Guyana Times Daily - April 29, 2015

wednesday, april 29, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, april 29, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 – 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, April 30, 2015 – 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 – 13:20h-14:50h and Thursday, April 30, 2015 – 14:05h-15:35h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on:

Wednesday, April 29 – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

Thursday, April 30 – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers with occasional thunder are expected throughout the day, with partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range from 24 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 4.02 metres per second and 5.81 metres per second.

High Tide: 13:41h reaching a maximum height of 2.25 metres.

Low Tide: 07:15h and 19:37h reaching minimum heights of 1.00 metre and 0.97 metre respectively.

Youths

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

Renowned Guyanese Scholar, US Attorney-at-Law and past political activist Dr Dolly Hassan has slammed political leaders of Opposition APNU/AFC who are seeking to trivialise the importance of Guyana’s political history and the impact it has on creating more informed, rounded and better educated youth voters.

Dr Hassan migrated to the United States of America in the late 1960’s and has studied as well as worked on several laudable projects and human rights initiatives which benefited political parties here in the early 1980’s.

She is also one of the outstanding academics, lecturers and Attorneys-at-Law that have made an invaluable contribution to the body of politics at home and abroad, the education sector and the overall wellbeing of poor and underprivileged citizens from various parts of the region and wider world.

Her comments come at a time when the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition have called on Guyanese to reject the ruling Party’s and several commentators and analysts analyses about the PNC’s past.

Both Presidential and Prime Ministerial candi-

dates David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo have failed to respond effectively to the charges made by the ruling party about their track record, the illegalities committed under the PNC in the form of elections rigging, human rights violations, racial profiling and other forms of executive lawlessness and misdemeanour in public office.

This has forced the PPP/ C’s Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar, General Secretary Clement Rohee and former President Bharrat Jagdeo to call them out on a number of occasion while effectively urging Guyanese to reject the PNC/ APNU/AFC’s attempt to downplay the importance of educating youths about their socio-economic and political history ahead of the May 11 elections. Dr Hassan, in a letter to a section of the media, warned against adopting a culture that would see young people being encouraged to look past their pasts to the future without understanding the importance of events which took place that could shape their future views of what should constitute or not constitute development and progress as ideal phenomena here.

“The way the debate now goes is this: the election is about the future of the country and therefore it is only the dinosaurian relics in our society that dredge up the brutal history of the dictatorial People’s National Congress (PNC).

Thus, it is argued, we should forget the past – not mention how the PNC behaved when in office – and let the young people vote in ignorance”, Dr Hassan said in her contribution to the local discussion on the way forward for the country in the lead up to the 2015 May 11 elections.

She argued that “some politicians, with glee, often boast that the young people do not even remember Walter Rodney or Forbes Burnham. That to me is a

shameful loss. Youths ought to learn, not block their history”. Dr Hassan who studied at Howard University and George Washington University in the United States explained that advocating such a position is counterproductive and unhelpful in shaping critical thinking youths who could make informed decisions.

“I would argue instead

the best voter is an informed voter. He or she should go to the polls informed about the past, informed about the policies and practices of all parties in and out of power, and then cast the ballot, one not based on race but on reason.

"It may well be that the young are more inclined to give the PNC a pass on its history of excesses. So be it then”, she posited. But Dr Hassan also admitted that there were a slew of atrocities committed by the PNC under the leadership of Forbes Burnham which she suggested still affects the thinking patterns of many and cannot be removed by simply telling them to forget their past.

She expressed some amount of shock at some of the individuals who wanted to cultivate a mass of uneducated voters. “Are we now wedded to the notion that an ignorant voter is the best voter? No, get the young people educated and trust them to make informed decisions. Where is our confidence in the young people?” she queried.

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Remembering the message

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo on Sunday told supporters of the PPP/C gathered at the party’s mammoth Stewartville rally that they must be vigilant and very observant on May 11 when thousands of Guyanese move to the polls to cast their ballots.

Jagdeo, speaking from various political platforms over the past month, has stressed the importance of PPP/C supporters not becoming complacent ahead of, and on elections day. He has been encouraging them to do all that is necessary to ensure that they vote, along with every eligible member of their families and communities.

He has also spent much time on the platform reminding citizens here of the hardships endured by their foreparents in their seemingly never ending fight for freedom, equality and democracy.

He has called out PNC-led APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger and ex-PPP/C Executive Moses Nagamootoo to account for their track records, which he pointed out that this bares the true nature of both men, and the gist of their characters.

Jagdeo himself has had to respond to questions about some of the decisions he made while serving as Guyana’s President. On the campaign trail, he appears brutally frank about the realities in which Guyanese live now compared to the period of PNC rule.

He has highlighted weaknesses and inconsistencies in the policies articulated by what appears to be a desperate Opposition anxious to garner votes ahead of the elections.

In other words, Jagdeo has placed the Opposition on the back foot, forcing them to develop a new strategy of campaigning that focuses on policies, plans and issues, as well as their many missteps over the past three years, rather than attacking the personalities within the PPP/C’s leadership.

But his most important message is being decoded by thousands of Guyanese and while some may not have made up their minds to speak with their ballots in favour of the PPP/C, they have understood that the choices they make come May 11 will impact the future of this country for decades to come.

Jagdeo’s style and presentation has been so effective against an ailing Opposition and aging APNU+AFC Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates that the messages they are repeating appear to be exposing their uncertainties about their own political future and career after the May 11 polls.

The other leaders in the Opposition know that it would be foolish to enter a debate with Jagdeo and win especially given the lack of progress and accomplishments made in the 10th Parliament which was deliberately frustrated by an opportunistic and selfish Opposition agenda, which stalled Guyana’s overall progress and development.

But Jagdeo has given President Ramotar’s bid to be reelected a massive boost energizing support at the grass roots levels of the PPP/C and causing a massive remigration of original PPP/C supporters back to their home.

In other words, Jagdeo and Ramotar together have weakened the AFC’s grip on thousands of PPP/C supporters who felt that the AFC represented change and hope, but are currently feeling betrayed because of its decision to coalesce with APNU.

Additionally, Elisabeth Harper has successfully avoided muddying her image by becoming engaged in the traditional nature of politics here which has been crass, dominated by ‘cuss’ outs, personal attacks, below the belt punches and a culture of scandals egged on and manufactured by sections of the media.

Her deportment and commitment to a specific agenda has earned her the respect of many women and conservatives who do not believe that the country’s PM should be vile, bitter, revengeful and a political attack-dog.

The long and short of it, is that Jagdeo has been a very skillful messenger for the PPP/C and has spoken directly to the soft spots of its support base. He has connected in both an emotional and political way with supporters and the results of his hardcore campaigning and trust he has placed in Ramotar would be known on E-day.

Selfie with the President

David Hinds’ letter a call for violence against PPP/C

Dear Editor, I am very upset with David Hinds’ letter, “The coalition seems to have no answer to Jagdeo”, published on April 22 in another section of the media. The letter subtly urges violence, and acts as a veneer for making the May 11 build up a physical street battle.

Hinds boldly and dangerously declares that “the coalition (A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change [APNU+AFC]) seem to have no answer to Jagdeo. They are not fighting back”.

And from this passive acknowledgement, he transfers to this: “You (the Coalition) are not going to overcome him with press releases or by brushing him aside; you have to reduce him down to size, in the eyes of his supporters and your supporters.”

This, by any cursory analysis breathes an inflammatory note of violence.

In recognising the personage and influence of the former President Bharat Jagdeo, Hinds, like his allies, is intimidated and defenceless. He sadly concedes that “they (the coalition) was obviously taken aback by Jagdeo’s presence in the campaign”. However, he turns this disappointment into a reckless call to deal with Jagdeo in non-civilised ways.

“You are not going to overcome him with press releases or by brushing him aside; you have to reduce him down to size in the eyes of his supporters and your supporters”. Hinds’ bellicose language is very suggestive here, and he invokes recent scenarios to influence the support for warfare.

He alludes to Vanessa Kissoon, whose tactic is to “fight a bad man like a bad man”. He also conjures up Roopnaraine, asking that the coalition supporters heed his call and resort to

revolution.

I see this as an urgent, desperate call for the use of violence and more so (for Hinds) that time is limited, as “there are still three weeks to go”.

I personally abhor this kind of language, talk and call, but clearly the PPP/C practises the opposite of what it has been accused of, since Hinds states that “a party that governed as harshly as the PPP/C did for 23 years should be expected to defend its regime just as harshly as it governed”.

I recall that on April 19, after a massive rally in Albion, several persons, including two children, were injured by missiles thrown by unknown assailants at two vehicles, transporting supporters who were returning from the occasion.

In the face of this level of violence, the PPP/C responded in a most dignified manner: “Do not be intimidated! Remain calm! Do not be fearful! Do not respond in kind; demonstrate to them and to Guyana that the supporters of the PPP/C are people who respect democracy and freedom, and who are peaceful people.”

I hope all Guyana will become cognizant of what Hinds is attempting to engender here among the leaders and supporters of the coalition.

I believe that Hinds is desirous of wresting legitimate power from the ruling PPP/C, by any means possible. His letter smacks of a call for violence and hints at a plan for revolt in the event a win for the PPP/C.

The attack occurred on the Corentyne Coast, and information received indicates that the vehicles were bombarded by bottles containing sand, rocks and a corrosive substance.

Baldeo Mathura

Freddie condemned for attacking Dolly Hassan

Dear Editor, Freddie Kissoon launched a scathing, unprovoked attack on Dr Dolly Hassan in another paper. But it was to be expected, as Dolly herself wrote. Freddie cannot stand independent minded thinkers. If you don’t attack the PPP/C, then you are no good in the mind of Freddie. Freddie has been called on numerous occasions of perpetually engaging in erroneous, misleading commentaries tarnishing people’s character and integrity.

Freddie is a pseudo-com-

mentator and pseudo-intellectual, no class to Dolly. Freddie’s attack is reprehensible. He has not provided any facts or evidence to substantiate his arguments against Dolly. He has a sick mind.

Dr Hassan is Guyanese of integrity who writes factually. She is a decent lawyer and human being. She does not attack anyone. All she penned was the PNC should apologize for the atrocities committed upon the nation during its period of governance. That sent Freddie crazy. Freddie feels PNC did

no wrong to Guyanese. Freddie waded into the woman, who is not even a supporter of the PPP/C. She does not comment on Guyanese politics nor is a regular contributor to the letter pages of the dailies.

She partook in the struggle for free and fair elections while she was in Washington. I and and others worked with her from a distance to help free Guyana from the dictatorship.

Freddie never helped in the struggle against the dictatorship while he was a student in Toronto or while

he lived in Grenada. Dolly moved to Richmond Hill where she helped illegal Guyanese immigrants. She never engaged in political or ethnic bias rantings like Freddie. It is hoped that the opposition will distance themselves from Freddie’s attacks on people’s character. He has been a lead puppy in that department training his pen on Dr Hassan. Freddie’s friend and lawyer, Chris Ram, should counsel him to stop attacking people.

Vishnu Bisram

All set for Joint Services vote on Saturday ...but concerns still linger

By Vahnu Manikchand

All systems are in place for members of the Disciplined Forces to cast their ballots on Saturday in this year’s General and Regional Elections – one week before the official day of the polls. Officials of the various agencies as well as the Guyana Elections Commission have assured that all systems are in order to facilitate the process.

Among the agencies that will be voting on Saturday are: the Guyana Defence Force (GDF); the Guyana Police Force (GPF); and the Guyana Prison Service (GPS). The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) does not vote on D-Day because the officers are usually from the areas that they serve in, this is according to Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle. He explained that the Fire Service traditionally votes on Election Day along with the rest of the country.

“Our ranks are from the areas where they are stationed and we don’t have any (staff) in interior locations so we vote on E-Day (Election Day) along with the rest of Guyana,” he told the Guyana Times

Satisfied

GDF Public Relations

Officer Lorraine Forrester related to this newspaper that thus far they were satisfied

over possible "double-voting"

Chairman,

with all the arrangements put in place. She disclosed that there were 23 polling stations: some were located on the various bases and others such as the ones in outlying areas would be located in close proximity to the base. Asked whether arrangements were put in place by GECOM to ensure that GDF ranks did not vote more than once, Forrester stated that the elections body will be taking off the names of the officers who vote on D-Day from the national list of electors before the May 11 General and Regional Elections. Apart from this, she noted that the various political parties will have polling agents present at the various polling stations

who will also ensure that these persons’ names are taken off the national list.

Across at the GPS, Director Welton Trotz also indicated to this newspaper that all systems have been put in place for ranks within his agency to cast their ballots. “On Saturday, we have arranged for the ranks to be given time off in batches to go vote so they will come in early and then go vote,” Trotz explained. He further detailed that the polling stations would be located at the Prison Service’s Sports Club located at the various prisons across Guyana.

According to the Director of Prisons, all of the ranks have registered to vote on D-Day, but there were a few who were not included on the list submitted to GECOM, because they misplaced their Identification Cards among other reasons. These ranks, Trotz noted, will be allowed to vote on Election Day; however, he pointed out that there were few such officers. As it relates to these officers possibly double voting, Trotz said this would not happen since GECOM has informed him that their names will be taken off the list.

Ready For its part, the GPF has also related that it was ready for D-Day. Assistant

Mother of 2 drowns in Pomeroon River

Amother of two from Cozier village in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) was discovered floating in the Pomeroon River. According to reports, 28-year-old Romona Thomas was an epilepsy victim.

Relatives said that she was washing clothes at Cozier Canal on Monday when she suffered an attack. She fell overboard and went missing. Relatives saw several hours passed before they realised that she was missing.

The drums of freedom

In this fearful age of Kali

Of quarrel and hypocrisy, Humanity losing its sanity

Such violence and animosity, The way to freedom from anxiety

Chanting the Lord’s name in ecstasy.

No need for severe penance

Little time on the horizon, Forget empty rituals

Take up drums and cymbals,

Chanting the Lord’s name.

Great joy and bliss in this game

With perfection to attain,

Only the deluded will abstain

With nothing to lose, but eternity to gain.

No need listening to sermons

When mind is still full of turbulence, Forget vain recitations

Lengthy invocations,

If they lift not the heart to devotion

Chanting the Lord’s name with joyful abandon.

Chant the names of Krishna, Allah, Jehovah, or Rama

Know this to be the Yuga Dharma, The sankirtan mission of Shri Chaitanya

Brought to West by Srila Prabhupada, Glorious Acharya in Vaishnava Sampradaya.

Take not lightly

Power of the Holy Name, Shelter of Mirabai, of royal fame

Life never to be the same,

Taking refuge in God’s resplendent name.

Brought deliverance to Ajamila

Uttered just once in heart-felt surrender, The only redeeming force in Kali Yuga Comfort and support of Tulsidasa.

Cecil Ramkirath

“We only see clothes on the board she was washing, we knew maybe she got an attack and drowned, a search then was conducted,” a relative said.

Her lifeless body was then discovered Monday evening several yards away from where she was washing her clothes. Her body was retrieved and later transported to the Suddie Funeral Home.

Police confirmed that no marks of violence were found on her body. She leaves to mourn her relatives and reputed husband.

Commissioner of Police, Balram Persaud, disclosed that the Force has been working along with GECOM to ensure that all arrangements were put in place in time for Saturday.

He told the Guyana Times that most of the Police stations will be used as polling stations, particularly in the outlying regions. Persaud said that stations such as Brickdam and Timehri will be polling stations for ranks in those districts.

Voting

This newspaper understands that officers in Georgetown will be voting at the Officers Mess Annex and at the Police Sports Club. Furthermore, the Assistant Police Commissioner ruled out that there will be any second voting by ranks of the Police Force. While he could not say what arrangements have been put in place to prevent this, Persaud noted that the issue was discussed. He added too that the polling agents from the various politi-

cal parties will have copies of the list to ensure this does not happen.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally for a comment proved futile. However, in a brief comment to the Guyana Times, Deputy Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud related that “everything is on stream” to ensure a smooth flow on D-Day. “All that are supposed to be legally in place are in place,” he stated.

Previously, there have been several calls by the political parties, in particular the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), for the names of the Disciplined Forces to be taken off the list of national electors. However, Dr Surujbally had noted that there was no cause for alarm by the political parties. GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield had related that while the PPP/C was entitled to raise its concerns, there was nothing that could be done by the Commission to al-

ter the list. He noted that under the laws of the country, it would be quite illegal for the elections body to remove the names from the Preliminary List of Electors.

According to Lowenfield, it is required by law that the name of each and every eligible person or elector be placed on the list and as such, the body did not have the requisite power to remove any eligible person.

Dr Surujbally related that the PPP/C should not be worried since the elections body would be ensuring that a menu of mechanisms were in place to ensure that no one was able to cheat the system. He, however, declined to disclose what these systems were, citing security reasons.

“I can’t tell you specifically what our measures are, since these are matters of security, but what I can tell you is that we have a menu of measures to be implemented and we will ensure that no one cheats the system during the elections,” Dr Surujbally related to the Guyana Times

wednesday, april 29, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Coalition lied about its “leaked” Manifesto

By Rakesh RampeRtaB

On Friday April 24, the APNU+AFC coalition publicly misinformed people twice about its supposed "leaked" Manifesto. First, in a flawed press statement given regarding its Manifesto being leaked, it said that those portions leaked were to be ignored.

But that same day (April 24), it published an advertisement on page 26 in the Kaieteur News focusing on women, which used materials from that same Manifesto (from pages 18-19).

Secondly, the newspaper advertisement advised members of the public to visit the coalition's website to read more of their Manifesto. Why do this if the Manifesto was not yet ready for release?

I wrote about this to Stabroek News that same day, but Stabroek News suppressed the information. I suppose it did not want the APNU+AFC to be exposed.

Interestingly, two days later on April26, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan addressed the press and spoke about those very issues (women, gender and empowerment) raised in my letter. Is it a coincidence that he would touch on those very sections, also found in the advertisement?

Or did someone from Stabroek News call the coalition and informed them of how they have grossly erred? Well, one is free to guess. Of course, that misleading advertisement which could be found in the newspaper archives, has now been discontinued. Perhaps when the coalition Manifesto is finally released, it will re-surface.

I do not think it was a coincidence that Ramjattan turned up to speak about the coalition's Manifesto on Sunday and touched on the sections that addressed empowerment for women. It is suspect, especially since Stabroek News had this to say:

"Since the leak of portions of the Manifesto that dealt heavily with empowerment schemes for women and other vulnerable groups, Ramjattan stated that the corrections have been made" (April 27).

This is not correct. The leaked Manifesto

was 46 pages, a large document and it did not deal "heavily" with empowerment schemes for women. The 46 pages covered many other topics. But Stabroek News was trying to do damage control on behalf of the coalition, and by Ramjattan saying corrections have been made, we can expect to see that advertisement again.

Below is the full letter that was sent to Stabroek News at 14:37h on the very day (April 24) when it carried a news item about the coalition's leaked Manifesto”

“Dear Editor, I read the APNU+AFC 46page Manifesto within hours of its release and was surprised to learn later that it was leaked. The leadership of the coalition ought to explain how it will secure Guyana if it cannot secure its own document. Clearly, there is confusion in the coalition.

“I am further baffled by the press statement issued on the matter as in your news piece on April 24, where the coalition says: “Further dissemination or reliance on this document is therefore not recommended, as it does not represent the official Manifesto of APNU+AFC.”

“If the public must disregard this leaked Manifesto, why did the coalition itself extract three sections (example: "social assistance policy") from pages 18-19 (on women and gender equality) and used it in an ad in the Kaieteur News (April 24, page 26)?

“In essence, the coalition knowingly published an ad that is misleading. Worse, the ad also directed people to the coalition's website to read "full details" of the Manifesto. If the Manifesto is not yet ready, they should not tell people to go read it. It is false advertising.

“It is unclear what the General Secretary of the PPP/C will make of all of this, but in Orwellian terms, the AFC and APNU are engaging in tremendous doublespeak. Indeed, this is not the first time that this has happened in this campaign. It is time, indeed, for the press to call them out on it.”

It is unfortunate that in this day and age, a person cannot write an opinion in a national newspaper. This is how primitive journalism is in Guyana, where editors and their superiors are so fearful of words and sentences, they feel a need to bury them.

Squatters destroying warning signs at CJIA – Benn

Signs recently erected by the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to discourage squatting on airport lands were destroyed two days after they were emplaced, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn has said.

In a statement, the Minister noted that this was an extremely worrying event occasioned by persons who were bent on renewed squatting in areas recently occupied by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for ammunition storage and by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for antenna arrays for flight communications.

He had said despite repeated warnings by the Police, squatters persisted in clearing and burning sections of lands to erect structures and farm. He stated that on Thursday, April 9, CJIA staff and Police stumbled upon this renewed activity in Timehri North, in the vicinity of the GDF Ammo Dump and the NonDirectional Beacon (NDB). The squatters were cautioned to discontinue their actions.

Cannot condone

Earlier this month, Benn had said that he was extremely disturbed and disappointed by the barefaced actions of the squatters who continued to clear lands vested to the CJIA.

“Squatters on airport lands are again warned to desist from this activity because of its implications for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion project and the maintenance of law and order in the protection of the property rights.”

“The Ministry cannot condone squatting on lands allocated for the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) – the country’s main port of entry for international travellers,” Benn stated.

According to him, ‘cease and desist’ signs will be erected in the area shortly. Also he threatened that law enforcement officers will arrest and charge anyone who breached the order.

“The Ministry and the Airport Authority, since 2008, have held meetings and engaged in one-on-one conversations with squatters on relocation options, the airport expansion and health and safety risks of living in close proximity to the Airport.”

The Minister said efforts have been made to encourage squatters to apply to the Lands and Surveys Commission for suitable alternative lands; however, many still refuse to take up the offer. The airport expansion is crucial to Guyana’s development, and the Ministry and CJIA remain committed to the project.

The Public Works Ministry “wonders what has stimulated the resumption of squatting on airport and public lands earmarked for a critical national development project. At the same time, helping squatters relocate to suitable areas to ensure their source of income/livelihood is sustained is also top on the Ministry’s list of priorities.”

PNC-led APNU/AFC to unveil manifesto on Thursday

The People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) says it is set for the launching of its election manifesto on Thursday at a venue yet to be determined.

The event is expected to start at 16:00h. AFC General Secretary David Patterson on Tuesday told this publication that the parties were in full swing with preparations for the launch. He noted that the coalition was fine-tuning its policies to ensure a detailed and attractive manifesto.

Meanwhile, APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon said that the coalition was looking at a location for the launch which will be conducive and accessible to the ordinary man. He noted that the location was not the crux of the matter, but rather it was the content of the document.

A leaked manifesto of the APNU/AFC coalition revealed promises to form a government of national unity and also implement a programme for healing and reconciliation if it won the upcoming polls. The parties also promised to implement two separate policies for the development of Regions Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) – two key constituencies for both the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the alliance. The coalition later said the document was incomplete, although acknowledging that substantial parts of it contain policy initiatives that are currently being discussed.

In the online version of the manifesto, titled “Our

vision for unity, stability and development – It is time”, the coalition seeks to solidify some of the promises which were made at its public meetings and rallies across the country. The document noted that the coalition would make a pub-

lic commitment to the formation of a Government of National Unity to implement measures during its term in office to address several priority areas. These will include but are not limited to the introduction of a meaningful Constitutional Reform Programme geared towards improved governance and fair representa-

tion; the sustained improvement of crime prevention and the security environment; local Government reforms and the holding of Local Government Elections, creation of a longterm Economic Development Programme based on consultation and consensus; the establishment of a Public Procurement Commission and the passage of the AntiMoney Laundering Bill; a comprehensive review of the taxation policies and the reorganisation of the education, health and sports sectors for better service and outcome.

Reconciliation

The coalition in its manifesto also said that it would implement a programme for healing and reconciliation; would review and restructure the media and telecommunications sector and would seek to introduce a youth programme to enhance development.

The APNU/AFC further stated in the document that in its first 100 days in office, it planned to “establish the Constitutional Reform Committee, which will be given the mandate of completing consultations, drafting amendments and presenting the same to the National Assembly for approval within nine months; will liberalise the Information and Communication Technology [ICT] and Telecommunications sectors; will announce a date for Local Government Elections; develop and implement a sustained national crime prevention plan as well as the adoption of a long-term development plan to realise the vast potential of the country.”

Man burns house after beating pregnant wife

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Four persons are now homeless following a fire in a two-bedroom house at Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) on Monday morning.

The fire is believed to have been an act of arson. According to Sharron Bacchus, she and her two children aged five and seven are now forced to sleep at a relative after her husband (Hilton) set their house ablaze.

The 37-year-old woman explained that there was a misunderstanding the day before which sparked his anger. The pregnant woman said she received one of her many beatings on Sunday and made a report to the Weldaad Police Station and officers went in pursuit of the suspect. This, she said, was followed by another beating, but this time she was able to escape and run out of the yard and was rescued by a brother who was on the street at the time. “Is too steady he beating me when he choke me and he finish and I spit, is sheer blood I spiting,” the woman related tearfully.

The fearful mother of five decided to spend the night at a nearby cousin with her two daughters, Jalissa and Jizell. On Sunday morning, Bacchus went home, but did not venture into the house. She told the Guyana Times that her husband had been acting in a suspicious way on Sunday morning, and she sensed danger.

“When we went inside, I run in the house and

grabbed a dress and run out back.” She explained that at the time, she did not have on proper clothing. She said as she was leaving, she noticed her husband taking his bicycle and the generator upstairs.

According to Bacchus, who has lost an eye from one of the beatings she received from her husband, as she was making her way back to the cousin’s house, she was alerted by a neighbour. “A boy stop me and say, ‘Sharron, look yuh whole house in smoke’, and by the time I reach is fire. Ah couldn’t save anything. Nobody could go to save anything. The children left without anything.”

By the time, the Guyana Fire Service arrived the house was razed. The fire was fuelled by the strong Atlantic breeze rushing in from the Ocean about 200 metres away. Several parts

of the fence were also burnt.

According to Bacchus, when Police arrived, the suspect had already made his way towards the seawall and escaped. “If the Police had come in time, they would have picked him up. But every time I make a report, they taking their own time and come,” the woman related.

Bacchus has made several reports to the Weldaad Police Station of domestic violence. Back in 2013, Hilton Bacchus, also called “Passion”, was jailed for four months for assaulting his wife.

The woman said she lost all of the household items including two refrigerators and a gas stove. Jalissa and Jizell have not been able to attend school for the week, having lost all their belongings. The Guyana Fire Service has launched an investigation into the fire.

Henrietta mason allegedly assaults wife after impromptu shower

Thirty-year-old Joel Nelson, from Henrietta Village on the Essequibo Coast, has been charged with unlawful assault and on Tuesday, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on April 14, he unlawfully assaulted his wife, Odesa Grant, at Henrietta. It is further alleged that when he came home, his wife threw a bucket of water on him for no reason, and in response he slapped her. She then armed her-

self with an umbrella and lashed him several times.

Nelson pleaded not guilty to the assault charge.

Prosecutor Haimraj Ramsewack said that on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant (VC) and the defendant had an

argument during which he chased her out of the house. The VC, however, denied making such reports, although she said that she was angry when she made such allegations.

Nelson was granted $10,000 bail and has to return to court on May 7.

Marias Lodge labourer charged for ganja possession

Twenty- two-yearold Carlos Petri of Marias Lodge Village on the Essequibo Coast was remanded to prison charged with the possession of narcotics. Petri made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

According to Police facts, he was found on April 27, 2015, with a quantity of substance suspected to be cannabis. He was cautioned about the offence which he denied. The labourer was represented by Attorney-at-Law Latchmi Dindyal who said her client was in a common-law

relationship and has a permanent place of residence. Dindyal, however, failed to produce any special reason before the Magistrate why the defendant should be granted bail.

The labourer, who was previously convicted of an offence, begged the Magistrate to explain him-

self, a request that was granted and told the court, “I didn’t had drugs, Police when they saw me said they finally caught me, I am not guilty.”

The Prosecutor did not object to bail. Bail was, however, refused until May 18 when the trial will commence.

Eyew tness

Military...

...Government

Recently Joey Jagan, the scion of Dr Jagan, objected to some “manufactured” Jagan’s talking about “Jagan’s legacy”. Would he denounce Lenin for claiming Marx’s legacy because Marx had children with “superior” claims to Marx’s legacy? This Eyewitness wonders why no one’s heard about these children - while Lenin’s name is inextricably linked to Marx’s.

Anyhow, the putatively “real” as opposed to the “manufactured” Jagan just weighed in on the concerns Guyanese’ve expressed on the entire top rung of the PNC - leading the APNU/AFC coalition - is packed with military types. He brushes off these concerns. Why??

Well he has a friend who’s from the GDF who did well in civilian life. He also cited General Washington - who wasn’t a professional soldier - but could’ve mentioned General Eisenhower as American Presidents. But neither packed the American Government with military types during their turn at the wheel.

What’s the point? That he represents Cheddi Jagan’s legacy? Well maybe the DNA legacy...but certainly not his analytical legacy. First of all, no one’s talking about a single GDF officer (like Joe Singh or whoever) getting a job with a Government. That’s a single individual fitting into a structure where he can’t make policy.

What folks are petrified about is that - if by some miracle the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition captures the Government - entire GOVERNMENT will be dominated by the military men. THEY WILL BE MAKING POLICY!!

And what’s this nonsense about “British professionalism”?? All the men around Granger were inculcated into Burnham’s explicit REJECTION of such professionalism. They are led by a fella Granger, who WROTE that the soldiers who shot and killed civilians concerned about the counting of their ballots “behaved splendidly”.

And the disdain for British professionalism was why officers like Clarence Price were shunted aside and Burnham’s acolyte Granger, who was responsible for purveying that ideology in the army, was his replacement. These officers are all from the batch that SWORE personal loyalty to Burnham.

Individually, it’s quite possible that these men would do well in governmental office. They were all well trained at Guyanese taxpayers’ expense. But put them together and there’s a certainly of military GROUP THINK taking over.

To a hammer, everything’s a nail. And to a group of soldiers every problem can be solved if ONLY civilians would follow orders. This was Burnham’s vision and was why he created the Peoples’ Militia, the Guyana National Service, the Young Socialist Movement, and the Women’s Auxiliary - all in the image of the Guyana Defence Force.

We had the highest military-civilian ration in the world!! This is the road to totalitarianism and serfdom. Is this what Guyanese want?

...overreach

If there were any doubts in the minds of concerned Guyanese about the fears of those Guyanese in trepidation of a militarized Government in the making with the PNCled APNU/AFC coalition, it should’ve been dispelled by the letter from Lieutenant Colonel (retired) George Gomes, who served under Granger and now heads a private security firm. It was a case of “mouth open and story jump out”.

One of the many military men who’ve rallied under Granger’s banner, Gomes revealed that during the 20022008 Buxton-based armed insurrection against the state, the GDF formed a Military Criminal Investigation Department (MCID). It was “to go after the known criminal elements (and) also to pursue the architects of the crime wave”.

Imagine that!! Soldiers operating apprehending civilians!! And here it was Granger and the rest of the military brass explained that when the bandits in Buxton committed atrocities in plain sight, soldiers could not pursue them!!

..and fowl pens

And Gomes has now solved another mystery that’s long baffled this Eyewitness. How the heck was the army able to swoop down on a fowl pen all the way in Corentyne and seize an AK-47?

But could not even seize a sling shot at Buxton during the armed “armed insurrection”.

Court orders psychiatric evaluation for man who cut son’s neck

Thirty-year-old Junior Aldophus who is accused of cutting his three-year-old son’s neck appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Adolphus was not represented by legal counsel. The rice farmer told the court he resided at Richmond Housing Scheme, and was a married father of two children aged three and five. He also told the court that he had a previous legal matter in connection with a robbery of which he was found not guilty.

According to a Police report, on April 23, the defendant unlawfully and maliciously wounded his three-year-old son, Daniel. Prosecutor Haimraj

Ramsewack reported that the child received an 8-10 centimetre linear wound on his neck. Ramsewack also reported the statements disclosed that the defendant used a knife to commit the crime. The child was rescued by his mother.

When asked by the Magistrate why he committed the act, Adolphus boldly said he was hearing voices in his head and he was confused. He added that he would usually get in a mood to destroy things. When further questioned if he knew he injured his son, he replied in the affirmative. Adolphus’ wife told the court that her husband was troubled and on three occasions he tried to destroy things. He said he never tried to harm the children. She also told the court

that he was not suicidal and would usually see people as a threat.

A medical report submitted by a doctor from Suddie Public Hospital revealed that the child received a laceration to his throat 8-10 cm in length. He was treated and sent home. The court was told that the child was out of danger.

Magistrate Scarce said that he could not laid criminal charges against Adolphus because of his condition. He ordered a full medical evaluation of the defendant. Adolphus will remain in custody until June 2. Based on the findings of the psychiatric evaluation, it will be decided by the court if criminal charges will be laid against him.

2 in custody for Port Mourant horse race meet stabbing

Hospitalised: Trevor Butcher

The Police in B (Berbice) Division have arrested two persons in connection with the stabbing incident at the Port Mourant Turf Club on Sunday evening. The incident occurred around 21:00h and has left two persons hospitalised. It is alleged that three persons were involved in the stabbing. However, the third person is still to be identified.

Twenty-two-year-old Yuvendra Jeetnarine, called “Chris”, and 20-year-old Trevor Butcher are both patients at the New Amsterdam Hospital recovering from stab wounds. Speaking with the Guyana Times, Butcher of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, stated that he was at the Port Mourant Turf Club for the after-party following the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) horse race meet; and was standing next to Jeetnarine who was throwing bottles indiscriminately and was involved in a dispute with some men.

Butcher explained that he told Jeetnarine to go elsewhere and pelt his bottles; However Jeetnarine turned his attention to him and whipped out a knife. “.... and fire a jook; one of my cousins was next to me, notice what was happening and jumped in, but I pushed him away and he fell so the guy he turn and bore me in my belly I run towards my uncles and they rushed me to the hospital”.

He was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital and then transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where doctors immedi-

ately performed emergency surgery.

Second assailant

Jeetnarine was also stabbed about 10 times to his body and suffered a punctured kidney. It is unclear who inflicted the stab wounds.

Jeetnarine’s uncle Shamie (only name given) said he received a call about 23:00h informing him of the incident and he immediately rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was told that his nephew was transferred to New Amsterdam; there, he learnt that his nephew was given a 50/50 chance of survival. “I got a call around eleven Sunday night saying that he in the hospital; we didn’t know that it was this serious: he had a surgery and had to get blood and when they give he the blood, he body refuse it so they had to take it off,” he related.

The uncle explained that he was at the races earlier and left after the two horses got

Hospitalised: Yuvendra Jeetnarine

injured, but before leaving, he sent “Christ” to look for his father but did not see either of them again, so he assumed they stayed back for the after-party. It is alleged the stabbing stemmed from an ongoing feud with Jeetnarine’s father and a poultry farmer of Bush Village, Corentyne. Butcher and Jeetnarine remain patients at the New Amsterdam Hospital in stable condition.

The Police are continuing their investigation.

wedneSday, april 29, 2015| guyanatimeSgy.com

National Trust launches “New Amsterdam Heritage Trail”

The National Trust of Guyana on Monday launched the “New Amsterdam Heritage Trail”, a 45-page booklet, which consists of descriptions of some 39 sites with accompanying images and guide map of New Amsterdam.

The aim of the publication is to serve as a guide for tourists, researchers, children and the general public about the history and development of the oldest town in Guyana and its various heritage sites, both past and present, that have formed its townscape.

The launching of the historic booklet was well-attended by a packed audience in the Boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six. National Trust Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nirvana Persaud explained that the Trust was responsible for the preservation and promotion of heritage, particularly monuments; thus, the launch of the booklet coincided with its mandate of ensuring the documentation of the country’s vast heritage resources.

are not replaceable.”

New Amsterdam Deputy Mayor Harold Dabydeen congratulated the National Trust for the completion of the publication and noted that it would be a great help to many and would be put to great use. Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Chairman David Armogan said the event was an important one reflecting our history and heritage.

“It’s a very exciting venture I am sure that the Ministry /National Trust will embark on many new book-

lets and other forms of preservation of history whether it’s in this form or picture so that we can have a good preservation of our historical sites, buildings, culture so that our future generation can look back and say we did not let them down, we preserve what rightfully belongs to us and can pass it on to them so that they can pass it on to future generations to come.”

Armogan also spoke of the importance of documenting and preserving history and made reference to

the Berbice Cricket Board and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, which have produced booklets about their respective agencies.

The Regional Chairman also highlighted the commitment made by Government through the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry towards the preservation of the country’s monuments, culture and history. Various organisations and schools present at the launching received a copy of “New Amsterdam Heritage Trail”.

Preserve legacy

While acknowledging that some structures have been replaced, Persaud stated, it was disappointing that the wooden heritage structure was lost as a result of poor maintenance, inadequate plans to save the structure and the subsequent vandalism. She, how-

The origin of the publication goes back more than three years, and Persaud noted the publication also aimed to reawaken interest in safeguarding and promoting heritage sites. “The past sites we have highlighted should have aided in this regard as it is expected they will remind you of some of the sites that have been erased from the town, region and legacy, for example, the old New Amsterdam Hospital.”

ever , urged that the concept of adaptive reuse seriously be taken into consideration ,embraced and put into practice so Guyana can breathe new life into current buildings thereby preserving them as part of our legacy and tangible heritage which we can proudly pass on to our future generations.

“We know that heritage is a legacy from the past; what we live with today is what we pass on for the future generation. Our cultural and natural heritage is an irreplaceable source of life and inspiration; thus, what we do not preserve, we will lose and unfortunately they

SVN-SEWA mega blood donation drive for May 2-3

The Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN), along with SEWA Guyana and the Cornelia Ida Temple, will host its ninth annual blood donation drive on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, starting at 8:00h each day and ending at 19:00h.

This collaborative drive is one of the largest blood donation drives in the

Caribbean. Since the organisation started in 2007 with a mere 76 units of blood, it has contributed a total of 3544 units of blood to the Blood Transfusion Centre. In the Diwali blood drive of 2013, donations reached the all-time high of 551 units.

The most recent drive, Diwali 2014, was badly affected by the Chikungunya

epidemic yielding a contribution of only 374 units.

The event is managed primarily by students of Saraswati Vidya Niketan with support from SEWA Guyana and the members of the Cornelia Ida Temple. Its current recruiting drive is in full swing and more than 1000 adults are expected to participate.

Youths ought to learn...

She frowned upon the manner in which some in the political landscape here are attempting to bypass the importance of those who may have lived through those days and are now considered the elderly expressing resentment at the manner in which they are being described and viewed in political discourse.

“Recently in Guyanese voice and print media, I have noticed a similar trend, a disturbing emphasis on the “young” as if to say that the old have morphed into disgusting gadflies. As I recall, Guyanese are taught to revere our elderly. We do not subscribe to senilicide and do not belong to the mythical Eskimo culture that dumps the elderly onto the devouring waves of Neptune”, she articulated.

But Dr Hassan reminiscing on her own experiences growing up in Guyana noted that she “watched my parents, shopkeepers, live a life of incremental misery, wondering what was next in the business chamber of horrors, as the heavy-fisted hand of the Burnham-led PNC regime squeezed them out of business.”

Explaining that her viewpoint has changed given the new set of leaders within the PNC, she said that it was necessary for a commitment to be given that such atrocities will not be repeated as a form of healing and reconciliation especially for the still very important elderly constituency.

“At the same time, though, don’t some of us with that memory wish that the PNC would articulate at least a promise not to repeat

the mistakes of the past? No, this is not a call for apology. It is just a wish for a statement that expresses an understanding of the legitimate concerns of certain groups and a reassurance that they have nothing to fear as the PNC would not retrace its steps”, her letter states.

She reiterated her position that the elderly in Guyana still have memories, and these voters are indeed relevant. “They too are going to the polls. Talk to them with reverence and respect. Let us not practice senilicide.

Were we to discard the elderly, then Mr. Granger and Mr. Ramotar may as well take to their rocking chairs. Remember the response when Baby Alligator asked Mama Alligator, “Ma, how come your mouth’s is so long?”

Dr Hassan posture in the letter appears to suggest that she is well aware that she will face criticisms from those that reside here for her comments on the messages being transmitted to both young and old voters.

“The last time I made a call for the PNC to acknowledge its mistakes, many people, including pseudojournalists, were hysterical, incapable of any intellectual debate.

They argued mainly by argumentum and hominem, saying, for example, that I live the Berbice area in Richmond Hill, NY and that I am Berbician – as if that alone relegates me into a pit of ignorance and irrelevance”.

In pre-empting these individuals, she informed that even though she is not from

Berbice and does not live in Richmond Hill, she would consider herself privileged to belong to those communities.

“I love all of Guyana and all its communities. In my job as immigration attorney, I proudly represent Guyanese of all races”, she asserted before explaining that those who would now be quick to castigate her should know that they are further alienating older voters…”

While teaching English at Howard University Dr Hassan started and ran the SOS Human Rights for Guyana out of her apartment back in the very early 80’s until 1992.

She reportedly gave every Guyanese political party in opposition equal time including the Working People’s Alliance Party, DLM, Guyana Republican Party, Inc., and many individuals while they were opposing the PNC dictatorship a voice.

Her SOS Human Right as for Guyana became the most trusted source by many, including the Human Rights Internet org., for human rights abuse in Guyana. Her work against the dictator was rewarded by Burnham placing her name on the infamous blacklist at the airport, so for many years she could not travel to her beloved Guyana. Currently, Dr. Dolly Hassan is the Supervising Attorney at the Liberty Center for Immigrants, Inc. in Queens, NY. Concurrently, she is also an Adjunct Professor at CUNY Law School. When she finds time she enjoys country music.

“Don’t gamble with your future”

– Urling tells Reg 3 rally

By Alexis Rodney

Newly-mint -

ed People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Candidate Clinton Urling has warned citizens not to gamble with their future by electing the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition to run the affairs of this country.

He said that the PPP/C has transformed the economy here and was the only party with the right policies to take Guyana forward. The businessman and former Chairman of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) made the remarks when he mounted the PPP/C‘s platform at its Stewartville rally on Sunday afternoon.

Urling, who said he had not before supported any of the political bodies here, noted that the Party which fought dictatorship had also transformed the economy. “Make no mistakes, in our everyday lives, we all have to make money before we can spend it. We have to make the right decisions today so that we can prosper tomorrow,” the German’s Restaurant owner said. According to him, running a government is no

different, noting that the right people have to be in place to deliver the right policies which will create opportunities that will make the lives of its citizens better.

He urged supporters not to gamble their economic future on any party that did not have the country’s best interest at heart.

“The PPP/C Government has created the opportunities today so that our economy can prosper tomorrow and I have the firm conviction that we are the best party to guarantee your economic success and advancement five, ten, fifteen years from now.”

He said the Party did not only “talk success on empty promises”, but has a 23-year record of success. “Today we say no. No one can question the economic credentials of our Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, and former President Bharrat Jagdeo who now heads the National Economic Council.”

Touching on the Party’s List of Candidates, Urling said it has a rich cadre of persons who were capable of contributing to the economic development of the country. Noting the likes of Dr Mahender Sharma, Badree Persaud, Dr Rajendra Singh, Peter Ramsaroop and himself,

No speeding cases for past week

As the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force continues with its traffic enforcement activities, no speeding cases were recorded for the past week.

In a release, Police Public Relations Officer

Ivelaw Whittaker said during the period April 19-25, 2015, a number of cases were filed against errant motorists for breaching various traffic laws. The offence of driving under the influence of alcohol saw a reduction with only 26 cases filed compared to 33 recorded the previous week.

Other traffic offences include 12 cases of careless driving and another 13 cases of dangerous driving. Additionally, some 81 persons were also charged for breach of condition of Road Service Licence. Furthermore, some 31 cases were made out against persons for failure to wear a seatbelt; another 15 cases against persons for the use of handheld mobile phones, and three

persons were charged for failing to wear a safety helmet.

Meanwhile, the Police disclosed that five persons were also charged for the soliciting of passengers (touting). In addition, as of Monday, April 27, the Police stated that there has been a total of 32 road fatalities compared to 35 for the corresponding period last year.

However, on Tuesday morning, there was a fatal accident at West Coast Berbice (WCB) resulting in the death of 42-yearold Chester Reddock of Hopetown Village, WCB.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 05:00h. Chester was reportedly driving a motor car at a fast pace along the Bush Lot Public Road, when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a parked motor lorry.

The man sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival (DOA).

Urling said they all “know a thing or two about run-

ning a business and the economy, having served in

the highest level of leadership in the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Private Sector Commission.

He reflected again on what he described as a “cut and paste manifesto”, presented by the APNU/AFC, which he said was a far cry from what was presented by his party on Saturday.

“We must choose forward, we must choose progress and growth, we must choose President Donald Ramotar on May 11,” he said to a cheering crowd of approximately 20,000.

PNC’s record

Also speaking at the rally was Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr

Roger Luncheon. His message focused on the track record of the PNC. “We are saying to the world that we are proud Guyanese and we are proud of our country and we are not ashamed as we were through the years of the PNC dictatorship. We are proud today and we will move forward and be proud and prouder under the PPP/C,” Dr Luncheon said.

He continued: “We are saying to Guyana, Guyanese and the world, under the PPP, it is forward ever, backward never … and when we return after May 11, it will be time to celebrate the most crushing defeat that the PNC ever had. We will say to the PNC, never again.”

wednesday, april 29, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

President tells Region 1...

Granger only historian hiding from history

Residents of Region

One (Barima-Waini) turned out in large numbers yesterday to meet and greet President Donald Ramotar, expressing their support to ensure all the seats in the region are taken by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to help safeguard the Administration’s return to Government.

In turn, the President committed to a modern economy and greater opportunities and equality for Guyanese once re-elected.

President Ramotar expressed astonishment at the political Opposition’s campaign slogan, noting that Amerindian development has been prioritised under this Government and this is evident with the significant physical and social development, particularly education and health care.

“You know how much we have done in the interior areas. I was shocked to see a campaign billboard saying ‘It’s time to respect Amerindians’. Really? The same people who got now on a big sign board are the same ones in Parliament last year who cut the Amerindian Development Fund.

“They are the same peo-

ple who say they love you, and cut one of the funds we have to lend fees to students at the University of Guyana and now it’s elections time they (are) telling us about respect. I cannot find a single reason for any interior person to want to vote for the opposition. They did nothing in the past,” the President said.

The President noted that Government is working to ensure that secondary education is the mini-

mum level of education, and “we are not far away from accomplishing that.”

He urged parents to ensure their children complete school, as Government has been providing free education, uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, food, accommodation and a cash grant under the ‘Because we Care’ initiative to ensure parents are not burdened with the expenses of sending children to school.

“No one should keep

Transformed electricity sector laid out in PPP/C Manifesto

The country’s National Energy Policy will continue to be guided by principles and strategies, aimed at ensuring that stable, reliable and affordable energy be provided to all persons, according to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Manifesto for the upcoming May 11 General and Regional Elections.

The same would be made available to industries in an economically viable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable framework.

In its recently released manifesto, “Our Vision: Guyana Version 2.0,” the Party states that according to United States Geological Survey estimates, the Guyana basin reserves have a potential of 15.2 billion barrels of untapped oil.

As such, on-shore and off-shore oil prospecting and exploration activities have intensified in recent years, and the government says it will continue to work with all stakeholders to develop Guyana’s hydrocarbons potential. In so doing, the government says it will actively pursue Guyana’s development of its hydropower resources as a priority of the country’s energy policy.

The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the development of the Amaila Falls

Hydro-Electric Project will be components towards ensuring the sustainability of Guyana’s energy supply.

This will be established within the next five years, as the government seeks to transform Guyana into a country that meets of all its national demands for electric energy, utilising renewable sources by completing the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

Other initiatives to aid transformation of the country’s electricity sector will be to build additional hydro-electric capacity and export of energy to neighbouring countries.

In addition, there will be moves to promote the use of solar technologies, as well as to make them more affordable and accessible. At the same time government will be encouraging the importation and installation of solar panels for both residential and commercial use, as well as supporting the implementation of wind farms to supply energy to the national grid, and at the residential and commercial levels for off-grid applications.

Efforts will also be made to aggressively pursue opportunities for increased biofuel production (biodiesel and ethanol) for export and local consumption and incentivising the use of energy-efficient and renew-

able appliances.

There will also be continued efforts in ensuring that all remaining unserved areas be provided with electricity, including some hinterland communities that have not yet benefitted from the solar panel project.

Meanwhile, in hinterland communities, where there are electricity systems but there is a growing demand, expansion works will be carried out. The existing network in Port Kaituma will see some expansion work to better meet the needs of that growing community.

Further, there will be continuation of on-the-job training for linemen, employed by hinterland communities, and the commencement of similar training for diesel generator operators and mechanics.

Over in Kato, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), a PV-Diesel generation hybrid electricity system will be installed, while extension of electricity systems at Orealla, Siparuta, Moraikobai and St. Cuthbert's Mission will be carried out.

Further, there will be the procurement and installation of additional generators for Matthews Ridge, Moraikobai and Siparuta, to improve the reliability of their electricity supply.

situation (neglect) occurred both under colonial rule and the People’s National Congress (PNC) government.

“Never before in our history did we have so many Amerindians studying at the University of Guyana, the CPCE (Cyril Potter College of Education) and the Guyana School of Agriculture,” he said.

paid off and we were vindicated”.

He added: “That is why you need to keep your children in school, so that they can be prepared to benefit from new opportunities that are coming. I am very happy today that Guyana has the lowest drop rate from schools in the Caribbean, and the highest enrolment rate of kindergarten children.”

their children home, because we believe that the future development of this country will depend on the quality of people we have in this country, and we want to ensure we have the most educated people in the Caribbean right here in Guyana. We have been spending much money on the interior areas of this country because we want to ensure they are not left behind,” the President said. He explained that such a

The Government went further by building hostels in various places and providing food, accommodation, uniforms, text books and cash grants for secondary age-students to attend school on the Coast. In this context, the President explained that the government made a decision sometime ago to accommodate hinterland school children in secondary schools in the city and only President’s College had dorm facilities.

However, this was met with objection from the political opposition, which accused the government of depleting the standards of President’s College.

The President said Government stood its ground and persisted “and a few years ago it was an Amerindian student that topped President’s College. This shows our investment

The President said the Opposition that are now making election promises are still to launch a manifesto to show their plans to take Guyana forward. He noted that even during the last three years in the National Assembly, the opposition failed to use their one seat majority for the benefit of the people, especially Amerindians.

“I believe that political power is not an end in itself, if that were the case I would not have called elections now because constitutionally elections are due until end of next year, early 2017, but I don’t want to be President or we don’t want to be in Government if we cannot deliver a better life for our people. That is why I called elections,” said Ramotar.

GCCI elects new Executive Management Committee

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has elected a new executive management committee for the year 2015-16.

Following the election of the Council of the Chamber for the year 2015/2016 on April 23, the Council which consists of 21 mem-

bers, held its first Statutory Meeting on April 27 to elect the committee, which comprises a President, Senior Vice-President, Junior VicePresident, Treasurer and Secretary.

The new Executive Management Committee of the Chamber is as follows: President Lance Hinds, the

BrainStreet Group; Senior Vice-President Vishnu Doerga, Doerga Business Enterprise; Junior VicePresident Padmawattie Prashad, Ansa McAl Trading Limited (Guyana); Treasurer Shanti Persaud, Silvies Variety Store; and Secretary Nicholas Boyer, National Hardware (Guyana) Limited.

Hygiene Hut gift store marks 1st anniversary with charity

City gift store Hygiene Hut is observing its first birthday with the less fortunate in mind. The store has partnered with cell phone firm Telco Solutions in its first anniversary promotion to give customers free cell phone credit with purchases made at the gift store.

Some of the proceeds will be donated at the end of the promotion to the Guyana Relief Council (GRC). The non-governmental organization frequently assists victims of natural disasters and fires.

Lynette Carter,

Administrative Officer of the Council, expressed her complete acceptance of the donation on behalf of her organization.

“We appreciate the gesture by the store to remember us as the agency of their choice. We do appreciate the thought,” Carter yesterday emphasized when told by the store’s Managing Director Shiv Nandalall about the intended contribution.

Nandalall observed that it must never be the intention of a business enterprise, however small, to focus only on its own profit-making objectives.

“We as a society must remember those around us, especially the ones who become victims of circumstance,” Nandalall commented.

“It is therefore mandatory that our young and budding operation begin to honour its social obligations at this early stage.”

Hygiene Hut’s first anniversary will promotion runs from April 27 to May 9. In addition, customers making purchases from $3,000 at the Regent Road store will get $300 free top-up for both DIGICEL and GT&T cell phones.

Guyana/Venezuela border: UK urges new approach to settle controversy

Newly-appoint -

ed British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn has said that the Good Offices Process must be abandoned and a new approach taken for the resolution of the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.

This view was expressed on Friday during an interaction with media operatives at his home. Echoing sentiments which were earlier expressed by Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, the diplomat said that the Good Offices approach has not been as effective as it was intended to be. The Good Offices approach was established by the United Nations as a mechanism to assist in resolving Venezuela’s longstanding claim to Essequibo.

In promising Guyana the support of his country, the diplomat said that Guyana should also explore the other options which were available within the UN system so that the matter can be settled once and for all, noting that if it was not settled at the earliest, Guyana stood to face more impacts.

ders and I think ... you can look at those with relation to the Guyana/ Venezuela issue,” the British High Commissioner said.

ExxonMobil

Speaking on the issue which had resurfaced when US-based multinational company ExxonMobil was given permission by the Guyana Government to embark on drilling activities here, Quinn said that Venezuela’s opposition was unwarranted as the United Kingdom was of the belief that Guyana was within its rights in granting that permission.

“In particularly to the ExxonMobil issue, there is no question that that is in Guyanese waters. No question at all… I think fundamentally, that –if you are asking me, what do we think? – We think where that ship is is within Guyanese waters. The land border is unquestioned,” Quinn expressed.

On March 3, the Guyana Government announced its intention to opt out of Good Offices process – a mechanism anticipated to assist in

“The Good Offices process is still to be abandoned; it hasn’t been abandoned as yet. The Foreign Minister here has said that after many years it has not done anything, and I think that’s a fair comment. There are other options in the UN system which we can consider as a way to finishing this once and forever, for all. We wouldn’t be seeking to impose ourselves in what we think is the best way to go about this, but certainly if asked, the problem is what Guyana and Venezuela might ask for are two different things, but I think it is time for a new approach. The fact that the maritime border has not been delineated means that it would have possible impact on Guyana … but I think that there are standard, traditional ways of delineating maritime bor-

resolving the renewed claim that Venezuela had made on a portion of the Essequibo region of Guyana. In explaining the country’s decision and its desire to request a judicial settlement, Foreign Affairs Minister Rodrigues-Birkett pointed out that the Good Offices process has yielded little results over the last past 25 years. She added that Guyana was examining other available options, while suggesting that Venezuela remained comfortable with the current process “because it suits their purpose – no movement”.

These “other options” will eventually have to be decided by the UN Secretary General. According to Article 33 of the UN Charter, they include, in addition to “Good Offices”, the resort to mediation, fa-

cilitation, dialogue processes, arbitration and judicial settlement. However, all, except a judicial settlement process, have already been tried.

This most recent development in the territorial controversy arose just after the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, at the beginning of March, objected to the exploratory drilling for oil by the American company, in a concession granted by Guyana. Venezuela claimed that the area was located in its “territory” despite the fact that the drilling area was deep within Guyana’s maritime economic zone. In response, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that it asked the Venezuelan Government to desist from taking any actions that could only result in hindering the development of Guyana and relations between the two countries.

In a rebuttal, Venezuela, in a communiqué in midMarch, labelled as “unjust and false”, the claims that it was deliberately obstructing Guyana’s development, and pointed to the instances of collaboration and support between the two states as evidence to the contrary. Some observers feel that the Venezuelan objection arose because of the involvement of ExxonMobil in the drilling at a time when the United States had imposed a series of political sanctions on Venezuela. Significantly, Venezuela was ordered by an international arbitration panel in October 2014 to pay ExxonMobil US$1.6 billion for the company’s oil assets nationalised in 2007.

The Guyana Government’s decision has received support across the national political spectrum, and further afield from Caricom and Commonwealth Governments. The former Opposition spokesman on international affairs, Aubrey Norton, noted that little progress was recorded in the UN Good Offices process and proposed that the Government and Opposition set up a joint committee to come up with a way forward. He insisted that territorial issues should transcend partisan political interest.

Meanwhile, the former Foreign Minister Shridath Ramphal, who was the country’s top negotiator of the Protocol of Port of Spain in 1970, said that Venezuela has “abused” the Good Offices process. He explained that all other modes of settlement such as arbitration were already explored and the only available option that remained was a judicial settlement.

Driver killed after car slams into parked truck

Dead: Regan Simpson, also called “Kester Reddock”

AWest Coast Berbice (WCB) man died after motor car PSS 854, which he was driving ran under a parked lorry at Bush Lot Village, WCB, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Tuesday morning.

It is believed that the driver, Regan Simpson, also called “Kester Reddock”, may have fallen asleep at the wheel. The car came to a standstill after it hit the lorry which was parked on the other side of the road. There were no skid marks leading up to the point of impact, leading many to believe that Simpson did not realise that he had crossed the road and was heading into a parked vehicle.

The accident is said to have occurred about 04:30h. There were no eyewitnesses. However, this publication understands that Simpson was returning from Georgetown to his Lot 165 B Main Street, Hopetown, WCB residence when the accident occurred. According to the dead man’s cousin, Alistair Roberts, Simpson left home about

02:00h to take two men to the Linden Car Park in Georgetown. He explained that the men had earlier gone to his home seeking a taxi to take them to the city, but he was asleep. Simpson lived two houses away and was subsequently approached.

Roberts said he was informed about the accident about 04:45h and got to the scene about two minutes later. “When I got there, to my mind, he had already passed away, because he were not moving.” He said there were about six persons, along with Police officers, on the scene and the lorry had already been moved a few feet forward to allow easy access to get the injured man out of the car.

“We take him out and carried him to the Fort Wellington Hospital … He had some bruises on his face; I can’t say his neck break, but he had some bruises on his stomach and his hand was swollen, I can’t say if it was broken,” Roberts related.

While noting that the accident did not occur at a turn in Bush Lot which was considered dangerous, mainly because lorries waiting to offload paddy would line the road on both sides, Roberts expressed concern about the situation, noting that another accident occurred on Monday involving a car at the dangerous Bush Lot turn.

“The trucks are bad around the turn. For me I live around this area and I will know that the trucks are around the turn, but what about a driver from the Corentyne or Georgetown coming around the turn; it is a blind turn. Only the other day, three people died right there after hitting two of those trucks.”

There was once a ‘slow’ sign in the area, but it was removed.

Simpson who lived alone operated a daily passenger service between Mahaicony and Rosignol. He leaves to mourn his three-month-old daughter.

wednesday, april 29, 2015|

Nepal death toll could reach 10,000

Nepal's Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, has warned that the number of people killed in the country's worst earthquake in decades could reach 10,000, as rescuers in Nepal were struggling to reach remote communities.

With the UN estimating eight million people hit by the disaster, Koirala said that getting help to some of the worst affected areas, like remote Himalayan villages, was a "major challenge".

Mass cremations took place overnight after the Government ordered the continuous burning of the bodies to prevent the spread of diseases.

Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, Home Ministry spokesperson, said on Tuesday that the official death toll had risen to about 4,700, with more than 9,000 known to have been injured. In places like Kathmandu's Basantapur Durbar Square, rescue teams were scrambling to clear the debris to find bodies and possibly survivors trapped underneath. He stated that the death toll could reach up to 10,000 individuals.

Heavy rain in Kathmandu was hampering rescue efforts and also adding to the suffering of those made homeless by the quake

or sleeping out in the open in fear of aftershocks.

But despite the loss of life and property around them, most people remained calm. "There's no one they can blame for this, so people are in pretty good spirits," she said. "Some musicians are camped out in the park, playing the guitar."

Many spent the night in tents, returning only briefly to their homes to pick up supplies. With fears rising of food and water shortages, Nepalis were rushing to stores and petrol stations to stock up on essential supplies in Kathmandu. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Indonesia executes 8 prisoners for drugs offences

Eight convicted drug smugglers have been executed by a firing squad in Indonesia.

The executions took place in Besi Prison on the island of Nusakambangan early on Wednesday morning local time.

Among those executed were Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. Earlier, the men's families were allowed to see them for the last time. Australia had appealed to Indonesia to delay the executions, citing alleged flaws

in how their case was prosecuted.

Those put to death also include Nigerian nationals, a Brazilian and an Indonesian. A Filipina woman was also due to be executed but was spared at the last minute.

Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso's execution was postponed after a request by the Philippine President, said a spokesman from the Attorney General's Office.

The request came after someone who allegedly framed Veloso to carry hero-

in into Indonesia turned himself in, in the Philippines.

Indonesia would give Veloso the chance to testify as a witness in the trial in the Philippines, the spokesman said.

A Frenchman also convicted of drug offences, Serge Areski Atlaoui, has also been sentenced to death but has an appeal outstanding.

Indonesia has some of the toughest drug laws in the world and ended a fouryear moratorium on executions in 2013. (BBC News)

HIV to fall in primary care category

Health care providers in the Turks and Caicos Islands will now treat HIV/AIDS as any other chronic illness as the Ministry of Health seeks to integrate the sickness into its mainstream medical care.

Aldora Robinson, Head of the National AIDS Programme said that a pilot to last for six months will take place, with implementation to follow. She said that the pilot will assist the Ministry to see what are some of the adjustments needed to be made.

Around the world

Deadly landslide hits Brazil

At least 14 people were killed in landslides in the city of Salvador in north-east Brazil on Monday.

Heavy rains flooded streets and triggered two separate landslides, sweeping away hillside homes in poor neighbourhoods and injuring 10 people. Firefighters are still searching for a number of missing individuals.

Meteorologists said the rain was the heaviest ever recorded in two decades, with more than half of the monthly average falling in the space of only 10 hours.

Seven people died in the neighbourhood of Barro Branco and another seven in Marotinho.

Patients also had to be evacuated from the Santo Antonio Hospital in the city after it was flooded.

Landslides are not unusual at this time of year when heavy rains are frequent. However this was a record event.

Barro Branco has been hit by landslides before. In 1996, 13 people died and 300 were left homeless. Almost 1,000 people died in Rio de Janeiro state four years ago when whole hillsides collapsed after heavy rain. (BBC News)

The Bahamas and US seeks to combat human trafficking

Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said The Bahamas and the United States (US) are working to exchange diplomatic notes in an effort to combat human trafficking.

During the signing of the Seventh Amendment Letter of Agreement on Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, Mitchell stated that the diplomatic notes will, in effect, be “a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on the sharing of intelligence information received from the interdiction of migrants on the seas”.

“If the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Department of Immigration interdict migrants who are trying to come into The Bahamas, we would ask them certain questions and collect certain information. That information is then shared with the United States, which has a lot of assets around to deal with it because they can move the assets and help to try and interdict others who are coming. That’s the kind of direction we’re headed in as we speak futuristically,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell also responded to questions concerning reports that the US National Security Agency (NSA) was

allegedly monitoring mobile phone calls in The Bahamas. He said although the signing of this agreement has nothing to do with the “previously signed agreement” he claimed the NSA was acting on, there is a lawful authority in place that oversees phone call interdiction for drug smuggling and drug trafficking purposes.

“My understanding is that there are agreements about how you can interdict for the purposes of drug smuggling and trafficking, and all of those things, that there is a lawful authority which is in place with regard to that…That’s the best I can say,” Mr. Mitchell said.

(Excerpt from the Bahamas Journal)

The Vatican urges politicians to do something about climate change

She also stated that under the pilot, the ministry would offer private care HIV testing. “We are looking to test more so that we know genuinely what the Turks and Caicos Epidemiology profile looks like,” she said. She said that many countries in recent time have been moving from treating HIV/AIDS as an isolated ailment, which she said allowed for discrimination.

“We are not late; we are not the first, but we

“In order to prepare us for the six-month pilot, we need to train (health care providers); training, as far as HIV management is concerned,” said Robinson.

are ahead of many of the Caribbean countries on this integration process. A lot of countries are trying to integrate their services because HIV is looked at now as a chronic illness, and you have to manage it as such, and so, it is to become part of the everyday primary healthcare,” she said, noting that the change is a multipronged approach.

Robinson said that from the first case in the 1980s to 2012, approximately 560 persons reportedly contracted HIV/AIDS in the Turks and Caicos Islands. (Excerpt from the Turks and Caicos Sun)

The Vatican Science Academy has challenged politicians to end their "infatuation" with a form of economic growth that is ruining the Earth.

The academy said that nations were measuring their wealth by GDP (Gross Domestic Product), taking no account of the harm caused by business practices. It urged countries to act as stewards of God's creation.

The statements are likely to influence the Pope's coming Encyclical on climate change.

The Cambridge Economics professor, Partha Dasgupta, told the acade-

my's climate conference in St Peter's Basilica: "GDP is a disgraceful index because it does not count depreciation of our assets - including damage to Mother Nature, the most fundamental asset we have."

Cardinal Peter Turkson, who helped write the coming Encyclical, in an official statement said, "For humans to degrade the integrity of the Earth by constant changes in its climate; by stripping its natural forests; to contaminate Earth's water, land and air with poisonous substances - all of these are sins… There is an all-embracing imperative to protect our gar-

den, our hope. We must move away from our unthinking infatuation with GDP."

Lord Rees, former President of the Royal Society, said some people were willing to bet on a low level of warming, mitigated later in the century by new technologies more affordable in a richer economy. But, he said, the risks of triggering an irreversible catastrophe lasting thousands of years was too great.

The Church is hoping to make an impact in a year of key UN meetings on Sustainable Development Goals, development finance and climate. (Excerpt from BBC News)

wednesday, april 29, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

New UN Women report touts agenda to transform economies

UN Women launched its flagship report

“Progress of the World’s Women 2015-2016: Transforming Economies, Realising Rights” which highlights how economies have failed to guarantee women’s empowerment and the full exercise of their economic and social rights, in rich and poor countries.

At the same time, however, it demonstrates that the transformation of economies to ensure that women’s rights become a reality is possible by constructing economic and human rights policies that promote farreaching changes. Progress sets out a vision of a global economy fit for women, where they have equal access to productive resources and social protection, which provides them with sufficient income to support an adequate standard of living. In such an economy, the work that women do would be respected and valued; stereotypes about what women and men can and should do would be eliminated; and women would be able to work and live their lives free from violence and sexual harassment.

However, the data and analysis presented show that this vision is still far from reality. Globally, only half of all women in the world are part of the labour force, compared to threequarters of all men. The participation of women in the Latin America and the Caribbean labour markets experience the largest increase compared to all global regions- from 40 to 54 per cent between 1990 and 2013; but it is still far below the participation of men (80%).

The UN Women report also highlights the persistent gaps in the salaries of men and women: worldwide, women earn on average 24 per cent less than men; in Latin America and the Caribbean this figure is 19 per cent.

No protection

Additionally, in the region, 59 per cent of wom-

en’s jobs are located in the informal sector without labour legislation and social protection. Paid domestic work, which is usually informal and not protected by labour laws, accounts for 17 out of every 100 economically active Latin American and Caribbean women. While Guyana is the only Caribbean country to have ratified the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work, the UN Women report also notes that Trinidad and Tobago and Chile are among the countries that have recently extended national minimum wages to domestic workers who are often informally employed.

Women still carry the burden of unpaid care work in the home. In those countries in the region with time use surveys, it is evident

and administration. The UN Women Progress report probes women’s economic progress encouraging countries to better understand the challenges and opportunities that women face in attainting their full economic potential. One significant challenge in the Caribbean is lack of data on these issues. UN Women MCO Caribbean is working to support countries to address their data gaps on gender disparities to more efficiently measure progress on women’s economic empowerment and programme effectively to build on women’s economic potential.

“Our public resources are not flowing in the directions where they are most needed: for example, to provide safe water and sanitation, quality health care, and de-

that women perform two to five times more unpaid domestic and care work than men, which limits their educational and employment opportunities, and leaves them less time for rest, leisure or political participation.

While there is evidence according to a recent ILO report of Caribbean women in seven countries holding above 40 per cent of management positions, it is noted that these positions are largely concentrated in areas such as human resources, communications

cent child- and elderly-care services. Where there are no public services, the deficit is borne by women and girls,” said UN Women Executive Director Phumzile MlamboNgcuka. “This is a care penalty that unfairly punishes women for stepping in when the State does not provide resources and it affects billions of women the world over. We need policies that make it possible for both women and men to care for their loved ones without having to forego their own economic security and independence,” she added.

Key recommendations Through case studies and concrete examples of change, the report introduces 10 key recommendations to move towards an economy that ensures women’s empowerment and the exercise of their rights. And that is also beneficial for society as a whole, and for the sustainable development of each country.

In the report, UN Women points out that an economy designed with women’s needs in mind would give them an equal voice in economic decision-making: from the way in which time and money are spent in their households, to the ways in which resources are raised and allocated at the national level, to how broader economic parameters are set by global institutions.

“If the economy worked for women, their life choices would not be constrained by gender stereotypes, stigma and violence; women could carry out their work without fear of sexual harassment or violence; and the paid and unpaid work that they do would be respected and valued,” said Luiza Carvalho, Regional Director of UN Women for the Americas and the Caribbean.

“We urgently needed a transformative agenda that allows greater equality and redistribution to build economies that work for women and men equally. Our region is moving forward, but we need to accelerate the pace towards substantive equality”.

“Macroeconomic policies can and should support the realisation of women’s rights, by creating dynamic and stable economies, generating decent work and mobilising sufficient resources to fund vital public services,” continued Carvalho. “Governments must move beyond old metrics of growth such as GDP and low inflation, and instead, they need to quantify the growth in terms of compliance with human rights.”

Minibus driver accused of causing death gets bail

Minibus driver Paul John who struck young Elijah Andrews with his vehicle in an accident that turned out to be fatal was granted bail on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The accused, of Lot 971 North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, made his second appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in connection with an application for bail.

John is charged with driving Minibus PGG 1972 in a reckless manner on April 5 along Water Street, Georgetown and hitting the four-year-old Andrews. Reports had indicated that the driver had stopped to put off a commuter just before the pedestrian crossing as the child was crossing the road and re-started the bus in a rush of speed; thus, hitting the child.

Becoming aware of what he had done, Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru

stated at John’s first court appearance on April 8, he had tried to drive away, but the passengers protested, so he picked up the child and rush him to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The Queen Street, Tiger Bay lad succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention shortly after being admitted.

John was not allowed to plead to the charge as it was indictable. However, on Monday, it was determined that the case would

IDB launches open data portal “Numbers for Development”

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced on Tuesday the launch of its new open data portal “Numbers for Development”, which allows users to explore, visualise and download data from Latin America and the Caribbean. The data comes from diverse research analysis and sources used by the Bank to generate knowledge for its development interventions.

The portal lets users find in a single place a variety of specialised datasets with indicators and raw data on topics such as education, labour markets, poverty, gender participation, global integration and agriculture policy, among others.

“Numbers for Development” is aimed at researchers, students, policymakers, analysts, and others working on development issues and public policy. The Bank previously offered a BETA version of the portal to early adapters and the feedback was tremendously positive, helping the IDB to

create the current version of this useful tool.

With the announcement of the launch, the IDB will also publish a blog series, “How to Use Numbers for Development” with key information and tips on how best to explore, visualise and download the data. “The IDB is pleased to launch its open data portal, created with the aim of sharing data generated by our teams of specialists during more than 50 years of analytical work conducted by the Bank in our mission to find solutions to the Region’s development challenges. With the launching of “Numbers for Development”, we would like researchers and policy makers to take advantage of this data in designing policies, investigating issues, or any other analytical work to support development of the Region,” said Santiago Levy Algazi, Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge. The IDB works to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through financial and technical support for countries working to reduce poverty and inequality, the bank helps improve health and education, and advance infrastructure. The IDB’s aim is to achieve development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. With a history dating back to 1959, today the IDB is the leading source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean providing loans, grants, and technical assistance; and conducting extensive research. The IDB maintains a strong commitment to achieving measurable results and the highest standards of increased integrity, transparency, and accountability.

Caricom Secretariat to host Girls in ICT event

The Caricom

Secretariat will be hosting a Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) event on Thursday at its headquarters.

be tried at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, so John was able to plead not guilty to the charge against him.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry granted the bail application in the sum of $250,000 with the condition that the defendant report to Corporal Narine at the Brickdam Police Station every Friday from May 1. Investigations continue into the accident; thus, the date for trial will be decided by June 1.

The event, which will be held from 09:00h to 14:00h, is being hosted as part of the mandate of the Caricom Heads of Government commitment that there should be increased activity with regard to ICT and Youth in 2015 (and beyond).

International Girls in ICT Day is an opportunity for girls and young women to see and experience technology in a whole new light. It is also an initiative supported by International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Member States in Plenipotentiary Resolution 70 (Guadalajara, 2010) to

create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICT. This year’s sub-theme is “Girls and Women and Innovation”.

The activities will include plenary sessions in the large conference room during the morning with a break around noon and the viewing of an exhibition, including a live exhibition facilitated by Caricom staff, as well as displays by participating firms and institutions, in the corridors of the Secretariat.

The Secretariat will also facilitate ICT demonstrations to participating students on how to set up an e-mail account and how to make use of Caricom Social Media.

63 youths graduate from forestry training programme

Sixty-three youths, from communities around Guyana, on Monday, graduated from a training programme offered by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the Forestry Training Centre Incorporated. The students, who hailed from Kwakwani, Orealla, Siparuta, Rock Stone, Linden, Caria Caria, 72 Miles and St Cuthbert’s Mission, commenced their studies in September 2014.

This is the second batch of students to pass through this programme. Eight of them participated in the forest inventory course, 22 in surveying and mapping, 11 in 3ID, and 22 did the timber grading course. The first batch of students was taken through their studies in 2013.

At the graduation ceremony, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony encouraged the students to pursue higher education. He noted that there are many educational opportunities in Guyana, but there were still some who do not access what is available.

Minister Anthony recognised that everyone learns differently, and in this regard attention was being placed on accrediting the technical and vocational programmes offered through various institutions. He recalled the reputation set by the students of the Port Mourant Training Centre internationally. It is hoped that the good performance of

those who pass through the BIT will set a similar trend.

The Minister also encouraged the young men to continue their studies as it has been found that their female counterparts are doing better in school. This is not a problem only in Guyana but globally.

In 2014, the BIT graduated 2736 youths in a number of skill training programmes. These courses are intended to give youths a second chance at getting an education that guides them into a specific skill area. For the beneficiaries, this means that they are empowered to not only provide for themselves and families by securing a job, but they can also pursue higher education in that skill set.

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar set for Thursday

Curtains will raise for a highly-anticipated performance of one of William Shakespeare’s greatest plays, “Julius Caesar”, on Thursday at the National Cultural Centre.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar was written by Shakespeare sometime in 1599 based on actual events in Roman history –one of several plays written by him that were historical in nature.

Throughout the years, there have been numerous stagings and variations of this magnificent piece all over the world.

The play here is being organised by Gem’s Theatre Productions in collaboration with the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama, and is directed by Derrick Gomes.

According to the Director of Gem’s Theatre Productions, Gem MadhooNascimento, the main purpose of the play is to engage the secondary school students, particularly those with an interest in the performing arts and those who

are studying the play.

“I always wanted to do a Shakespeare production, I’ve been in theatre for over 40 years and I’ve never done a Shakespeare play I really wanted to and because Julius Caesar was on the syllabus (English Literature), I thought it was an appropriate time,” she explained.

Madhoo-Nascimento said because of the complexity of the language in Shakespeare’s work, a live performance would assist tremendously in allowing the students to better conceptualise the story.

Shopkeeper on drug charge

A29-year-old mother of three was remanded to prison on Monday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a charge of trafficking in narcotics.

Lovern Banfield, a shopkeeper of 490 North East La Penitence, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which read that on April 24 at Lot 2, North Road, Bourda ,she sold 0.2 grams of cocaine to a Police officer.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru stated that on the day in question, ranks were conducting a sting exercise, during which two marked $500 notes were used in the purchase of the illicit substance at Banfield’s shop. The transaction was intercepted by other ranks who apprehended the defendant and cautioned her.

The Prosecutor stated that when cautioned, the

defendant claimed that the undercover officer could not have possibly bought the drug from her as only one of the marked notes was found in her possession while he had four bags of cocaine in his posses-

sion which he claimed he purchased from the woman. “Is five pieces I sell for $1000, not $500,” she allegedly told the ranks.

The prosecution objected to bail, citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.

The defendant’s lawyer informed the court that the Police officer who claimed to have bought the substance from Banfield is known to her personally and on the day in question, he was nowhere around the said location. The defence stated that eyewitnesses were willing to testify to that, while adding that Banfield was meaningfully employed with no previous convictions or pending matters.

An application for reasonable bail was made; however, the Magistrate remanded the defendant to prison. The matter will return to court on May 7.

North Road man charged for assault

A30-year-old man was released on his own recognisance on Monday after he was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry charged with assaulting his girlfriend.

The accused, Marlon Luke, of 26 North Road, Georgetown, stands accused of unlawfully assaulting his girlfriend, Juanita Calvon, on April 14 at East Ruimveldt.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru informed the court that the defendant and the Virtual Complainant (VC) have children together and

on the day in question, the defendant asked the VC about an alleged affair which she denied. Nevertheless, he slapped her. The Prosecutor said that the VC immediately reported the matter to the Police.

He added that the defendant was charged for a similar offence on April 7. Luke had been warned by the Magistrate then not to go to the VC’s home.

However, the defendant stated that his girlfriend had told him that she was cheating on him. He said that she gave details of just what she had done outside their rela-

tionship which she had not even done for him. He said this got him upset and he hit her.

The defendant further told the court that the charge was not necessary, as he and his girlfriend had resolved the issue, adding that they have been in counselling. The VC was not in court to corroborate this.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry ordered the defendant to attend counselling at Help and Shelter. She released him on self-bail pending a report from a counsellor at the institution.

Barber charged for slapping girlfriend

AShe added that the staging of this play now was very topical and relevant to Guyana since the theme surrounded the struggle for power and rulership of a country. The play is guaranteed to be a captivating performance that will leave those in attendance developing a greater appreciation for the literary world.

The three-hour long play will commence at 10:00h and will be performed again on Saturday, May 2 at 10:00h at the same venue. Tickets cost $500.

23-year-old barber was brought to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday for slapping his girlfriend.

Troy Daniels, of 348 North East La Penitence, allegedly slapped his girlfriend at their home on Sunday, April 26, as he believed that she had stolen his money. He was charged with unlawful assault.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that the defendant and the Virtual Complainant (VC), Julia Narine share a child. He said Daniels accused the VC of stealing $1600 when he came home on Sunday. Mangru stated that the VC

denied that she took the money and the defendant responded by slapping her across her face.

The VC immediately left the home and reported the matter to the Police Station.

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who presided over the matter, gave the defendant a chance to speak. He stated that he suspected that the child that Narine had may not be his, because the doctor stated that the baby was conceived 38 weeks ago and they have only been together for 28 weeks.

On the day in question, Daniels told the court that he came home after sporting a bit and he put the

$1600 aside in his pocket as it was his rent money. Daniels said he took off his clothes, hung them up and left to go to the bathroom. When he came back, he stated that he looked for the money and did not find it; thus, he asked Narine but she denied taking it. He stated that this got him upset and he did hit her.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry told the defendant that he would need to go to counselling at Help and Shelter, adding that he would continue coming to court, so the authorities can check on his progress. She released him on self-bail.

Shiv, the last man standing

–

Chanderpaul is taking his time to overtake Brian Lara as West Indies’ leading run-scorer in Tests – in-keeping with his slow-burn approach to the game

Twenty-one years now, since Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s first Test. England, at the Bourda in Georgetown, 17 March 1994. West Indies were then still the No1 team in the world, and to stay so for another 12 months, till their watershed loss to Australia the following spring.

Opening the batting, Desmond Haynes, playing in his 113th Test, and Richie Richardson, in his 74th. Opening the bowling, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. Alongside the young Chanderpaul in the middle order, Brian Lara – soon to break Garry Sobers’ record Test score – and Jimmy Adams, early in the purple patch of form that saw him average 70 in his first 20 Tests.

Another era altogether then, one when the West Indies, while waning, still played with some of the fire and brilliance that had made them one of the greatest teams in history.

Chanderpaul was 19, and so slim that both his shirt and pads seemed several sizes too big for him. He was called in as a replacement for Phil Simmons, now West Indies’ head coach. Some said he was only there to please the Guyanese.

“A politically shrewd selection,” wrote Derek Pringle in The Independent. Wisden, in one of those odd and endearing miscalculations it occasionally makes, reported that he was included “as much for his legbreaks as his left-handed batting”.

And he did bowl 16 overs, all wicketless, in the first innings. Things became clearer when, in at No6, he hit his first four, a glorious cut behind point off Alan Igglesden. That afternoon Chanderpaul battered England’s attack, and scored the first of his 66 Test 50s. There was a pitch invasion when he got there, and Adams had to drag away a couple of fans who wanted to grab the boy’s bat.

After his last Test century – 101 against Bangladesh in St Lucia last September – Chanderpaul needed to score 228 runs to overtake Lara as the West Indies’

leading run-scorer in Test cricket. Now, he still needs another 71 to do it. His progress towards the record has been slow and faltering, 91 runs in six innings against South Africa, 67 in four so far against England.

At his age, even a short run of low scores is enough to make people wonder whether his time is finally up. His next Test will be his 164th, and put him fifth on the alltime list alongside Rahul Dravid. Sachin Tendulkar is the only man who has made it beyond the 160s. For West Indies, Australia are next up. It seems like these could be some the final few scenes of Chanderpaul’s career.

Advertisement Chanderpaul is 40 now, and has spent the last two years playing alongside his own son, Tagenarine, for Guyana. At the end of 2012 they put on 256 runs together – 143 for the father, 112 for the son – in a club match against the Transport Sports Club. Delightfully amateur, that. Tagenarine is another left-hander and, like his old man, he often uses his bat to knock a bail into the ground to mark his guard.

He too grew up playing on the hard earth of Unity Village, he too was coached by Khemraj Chanderpaul, Shiv’s father, Tagenarine’s grandfather. He did have the advantage, however, of being able to play on a relaid pitch, by a rebuilt pavilion. His father paid for the upgrades, a gift to his village.

When Shiv was a boy, he played on a strip on the side of the village pitch so that he could practice without disturbing the senior players. Then, at night, he would bat against a ball tucked into a sock, hanging from a rope tied to the roof.

With Shiv, the story has always been that he was shaped by those early years in Unity. A small kid with scrappy kit, playing on rough wickets against tough men.

He evolved that homespun style all of his own; the open, awkward stance, chest half-turned to the bowler, playing late often as not, looking to slide the ball behind square. The first time

he did it in a Test, to take a four off Angus Fraser, Geoff Boycott was commentating.

“That’s exactly why England should be bowling as much as possible at the youngster, Chanderpaul … he never really got forward, he fell into the shot.”

Chanderpaul was shaped, too, by the circumstances of his career, which has exactly overlapped with the decline and fall of the team. Lara’s did too, of course, but he was so richly blessed that he always seemed almost to rise above

his team-mates, a man apart. Whereas Shiv seems to have spent his talent propping them up.

Lara went in 2006. Walsh in 2001, Ambrose in 2000, Richardson in 1995, Haynes in 1994. Shiv has played with almost 100 others since he made his debut. And even the best of them –Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan – have now come and gone. Others were hardly there at all. A full 42 of them played in only five Tests or fewer.

Back in 2003, in anoth-

er home Test at the Bourda, against Australia this time, Chanderpaul played one of the great counterattacking innings. West Indies had won the toss, and chosen to bat. An hour before lunch, they were 53 for five. An hour after it, 184 for six.

In between, Chanderpaul cut, pulled, and drove a hundred off 69 balls, then thirdfastest century Test ever scored. A little glimpse of his latent attacking talent, a hint of the batsman he might have been if he had been playing in a different era, or for another team.

His last hundred, the one against Bangladesh at the Beausejour, took 138 balls, and was the fastest he has scored since. In between the two, he turned himself into one of the most cussed batsmen ever to play the game, a man who measured his innings out in hours and days, rather than runs and balls.

Chanderpaul turned himself into the great rearguard batsman, a man who never quits and never surrenders.

Unsurprisingly, he has been not out more often than any other batsman in history. Some have said he is dull, others that he is self-

ish. But he has only been doing what he has to. He has, for instance, been involved in more run-outs than anyone in Test cricket, 25 altogether.

And on 21 of those occasions, it’s been his partner who has had to walk off. No wonder. Chanderpaul has had to play that way, fuelled by the Boycott-like certainty that West Indies’ best chance is if he is at the wicket. He has scored more runs in lost matches than any other batsman.

The final years of Chanderpaul’s career have too often been characterised by what Wisden called the “yawning gap between his skill, commitment and experience” and that of his team-mates. After Lara quit, Chanderpaul took on the load.

He’s been carrying it ever since, always unbowed, often undefeated. If – or rather when – he gets those final few runs and overtakes his old team-mate, it will be odd to see him there, top of the record lists, above the likes of Lara, Viv Richards, and Garry Sobers. But after all he has done, no one would begrudge him his place. (theguardian.com)

Rocky training the key for Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather says returning to Rocky Balboa-style "throwback training" pushed him to the limit ahead of his super-fight against Manny Pacquiao.

The unbeaten American meets Pacquiao, 36, in Las Vegas on Saturday in a bout expected to be the richest in history.

"I have to go back to where it all started from. I have to go back to day one. Chopping wood, it's the best for you," said 38-year-old Mayweather.

Tickets are on sale on online marketplaces for $351,000 (£230,000).

WBA and WBC champion Mayweather has won all 47 of his fights, 26 by knockout, in a 19-year professional career.

Filipino Pacquiao, a sixweight world champion, has

won 57 of his 64 bouts since making his professional debut in 1995.

Their welterweight bout has been the subject of onoff negotiations for six years

Mayweather has been chopping 700lb (317.5kg) tree trunks - a method depicted by American actor Sylvester Stallone in his portrayal of fictional box-

and pundits say it will define who is the greatest fighter of the era.

er Rocky Balboa - during training.

He abandoned the tech-

nique after becoming estranged from his father Floyd Sr, who was replaced by brother Roger in Floyd Jr's corner before returning to oversee preparations for the Pacquiao fight.

"I really want to win and mentally I have to go back to where it all started from because he's not just any other fighter," Floyd Jr told ESPN.

"I don't feel like there's anything I can't accomplish and that's why I'm pushing myself to the limit right now.

"It all started with the sledgehammer when I was 10. When I was 13 or 14, I started chopping with the axe. "I stopped using it when I started training with Uncle Roger because me and my dad weren't seeing eye to eye."

NBS 2nd Division cricket… Centurion Javed Mohamed highlights latest round

Former Berbice Under-15 batsman, Javed Mohamed, highlighted the latest round of matches in the 2015 New Building Society (NBS) Second Division 40-over cricket competition in Berbice.

Mohamed slammed 115 to help Fyrish to an easy seven-wicket victory over Fyrish Strikers. Below are the summarised from the matches played.

At Fyrish: Fyrish beat Fyrish Strikers by seven wickets. Fyrish Strikers

202-8 in 30 overs (Vijay Mohabir 49, Wekey Chinapen 3-52, Monilall Shivdyal 4-20) Fyrish

204-3 in 21.1 overs (Javed Mohamed 115, Yuvendra Chinapen 35, Joseph Kamaludin 2-29).

At Belvedere: Belvedere United beat Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘B’ by 48 runs. Belvedere United 182 in 31 overs (Nazeem Samad 92, Davendra Rampedarat 41, Vintendra Kumar 6-20, Joshua Gobin 2-8) Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘B’ 144 in 31.4 overs (Joshua Gobin 39, Ramnarine Permaul 3-20, Asif Kamaludin 3-24, Nazeem Samad 3-38).

Pacquiao “100% confident” of beating Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao was greeted by thousands of Filipino fans in Las Vegas as he arrived before Saturday's super-fight against Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquiao, 36, will meet US legend Mayweather, 38, for the WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Arena.

It will be the richest fight in history, with the two protagonists set to split in the region of £150m.

"Don't get nervous," Pacquiao said. "I'm excited and 100% confident."

Mayweather is favourite to successfully extend his unbeaten professional record.

But Pacquiao is not bothered about what the odds say. "Any time I am underdog, I like that," he said.

"It means my killer instinct and focus is fully there. Other people are getting nervous for me but I am excited.

"This is the moment I believe he will experience his first loss."

Owing to promotional differences - Pacquiao is handled by the veteran Bob Arum, Mayweather by him-

self - Pacquiao snubbed the scheduled 'grand arrival' at the MGM Grand in favour of his own alternative.

A bizarre spectacle was staged at the Mandalay Bay Hotel for the benefit of Pacquiao's loyal supporters, many of whom have flown in from the Philippines especially for the fight.

The show included traditional Philippine singing and dancing, before Pacquiao took to the stage.

Afterwards, six-weight world champion Pacquiao seemed relaxed as he took photographs of his surroundings while being interviewed by the massed ranks of the world's media.

His trainer, Freddie Roach, revealed that Pacquiao had helped devise a strategy for a fight for the first time since they started working together 14 years ago.

"We have a very good game plan to win this fight," Roach told BBC Sport. "If a knockout comes, we'll be thrilled.

"At welterweight, Manny's really not that big a puncher. But his speed will overwhelm Floyd, that's what we're counting on.

"It will be very difficult for Floyd to win this fight just by running and at some point he will have to exchange.

"We've been working on throwing flurries of punches - because Floyd doesn't throw on the counter until you're done - before getting out of the pocket real quick.

"I've never seen Manny better than this, he's risen to the occasion. He knows the whole world is going to be watching and he knows he has to win this fight."

Meanwhile, Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez, who has fought Pacquiao four times and was beaten by Mayweather in 2009, picked the latter to prevail.

"Pacquiao needs to pressurise Mayweather and land punches with speed, power and accuracy," said Marquez, who had lost twice against Pacquiao and drawn once before knocking him out in shocking fashion in 2012.

"But Mayweather uses distance very well, is hard to hit and lands with counterpunches. Mayweather wins because he's got such a difficult style." (BBC Sport)

At Albion: Tamarind Root beat Belvedere Battle Steel by 10 wickets. Belvedere Battle Steel 81 in 30 overs (Ajay Ramsammy 5-15) Tamarind Root 82 without loss in 10 overs (Kunal Mangal 50 not out, Deonarine Rangasammy 28 not out).

At D’Edward: D’Edward beat Monedderlust by five wickets. Monedderlust 108 in 28.2 overs (Orwin Johnson 32, Alvin Chowramootoo 5-19, Heeralall Bridgelall 3-23, Corlette Greenidge 2-15). D’Edward 111-5 in 14.1 overs.

At Number 52: Number 64 Fighting Marines beat Number 52 Survival by 96 runs. Number 64 Fighting Marines 266 in 23.4 overs (Kumar Chand 69, Devendra Balram 62, Kishan Hemnauth 30 not out, Dellion Harvey 3-68, Michael Kendall 2-24, Vikash Ramjewan 2-66) Number 52 Survival 170 in 25 overs (Dovan Gulpeper 43, Vickash Ramjewan 42, Michael Kendall 25, Kumar Chand 3-16, Ramzan Subhan 3-36, Vadanand Sugrim 2-32).

At Chesney: Sandreef beat Kendall’s Union ‘B’ by seven wickets. Kendall’s Union ‘B’ 151 in 26 overs (Davendra Baijnauth 38, Shivnarine Sahid 3-35, Zaheer Azeez 2-9) Sandreef 152-3 in 22.3 overs (Zaheer Azeez 52 not out, Sahid 38 not out).

At Port Mourant: Tain Block Four beat Guysuco Training Centre by 51 runs. Tain Block Four 175-9 in 35 overs (Winston Charles 40, Mahendra Baldeo 31, Akeem Bollers 4-38,

Joel Jacobs 3-28, Abdool Sattaur 2-21) Guysuco Training Centre 123 in 34.2 overs (Chavah Arnachalam 38, Akeem Bollers 31, Mahendra Maynard 2-19, Winston Smith 2-22).

At Lovely Lass in West Berbice: Bush Lot Challengers beat Achievers by three wickets. Achievers 92 in 23.4 overs (Kris Ramnarine 31, Asif Khan 4-16, Brandon Balkissoon 2-7, Christopher Bissoon 2-22) Bush Lot Challengers 94-7 in 21.1 overs (Rendell Bobb 21-6, Rennison Mitchell 2-20, Delon Yearwood 2-28).

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st Test, Khulna, 1st day...

Mominul leads stable batting performance

Pakistan had been reinforced with the addition of seniors like Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, and this was a format the team has had considerable success over the last few months, in conditions not dissimilar to the ones they were to face in Bangladesh. Yet, half-centuries from Mominul Haque and Imrul Kayes on the opening day of the Test series extended Bangladesh's advantage over Pakistan on the current tour by another day.

Bangladesh had opted to bat on a typical first-day subcontinent pitch that did not offer any help to the seamers and only limited turn to the spinners, but the slow and tentative approach Tamim Iqbal and Imrul took in the first session lacked the confidence that has hardly left the

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh 1st innings

Tamim Iqbal c Azhar Ali b Yasir Shah 25

Imrul Kayes c & b Mohammad Hafeez 51 Mominul Haque lbw

b Zulfiqar Babar 80 Mahmudullah c †Sarfraz

Ahmed b Wahab Riaz 49

Shakib Al Hasan not out 19

Extras: (lb-5, nb-7) 12

Total:(4 wickets; 89.5 overs) 236

Fall of wickets: 1-52 (Tamim Iqbal, 26.6 ov), 2-92 (Imrul Kayes, 40.2 ov), 3-187 (Mahmudullah, 73.6 ov), 4-236 (Mominul Haque, 89.5 ov)

Bowling: Junaid Khan 16-2-400 (2-nb), Wahab Riaz 19-5-401 (1-nb), Mohammad Hafeez 15-5-38-1, Zulfiqar Babar 21.53-55-1, Yasir Shah 18-1-58-1

team since the start of the World Cup. By the end of the day though, with their batsmen putting a series of good partnerships and the Pakistan fielders erring, Bangladesh had shed some of that tentativeness.

At the heart of it was Mominul, who added a fifty-plus score in a Test for the 10th consecutive time. In fact, in his 13-match career, only once he was not able to reach a half-century. Although slow from the start of his innings, Mominul was his usual solid self. He was hit on the helmet by Junaid Khan early in his innings, but guided the next ball through gully with composure. It remained his favourite area, as six off his eight boundaries came through the region.

After arriving at the stroke of lunch, Mominul added 40, 95 and 49 for the second, third and fourth wickets, to ensure Bangladesh did not let the opening stand of 52 not go to waste. However, his dismissal off the penultimate delivery - he was trapped plumb in front by Zulfiqar Babar - meant yet again he had failed to reach the three-figure mark. Of the 12 times he has crossed fifty, only four times he has gone on to make a century.

Similar was the fate of Mahmudullah, who fell one short of his half-century. He showed glimpses of the same form that has raised his reputation over the last few months, playing attractive strokes off the front foot or back, but,

yet again, he failed to convert a start into a substantial score.

The highlight of Mahmudullah's 123-ball stay was his first boundary, an elegant hit through cover off Zulfiqar after he had stepped out of the crease. Not all his boundaries were convincing though; a couple slid through the cordon off the outside edge off the pacers. Another outside edge, when he was on 49, was snapped up by the diving Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps, the 74-over ball from Wahab Riaz reversing just enough to square him up.

Pakistan, though, were left to rue the missed opportunities. Five chances were wasted in the first two sessions. In the morning Tamim, who scored two centuries in the recent ODI series, could have

been out in the 20th over had Mohammad Hafeez held a low chance at leg slip when the batsman was on 16. Yasir Shah misjudged a lofted shot from Imrul in the 18th over, and Azhar Ali did not take a sharp chance at short leg from the same batsman in the 29th over.

In the second session, left-arm spinner Babar dropped a return chance, letting Mominul off on 17. Then Younis and Hafeez allowed an outside edge from Mahmudullah's bat

fly between them in the slip cordon.

The one time Pakistan were lucky was when Yasir broke the monotony of a slow morning by picking up the wicket of Tamim 11 minutes before the end of the first session, ending an obdurate opening stand. Tamim had scored 25, his best against Pakistan, when an inside edge was smartly taken by Azhar at short leg. But Pakistan were fortunate because third umpire Paul Reiffel ruled a

no-ball-check from the onfield official in favour of Yasir, when the margin was so slim that the decision could have easily been made in Tamim's favour as well.

The rate of scoring that crawled at 1.53 an over in the first hour, only marginally improved to 2 in the second, as none of the batsmen showed intent consistently. Singles remained rare and the boundaries, rarer. A couple of reversesweeps, one each from Tamim and Imrul, made appearance in the second hour after only two fours had been hit in the first. At lunch, Imrul was on 35 off 104 deliveries.

Playing with more assurance after lunch, Imrul hit two more fours - a cover drive off Yasir and a powerful sweep off Hafeez - and reached his second Test half-century in the 41st over, off the 129th ball he faced. But he was dismissed off the next one as he popped a leading edge back at Hafeez, ending his 38-run stand with Mominul. For Hafeez, who tested the batsmen with drift and flight, it was his first wicket with his remodelled action. (Cricinfo)

Belgian player needs

“miracle”

after collapsing

Belgian defender Gregory Mertens collapsed on the pitch with a heart-related illness

Sporting Lokeren are “hoping for a miracle” after Belgian defender Gregory Mertens collapsed on the pitch with a heart-related illness.

He is in a critical condition after being given CPR in the first half of Monday’s reserve-team game with Genk.

The 24-year-old is in an induced coma in a Genk hospital on a life support machine.

“Sporting Lokeren sympathises with the family and hopes for a positive outcome,” read a club

statement.

The Jupiler Pro League club say that the exact nature of Mertens’ heart condition has yet to be established.

They added that Mertens passed all the pre-season health tests required by Europe’s football governing body Uefa and was judged to be one of the fittest players at the club.

A former Belgium Under-21 international, Mertens joined Lokeren in the summer from Cercle Brugge, and has played in 15 league games this term,

as well as against Hull City in the Europa League in August. Monday’s game was postponed while Mertens was being treated.

Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois and Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, both Belgium internationals, have tweeted their support for Mertens, saying: “Keep fighting Gregory”.

And the former Chelsea midfielder Kevin De Bruyne tweeted: “Incredibly bad news. Keep fighting Gregory.” (BBC Sport)

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Kolkata Knight Riders had no business losing this. Having restricted Chennai Super Kings to 134, they were rushing towards the target at 52 for 1 in five overs, but they contrived to play headless shots and the excellent Super Kings fielders were only too happy to oblige. The asking rate had come down to under a run a ball when Super Kings went to spin, but possibly out of that fear of spin and also because of some ordinary batting from Yusuf Pathan and Ryan ten Doeschate, they contrived a defeat. Super Kings have now won nine home matches in a row, and are at the top of the table with a match in hand.

Robin Uthappa was batting like a dream in reaching 39 off 16, fielding was getting a bit rattled with MS Dhoni refusing to go for a catch as the fifth over ended, and now R Ashwin came on to bowl the sixth over. Uthappa looked to dominate, swept the first ball powerfully, and Brendon McCullum took a special catch at short midwicket. Super Kings had been given a lifeline. In Ashwin’s next over, Manish Pandey, the man reprieved by Dhoni, went for a slog sweep and found deep midwicket. If they were worried about spin terrors, they had brought them to life by panicked batting with the asking rate comfortable.

Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina then slipped in four overs for 12 runs even before you could realise. What you did realise, though, was Yusuf’s staunch refusal to run singles and his lack of manoeuvring against good bowling as he also depicted against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Knight Riders’ previous match.

If Knight Riders were bent on destruction, Super Kings were effective without being dramatic. The drama was to follow soon. Mohit Sharma came back in the 13th over with Ashwin

injured and off the field, and the under-pressure Suryakumar Yadav mis-hit one towards the 30-yard circle at mid-on with no man stationed there. Faf du Plessis from extra cover and Dwayne Bravo converged. A collision seemed imminent, but du Plessis showed great awareness. He didn’t give up the catch, but dived low as Bravo ran in upright. At the last moment Bravo leaned in, dived forward, got one hand - the left - to it, and the ball stuck.

Bravo broke into a customary dance, and Super Kings began to warm up for

had one hope: Andre Russell, whose aggressive bowling earlier had kept Super Kings down. Ten Doeschate ran him out, calling him for a second, realising it wasn’t on, and then turning back to safety. Bravo’s slower balls and Ashish Nehra’s yorkers then took Super Kings to victory, with ten Doeschate unbeaten on 38 off 28 - 14 of his runs came off the last three balls with the requirement having reached 17. Knight Riders will be filthy with themselves after having done excellently with the ball. Super Kings had got off to a streaky

SCOREBOARD

Chennai Super Kings innings

DR Smith run out (Pathan) 25

BB McCullum lbw b Chawla 19

SK Raina c †Uthappa b Russell 17

F du Plessis not out 29

MS Dhoni*† c †Uthappa b Russell 3

DJ Bravo c SA Yadav b Chawla 5

RA Jadeja b Hogg 15

R Ashwin not out 9

Extras: (lb-3, w-9) 12

Total: (6 wickets; 20 overs) 134

Fall of wickets: 1-42 (McCullum, 4.4 ov), 2-64 (Smith, 8.4 ov), 3-67 (Raina, 9.3 ov), 4-81 (Dhoni, 11.3 ov), 5-88 (Bravo, 12.6 ov), 6-124 (Jadeja, 18.5 ov)

Bowling: PJ Cummins 4-025-0 (2-w), UT Yadav 4-036-0 (1-w), PP Chawla 4-026-2, GB Hogg 4-0-18-1, AD Russell 4-0-26-2 (4-w)

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 135 runs from 20 overs)

RV Uthappa† c McCullum b Ashwin 39

a victory dance. With nine overs without a boundary, the asking rate reached nine an over for the last five overs. Now Dhoni went to Bravo the bowler, who bowled like a spinner on a turning pitch, dealing almost exclusively in cutters. Yusuf wasted no time in playing one on. When he came in, Knight Riders needed 74 off 67. He scored 13 off 18, and left the side 44 to get off 28. With ten Doeschate too struggling, Knight Riders

G Gambhir* c †Dhoni b Pandey 0

MK Pandey c Bravo b Ashwin 15 SA Yadav c Bravo b Sharma 16 YK Pathan b Bravo 13 RN ten Doeschate not out 38 AD Russell run out (Jadeja/†Dhoni) 4 PJ Cummins c Jadeja b Bravo 0 PP Chawla c †Dhoni b Bravo 0 UT Yadav b Nehra 0 GB Hogg not out 2

Extras: (lb-2, w-3) 5 Total: (9 wickets; 20 overs) 132 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Gambhir, 0.2 ov), 2-52 (Uthappa, 5.1 ov), 3-61 (Pandey, 7.1 ov), 4-76 (SA Yadav, 12.2 ov), 5-91 (Pathan, 15.2 ov), 6-100 (Russell, 16.5 ov), 7-101 (Cummins, 17.1 ov), 8-104 (Chawla, 17.5 ov), 9-116 (UT Yadav, 18.5 ov) Bowling: IC Pandey 2-0-181 (1-w), A Nehra 4-0-38-1, MM Sharma 3-0-24-1 (1-w), R Ashwin 2-0-5-2, RA Jadeja 3-0-11-0, SK Raina 3-0-120 (1-w), DJ Bravo 3-0-22-3

start - Dwayne Smith scored 14 off edges in his first 20 - but 38 for 0 in four overs looked menacing. With Sunil Narine - reported again for a suspect action again - missing, Piyush Chawla, Bred Hogg and Russell handcuffed Super Kings in the middle overs. The three conceded only 70 in their 12 overs, and took five wickets too, but as it turned out with some questionable batting from their side, the bowlers needed to do more. (Cricinfo)

“I think it was a really good day at the track and while I have been doing less practice sessions, I have done well...all I need to do now is to concentrate on the bigger races when they come by,” he said.

WR also gives credit to his entire support squad for his achievements- TEAM MMR Racing 397 fans, sponsors and supporters. He also reiterates that it is a proven fact determination is the key to success. Team MMr tastes... from page 23

WR Reaz is now confident in getting his car ready for the international meet claiming that win or lose, he is in the sport for the fun of it.

He thanked Saheed Bacchus of Bacchus Auto Works, Success, East Coast Demerara- the man who built his Starlet to specification.

Bhagwandin wins Scotiabank golf tournament

Mahendra Bhagwandin took the first prize with a net 65 in last weekend’s Scotiabank golf tournament, which saw the bank doling out $325,000 to the top three golfers to donate to charities of their choice.

The bank has been a partner of the Lusignan Golf Club for the past 18 years, and it came as no surprise that the tournament attracted as many as 51 golfers. As it turned out, Bhagwandin proved to be the best golfer on the day, after playing off a handicap of 24.

Shanella Webster of Beacon Ministries secured the second spot to edge out third place finisher Philbert London, also from the Beacon Ministries.

Both Webster and London had a net score of 67, but Webster was playing off a off handicap 22, against London’s, who was playing off a handicap of 27.

Best Gross for the day went to Patrick Prashad (80/9), while the most honest golfer prize was given to Robert Hanoman (81/26). Nearest-to-the-Pin was Ian Gouveia.

After the day’s event, Bhagwandin said, “It was a good all round game for me. With significantly improved driver skill, I played one hole at a time, and thanks to my experienced caddy, Harrichand ‘Babyboy’ Dhanai, I was able to stay calm and focused after any bad play.”

President of the Lusignan Golf Club, David

Mohamed, expressed gratitude to Scotiabank for once again sponsoring the tournament and for maintaining their long-term commitment to the club.

“Giving back to the less fortunate is always a good gesture and doing it through sport is even better. We hope to see more of this in the future, not only in golf, but sport in general,” Mohamed said.

On hand to do the presentations for Scotiabank were Country Manager, Raymond Smith; Marketing Manager, Jennifer Cipriani; and Manager of Treasury, Parmeshwar Budhu.

Smith said he was very pleased with the turnout and support for the tournament, with attracted over 50 golfers.

Peter Lewis Construction Service official sponsor for Berbice senior team

The Berbice senior team has received full sponsorship from Peter Lewis Construction Service for its participation in the May Day Cup one day event, billed for May 2 at the historic Albion Sports Complex.

feature T20 game. Several top national and international players will be on show in the T20, according to the organisers.

The winning team will collect $200,000, while the losing team will get half that amount. The Man-of-the-

cost $1000, with children under 12 admitted free.

Meanwhile, the senior selection panel of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has called up 29 players to prepare for the May Day Cup one-day tournament.

The players are: Shimron

Peter Lewis readily provided sponsorship for the team after being approached by the event’s organising committee. At a simple ceremony held recently, Lewis in brief remarks said that he was pleased with the idea and even more pleased to be part of this historic event.

Vijai Ramdhan, a member of the organising committee, thanked the sponsor for coming onboard and called on other businesses and private individuals to support the mega event, which is expected to be an annual affair.

Proceeds from this event will be donated to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic to carry out its work in preparation for the 2015 elections and beyond.

Arch-rivals Berbice and Demerara will clash in the

Match will receive $20,000.

Further, the event will see four exciting zone teams from the county of Berbice- West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne/Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC).

Matches will be 15-oversa-side with two semi-finals and the grand final.

The winner will take home a trophy and $100,000, the runner-up $50,000, and the two losing semi-finalists $25,000 each. The Man-ofthe-Match will also receive a trophy and $10,000.

Following the cricket, Shakti Strings Orchestra, accompanied by the popular Crown Vibes International, will entertain the crowd during the big after-party lime.

The day’s activity will bowl off at 10:00h. Tickets

Hetmyer, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Seon Hetmyer, Royston Crandon, Jonathan Foo, Anthony Bramble, Gudakesh Moti, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Veerasammy Permaul, Rafael Estriado, Romario Shepherd, Niall Smith, Krisendat Ramoo, Eugene LaFleur, Rajiv Ivan, Kevin Ramdeen, Dineshwari Prashad, Jason Sinclair, Sharaz Ramcharran, Suresh Dhanai, Yougendra Harrinarine, Joshua Ramsammy, Shawn Perreira, Balchand Baldeo and Permanand Ramdhan. Players named must make contact with the Board on 333-2375, Dhiriendranauth Somwaru on 639-9278, Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Team Coach Albert Smith on 610-3371 to confirm their availability.

Ramjeet, morgan spur Lusignan to victory

Asterling all-round effort from Vishnu Ramjeet and a polished half-century from Leon Morgan piloted Lusignan Sports Club to a 108-run win over hosts Ogle recently in the SPR Enterprise 40-over cricket competition for teams on the East Coast of Demerara.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Lusignan posted a formidable 2117 off the allotted 40 overs with the right-handed Morgan hitting 61 not out.

Former national Under-19 captain Brian Sattaur chipped in with 35, while Ramjeet scored 31.

Bowling for Ogle, A. Rampersaud had 2-31 from seven overs.

In reply, the boys from

Ogle were cruising at 70 without loss in the eighth with Chris Pattadin and Wasim Haslim dominating the bowling before Ramjeet ran through the top and middle order to spark a dramatic collapse. Ramjeet, bowling off-

spin, returned magical figures of 6-24 from eight overs, while fellow off-spinner Gajanand Suknanand claimed 3-31 off eight overs. Pattadin and Haslim were the only batsmen to get going, scoring 37 and 29 respectively.

GFF begins licensing course for coaches

After recently launching its “Next Generation Project”, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has already stepped out on the field to get the ball rolling, so to speak.

Part One of its inaugural National Coaching School ‘D’ License Course was held last weekend at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Resource Centre in Georgetown.

A total of 20 candidates from various communities were invited to attend the course, which addressed the philosophy and methodologies associated with coaching football to young children between ages six and12, which FIFA refers to as “grassroots.”

The lead instructor, GFF Technical Director, Claude Bolton, said he was enthused by the focus that the participants exhibited.

“They were asked to set aside for a moment the ideas that they had about coaching and to be open minded toward theories that were to be presented over the fourday course. They are being challenged and they are responding,” Bolton explained.

Bolton also highlighted that as this ‘D’ License is conducted throughout the various districts, the GFF Technical Staff will have an opportunity to identify coaches that could be utilised to help carry out other aspects of the “Next Generation Project”, such as leading the Academy Training Centres that are to be established.

GFF’s Technical Development Officer, Lyndon France, also instructing the course, highlighted that the Long

Term Athlete Development (LTAD) approach to sport being outlined by the GFF, “…is a commitment to embracing the latest scientific teaching and training methods.”

Candidates were also afforded an opportunity to meet with Golden Jaguars coaches, Jamaal Shabazz and Wayne Dover, who both pointed to the significance of creating this resource for Guyanese coaches.

Part Two of the National ‘D’ License Course will conclude this weekend at the same venue.

Candidates will have a series of assessments that will determine if they have achieved the level. However, as Bolton is quick to remind, coaches that are not quite at the level required, will be given opportunities to mentor and prepare to be assessed again in the future.

The “Next Generation Project” is an initiative that simplifies and articulates clearly the next steps that are necessary for the GFF to aid in the development of the next generation of players, coaches, clubs, fans, corporate partners, associations and federations.

Team MMR tastes success at GMR&SC race meet

The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) hosted its annual club day race meet at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri, on Sunday last which saw some impressive driving from television personality, WR Reaz and Team MMR.

Despite minor mechanical issues with his car, a Toyota 1331cc Starlet that carried the number 397, he was able to secure a second, one third and a fourth in the three races that he participated in. WR came in second in the first Group Three race with Vishal Shaw copping the first spot.

In the second Group Three race, he came in behind Sayheed Hassan and Vishal Shaw to cop the third position.

In addition, WR Reaz placed fourth in the handicap race where he competed with seasoned drivers Ryan Rahaman, Shairaz

This endeavour clearly places at the forefront of Guyana’s football development the areas of Grassroots, Youth, Women, and Coaching Education. It also, humbly, yet proudly, ascertains that such focus can also have a direct and positive social impact on the country’s children, hence, the future community.

Ansa McAl’s May Day 5-over tournament… Albion, Whim and Fyrish announce teams

Albion, Whim and Fyrish Cricket Club have declared their respective teams to participate in the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s (RHTY&SC) Silver Jubilee Anniversary Ansa McAl’s May Day five-over tournament at the Area ‘H’ ground.

The tournament, which will be played on Friday, will involve 12 teams, namely Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’, Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘B’, Young Warriors, Courtland, Fyrish, Chesney, Jai Hind, Block 4 Tain, Tamarind Root of Hampshire, Whim, Albion and Yakusari of Black Bush Polder.

Organised by the Cricket Development Committee of the RHTY&SC, the tournament will bowl off at 09:00h sharp and the winner will take home $70,000 and a trophy.

There will also be prizes for the Man-of-the-Match

in the final, Best Batsman and Best Bowler, while funds garnered will be used for the RHTY&SC’s Cricket Nursery Programme and massive anti-drugs/suicide programmes, which are set to target over 60,000 youths in Berbice.

Below are the members of the three latest teams to announce their line-up.

Whim National Sports Club- Arun Thakordeen, Kunoal Deonarine, Arnold Deosarran, Tulsie Charam,

Tameshwar Harinarine, Deraj Venkiah, Tyron Tilkuran, Umarnauth Sookshine, Kumar Mootain, Yougindra Sookhnanan, Marlon Ramoutar, Dharmendra Balkarran, Arvin Ramsarran, Navindra Deonarine and Mahindra Charan. Fyrish Cricket ClubM. Shavidyal (Captain), W. Mohammed, Y. Chinapen, T. Sinclair, J. Mohamed, A. Sharikissoon, C. Roopnarine, K. Rangasammy, R. Nelson, A. Hussain, I. Ali, A. Khadaroo, V. Singh, S. Mohamed and S. Mohammed. Albion Cricket Club - Muniram Lalbeharry (Captain), Balchand Baldeo (Vice-captain), Adrian Sukhwa, Ritesh Omroe, Sharaz Ramcharran, Daniel Lewis, Asif Ali, Josiah Dhanai, Kelvin Omroe, Joshua Haricharran, Andre Percival, Jermaine Pollard, Karran Arajpaul and Sayad Perbaksh.

Mohammed, Sayeed Hassan, Danny Persaud and others.

The ‘party boss’ told Guyana Times he was impressed at the way he drove in the races, despite encountering mechanical problems.

Television personality WR Reaz with his trophies from Sunday’s race turn to pagge 21

8 Guyanese in WI shooting team

– Persaud is Vice-captain

Eight Guyanese shooters have been named in the West Indies team to compete at the World Long Range Fullbore Rifle Shooting championships billed for August in Ohio, United States of America.

Guyana’s Fullbore captain Mahendra Persaud has been named Vice-captain of the team, which will include compatriot and reigning regional individual champion Lennox Braithwaite,

Ransford Goodluck, Dylan Fields, Leo Romalho, Ryan Sampson, Sigmund Douglas and John Fraser.

Douglas and Fraser are based in the United States. Experienced marksman Jamaican John Nelson is the nonshooting captain.

ACP retired Paul Slowe of Guyana has also been appointed Main Wind Coach with the other officials travelling with the team are Adjutant David Dumont of Bermuda and Dennis Lee of Jamaica, Assistant Wind Coach.

Tobago; Anderson Perry and Thomas Greenaway of Antigua and Barbuda; Marlon King and ShellyAnn Hinds of Barbados; and Dwayne Forde of Jamaica.

The World Long Range championships will take place at Camp Perry from August 1 to 14 in Ohio. The championships, called The PALMA Match, will be shot at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards.

The remaining shooters named are Norris Gomez, Michael Perez and Ezekiel Joseph of Trinidad and

Most of the world’s leading shooters representing hosts United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya and Continental Europe are expected to compete.

The West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFSC) had shortlisted a squad following the regional championships last year in Jamaica.

Fifteen other shooters from the Caribbean are expected to make the trip to compete in the individual competition and provide support for the team in the United States, while a few others will travel to Canada to compete in the Canada Rifle championships.

Confident Golden Jaguars off to Suriname

Aconfident Golden Jaguars team under a new captain is off to Suriname to face the host nation in a FIFA friendly international, set for Thursday evening. Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz, during a press briefing on Tuesday at the Guyana Football Federation office in Campbellville, said the game is another step forward in the country’s preparation for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, set to start in June.

The Golden Jaguars have been enjoying a solid run of form this year, following up their 2-2 draw with hosts Barbados with 2-0 victories over St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, at the Guyana National Stadium Providence.

However, they face a stiff challenge against the Surinamese, who are expected to field a few players from Holland after an agreement was reached recently between the two nations.

A completely different squad has been assembled to travel to the neighbouring country with the experienced Dwain Jacobs being handed the captaincy in the absence of regular skipper

Christopher Nurse. The squad, which left last evening for the Dutch-speaking nation, is predominantly made up of players based in Guyana, and national player Vurlon Mills feels it is the best combination of local based players that has been assembled by the technical team. Mills pointed out that with the widening of the pool of players now available for senior national selec-

tion, there is healthy competition for places in the squad, which can only serve to lift the standard of play among the players.

Two players, who are making a return to the squad, Kevin Beaton and Adrian Butters, expressed their pleasure to once again wear the Golden Jaguars jersey, noting that they will be aiming to give their best come Thursday.

Meanwhile, Shabazz said

the strategy to use majority local based players was deliberate as efforts continue to expand the pool of players available for national duty. The game will start at 19:00h Guyana time or 20:00h Suriname time on Thursday.

The Golden Jaguars squad reads: Derrick Carter, Akel Clarke, Jamaal Smith, Colin Nelson, King Solomon Austin, Joshua Brown, Adrian Butters,

Members of the technical

are