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital by public-spirited citizens, but Baichu was pronounced

dead on arrival. The driver of the bus reportedly fled the scene immediately after the accident. Those injured were Venetta Arjune, 16, of CWC; Chendrania Rambali, 16, of Number 68 Village; Ruth Ramotar, 17, of Number 49 Village; Sabrina James, 16, of Princetown, Corriverton; Lakeram Dhanraj, 16, of CWC, all of Skeldon High; and Natasha Rambally, 14, and Britly Tony, both of Tagore Memorial Secondary. Most of the injured were later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where

they received treatment and were sent home. However, Rambali and Ramotar were later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. One of them is in the High Dependency Unit while the other is being monitored in the ward. Meanwhile, at the home of the dead teen, his mother Leena Lakan was being consoled by relatives and friends of the family, as she is still trying to come to grips with the fact that her second to last child is no more. The traumatised mother said Nirvan had asked her to go to the Mash Competition.

She learnt of the accident after a teacher called and informed her. “After I get the call, my whole body feel numb numb. I feel like something happen. We left home, and when we reach the hospital, they were already taking him to the mortuary,” she recounted. A traumatised student who had been in the bus said that after the bus came to a stop, the other students were crying out in pain when he noticed the lifeless body of one of the students. He described that moment as frightening. He is urging drivers to be careful

on the roadways and to stop the speeding. Another student mentioned that the minibus was proceeding at a fast rate and she pleaded with the driver to slow down. She went on to say a few minutes after her request, she felt a strong impact. Baichu was described by a former teacher and education official of Region Six as a brilliant student, who was going to be someone of status in society if he had lived. He was a very funny and witty individual who was smart and caring, she said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

Wade wades into PPP on crime control …says more criminals being charged now By Svetlana Marshall APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Jennifer Wade has said that although crime remains a major problem in Guyana, more criminals are now being placed before the courts. On Tuesday last in the National Assembly, in rebutting claims by the Opposition that crime is spiralling out of control, Wade said: “Mr. Speaker, we are receiving lectures now from the Opposition on how to solve crime. I want to remind them the crime-spree started in 2000, and though the British Government offered its support

ground.” However, she assured the House that Government would stabilize the industry. She noted that new partners are being sought in an effort to cushion the impact of the fallen Venezuela market.

PPP/C Parliamentarian Adrian Anamayah

APNU+AFC's Jennifer Wade

to Guyana, the past Government declined -- or must I say refused -- the assistance.” Wade said that during the period 2002-2008, crime in Guyana had become a nightmare, with more than 500 persons having been killed at the hands of criminals. “A minister was killed, a diplomat was kidnapped… and the minister responsible at the time refused to resign,” she told the House. The APNU+AFC Parliamentarian assured the National Assembly that the Government would create a safer Guyana. “Policing groups have been formed in various areas, and these men and women are in uniform carrying out their duties daily, working along with the police in the region. It must be noted that our Government is working assiduously to develop safety for all,” she said. As such, she continued, the sum of $24.6B has been budgeted

this year for the development and modernization of the security sector. “This budget has all the ingredients needed to transform the economy, and that we will do. I profoundly say it is a people’s budget,” she said. However, she admitted that it will not be an easy task to transform the economy. RICE She alluded to the rice industry and said: “This Government inherited a broken rice system. I told the previous Government that, in the rice industry, there was a crisis. I said to them it is time to recognize the plight of the farmers, and that there is need for the implementation of a plan to aggressively market Guyana’s rice.” The APNU+AFC Parliamentarian said despite claims of higher paddy yields and increase in production, the rice industry is on “shaky

SUGAR Like rice, Wade said, sugar will continue to play a critical role in the country’s economy. Government, in an effort to keep the sugar industry afloat, has budgeted $9B for that industry; but, she said, “the yearly bail-out, the poor health of the industry, the aged machinery and buildings, high production cost, weakened sugar prices, and the multi-billion-dollar white elephant in Skeldon” remain major obstacles in the path of development. Wade, who represents Region Five in the National Assembly, said her district will benefit from an improved drainage and irrigation system, and better infrastructure in areas of agriculture, health and education. CRITICISED But Wade’s analysis of the crime situation was criticised by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Adrian Anamayah, who told the House that crime in Guyana is “out of control.” He opined that as it spirals out of control, the Government of the day has no solution at hand. “I will concede that the PPP/C had a high crime rate, but now it is out of control,” he posited. The PPP MP claimed that residents and stakeholders are now calling for Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to step down. The police have, however, reported on Thursday that serious crime has decreased by 6%. The report said, too, that there have been 14 murders so far for this year, but eight of the 14 alleged killers are in jail awaiting trial. The Bharrat Jagdeo Administration had rejected a comprehensive UK-funded security sector reform programme in 2009. Contrary to Anamayah, who believes that the $230B Budget lacks vision, Wade told the House that the budget captures the intent and fulfillment of the promises made in the APNU+AFC Manifesto.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

Fostering peace, unity …Amna Ally lays out vision of Social Cohesion Ministry By Svetlana Marshall MINISTER Amna Ally has defended the Ministry of Social Cohesion, positing that it has made significant progress since its establishment. On Thursday, in the National Assembly, she declared: “Only a visionary would consider the need for a Ministry of Social Cohesion; but one whose thinking is warped would rename it the Ministry of Social Bribery.” Minister Ally disclosed to the House that the Ministry of Social Cohesion was established to foster a peaceful and inclusive society. But even as she attempted to defend the relevance of the Social Cohesion Ministry, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Nigel Dharamlall shouted from across the chamber: “Which Ministry?” Brushing aside the questions and comments from Dharamlall and his colleagues, an apparently unmoved Minister Ally explained that she has been tasked with the responsibility to lead a national process that is geared towards addressing issues of exclusion and marginalisation. “I am required to ensure that there is an environment where people feel a sense of belonging. I have to ensure that, through our programmes and projects, scope is created for citizens to be

cial Cohesion to develop policy and programmatic and operational frameworks. Additionally, she said, the budget would help to build capacity and develop strategic partnerships for pursuing an agenda of social cohesion in Guyana. “Our budgetary allocation would allow us to work with communities across the regions of Guyana, giving opportunities for citizens to cooperate with each other in order to survive and prosper,” she disclosed. Once the budget is approved, she said, the Social Cohesion

Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally

included in these processes (and that) they participate in initiatives at the local and national levels,” she clarified. Guyana cannot continue in disunity, disharmony and division, the Social Cohesion Minister said, as she warned Members of Parliament to desist from creating division. “Let me caution my dear friend, Honourable Cornel Damon, that if we are to progress as a nation, let us see ourselves as Guyanese, even though we may belong to different groups. We have

to move together as one. It would be nice if we, as Members of the National Assembly, lead by example -by being agents of change,” Minister Ally said. In its quest to create a cohesive society, the Social Cohesion Ministry has been working closely with other ministries and governmental and non-governmental organizations, she declared. Turning her attention to the 2016 Budget, Minister Ally asserted that the budget would support the work of the Ministry of So-

Ministry would hold further meetings and consultations with communities in all ten administrative regions. Information sharing and coordinating meetings with key stakeholders, ministries, regional administrations, municipalities and other related entities are also on the agenda, she declared; in addition to mediation, conflict resolution, and peace-building initiatives. Although the Social Cohesion Ministry was established only eight months ago, Minister Ally said, its journey has been very promising, and it has had several outstanding achievements. It was pointed out that

international organizations, such as the United Nations and the British High Commission, have already offered financial and technical support to the Ministry of Social Cohesion, particularly in the hosting of the Social Cohesion Round Table held in September, 2015. “Others have indicated their interest, and have begun partnering with the Ministry; and this includes the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST). They are partnering with the Ministry by assisting to foster cohesion and expanding micro-enterprise initiatives in the regions of Guyana, Turn to page 15 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

Rice production cost not competitive ‒ remove duties on spare parts, Seeraj urges By Tajeram Mohabir AGRICULTURE Minister Noel Holder has said that while Guyana has the ability to produce a high volume of rice, the cost of production impedes this country’s ability to compete. To overcome this hurdle, he said, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has been focusing heavily on research and extension. Research focuses on plant breeding, agronomy (soils and weeds), pathology, entomology and seed production; while ‘extension’ promotes conditions for access and transfer of improved rice varieties, and crop management practices for farmers. PPP Member of Parliament (MP) Dharamkumar Seeraj, who had spoken before the minister during the budget debates, had criticised the low cost for paddy and had blamed the Government for the situation. He told the House that,

during the last elections campaign, Government had given the impression that it had all the answers for the rice industry, but the situation is turning out to be different. Seeraj said that what he is seeing now, instead of improvements, is a drop in rice price production and ‘too much green garments’ about the place. The PPP MP, who is also President of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), was quick to point out that he likes the colour green, but believes that many are not wearing it voluntarily. Seeraj stressed that, in Guyana, rice is not doing well. He pointed out that while this country had exported more rice in 2015, it had earned less for its exports. This situation, he noted, was exacerbated by the El Nino weather condition, which has been taking a toll on farmers. To relieve some of the stress on the people feeding the nation, the PPP MP urged, duties on

agri-vehicle spares should be removed, and the price of diesel should be further reduced. “It will be a short-term investment with long-term benefit,” the RPA head said. He opined that much is not being done for the rice industry, and the much-touted Mexican market appears to have fallen through. STOP PLAYING POLITICS But Minister Holder called on Dharamkumar Seeraj to stop playing politics, and to play a role in helping to fix the challenges facing the rice industry. The minister explained that the Mexican market has not been lost, as that country is very much interested in buying rice from Guyana, since its officials are dissatisfied with the supplies received from the USA. Rice has also been heavily affected by the current El Nino conditions. “The lack of water is the main reason we will be experi-

PPP MP Dharamkumar Seeraj

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

encing an 8.4 per cent decline in the industry in 2016,” Minister Holder declared. “For instance, in Spring Crop 2015, hectares sown were 97,628ha; however, as at February 1, we have only sown 73,337 ha. This represents a decline of 33 per cent. For the areas that are heavily affected, we have the NDIA [National Drainage and Irrigation Authority] and the MMA-ADA [Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary—Agriculture Development Authority] working assiduously to overcome these extraordinary obstacles,” Minister Holder said. On marketing, the min-

ister said that trade will be a key element in the sustainable development of the rice industry. At the Rice Conference held in July 2015, Minister Holder had implored all millers and exporters to collate their efforts and partner with the Government to find and sustain markets. The Government, he said, will continue to make investments that are necessary to fully support the agriculture sector. Guyana has been exporting rice on a consistent basis for over 100 years. “Mr Speaker, in continu-

ing the export growth that the rice industry has experienced over the past five years, existing markets will be maintained whilst new markets will be pursued,” Minister Holder declared. “A new market for paddy is being pursued in Mexico, whilst additional markets for both paddy and rice are being pursued in Europe and other countries.” Some good news has also emerged in regard to Guyana’s first specialty rice - Aromatic Rice. After introduction on the domestic market, Guyana is now preparing to trade this high-priced product on the international market. Aromatic rice is currently being traded at between US$700 and US$1200 per tonne, as compared with regular rice being traded at between US$350 and US$450 per tonne. “This could very well carve the future direction for rice production and trade for Guyana, as it has a significantly higher market price,” Minister Holder has said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

Seven petitioners granted $1.6M bail By George Barclay

TWO judges, Justices JoAnn Barlow and Seunarine Beharry, recently granted seven petitioners bail totalling $1,625,000 pending the determination of their cases. The following shows the offences, the offenders and the amount of bail granted to each petitioner. Robbery under arms,

Ian Campbell $150,000; Possession of ammunition, Richards Edwards $200,000; Possession of ammunition, Amy Springer $200,000; Fraudulent conversion, Andrew James $400,000; Possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, Mohamed Shamar $500,000 and Shedo Bangat $100,000; and Escape from lawful custody, Malcolm Etwaru $75,000.

Fostering... which is emerging as one of our good practices,” she told the House. SOAP MAKING PROJECT This minister further reported that, with the help of IAST, the soap-making project in North Rupununi (Region 9) has been gaining momentum. Additionally, the Ministry has played a critical role in helping Aranaputa and Parishara to expand their multiple uses of peanuts. The Social Cohesion Ministry has been playing an even greater role in the area of education, having been in the forefront in providing the items needed to ensure children attend school regularly and punctually, Minister Ally said. Upon hearing this, her colleague shouted “Yes! Yes!” much to the dissatisfaction of PPP/C Member of Parliament Ganga Persaud, who replied: “We already achieved universal education.” Nevertheless, Minister Ally, protected by House Speaker Dr Barton Scotland, submitted that there is a correlation between one’s level of education, one’s inclusion and participation in development processes, and one’s opportunities for upward mobility. She said that if the Social Cohesion Ministry can contribute to a child’s academic life, it would have made a significant contribution and investment in that child’s personal development; and by extension the development of the community and nation. “Mr Speaker, regardless of what has been said, the truth is that the Ministry of Social Cohesion has partnered with Guyana’s business

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community and, to date, over 300 bicycles have been distributed in Regions 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 to children who live long distances from school,” she told the House. “Tell dem bout de boots!” PPP/C Cornel Damon butted in from his side of the House, but his comment was not enough to gain the attention of the minister, who further disclosed that six boats have to date been distributed. Boats have been distributed for utilization of students in Region 2 (Upper and Lower Pomeroon), Moraikobai (Region 5), Baracara, and Berbice and Demerara Rivers. The partnership has also resulted in students in Regions 4, 5, 6 and 7 benefiting from provision of six buses. “Mr Speaker, let me say to the Honourable Dr Vindya Persaud, on the question of the distribution of the boats, buses and bicycles, that APNU+AFC will not be daunted by your accusations of our distribution outlets. If you really knew where those items were distributed, then you will be put to shame,” Minister Ally said to Dr Persaud, who appeared at a loss for words, although the usual smile was plastered on her face. In defence of his colleague, Damon again shouted: “But you discriminating!” “Sorry if your supporters are gravitating to us,” Minister Ally rebutted. Minister Ally put to rest the accusation that these projects are being funded by political investors. She assured the House that the contributions are from good corporate citizens who simply have confidence in the APNU+AFC Government.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 13, 2016

Teixeira objects to Bible quotes in Budget speech FORMER Presidential Adviser on Governance, and Chief Whip of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Madam Gail Teixeira, has objected to Government’s use of the Bible in the official budget speech, something which Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said is serious and troubling. During his budget presentation on Thursday evening, Minister Trotman mentioned Teixeira’s objections, but the PPP front-bencher said she protested the use of Bible phrases in the Budget Speech because the budget is an official State document and should not show preference for any religion. Teixeira reminded that Guyana is a secular State, though also multi-religious; and she said that while she did not have a problem with MPs making references to the Bible or any other holy book during their presentations, it was her opinion that an official State document should not show preference to any one religion. Trotman, however, said Teixeira’s objection to the use and references to scripture by members of the Government may appear a simple matter, “but to us it is serious.” Guyana, he said, is a secular state indeed, and yet we have the good sense to give a prayer to the “Almighty God” whenever we meet here. He said many MPs attend functions elsewhere, official and otherwise, and prayers are said at those functions, “and we ourselves say those prayers and quote different verses of scripture from our various holy books”. Trotman said he has sat and admired the fluent way in which MP Vindhya Persaud quotes from her holy book, “and even in this debate alone, (I) have heard the Hon. Members Edghill, Dharamlall and Ramson quote scripture comfortably.”

“Much to my pleasant surprise, the Hon. Member NeendKumar cited a well-known passage from Psalm 118, which tells us to rejoice in the day that the Lord has made,” Trotman revealed. “It seems that we are having a revival in here, and that is a good thing. I believe we have become too “politically correct”; too afraid to affirm our faith and to acknowledge that we have strong spiritual beliefs. “I would hate to think that we can practise our religion in closets and be afraid to embrace it when in public. I say let us be like Daniel and open the windows and not hide our faith! Mr. Speaker, in this hallowed House are Christians, Hindus and Muslims, and even some who may be agnostic and atheists. That is our individual right, and no one should attempt to instruct us not to profess our faith. It is a dangerous suggestion,” Trotman said. He added: “We on this side, and I am happy to know that there are some over there as well, acknowledge that we are mere mortals. We are not infallible, neither do we consider ourselves immutable or invincible; and so, whenever we quote from scripture, we are affirming our faith and acknowledging a higher authority over our lives and our decision-making. The Book of 2nd Samuel, Chapter 23 verse 3, tells us that: ‘He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God’. If there is any amongst us who rejects the quoting of any scripture, whether it be from any holy book –- Bible, Bhagavad Gita or Koran -- then you need to check yourselves; something may be wrong. “Before I leave this subject, I wish only to state that as a nation we must thank God for His goodness and mercy before we start our official celebrations for the 50th anniversary; and (we need) to invite His pres-

PPP Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira

ence into the next 50 years. We know, Mr. Speaker, that where the name of God is invoked, we trust that no danger will ensue,” Trotman noted. Trotman also stated that the tenor of the debate has not been the best, but certainly not the worst that has been witnessed in this House. “I believe that there are two fundamental matters that I should address – fundamental to good governance and to our inclusive and participatory democracy: We were lectured about respect

and disrespect, and I feel it is my duty to point out some glaring examples; and not just for the sake of doing so, but to ask how long will we continue as we are?” He mentioned that there was disrespect shown when the Opposition was invited to have its members become part of joint committees and the invitation was declined. “In the past, when a similar invitation was issued, we respected the high office of the President and we attended. There has been

disrespect shown in failing to honour the Herdmanston process by not taking up seats on Boards and Committees. “There was disrespect shown when the Minister of Finance gave the budget presentation and the Leader of the Opposition chose to sit in the Members’ Lounge. Neither Desmond Hoyte, Robert Corbin nor David Granger ever disrespected the PPP’s Finance Minister in such a manner,” Trotman charged.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday February 13, 2016

Persons picket ‘E’ Division Commander

A GROUP of about 12 persons on Friday picketed the office of ‘E’ Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus, calling for his removal and that of an inspector within the division. According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the group included the relatives of two murder accused and another group of men who are at present

before the courts for several robberies committed along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Bearing placards, the group accused ‘E’ Division police (Linden-Kwakwani) of being corrupt and abusive to the accused, but the group’s protest comes months after the matters involving the men would have been engaging the courts. Among the reasons cited

for picketing the Commander’s office is that the cases have been put down for later dates while the men languish in prison. Speaking with this publication, Commander Brutus confirmed that a picketing exercise conducted in his division had been directed at calling for his removal from the division. He told the Chronicle that while he understands the

frustrations of the men’s relatives, since the matters are being called in court and then put down, the court process is not within his realm, as it is a matter for the magistracy. He reminded that the job of the police is merely to bring suspects to justice; the determination of their guilt or innocence rests with the court. On the issue of the per-

sons who are before the courts charged for robberies committed along the highway, the commander reminded that a cellphone had been recovered from a suspect who admitted to the crime. The Friday protesters were not wearing the “peaceful picketing exercise” arm bands and were therefore in violation of the law, but the police allowed them to

express themselves without hindrance. They also accused the police of being abusive, but the commander said the claim is very strange, considering that the men would have been arrested and passed through the courts since last year. The Guyana Police Force Headquarters in Georgetown has been briefed on the matter of the picketing exercise.

Venezuela leader’s foes move to oust him THE new Opposition-controlled National Assembly in Venezuela plans to speed

up moves to oust the Government of Nicolas Maduro as economic woes deepen in

Venezuela. Parliament Speaker Henry Ramos Allup has said that

proposals would be presented in a matter of days, rather than months. A day earlier, President Maduro was given backing by the Supreme Court for a declaration of economic emergency, giving him greater powers. Venezuela is facing a shortage of many staple goods and rampant inflation. Its economy, heavily dependent on oil exports, has suffered substantially in the past year, given the sharp fall in crude oil prices in international markets. Energy rationing has been imposed, blamed by Government ministers on critically low water levels caused by drought at 18 of the country’s hydro-electric dams. The National Assembly Speaker and other Opposition leaders had previously announced that they planned to challenge Mr Maduro in six months’ time, but Mr Ramos now says the country cannot afford to wait. “Nobody doubts now that that six-month time-

frame is too long,” he said. “It is not we who impose the timing; it is the needs of the country. In the next few days, we will have to present a concrete proposal for the departure of that national disgrace that is the Government,” he told a news conference. Mr Ramos called on President Maduro to revoke the decree on emergency measures, and he also attacked the Supreme Court over the decree, saying if what it “has done is not a coup, I don’t know what to call it”. Most, if not all, Supreme Court judges have been appointed either by Mr Maduro or his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez. The Supreme Court rarely rules against the Government. Mr Maduro defended the court’s ruling and said the measures were necessary to deal with the crisis. “This decision was taken by the highest court of the country, in accordance with the Constitution,” he said. His decree was issued on January 14.

It is valid for 60 days, and it can be renewed by the President. The Government says businessmen linked to the Opposition have been hiding basic staples, such as flour, sugar and toilet paper, as part of a strategy to undermine the economy and oust Mr Maduro’s democratically-elected Government. President Maduro was elected in April 2013 to a six-year term, replacing the late President Chavez, who died of cancer after 14 years in office. The Venezuelan Constitution says that a referendum to replace the President can be called any time after the first three years of the President’s term, which will be in April 2016. Four million signatures are needed to trigger a recall referendum. The governing Socialist Party suffered a heavy defeat in December’s legislative election. It lost control of the National Assembly for the first time in 16 years. (BBC)

Venezuela has one of the highest inflation rates in the world, running at more than 140 per cent in 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 13, 2016

ACP Persaud recovering slowly

ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police (Administration) Balram Persaud, who was involved in a car crash near the Demerara Harbour Bridge one week ago, is said to be recovering slowly at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital in Georgetown. This was confirmed by police sources who paid the senior officer visits in the hospital this week. According to reports, the senior police officer slammed into

a utility pole after he lost control of the car he was driving. General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, and former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, said earlier this week he was of the view that the senior officer might have been a victim of an assassination plot. The 54year-old Persaud, was at the time of his admission to hospital, considered as ACP Balram Persaud having a 50/50 chance of

Orchard Consultancy launches services ORCHID Consultancy Group on Friday held its launch at Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown, under the theme “Achieving Goals, Maximising Profits.” Orchid Consultancy provides services in salesmanship, financial management, retirement planning, HR development, Insurance, transportation Services, studio and aerial photography and videography. Financial Planning – Orchid Consultancy Group provides strategic financial planning that will determine a person’s or firm’s financial needs or goals for the future and the means to achieving them. Financial planning involves deciding what investments and activities would be most appropriate under both personal and broader economic circumstances. Retirement Planning – They provide all prospective clients with a complimentary plan, design and discussion to help you understand the important considerations involved in establishing a retirement plan that matches your long-term business objectives, your workforce demographics, tax objectives and your retirement requirements. It is our deep understanding of all areas of retirement plans combined with a constant commitment to customer service that sets Orchid apart. Insurance – Clients will be assisted to assess their personal insurance needs.

Orchid will help you assess your personal situation and plan your insurance in a manner that ensures that, should any loss occur, the client and their beneficiaries would not be saddled with financial burdens. Human Resource Development – Orchid offers access to a team of experienced HR consultants and admin consultants committed to ensuring clients’ long term success. The group is capable of offering flexible and cost effective HR and admin services. Salesmanship – the company offers unique training opportunities for personal development in the field of salesmanship. Orchid can help clients motivate and train their sales force to excel in effective selling. Our team members have a wealth of experience in salesmanship, training and motivation. Giving a background and list of services offered by Orchid Consultancy Group, Chief Executive Officer, Keith Cholmondeley told the gathering that the company was designed with all services under one roof and they were a Guyanese company here to stay to see businesses grow. He added that they would work with any company to find out its challenges and assist so it can improve on its performance for return investment above all. Cholmondeley noted that they were not an HR Company but they understand human dynamics and they would introduce a balance so the return would be much more and they

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survival, but later in the week he was said to be out of danger. His relatives had refused to speak with the Chronicle, after accusing this publication of writing things about Persaud and about the accident that were not factual. Earlier this week, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, indicated to this publication that he was to receive a report from the doctors who were

treating Persaud. He said also that he and the Police Commissioner had visited the injured officer, who acknowledged their presence by shaking his head. Persaud could not have spoken then, since he was still hooked up to a machine. “Thank God he is reacting. He recognised me, he shook his head, he knew me. He just cannot speak as it were, but he is indicating by virtue of shaking his

head,” Ramjattan said in his interview earlier this week. There has been no official word from the police regarding the accident, and Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker told this publication on Monday, when asked about a possible release on the matter, that there will be no such release, since the details of the crash are already in the public domain.

Orchard Consultancy launches...

From 19 stood by their motto: “Our success will be measured by yours.” In a owerPoint presentation, Dr. Lucien Naarden, Leadership Management Expert – Leadership Management International Incorporated who is based in Suriname said they had thousands of clients in 60 countries and they were geared towards performance improvement worldwide. He gave a detailed presentation of their work yesterday..

CEO of Orchid Consultancy Group, Keith Cholmondeley.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday February 13, 2016

CJIA January passenger traffic increases by 6%

PASSENGER traffic at Guyana’s main port of entry –- the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) -- rose by six percent for the month of January 2016, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has said. The airport’s statistics department revealed that 17,728 passengers arrived last month, compared to 16,667 passengers for the same period in 2015. According to Ramesh Ghir, CJIA Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, the proliferation in passenger numbers is due to leisure travel and increased business and tourism activities. Analytical data also indicate that the airlines –- Caribbean Airlines, Dynamic Airways, COPA, Suriname Airways, Fly Jamaica and Insel Air -– have all recorded increases in passenger movement for that month. “Our forecast for the next few months indicates that there will be a huge influx of visitors to celebrate our Golden Jubilee activities in May. Management, for its part, will be working to advance our infrastructure and services provided, including Immigration and Customs, to ensure a smooth process through the terminal building,” Mr. Ghir informed. Anticipating a modern terminal building and extended runway, the CEO, like other Government officials, has aggressively been courting a number of North and Latin American airlines to ply the Georgetown route. Airline executives look for unserved destinations with enormous potential, and Guyana is one such destination, due to heightened investments in oil and precious mineral explorations. Such investments attract premium passengers, which serve as a bonus for airlines serving any route.

Saturday February 13, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Sunday February 14, 2016 - 09:00 hrs Monday Februay 15, 2016 - 10:00 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

PPP fired 69 from Foreign Ministry in 1992 FOREIGN Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has reminded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that in 1992, when it came into power, it had fired more people than what it is now accusing the present Government of firing. Responding to Member of Parliament (MP) Priya Manickchand during the Budget Debates in the National Assembly on Thursday, Greenidge chastised that party for trying to bury the sordid history of that period, and said Manickchand would have then still been in primary school. Greenidge, a longstanding member of the People’s National Congress (PNC), which had been unseated by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in the 1992 elections, said: “What I’ve listened to is cynicism, and (that) reflective of selective amnesia. As regards discrimination, random firing, and the like, Foreign Affairs is the institution that bore the brunt of that despicable erring.” He hinted at the transition period during 1992, when the PPP won the elections. During that transition period, numerous employees from the Foreign Affairs Ministry had reportedly been dismissed without a plausible explanation. Greenidge dubbed Manickchand’s proposition reflective of selective amnesia, and said that she -- and by extension the Opposition -- was attempting to convince Guyanese that only the coalition Government had inherited a good system, while the PPP did not. This, he indirectly hinted, was not a reflection of the truth.

MANICKCHAND’S CONTENTION Manikchand had earlier called on the Government to cease the alleged dismissal of lower-level employees at State institutions. Though she had, on numerous occasions, deviated from an orchestrated attack on Budget 2016, Manickchand

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge PPP MP Priya Manickchand

had sought to remind the Government that it should govern in the interest of all the people, since it has been so obligated. In making her case, she had referred to a scenario wherein, subsequent to the Government’s assumption of office, an employee at a State institution had allegedly been dismissed last year, after serving for over 20 years. She opined that the reason why “Fareeda” (only name given) had been dismissed was because of her perceived political affiliation, which could not be substantiated. This assumption fuelled an eruption of heckling in the House, since the party Manickchand was representing had, on numerous occasions, been accused of practising the very thing she was now accusing the Government of practising. MPs also questioned the information provided by Manikchand, who is also an attorney-at-law. “Who is Fareeda? You making up names!” one MP heckled from across the room. Resolute in her presentation, however, Manickchand had disclosed that Fareeda’s daughter, then a law student, had been forced to discontinue her studies due to financial constraints. “She [the daughter] is now an untrained young teacher, trying to hold on to something until she can start school again. Is Fareeda’s daughter not entitled to the same life?” Manickchand had questioned. Having attracted another round of heckling, the

former Education Minister had further revealed that “Hannif” (only name given) from the Ministry of Education had allegedly suffered the same fate as Fareeda. “I’m not speaking of CEOs who have been knocked off; I’m speaking about secretaries and drivers,” she had said. Similar anecdotal claims had been made earlier in the week by PPP MP Indranie Chandarpal, who had claimed to have been in contact with taxi drivers and other citizens who had been saying that “things bad”. Manickchand had also sought to press the Government to immediately offer salary increases to teachers, as had been promised during its 2015 elections campaign; and to table the Education Bill in the House, in an attempt to construct a more robust education sector. The education sector has received a whopping $40.3B in the 2016 budget, making it recipient of the largest allocation for any sector in the budget. A senior retired diplomat has told the Guyana Chronicle that back in 1992, when Clement Rohee was then Minister of Foreign Affairs, some 69 persons had been fired from the Foreign Service Ministry alone, and those persons included support staff and ambassadors. The diplomat told Guyana Chronicle of situations wherein the current General Secretary of the PPP had visited foreign missions and had, among other alleged abuses, dismissed diplomats on the spot.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 13, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 13, 2016

Lady Jags in must-win game against Guatemala tomorrow By Rawle Toney in Houston, Texas SUNDAY, February 14, will be a red-letter day for Guyana’s senior female national football team, when they take on Guatemala at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas. Guyana went down 5-0 to Canada last Thursday, when they kicked off their CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier campaign. The result against Canada, coupled with the fact that Guatemala also lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago in their first game, means that Guyana will have to beat

their Central American counterparts and hope that the Canadians do the same to the ladies from the Twin Island Republic. It will be the first meeting between Guyana and Guatemala in female football (men played twice) and one where both countries will want to earn their first three points in the tournament, with a hope of winning another to be one of the two teams in Group ‘B’ to advance. Guyana, by virtue of their defeat against Canada, are -5 as compared to Guatemala’s -1. Head coach Mark Rodrigues’ ladies were superb

defensively, even though they gave up five goals, but against a superior Canadian side. Canada defeated France 1-0 to take bronze at the London Olympic Games, while Guyana were playing again, for only the third time since featuring at the 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Cancun, Mexico. The Lady Jags deserve much respect and recognition for their continued effort and success whenever they are assembled, taking into consideration the fact they play pro bono and meagre finances for proper preparation.

Singh rescues Guyana Jaguars ... From back page day, allowing the batsmen more time to place the ball. However, a lapse of concentration saw Permaul taken at the wicket off Richards, who finished the day with figures of 3-31. Permaul’s innings spanned 94 balls, inclusive of five boundaries. Singh and Bishoo batted through to the close in fading light before the umpires decided it was too dark to continue. Play was called off 40 minutes before the schedule cut-off time. Play continues today at 09:30hrs and admission to the venue is free.

SCOREBOARD GUYANA JAGUARS first innings T. Chanderpaul b R. Emrit 3 R. Chandrika b R. Emrit 15 A. Fudadin b Richards 18 L. Johnson run-out (Richards) 23 V. Singh not out 88 A. Bramble lbw b Richards 1 R. Reifer lbw b Jagessar 1 V. Permaul c wkp. b Richards 47 D. Bishoo not out 2 Extras: (lb-6) 6 Total: (for seven wickets, 71.4 overs) 204 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-18, 3-47, 4-73, 5-84, 6-85, 7-198, Bowling: R. Emrit 14-6-41-2, M. Richards 17-6-31-3, J. Jagessar 21.4-6-54-1, N. Deonarine 7-1-17-0, I. Khan 9-1-42-0, J. Mohammed 3-0-13-0

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Turffontein 08:25 hrs New Delhi 09:00 hrs Forest Fox 09:35 hrs Party Magic 10:10 hrs Vino Veritas 10:45 hrs Tamarind 11:20 hrs Lavish Gal ARAB EMIRATES RACING TIPS Meydan 08:35 hrs Mutahaddith 09:10 hrs Baroot 09:45 hrs Charlie Crocker 10:20 hrs Nathr 10:55 hrs Kasb ENGLISH RACING TIPS Lingfield 09:25 hrs Kings Bayonet 10:00 hrs Blacklister 10:35 hrs Lady Lydia 11:10 hrs Summer Chorus 11:45 hrs Mutawathea 12:20 hrs Quintus Ceralis NEWBURY 09;20 hrs Emerging Talent 09:50 hrs Zeroshadesofgrey

10:25 hrs Rocky Creek 11:00 hrs Dodging Bullets 11:35 hrs Blazer 12:45 hrs Ballyandy WARWICK 10:05 hrs Jessber’s Dream 10:15 hrs Extreme Impact 11:50 hrs Marcilhac 12:25 hrs Norse Light IRISH RACING TIPS Gowan Park 10:50 hrs Just Get Cracking 11;25 hrs Sempre Medici 12:00 hrs Never Again 12:35 hrs Page Turner 13:05 hrs She’s Otto AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Mills Race 2 Tipit Race 3 Tricky Zippy Race 4 Shimmering Moon Race 5 Ground Control Race 6 Point Hope Race 7 Full of Mine Race 8 Royal Posse

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 13, 2016

Smith, Khawaja drive home Australia’s advantage on day one By Greg Stutchbury WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja hammered home the advantage their bowlers had established when they took Australia to 147-3, a deficit of just 36 runs, at the close of the opening day’s play in the first Test against New Zealand yesterday. Australia captain Smith, who won the toss and sent New Zealand in to bat on a green Basin Reserve pitch, shook off some recent poor form to reach 71 before he was caught and bowled by Mark Craig. Khawaja scored his fourth Test half-century with 57 not out, while Adam Voges (seven not out) was bowled by Doug Bracewell in the final over of the day only to survive because of a contentious no-ball. Te l e v i s i o n r e p l a y s showed the delivery was clearly legal. The tourists had earlier dismissed New Zealand for 183, Josh Hazlewood and

Peter Siddle reducing them to 51-5 in the 12th over and Nathan Lyon polishing off the tail after lunch. Hazlewood finished with 4-42, Siddle took 3-37, while off-spinner Lyon grabbed

we can get another big partnership ... then that will be pretty good.” Craig top-scored with 41 not out but the pitch appeared to have lost much of its bite by the end of New

Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja put on 126 runs for the third wicket.

3-32 and the tea break was taken 10 minutes early when Trent Boult was caught at long on for 24. “I thought we bowled really well as a unit,” Hazlewood told reporters. “We’re in a pretty good position. If

Zealand’s innings, which lasted 48 overs. Tim Southee, however, managed to get rid of both Joe Burns (0) and David Warner (5) to leave the visitors 5-2 in the third over and with the sell-out crowd in

Perera hat-trick in vain as India level T20 series (REUTERS) - Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera claimed a hattrick but could not deny India a series-levelling 69-run victory in the second Twenty20 in Ranchi yesterday. The 26-year-old paceman dismissed Hardik Pandya, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh from successive deliveries before Sri Lanka, chasing 197 to clinch the series with a match to spare, were restricted to 127 for nine. The run chase by the tourists got off to a terrible start with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (3-14) luring Tillakaratne Dilshan out of his crease with the first legitimate delivery and Mahendra Singh Dhoni removing the stumps in a flash. Sri Lanka were then reeling at 16 for three before Dinesh Chandimal (31) and Chamara Kapugedera (32) staged a rally. Milinda Siriwardana (28 not out) and Dasun Shanaka (27) also chipped in with useful knocks but they proved in vain in Dhoni’s home town. Smarting from their humbling in the series opener in Pune, India made an excellent start as openers Shikhar

Dhawan (51) and Rohit Sharma (43) shared a quick-fire stand of 75 in seven overs after Sri Lanka had opted to field. Dhawan, who survived a strong lbw appeal early on, hit three successive fours in Kasun Rajitha’s second over and took only 22 balls to race to his maiden international half-century in this format. Dushmantha Chameera then had Dhawan caught behind before he took a brilliant diving catch off his own bowling after outfoxing Sharma with a slower delivery. Boundaries temporarily dried up but, with five overs remaining, Pandya (27) hit spinner Sachithra Senanayake for back-to-back sixes and Raina (30) struck four boundaries in one Chameera over. Perera then had Pandya caught at long on, Raina at backward square leg and the scoreless Yuvraj at longon to become the fourth man to grab a Twenty20 international hat-trick, following Australian Brett Lee and New Zealanders Jacob Oram and Tim Southee. Visakhapatnam stages the final match tomorrow.

full voice. Southee and Boult kept up the pressure on Smith and Khawaja but when they scored 37 runs, from nine fours and a single, in 16 deliveries, the shackles were broken and crowd silenced. Smith was eventually dismissed about 20 minutes before stumps when he hit the ball back to Craig to end the 126-run partnership. “We have lost wickets in clumps on these types of wickets and I think they batted brilliantly,” Hazlewood added. “That partnership was very important at that stage of the game.” The crowd began the day celebrating McCullum’s milestone as he became just the third New Zealander to earn 100 Test caps and the first man in world cricket to achieve them in succession from debut. Australia, however, seized control of the match shortly after Smith won the toss and simply bowled straight and waited for the ball to do just enough to

catch the outside edge. New Zealand’s first seven wickets all fell to catches behind the stumps, but the last three, all Lyon’s victims, were caught in front from mis-timed attacking shots. “We would have liked a

few more runs but moving forward the game is very nicely advanced,” Craig said. “I think if we had managed to get one or two more wickets at the end it would have been a pretty even day.”

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND first innings M. Guptill c Smith b Hazlewood 18 T. Latham c Nevill b Hazlewood 6 K. Williamson c Nevill b Siddle 16 H. Nicholls c Nevill b Siddle 8 B. McCullum c Warner b Hazlewood 0 C. Anderson c Khawaja b Lyon 38 B. Watling c Nevill b Hazlewood 17 D. Bracewell c Voges b Siddle 5 M. Craig not out 41 T. Southee c Hazlewood b Lyon 0 T. Boult c Khawaja b Lyon 24 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-5) 10 Total: (all out, 48 overs) 183 Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-38, 3-44, 4-47, 5-51, 6-88, 7-97, 8-137, 9-137 T. Southee,10-183 T. Boult Bowling: J. Hazlewood 14 - 2 - 42 – 4, J. Bird 10 - 1 - 52 – 0 (nb-3), P. Siddle 12-5-37-3 (nb-2), M. Marsh 6-1-15-0, N. Lyon 6-0-32-3. AUSTRALIA first innings J. Burns c Watling b Southee 0 D. Warner c Watling b Southee 5 U. Khawaja not out 57 S. Smith c & b Craig 71 A. Voges not out 7 Extras: (b-4, nb-2, w-1) 7 Total: (for 3 wickets, 40 overs) 147 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-131. Bowling: T. Southee 8-1-22-2, T. Boult 10-2-36-0, D. Bracewell 11-1-45-0 (nb-2), C. Anderson 2-0-9-0 (w-1), M. Craig 9-1-31-1.

Morris magic helps South Africa level ODI series JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - A swashbuckling half-century by Chris Morris hauled South Africa back from the brink of defeat, as they scraped past England by one wicket yesterday to level the one-day series at 2-2 with one match left. Morris, going in to bat at number eight, bludgeoned his way to 62 off 38 balls to help South Africa reach their target of 263 with 16 deliveries to spare after Joe Root had made his second successive century for the tourists. Leg-spinner Adil Rashed clean-bowled Morris with a googly with the scores level but number 11 Imran Tahir struck the next ball for four to the relief of a capacity crowd of 22 000. However, it could have been a different story for South Africa had Morris not been dropped by Rashid when he was on 14. Earlier, Root made 109 as

England were bowled out for 262 in 47.5 overs. The Yorkshireman, who

Chris Morris levelled the scores at the Wanderers before being bowled by England’s Adil Rashid in a thrilling South Africa victory. Photograph: BPI/Rex/Shutterstock struck an ODI-best 125 in a losing cause in Pretoria on Tuesday, saved Eoin Morgan’s

side after they had slumped to 108 for six. Opener Alex Hales contributed 50 but it was a 95-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Root and Chris Woakes (33) that helped England, who won the Test series 2-1, post a defendable tally. Rashid also chipped in with a quick-fire 39 off 26 balls while paceman Kagiso Rabada took the last three wickets to finish with four for 45. Hashim Amla was cleanbowled for a duck by the recalled Stuart Broad in South Africa’s first over and the home team looked in trouble when captain AB de Villiers was run-out for 36 by the quick-thinking Chris Woakes. South Africa were then left teetering on the brink on 210 for eight before Morris came to their rescue. The last game of the series is in Cape Town tomorrow.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 13, 2016

FIFA ethics committee bans Valcke for 12 years By Brian Homewood ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke became the latest high-profile football official to be kicked out of the sport when he was banned for 12 years yesterday after causing “considerable financial damage” to its scandal-plagued governing body. Va l c k e w a s f o u n d guilty by FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert of misconduct over the sale of World Cup tickets, abuse of travel expenses, attempting to sell TV rights below their market value and destruction

of evidence. “Valcke acted against FIFA’s best interests and caused considerable finan-

JEROME VALCKE

cial damage to FIFA, while his private and personal interests detracted him from his ability to properly perform his duties as the Secretary General of FIFA,” said FIFA’s ethics committee in a statement. The Frenchman, whose job was to ensure the smooth running of FIFA and, in particular, its flagship World Cup tournament, had been right-hand man to now banned FIFA president Sepp Blatter for nearly eight years. FIFA is mired in the worst crisis in its 111-year history, with corruption investigations under way in Switzerland and the United States.

Athletes concerned about Zika before Rio Olympic test event RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - International athletes, set to compete in an Olympic diving test event in Rio de Janeiro next week, have asked about risks linked to the Zika virus, but have not cancelled participation because of the outbreak, one of the organisers said yesterday. “They are concerned and are being given advice on how to proceed,” Cassius Duran, a former Brazilian diver, told reporters at the inauguration of the remodelled Maria Lenk Aquatic Center, where the Olympic diving will be held in August. Duran said organisers were telling athletes to use repellents to protect themselves against mosquito bites, the primary means of transmission of the virus. The test event, which runs from February 19 to 24, is a stage of the Diving World Cup and 270 athletes from 50 countries are due to compete. Athletes and visitors planning to come to the

Olympics have expressed concern about Zika, a virus linked to birth defects in newborns, which has been reported in more than 30 countries, according to the

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes World Health Organisation. Brazil is investigating the potential link between Zika infections and more than 4 000 suspected cases of microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can result in

developmental problems. Researchers have identified evidence of Zika infection in 17 of these cases, either in the baby or in the mother, but have not confirmed that Zika can cause microcephaly. Olympic organisers have previously said the games would be held during Rio’s winter when there tends to be fewer mosquitoes. However, a Reuters report this week showed there was not always a decline in mosquito-borne infections during that season. Rio’s Mayor Eduardo Paes said the city was pulling out all stops to ensure the safety of athletes. “We are doing everything to avoid any type of danger for any of the athletes who come,” he said. “There is a Zika problem, but I think there is also a certain amount of exaggeration and ignorance. It is this that frightens more than the virus itself,” he said.

Windwards dismissed for 250 by Pride BRIDGETOWN – Windward Islands Volcanoes, who won the toss and batted, were dismissed for 250 by Barbados Pride at the close of play on the opening day of their sixth round match in the WICB Regional Professional Cricket League first-class championship at Kensington Oval here yesterday. Andre Fletcher top-scored for the Volcanoes with 84, decorated with 16 fours off 144 balls in 172 minutes. He got good support from Kavem Hodge, who made 53 with five fours in 200 minutes off 185 balls while featuring in a fifth wicket partnership of 127 runs with Fletcher. Fast bowler Miguel Cummins was the most successful bowler for Barbados Pride, capturing five for 47 in 16.2 overs but twice had the leave the field with an injured right leg. Experienced left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn took the last three wickets for 65 runs off 28.1 overs.

Several dozen people, including senior football officials, have been indicted. The ethics committee has already banned Blatter and European football boss Michel Platini for eight years apiece, and more than a dozen other officials have been suspended over the last four years. Valcke was initially investigated over potential misconduct linked to the sale of tickets for FIFA World Cups and other cases were uncovered by Cornel Borbely, FIFA’s chief ethics investigator, during the course of the inquiry, the statement said. It was found that Valcke had travelled at FIFA’s expense for “purely sightseeing reasons” and had repeatedly chosen private flights over commercial ones “without any business rationale for doing so.” “Mr Valcke gained an advantage for himself and relatives,” said the statement.

The investigation also found that Valcke attempted to grant the 2018 and 2022 World Cup television and marketing rights for the Caribbean region to a third party for a fee which was “far below their actual market value”, said the statement. In another incident, Valcke “deliberately tried to obstruct the ongoing proceedings against him by attempting to delete or deleting several files and folders relevant to the investigation,” the statement said. In all he was found to have violated seven articles of the FIFA code of ethics including ones of general rules of conduct, loyalty, confidentiality, duty of disclosure, conflicts of interest, offering and accepting gifts and obligation to collaborate. Valcke joined FIFA in 2003 as marketing director but was fired in December 2006 for his part in botched

sponsorship negotiations with credit card firms MasterCard Inc and Visa Inc. Yet within months of that settlement, Valcke was not only back at FIFA but was at the helm of the administration as general secretary, answering directly to Blatter. Valcke was largely credited for getting the 2010 and 2014 World Cup tournaments, held in South Africa and Brazil respectively, up and running in time after delays in the preparations. During the run-up to the 2014 tournament, he caused a row by saying that Brazil needed a “kick up the backside” to get the tournament ready on time. Valcke was put on leave by FIFA in September and dismissed in January by FIFA’s emergency committee. He had already implied that he would stand down following the February 26 election for Blatter’s replacement.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 13, 2016

South Dakota extension on new GMR&SC president’s radar By Stephan Sookram MAHENDRA Boodhoo is the new president of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) following that body’s Annual General Meeting and election of office-bearers Thursday evening at its Thomas Lands facility. Boodhoo, who ran unopposed at the meeting, will head an executive committee which will see the return of Chet Singh as vice -president of the club along with Hansraj Singh as treasurer. The new executives are Shane Ally as secretary, Peter Peroune as assistant secretary/treasurer, Harold Hopkinson as club captain and Brian Ten-Pow as tech-

Back row (l-r) committee member John Carpenter, secretary Shane Ally, president Mahendra Boodhoo, vice-president Chet Singh, committee member Rameez Mohammed. Front row L-R: committee member Paul Jiwanram, technical adviser Brian Ten-Pow, committee member Diana D’Ornellas, treasurer Hansraj Singh and assistant secretary/treasurer Peter Peroune. nical adviser. In his first address as

president, Boodhoo outlined one of his principal

focuses as the extension of the South Dakota raceway,

LABA/104.3 Power FM Mash basketball continues tonight TONIGHT, top-tanked Half Mile Bulls will be in action when they face the Amelia’s Ward Jets in what should be a tough affair from 21:00hrs, while in the first game at 19:00hrs Block 22 Flames and Retrieve Raiders will square off, as day two of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA/104.3 Power FM Mash Open basketball championship, which began last night, continues at the tournament venue, the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. When the tournament was launched last Saturday, president of LABA, Lawrence Simon, expressed his thanks for the sponsorship saying, “I must say how happy I am with the turnout, as we mentioned we want to be disciplined. However, I said, we have to lead by example.” Simon noted that “sponsorship is hard to come by especially in Linden and it is a challenging thing”. He said, “I just want to urge you to come out and support as usual.”

LABA president Lawrence Simon (at left) receives the huge 104.3 Power FM Radio Trophy from owner Haslyn Graham. Owner of the 104.3 Power FM radio in Linden and the majority sponsor, Haslyn Graham, was pleased with the confidence shown by the association but urged that the clubs do their best to please the fans. He said, “This is 104.3 first tournament in collaboration with LABA, and we are hoping as much as possible to help develop basketball in the community. “As a former president, I also recognise some of the areas of weaknesses and having a tool like the radio station is a major plus in the line of development

towards promoting basketball.” H o w e v e r, G r a h a m stressed, “I personally do not want to look at basketball in general as a money making venture. If we always have to look at it, it must be to let the sport be the winner.” At the launching at the Mackenzie Sports Club Lounge in the presence of the participating clubs the championship trophy was handed over by Graham to the president of LABA Lawrence Simon while the other trophies were also on hand for the second, third and Most Valuable Player winners.

saying, “One of the main things for me coming here is to concentrate on the extension of the track, so I wish that everyone here helps me with that.” “We will do the best of our ability and try to make the best of what we have. We will move motor racing and develop it. We have lots of plans. Most of us here would have come with something different but we will choose what is of priority and that is what we are going to work with,” continued the new GMR&SC president. The returning committee members include Paul Jiwanram and Diana D’Ornellas while former president John Carpenter joins Rameez Mohammed

Irfaan Kalamadeen to complete the twelve-member body. The lone slate was proposed by Cyril Angoy and seconded by Mohamad S. Roshandin. In other racing news, the Caribbean Motor Racing Association is expected to release its official rulebook and guidelines for the 2016 season in the new week. According to information reaching Chronicle Sport, there are revised rules in the super-stock class with bikes now being brought up to a standard, where they use standard fuel among other things. These rules were agreed to by representatives of the competing CMRA countries.

India bans Pakistani umpire Rauf over IPL scandal By Amlan Chakraborty NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf was handed a five-year ban by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) yesterday over his involvement in an illegal betting scandal that blighted the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Controversy plagued the sixth edition of the lucrative Twenty20 league with former India paceman S. Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan cricketers arrested on suspicion of

UDFA U-17 league kicks off today with four matches THE Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) Under-17 Football League will kick off this morning with four matches at two venues in Linden. The first game features a Group ‘A’ clash from 10:00hrs as Topp XX take on Amelia’s Ward Panthers and at 11:40hrs Botofago and Blueberry Hill collide at the Wisburg Secondary School ground. Over at the Christianburg Community ground at 13:30hrs Eagles United take on Vasco and at 15:00hrs Milerock tackle Hi Stars. Play will continue next Saturday at these two venues. Group ‘A’ comprises Topp XX, Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Botofago, Blueberry Hill, Retrieve Lions and Winners Connection. Group ‘B’ has Eagles United, Vasco, Milerock, Hi Stars, Net Rockers and Silver Shattas.

accepting money to concede a fixed number of runs. All three were given life bans by the BCCI. The Chennai and Rajasthan franchises were subsequently suspended from the IPL for two years after key officials from both teams were found guilty of illegal betting. The investigating Mumbai Police also named Rauf in the charge sheet but the umpire’s lawyer said his client had done nothing wrong. “Mr Asad Rauf has been banned for a period of five years from umpiring or playing or representing cricket in any form or anyway being associated with the activities of the Board and its Affiliates,” the BCCI said in a statement yesterday. The 59-year-old, who last officiated an international match in the 2013, did not appear before the BCCI disciplinary committee and sent a written statement instead, the board added. The panel found the umpire guilty of facilitating betting, disclosing inside information and receiving gift or payment that brought the game into disrepute. A Lahore-born first class cricketer, Rauf has officiated in 49 Tests and 98 one-day internationals. The BCCI ban does not extend beyond India.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 13, 2016

Simmons, Miller get top tier CPL contracts …Kieran Powell, Ramnaresh Sarwan-caught attendees off guard

LENDL Simmons and David Miller were the big winners in the Caribbean Premier League 2016 draft on Thursday in Barbados, going first and second overall to fetch top tier US$160,000 contracts. Simmons went to the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, having represented Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2015, while Miller was snapped up for the first time by a CPL team going to the St Lucia Zouks second overall. Miller will team with Shane Watson to fill the void left by Kevin Pietersen, who opted to withdraw himself from the CPL for this season. Sohail Tanvir’s pick at fifth overall by Guyana essentially meant he and Simmons made a straight swap between teams. Chris Gayle (Jamaica Tallawahs), Dwayne Bravo (Trinbago Knight Riders) and Kieron Pollard (Bar-

bados Tridents) were all retained by their franchises in the first round. The six designated marquee overseas players were all taken in the second round beginning with AB de Villiers by the Tridents. He was followed by Martin Guptill, who will switch from the Patriots to the Amazon Warriors for 2016. Brendon McCullum went next to the Knight Riders, Kumar Sangakkara to the Tallawahs, Watson to St Lucia and Faf du Plessis rounded out the marquee picks going to the Patriots. Hashim Amla was taken by the Knight Riders in round four, one pick ahead of Big Bash player of the tournament Chris Lynn by the Amazon Warriors who represented the Tallawahs in 2015. Adam Zampa, who had a breakout season in the BBL with Melbourne Stars to fetch both an Australian

NOTABLE DATES DENNIS Andries was in the twilight of a stellar career when he lost to Terry Dunstan on February 13, 1996. Aged 42 at the time and a solid 15 years Dunstan’s senior, Andries went down by a point decision after the 12th and final round. The fight was held in London, England. It was the penultimate bout of Andries’ professional career which commenced in May 1978 with a second round knockout of Ray Pearce.

call-up and an IPL contract with Rising Pune Super Giants, was taken in the sixth

RAMNARESH SARWAN round for US$60,000 by the Amazon Warriors. One player that caught most attendees off guard was Kieran Powell, who fetched a US$10,000 price tag in round ten from the

The Guyanese and Dunstan were battling for the latter’s Commonwealth cruiserweight title. Andries had his last fight in December of 1996. Nicknamed ‘The Hackney Rock’, Andries won the Commonwealth light heavyweight and cruiserweight titles, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight crown. His career lasted a total of 18 years during which time he secured 49 victories, 14 defeats and two draws. The orthodox boxer was born in Guyana but started his professional career in England, his adopted homeland.

Guinness Greatest in the Street …

Harmony, West Side Ballers impressive on first night IT was a night for the ‘Ballers’ as Harmony Ballers ‘A’ and West Side Ballers registered comfortable wins on the opening night of the West Coast/Bank and East Bank zone of the Guinness Greatest in the Street Futsal competition. Thursday evening the Pouderoyen tarmac came alive to witness Harmony Ballers win 4-0 against Champions Boys and West Side Ballers humble Crane Raiders 2-0 in two of the eight contested matches. Harmony Ballers were led by a double from Shaquille McBean who scored in the seventh and 13th minutes while his team mates Kevin Richards (9th) and Hermon Munroe (12th) chipped in with a goal each. West Side Ballers registered three first-half goals which were more than enough to get them the victory over the opposition. Denny Morgan, Dwayne St Kitts and Quessey Alleyne scored in the sixth, 14th and 15th minutes, respectively. There were also some closely contested battles which saw three more victors win

by the same score line. Shattaville Gunners needled Samaroo Dam with the decider being produced by Stephon Griffith in the 11th minute. Pouderoyen Showstoppers also claimed a 1-0 victory on familiar turf over Best Road Ballers. Marvin Josiah accounted for that goal in the 18th minute. Agricola Upsetters engaged in a rough battle with Comfort Ballers but the ninth-minute goal from Jermin Jefford was all that was needed to put Upsetters among the points. Bagotstown Warriors and Water Street Agricola romped to an eventful stalemate but the former held the better nerves in the penalty shootout to snatch the win 5-4. One of the other two see-saw battles that ended in nil-all draws at full time saw Harmony Ballers ‘B’ win 1-0 on penalty kicks while Brothers United sank Patentia Street Ballers 2-0 in the penalty shootout. (Kizan Brumell)

Patriots. Powell, 25, last played for West Indies in June 2014 and had declared his interest in January to pursue a career in baseball. He recently had an unsuccessful Major League Baseball tryout. Ramnaresh Sarwan was also a surprising name plucked in the final moments of the draft going with the first pick in the 15th round to the Knight Riders for US$4000. Sarwan last played any form of competitive cricket with Leicestershire in 2014. CPL squads: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Lendl Simmons, Faf du Plessis, Samuel Badree, Brad Hodge, Thisara Perera, Jonathan Carter, Krishmar Santokie, Evin Lewis, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kieran Powell, JJ Smuts, Devon Thomas, Shamarh Brooks, Tino Best, Jeremiah Louis,

Nikhil Dutta St Lucia Zouks: David Miller, Shane Watson, Darren Sammy, Michael Hussey, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Morne Morkel, Fidel Edwards, Derone Davis, Eddie Leie, Keron Cottoy, Shane Shillingford, Delorn Johnson, Kyle Mayers, Keddy Lesporis, Nitish Kumar Jamaica Tallawahs: Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Imad Wasim, Lasith Malinga, Rovman Powell, Chadwick Walton, Jon-Russ Jaggesar, Andre McCarthy, Jonathan Foo, Alex Ross, Kesrick Williams, Nkrumah Bonner, Garey Mathurin, Timroy Allen Trinbago Knight Riders: Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum, Sunil Narine, Hashim Amla, Umar Akmal, Kevon Cooper, Sulieman Benn, Colin Munro, Anton

Devcich, Ronsford Beaton, Nikita Miller, Javon Searles, William Perkins, Yannick Cariah, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Hamza Tariq Guyana Amazon Warriors: Sohail Tanvir, Martin Guptill, Dwayne Smith, Chris Lynn, Rayad Emrit, Adam Zampa, Jason Mohammed, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Orlando Peters, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Ali Khan Barbados Tridents: Kieron Pollard, AB de Villiers, Shoaib Malik, Nicolas Pooran, Ravi Rampaul, David Wiese, Robin Peterson, Raymon Reifer, Ashley Nurse, Wayne Parnell, Akeal Hosein, Imran Khan, Kyle Hope, Navin Stewart, Kyle Corbin, Steven Taylor. (Newsday article).

Simmons, Miller get top tier CPL contracts

See story on page 35

Singh rescues Guyana Jaguars on opening day By Rajiv Bisnauth

A GUTSY 113-run partnership between Vishual Singh and Veerasammy Permaul rescued the Guyana Jaguars from a perilous position as the hosts battled to 204-7 on the first day of their sixth-round West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day game against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. The left-handed Singh, who batted with typical aplomb, mixing sound defence with aggression, has hardly played a false stroke in 196 minutes at the crease, scored his sixth First-Class fifty, and is unbeaten on 88 off 159 balls with 12 boundaries. Devendra Bishoo is the other not-out batsman on two. Permaul made 47, as the pair undertook a salvage operation after they had been thrust together with the Jaguars in deep trouble at 85-6. The duo, who came to the crease before tea, never looked troubled throughout their time in the middle. The partnership ensured the hosts ended the day with a marginal point’s victory after winning the toss and deciding to bat. Earlier rain delayed the start of play by 20 minutes under overcast conditions.

The Jaguars omitted opener Robin Bacchus and fast bowler Ronsford Beaton from the playing X1. The openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Rajendra Chandrika motored along as the right-hander Chandrika found the pitch and the attack to his liking, hitting three fours, two off Rayad Emrit and the other off Marlon Richards, but Emrit (2-41) swung the momentum the visitors’ way with the wickets of both openers in helpful conditions. Emrit made full use of the overcast conditions, bowling an impeccable line and length to extract movement off the pitch. He first clean-bowled Chandrika for 15, and then had Chanderpaul, who took 24 balls to get going in similar fashion for a 27-ball three. Test players Assad Fudadin and Leon Johnson joined forces as batting conditions remained tricky under a heavily overcast sky on a pitch with occasional variable bounce. Fudadin hit off-spinner Jon Russ Jagessar for two sixes in his 18 before he was bowled by Richards on the stroke of lunch. Johnson was unbeaten on 11. The Jaguars had begun the post-lunch session brightly amid overcast conditions.

Lady Jags in must-win game against Guatemala tomorrow See story on page 31

Otesha Charles (Guyana) battles Desiree Scott (Canada) for the ball at the BBVA Compass Stadium last evening.

Vishual Singh cuts during his unbeaten 88. Singh, who resumed with Johnson, greeted Jagessar with two boundaries, before another rain squall saw the players leave the field after just 16 minutes of play. Upon resumption, the Red Force capitalised on a needless run-out. Johnson hit the ball towards mid-on and darted off for a run but only to stop in the middle of the pitch after Singh refused to take the single, and the Jaguars skipper was stranded by Richard’s throw to the striker’s end. With Johnson looking disconsolate at his dismissal, the Jaguars then slipped to 85-6 with Richards, who impressed with his steady line and length trapping wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble leg-before-wicket, while the

See page 31

Brathwaite called up as Pollard, Narine withdraw from World T20 BARBADIAN Carlos Brathwaite has been called up to represent the West Indies in the upcoming the ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament which will be held in India. According to a release from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine have withdrawn from the team and Brathwaite has been named as Pollard’s replacement.

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debutant Jagessar (1-51) removed Raymon Reifer in similar manner. The diminutive Singh and Permaul went ahead with the repair act cleverly, by stealing the odd singles and punishing the loose deliveries for boundaries, and by the interval the Jaguars were 126-6, with Singh on 42 and Permaul on 17. Singh then brought up his half-century with his seventh boundary. However, with no demons in the pitch, the pair were able to bat the Jaguars out of trouble. The hosts’ cause was helped by a wicket that became totally unresponsive at the latter part of the

CARLOS BRATHWAITE

On Tuesday, Pollard cited a lack of sufficient progress in his rehabilitative work. He sustained an injury in December and won’t be fit for tournament. Spinner Narine withdrew yesterday. He is currently banned from bowling in international cricket and cited insufficient progress in the rehabilitative work on his bowling action. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016