Issuu

‘40% AND ALLOWANCES’ No. 104590

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

‒ GPSU states demands ahead of talks with Gov’t today

City Hall 3 owes $200M for cleanup, other projects

“

God will provide; these couple years guh go by like nothing....My children will be well taken care of”

Guyana becoming difficult transit point for drugs 11 P.

‒ US says DEA help could lead to capture of major traffickers

Duty-free deal

Angelica Forde being escorted by a policewoman to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where she was sentenced

Cocaine Cocaine mule mule jailed jailed for for four four ‒ also fined $8.2M years years 14

‒ Caribbean Airlines, gov’t reach agreement P.2

PUMPS, EXCAVATORS ‒ to alleviate flooding DEPLOYED in West Berbice 12 P.

Six hospitals accredited as baby-friendly 15 P.

Duty-free deal 2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

‒ Caribbean Airlines, gov’t reach agreement

Representatives from Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Caribbean Airlines, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority following the meeting

PASSENGERS traveling out of Guyana who have had their duty-free items disposed of while in-transit can now breathe a sigh of relief. The management of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) have reached, the two entities said in a joint press statement. Officials of CJIA, CAL and representatives from the Civil Aviation Authorities of both Guyana and Trinidad

and Tobago met here on Tuesday to explore solutions to the issue currently affecting transit passengers who purchase duty free-items. Just recently, CJIA in a strongly worded missive issued a 21-day ultimatum for CAL to honour a contractual agreement between the two, or have its operations at the airport terminated. It was reported that outgoing CJIA passengers were routinely complaining about not being allowed to take their duty-free items with

them when boarding a connecting flight to travel to the United States. The airline subsequently defended these actions by noting that it must comply with restrictions that have been imposed through security processes. The Trinidad-based airline explained that these security processes are governed and regulated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which also conducts audits for all carriers flying into the US. These discussions, the statement said, provided a solution which would enable transit passengers to once again purchase duty free items, effective Wednesday June 22. “Travellers through a

secure process will now be allowed to place their duty free items into their checked luggage,” the statement added. However, it was noted that this procedure will not apply to BW 526, which operates non-stop Georgetown to New York. According to the statement, passengers will be required to indicate their intention to purchase duty free items at the security checkpoint at the entrance to the airport and again at the Caribbean Airlines check-in counter before making their way to the duty-free shops. Once the purchases are made, the purchaser will be escorted by security personnel to the baggage area in order to place the items in their checked luggage.

However, this process will be closely supervised by security and airport personnel and will be conducted in the full view of cameras. Duty free purchases will also need to be completed one hour before scheduled departure to ensure sufficient time for the new procedure. Receptive of these terms, officials CJIA withdrew the ultimatum and expressed the view that over time the process will be refined. “Following the successful resolution of the duty free issue, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIA) has officially

that Guyana is an important destination for Caribbean Airlines. “We remain committed to our loyal Guyanese customers whom we have consistently served with reliable service since our start in 2007. Today’s meeting has enabled the CJIA and Caribbean Airlines to achieve a solution to this issue which ensures that Caribbean Airlines remains compliant with the TSA regulations and continues to provide quality service to our valued customers,” he added. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authorities of

Travellers through a secure process will now be allowed to place their duty free items into their checked luggage withdrawn the warning issued to Caribbean Airlines, to cancel the Air Carrier Agreement, if the airline failed to comply with the procedure proposed by the CJIA,” the Ministry’s statement noted. Chairman of CAL, Phillip Marshall also underscored the fact that the issue is one of national and regional significance given

Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago also re-affirmed their commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two authorities. Under the MOU, passengers originating from Guyana and connecting on other Caribbean Airlines’ services will not be re-screened at Piarco International Airport.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

‘40% AND ALLOWANCES’ ‒ GPSU states demands ahead of talks with Gov’t today By Derwayne Wills GOVERNMENT has invited GPSU, the union representing public servants, to begin negotiations on wages and salaries today, but the absence of a specific call for negotiations on allowances has union leaders stumped. The GPSU is going to the table with a demand for a 40 percent increase in salaries, and the union also wants the Government not to pussyfoot on the matter of allowances. GPSU President Patrick Yarde told reporters on Tuesday that Government’s invitation was specific to talks on wages and salaries for 2016, and nothing was

GPSU President Patrick Yarde speaks at the GPSU press conference while other union officials look on

said about allowances. “Allowances (are in) the most ridiculous state that exists right now in the Pub-

lic Service, and we are not prepared to have that feature any further delayed,” Yarde said.

He has written Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who issued the invitation for talks, for clarification on

the matter. Yarde said he had met Finance Minister Winston Jordan before budget 2015, and has been assured that allowances for public servants, outstanding for more than 20 years, would be treated apart from wages and salaries. Government had set up a Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service, and had said the report would be used to guide the development of the public sector, including wages, salaries and allowances. All wage negotiations with the union representing the country’s public servants were put on hold until the report was presented to the President. President Granger received the report last May. Commenting on the con-

tents of the report, which recommended an overhaul of the remunerative structure, the GPSU President said there are mixed feelings coming from the union about the contents of the report. Article 215A of the Guyana Constitution speaks to the establishment of a Public Service Appellate Tribunal. Yarde advocated at his press conference for re-establish ment of the tribunal, which has not been summoned since the first term of the then Bharrat Jagdeo Administration (2001-2006). Yarde felt it was a deliberate move by the Jagdeo Administration to delay the appointment of the constitutional body, which is to be appointed by the President. Turn to page 8 ►

City Hall owes $200M for cleanup, other projects THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) owes Chung’s Global Enterprise, the company that had been contracted for the Stabroek Market clean-up and for major rehabilitation works done on the Merriman Mall, in excess of $200M. The Chief Executive Officer of the company is allegedly in the process of writing to President David Granger on the matter, as Town Clerk Royston King has him going “back and forth” for payments. “Nothing is said about what is to be done; the Town Clerk operates as though he has the right to do as he pleases. Nothing is ever discussed; you just see things happening and then you know,” a source told this publication. Chung’s Global was reportedly contracted to relo-

Work on the Presidential Park has presumably come to a standstill, although the Park should have been completed for independence celebrations

cate vendors on Merriman Mall. The company constructed the new stalls that were erected between Orange Walk and Cummings Street, besides the play park and

the Presidential Park. It is not clear whether work is presently continuing on the Merriman Mall. However, the source informed that the project had experienced

several delays because of the lack of finances. The contractor for the Kitty Market has also put a pause on rehabilitation works there, because of an exhausted credit line. No information has been forthcoming from the Town Clerk specifically with regard to the Presidential Park, the source said, although the project was to have been completed in time for the Golden Jubilee celebrations last month. Furthermore, no one knows anything about the $100M that was handed over to M&CC by the Ministry of Communities to initiate the Waste-to-Energy project

at Haags Bosch, East Bank Demerara. “These are not matters discussed with the City Council. They’re safe secrets. There is no account of the money and it never came up for discussion,” the source said. City Hall has not been honouring its obligations to contractors, one such being Puran Brothers Disposal Services which was given an aspect of the Waste-to-Energy project. Councillors have recently accused King of operating “independently” of the City Council. Councillors Carolyn Caesar-Murray and Turn to page 12 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

EU agrees extending Russia economic sanctions,formal decision pending: sources The European Union’s Brussels envoys agreed on Tuesday to extend until the end of January the energy, financial and defense sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, but formal approval is still

pending, diplomatic sources said. After more than two years of sanctions imposed over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Kiev and a pro-Russian insurrection in eastern Ukraine, more EU

politicians are now urging a softer stance toward Russia, a key trade partner and energy provider. The initial decision on Tuesday must still be formally approved by the bloc’s ministers after France and Britain asked for time to receive comments from their parliaments, although these have no power to block it. That could come as early as Friday or be delayed. Italy has asked to defer formal approval until after EU leaders meet in Brussels on June 28-29, calling for the summit conclusions to say they would “debate” their stance on Russia in October. Sooner or later, diplomats in Brussels said, the rollover of the sanctions would eventually win formal approval. The German foreign minister and the Italian prime minister have been leading a growing chorus of politicians pushing for sanctions relief. More senior EU politicians

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also travel to Russia now after a period of relative isolation over Ukraine. The EU’s foreign policy chief signaled a review of the bloc’s strategy on Russia and the conflict in Ukraine in the second half of the year and Donald Tusk - who chairs meetings of EU leaders plans to dedicate a session to that in October. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow on Tuesday that Sigmar Gabriel, the head of the junior partner in German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition, could visit next week. “He has already been to Moscow, he’s already had meetings with President (Vladimir) Putin that focused precisely on trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Germany... There are things to talk about,” Peskov told reporters. DOVES AND HAWKS In April, the French parliament also approved a

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non-binding resolution urging the end of EU sanctions on Russia. Those seeking to soften the EU’s line on Moscow say the bloc can no longer afford to miss out on trading with Russia, and that sanctions should only be a temporary measure. Britain is more hawkish on sanctions, while Poland and the Baltic states are wary of Russia. They say the restrictions must hold until a troubled peace plan for east Ukraine is fully implemented. There is strong support in Washington for keeping a tough line against Russia. On Tuesday, members of Congress, including President Barack Obama’s fellow Democrats as well as Republicans, introduced a resolution calling on the United States and its European allies to keep up pressure on Moscow. “Russia...has not yet changed direction, and has not yet complied with its

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obligations,” Geoffrey Pyatt, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said at the Senate confirmation hearing for his appointment as envoy to Greece. More than 9,000 people have died in fighting there since spring 2014 and rival sides in the conflict must yet withdraw heavy arms from the region, Kiev should organize local elections there and Moscow is bound to help Ukraine regain control of its border with Russia. The EU needs unanimity to decide on sanctions, some of which were slapped over Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Kiev in March 2014, a move that was not recognized by any country. That leaves diplomats in Berlin and Brussels exploring options for a partial or gradual easing of sanctions, potentially no longer linking sanctions relief to “full” implementation of the socalled Minsk peace plan but offering a more nuanced, step-by-step approach.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Amazon jaguar shot dead at Olympic Torch ceremony (Reuters) A jaguar featured at an Olympic Torch ceremony was shot dead by a soldier shortly after the event in the Brazilian Amazon city of Manaus as the animal escaped from its handlers, an army statement said. The jaguar was killed Monday at a zoo attached to a military training center, when a soldier fired a single pistol shot after the animal, despite being tranquilized, approached the soldier, the army said. “We made a mistake in permitting the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and unity, to be exhibited alongside a chained wild animal. This image goes against our beliefs and our values,” the local organizing committee Rio 2016 said in a statement, adding “We guarantee that there will be no more such incidents at Rio 2016.” A smiling yellow jaguar known as Ginga is the mascot of the Brazilian Olympic team. The shooting caused uproar among animal rights groups, which questioned why the animal was involved in the Olympic event. “When will people (and institutions) stop with this sick need to show power and control by confining, taming and showcasing wild animals?” the Rio de Janei-

ro-based animal rights group Animal Freedom Union said on its Facebook page. The jaguar is a nearly threatened species that has already been wiped out in Uruguay and El Salvador, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The use of Juma, as the jaguar was known, at the

event was illegal, according to Ipaam, the Amazonas state government environmental authority that oversees the use of wild animals. “No request was made to authorize the participation of the jaguar “Juma” in the event of the Olympic torch,” Ipaam said in a statement. Ipaam said it is investigating the incident.

Trinidad revenge porn victims speak out (Trinidad Express) One of the victims of the nearly 200 women whose nude and semi-nude photographs were leaked online has issued a heartfelt appeal for people to stop harassing the young women and blaming them for the nightmare they are facing. Vanita Dalipram, 21, the University of the West Indies Open Scholarship recipient and graduate with an honours degree in Petroleum Geoscience, decided to speak to the Express after many of the girls who formed a support group complained of not being able to sleep, eat and even expressed not wanting to face the world after their Facebook and e-mail boxes were flooded with insults, condemnation and even threats. Many of the messages being sent to the girls are coming from many men, young and old who have been sending them obscene and inappropriate messages.

Vanita Dalipram

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE

BY AND large, Guyanese want to see improvement in their lives. They recognise that some institutions outside of the family play a role in making possible the improvement they seek. Holistic well-being can take many forms, including spiritual, financial, social, cultural and political. Among these, there are some where choices can be exercised easily and others not so. It is the latter to which many will pay much attention. People will agitate to bring such institution(s) in line with what they consider acceptable conduct, in order to realise improvement in their lives. Where persons have the flexibility to move from one social or religious group if dissatisfied with the group’s membership, leadership or philosophy, such flexibility is not that easy in being a member of society. As a member of society, persons are expected to live by the rules and standards established in laws, international conventions and charters, which are the values upon which state and government institutions are built and persons are expected to confirm. The management of these institutions by leaders, elected or appointed, will see members of the society increasing vigilance to ensure and maintain conformity to the standards set therein. In the era where people are sourcing informing, being educated, acquiring knowledge, and sharing ideas from multiple sources, such are seeing a more informed society. Being more informed would carry with it expectation and demand for more. Governance is becoming more complex, not only from the standpoint of what governments are expected to do in a dynamic landscape, but more that of responding to the people’s expectation, including vocal demonstration of intolerance for things abhorred. The increasing level of awareness and intolerance in our society is largely influenced by the power of social media, the voices for law and order in civil society, intolerance to abuse by previous government, and pre-election commitment made by incumbent government. The expectation of this level of accountability may look daunting, and perceptions may be held that persons are harsher on the incumbent, more particularly its own supporters. It should be said that, in the evolving landscape, there was no commitment given by the people to continue along the path of previous governments when they made clear their intolerance to said management. In instances when the people see acts and actions of government as inconsistent with what are considered acceptable conduct, or acting out of conformity with the laws, displeasure will be voiced. Where dissemination of information was once contained or denied to the masses, the advent of social media has seen these become outlets to spread the news, make cases, and mobilise support for particular actions. Traditional media outlets are no longer the sole source of news dissemination or the platform for knowing what is happening and mobilising action one way or the other. In fact, the present media landscape is informed by symbiotic relationship between traditional and social as both originator and source of news. This is the environment politicians and government officials will face, and have to be mindful of in guiding decision-making. Society has witnessed the power of social

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Don’t be too quick to elevate Rodney Dear Editor THERE continues to be a tendency by some in this society to elevate Walter Rodney to heights that resemble mysticism. In this month marking his 36th death anniversary, Guyanese continue to hear stories about his politics that deserve to be questioned, and hopefully the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and those who promote him to such a level would truthfully answer the questions. It is being said that Rodney was a prophet of self-emancipation. If to be so called means being in the opposition, following said logic, Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, who were the major political leaders opposing British rule, can be similarly identified. Equally, too, such title would be befitting Jagan, Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Robert Corbin, David Granger and Bharrat Jagdeo -- being Leaders of the Opposition -- and all other political leaders with no constitutional title, as was Rodney and others who oppose(d) government. The argument being made by David Hinds that Rodney’s violence against the State is similar to that of Cuffy’s, Damon’s and Courtney Crum-Ewing’s is anti-intellectual. In the era of slavery in which Cuffy and Damon lived and fought the establishment, there was no universal law to which

the people were subjected. Africans were not even considered humans and equals. In the era of Rodney and Crum-Ewing, laws existed that made all equal and subject. Unlike Rodney, Crum-Ewing never advocated or sought to remove government with the use of violence. There was no violence in Crum-Ewing’s activism or advocacy to remove the PPP/C from office, and it is insulting to so malign him. Guyanese are being told that Rodney and the WPA were multiracial. This claim is not singular to Rodney or WPA. All political parties in this country -- outside of ROAR, which promoted being a party for Indians -- have multiracial support. And the fact that a racial group may comprise the majority of support does not negate the fact of a multiracial presence. The attendance at rallies -- when not translated to votes, but used to claim superiority or singularity in any regard on multi-racialism -- is a mythical or pseudo-argument. The WPA’s claim to being multi-racial has seen only one Indian leader in the co-leadership - Dr Rupert Roopnaraine. How is it that Guyana’s ‘only’ multiracial party could not find another Indian or any other person from the other four races to appoint or anoint? It need not be forgotten that Guyana is a land of six peoples. This society is being

media in holding the last government accountable and waging a relentless campaign to remove the party from office for what was considered its misdeeds. With the ongoing revelations in the forensic audits, those who fought for change are seeing these as vindication they were on the right track. But for them, this is not only what is desired. Beyond revelations, they seek action on recommendations made in the audits, be they in systems’ improvement or judicial. It is instructive, too, that the diplomatic community has added its voice to the people’s. The management of Local Government is also seeing a clamour to ensure the system works for the people, and officials, elected and appointed, know their roles and functions. In the instances of the Georgetown City Council’s handling of the vendors’

told that Rodney opposed Burnham’s illegitimate government, yet none of the elections that occurred under Burnham was so deemed by the court. And if the reason for saying the elections were illegitimate is because this was so said by local and external groups, it need not be forgotten that the 1997 elections, which were deemed free and fair by said groups, were vitiated in a High Court. What standards are being used to pronounce on elections during Burnham’s or the PNC’s era, as against the 1997 vitiated elections or the 2006 elections, when GECOM awarded the AFC seat to the PPP/C and both elections were deemed free and fair? Legitimacy and illegitimacy cannot be determined by whims and fancies. Another area of duplicity by the WPA is this issue of democracy. If democracy is measured only by elections, the WPA and Rodney have never been democratic in their politics or nature. Neither Rodney, Roopnaraine, nor any WPA leader was ever elected by the membership of the party, neither was the membership allowed to cast their vote for a leader of choice. Those leaders were imposed on the people following the WPA’s logic of what constitutes democracy, thereby making Rodney et al dictators. The truth is the WPA

never held any election to elect any of its leaders. If the party is comfortable doing this, shouldn’t the society be concerned that had the party, as a single force, won national elections, elections thereafter would have been a thing of the past and leaders would have been handpicked and imposed on the people, as was done at the party level? This is building on the logic of the WPA’s brand of democracy, because if it is practised at the party level, it is safe to assume it would have been replicated at the national level. Finally, I read where a young lady who attended a function on Rodney has asked why nobody wants to accept that Burnham had done anything wrong. I’d say to that young lady that a similar question should be asked about Rodney. The politics of Rodney is not used to create an educated society, but to ensure preposterous over-glorification of him, and foist on the society a saintly creature when he was far from that. These pseudo-intellectual arguments being made of him and the WPA can only continue because enough people are not asking the right questions, and the WPA is not being forced to answer them. Regards, MINETTE BACCHUS

removal and the parking meters’ issue, people have not stayed silent in the face of what they think are the mishandling of the issues. Our Sunday edition reported that central government has intervened in the parking meters’ matter and put a halt to the project pending due diligence and application of ethics. The people who are the funders of government are making their presence felt and using their influence to bring about a society they think will provide the needed support to realise the improvement they seek in their lives. Like the family, government is part of their lives, which they cannot divorce. Consequently, they will expect government to toe the line to bring about comity, even if it means confronting the administration they support. It is to every government’s advantage to listen to the people.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Review of Digicel Schools’ Championship format needed Dear Sir, WITH the English F.A. Cup being probably the oldest knockout competition in the world, of significant importance is that the final, by tradition, is played at England’s famous Wembley Stadium, where the Royal Family has its private suite for viewership. But winning the English FA Cup offers no incentive as a qualifier in the European Champions League or the second tier of Europa League. As a matter of fact, some English Premier League Clubs field a weakened lineup for a FA Cup tie, concentrating more on the BPL commitments and the Champions League. Editor, it’s indeed a commendable gesture that Digicel continues to sponsor the Annual Schools K.O. Championship. However, it’s my humble opinion that the tournament should not concentrate solely on attracting additional schools annually.

Utilising the current knockout format, 50% of the teams, after playing their opening fixture, are eliminated, while a similar trend continues until it reaches the semifinals, with the two losing semifinalists contesting the third place play-offs and the winners advancing to the finals. So, in actuality there is basically no strategic emphasis being placed on development within the context of the sport, players and coaches. By relevant comparison, should not a regional tournament at the Caribbean level be undertaken? Sad to say, with the present local K.O. format of play, the nation’s representatives would be at a distinct disadvantage. As a consequence, with the championships being played in the 10 administrative regions, a round robin / knockout format would be more conducive in offering a glimmer of hope for development. Suffice it to say that, come next year, there should

GTU has blocked my promotion

Dear Editor,

FACEBOOK reminds me today that, one year ago, dozens of teachers, including myself, were promoted to senior positions. Today, a year later, the teachers’ union has still blocked these promotions in the High Court, stagnating the entire process and handicapping the Ministry of Education from discharging its mandate and functions For what reason: Greed? Selfishness? And oh yeah, power and ego? Why couldn’t they pick out those cases that deserved attention, instead of preventing every single teacher who was promoted from taking up their positions? The education sector has suffered so much because of this stagnation over the past academic year that it’s a shame and disgrace.

Schools are preparing to close for the Summer vacation and there has been no promotion, no debunching, no uniform money, no increases; and for me, still no vacation (Whitley Council) money. This is the worst state the teaching sector has been in since I joined the profession 15 years ago. I applaud the fortitude and courage shown by our Teaching Service Commission and the Ministry of Education to fight this matter. Frankly I don’t know on whose side the union is at this time. Clearly, it’s not on the side of the teachers who were promoted, since the union’s actions have not only hurt our professional career over the past year, but has demoralised us in the acting capacities of our functions. Regards, LEON SUSERAN

be a change in format, with Region 4 having 60 teams divided into 15 groups of 4 teams. Each team would compete against each other once, resulting in 15 winners advancing (not a necessity, however). Since some regions would have fewer teams, au-

tomatically less round-robin matches will be played. But the objective nevertheless is to have 32 schools from the 10 regions compete in the knockout, until it reaches to the 2 finalists and subsequent winner. In the final analysis, a final-year student debuting for

his school, who is well mannered, having good grades and the requisite skills to develop more; if his school is eliminated in the first round, he would never be able to realise his true potential due to a one-match elimination. What will he be told thereafter? With a recy-

cled administrative football failure as a key stakeholder in the coordination of the tournament in addition to a NSC Executive position, meaningful development would be meaningless. Regards LESTER SEALEY

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

A CONVERSATION ON COLOURISM By Akola Thompson

I RECENTLY overheard a conversation between two dark-skinned women regarding the skin colour they perceived to be the better one. One of the women was Indo-Guyanese and the other was Afro-Guyanese. The Indian woman was commenting upon the fact that her “fair” son had married a darker woman, and that while the girl was “a good housewife,” she would have rather he had taken someone of lighter complexion. The African woman

echoed and agreed with her sentiments, stating that she like persons who have “colour.” While I had thought about it before, that conversation caused me to think more deeply about not only the hierarchy of skin colour, which too often results in racism, but the division particular shades of one colour can often cause within various societies. Like with so many of our harmful social beliefs about self and others, colourism was born, and in some cases heightened, during the slavery era; as, while lighter-skinned slaves

(mulattoes) were provided indoor work, the darker-skinned ones were forced into field labour. Whether it was done unwittingly or not, segregation of the black slaves according to shade was an effective measure of controlling and manipulating them, as it set the lightskinned slaves against the dark- skinned ones and vice versa, and managed to breed perpetual distrust among them. There have since been countless internalized declarations of the superiority of lighter skin to that of dark skin. While there may not

be chains still holding us in bondage, there appear to be psychological prisons made of self-loathing and envy born out of the practice of colourism, which have trickled down and solidified themselves in the 21st century. While many may say that colourism is not an issue, I would be inclined to disagree, as I myself have often unwittingly benefited from this flawed ideology. While several of my darker friends have been subjected to some form of colourism or racism throughout their lives, I have never had this experience. So, often, when they tell me the things they experience, it is jolting, because I realize that there is privilege in a colour over which I had no say; and, too often, it is easy for me to dismiss issues that I have never been confronted with. Many persons don’t realise the subtle and often blatant privilege which comes

with being light-skinned, so they question the reasoning behind those who lighten or “bleach” their skins, as they often see it as a stupid act. While I do see skin lightening as an unnecessary act (I have been told that this position is a privilege my semi-light complexion allows me), I know that these persons feel it is the rational decision to become more ‘aesthetically pleasing’, because it makes them escape a life of poverty and opens to them opportunities which might have otherwise been closed. So the question for them often is not ‘why?’ but ‘why not?’ Some of the questions which will most likely continue to be asked throughout the years are: How do we, as a people, challenge something which many do not believe exists? How do we tell the men, women and children that their preference for lighter skin is not really a

‘40% AND... “That body has (sic) got the power to overrule any decision made by the Public Service Commission except (those involving) transfers. It could overrule appointments [and] dismissals,” Yarde said, adding that public servants had the right to appeal to the tribunal if they felt dissatisfied by a decision taken by the Commission. The tribunal had, for clarity, the power to nullify certain positions taken by the Public Service Commission, which has been accused of being defunct by politically-motivated persons serving on the body.

INCREMENTAL INCREASES The GPSU President echoed the sentiments of President David Granger,

who said some time ago that salary increases for public servants should be done incrementally and be based on the employee’s performance. Yarde bemoaned the situation wherein public servants have been kept within the same salary scale although they were employed for up to ten years. “That was an issue since in 1999, when we had the strike and the Tribunal did rule that increments be paid,” Yarde continued, adding that the implementation of increments was abandoned under the Jagdeo Administration. At the negotiations, to be held today at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Annex at Waterloo Street,

preference but a conditioned belief which has perpetuated countless social and economic hierarchies? How do we, in a continuously media-driven world, grapple with self-identity and beauty issues and deconstruct the notion that our beauty can be measured by the shade of our skin? I don’t have any significant answers to these questions, and there is the possibility I never will. What I believe, however, is that, much like how institutional structural ingrained inequality persists, so too will colourism. As long as every new generation is taught that their skin is not light enough to be considered beautiful or afford them certain opportunities, the colour hierarchy will remain, and along with it, all the insecurities, envy and disadvantages that still exist.

From page 3

Georgetown, GPSU will be represented by Yarde as well as the union’s first vice-president, Mortimer Livan, and other officers. The Government team will be led by Permanent Secretary of the Department of Public Service, Reginald Brotherson. The meeting today marks the first time the GPSU will meet with the David Granger Administration on wages and salaries for public servants. Under the Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar administrations, negotiations with the union were promised but were not followed through. Instead, the previous administrations had imposed increases for a number of years.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Young mother dies in motorcycle accident A YOUNG Eccles, East Bank Demerara mother who opted for a ride home on a motorcycle lost her life Monday when she was hurled off the bike after it was forced to stop suddenly. Dead is 21-year-old Paulette Josiah, who was a member of the popular X Factor Dance group and also worked at an East Bank Demerara gas station. According to reports, the motorcycle - CG 8485 - was heading south on the eastern carriageway at Houston, also on the East Bank, when the motorcyclist suddenly aborted plans to overtake a vehicle; with the abrupt stop, Josiah was pelted off the bike and suffered several injuries. A motorcar ran over the rear wheel of the motorcycle immediately after. The motorcyclist was identified as Melroy Barnwell of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt. He sustained a fractured leg. Josiah and Barnwell were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Josiah succumbed to her injuries and Barnwell was admitted for further evaluation and treatment. Neither was wear-

Dead: Paulette Josiah

ing a helmet at the time of the accident. One relative disclosed that Josiah left home on Sunday for work at the gas station and appeared to be heading home Monday with the friend when the accident occurred. Josiah was described as the eldest of four children and a hardworking and determined young lady. The driver who ran over the rear wheel of the motorcycle was placed on station bail. Barnwell who suffered fractures to his legs, has a broken right femur(top) and other injuries to his left instep was listed for emergency surgery yesterday morning, Turn to page 13 â–ş

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Guyana becoming difficult transit point for drugs ‒ US says DEA help could lead to capture of major traffickers By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA is becoming a less lucrative transit point for the trafficking of illicit drugs, mostly cocaine, as the cost to do “business” is on the increase, according to Bryan Hunt, outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy. Hunt said every time there is an interdiction of narcotics at local ports, the cost to transport the drugs through Guyana to the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe escalates. “…if we are effective at the ports of exit (where the drugs are transited out) it becomes far too costly for these trafficking networks to use Guyana as a transit point,” he told the Guyana Chronicle in an exclusive interview. “They will go somewhere else where the cost is not as high. Because of its porous borders, Guyana is known to be a transit point for illicit drugs, guns and ammunition. In August 2014, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) seized a semi-submersible craft in a creek off the Waini River in the Northwest District. The US, at the time, had said that seizure of the vessel was an indication that the trafficking networks were “stepping-up” their modes of transportation, moving away from high-powered boats to

“

The DEA and CANU have established a very close working relationship, and I am confident that we are going to continue to see success; and most importantly, we will, in the coming months, begin to see people who are involved at a larger level in narcotics crimes being brought to justice.” – Bryan Hunt

US Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Hunt

upriver from Orealla in the Upper Corentyne -- reportedly constructed to facilitate trans-shipment of narcotics and commission of illegal activities. An aircraft found

The cocaine in the frozen fish which was discovered recently

semi-submersible vessels, which are even harder to detect in countries like Guyana. Compounding the local situation, the Control Tower at the main airport – CJIA - lacks the ability to detect planes entering or leaving the country outside of its radar. As such, planes can land on local interior airstrips, deliver their cargo, and take off without being detected by the law enforcement agencies. In December 2007, the GDF discovered an illegal airstrip -- some 80 miles

destroyed there, a LET 410 turboprop, was determined by the GDF to have been manufactured in the Czech Republic, although it had been flying a Venezuelan flag. Cognizant of the situation, Mr Hunt said the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Container Control Programme, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are now placing greater emphasis on points of exit from Guyana. Hunt said the plan is to make it extremely difficult to move illicit drugs,

in particular cocaine, from Guyana to the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and other destinations. As such, major attention is being given to the points of export, whether it is in the passenger terminal, cargo terminal or containerized terminal, even as the ‘metal sharks’ (aluminum boats) continue to man Guyana’s primary rivers. “The hope is that, by doing so, we will find out who is responsible for bringing the cocaine into Guyana; who is helping the drug networks to move the cocaine here. And we can take down those larger fish, because what we have, admittedly, are the end person who is doing the export,” Hunt reasoned. He said establishment of the US Drug Enforcement Agency here has helped CANU with “some very large seizures” as a result of the collaborative efforts of CANU, DEA, the Container Control Programme, the World Customs Organistion, the UK, and other local and international agencies -- which are helping Guyana to “make the end export cost much too high, as drugs are interdicted.” Earlier this month, ten persons were arrested in connection with the discovery of six kilograms and forty- four grams of cocaine in a cargo shipment of frozen fish at CJIA.

Several days after, a 21-year-old woman was caught trying to smuggle 3.040 kilograms of cocaine through the Eugene F. Correia International Airport. That woman – Angelica Forde – was on Tuesday sentenced to four years of imprisonment, along with a fine of $8.2M. Her husband, who was also implicated, has been remanded.

“The number of interdictions which have started to take place is indicative of the fact that we have better information-sharing between these entities. The DEA and CANU have established a very close working relationship, and I am confident that we are going to continue to see success; and most importantly, we will, in the coming months, begin to see people who are involved at a larger level in narcotics crimes be-

ing brought to justice,” Hunt predicted. He added: “I am relatively optimistic that the legwork that is being done now by your law enforcement and our law enforcement will lead us back to the big fish that everyone talks about, and that we will be able to bring down the major traffickers who are using Guyana as a transit point.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

PUMPS, EXCAVATORS DEPLOYED ‒ to alleviate flooding in West Berbice

THE National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has deployed three mobile pumps, six tractor-operated pumps and two excavators to the West Coast Berbice villages of Golden Grove, Lovely Lass, Trafalgar, No. 29, Union and Lichfield, which have been experiencing flooding in their residen-

tial areas. The backlands/agricultural sections of these villages are not flooded, but their frontlands/ residential areas are flooded due to heavy rainfall. Excessive rainfall experienced in the backlands of these villages has led mainly rice farmers to discharge water from their rice lands and other farm

lands into the drainage system, leading to overflow of the drainage canals and flooding in the residential areas. Compounding the problem is the Trafalgar sluice not being operational, while the outfall channel at this village is also silted up despite being cleared prior to the rainy season.

Two of the mobile pumps are deployed at Trafalgar, while the other is stationed at Bush Lot. All these pumps are working continuously, pumping a total of 1200 gallons of water per second. All six of the tractor-operated pumps are also operational in an effort to reduce the flood water level, while the

two excavators commenced work on Tuesday afternoon. Two other pontoon-based excavators are operating to clear the Trafalgar outfall. These pontoon excavators were deployed from the Demerara river. NDIA also has two engineers dedicated to monitoring the situation in the area and responding accordingly. A ministerial team led by Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, and including Minister of Health Dr. George Norton and Minister Winston Felix, will visit the affected ar-

eas on Wednesday at 10:00hrs. Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, under whose portfolio the NDIA falls, is currently out of the country on official assignment. “Our government regrets the loss and inconvenience being experienced in Region 5 due to flooding. While the water levels are being reduced rapidly due to the intervention of the NDIA. Government is cognizant that for many years Region Five residents suffered due to the neglect of drainage facilities,” said Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Linden teenager shot during argument over brush cutter

‘A’ DIVISION police are investigating the wounding of 18–year–old Kevin Batson, who was shot in his right side chest at about 20:00 hrs on Monday following an argument with two men over a brush cutter and spray can. A police report detailed that Batson was embroiled in an argument with 25year–old Andrew Fields,

called “Two Feet”, of Kuru Kururu Squatting Area, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, and another suspect when Fields allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot Batson to his right side chest before both suspects made good their escape. Batson was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and admitted. Investigations are ongoing.

City Hall owes $200M... From page 3

Malcolm Ferreira of Team Legacy have issued a statement in which they contended that councillors are not duly consulted or informed about important decisions being made by the City Hall administration, such as in the cases of the removal of the vendors from Stabroek Square, the demolition of the ‘Dread Shop’, and the new parking meters’ system, among other decisions. “The Town Clerk continues to operate independently of the Council. Many times the members of the Council learn about decisions taken and executed by the Town Clerk from the press. When questioned, we are told that these decisions were made by the previous Council. However, we believe that even if decisions were made previously, the new Council

should be able to, and must, review these decisions to determine if they align with the vision of the new Council. “We believe this goes against the purpose of Local Government Elections. We, the councillors, are the elected officials. We have been elected by the people of our City, but our efforts to act on behalf of our constituents and the City are being stymied at almost every turn,” Team Legacy has said. Team Legacy has said it understands that steps must be taken to reclaim City property and improve the City, but stakeholder consultations are still necessary. “Team Legacy recognizes (that) some efforts are being made, but the current methods are unacceptable,” that entity has concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Fire destroys house at Nigg

What remains of the house after the fire

A FIRE of unknown origin on Monday evening destroyed a two-storied house at Nigg, Corentyne Berbice. According to a neighbour, Lucille Ayanah, at the time of the inferno no one was a home. The neighbour said that the area was affected by “low voltage” mere minutes before the fire so her husband got up to turn off the electrical appliances. She said they retired to bed and within minutes were awaken by loud noises and shouts of “Fire! Fire!” Ayanah explained that a couple was residing at the Lot 102, Section G, Nigg for a few months. However about three weeks ago due to domestic issues they separated, but the wife continued

living at the address. “She has her parents on the East Bank of Demerara so she went there for Father’s Day weekend and didn’t come back so nobody was at home; we called and let her know what happened and she came this morning,” the neighbor related. Even though the building was not owned by the couple they lost all their personal and material belongings in the fire. She said the house is owned by an overseas based Guyanese, but would usually allow persons to occupy it. Another neighbor said he was watching television when he noticed the lights were blinking and when he ventured out to his verandah he saw a ball of flame two

houses away. The Guyana Fire Service is investigating the source of the fire.

Young mother dies... but due to a glitch in the theatre, the surgery could not have been performed and so, according to his father, the patient remains in a state of limbo. According to relatives, Melroy fasted on Monday night in preparation for surgery early yesterday. He was taken to theatre minutes before 06:00 h, and was listed as the second patient for surgery. However, he was amazed to find that he was eventually not operated on, but instead was left on a be waiting indefinitely, while no one said anything to him. On making enquiries, Barnwell was told that he could no longer be operated on, since there was no sterilized steel to implant into his leg and the apparatus for sterilizing was not operational. The distraught father, said that on hearing such, he immediately asked to see the resident doctor, but was told

that he was not available. The patient further enquired of the medical staff, just when would the operation be performed, and was advised that that it could not be done until next week. Meanwhile the patient was left waiting in the theatre for about 10 hours, his relatives say, and it was not until after 17:00 h that he was taken back into the Surgical ward. The family is incensed, and consider the break down in communication a burning shame. “In the first place, they should not have been communicating with the patient when I was around and saw the doctor. Why didn’t they communicate that to me?” asked the elder Barnwell. Meantime, as at 18:30 hours, the patient who not eaten since around 21:00 hrs on Monday night, was writhing in pain and was only given some pain relievers on

From page 10

Monday night. Mr. Barnwell who is adamant that his son should not be made to wait for one week before receiving surgery which is intended to be of an emergency nature, has vowed he would leave no stone unturned until his son gets his surgery done in the shortest possible time. According to Traffic Chief Dion Moore, motorcyclists are the second highest category of road users to be involved in fatal accidents, especially when helmets are not used. The Motorcycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations, Section 3 (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Cap. 51:02 states that: “The driver of, and every person carried on, a motorcycle on a road shall wear a safety helmet capable of affording protection to the head of the wearer from injury in the event of an accident.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Cocaine mule jailed for four years will provide; these couple ‒ also fined $8.2M “God years guh go by like nothing…. My By Clestine Juan

TWENTY-ONE-year-old Angelica Forde, a mother of two who was recently caught with more than seven pounds of cocaine strapped to her body, was on Tuesday sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and fined $8.2M by Sparendaam Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, before whom she appeared

on Monday and pleaded guilty to trafficking 3.040 kilograms of cocaine on June 15 at the Eugene F. Correia (formerly Ogle) International Airport. Forde showed no remorse for her action, and was overheard saying, “God will provide; these couple years guh go by like nothing…. My children will be well taken care of.” In handing down sen-

children will be well taken care of” tence, Magistrate Ally-Seepaul said she considered Forde’s guilty plea and the fact that this is her first conviction. She said she also took into account the seriousness of the offence and the quantity and value of the cocaine. At her initial court appearance, Forde told the court, “It’s my stuff; my husband and children were

not involved.” Her husband, James Forde, was also charged on Monday with inciting her to traffic the substance between June 1 and 15 at their Lot 100 B Mora Street, Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara home. The 23-yearold taxi driver pleaded not guilty and was remanded until July 25. The couple was represented by Attorney-at-law Mark Conway, who begged the magistrate to impose a light sentence on the mother, since she admitted to the crime and did not waste the court’s time. Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford-Thompson contended that the woman showed no remorse as she attempted to traffic the drug while travelling with her two children. Sandiford-Thompson said that on June 15, at

Angelica Forde smiles as she walks up the stairs of the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where she was sentenced

the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Forde and her two children were on a flight to the United States via Barbados when CANU officers stationed there noticed that her clothing was fitted in an

unusual manner and became suspicious. A female rank took the woman into a room, conducted a body search, and found the cocaine strapped to her body in packets hidden underneath her clothing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Six hospitals accredited as baby-friendly SIX hospitals were on Sunday accredited with Baby-Friendly Hospital status as the Ministry of Public Health (MPH) continues to implement the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The six hospitals are the West Demerara Regional Hospital, Davis Memorial Hospital, Mahaicony Cottage Hospital, Mahdia District Hospital, Lethem Regional Hospital and the Upper Demerara Hospital. The criteria to attain baby friendly hospital status includes having a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff; informing all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding; and giving newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated. Speaking at the accreditation ceremony, held at the Ocean View International Hotel at Liliendaal, ECD, Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton stressed the importance of breastfeeding: “The Ministry of Public Health -- and by extension the Government of Guyana -- recognizes that breast-

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton and heads of the accredited hospitals

feeding is a unique process that provides ideal nutrition for infants and contributes to their growth and development. “For this reason, the Food Policy Division of the Ministry has collaborated with the WHO and UNICEF to implement the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) here in Guyana,” the minister said. Dr. Norton pointed out that when the Breastfeeding project was launched globally in 1992, it was obvious that Guyana’s culture of exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding was on the decline. “It was no coincidence that Guyana also had relatively high infant mortality

and morbidity rates due to diarrhoeal diseases, acute respiratory tract infection, and malnutrition,” he added. It was noted that the overall objective of the breastfeeding project was, from its inception, to improve the health of infants through the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding. The co-ordination of the conduct of the BFHI External Assessment was done during the period February to March 2015, and 12 out of the 19 hospitals in the BFHI programme had signalled their readiness to be assessed to determine their BFHI status. Six of these twelve hospitals have now attained Baby-Friendly Hospital Status.

“It is noteworthy that Guyana is the only country in the English-speaking Caribbean with hospitals accredited with the

Baby-Friendly Hospital status. I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of those persons who worked tirelessly to ensure that the necessary criteria were met, and to urge you to maintain baby-friendly status in those 6 hospitals,” Dr. Norton stated. The subject minister expressed special thanks to WHO and UNICEF for their invaluable support over the years, and urged the remaining hospitals under the BFHI to continue working assiduously to attain baby-friendly hospital status. According to him, the aim is to ensure that there are baby-friendly hospitals in all of the regions of Guyana. In addition to the accred-

itation ceremony, a two-day follow-up workshop which is in preparation for the next round of BFHI External Assessment was also opened. The next round of the BFHI External Assessment is proposed to be conducted in June/July 2016, and the reassessment in 2017/2018. Sensitization on the Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, the first 1000 days of life, and expanding the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative are among the key areas of focus of the workshop. Minister Norton urged the participants to take full advantage of this workshop, and he wished them successful deliberations. (GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Sophia man charged with murder of brother

TWENTY–SEVEN-yearold Orin Jules of 634 ‘D’ Field, Sophia was on Tuesday remanded to prison by

Sparendaam Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul for the alleged murder of his younger brother, 23-year-

old Dexter Jules, on June 18 at ‘D’ Field, Sophia. The unrepresented construction worker was not re-

quired to plead to the charge, and, with a stoic expression, told the magistrate that he had previously been charged with other criminal offences, including break-and-enter and larceny. Police Prosecutor David Goodridge told the court that the defendant has a history of threatening to kill his family members. Goodridge pointed out that Jules was recently convicted before the same court for threatening to murder his mother and siblings. The court heard that, on June 18, the defendant and his younger brother were involved in a heated argument at their Sophia home when the defendant picked up a knife and stabbed his brother several times in his chest. Dexter Jules was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital, and Orin Jules was apprehended by public-spirited

Dead: Dexter Jules

persons and handed over to the police, after they found him hiding in clump of bushes in the vicinity of his home. He has been remanded until August 04. The Guyana Chronicle had earlier reported that Dexter Jules, who operated a shop when he was not mining in the interior, was conducting his day-to-day duties in his Sophia shop when his

Orin Jules at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday

brother attempted to take something without asking. “Orin de want something from de shop, but when Dexter stop he from coming in, he pull out a knife and stab him three times to his heart,” a relative had said. Dexter leaves to mourn his six other siblings, wife and two children. (Clestine Juan)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

Deputy Mayor insists park

GEORGETOWN Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan has said his conscience will not permit him to give support to the contract that will see parking meters being installed in Georgetown, even if Cabinet throws its support behind it. “If central government is ok with the project, then

so be it. But my position will remain the same,” he told the Chronicle on Tuesday in an invited comment. At a press conference last Monday, Chairman of City Hall’s Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke, said that the City Council doesn’t need to seek permission from anyone

to have the project implemented. However, he said: “Out of courtesy, we think we have to speak to the minister. The minister doesn’t make a decision for the Council; the Cabinet does. But the minister has said he is happy we were able to visit with him; that he has a copy

of the contract, and he is sure that on the basis of what we explained to him, he is going to deliver to Cabinet a different message from the one which he has seen in the press.” The Deputy Mayor is insisting, though, that based on his personal research and those of councillors, sufficient facts

Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan are lacking that make supporting the parking meters deal difficult. “So much has been shady with regards to the contract and how it will be rolled out.” The Mayor and Town Clerk Royston King had stated their position on Monday that the contract will not be made available to councillors and the public until after the project is implemented. “What is so special about this contract that it cannot be shared with the public? Who would steal it? Another country? Another municipality? It doesn’t make sense,” Duncan offered. Chase-Green and King had also defended the reason they chose to sign the contract before visiting Mexico and Panama. “Who signs a contract and then do due diligence after to see how well the machines work? And when was a vote taken on this matter?” questioned Duncan. Meanwhile, ChaseGreen has said that a “deliberate” decision was made not to share with City Councillors and the public the contract that was signed with National Parking Systems (NPS)/ Smart City Solutions. A number of councillors recently complained that they had been denied access to the contract, although they were promised in the past that they would be able to peruse

it and provide feedback. Asked how the councillors could have agreed to the contract when it was not shared with them, King responded: “All contracts are signed by the Town Clerk, who is the Chief Administrative Officer of the City Council. All contracts are signed by the Town Clerk. The contract was seen by the councillors, who took the decision prior to the incumbent Council. “We had an informative session (in which) councillors were informed about the contract, but the contract itself was agreed on by the previous Council. A decision was taken by the previous Council, and therefore we go forward.” Commenting on the possibility of the contract being made available to members of the new Council, Chase-Green offered: “A contract for the M&CC is a private document for the administration. It will be unfair for this Council to give every single councillor a copy of that contract. We could not afford to have all contracts being given out to councillors. Nobody knows where they will take those contracts. Those are private documents of the Council. They are free to request to see, but they have to come to the administration’s office, read it and then leave; but not to take it

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

king meter project ‘shady’ away with them. Which organisation within this whole world gives contracts to every single member who asks for it?” ALREADY ON THE WAY According to the Mayor, City Hall will be receiving 20 per cent

of whatever is earned through the parking meters, which will be built in such a way that they cannot be vandalised. “So far, the consortium with which we have a contract has already sent their engineers and technical team to do various assessments. As we speak, parking meters

are being processed for shipping to Georgetown, to allow the project to begin on schedule,” she disclosed. Asked about cost to citizens, Chase-Green said the $500 per hour to park is being reviewed, and the amount would be less. As for employees parking outside their

workplaces, she said they will be granted a special concession. Parking meters will be installed on every street between South Road and Church Street, Water Street and Camp Street. The arrangement will be such that one meter would be placed for approximately 15 parking spaces.

Questioned if the City has enough space for the installation of parking meters, Chase-Green informed that there are in excess of 4000 spaces. She refused to say, however, just how many meters would be installed. Citizens would have to purchase prepaid cards for parking, and

once the necessary information would have been punched in, the control room will receive an indication if a driver has overstayed his time. The driver will subsequently be given a ticket, or the vehicle will be towed away, at the expense of the driver.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

Black Sigatoka disease under control

The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has intensified education and awareness efforts to better inform plantain farmers about the Black Sigatoka disease. For several years the Black Sigatoka disease (caused by the fungus, Mycosphaerella fijiensism) has been affecting local plantain production. The disease strives in heat and humidity of the tropics. While, it cannot be eliminated, it could be controlled with proper farming practices. As such, NAREI has created demonstration plots in several farming communities (such as Clanbrook and Hand-enVeldt, Region Four; Le-

A plantain farm in good shape guaan and Wakenaam, Region Three; and Golden Fleece and Queenstown, Region two) that were significantly affected by the disease. The intention is to offer farmers’ firsthand knowledge about good farming practices crucial for healthy plantain production. This will complement earlier measures taken by NAREI. These include workshops and field training for extension officers and farmers and supply of chemicals. The institutes’ efforts were supported by several partners including the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Canadian Hunger Foundation (CHF), PROPEL and NAREI has been able to help farmers. The impacts of these collaborations are being felt today, with many plantain farmers being able to have better control of the Black Sigatoka disease. Currently, many farmers across the country are harvesting plantain. The abundance of plantain on the local market has caused the price to fall from $100 per pound to $60 per pound (in some areas). Nandkishore Sanichara, a plantain farmer operating in Hangsburg and Pomeroon, Region Two, is currently harvesting

between 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of plantain weekly. He has about 40 acres of land under cultivation. According to Sanichara, farmers have been battling the Black Sigatoka disease for years. Thanks to the hard working extension officers, farmers know how to identify and treat the Black Sigatoka disease. He explained that farmers were advised on how to select and treat planting materials, steps taken during land preparation, and the continuous care for the suckers. “We know how to control the Black Sigatoka but during the dry period the disease was getting a little out of control... I follow the advice NAREI give… I keep watching the leaves, chop off and burn which ever leaves getting brown and I spraying the chemicals so my crops good… I harvesting nice bunch plantains,” the farmer said. Similar observation was made by Reemal Gangadin, a plantain farmer for over 10 years. His farm is situated in Hague, West Coast Demerara. Cognisant that the complete eradication of the disease may not be possible, Ganagdin is of the view that constant monitoring is critical to winning this battle. He has been zealously following directions provided by NAREI and has been reaping the results. “Since I monitoring and spraying the chemicals, things have improved… I benefited from assistance provided by CHF and PROPEL… NAREI staff come around often too.” Gangadin believes that the demonstration plot created in Hague will benefit the farmers greatly. “I think it’s a good idea… farmers can go and see what to do and then take it back to their farms,” he added. NAREI is encouraging farmers to make use of the demonstration plots. The institute is of the view that there is a nexus between proper farming practices and good yield production.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

Linden man gets bail over physical assault Retrieve pork-knocker remanded on attempted murder charge

JERMAIN King’s attorney was successful in her application for bail to be granted to her client who pleaded not guilty to the charge of physical assault.

The charge was read by Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court and stated that the defendant of Lot 54, First Alley, Wismar, Linden on Friday, April 15th 2016 unlawfully

Wismar man looted electronic items during house break-in - court told

A LINDEN man was on Tuesday refused bail by Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court for allegedly breaking and entering the home of Jermaine Maison. The charge read that between 23:55 hrs on Sunday, May 15th, 2016 and 05:50hrs on Monday May 16th, 2016 Terrence Lowenfield, age 27, of Lot 141, Half Mile, Wismar broke and entered the property of Maison at Lot 16, Dahila Street, Wismar, Linden. He allegedly stole one 45” flat screen

TLC Smart TV valued $230,000, one cell phone valued $40,000, one Samsung Galaxy cell phone valued $45,000 and one BLU cell phone valued $20,000, totalling in value $335,000. A bail application was made by the defendant’s attorney but this was objected to by the prosecutor who argued that Lowenfield was likely to commit other offences of a similar nature if granted bail and will not return to court to defend the case. The excavator operator was remanded to the Camp Street Prison and will make his next court appearance on Tuesday, June 28th, 2016.

assaulted Trenton Fraser so as to cause him actual bodily harm. The prosecutor had no objection to bail and King will return to court to defend the charge on July 26th, 2016. Meanwhile, Ernest Couchman, a pork knocker of Retrieve, Mackenzie, Linden was refused bail on the charge of attempted murder. The charge,

read by Magistrate Nurse, stated that on Monday, May 30, 2016 he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Victor Lusal of Wismar, Linden with intent to murder him. The unrepresented Couchman will make his next court appearance on July 19th, 2016 at the Linden Magistrate’s Court to defend the charges.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

PPP congress set for December THE opposition PPP will hold its Congress, which Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has suggested was inconsequential to him, from December 16-18 on the Essequibo Coast. The Congress is the highest decision making body of the party, which lost the seat of government at the May, 2015 general elections. The announcement was made by PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee on Monday. He noted the “urgency of the party to re-take political power within the shortest possible time…in order to arrest the downward trajectory in which the country is now heading”. Jagdeo last month said he

did not care when the Congress is held, saying nothing will change if the Congress is held “tomorrow or next year.” The PPP is seeking to diffuse suggestions that there is internal wrangling about who will lead the party into the next general elections. While there is yet no set theme for the upcoming Congress, Rohee said focus will be placed on the need for electoral reforms, inclusive of e-registration, a new voters’ list, electronic voting, and electronic tabulation of results. This comes even as the party continues to mount pressure for the resignation of Guyana Elections Commission Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally. Jagdeo was seen as the powerhouse of the PPP and fronted the campaign of the party in the last two elections, when Donald Ramotar ran as the Presidential candidate. In 2011, the PPP lost control of Parliament, and then in May, 2015, it lost the seat of government. “The congress is sup-

posed to be held this year and it’s a Central Committee decision about when it’s held and the Central Committee has not met as yet and frankly speaking, if it’s held tomorrow or next year, I don’t care. It does not make a difference to me, whether it’s held tomorrow or next year. What will change?” the Opposition Leader told reporters at a press conference held at the party’s Freedom House, Georgetown headquarters mid last month. The PPP’s last congress was held in Berbice in August 2013 and according to the party’s constitution, Congress is due to be held this year. Former PPP Executive Member Ralph Ramkarran had suggested that Rohee and Jagdeo may not be too keen on having the congress this year. However, Jagdeo chastised Ramkarran’s suggestion and described him as an “opportunist” who is still upset he was not given the opportunity to be the PPP’s presidential candidate.

Wednesday June 22th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Thursday June 23th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Friday June 24th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 22, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

Aussies advance to tri-series final despite Samuels’ superb 125 A free-wheeling Glenn Maxwell and mature Mitch Marsh have trumped Marlon Samuels’ ton as Australia defeated West Indies and sealed its place in the

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ODI tri-series final. Steve Smith’s side needed a victory in Barbados to advance to the series final, also at Kensington Oval on Sunday. Marsh stepped up, top scoring with 79 as Australia hauled in their target of 283 with eight balls remaining and six wickets in hand. Maxwell, dropped by selectors earlier in the tournament, smacked a couple of astonishing boundaries in a thrilling finish. He defused mystery spinner Sunil Narine with a switch-hit six in the 46th over then creatively helped Australia take 17 runs off the next over. The all-rounder’s quickfire 46 came off 26 deliveries and put the result beyond doubt. It was Marsh and Steve Smith (78) who did the bulk of the work. Darren Bravo found Smith short of his ground in the 42nd over but missed a crucial run-out chance when Marsh was on 44. The all-rounder made him pay, striking six boundaries in one of the most polished innings of his short career.

In a drama-filled contest, Marsh was scratchy at the start of his innings but finished in formidable form. Smith’s dismissal ended a 122-run partnership and left the visitors wanting a further 62 runs from 50 deliveries. The required run-rate blew out to almost nine an over but Maxwell was in his element. Samuels’ 125 was the 35-year-old’s first century in any format against Australia and lifted West Indies to 8 for 282. Smith would have banked on chasing a much smaller target after winning the toss and snaring two catches as West Indies slipped to 3 for 31. But man-of-the-match Samuels and Denesh Ramdin (91) steadied in style, breaking records as they feasted on some wayward bowling and listless fielding in a 192run stand. Sloppy fielding was again an issue for Australia. Matthew Wade dropped a one-handed catch when Samuels was on 65 and West Indies were 3 for 132 in the 29th over. (AAP)

Green Machine jump nine spots to 46th in IRB World Rankings By Stephan Sookram GUYANA’S ‘Green Machine’ are now ranked at 46th in the 15s world, following their 23-18 thumping of Trinidad and Tobago last weekend when they won the South Zone of the Rugby Americas North (RAN). With last weekend’s win at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the Guyanese are now ranked at their highest-ever in the world and the Americas (46th and 8th respectively) with Argentina leading the Americas and New Zealand leading the rest of the world. Prior to Saturday’s match, the Guyanese were ranked 10th in the Americas and 55th in the world. Meanwhile, Guyana await the winners of the North Zone which will be decided on July 23 between Mexico and the Cayman Islands. Should Mexico win, Guyana will have to travel to that country to contest the RAN overall title while if the Cayman Islands win, they will have to travel here. Guyana opened the scoring early in the 6th minute when Ryan Gonsalves scored off a penalty kick before Kevin McKenzie scored the first try of the game for Guyana, after which Lancelot Adonis missed the conversion. The score was Guyana 8 Trinidad 0. TT entered the second half with a bit of momentum on their side after scoring a try on the stroke of halftime through James Phillip. The half ended 8-5 in favour of Guyana after TT’s Jonathan O’Connor missed the conversion kick. In the second period, Guyana again landed the first blow with a try from Claudius Butts. Adonis converted this time to make it a 15-5 lead. The hosts, bolstered by a boisterous crowd, fought back into the contest through Adam Frederick whose try trimmed the deficit but O’Connor missed his second conversion of the game with Guyana ahead 15-10 through 49 minutes. T&T drew level with a try from Jesse Richards but a switch of kickers made no difference as Felician Guerra missed the conversion. In the 68th minute, though, the hosts snatched the lead for the first time in the game with a successful penalty kick from Leon Pantor. In front, 15-18, the TT defence could not hold off Guyana as they scored their final try at the 79th minute of the game. Adonis would make the conversion kick to end the game. The team returned home on Sunday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

Russians, Kenyans to face evaluation for Rio Games spots By Karolos Grohmann LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) Every competitor from Russia and Kenya who expect to take part in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics will have

to be evaluated individually for doping and be cleared by their sports’ international body, Olympics chief Thomas Bach said yesterday. The special measure was being introduced, Bach said,

because of the unsatisfactory record of the anti-doping bodies in the two countries, which Bach said had put “very serious doubts on the presumption of innocence” of the athletes. Russian track and field

athletes remain suspended from Rio after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved a blanket ban on them - extended on Friday by world athletics governing body - for systemic doping. Kenyan athletes are not banned. But their country’s anti-doping structures are judged not to have been compliant with international standards. But IOC president Bach, speaking at the end of a doping summit, gave a limited number of Russian athletes a chance to race for their country in Brazil despite a ban. He said any Russian athlete, cleared by the world athletics body IAAF or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as clean and eligible, could compete under the Russian flag. Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) chief Aleksander Zhukov, meanwhile, said clean Russian athletes would appeal the “legally indefensible” ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Athletes who succeed in their appeal would compete under the Russian flag, Bach said, not an Olympic or neutral one as the IAAF had

suggested last week. “The position is very clear: we respect this (IAAF) decision. We advised today that

IOC president Thomas Bach athletes and/or the ROC may appeal,” Bach said. “This is the good right of everybody. We expect the results of these potential court cases.” “If there are (Russian) athletes qualified then they will compete as members of the Russian Olympic Committee team,” Bach told reporters at the end of an extraordinary summit. The decision is expected

to somewhat appease the Russians, who were unhappy with the ban of their track and field athletes by the IAAF from the world’s biggest multi-sport event. In a carefully-worded threepage declaration following the summit, the IOC ordered all international federations to “take swift action” and ban athletes who had tested positive in re-testing of samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. A total of 55 athletes had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in those re-tests in recent weeks with the IOC having said none of those athletes would compete in Rio. Bach also said the summit, including sports federations and Olympic committees, had decided to fully review the anti-doping system, calling on the World Anti-Doping Agency to hold a global conference next year. The IOC president said the meeting had not discussed the potential participation of whistleblower Yulia Stepanova, a former drugs cheat whose revelations sparked the scandal, after the IAAF gave her hope of competing at the Games.

Poland into Euro knoc-kout stages for first time P O L A N D re a c h e d t h e knock-out stages of a European Championship for the first time as they finished second in Group C after a win over Ukraine. Arkadiusz Milik had a shot saved and Robert Lewandowski sent an effort over as Poland missed two early chances. Ukraine, who were already out, went close when Andriy Yarmolenko shot wide. Jakub Blaszczykowski curled in a left-foot shot for the winner after 54 minutes and Poland will now play Switzerland in the last-16 on Saturday. However, Bartosz Kapustka will miss the match in

Saint-Etienne after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament. A win by a bigger margin could have seen Poland leapfrog Germany, who beat Northern Ireland, to top the group but they rarely looked like adding to their lead. And while they will celebrate their progress, they will also have concerns over the form of striker Lewandowski. He scored 42 goals for Bayern Munich in 2015-16 and was the top scorer in Euro 2016 qualifying with 13 goals. The 27-year-old was rightly regarded as Poland’s key man for the tournament, but has not had a shot on target in

his three games so far - and is without a goal or assist in 523 minutes of European Championship finals action since a scoring against Greece at Euro 2012. Lewandowski should have ended that run early on when he was found by a right-wing cross only to sidefoot wide from eight yards, while he also produced some clever footwork before scuffing a shot wide His strike partner Milik did not fare much better, having an early shot saved when through on goal, and he also headed wide later on when he stole in at the near post. (BBC Sport)

Northern Ireland join England and Wales in last 16

N O RT H E R N I r e l a n d joined England and Wales in the last 16 of the European Championship after finishing as one of the best third-placed teams. Northern Ireland - in their first appearance at a Euros and first major tournament since 1986 - will now meet either Wales or France for a place in the quarter-finals. Michael O’Neill’s side lost 1-0 to Germany on Tuesday but finished third

in Group C, with their tally of three points enough to see them advance on goal difference. Turkey’s 2-0 victory against the Czech Republic ensured that Northern Ireland will be one of the four best third-placed teams who will go on to join the group winners and runners-up in the knockout stages. A tie against Wales would take place on Saturday (kick-off 17:00 BST) in Paris, or they will play

France in Lyon on Sunday (14:00). “It’s surreal,” O’Neill told BBC Radio 5 live. “We were just on the coach so have been following on the BBC website. I’m not sure it’s really sunk in yet, but it’s a fantastic achievement. “We knew the group would be difficult. What we saw tonight was a team that refused to be beaten by a big margin and did everything possible to stay in the game.(BBC Sport)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

Wintz excited about CPL 2016 By Rajiv Bisnauth FAST bowler Paul Wintz is anxiously awaiting the fourth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as yet another chance for him to continue his swift rise to recognition. Following the Player Draft in February, Wintz was snapped up by the Guyana Amazon Warriors for a second time. The 30-year-old made his maiden appearance in 2015, but played just one game against St Lucia Zouks at Gros Islet. However, in an exclusive interview on Thursday, Wintz told this publication that while he is extremely excited to be a part of the fourth edition of the tournament, he is looking forward to play more games this time around. “Definitely I am very excited to be on board with CPL again, but I am really looking forward to playing more games this time around,” he said. The all-rounder further pointed out that he is even more excited to rub shoulders with the foreign players and gain from their experiences. Commenting on the

squad, Wintz said, “I think we have a well balanced squad and I am confident we will cross that final hurdle this time.” The Amazon Warriors have been one of the most consistent

PAUL WINTZ performers in the CPL. They reached the final in the inaugural 2013 season where they were beaten by Jamaica Tallawahs and repeated their feat the following year, only to be downed by Barbados Tridents in a dramatic final in St Kitts. The squad this year includes six specialist batsmen – New Zealand’s Martin Gup-

till, Barbados’ Dwayne Smith, Australia’s Chris Lynn, Trinidad and Tobago’s Jason Mohammed, Antigua’s Orlando Peters and Guyana’s Assad Fudadin. Sohail Tanvir of Pakistan, Christopher Barnwell and Steven Jacobs of Guyana, and Rayad Emrit of Trinidad & Tobago are the all-rounders, while the bowlers are Veerasammy Permaul and Paul Wintz (Guyana), Adam Zampa (Australia) and Muhammad Ahsan Ali Khan (ICC Americas). Steven Katwaroo (Trinidad & Tobago) is the other wicketkeeper while Shimron Hetmyer is the Under-19 player. Captain Guptill was bought as the marquee player, while those retained from last year were Permaul, Barnwell and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo. However, Bishoo, being a centrally contracted West Indies Cricket Board player, could only be chosen as a replacement, but not as frontline selection. He has been retained and could be called upon to play providing he is not on West Indies duties. In the space of six years, Wintz has played just three

Croatia stun Spain to top Euro Group D IVAN Perisic’s late winner gave Croatia a victory over Spain, capping the best performance and best game of Euro 2016 so far. Croatia win the group; Spain come second, and will play Italy in the last sixteen. The way Spain started, it looked as though they would have too much class for their opponents, crafting a clever and dainty opening goal for Alvaro Morata, who tapped home Cesc Fabregas’ square pass. But Croatia, playing with conviction, intensity and in-

… to face Italy in last-16 telligence, fought their way back into the game, and Nikola Kalinic’s flying, flicked volley earned them an equaliser just before halftime. Both sides had chances to win it in the second half, the best falling to Sergio Ramos. Vedran Corluka was punished for fouling David Silva as they contested Andres Iniesta’s cross - it looked dodgy - though not as dodgy as Danijel Subasic’s charge off his line when Ramos paused and facilitated the ensuing

block. Quite what his attackers were thinking, allowing him to take the kick, remains a mystery. The game continued to pulsate thereafter, and after Aritz Aduriz’s shot was blocked by Dario Srna, a swift break allowed Kalinic to hold up possession and Perisic to drill home at the near post as David de Gea opted to save with his feet. May we merit many more such games. (Eurosport)

PCB chief wants ICC special fund for his country’s cricket PA K I S TA N C r i c k e t Board (PCB) chief Shaharyar Khan has revealed that he would request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to set up a special fund for Pakistan cricket to compensate for the heavy losses in revenue accrued by the board due to the absence of international cricket in the country. Pakistan has not had any team tour the country since March 2009, when militants

attacked the Sri Lankan side in Lahore. The terrorist attack on the team bus led to other national teams refusing to tour the country, which, according to Khan, has resulted in the board suffering losses amounting to millions of dollars in revenue. “We want to use this special fund to develop and promote cricket in Pakistan,” Khan said, as quoted by Firstpost. “We will request the In-

ternational Cricket Council and member countries to put aside a small percentage of its income from ICC events for this special fund for Pakistan cricket.” The ban on hosting international cricket has meant that the PCB is forced to organise their home series at neutral venues, with the United Arab Emirates being preferred. However, the PCB chief claims this arrangement is not proving cost-effective.

regional T20 matches. He has an impressive List A career, capturing 32 wickets from 19 games at average of 19, and an economy rate of 4.62. Wintz also

has a highest score of 38 not out and an average of 16. The Guyana Amazon Warriors will play 10 games in the preliminary phase of the League, with four matches

in Guyana, two in Florida, and one each in Trinidad & Tobago, St Kitts & Nevis, Jamaica and St Lucia. Hero CPL 2016 will be held from June 29 to August 7.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

Plunkett secures tie for England with final-ball six (REUTERS) - England’s Liam Plunkett smashed the last ball of the match for six to earn his team a dramatic tie with Sri Lanka in the first one-day international in Nottingham yesterday. The hosts, chasing 287 for victory, collapsed to 82 for six before Jos Buttler made 93 and Chris Woakes 95 not out to give England a chance of winning the game at Trent Bridge. They needed 10 off the last two balls and Woakes scrambled three before Plunkett launched Nuwan Pradeep over long-off to tie the match. “It was nice to get that one out. Woakesey and Jos put us in a great position and we were backing ourselves to take it as deep as possible,” Plunkett told the BBC. “It just shows the depth we have got. It’s good for the team - you know you can carry on all the way through an innings.”

Sri Lanka, put in to bat, were indebted to a good innings of 73 by their captain

also struck a quickfire 59 off 28 deliveries, including four sixes and eight fours.

Sri Lanka look to be heading for their first win over England on the tour until Liam Plunkett flexes his muscles off the last ball. Angelo Mathews as they posted a decent total of 286 for nine. Seekkuge Prasanna

England collapsed at the start of their reply, losing Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow

with only 30 runs on the board. Captain Eoin Morgan steadied the ship with 43 but his team were still in deep trouble when Woakes and Buttler came together. They added 138 for the seventh wicket and Plunkett’s unbeaten 22 off 11 deliveries carried England to only their eighth tie in 665 one-day internationals. “I thought we had the game in the bag for most of the overs. Unfortunately the yorker fell just off line and went for a six,” Sri Lanka captain Mathews said. “We fell short by 15, 20 runs. It was a brilliant wicket to bat on but we had to be satisfied with 286. We just kept losing wickets at crucial times.” England won the recent Test series between the teams 2-0. The next game in the five-match one-day series is in Birmingham on Friday.

Body ‘needs a break’ after Somerset spell - Gayle CHRIS Gayle has said his body “needs a break” after his second T20 Blast spell with Somerset came to an end on Sunday. The 36-year-old made a half-century to help beat Hamsphire by six wickets in his last scheduled county game of 2016. The West Indies batsman scored 177 runs in five outings, after making 328 runs in three Somerset appearances in 2015. “The mind is willing but the body says ‘you’ve got to take a break’. There is too much stiffness on this body at this time,” Gayle told BBC Radio Bristol. “But we’ll see how well I can actually manage that, how

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday June 22, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Jonathan Carter & Ashley Nurse (2) 143 runs

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who is the first Australian to register an ODI century against the West Indies? (2) What was the result of the first encounter between the WI and Australia in the Tri-Nations series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

long I can actually last and go on to entertain the fans around the world. “I’m looking forward to heading back home now. It’s been wonderful hospitality and atmosphere. “Apart from the first game which was very, very cold - that was the only game I didn’t really get a score. The weather played its part but we have no control over that.” After scoring just five runs in his first T20 Blast appearance of this summer, Gayle had said he “needed to get acclimatised” as quickly as possible. CHRIS GAYLE He did not rule out a return later this season if Somerset - who now lie fifth in the South Group, two points behind leaders Glamorgan - reach the final. “It’s a possibility, we’re looking forward to it and we’ll see what happens, so you never know,” he added. “Hopefully the guys make it to the final and we can actually get a change to get a trophy. “Somerset (will) always have a place in my heart. “I like all the fans interacting, even when the ball just trickles to me and I pick it up, they cheer for that. It’s fantastic when you have that sort of impact on people.” (BBC Sport)

Over $20M on offer for Guyana Cup horserace meet ... set for August 14 at Port Mourant

IN observance of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, the Jumbo Jet Establishment, in collaboration with the Port Mo0urant Turf Club, Berbice, will have on offer over $20M in prize money for its 10th Annual Guyana Cup Horserace meet scheduled for August 14. The eight-race card will see the winner of the feature event which is open to horses classified A and Lower battle over 1600 metres and the winner pocket $4M. The co-feature event is open to three-year-old Guyana and West Indies-bred horses and they will contest a 1600m race as well, with the winner receiving $2M. A two-year-olds race is also on the cards and this is open to West Indies-bred animals that will battle in a 1000m event with the winner collecting $1M. There will also be a $3M race for E Class and Lower horses with the winner drawing down $1M. A 1300m race will be staged for horses classified G and Lower and the winner for this race will earn $700 000. Horses classified H and Lower will do battle over 1400m with the winner taking home $500 000. A 1100m race is also on the day’s programme and is open to horses classified J & K and Lower with the winner earning $350 000. Horses classified `L’ will contest a 1000M race and the winner will receive $250 000. Trophies and other incentives will be at stake for the top jockey and runner-up; the top stable and the champion trainer. Apart from the cash prizes for the winners of each event, trophies and cash prizes are also on offer for the other top finishers of each event. The day’s activity will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U-17

BV/TU edge Ann’s Grove; Victoria Kings squeeze past Buxton Stars BV/Triumph United and Victoria Kings joined Mahaica Determinators and Golden Stars as teams taking full points last weekend when competition in the East Demerara Football Association leg of the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 league continued. Playing at the BV ground, the home team rallied for a 3-2 win over Ann’s Grove. BV it was who took the lead on 10 minutes, through a Temar Robinson goal. The remainder of the first half did not produce any more goals which was as a result of balanced football played by both teams. However, the second half was played more aggressively and resulted in Ann’s Grove drawing level in the 54th minute through a Randy Hamilton goal. The home team were stunned in the 65th minute when the visitors took the lead, compliments of a Shamar Brandon strike. But some composed football from the BV boys not only saw them cancel out Ann’s Grove’s advantage but also found the winning goal, all in a two-minute burst. Dequan France notched in the equaliser in the 70th minute while his teammate Omari Glasgow hammered in the winner in the 72nd minute to seal a memorable win. In the opening match on Sunday, Victoria Kings ruled the roost in their clash with Buxton Stars to win 2-1 on account of a double off the boot of Kareem Josiah in the 2nd and 28th minutes. Buxton got their consolation goal from Shemar Scott in the 33rd minute. The young Kings had to pull out all the stops to defend their slim one-goal lead to walk away with full points. On Saturday, Mahaica Determinators trounced Plaisance Panthers 6-0 while Golden Stars got past Bachelor’s Adventure/Paradise Sports Club 2-0. Matches will continue this weekend.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 22, 2016

National Under-19 female cricketers leave for T20 tournament in T&T THE Guyana Under-19 female squad departed yesterday morning to compete in the Regional Under-19 Invitational Women’s Twenty20 Tournament which is scheduled to start today in Trinidad and Tobago and end on Saturday. The Guyana team is being sponsored by Top Brandz Distributors. The team went through a six-day camp where the twenty-two players stayed at the GCB Training Facility in LBI on the East Coast. Present at the team’s departure yesterday was the Chief Executive Officer of Top Brandz Distrinutors, Wayne James, who wished them success on the tour. He stated that he was priv ileged to be associated with the development of cricket and noted that development starts with the youths. Also present was Territorial Development Officer of GCB, Colin Stuart. Stuart congratulated the girls on making the national squad. James also reminded the players that others would have loved to be in their shoes. He thanked them for their eagerness to learn

and grow during the camp period and underscored they should perform when it matters.

Hosts Trinidad and Tobago will open the threeteam Invitational Regional Under-19 Women’s Twen-

Barbados, the other team competing in the tournament, will have West Indies Women’s World Cup hero Hayley

the ladies during their practice sessions at GCC ground in Bourda and was highly impressed with their eagerness

Female U-19 Guyana team flanked by Colin Stuart (left) and coach sponsor Wayne James. “Your best is what is required and the GCB asks for nothing more … we are convinced that performing at your best will bring us regional victory.” He finished by stating that incentives for allround performances, and include gaining a structured path in cricket since women cricket is growing in professionalism.

ty20 tournament today against the Windward Islands at Gilbert Park in California, from 09.30hrs. The hosts will actually play twice on the opening day, taking on Guyana at the same venue from 14.30hrs. T&T are fielding a strong team that includes Kamara Ragoobar. Reanna Farrow and Reniece Boyce.

Mathews in their ranks. The tournament is geared towards the continuous development of upcoming players, to give them an opportunity to showcase their talent. The competition will also serve to expose players to competition at the highest level. Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, had visited

to compete. He wished them an injury-free tournament and urged them to be professionals and represent their country well, noting that this exposure would definitely boost their cricket development. The Guyana squad reads: Mandy Mangru (captain), Plaffiana Millington

(vice-captain), Deborah Vanderstoop, Sheneta Grimmond, Amanda Persaud, Shabika Gajnabi, Kaysia Shultz, Lafona Gilgeous, Aleema Arokium (wicketkeeper), Marian Samaroo, Yogeeta Balkishun, Tasleema Bacchus, Russhanna Lynch, and Dian Prahalad. The manager is Devika Gobin and the coach is Julian Moore. The fixtures for today include T&T vs Windwards, Gilbert Park, 09:30hrs Barbados vs Guyana, National Cricket Centre, 09:30hrs T&T vs Guyana, Gilbert Park, 14:30hrs Barbados vs Windwards, National Cricket Centre 14:30hrs. On Friday, T&T vs Barbados, National Cricket Centre, 09:30hrs Windwards vs Guyana, Gilbert Park, 09:30hrs followed by Semi-final 1, Gilbert Park, 14:30hrs Semi-final 2, National Cricket Centre, 14:30hrs. On Saturday on the Third-place playoff, Gilbert Park, 09:30hrs and the Final, National Cricket Centre, 09:30hrs.

GABF, YBG finalise teams Boxers to attend Horace for CBC championships Phillips championship By Daniel Haynes THE Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) were tasked with selecting the players for the upcoming U-16 Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC), set to be played off here in July and with less than a month to go, the two basketball bodies have done so. Both the male and female teams have been finalised and features the best and brightest faces from the YBG Regional Tournament currently underway. The contingent features 24 players with 12 male and 12 female players. Donning the national colours for the male

side will be Kevon Wiggins, Kelmar Carmichael, Shamar France (New Amsterdam Multilateral), Roydon Glasgow (Bishops’ High), Kareem Boyle, Akeem Crandon (President’s College), Nigel Bowen, Andrew Johnson (Plaisance Secondary), Jahleel Young, Jordan Alphonso (Marian Academy), Zion Gray (Tutorial) and Jermain King. On the distaff side: Jada Mohan, Georgiana Vyphuis, Kellian Savers, Jahrier Young (Marian Academy), Onika Rogers (Kwakwani Secondary), Jayla Jones, Kesann Charles (Bishops’ High), Annlesa Barker (New Amsterdam Multilateral) Daniela King (Plaisance Secondary), Demelza Nicholas, Annalisa Barclay (President’s College)

and Saffiya Green. Persons involved within the teams have stated that the teams now need the support since it is their first exposure at the International level, adding that persons as well as the media should refrain from unreasonable expectations. “We sometimes forget

that these players are 13 to 15 years old and the main focus at this level is nurturing.” Comments were also made that development through competition and exposure is the main focus and the end results of these two would be measured over time at the Under-19 level.

GUYANA would be represented by two boxers when the Horace Phillips Memorial championships are held next week in Barbados. Welterweight Colin Martin and middleweight Marley Ross have been selected to represent this country at the annual event. The coach of the team is Gregory `Chassis’ Cort. The competition was originally set for June 27 but has been rescheduled to July 1 because of 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations on the island. Guyana Amateur Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle explained that the association is also seeking to send one referee/judge to the championship. The Horace Phillips Memorial is an annual tournament held in March in Barbados in honour of a former Liaison Officer of the Barbados Boxing Association who died 21 years ago. The tournament attracts boxers from across the region and over the years Guyanese boxers have dominated. In 2014 locals returned home with five medals. Ron Smith, Delon Charles and Diwani Lampkin collected gold medals while Clairmont `Cartel’ Gibson and Michael April copped silver medals. Last year, light heavyweight boxer Markember `Violence’ Pierre led a team of Guyanese boxers to the competition. The team also included flyweight Jamaal Eastman, Ceon Griffith, manager/coach Wincell Thomas and referee/judge Keith Norville.

National Under-19 female cricketers leave for T20See story on tournament in T&T page 35

Aussies advance to tri-series final despite Samuels’ superb 125 See story on page 31

Pro boxers who compete in Rio will lose titles - IBF (REUTERS) - Professional boxers who compete at this year’s Olympics will be stripped of their International Boxing Federation titles, the IBF said in a statement on Monday. Professional boxers were given the green light to compete at the August 5-21 Rio Games earlier this month but the IBF is unhappy with the decision and said there was an inherent safety risk with professionals competing against amateurs. After reviewing medical opinions, the IBF has decided that if professional boxers compete in Rio it would be considered unsportsmanlike behaviour and they would be sanctioned. “Making this decision

Man-of-the-Match Marlon Samuels made his first century against Australia

Green Machine jump nine spots to 46th in IRB World Rankings

See story on page 31

BF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua became a household name after winning gold at the London Olympics. was not difficult for us,” IBF president Daryl Peoples said in the statement. “We felt it was important for the IBF to get involved and take a stance against professional boxers competing against amateurs due to safety concerns, as

part of our commitment to this sport is to promote the health and well-being of the boxers.” The IBF said non-title holders who compete at Rio would be removed from its ratings for one year.

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Director of Sport Chris Jones (left) shares a light moment with Green Machine Team manager Robbie Roberts (right) (Delano Williams Photo) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016