Guyana chronicle epaper 08 13 2016

No. 104642

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE! This vehicle ended up in the ditch at the corner of Lamaha and Pike Streets Kitty. The driver was reportedly on his phone while driving (Delano Williams photo)

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Ann’s Grove girl was murdered …autopsy: hit to head, strangled, then dumped into Hope Canal 3 P.

The second year Hope Secondary School student died of ‘asphyxiation’, a condition of severe deficient supply of oxygen to the body as a result of abnormal breathing. An example of asphyxia is choking. The autopsy report also revealed that before Hamilton was thrown into the Hope Canal while still alive, she suffered ‘blunt trauma to head’ and ‘compression injury to neck’, her cousin Dr. Saska Sertima told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday.

Enmore man charged for ‘coke’ in frozen fish 4

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‘Youths of today face more serious problems’ – Min Henry 3

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

LBI sugar workers rail against merger with Enmore HUNDREDS of field workers attached to the LBI and Enmore sugar estates -- cane cutters; shovel men; weeders, mainly females; fertilizing hands; cane planters and others -- downed tools on Friday, demanding that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) meet with both workers and union representatives to iron out the workers’ grievances. These workers contend that they are being coerced to work at the Enmore estate for less remuneration. They are demanding to be allowed to work at the LBI estate as per their contractual arrangements. The workers argue that the conditions at the Enmore estate are less favourable to

them, and they are not prepared to settle for less. Vishnu Lewis, a cane harvester at the LBI Estate, told the Guyana Chronicle he is not pleased with the mechanisms employed by GuySuCo to have workers relocated to the Enmore Estate. “They have taken us to Enmore over the out-of-crop period, and the work that they giving us is only achieved at a maximum of $700-a-day work. They give us four days a week work, and 4 by 7 is only $2800; and the work at LBI, you does get $10,000 or $12,000 at LBI. We can’t maintain our families if we go over at LBI,” Lewis explained. He told Guyana Chronicle that approximately 1800 workers are on strike, and

will continue to protest what they deem to be unjust treatment being meted out to them. “Management is telling us clearly (that) if we don’t want to work we could go home. This is not ‘thing’ to tell workers. If you are not giving we favourable work and (enabling us to) earn a day pay, should we work? We can’t earn, we have families and children going high school, and for the past three weeks we are not earning a single dollar.” The cane harvester noted that many of the benefits receivable from the sugar company while working at Enmore Estate have been withdrawn. “They tell us we are no longer going to get LBI pay; we are going to get Enmore pay. We are not Enmore workers, we are LBI workers. Our contracts state we are LBI workers. Now they want to take our contracts and restate it to Enmore,” said the angry worker, who maintained that he would not accept that. Rampersaud Prashad, the Field Officer responsible for all workers on the East Demerara Estates, has said the downing of tools by the workers on the East Coast was necessary to demonstrate to GuySuCo that workers are against the treatment they are receiving. “We had a protest this morning concerning the movement of workers from LBI to Enmore and Enmore to LBI, where we were getting a disturbance allowance to go to any other estate,” he said, noting that every estate has different practices.

And GAWU, at a press conference on Friday, has said the workers are being coerced to become members of the Enmore Estate workforce, and that the decision to so do is a “unilateral and high-handed decision.” “The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo), the workers insisted, must not demand they work under less favourable conditions as they would be required (to do) at Enmore Estate. A female worker, Cde. Sharon Smith, explained a few days ago that at LBI Estate a task work is priced at $2,875 and a similar task is priced at $2,675 at Enmore Estate. Moreover,

Rampersaud Prashad, Field Officer of the East Demerara Estates

Vishnu Lewis, cane harvester at LBI Estate

President of GAWU, Komal Chand, and General Secretary Seepaul Narine are flanked by workers of the LBI and Enmore Estates on Friday at the GAWU headquarters in Kingston

we cannot be oblivious to the long travelling distance between the two (2) estates that this decision entails,” said GAWU. The Union argues that with the 2,700 hectares of crop still to be cultivated, either the workers or their jobs are redundant. “On the other hand, the field workers of Enmore Estate are objecting to the manner (in which) their counterparts at LBI Estate are pushed over to their Estate. They also struck today to register their disagreement. They are seeking a meeting, through their shop stewards and the Union’s Field Officer, with the management of the estate to have some work issues addressed.” According to GAWU, the matter could be resolved

by virtue of meetings held between the Union and the sugar company. However, there have been no dialogues or meetings of the sides. President of the Union, Komal Chand, told reporters that correspondence was sent to GuySuCo but the union has not even received an acknowledgement of the correspondence from the company. “The negative culture now being pursued by the Corporation is demotivating to the workforce,” said Chand. He believes that “GuySuCo has created a situation of distrust… [and] it is most frightening and negative to the sugar industry.” While he is hoping that good sense prevails on the issues, he is of the opinion that

GuySuCo is unbothered by the striking workers. Chand said it is time that GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Errol Hanoman take seriously what he described as a “breakdown” in the relationship between workers and the company. “We need to dialogue on these matters…we are faced with a wall,” he said, reflecting on the current projected figures for this year’s production. “Too much is at stake in the industry,” he said, while noting that “it is more than non-cooperation; it is a display of arrogance” by GuySuCo. Calls to the GuySuCo CEO, Errol Hanoman; and to the Communications Officer Audreyanna Thomas on Friday proved futile.

Teenager dies in Essequibo accident AN accident on the Three Friends Public Road, Essequibo Coast, has left 19-year-old Chandi Dyal dead. According to a police report, the accident occurred at around 21:25hrs on Thursday night when Dyal of ‘H’

Lima, Essequibo Coast, was driving motor car PTT 5016. It was noted that he was proceeding south of the Three Friends Public Road, at a fast rate, when he lost control and collided with a lamp-pole. He was taken to the Suddie Hospital in an unconscious state and died while receiving medical attention.

Dead: Chandi Dyal

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

Ann’s Grove girl was murdered …autopsy: hit to head, strangled, then dumped into Hope Canal BY Shauna Jemmott PATHOLOGIST Dr. Nehul Singh has conducted an autopsy on the body of the late 14-year-old Malika Hamilton and found she was brutally bludgeoned to her head, strangled, and dumped alive in the Hope Canal between Monday afternoon and Tuesday. The second year Hope Secondary School student died of ‘asphyxiation’, a condition of severe deficient supply of oxygen to the body as a result of abnormal breathing. An example of asphyxia is choking. The autopsy report also revealed that before Hamilton was thrown into the Hope Canal while still alive, she suffered ‘blunt trauma to head’ and ‘compression injury to neck’, her cousin Dr. Saska Sertima told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday. The ‘Miss African Calabash 2014’ beauty queen

had left her home at Lot 11 Two Friends Village, Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara late on Monday, but never returned. Her body was fished out of the Hope Canal the following day, where it was spotted by the canal’s ranger. Relatives of the dead teenager are calling for swift justice as police investigations continue. They said a man suspected to be part of the investigation has disappeared, and there is no photograph available to police. Hamilton’s mother, Atesha Cambridge, also said that her daughter’s body appeared ‘fresh’, as if she had just died at the time she was pulled from the canal. The family said they observed that Hamilton’s fingers were white and mud was on her skin, which indicated that she was not long thrown overboard. The family said one of the same men in whose company she was reportedly last seen was observed walking in the

direction of Hope when the teenager’s grandmother, Dorrel Cambridge, enquired of her whereabouts from him on the morning when the search for the missing girl began. “Dem seh she bin a bathe a trench, but me seh Malika doesn’t go and bathe a trench,” the woman told the press. Relatives and friends said the teenager did not know how to swim. “Me start ask people, and then me stop wan boy name Satan, and he seh ‘Malika and all ahwe bin a bathe a trench deh (not far from her home) and Malika lef and seh she ah go ah she grandmother’ (at Hope, two villages away). “Me seh ‘wait, Malika doesn’t lef so! How Malika go lef hey, pass we hey (her home)…. How she go bathe a ‘big bridge’ and pass hey wid she wet skin and go at she grandmother at Hope?” The Guyana Chronicle

‘Youths of today face more serious problems’ – Min Henry

Dead: Malika Hamilton

understands that the man had told another woman that Hamilton had left for Hope with his slippers, but relatives said no slippers were found near the teen’s body; and they have observed the man wearing the same slippers he said she had borrowed, even on the day she was discovered dead.

On Wednesday, however, the ranger who found the teen’s body the day before, also a boat operator, said he had traversed the canal several times, transporting workers on the infrastructural project, but did not notice her body earlier. It was not until he was making his third trip that he spotted something black in the canal. The man said because the canal is clean, he quickly observes anything strange in it. He later returned to the area after he was informed that Hamilton was missing, and after spinning the boat, the waves shifted the body, causing him to recognize her clothing. The ranger also said that on Monday he transported Malika and three men, including ‘Satan’, across the canal from Douch Four to Hope, at about 13:00h. That was the last reported time that Hamilton was seen alive. Her body was on Tuesday

pulled from the canal, around the ‘Skinny Dam’ bridge at ‘Star-apple Tree’ area, where men go to catch birds. Meanwhile, family members of the dead girl are upset that Lyken Funeral Home did not store her body properly, resulting in the body being bloated and starting to decay. Her mother said she is deeply hurt and has decided to bury her daughter this Sunday, as a result. “They didn’t put her properly! She start spoil. She cannot keep anymore long. Is best she go and bury early. They need to do their work and job more properly. It’s hard to open my child properly like that. I give them my child properly. When me child come out (the water) me child was fresh fresh,” the distraught woman told the Guyana Chronicle. Malika Hamilton, whose Facebook name is Iheart Malika, had, a few months ago, posted on her page, “If love only exist in my dreams, don’t wake me up!!!!!!”

Armed bandits storm Bharrat’s Jewellery BY Shauna Jemmott

Participants of the Youth Rally marching in celebration of International Youth Day

By Vishani Ragobeer GUYANA joined with the rest of the world on Friday to celebrate International Youth Day under the theme: “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production.” The Ministry of Education- Department of Culture, Youth and Sport held a daylong programme in observance of this day, including a Youth Rally, a Youth Village and a Youth Concert. The Youth Rally began from the Ministry of Education,Brickdam and featured personnel from the Ministry of Education and various youth organisations that fall under the ministry. Other participants included those who were a part in the Youth Village Exhibition and Youth Concert. The participants marched to the National Cultural Centre where there was

a brief opening ceremony followed by the Youth Village and Youth Concert. At the opening ceremony, Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry, noted that the day focuses on the rights of young people to have full access to education, adequate health care, employment opportunities, financial services and full participation in public life. She said that the Government of Guyana has established partnerships with several stakeholders to address issues affecting youth. The minister also attested that many youths live in “abject poverty and cannot afford the basic necessities of life,”noting that “The youth of today face more serious problems than previous generations.” As such, she said it is important that all stakeholders have youth “integrally

involved in decisions” that would affect their future and their country. According to Minister Henry, her ministry recognises the importance of placing much effort in developing more strategies targeting youth development and realising their “hidden potential.” As a result, she said that her ministry, in partnership with numerous stakeholders, has planned activities to help the youth of Guyana realise this potential and contribute meaningfully to the Guyanese society. The Youth Village hosted yesterday is one such programme which showcased the interest of many organisations in youth and targeting employment especially. Also speaking at the opening ceremony were Director of Youth,Ms Melissa Carmichael and UNICEF representative, Ms. Marianne Flach.

ARMED bandits carted off $900,000 in cash and a quantity of jewellery as they robbed Bharrat’s Jewellery and Grocery Store at Robb Street and Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown, Friday morning. Police ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken told the Guyana Chronicle that around 09:30hrs , a 65-yearold woman was selling in the grocery department of the store when a man posing as a customer approached and ordered a gallon of water. When the woman opened the door at the counter to deliver the water, the man stormed into the inner part of the shop and armed with a gun, grabbed the items. As the Guyana Chronicle visited the scene Friday morning, the police were conducting investigations, but the media could not have accessed the victim. The owners of the store were contacted, but told the Guyana Chronicle that the female victim, who received minor head injuries during

Police investigators at the crime scene yesterday

the ordeal, had visited the doctor and was too traumatized to speak to the press. Sources around the area told this newspaper that the bandits dealt the woman a lash to her head, resulting in minor injuries. She was treat-

ed by a doctor and sent home. Commander Hicken told the Guyana Chronicle that the police are examining images on surveillance cameras in the area, to see if there would be a breakthrough in the crime.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 13, 2016

Jamaican guilty of smuggling cocaine in deodorant

A 54-YEAR-OLD Jamaican national appeared before city Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday after recently being nabbed at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) attempting to smuggle cocaine in deodorant bottles. Easton Stapleton pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him, citing that Customs Anti- Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers had made a deal with him if he assisted them with their investigation. Stapleton admitted to having 526 grams of cocaine in his possession for the pur-

Sandiford-Thompson told the court that on Tuesday, Stapleton went to the post office to inquire about the procedures for posting a package. According to Thompson, the foreign national left when he was told that a CANU officer stationed at the post office would have to check the package before shipping. A CANU officer became suspicious and trailed Stapleton before confronting him at the back of Foga-

Jamaican National Easton Stapleton pose of trafficking on Tuesday, August 10, at the GPOC. CANU Prosecutor Konyo

rty’s Department Store. The package was inspected and inside contained 20 rollon deodorant bottles along with several markers. Further checks found that the inside of the items were laced with cocaine. The unrepresented Stapleton told the court that on Tuesday he was destined to leave the county and he was given a package by someone to take overseas

“I didn’t want to take the package with me, so I decided to post it, but the lady at the post office told me that I didn’t have a local address to post the box, so I just left,” the 54-year-old told the court. Stapleton stated that he threw away the package, but a CANU officer trailed him, picked the items up and took him back to the post office. The magistrate after hearing the man’s claims,

inquired if he was changing his plea, but he replied “No, I’m not disputing nothing my worship... ah just adding to it.” Prosecutor Thomp son requested a short adjournment because the drug-analysis report was still outstanding. Magistrate Daly remanded the Jamaican until Monday, August 15, when he would be sentenced.

Enmore man charged for ‘coke’ in frozen fish FOLLOWING the discovery of over 200 pounds of cocaine in frozen fish at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), a 31-yearold East Coast businessman was on Friday remanded to prison. Kapil Haresh Thakurian of Foulis, Enmore, made his first court appearance before city Magistrate Leron Daly in relation to the matter. He denied the allegation. Particulars of the charge alleged that on Tuesday, August 9 at CJIA, Thakurian had in his possession 88.200 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The businessman was represented by attorney-at-law Peter Hugh who made an

Kapil Haresh Thakurian application for his client to be released on bail, since the defendant did not pose a flight risk.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Kevin London, objected to bail because investigations into the matter were still ongoing. Magistrate Daly ruled in the prosecution’s favor and remanded the businessman until August 26 for statements. Police on Tuesday intercepted and seized over 200 pounds of cocaine in the cargo shipment of frozen fish. According to the police, the bust was not made by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) but by the Police Narcotics Branch. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the shipment was intended for New York. It was revealed that the shipment was being

processed through a local air-cargo service.

The packaged drugs contained inside the frozen fish

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 13, 2016

Walter Roth Museum to be moved

THE Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology has been earmarked for a major upgrade and change of location. A release from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that the government has made a decision to relocate the museum from its current location on Main Street. The museum will now be housed in the western

wing of the Guyana National Museum and work will be conducted to ensure that both facilities meet international standards. The museum is a non-profit institution created by the Government of Guyana to collect, exhibit and conserve artifacts relating to the ancient cultures of Guyana, to conduct anthropological research and disseminate

knowledge of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana through its in-house and out-reach programmes. The Main Street location will now be used by the Ministry of the Presidency. In recent months, two departments have been added to the ministry, which includes the Department of the Environment and the Department of National Events.

Teenager freed of rape charge

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Tevin McKenzie of Port Mourant, Corentyne,Berbice, walked out of the Berbice Assizes a free man on Friday afternoon and into the arms of his father, after the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty to the charge of rape. State Counsel Stacy Goodings had presented the indictment against the school drop-out, which stated that on July 8, 2015, he engaged in sexual penetration of a child. The trial was held “in camera.” However, as it relates to the second indictment, in which McKenzie is accused of having sexual activity with a four-year-old child, by touching the child’s anus, the Judge, Justice JoAnn Barlow, directed the 12-member jury

to return a formal verdict of not guilty, as there was no evidence to support the

Tevin McKenzie indictment. In dismissing the former

Port Mourant Secondary school student, Justice Barlow said, “Tevin McKenzie, the jury has unanimously found you not guilty. You are a very young man. Use this opportunity to do what is good.” State Counsel Goodings had conceded that her main witness, the victim, was unable to recall the incident, and, when questioned, said it was his mother who told him to say he had been sexually assaulted. The mother had testified that she witnessed the alleged assault, during which the penis of the accused was placed in the mouth of the minor. However, she later gave conflicting evidence. McKenzie was represented by Defence Counsel Tejnarine Ramroop.

Several injured in separate accidents AT LEAST one person was left nursing an injury to the head, while a number of others were left contemplating the amount of money they would be spending to repair their vehicles, following a number of vehicular accidents on Friday. One driver is experiencing the negative financial effects of driving and being on the phone after his Toyota Premio, PVV 750, ended up in a ditch at the corner of Lamaha and Pike Streets in Kitty, Georgetown. According to one witness, following the accident, the driver complained of having been on his phone and perhaps miscalculating when he was turning. He was assisted out of his vehicle by some passersby. Meanwhile, on the Railway Embankment at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, a two-vehicle smash-up has left one driver with a head injury

after he reportedly ended up in the path of an oncoming vehicle while trying to overtake another vehicle. According to reports, the driver of HB 9673, a yellow Toyota Carina, was headed east along the Railway Embankment when he reportedly attempted to overtake a white Spacio and ended up in the path of oncoming blue Toyota Allion PNN 6931, heading west. Police were on scene taking statements and trying to clarify just what had taken place, even as they tried to alleviate the traffic build-up that ensued. This accident followed one that had occurred just a few minutes prior and just a stone’s throw away, at the entrance to the Giftland Mall, where another traffic build-up had already occurred.

The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Moving Guyana in the right direction THE National Assembly’s 9th August approval of the nominees to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is a proud moment for this nation. This rare moment -- though more such can be forthcoming -- speaks to the capacity of the people’s representatives to collectively work in the interest of country and people. Achieving more than the required votes of at least two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly speaks to the fact that bi-partisanship, though ever so elusive, is not impossible. The five nominated members -- Misses Emily Dodson and Carol Corbin; and Messrs. Ivor English, Sukrishnalall Pasha, and Dr. Nanda Gopaul -- are applauded for accepting to serve the people, and the nation looks forward to their being given the instruments of appointment to commence working. The PPC, which has been achieved with constitutional reform, was enshrined in law since 2003. It has taken 13 years of incessant public calls for its establishment, and political back and forth between the parliamentary parties to arrive at, and vote on, the nominees. Thus to see its establishment, and amidst justifiable concerns that the handling of government contracts is tainted, is cause for an outpouring of goodwill towards the commission. This goodwill is premised on the people’s frustration and disappointment with their perception, real or contrived, of how their tax dollars are being spent. With the voices of intolerance to corruption growing louder, accompanied by trenchant calls for it to be stamped out, it is expected that where the PPC has oversight responsibility, the stamping out of corruption would be executed within the confines of the law, and without fear, favour, ill-will, or affection. The present furore over the continued single-sourcing of pharmaceuticals and the awarding of a contract for its storage, where it is being alleged that requirements have fallen short, merely strengthen the call for the PPC. Thankfully, in the interim, President Granger has appointed a three-man committee to investigate the latter. It is hoped that at completion of this investigation, having followed due diligence and submitting a report to the President, the society would be better informed on what took place, and any inappropriate act or anomaly flowing therefrom be addressed. A PPC will aid perception that the government is not only serious about tackling corruption, but that it does not see itself operating above the law and without accountability to the people. At the same time, in a society where suspicion of politicians is rife -- though in instances not without merit -- the PPC will be expected to be transparent, objective, fair, and dispassionate. With allegations -- not without some justification -- of preferential treatment and compromising of the process in the awarding of contracts, the society will look forward to the commission putting in place systems that would ensure equity and justice. This newspaper will be speaking to the body’s work and performance from time to time, given that it comes with a task of ensuring the procurement process is prudently managed. Finance Minister Winston Jordan has recently said

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 13, 2016

IAC’s letter designed to pit race against race

Dear Editor STATEMENTS emanating from the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) on the President’s commented intent to have his administration address the issue of having African ancestral land regularised are wicked and designed to pit race against race. The President, in reported words, said: “It is the intention of this government to establish a Lands Commission in order to rectify the anomalies and resolve the controversies which, up to now, surround thousands of hectares of communal lands which were purchased in the post-Emancipation Village Movement.” While the IAC reserves the right to seek clarity on the President’s reference to Land Commission, given that there exists the legally constituted Lands and Survey Commission, this is clearly not what goaded its statements. Following on the particular statement are the clear intent of this body. To state that those of “Indo-Guyanese origin…given the turbulent history of this country, fear that their lands may be taken away from them, and they are very apprehensive as to what mechanism, outside of the Law Courts of Guyana, would exist to address any grievance in this proposed new system” is using Indians to front the IAC’s dastardly motive against Africans.

Every racial group that came to this society has its unique history of original acquisition of land. Africans’ first acquisition of land came in the post-slavery society, and had to do with them pooling their pennies, buying up plantations, and converting them to villages in what is known as the Village Movement, which had its own economy and system of government. This also is the history of Africans’ communal lands. There is no other race with this legacy. Young Indians are advised that when Africans are calling for the regularisation of lands, these are lands that were bought and paid for by their forebears/ ancestors, which in this modern era need to be identified and properly documented, and the rightful owners made known. It is the responsibility of Government, in ensuring an orderly society, to have the country’s record, including ownership of lands, properly demarcated and identified which are fixed assets and wealth for the owners, and also determine revenue to the State in the form of rates and taxes. That previous presidents and administrations did not put systems in place to have this done does not absolve the present administration from such responsibility. That the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration and PPP/C-controlled Parliament stoutly rejected a motion brought by late

PNCR Member of Parliament Deborah Backer to have this issue regularised through a commission should be of concern to the IAC. After that, the very Jagdeo Administration coveted lands at Sparendaam in what is known as Pradoville II, and sold parcels of those lands at rock bottom prices to themselves and cronies. Had this land been accounted for consistent with present accounting systems, this could not have happened. The rightful owners would have exercised their right to determine if they wanted to sell, to whom, and at what price. On the IAC’s reference to reparation and Guyana being part of the engagement with CARICOM and Britain, this is also wicked. Reparation has to do with slavery. The lands’ issue is related to post-slavery, and were bought and paid for. So there is nothing owing here that Britain is being asked to compensate. Let me repeat, communal/ancestral lands were bought by Africans, and their heirs are seeking regularisation of them, consistent with 21st century reality, which includes being properly accounted for, recorded, and attributed. Regards, LINCOLN LEWIS

IAC questions proposed establishment of the communal Lands Commission Dear Editor, THE Indian Action Committee (IAC) has noted statements made by His Excellency David Granger, which were issued as part of his address at the Fourth Annual State of the African Guyanese Forum organized by the Cuffy 250 Committee and held at the Critchlow Labour College on Sunday, 7th August, 2016. The IAC is particularly interested in the statement by the President: “It is the intention of this government to establish a Lands Commission in order to rectify the anomalies and resolve the controversies which, up to now surround thousands of hectares of communal lands which were purchased in the post-Emancipation Village Movement.” The IAC recognizes that, in Guyana, the only agency that is legally authorized to deal with land and land issues is the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), which was established by an act of Parliament. The IAC believes that the “anoma-

lies” and “controversies” must be fully explained to the entire population of this country before any attempt is made to set up a parallel agency to the GLSC. The IAC therefore calls upon President Granger to define the terms of reference of the proposed communal Lands Commission, giving reasons why these particular land issues cannot be dealt with by the GLSC. The IAC believes that any Lands Commission separate from, and independent of, the GLSC must not interfere with the work of the latter, but be advisory in nature. The IAC also believes that such an advisory body must have representatives from civil society, trade unions and religious bodies; and must be multi-ethnic, given Guyana’s ethnic diversity. The IAC wishes to caution President Granger that such a communal Lands Commission must not be a political vehicle that only responds to demands from Afro-centric organizations and commentators. The IAC wishes to remind President Granger that if these “anomalies” and “controversies” are linked to

that approximately three-quarters of the National Budget are allocated to this expenditure, and it is not unfair to say the process has been mismanaged over a considerable period. The nation now looks forward to the establishment of the Integrity Commission (IC). This commission, also required by Constitution, has oversight responsibility of ensuring public officials -- elected and appointed -- conduct themselves in a manner that would uphold the repute of the office they hold, inclusive of ensuring public office is not used for personal enrichment. It is reasonable to expect that elected representatives, mindful of the people’s concern in this regard, would collaborate, as they have done for the PPC, to ensure the Commissioners are identified and appointed. Doing this would demonstrate to the society their commitment to public service and what it entails. Outside of the PPC and IC, it is urged that simultaneous

reparations, then these issues should be directed to the committee set up by CARICOM to seek reparations from European countries. The IAC, since the publication of the address of President Granger in the print and electronic media, has been bombarded with questions by many persons of Indo-Guyanese origin, both within and outside of its membership, who, given the turbulent history of this country, fear that their lands may be taken away from them by the Granger Government and given to African Guyanese; and they are very apprehensive as to what mechanism, outside of the Law Courts of Guyana, would exist to address any grievance in this proposed new system that might inconvenience and victimize them. Yours sincerely, SAIRA ALLI Secretary, Indian Action Committee

efforts be made to establish the other constitutional commissions. Key among those are the Ethnic Relations and Human Rights commissions, which can strengthen efforts and desire to improve race relations and protect human rights. It is fair to say that said commissions have direct impact on the people building peaceful and harmonious relations, which can lead to social cohesion and national unity. In the workforce, it is also reasonable to assume public servants desire the establishment of the constitutional Public Service Appellate Tribunal. There is no disputing that when institutions are respected and systems are put in place to ensure their functioning, all stand to gain. It is hoped that where matters are deserving of attention as they relate to laws and management of the business of State and Government, the people would continue to see efforts made to move Guyana in the right direction.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 13, 2016

Fighting paddy bugs Dear Editor, IT IS sad to read in today’s Stabroek News that “Paddy bug infestation in Region Two requires urgent intervention, according to Regional Chairman Mr Devanand Ramdatt.” He emailed the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Noel Holder, about the situation, but did not receive a reply. Anyone who is a rice farmer would tell you that paddy bug infestation can destroy your entire crop if it is not taken in hand as early as possible. The minister must understand the seriousness (of the situation): when a farmer cultivates his crop and goes through a lot of expenses, his ultimate goal has always been to maximize his production effort. When I read these things, I am reminded of when I was a rice extension officer working in the rice industry with the late Minister of Agriculture, Satyadeow Sawh. He was a man of action in times like these, when the farmers’ crops were being threatened by paddy bugs’ infestation. I remember paddy bug was rampant in Region Two, and the farmers couldn’t control the bugs. The former vice chairman, Mr Vishnu Samaroo, sent a letter to Minister Satyadeow Sawh appealing for his help, the minister agreed to meet with rice farmers at the C.V. Nunes Primary School. I was asked to chair the meeting, and used a public address system on a vehicle from Charity to Supenaam to invite the affected farmers. I was at the time working with the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association

(GRPA). At the meeting were the honourable Minister of Agriculture, Satyadeow Sawh; the General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board, Mr Jagnarine Singh; Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo, and a bug expert from Trinidad. The hall was packed with rice farmers from Charity to Supenaam. The minister and his team wanted to hear suggestions on how to combat or minimize the bugs. The question of aerial spraying came up by the farmers, but because of the housing location, animals grazing within the rice areas, and the use of the water by people living behind the main canal, this did not find favour with the team. It was agreed to purchase a large quantity of drugs and give same to the RPA to sell at a subsidized costs. This helped the rice farmers to increase their spraying, and the bugs were controlled. The government can use this method, since the rice farmers are breaking even at the going paddy prices at the moment. What I have noticed is that the bugs have become immune to the drugs because of the constant spraying and the killing off of the beneficial insects which protect the paddy at the milking stage. The bugs have a way, after the crop is being reaped, to migrate into the savannah, where they will multiply by the millions and will come out when the paddy is drawing the milk, and feed on it. It is not that easy to conquer the paddy bugs, but it can be minimized by

constant spraying. Poor sanitation around the fields encourages the bugs to enter the field, they will also live in the clogged up drainage and irrigation canals. The GRDB should start a training exercise to educate the farmers how they can avoid bug infestation. The year–round favourable climatic conditions in Guyana, which is a tropical country, support the continual survival and proliferation of paddy bugs’ population, with consequential yield losses and poor quality of grains, government’s intervention would always be needed. In an effort to protect rice crops from destruction, farmers in the past had used traditional (non-chemical) methods. However, farmers are now fighting the battle with chemical pesticides (agrochemicals) These are applied to crops from germination right through to harvest time, very often with little or no knowledge of the effects of these deadly sub-

stances on human health and the environment. Most rice farmers rely on chemical control for reducing pest populations, ignorant of, or in favour of, the other methods like IPM, recognising the many challenges facing the rice farmers, where man-driven interventions may not always be enough to save crops, especially in instances of unpredictable weather patterns, resulting in bug infestations which often decimate large acreages of cultivated fields. Early bug-sweeping by extension officers is very vital to know the bug population in an area or in the field, so GRDB and the Ministry of Agriculture can act quickly. Proper management, strategic intervention and efficient action can prevail over the various anomalies within the rice industry. Regards, MOHAMED KHAN

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

Cole pours cold water on corruption allegations ‒ vows to execute duties without fear or favour MR MARLAN Cole, Director of the Food and Drugs Department, has poured the proverbial cold water on allegations of corruption which surfaced on Thursday at a media briefing, vowing that he would carry out his duties and responsibilities without fear or favour. At a press conference on Friday, Cole denounced the allegations, which have their genesis in a reporter attached to a local online news outfit questioning Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Thursday about Cole’s alleged involvement in several arrangements which appear shady. The first allegation concerns the drug Zeredol, which

reputedly is formulated for sale only in India, and not in Guyana; but Cole has allegedly said the drug is manufactured in Guyana. However, Cole has dismissed this accusation by stating that Guyana has two official registrants of the drug. “That is not true (that the drug is manufactured only in India). There [are] official registrants of the drug in Guyana in the person of Pharmagen Enterprise and ANSA McAL Trading,” Cole has said. It was also alleged that a letter was sent to Cole’s office informing the department to desist from having that product sold on the market. According to the Director,

there is no evidence to suggest that such a letter was sent to his department at any time. Cole has also been accused of being on the payroll of the importers of the drug; and when contacted by the news outfit, he reportedly said, “I can do whatever I want.” This allegation also was dismissed by the director, who noted that he is a public official who would execute his duties diligently. “I am a public official who has to carry out my duties and responsibilities without fear or favour, or being biased. I’m responsible, along with other staff, for enforcing the Food and Drugs Act of 1971, and accompa-

for the products and those who are making the products, the search came up empty. He noted that the Food and Drugs Act guides the department specifically as it relates to the department’s response to such products. He said the product is currently on the wharf, and inspectors have taken samples, examined the labels, and realized that they are in violation of the labelling requirements. The inspectors have since is-

Marlan Cole, Director of the Food and Drugs Department

nying regulations of 1977,” he said. Finally, there were also allegations of two products -- Royal Sea brand of sardine and Jack Mackerel -- being imported; and because of simple information on the labels, they are not being allowed to reach the markets. Cole has clarified that this was far from the truth. He explained that when his department checked online and perused documentation

sued a report to Cole, advising him not to allow the product to be released for sale on the local market. “So the law would guide me to inform the Comptroller of Customs officially relative to this product, and to ensure that copies of these documents are given to the importer. That was done,” Cole said. Cole was recently sent on administrative leave for a range of issues. He has denied them all.

‘Talk Name’ murder suspect charged A 22-YEAR-OLD miner was Friday remanded to prison after being arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for killing fellow miner Clint Peters during a heated argument. The charge against Devon Duncan is that on Monday, August 8, at Jackass Landing, Puruni River, Mazaruni, he murdered Peters. The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him by city Magistrate Le-

ron Daly and was remanded to prison until September 8. Reports are that about 19:00hrs on Monday night Duncan accused Peters of “talking his name” and as a result an argument ensued, during which Peters was stabbed multiple times about his body with a knife. He was rushed to the Bartica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The alleged assailant was captured by public-spirited citizens and handed over to the police.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

Sleeping man ‘Daddy Killer’ gets five years for trafficking brutally chopped ganja in N/A prison by uncle A FORTY-FIVE-YEAROLD man who reportedly brutally chopped and maimed his 20-year-old nephew on Wednesday night, then hid in an attic (ceiling) was hunted down and eventually found by the police who took him into custody. The victim, Ivor Heeralall of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, suffered multiple chops to the left side of his head and is currently warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). Computer Tomography (CT) scans done, have determined that he suffered a fractured skull, fractured jaw and injury to his spine, which has left his right hand paralyzed. According to reports given by relatives, Heeralall has been living with his grandmother ever since he was a child, and the accused, who

is her son, also shares the same home when not on a fishing boat at sea. On Wednesday night, the younger Heeralall had already retired to bed when his uncle came home, apparently drunk. Described as a man with years of experience as a sugar-cane harvester, and one who generally carries around a long, sharpened weapon, the suspect approached the sleeping lad in his bed and proceeded to inflict several stab wounds about his nephew’s body. The lad in pain and in a sleeping stupor, apparently fell off the bed and was found bleeding on the floor by his grandmother the following morning (Thursday). According to the elderly woman, after not seeing her grandson get up to go to work, she went into the room to wake him up, but

to her horror, he was lying on the floor unconscious and in a pool of blood. She summoned help and he was taken to hospital. Meanwhile, a female relative recalled that around 01:30hrs on Thursday morning, the suspect phoned her asking for food, but she did not entertain him and hung up. She figured the act might have been committed soon after, since he was enraged after not getting the food. After word went around about the chopping incident, the suspect is reported to have asked the owners of a fishing vessel to whisk him away on the trawler so he could escape the police, but he was again refused. Relatives say the man has had previous convictions for wounding with intent.

CONVICTED murderer Nandalall Rooplall, called ‘Daddy Killer’, had five more years added to his jail sentence after he confessed to trafficking 96.5 grams of marijuana while being an inmate at the New Amsterdam Prison. Before New Amsterdam Magistrate Alex Moore, Police Corporal Winston Poliah, prosecuting, said the discovery of the illegal drug was made by Prison Officer Hutson, who observed the convict acting

in a suspicious manner and carried out a search on his person, unearthing a black plastic parcel concealed in his pants waist. The police were summoned and the parcel, when opened, was found to contain leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be portions of the cannabis sativa plant. In July 2008, the convict Rooplall, then aged 20, had fatally flogged his father, Sonalall, with a piece of wood. The senior

Rooplall, a carpenter/contactor formerly of Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, had rebuked his drug-addicted son for his behaviour when the youth became enraged and started to lash his father with a piece of wood. Rooplall began serving his twelve-year sentence at the overcrowded Camp Street Prison in Georgetown, but was transferred to the New Amsterdam Prison following a fire at that penal institution.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

PPP rejects collaboration with gov’t …claims ‘genuine social cohesion needed’ OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told a concerned business sector yesterday that there will be no collaboration between the opposition and the government until there is genuine social cohesion. The former President was at the time speaking to diplomats and large and small business operators when the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association’s (GMSA) held their second luncheon at the Pegasus Hotel. Jagdeo has only

recently been roundly condemned for alleged divisiveness in a racially-charged speech recently in New York. His presentation at the luncheon sought to provide a balance of views from both sides of the political arena, since Business Minister Dominic Gaskin had offered the government’s economic perspective at the association’s last event. While Gaskin had assured manufacturers that there was no economic crisis and that the economy was in

good shape, Jagdeo claimed that bad policy decisions and cases of discrimination were driving fear into the business community, causing reduced investments. Jagdeo slammed Gaskin for making comparisons with neighbouring countries whose economic make-up are different from Guyana. The back and forth caused private persons to wonder at what point the government and the opposition would sit to collectively work on issues facing the

country. Aviation personality and entrepreneur, Captain Gerry Gouveia, recognised the differences between the two political sides and questioned whether citizens could expect sometime in the next year to see team work between the government and the opposition. Jagdeo’s response was that President David Granger had spoken about social cohesion, but the practice of his government is different. The opposition leader told the business sector that government must first transition to a government for all before any collaboration.

Gerry Gouveia questions the Opposition Leader on collaboration with government

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addresses manufacturers and other service providers during the luncheon

“What we said is that we have one pre-condition, that when you stop pursuing the politics, your manifesto, your election promise and transition to what is good for all of our people and move the country forward, that will be the opportune time. So although we have heard the right-sounding words, social cohesion, working together; transparency… we have seen in practice, a different picture and that is causing problems in collaboration.” The former President said his party is proud of their track record and they will be doing nothing to tamper with the successes they have already brought to the country. Jagdeo focused however on the “capricious and misleading” statements made by Minister Gaskin when he was invited to address the manufacturers. The public is trying to find out government’s long-term plan, Jagdeo said, claiming that it cannot be found anywhere and different responses about the plan was coming from government members. He continued that Gaskin had compared Guyana’s “better” economy to Barbados, but claimed this is unfair when the island does not have such fiscal room. He said Suriname depends heavily on gold, oil and alumina revenues and while oil and gold have been taking a beating for some time, the country’s alumina refinery was closed in 2015. Jagdeo pointed out that low oil prices in Trinidad has also affected that economy, but Guyana is not doing as well as they are despite their individual problems. Jagdeo went on to say that unlike the former PPP/C government, the current administration is not keeping the nation up to date with plans other than making “declarative statements.” Under the PPP,

Jagdeo said, the National Development Strategy was developed when macroeconomic stability and inflation were the concerns. Infrastructure then became the concern, he said, when the economy began to grow. He said the party then focused on poverty reduction and then the environment as global concerns changed and Guyana continued to show development. The Opposition Leader went on to explain that government said $55B was lost to private concessions and that significant reduction to private sector concessions were thus made. Jagdeo explained that persons bringing excavators and the likes into the country will have to pay 19 percent more on heavy-duty equipment since the government believes the concessionary sum is too high. “A slew of new taxes,” is also pressuring the economy. Jagdeo explained that the government is saying to someone selling on the roadside for instance, that they must pay six percent more on their licences and that they must now be taxcompliant for seven years to renew their licences. This is unconstitutional, because the tax does not deny one the right to work based on compliance. “But that’s what’s happening to thousands of businesses across Guyana,” he stated. The government is also driving fear into investors by saying Guyana had operated on drug money, especially when U.S. banks are talking about de-risking. Jagdeo asked, “Why then would those banks and investors want to have correspondent relationships with any of your institutions? He said government must face it that, “they are doing badly and the conclusion is that there is a crisis in Guyana.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

Guyana gets support for cleaner production of crops GUYANA’S agricultural subsectors of sugar and non- traditional crops such as fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices will receive support for cleaner production systems through access to large-scale, commercially produced bio–inputs, with technical assistance from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). These subsectors are to benefit in this manner from an IICA project titled: ”Development of the institutional framework of the sub-sector of commercial bio-inputs of agricultural Use,” to promote a less polluted agriculture in Guyana, Paraguay and The Dominican Republic . Bio-inputs have been defined as biological inoculants and bio-pesticides which ensure safe food production, nutrition security and the environmental sustainability of farming activities in agricultural communities Animal manure, plantbased products (green manure, green-leaf manure), compost and crop residues (sugar-cane trash, cotton, etc) are some traditional bio-inputs, which are sources of nutrients. The project is being funded and implemented by the IICA under its Competitive Fund for Technical Cooperation. Guyana is the only Caribbean country to benefit from this project. The information was disclosed during the launch of the project in the boardroom of the Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday last. Those present at the launch included Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis; senior staffers of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); GUYSUCO; the University of Guyana; the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) among others; members of the business community; senior staffers of the IICA and their overseas-based Technical Support Staff. The overseas-based resource persons at the launch were IICA staffers Mr Pedro Cussianovich, who is Coordinator of the Project and Dr Pedro J Rocha, International Specialist and a Consultant, Mr Andres Van Strahlen. During the launch, IICA’s Local Representative Mr Wilmot Garnett, stated that the search for sustainable systems of agricultural

production which are resilient, efficient and able to mitigate adverse environmental impacts of climate change,required the use of technological packages of biological and chemical origins. These inputs must however be used to specifications to ensure agricultural, human, animal and environmental health. He said that the use of standards and protocols for evaluation, registration and post-registration of these bio-input products, coupled with appropriate institutional structures, were essential to support agricultural inputs suppliers who want to market them in Guyana. He said that the project aimed to engage the private and public sectors to strengthen and/or develop where necessary, the institutional capacity required to conduct evaluation processes, registration, and post-registration control of commercial bio-inputs for agricultural use. Mr Pedro Cussianovich said that every day more countries in the Region were looking for sustainable production models that minimize the impact on the environment produced by chemical inputs. He said that the project would help Guyana Paraguay and The Dominican Republic to establish the institutional framework to regulate and control large-scale and commercial bio-inputs for agriculture, as cleaner alternatives. Using a participatory approach, IICA will consult with and train Guyanese officials in evaluation, registration and post-registration control of commercial bio-inputs and handling and enforcement of standards and technical operating procedures. The target groups include public and private actors involved in the commercial development of bio-inputs such as universities, laboratories, farmers organizations, importers developers (national and transnational) Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and producers who will find a new and alternative commercial avenue of suitable systems for more sustainable, efficient and cleaner agricultural production. During a presentation on “Bio-inputs : Concepts and applications in agriculture,” Dr Pedro Rocha said that

bio-inputs tend to reduce the use of toxic agro-chemicals and issues related to disposal of chemical residues. He stressed that the increasing demands of mankind for organically produced food provide an important market for bio-inputs and this was the agricultural wave of the future. PS Jervis said that Guyana had been using bio-inputs in a limited way since the early 1990s, more notably to treat copra and in legume production. He said that the IICA programme was timely, since a transition to green agriculture could restore and maintain soil productivity, reduce soil erosion and chemical erosion,increase water-use effi-

ciency, decrease deforestation, bio- diversity loss and other land-use consequences. He stressed: “A greening agriculture will ensure food security on a sustainable basis and significantly reduce the environmental and economic costs associated with the use of industrial agro-chemicals.` The programme will be implemented by the local office of IICA in collaboration with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the PTCCB. Cussianovich said that in Guyana it was being implemented with a timeline which anticipates that the institutional framework and standards necessary

Wilmot Garnett, IICA Representative to Guyana, delivering remarks at the launch of the bio-inputs project

for the adoption and largescale use of bio-inputs locally will be completed by July next year, with the

final act of training of all stakeholders to effectively manage the system shortly thereafter. (END).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

Onika Luke shooting probe still active – police say AFTER being shot in the face during an armed robbery at the Chinese restaurant where she was employed on May 27, 2016, Onika Luke has since been discharged from the hospital and the police investigation is still very active. Sleuths said that no one

has been arrested for the crime as yet, but the matter is still active. The injured teen had given the police a description of the shooter, after which several persons were questioned but later released, since there was no evidence. According to reports,

the 16-year-old is not quite herself since the bullet is still lodged in a sensitive part of her body and doctors told the family that it cannot be removed just yet. She was a part-time waitress at the Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant on the Railway Embankment, Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, when a lone gunman entered the eating house and demanded cash.

Before she had a chance to comply, the gunman shot her to the face and thumb.The bullet travelled to Luke’s throat and until now it is not fully healed, so she cannot speak as she should. Surgery could not be performed on the teen given the seriousness of her injury and the location of the bullet. The bandit who reportedly shot the teen entered the restaurant about 22:40hrs on May 27 and ordered a meal, but while paying for it the man allegedly held on to Luke’s

Onika Luke

hands while she was behind the grilled counter. He then

pulled out a firearm and demanded cash and when the teen resisted, the assailant shot her to the chin and escaped. While trying to box away the handgun, her left thumb was shot off and the bullet was lodged in her throat. She reportedly identified her shooter as a tall man of African descent, who has a tattoo on his neck. She communicated to the police by writing that the shooter had threatened to kidnap her a few days earlier while she was walking on the road.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

Vendor remanded over Sisters Village wedding house murder FOLLOWING the August 5, 2016 murder of Arnold Rattan, 47, of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara at a wedding house, Solomon George was on Friday charged for the alleged murder. George, 37, a vendor of Lot 109 Murphy Street, Good Intent, West Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrates Court where he was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

George was remanded to prison until September 30, 2016, when he will make his second court appearance at the Wales Magistrates Court. The father of two was allegedly knifed to death by a man in the chest during a wedding celebration at Long Pond Road, Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara. At the time, Rattan was trying to escort his attacker out of his mother-in-law’s yard, because the man was misbehaving. He had stepped over into

the yard that was adjacent to the wedding house when Rattan decided to escort the man out of the yard and he was stabbed to the chest with a knife. Residents made a citizen’s arrest of the assailant, after which he was handed over to the police and

Murdered: Arnold Rattan

the murder weapon was retrieved by the lawmen and lodged as evidence in the matter. The tractor operator, who works at Wales Sugar Estate, was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he died while receiving treatment.

Police said the murder occurred at 23:55hrs on August 5 last after a drunken man refused to be evicted from a yard where he was not welcome. A post-mortem revealed that Rattan died as a result of a punctured heart.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

Think differently about wildlife ‒ Broomes urges THE new Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill which was approved by the National Assembly this week can only be effective if there is enforcement of the laws, said Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Simona Broomes. Broomes, in her address to the House, said there is a need for the “effective application of the provisions” contained in the legislation. She explained that “collective responsibility” is essential when examining and enforcing the provisions of the legislation. “Mr Speaker, there is need for a national conversation on wildlife conservation,” the minister stated, as she reminded that stakeholders ought to be consulted for collectively they are rich in knowledge. There is the need for continuous education to “undo that lopsided understanding of wildlife and its significance.” Minister Broomes noted that expansion of the mining and forestry sectors oftentimes result in the loss of focus on the significance of the “gift of our wildlife” and noted that the legislation serves as a “reality check.” “Legislation will only have real meaning if we can effectively enforce regulations that require us to co-exist with nature. This Bill is only worthy of deliberation in this House if it brings about a collective awareness of what is at stake. Because, Mr. Speaker, my own experience tells me, that all the laws, all the rules and regulations are not worth the paper they are written on, unless we arrive at an understanding of the magnitude of the real undertaking and commit ourselves to meaningful action,” she told the National Assembly. The Bill makes provision for the establishment of a Management Commission as well as a Wildlife Scientific Committee. On that note, Broomes said supporting institutions ought to be given the resources to enable “effective enforcement.” “This is a problem that

are creating changes in areas of our country that have been undisturbed for centuries. There is now increased contact between man and wildlife; and it is wildlife that is required to give way. The increased contact results

Simona Broomes

we have faced with the management of our hinterland resources. Our seriousness on conservation legislation must be reflected in the resources that we invest in the enforcement of the provisions of that legislation,” she remarked. She believes that correcting the nation’s historical understanding on the country’s wildlife will serve effectively in a bid to change the mindsets of citizens and those who interact with the country’s wildlife. It is about coming to appreciate wildlife as more than pets or a part of the food chain.” The Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources told the House that effective implementation of the legislation requires the creation of infrastructure to manage wildlife resources. “Fine words, regulations and procedures are frequently not translated into action. As far as oversight in the gold-mining sector is concerned, for example, we are far from where we ought to be. Our official oversight mechanisms are weak and inefficient. Often these mechanisms are manipulated for personal gain,” Broomes added. The Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill 2016, seeks “to provide for the protection, conservation, management, sustainable use, internal and external trade of Guyana’s wildlife.” The passing of the legislation, Minister Broomes said, is significant as currently the country’s wildlife has become the focus of national economic attention. “The extractive industries

in man-made infrastructure disrupting the pattern of existence of the country’s wildlife.” She said the legislation will assist in the assembling of tools that are necessary for co-existence with wildlife. The Minister within

the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment believes that it is time that the public’s perception of wildlife be changed from “wild meat” and other delicacies that many of the country’s animals and

birds represent. “Once you become intimate with the interior of our country you come to appreciate the real value of the gift of wildlife and the ways in which we can benefit from this gift,” the minister added.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 13, 2016

Guyana’s first ‘business incubator’ launched –– to develop scope for potential business owners, young entrepreneurs

A COMBINED effort of the private and public sectors along with CUSO International has resulted in the launch of a business-incubation centre (business incubator), which is geared at creating the requisite environment for potential businesses. The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Cuso International, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Small Business Bureau and private enterprise GeoTechVision Guyana will promote cooperation among the organisations to establish business incubation centres or business incubator, a release from CUSO noted. The four organisations came together on Thursday to officially get Guyana’s first business incubator off the ground. In an official signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Business, Ms Rajdai Jagarnauth; President of the GCCI, Mr Vishnu Doerga; Managing-Director of GeoTechVision Guyana, Ms Valrie Grant; and Regional Programme Officer for Cuso International, Tariq Williams, agreed to engage in awareness campaigns, workshops, and competitions to help get the business incubator started.

“I feel very satisfied and pleased that this process is beginning. I would call the

ing the environment required to help potential businesses to get the support they need,”

therefore fallen by the wayside, noting, “It is our intention to have this collaboration

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Business, Rajdai Jagarnauth; Tariq Williams, Regional Programme Officer, CUSO International; Valrie Grant, Managing Director, GeoTechVision Guyana; and Vishnu Doerga, President, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry, shake hands after signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Business Incubation Centre in Guyana (Photo credit: CUSO International) signing a beginning of things to come,” said Patsy Russell, a Cuso International volunteer, who is coordinator of the initiative through a placement at the GCCI. “It’s a step closer to creat-

Doerga agreed. “In Guyana, for forever, we’ve ended up in a situation where companies had basically to become successful by trial and error,” he said, explaining that many had

raise the level of success that aspiring entrepreneurs are able to achieve.” Russell added that she felt a public-private partnership was the best way to establish the incubator, especially as

the incubator plans to target “young entrepreneurs.” “When a private-only incubator is developed in an economy like this -- a developing economy with a high level of unemployment, especially among young people – a whole segment of the population is left out and will not be able to partake in this process,” Russell explained. She explained, that “By having the private mixed with the public sector as well, more people can be involved in this process of entrepreneurship, and thereby reduce poverty, decrease unemployment and pave the road towards economic development in the country.” A business incubator helps to develop start-up businesses and fledgling companies by providing them with targeted resources and services. It addresses many of the problems new businesses face, such as unaffordable workspaces, lack of access to finance or appropriate mentoring. Permanent Secretary Jagarnauth said this initiative was an important one for Guyana. “A large number of business persons are very small; also there are youths involved who are now trying to develop their entrepreneurial skills. And there may be many innovations coming from the

youths and they want to give them that start,” he said. Thursday’s signed agreement follows the seminar held at the beginning of June, which saw more than 150 small business-owners learn about business incubation from Caribbean and international experts, including GeoTechVision Guyana. Last year, the World Bank Group InfoDev selected GeoTechVision as a business enabler to provide training and mentorship to other Guyanese companies. “Being entrepreneurs ourselves and having gone through an incubator ourselves, we figured that this would be an ideal way to contribute to the ecosystem here in Guyana,” said Grant, GeoTechVision’s managing director, adding that being able to work with so many partners on the initiative was special for them. “We recognise that it takes a village to raise entrepreneurs. We believe in this partnership and in collaborating, so that we can inevitably do what we’re supposed to do – help the entrepreneurs.” This initiative is particularly important now, Russell said, given the recent world-class oil discovery off the coast of Guyana, especially for young entrepreneurs.

Fun, excitement and vibrancy promised at Alkaline concert tonight ––‘Tear Drop’ included in local line-up By Tamica Garnette ORGANIZERS have assured that famed dancehall artiste ‘Alkaline’ will be at full strength for tonight’s Jamzone Regional Night Concert at the National Park, despite him missing his scheduled press conference at the Fly Jamaica Office on Friday. The “Formula” singer is expected to headline the concert, backed by a local lineup that is expected to include recent social media sensation ‘Tear Drop.’ Media persons were waiting to hear the “Champion Boy” singer speak on what he had prepared for the fans today when they were informed that Alkaline, whose real name is Earlon Bartley, was suffering from a slight “stomach bug”, due to all the travelling. It was nonetheless assured that this would not hamper his performance tonight. “He’s here in Guyana and he is going to be at full strength [today]. It’s just a stomach bug; he’ll be good,” clarified Rawle Ferguson, one of the directors of Hits and Jams, which has organized Jamzone and related activities, including the concert.

Ferguson shot down any suggestion that Alkaline may possibly not make it to the anticipated event, which has caused some amount of controversy. “There is no ‘he can’t make it’; he is here. It was just a stomach bug; I’ve experienced that same thing in Trinidad lately. I thought I was going to die, given how I was throwing up so frequently. But we have great doctors in the country; we have medication, so he will be fine. That’s nothing,” Ferguson clarified. The concert starts at 21:00h, and organizers are pleading with patrons to get their tickets early and avoid the Guyanese love for last-minute things. ‘TEAR DROP’ TO PERFORM Meanwhile, in the local line-up, supporters and haters alike can come out to catch the performance of Guyana’s most recent controversial social media trend, the one and only “Tear Drop”. Asked if Tear Drop was going to be among the night’s local line-up, Ferguson laughingly replied: “Yeah! He’s quite popular. He was at the studio yesterday (Thurs-

Jamaican artiste ‘Alkaline’ day) and we have to [include him]. We’re compelled to give him his due; he has a big following right now, so we have to make sure that that audience is attended to.” According to Ferguson, the night may also include Tear Drop’s associate, ‘Bluetooth.’ “We want to give the youths of this great nation the new crop that’s coming out recently. There’s Bluetooth, there’s

Tear Drop, there’s JP; we want to give our local acts the opportunity to be on stage,” Ferguson remarked. There has been some amount of controversy over Alkaline’s presence at the concert, due to the provocative lyrics in many of his songs -- an issue that has plagued many dancehall singers, with the genre often being accused of promoting violence and sexism. It was a similar controversial situation that led jailed Jamaican dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel to utter, back in 2011, that he “won’t be visiting Guyana ever”. Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Azim Palmer, is currently serving a life sentence for murder. Ferguson has explained that when HJ makes its decision about who to bring, the company understands that there will be those who support and those who do not. “Let’s put it this way: there are people who are going to like things and there are people who are not going to like things. I don’t think we’re all going to have the same taste. We believe in democracy, we believe in the freedom of speech, and he actually tends to a youthful group in our country, and they want to see him,” Ferguson said. Ferguson therefore promised that the night’s concert will be one that patrons would not want to miss.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, August 13, 2016

Youths get career guidance on Int’l Youth Day

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Department of Culture, Youth and Sport of the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has hosted a Youth Village on the tarmac of the National Cultural Centre in celebration of International Youth Day 2016. Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael, noted that the Youth Village was tailored to “expose young people to the opportunities out there,” allowing them to familiarize themselves with various careers and volunteer groups which have an interest in developing our youth. The Volunteerism Support Programme is the accredited “umbrella” for all support groups in Guyana, through which the Government provides support (through training, technical support, mobilization and grants/loans to all other volunteer groups in Guyana). Several exhibitions were examined, and exhibitors shared their reasons for being at the Youth Village and their plans for Youth. ● The Orchid Foundation

receive a stipend. Scholarships to UG or GSA to further studies in agriculture are also afforded to employees. ● Board of Industrial Training and Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency

noted that employment at Qualfon requires just basic communication skills and knowledge of basic computer functions. However, Qualfon also does have a programme whereby its employees are assisted with CSEC mathematics and English. ● Georgetown School of Nursing The Georgetown School of Nursing has a “Nursing Assistant Programme” which spans 18 months, has a stipend attached, and requires only 4 CSEC subjects, with English Language being compulsory. There is also a “Professional Nursing Programme” which spans 3 years and requires only 5 CSEC subjects, with English Language compulsory. These programmes target youth, especially young women, in qualifying themselves in this profession. ● SASOD

Board of Industrial Training and Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency

This board falls under the Ministry of Social Protection, which provides training to out-of-school persons between the ages of 15 and 35, with much focus being placed on youth. Skills training in career areas for both males and females is provided, in addition to equipping persons with basic mathematics and English competencies and education in micro enterprises. The Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency works hand in hand with the Board of Industrial Training. Here, employers from a number of companies advertise vacancies and the agency connects prospective employees. Dr. Mark Constantine, his wife (left) and his daughter (right) and other members of the Orchid Foundation

Clinical Psychologist Dr. Mark Constantine, his wife Indra and daughter Seleena decided to start a foundation to empower school dropouts, primarily females, by providing them with training in areas such as garment construction, cake making, decorating and cosmetology. Dr. Constantine noted that this foundation has a Promotion of Life Programme in which it is encouraging persons to “Say No to Suicide.” This foundation is also in the process of establishing a private school for youth in troubled situations. The school will provide both primary and secondary education at a very affordable cost. ● Demerara Distillers Limited and Subsidiaries It is not unknown that DDL has been playing a keen role in promoting youth, especially youth education. Technical Training Manager of DDL, Floyd Scott, noted that the company understands its “corporate social responsibility” and is committed to assisting youths, especially those who have performed well at the NGSA but are “not fortunate enough” to fully fund their secondary school education. He said that students/their parents would apply through this particular programme, and the students would have to write an essay saying why they need the funding. When (not if) successful, the students are offered a scholarship. He also noted that DDL offers work- study programmes through the Ministry of Education. ● Guyana Sugar Corporation The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is also affording opportunities for youth “across the board.” System Support Manager (ag) Ms. Phillipa Valley noted that after completing one year on the job, GuySuCo would pay the tuition fees for its employees to further their studies in Guyana, and would allow its employees to study for four years at the Guyana Training Centre (Port Mourant), where their tuition is paid for and they

● Qualfon Marketing and Brand Coordinator of Qualfon Guyana, Allison Boucher, noted that education of its employees is at the forefront of the company’s concerns. Focusing mainly on youths, Qualfon is offering Micro Degree Programmes in areas such as Computer Science, Photography and Entrepreneurship to its employees through the use of online-based courses from the Sacrecoeur University (Switzerland). Focusing also on Marketing and Brand Coordinator of Qualfon Guyana, Allison Boucher school dropouts, she

Systems Support Manager (ag) Ms. Phillipa Valley and a GuySuCo intern showing the scope of jobs offered at GuySuCo

Jairo Rodrigues of the SASOD

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) targets helping youths of the LGBT community who are stigmatized and discriminated because of their sexual orientation. This Society endeavours to help youths who are “coming out” by providing support and some counselling to them, and it also seeks to educate people, especially youths, that persons with different sexual orientations are not “abominations”, but this is how they were born. ● Footprints for Today Foundation Started just this year because a group of friends decided that they wanted to make a difference in Guyana’s Society, this organization comprises 18 committed volunteers and more than 70 seasonal volunteers who endeavor is “Making an impact today for a better tomorrow.” Public Relations Officer Stacey Gordon noted that this organization strives to be “a bit different” by focusing on areas outside of Georgetown, on its “outskirts.” This organization has embarked quite a few initiatives in its first year of operation, among which are a clothing drive on the East Coast of Demerara, food drives for homeless people in Georgetown, and an Easter Outreach in Wakenaam. Executive Secretary Khawn Rodney has said that not only is this organization focusing on giving back to the community, but also on “character-building” of its members. The Footprints for Today Foundation is currently trying to organize a stationery drive in order to supply youths heading back to school in September.

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Passport services to be launched next week in Linden UPPER Demerara-UpperBerbice (Region 10) will be the first to have fully operationalised passport application services as the government moves to decentralise such services to all the regions across the country. This announcement had first been made on July 15 by Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, at the occasion of the ‘Meet the Public’ initiative in Linden. A release from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that the minister visited Linden on Thursday to participate in sensitisation activities in preparation for the August 16 launch of those services in Linden at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) building. He also met with staff at the NIS when he visited the intended location. “This initiative has its

genesis in His Excellency’s [President David Granger] concept of providing government services in the towns. It is his view that government services should be delivered in the townships created, thereby avoiding unnecessary travel to Georgetown to conduct simple business with a government agency. It is in this regard that the Department of Citizenship has taken the initiative a stage further,” Minister Felix was quoted as saying in the release. According to the release, he explained that persons applying for the renewal of passports or the replacement of lost, damaged or filled passports will be able to make their applications weekly, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and will be able to uplift their passports the following Thursday. Persons applying for passports for the first time,

however, will still be required to visit the Immigration Office in Georgetown due to the machinery required to generate first-time machine-readable passports. The minister said that since the current location in Linden is a temporary one, the move to have first-time passport applicants acquire this service would not be possible until the ministry can acquire permanent premises. He added that efforts are being made to acquire a permanent location. Minister Felix said that as the roll-out of these services continues across the country, the ministry is also working with the E-Government Agency to provide other services such as the online passport applications and online visa applications. This, however, will take some time due to the need for capacity development

Minister of Citizenship, Mr Winston Felix, along with Assistant National Director, Community Development Councils, Ms Sandra Adams of Linden, examine the office within the National Insurance Scheme building where the passport services will be conducted

with regard to connectivity in far outlying areas. Following the implementation in Region 10, the decentralising of passport application services will be expanded to other

areas, including: Mabaruma in the -Waini Region (Region One) Anna Regina in Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two), New Amsterdam and Corriverton in East Berbice-Corentyne

(Region Six), Bartica in Cuyuni–Mazaruni (Region Seven), Mahdia in Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) and Lethem in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine).

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Bhuvneshwar blitz skittles West Indies SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Turffontein 08:45 hrs Pyramus 09:20 hrs Pennington Sands 09:55 hrs Future Fantastic 10:30 hrs River Empress 11:05 hrs Levi Lady KENILWORTH 08:30 hrs Archie 09:05 hrs Friendly Tibbs 09:40 hrs Miss Marker 10:15 hrs Rodney 10:50 hrs Hoist The Mast 11:25 hrs Nevada ENGLISH RACING TIPS Ripon 08:50 hrs The Stalking Moon 09:20 hrs Stoney Broke 09:55 hrs Phijee 10:25 hrs Rex Imperator 10:55 hrs Kimberella 11:30 hrs Rousayan 12:05 hrs Icefall NEWBURY 08:55 hrs Promising 09:30 hrs Escobar 10:05 hrs Kings Fete 10:40 hrs Gunmetal 11:10 hrs Home Of The Brave 11:45 hrs Maestro Mac 12:20 hrs Cosmeapolitan NEWMARKET 09:15 hrs Somebody To Love 09:45 hrs Crew Cut 10:20 hrs Elronaq 10:50 hrs Rich And Famous 11:25 hrs Watersmeet 12:00 hrs Harry Champion 12:35 hrs Duck A L’Orange IRISH RACING TIPS Tramore 11:05 hrs Remarkable Lady 11:40 hrs Scealtana 12:15 hrs Propriano 12:50 hrs Danse Rouge 13:20 hrs My Direction 13:55 hrs Water Sprite 14:25 hrs Ondamoura AMERICAN RACING TIPS Saratoga Race 1 Baby Bear’s Soup Race 2 Harlan’s Hunch Race 3 Leviathan Race 4 Day of Fury Race 5 Thirst for Victory Race 6 Coalport Race 7 Malibu Stacy Race 8 Converge

(REUTERS) - A devastating spell of swing bowling by Bhuvneshwar Kumar put India in command on the fourth day of the third Test against West Indies in St Lucia yesterday. Kumar ripped through the middle order and tail, moving the second new ball both ways through the air and off the seam to pick up five wickets at the Darren Sammy Stadium in Gros Islet. Playing his first Test in 19 months, he took five for 33 in 23.4 overs as West Indies lost their last seven wickets for 23 runs to be all out for 225 in the first innings. India then reached 157 for three by the close of play, 285 runs ahead, leaving captain Virat Kohli to ponder the best time to declare on the final day today. All of Kumar’s dismissals were achieved with quality deliveries, three caught in the slips, one bowled and one lbw. “That was a spell of

consistent, high-quality swing bowling,” said former West Indies player Jeffrey Dujon on television commentary. “He gave all the batsmen trouble, swung it in, swung it out, set up Marlon Samuels beautifully and really didn’t move too much from that tight off-stump line.” Samuels was perhaps Kumar ’s most prized scalp, out for 48 when he was beaten by an inswinger that he chopped on to his stumps. One run earlier Jermaine Blackwood was caught at second slip off Kumar for 20. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite topscored for West Indies with 64. India skipper Virat Kohli went cheaply in India’s second innings, trapped lbw by Miguel Cummins for four after making just three in the first knock. Ajinkya Rahane (51) and Rohit Sharma (41) were unbeaten at stumps. India lead the four-Ttest series 1-0.

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings 353 (R. Ashwin 118, W. Saha 104, L. Rahul 50) WEST INDIES 1st innings (Overnight: 107-3) K. Brathwaite c Saha b R. Ashwin 64 L. Johnson run-out (Rahul) 23 Da. Bravo c Jadeja b I. Sharma 29 M. Samuels b B. Kumar 48 J. Blackwood c Kohli b B. Kumar 20 R. Chase c Rahane b Jadeja 2 S. Dowrich c S. Dhawan b B. Kumar 18 J. Holderlbw b B. Kumar 2 A. Joseph c Rahul b B. Kumar 0 M. Cummins c Saha b R. Ashwin 0 S. Gabriel not out 0 Extras: (b-13, lb-2, nb-2, w-2) 19 Total: (all out, 103.4 overs) 225 Fall of wickets: 1-59, 2-129, 3-135, 4-202, 5-203, 6-205, 7-212, 8-212, 9-221. Bowling: B. Kumar 23.4-10-33-5 (w-2), M. Shami 17-3-58-0, R. Ashwin 26-7-52-2, I. Sharma 13-2-40-1 (nb-2), R. Jadeja 24-9-27-1. INDIA 2nd innings L. Rahul c K. Brathwaite b Cummins 28 S. Dhawan lbw b Chase 26 V. Kohli lbw b Cummins 4 A. Rahane not out 51 Ro. Sharma not out 41 Extras: (b-1, lb-1, nb-5) 7 Total: (for 3 wickets, 39 overs) 157 Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-58, 3-72. To bat: R. Ashwin, W. Saha, R. Jadeja, I. Sharma, M. Shami, B. Kumar Bowling: S. Gabriel 3-0-19-0 (nb-1), A. Joseph 4-0-23-0 (nb-2), M. Cummins 6-1-22-2 (nb-2), J. Holder 5-1-17-0, R. Chase 11-1-41-1, K. Brathwaite 10-1-33-0.

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Shafiq, Younus tons put Pakistan in the lead (REUTERS) - ASAD Shafiq and Younus Khan made gritty centuries to lift Pakistan to 340 for six as England’s bowlers toiled in perfect batting conditions on the second day of the final Test at The Oval yesterday. Shafiq scored 109 and shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 150 with Younus

to lay the foundation for a large first-innings total for the touring side who need to win the match to level the series 2-2. Pakistan, replying to the home team’s 328, lost only the wicket of nightwatchman Yasir Shah in the morning session as England dropped three catches. Badly spilled by Alex

Hales in the gully off Chris Woakes, Shah fell for 26 when he edged a lifting delivery from Steven Finn to Joe Root at second slip. Finn put down a straightforward caught-and-bowled chance off Azhar Ali and Shafiq was dropped by James Anderson in the slips off Woakes on 24. Azhar moved on to 49

before he was caught off the glove by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow off spinner Moeen Ali. Shafiq claimed his ninth Test century, hitting two sixes and 12 fours, before he pulled Finn to mid-wicket where Stuart Broad held an excellent diving catch. Woakes boosted England spirits late in the day

Asad Shafiq celebrates his ninth Test hundred. with two wickets in an over. Misbah-ul-Haq, on 15, was caught by Hales in the gully and debutant Iftikhar Ahmed miscued his fourth ball and Moeen held a good catch running back from

mid-on. The experienced Younus kept his nerve to register his 32nd Test hundred and he was unbeaten on 101 at the close with Sarfraz Ahmed on 17.

Younus Khan takes the applause for his century.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings 328 (M. Ali 108, J. Bairstow 55; S. Khan 5-68) PAKISTAN 1st innings (Overnight: 3-1) S. Aslam lbw b Broad 3 Az. Ali c Bairstow b Ali 49 Y. Shah c Root b Finn 26 A. Shafiq c Broad b Finn 109 Y. Khan not out 101 Misbah-ul-Haq c Hales b Woakes 15 I. Ahmed c Ali b Woakes 4 S. Ahmed not out 17 Extras: (b-9, lb-3, nb-2, w-2) 16 Total : (for 6 wickets, 91 overs) 340 Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-52, 3-127, 4-277, 5-316, 6-320. Bowling: J. Anderson 19-6-58-0, S. Broad 19-5-59-1 (nb-1, w-1), S. Finn 9-1-71-2 (w-1), C. Woakes 17-4-52-2, M. Ali 16-0-83-1 (nb-1), J. Root 1-0-5-0.

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Manuel sees gold as boost for black community By Alan Baldwin RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - As an African-American swimmer, Simone Manuel has carried a weight on her shoulders every time she steps onto the starting blocks. The gold medal placed around her neck on Thursday could help to lift it. Making history as the first black woman swimmer to win an individual Olympic title for the United States, Manuel spoke of her desire to change attitudes and addressed some of the issues head-on. “This medal is not just for me, it’s for some of the African-Americans that have come before me and have

Simone Manuel became the first African-American woman to win an individual event in Olympic swimming on Thursday night. been inspirations and mentors to me,” she said after a dead-heat in the 100 metres freestyle final resulted in two gold being awarded. The other went to 16-year-old Canadian Penny Oleksiak. “I think it means a lot, especially what’s going on in the world today with some of the issues with police brutality,” she added, without going into detail. “I think that this win kind of helps bring hope and change to some of the issues that are going on.” A string of fatal shootings of black men and women by white police officers has triggered protests, some violent, across the United States in recent weeks. Manuel, 20, who comes from Houston and attends Stanford University, is one of two African-American women who qualified for the U.S. swim team - the other being Lia Neal who won a 4x100 freestyle relay bronze in Rio. Thursday’s final was only the third time two gold medals have been awarded as a result of a dead heat and it was fitting that the other recipient was another youngster breaking down the doors and redefining perceptions. Oleksiak, the first Olympic champion born in the 21st century, has now won four medals in Rio.

Manuel said she hoped her first gold would bring change. “Just coming into this race tonight I kind of tried to take the weight of the black community off my shoulders, which is something I carry with me just being in this position,” said Manuel. “I do hope that it kind of goes away. I’m super glad with the fact that I can be an inspiration to others and

hopefully diversify the sport. “But at the same time I would like there to be a day where there are more of us and it’s not ‘Simone the black swimmer’ because the title ‘black swimmer’ makes it seem like I’m not supposed to be able to win a gold medal, not supposed to be able to break records.” “I work just as hard as anyone else and I love this sport and I want to win just like everyone else.”

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Holders U.S. suffer penalty heartache against Sweden By Andrew Downie

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Sweden knocked the United States out of the women’s Olympic soccer tournament yesterday, recording one of the sport’s biggest Carli Lloyd (USA) of USA reacts shocks by beating the holders 4-3 during the game. REUTERS/ on penalties in the quarter-final after the two sides drew 1-1 after Ueslei Marcelino

extra time. Lisa Dahlkvist converted Sweden’s final penalty after Alex Morgan and Christen Press missed for the holders in the shootout. Linda Sembrant also missed for Sweden. The United States, who dominated large parts of the match, have won four of the last five Olympic gold and had never not reached

the Games final. Sweden scored against the run of play after 61 minutes when Stina Blackstenius ran on to a defence-splitting pass and calmly slotted the ball past U.S. keeper Hope Solo. The U.S., however, kept plugging away and scored a deserved equaliser after 77 minutes as the ball rico-

GKC happy with IOC decision THE Guyana Karate College (GKC) has received with pure delight and gratification the news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has agreed at its 129th IOC session in Rio de Janeiro recently, to allow the martial art of Karate-do, as one of five additional sports that will be part of the next Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan in 2020. Senior Instructor and vice-president of the GKC, Sensei Jeffrey Wong, advised that with just four years to go, his college intended to spare no effort in preparing

SENSEI JEFFREY WONG to play its part and possibly a medal-winning performance

in Tokyo. However, it will be a tall order bearing in mind that approximately 80 martial artists from around the world will qualify to vie for medals in Japan. He underscored the need for instructors and dojos to have the correct technical background and knowledge to prepare their karatekas for the games. Wong expressed the belief that the IOC took a historic step in bringing the games to young martial artists, which will allow young karatekas from around the world the chance at compete

in the Olympic Games, the world’s greatest sporting stage. Since its establishment a decade ago, the GKC has done a phenomenal job, with more medals than any other Karate organisation in Guyana. They competed at the ISKF and IKD world tournaments held in Toronto, Canada. They also took part at the Pan American Championships, the South American Cup and the Caribbean Karate Championships held in St Lucia, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

GFC facilitates 37 transfers 2016/17 season AS PART of the pre-season transfers, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has facilitated a total of 37 transfers including three international transfers and of the lot, Alpha United Football Club has acquired a total of 12 players, This is according to a releasae from the GFF which further stated that Fruta Conquerors Football Club acquired seven players, Georgetown Football Club has six players, Pele Football Club three players; Slingerz Football Club and Northern Rangers Football Club, two players each, and

one player for Buxton United FC, Riddim Squad FC, Snatchers FC, Stewartville FC and Winners Connection FC. This tally, according to the GFF release, was finalised at the end of the designated transfer window, which ended on July 31, 2016 and included transfers from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and the U.S. Soccer Association. The release further pointed out that the international transfers saw Pernell Shultz being loaned to the Alpha United Football Club and Do-

mini Garnett’s loan being extended for the season, both from Caledonia AIA (Trinidad) and Kevin Beaton permanently engaged to the Georgetown Football Club from the Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club. The GFF’s Competition Director, Ian Alves, said the transfer period was incident-free with the bulk of activity happening in the final week of the transfer window. The GFF’s pre-season transfer period began on June 1, 2016. The next season is scheduled to commence next month.

Messi to play on for Argentina (REUTERS) - LIONEL Messi has announced that he will play on for Argentina, reversing his decision in June to retire from international soccer. The Barcelona forward had said he would not play for Argentina again after the team lost to Chile in the final of the Copa America in the United States. However, in a statement yesterday, Messi explained that he wanted to continue representing his country as he preferred “to help from within”. “I consider there to be a lot of problems in Argentine football and it’s not my intention to create another one,” the 29-year-old said.

“There are a lot of issues that need to be resolved in Argentine football but I prefer to help from within and not to criticise from the outside. “A lot of things went through my mind on the night of the final and I gave serious thought to quitting but my love for my country and this shirt is too great,” the player said. Messi will be named in new coach Edgardo Bauza’s squad to face Uruguay and Venezuela in 2018 World Cup, South American qualifiers to be held in the first week of September. Bauza was in Barcelona on Thursday for a meeting with his team captain.

LIONEL MESSI

cheted off the face of Jessica Samuelsson and fell perfectly for Morgan to fire home from eight metres. Sweden will play in the semi-finals against either hosts Brazil or Australia, who face each other on Friday. China play Germany and Canada face France in the other two last-eight ties.

Wolf’s Challenge Cup Softball

Baksh stars in latest round SAVAGE Masters, Wellman, Wolf Warriors Masters, Regal Masters, Parika Defenders, Wellwomen and 4R Lioness all recorded respective wins when play in the Wolf’s Challenge Cup Softball tournament continued last Sunday. Below are the summarised scores: Savage Masters defeated Floodlights by seven wickets. Floodlights made 217-4, with Patrick Khan 93 not out and Yunis Yusuf 49. Savage in reply made 219-4 in 19.5 overs. Nadir Baksh stroked an unbeaten 114. Wellman whipped H.S Masters by 30 runs. Batting first, Wellman were bowled out for 182. Nandram Samlall and Greg De Franca made 42 runs each. In reply, H.S Masters finished at 152-8. Andrew Pooran 40 and D. Mohamed 35 were the main contributors with the bat. Wolf Warriors Masters edged Superior Woods by three wickets. Superior Woods were reduced to 106-7. R. Narine, R. Ali and R. Bisraj, all claiming two wickets apiece. Wolf Warriors in their run chase reached 107-7 in 17.4 overs, with F. Bacchus top-scoring with 22. Peter Persaud 3-15 and Dharmindra Mohabir 2-17 were the best bowlers for the losing side. Regal Masters beat Fisherman Masters by 18 runs. Regal 253-4, with Eon Abel smashing his way to 165. Fisherman in reply reached 211-9. Parika Defenders trounced Tropical Springs by seven wickets. Batting first, Tropical Springs made 89-9. Parika, in reply reached 90-4 in 13.4 overs. Wellwoman defeated Blue Divas by seven wickets. Batting first, Blue Divas made 132-5. In reply, Wellwoman closed on 134-3 in 10.3 overs and 4R Lioness outplayed Enterprise Divas by 42 runs. 4R Lioness 125-4; Enterprise 83-5. Meanwhile, the tournament continues tomorrow. At Malteenoes ground: Pitch 1: 10:00hrs Regal Masters vs Wellman 13:00hrs Parika Defenders vs Albion Masters. Pitch 2: 10:00hrs Floodlights vs Fisherman Masters. 13:00hrs Wellwoman vs Trophy Stall Angels. 14:30hrs 4R Lioness vs Blue Divas. At GYO ground: 10:00hrs Superior Woods vs Savage Masters. 13:00hrs Wolf Warriors Masters vs Tropical Springs.

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Ethiopia’s Ayana smashes world record for 10 000m gold By Mitch Phillips RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Olympic athletics got off to an astonishing start yesterday when Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana smashed a 23-year-old world record to win the greatest-ever women’s 10 000 metres, then had to deny suggestions that her performance was fuelled by drugs. The world 5 000 metres champion, running only her second 10 000 metres, ripped the field apart to finish in 29 minutes 17.45 seconds, an incredible 14 seconds inside the previously untouchable 29:31.78 set by China’s Wang Junxia in 1993. Kenya’s world 10 000 metres champion Vivian Cheruiyot took silver and though she was far behind, her time of 29:32.53 was still the third-fastest ever run. Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba, the double defending Olympic champion, took bronze. No woman had gone under 30 minutes in the last seven years, but the first four all did yesterday, and even though the field was spread

Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia - gold medal, Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot of Kenya - silver and Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia - bronze all over the track, the first through an interpreter. Doping remained on 13 finishers ran the best time Sarah Lahti, who fin- the agenda away from the of their lives, including five ished 12th in a Swedish track too, as Bulgarian Silvia national records. record having taken 26 sec- Danekova’s positive test for After a bleak year of onds off her own best, ques- EPO was confirmed. doping and corruption con- tioned Ayala’s performance The 33-year-old, who was troversies it should have while marathon world re- due to compete in the women’s been an uplifting start to 10 cord holder Paula Radcliffe 3 000 metres steeplechase on days of athletics but, such said in commentary for the Monday, denied taking any was the magnitude of victo- BBC: “I’m not sure that I drugs and blamed her test on ry, Ayala was immediately can understand that. her country’s links with Russia. forced to deny using per“When I saw the world “I feel robbed emotionformance-enhancing drugs. record set in 1993, I couldn’t ally,” she said. “But we’re “My doping is my train- believe what I was seeing. coming from the east, we’re ing, my doping is Jesus. I And Ayana has absolutely too close to Russia.” am crystal clear,” she said blitzed that time.” Virtually all of Russia’s

Kwakwani, Half Mile Bulls seeking wins tonight OUTSIDERS Kwakwani and second-ranked defending champions Half Mile Bulls are seeking wins tonight in the 3rd Rock Entertainment Open basketball championship when they face separate opponents, Bankers Trust Falcons and Block 22 Flames respectively, at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. Unseeded Kwakwani created quite a stir last Saturday when they beat fourth-ranked Amelia’s Ward Jets in their first group game. They can formalise a semi-final berth against top-ranked Retrieve Raiders set for tomorrow night at the same venue, once they win against the six-ranked Falcons. Bankers Trust Falcons will be the team they have to beat when they face them at 19:00hrs. They have three players who were outstanding in that win against the Jets with Dominique Douglas, a former junior national guard with 21 points, Leonard Primo and Evans Johnson with 16 points as the Jets looked jaded. Only Orrin Rose played well for 19 points. The Falcons were then beaten by the Jets and the fourth-ranked club’s chances therefore rest with an unlikely win over the Kwakwani side. The Bulls, on the other hand, are favoured to get past Block 22 Flames after they lost to Victory Valley Royals and could reach the semi-finals where they would face the third-seeded Royals with a win tonight. A loss by the Bulls tonight would make room for the Flames to play the semi-final against the Royals. The Bulls have a strong lineup and should get past the Flames, but the out-of-form Terron Welch, who donned national duties recently, must come good for them to have any chance of getting past the Royals. Welch was held to just four points in their loss to the Royals but the Bulls have been a quality team who boast players of the calibre of Michael Turner, who was absent, and pointguard Keifer Tappin among others and power forward Travin Dryden once he is available. The semi-finals are set for tomorrow night with the Royals and Raiders seeking a berth in the final against their opponents who play tonight - knowing the complex situation they are facing.

track and field team have been excluded from the Rio Games following revelations of state-backed doping. Kenya’s sprint coach John Anzrah was told he could face criminal charges after he was sent home for posing as an athlete in a dope test. The country’s athletics manager Michael Rotich has already been sent home but he was suspended by the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) ethics commission yesterday following allegations of corrupt practices surrounding anti-doping. OPENING ACTION The disappointing aspect of the opening morning’s action was the sparse crowd to witness the fireworks. There were only a scattering of fans to see the opening events, men’s discus qualifying and heptathlon hurdles, though the numbers swelled in time for the 10 000 metres. Games spokesman Mario Andrada said that 58 percent of tickets had been sold for the session, though only

around 25 percent of seats looked occupied. “We are not disappointed,” he said. “We understand without local heroes and athletes, some of the local public takes longer to fall in love with track and field but the fact that they can see Usain Bolt and iconic athletes will help.” Briton Jess Ennis-Hill got off to a good start in the defence of her heptathlon title with an impressive 12.84-seconds 100 metres hurdles on a wet track - blue for the first time at the Olympics. However, she was outshone by compatriot Katerina Johnson-Thompson, who cleared a British high jump record of 1.98 metres to lead after two events. With Dibaba missing out in the 10 000 metres, the way is now clear for Valerie Adams to become the first woman to win three successive athletics gold and she needed only one throw of 19.74 to lead the qualifiers for the shot put final, scheduled for later yesterday. The other gold medal up for grabs on day one is in the men’s 20 km walk.

NAMILCO/GFF Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U-17 League

UDFA matches continue today at Wisburg ground ACTION in the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) leg of the GFF/Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League is set to continue today at the Wisburg Secondary School ground with a double-header. Milerock and Botofago will face off in the feature match at 15:00hrs with the curtain-raiser bringing together High Stars and Netrockers. In the lone match that was played last Wednesday at the same venue, Eagles United and Amelia’s Ward Panthers battled to a 0-0 stalemate. The other match that was scheduled between Milerock and Botofago was not played as a result of bad weather. West Demerara FA – Damaged Den Amstel ground halts matches. Matches at the Den Amstel ground, the hub for the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) had to be halted abruptly due to damage of the field as a result of a vehicle driven on it while it was soft. Persistent rain over the past six weeks or so have rendered many fields in the various associations unplayable but WDFA president Orin Ferrier says he is optimistic that play would resume next weekend.

A section of the damaged Den Amstel Community Centre ground. He said that Den Amstel is their main hub since the grounds at Wales and Goed Fortuin on the West Bank and Uitvlugt on the West Demerara are not in playable conditions. “We are trying every avenue to have more grounds available to us so that we can have matches played on a consistent basis,” Ferrier noted. ESSEQUIBO FOOTBALL

ASSOCIATION In latest play there, Queenstown and Henrietta United both got walkovers from Good Hope and Super 11 respectively. Matches will not be played in Georgetown, East Coast and East Bank Football Associations this weekend as these associations are working on making their available facilities playable.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 13, 2016

Sanmoogan Blake confident of finishes sixth in spoiling Bolt’s party

Yohan Blake finished second Usain in London 2012. A REJUVENATED Yohan Blake is intent on marking his place in history when he potentially takes on celebrated training partner and world’s fastest man Usain Bolt in tomorrow’s

100m final. Bolt will be hoping to be the first man in history to win the 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles at three consecutive Olympic Games, Blake will be among those hoping to spoil that party. The last time the training partners met on the biggest of stages, the 2012 London Games, as has often been the case for most that have faced him in the last years, it was Bolt who triumphed. Blake, who finished second to Bolt in Lodon is confident of producing a different result this time around and claims four years on he is far more equipped to handle the pressure of the moment. “What’s going to be different this time? I’m more wiser, I’m more stronger, I’m more focused, I’m not

young any more. I’m not naive. So this time I won’t be too nervous,” the 26-year-old said Blake told Indianexpress. The sprinter has had a difficult number of years since then claiming the silver medal in the London final, suffering a serious hamstring injury, which at one point threatened his career. Blake who has now ditched the moniker ‘The Beast’ believes he is sufficiently recovered to stake his claim. “I’m very confident, I haven’t been feeling anything. I feel reborn again. I feel brand new,” Blake said. “I’m the blessed one now. Yes, so this time you’re going to see a whole different thing,” he said. “When I start running on Saturday, it’s going to be my time.”(Sportsmax.com)

Ramdhnai obtains SBA scholarship SUNBURST National champion Narayan Ramdhnai was recently awarded a five-year scholarship with Shuttlesport Badminton Academy (SBA), located in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. Ramdhnai was given a full package where he will be attending the Douglas College, based in Vancouver and will train with the Shuttlesport Badminton Academy from September. Performance Director at Shuttlesport Badminton Academy, Al Mawani, said the academy is delighted to have Ramdhnai as part of the elite training group. “Narayan has high goals that he hopes to achieve,

and joining the elite training group will hopefully allow him to do that,” said Mawani. The Shuttlesport elite training group has produced several national and international champions in the past. It is anticipated that Narayan can follow in their footsteps. “Narayan is a definite talent and with the right attitude and work ethic, I can see him one day competing with the best,” added Mawani. After reaching the 53-ranked in the world, Ramdhani’s achievements did not come overnight. He was victorious in all his age-group tournaments locally before becoming Guyana’s junior and senior

champion. He continued to dominate in the Caribbean, Pan American and South America tournaments and although still a junior player, he qualified and played

NARAYAN RAMDHNAI

the senior events at the CAC Games 2014 in Veracruz Mexico, the Pan Am Olympic Festival 2014 in Xalapa Mexico and the Pan Am Games 2015 in Toronto Canada.

Britain set world record in men’s team pursuit (REUTERS)-BRITAIN set a new track cycling world record in men’s team pursuit as they romped into the Olympic final yesterday. The team of Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Owain Doull roared round the velodrome to set a time of three minutes 50.570 seconds, beating their previous mark of 3:51.659 set at the London Olympics in 2012. They will face Australia in the final as they seek a third consecutive Olympic title in the event. Britain’s women also set a world record in the team pursuit on qualifiers on Thursday.

Olympics heat

… will learn from experience, says coach Sean Baksh THE second of Guyana’s two-man swim contingent, Jamila Kezia Sanmoogan, finished sixth in her 50m freestyle heat in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Sanmoogan finished with a time of 28.88, finishing 0.62 seconds off her previous personal best of 28.26 going into the games. The swimmer, who is also in the Guyana Olympic squad based on FINA’s universality place rules, was

JAMILA SANMOOGAN supposed to reduce her personal best, just as swim teammate Hannibal Gaskin had done. According to senior National coach Sean Baksh, the 19-year-old had a good start but a shaky finish. “She had a good start, her underwater was good, but coming to the end of the race, she loosened up, and that contributed seconds to her time,” Baksh stated. Baksh was also of the opinion that Jamila could swim at 27 seconds, going a second faster than her personal best. “Jamila has the potential to swim 27 seconds, she can definitely do it, she will learn from this experience,” finished Baksh. The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) extended their support, saying “We wish Jamila well, we don’t know what happened but we are waiting on a report,” GASA also went on to say, “Nevertheless we are proud of Jamila and everything she has accomplished.” Jamila’s campaign may have ended with her not cutting down any time or advancing but the swimmer returns to Colombia after Rio. She is on scholarship at the University of Sport in Cali where she is swimming as well as studying physio therapy.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday August 13, 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) Virat Kohli (2) Kraig Braithwaite & Rajendra Chandrika

Today’s Quiz:

Bradley Wiggins (GBR) of Britain leads his team. REUTERS/Paul Hanna

(1) Where was the second Test of the current WI/IND Test series played? (2) What was the result of the second Test?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 13, 2016

On sacking of Darren Sammy…

Windies chairman of selectors responds to Prime Minister Gonsalves WEST Indies Cricket Board’s Chairman of Selectors Courtney Browne has responded to a letter from Prime Minister of St Vincent and Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, accusing him of meting out ‘shabby treatment’ to former West Indies T20 captain and two-time T20 World Cup winner Darren Sammy. Sammy, who won the ICC T20 World Cup in India in April, announced on his Facebook page last week that he received a 30-second phone call from Browne informing him that he was being sacked as West Indies captain and that his general performance did not merit his selection to the team. “I find this shabby treatment of Mr Sammy to be unacceptable. Indeed I am sure that all right-thinking persons are extremely dissatisfied at your unceremonious and summary dismissal of Mr Sammy

as captain and player,” Dr Gonsalves stated in the letter dated August 10, 2016.

Prime Minster Dr. Ralph Gonsalves “You simply cannot treat a former captain of the West Indies cricket team and a success of two World Cup T-20 championships with such disdain.” Dr Gonsalves also ques-

tioned the timing of Sam- take the team forward. The my’s dismissal which came fact is Mr Sammy’s personal just prior to the start of performance as a bowling the third Test being played at the recently renamed Darren Sammy National Stadium between the West Indies and India. The Prime Minister called on Browne to make amends, suggesting that he and the president of the West Indies Cricket Board Dave Cameron apologise to Darren Sammy and the people of the Caribbean for their handling of the matter. However, Browne in a measured response, acknowledged that Sammy had indeed served the West Indies C h a i r m a n o f W I C B well, but indicated that as s e l e c t o r s C o u r t n e y the West Indies looked to the Browne future, the former captain’s form was not up to par. all-rounder has been lagging “As we look forward for a year.” to the next World Cup and He highlighted that the begin to develop a team to West Indies captain has, in our defence of the title, the 11 matches, only bowled selectors had to assess the 10 overs between January suitability of the captain to 2015 and April 2016 and has

a batting average of 10.20 runs per innings for the same period. “The captain of any West Indies team must have solid performances and Mr Sammy did not meet such a standard, and therefore could not make the squad of 13 as a player at this time,” Browne said. Browne also denied having a 30-second conversation with Sammy, but revealed that he had made several efforts to get in touch with the player and finally reached him to convey the selectors’ recommendation. Browne stated that it was Mr Sammy who broke the news of his removal on social media before the Board met to review the recommendation and make a final decision. Dr Gonsalves also recommended, in his letter, that the Board appoint Sammy to assist in the team’s preparation for the matches coming up against India on August

27 and 28 in Florida and that he be “accorded a role in shaping and massaging the transition to the new leadership and in facilitating renewal.” The chairman of selectors responded saying that such roles would suggest that Sammy’s international career had ended. “The role would suggest that Mr Sammy had retired from T20 cricket and we have received no such official notification,” Browne stated. “I would urge Mr Sammy to take advantage of the regional competitions and put in strong performances and attempt to regain his position in the One Day International and T20 teams. Note, many cricketers and even great cricketers, have been dropped, have reestablished themselves, and have returned to West Indies teams.” (Sportsmax. com)

Team Guyana loaded for Barbados

TEAM Guyana for Round three of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) 2016 in Barbados yesterday loaded their vehicles for the three-week voyage. The five-member team includes three riders in Matthew, Stephen and Elliot Vieira. The battle will be between Stephen and Matthew Vieira with 122 points and the latter on 105 points, as they head to the Land of the Flying Fish to rekindle their tussle. However, Elliot Vieira will be no pushover in this regard as he is still the defending champion but will have a lot of work to do to catch his cousins, as he is only on 45 points and positioned in fourth Third place in the class is currently being held by Robert McDonald of Jamaica. Meanwhile, the drivers for Round three include Group three competitor Nazim Gafoor as well as his Group two counterpart Shan Seejattan, who recently returned from Round two in Trinidad. At the Group three end of things, Gafoor has a lot of ground to make up in the

championship as he currently lies sixth with 42 points. He trails the Cayman islands’ Gary Barret (42 points) as well as Barbadian Steve King (50 points), Jamaica’s Alan Chen (63 points), Guyana’s Danny Persaud (66 points) and current leader and defending champion, Trinidad’s Paul Vieira (125 points). After Group two, Seejattan (54 points) sits in fourth, ahead of defending champion Marc Gill of Trinidad (50 points). Ahead of him lies Jamaica’s Sabastien Rae (55 points and the Trinidadian duo of Mark Williams (75 points) and Luke Bhola (93 points). In Group four, both for the four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive, Guyana have opted out, with Jamaicans Doug Gore, Kyle Greg and Trinidadian Kristian Boodoosingh rounding out the top three of the earlier. On the two-wheel end of things, Barbadian Mark Maloney leads with 118 points while Peter Rae of Jamaica has 108 and Trinidad’s Franklyn Boodram has 102 points. Round three is set for September 3-4. (Stephan Sookram)

Stephen Vieira (back of container) assists in getting bikes loaded onto the container for Round three of the CMRC. (Stephan Sookram photo)

Windies chairman of selectors responds to Prime Minister Gonsalves See story on page 27

Fiji PM announces public holiday after first Olympic gold

Fiji Men’s Rugby Sevens gold medal winners sing a beautiful gospel hymn (REUTERS) - FIJI Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced a further day of public holiday for the Pacific island nation on Thursday after its rugby sevens team won the country’s first Olympic medal. Fiji were crowned the first men’s Olympic sevens champions after crushing Britain 43-7 in the final of the inaugural tournament in Rio. Bainimarama attended every day of the three-day competition, shunning the VIP area to sit with Fijian fans in the stands.

Speaking after his country claimed gold, the prime minister said there would be at least one more day of public holiday after three this week. “They’re all celebrating (back home), they’ve been celebrating for the last three days,” he told reporters. “We’ve got celebrations programmed for when (the team) return ... We are all proud to be Fijians right now.” With a population of around 900 000,

Fiji have long punched above their weight in international rugby, particularly in the sevens game which rewards the pace, power and skill of its distinctive brand of play. Bainimarama said the inclusion of rugby in the Olympics this year for the first time since 1924 had “propped up” smaller nations like his. Referring to Fiji’s previous rugby triumphs, including back-to-back wins at the world series in the last two years, he said:

“They were not like this one, this is the Olympics.” He also hinted there would be rewards for Fiji’s players and British coach Ben Ryan but hoped his country would soon get back to work after the appropriate amount of celebrating. “Our productivity has been nil in the last couple of days, but hopefully the GDP will go in up in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

Bhuvneshwar blitz skittles West Indies Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of Marlon Samuels. Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

See story on page 25

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016