Wednesday April 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 5
Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
GuySuCo was poorly managed by the PPP DEAR EDITOR, Recent statements by the President to pump $20 billion into GuySuCo suggest that the PPP is desperate and is trying to buy votes with more of its empty promises and with the taxpayers’ money. If APNU+AFC coalition wins the election, It will find an empty treasury and zero funds in the foreign reserves. Pumping more money into GuySuCo and having the same board of directors and CEO seems to be a waste of the taxpayers’ money. It will not help that troubled sugar agency because of its incompetent and unqualified senior staff comprised mostly of party loyalists. It is our hope that a new political directorate such as the APNU+AFC Coalition will resist the temptation to pack the new board with party supporters/loyalists which has been the corrupt practice
of successive PPP governments. But if the Coalition continues the PPP norm, it will get the country no closer to remedying the 22 years of decay by the PPP that has set the sugar industry back in decades and on the verge of total collapse. The leaders of the APNU+ AFC coalition are very serious about the growth and development of the country; particularly about making the sugar industry profitable again and making Guyana the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business. They will not embrace the kind of bankrupt mental thinking of the Jagdeo/ Ramotar regime towards development and nation building which is to put their interests first and those of the country and the people last. Continued on page 23
That family affair in the PPP DEAR EDITOR, Some in the PPP/C is defending the planting of family members so thickly within its candidate list by saying family businesses expect help from the younger generation. According to the Harvard Business Review, the number one reason family businesses fail is the next generation “signing on to the firm as unprepared 40-somethings.” Harvard adds, “Despite their lack of experience, these offspring may ascend to leadership positions because of the family connection, increasing the chances that the business will fail.” Interestingly, only 30 per cent of family businesses survive after the second generation. Only five per cent of family businesses succeed at the third generation. The ones which survive almost all hand control over to outside management, not family members. In other words, the PPP/C wants to run the country with a strategy that has a 95 per cent failure rate. Observer
Jacob Rambarran supports the other political party
DEAR SIR, Nomination Day has passed and the lists of political parties are available in the public sphere. I have perused the list for APNU+AFC Coalition. The list itself reflects excellent proportionality and representation in the areas of ethnicity, gender and the public and the private sectors. However, I was intrigued by one of the new faces on the list Mr. Jacob Wilfred Haimram Rambarran owner of many businesses. He was born at Meadow Bank and lived and worked among people of different ethnicities and nationalities. I have known Mr. Rambarran personally for many years. At one time, I worked with him as a consultant, when he was Chairman of the Private Media Owners Association. He is a man of humility, respect and integrity; a true son of the soil. He is a man of his word.
Honestly, I have to congratulate the APNU+AFC for persuading this distinguished businessman to join the coalition to work in the interest of all Guyanese beyond barriers of race, of religion and across the political divide. I am aware that, in the past, many other political parties have tried to get him on board but he refused. This time he must have thought of it deeply. I know that his contribution will advance the case for real change in Guyana. He is well qualified with a double major Degree in Political Science and Economics, Masters of Arts in Economics specialising in International Trade, International Finance, and Monetary Economics with his thesis in Economic Integration (Common Market). He comes from a family that was the largest ship owner in the Caribbean. He has a track record of good
success in business. In fact, business has a friend in Jacob. He has ventures in gold mining, manufacturing and construction materials, shipping, the fish industry, poultry and other agricultural activities and in the hospitality industry. Upon seeing his name on the Coalition’s list, I asked him why he took the decision to step forward. He said that after 50 years, Guyana has moved from one of the best to the worse countries in the English-speaking Caribbean. He said that he believes that Mr. David Granger is a man of integrity and that the coalition is the best thing for Guyana. It is about healing and uniting the nation and moving Guyana forward. He said that God has blessed him with enough therefore he wants nothing from the coalition; he wants to help in policy-making and to serve in the interest of the people of Guyana. Jacob is all for change. God has prepared
him well. Jacob is a man of the people. Citizens will recall that in early 1994, when the city was struggling with providing even basic garbage collection and disposal services, he with a handful of his friends cleared the entire city of thousands of tons of garbage with equipment he borrowed from his brothers; he did not seek a reward for that assistance. That’s the kind of person he is; someone who loves to give. Again, in 1999, he along with his family especially his wife and two sisters, Pastor Lynette and Jennifer (Minister of the Gospel) assisted the religious community. He stepped forward with his own resources to manage the biggest crusade yet in Guyana with Pastor Benny Hinn. People from almost every administrative region of Guyana attended that crusade. When others said it could Continued on page 23
The move to denigrate the Opposition DEAR EDITOR, I note a wild and “Goebelistic” statement from the PPP offering some most disgusting utterances against Cde Moses Nagamootoo. Such illusion and political fantasy cannot be allowed to stand. The real questions that remain unanswered in this campaign is “who is the real Presidential Candidate of the PPP and can the real Donald Ramotar please step forward? What any rational mind can tell you is that since 2011, Mr. Ramotar has failed to identify with what people really want and has a major credibility issue on the menu
of public policies to take the nation forward. Rather than appearing presidential, he comes across to the majority in Guyana as a puppet; as a fifth wheel to the PPP broken coach. When it come to providing the answers on what he can do for Guyana, he collapses into a sincerity crisis since he clearly is not the repository of any original ideas; he runs “shirt tail” for the Jagdeo cabal and their crooked ideology called Jagdeoism which is basically - tax more and borrow more and spend more with now care for tomorrow.
When Ramotar arrived in Linden to address the smallest PPP rally ever (with mainly non-Region Ten people) in the mining town, even the trucked in PPP supporters could have seen that he is incapable of effectively interacting with the voters. Why? Donald is ashamed that he is the worst President in the history of Guyana who has utterly and completely failed to keep any promises. It was this same Ramotar who in 2011 begged the people to give him a chance and in return he promised them Local Government Elections by
2012. History will show this was another broken promise. Now again he has come with the same worn out promise of Local Government elections in 12 months time. Clearly he has learnt nothing since 2011. The Guyanese people have already disengaged from him and his rotten bunch of ripe tomatoes. For the record, both Mr. Granger and Mr Nagamootoo have promised the people to announce a date for Local Government elections within the first 100 days and I will be first in line to hold them to this promise. Sase Singh
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Joint Services ranks trained to operate heavy duty equipment …to deal with possible elections disturbances With the help of local construction and quarrying giant BK International, the local security forces have strengthened another weak area in their armour, especially when it comes to dealing with electionsrelated obstructions. Nineteen ranks from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force yesterday received certification as heavy duty equipment operators, after two weeks of rigorous training at the BK Quarries at Teperu. With the training, the security forces will not have to rely on reluctant civilians to clear obstacles that are usually associated with postelections disturbances. In addition, the certified ranks walked away with skills that could prove beneficial should they seek other avenues of employment.
The ranks received training in the operation of bulldozers, front end loaders, excavators and draglines. Speaking at a simple ceremony in the Boardroom of the BK International on Water Street yesterday, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud said that from a Joint Services perspective, the training was done with one main objective in mind. According to Persaud, in addressing the security arrangements for the upcoming elections, training has been a major part of preparation. He pointed out that in the past whenever there were public order incidents, citizens would usually block public carriageways with heavy objects and this necessitates the use of heavy duty equipment. “One of the difficulties we had in the past was to find
Participants of the Heavy Duty Equipment Training programme pose with BK International officials, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and others yesterday. heavy duty equipment to remove them (heavy objects) and when we do find those equipment, we have to find operators that are willing to take the risks associated with operating among protestors who are not necessarily calm and orderly as you are, and so that fear causes them to not to come forward,” the Commissioner explained. He said that the training has put the Force in a state of readiness for this year’s elections, and if necessary, future incidents of similar nature. Even if the ranks who underwent the training should leave the agencies they are currently serving, there are plans to make similar training a regular feature of BK International on
a yearly basis. This is among the recommendations made by one of the course participants, who also urged that those who were trained be seconded to other government agencies to work on development contracts, whenever the need arises, instead of having them languishing with the acquired skills. Outlining the genesis of the training programme, BK International Public Relations Consultant Alex Graham explained that the company recognized that in addition to producing aggregates at its Essequibo river quarry, it could develop and implement training progammes and apprenticeship schemes in disciplines related to heavy
duty machinery, among others. “Our installations at the quarry allow us to accommodate the staff compliment required for our operation at full capacity as well as to accommodate apprentices and students on training programmes and work study assignments. The successful participants today are a testimony to those efforts,” Graham said. The initiative taken by the company was praised by Clinton Williams the chairman of the board of industrial training, which has over the years been organizing various training schemes. According to Williams, as long as the Board of Industrial Training exists, it will continue to work with entities like BK international to ensure that Guyana gets the required
skills necessary for its development. “I want to say that the BK Group has stood out. They’re a very important and critical part of this process…because without these facilitators, the programmes will go to zero. Where is the practice? Who will employ you thereafter? Let me say that we believe this should serve not only the purpose of ensuring that we remove the barrications, at times when needed … but there will be requirements for this type of skill,” Williams stated. He said that since the participants of the recent heavy duty equipment training programme are in the forefront of ensuring the nation’s security, they will be able to utilize the skills in times of civil emergencies as well.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
White House agrees to give Congress a say on Iran deal WASHINGTON (AP) — Bowing to pressure from Republicans and his own party, President Barack Obama on Tuesday relented to a compromise empowering Congress to reject his emerging nuclear pact with Iran. The rare and reluctant agreement between the president and the Republican-led Congress came after the White House maintained for weeks that congressional interference could jeopardize sensitive negotiations with Tehran. But lawmakers refused to back down from their insistence that Congress have a formal role in what could be a historic deal to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved the compromise bill shortly after White House spokesman Josh Earnest conveyed the president’s decision to sign it. “Maybe they saw the handwriting on the wall,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said after the White House dropped its opposition. Both houses of Congress are now likely to pass the bill, which cleared the committee 19-0. It’s expected to come before the full Senate as soon as next week. A vote on an actual agreement to lift economic sanctions in exchange for Iranian nuclear concessions would come later, if negotiations between the Obama administration, Iran and five other nations come to fruition. Obama retains his right to veto any attempt by Congress to scuttle such a pact if the time comes. To override a veto would require a twothirds majority of both the House and Senate, meaning some Democrats would have to oppose their president to sink a deal. The White House’s announcement came after an intensive administration ef-
Protestors during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting to debate and vote on S.615, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington. fort to prevent Democrats from signing on to legislation requiring Obama to submit any pact with Iran to Congress. International negotiators are trying to reach a deal blocking Iran’s path toward nuclear weapons in exchange for relief from economic sanctions that are crippling its economy. “We believe it is our role to ensure that any deal with Iran makes them accountable, is transparent and is enforceable,” said Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of Foreign Relations Committee. Corker said Secretary of State John Kerry was lobbying against the legislation on Capitol Hill a few hours before the vote. The Republican said the White House’s sudden support was dictated by the number of senators — Republicans and Democrats — backing the measure. “I supported today’s compromise after the administration assured me that the reworked bill would preserve our negotiators’ ability to do their jobs,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. Obama, whose foreign policy legacy would be burnished by a deal with Iran,
has been in a standoff for months with lawmakers who said Congress should have a chance to weigh in and remain skeptical that Iran will honor an agreement. The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China reached a preliminary agreement with Iran on April 2 to curb its nuclear program and hope to finalize a pact by June 30. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who opposed the original bill as “harmful to the negotiations,” sent a letter to colleagues late Tuesday expressing support for the compromise worked out by Corker and Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. Earnest said the White House would withhold final judgment on the bill while it works its way through Congress, wary that potential changes could be made in committee that would render it unpalatable. But he said the White House could support the compromise in its current form. “Despite the things about it that we don’t like, enough substantial changes have been made that the president would be willing to sign it,” Earnest said.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 9
LEAVE THE DEAD ALONE! APNU is resurrecting the dead. Not to vote. In the 1973 elections, those long entombed and cremated suddenly rose from the dead and voted. You need not ask which party they voted for. Hopefully those days are over. There may still be a few dead persons on the list, but the system has checks and balances to prevent that person from voting or having someone vote for the dead. One of those checks and balances is the right of political parties to assign polling agents to every polling station. The problem arises when a polling agent who is registered in one area
has to work for his or her political party in another area. By law, someone can only vote outside of the area in which they are registered to vote if that person is a staff member of GECOM and is forced to work on polling day outside of where they are registered. Last elections, APNU had tried to obtain letters of employment for their polling agents so as to facilitate them voting where they are stationed on Election Day that is outside of the area where they are registered to vote. This matter has long been laid to rest by GECOM. It has rightly ruled that polling
agents are not employed by GECOM and therefore have no entitlement to any employment letter. This is a correct position, and if GECOM were to rule otherwise it could lead to a legal challenge that could result in the vitiating of the elections. Just why APNU wants to resurrect this matter is not clear. But surely they cannot expect GECOM to designate the polling agents of political parties as employees of GECOM. That would be unlawful, and it would also be improper. GECOM already have their hands full. GECOM will have to do paperwork for each
Dem boys seh...
De Marriott twist and Benn trying to straighten it Brassington, Ashni and Donald Dumb decide fuh open de Marriott tomorrow. Dem invite nuff people; even Rumjattan wha cuss de hotel more than dem boys get invite, but dem boys nah get none. Dem boys plan fuh attend anyhow, but dem carrying a placard. De food done order since last night and Brassington been to Movie Town at Princess night before de last. He carry he daughter. Gone are de days when daughters use to cook like dem mothers. Now dem drinking like dem fathers. A lot of drinkers been at Movie Town. And is dem same drinkers supervise de Marriott. That is why de Marriott twist. Dem boys hear dem hire Benn to straighten it, but he tell dem he can’t done it in time fuh tomorrow opening.
Right away Donald seh that de opening got to carry through,even if you got to change de name from Marriott. Donald tell dem ‘don’t ever let me hear all-you call it Brazziott, Bharriott or Babbiott. It ain’t belong to none of de three of dem’. Somebody suggest That Idiott. Brazzy start fuh sample all de food. He sample portions does be wha the average person does eat fuh a whole meal. De new Manager did plan fuh put he in de kitchen, because if dem put he outside by the beach, people gon mistake he fuh a beached whale. Fuh sure Bharriott and Babbiott gun be near the hotel safe, because everybody know dem does worship money. Dem boys hear that
Granger and Moses suggest that de jail in Georgetown change its name. It can’t be Camp Street anymore, it will soon be Scamp Street jail because of who gun end up there. Who gun end up there? Call name and dem boys gun whistle. And dem boys got a message fuh all dem Bharriotts. “Search for a good heart; don’t search fuh a beautiful face, because beautiful things are not always good, but good things are always beautiful. Talk half and think about that.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood.
of the expected three thousand polling agents. This paperwork would be necessary to allow these polling agents access to the polling stations to which they are assigned by the respective political parties. Even if it were legally possible, it would be unreasonable and too demanding to now ask GECOM to prepare more than three thousand letters to facilitate polling agents to vote in the same place where they are working. GECOM has more important things to do than to be issuing such letters to polling agents. This matter was long settled since the last elections. Why now is APNU attempting to resurrect it? It should not seriously affect the APNU+AFC coalition’s ability to monitor the polls. It did not affect them the last time and this time it should be easier. It is accepted that in some areas, APNU may not be able to find a single person who is their supporter and willing to be a polling agent. The PPPC will have similar problems in some areas known to be strongholds of APNU. But APNU+AFC is now contesting the elections as a coalition. Surely if there are areas where APNU cannot find a supporter to be in the polling station as a polling agent, the AFC should be able to do so.
There is therefore no reason why each polling agent identified by APNU+AFC cannot be stationed in the polling station where he or she has to vote. The Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) has to find thousands of observers for the elections. They too face the problem that these agents may be required to vote at one polling station area and observe the elections at another. To avoid problems they have decided that their observers on polling day will be stationed at the polling stations where they have to vote. While this could present some conflicts of interest for the observers of the EAB, it is beneficial for the polling agents of the political parties to be stationed in the polling station where they have to vote. They would most likely live in the area where they
vote, and therefore would be familiar with the persons who are likely to be voting there. As such, if there is any attempt at impersonation, these polling agents can use their knowledge of the persons in their communities to pick out the fraudsters. It therefore makes good sense for the various political parties to assign polling agents to the stations where these agents have to vote. There is therefore no need for APNU to challenge the decision of GECOM not to issue the letters. In any event, the combined opposition never sought in the ninth parliament to introduce any legislative changes to allow for such letters to be issued by GECOM to polling agents. The matter is settled, dead and buried. No need to resurrect it.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2015
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
I took my wife to Clinton Urling’s restaurant Last Monday was another session of the Bharrat Jagdeo libel. Mr. Jagdeo’s lawyers didn’t turn up. Earlier in the morning, I dropped off my wife to Wortmanville and headed to the courts. My 9.15am case started at 10.15am. This was a sitting of the Full Court. At least I thought the judges would have offered an open apology to me for sitting in that
courtroom with my lawyer, Mr. Nigel Hughes, for over an hour. But as an academic who spent his entire life studying his country, I know the extent to which this country has broken down. Another adjournment was taken by the Full Court over the application by Mr. Jagdeo’s lawyers to file an appeal to prevent Lincoln Lewis from giving testimony. They are asking for
permission to file the appeal out of time. And guess how long they took and didn’t file the appeal? Nine months. When this Full Court hearing and the libel case proper are completed, I will definitely do a manuscript on my experience with and interpretation of Guyana’s judicial system. But wish me good health as you read my columns. I may not live to see the conclusions because of the time this case is taking. Mr. Jagdeo built a whole hotel during the time that case was being heard. After the no-show by Mr. Jagdeo’s lawyers, I picked my wife up at Wortmanville and we went to German’s Restaurant, owned by Clinton Urling, to have split peas soup. I wanted to go to German’s for two reasons. First, to temper any boycott call that is being planned. I don’t have a Facebook page,
but I heard that there is an advocacy on Facebook for a boycott of the soup man because of his candidacy for the PPP in the general elections. Secondly, I faced some justified criticism for the way I penned a critique of Urling in my March 19 column. Imran Khan, PR consultant for the Alliance for Change, didn’t seem to like the word “cookshop”. Dale Andrews of this newspaper felt I shouldn’t have emphasized the two robberies that took place outside the restaurant. Both Khan and Andrews are right. The choice of word to describe the operation was inelegant. I apologize to readers. Robberies take place all over Guyana and my description could have caused people to avoid Mr. Urling’s Tiger Bay entity. If there is a boycott of Mr. Urling’s restaurant I will support it, but with one huge condition. The boycott must have context. And the context cannot be Urling’s PPP candidacy. It has to be something far more morally questionable. During the 2012 campaign to explain the budget cuts, I spoke at a Stabroek Market
Square public meeting where I suggested a boycott of German’s, but I didn’t repeat it. I have gone back to German’s since 2012 more times than I can count. With a rising tide against Mr. Urling’s PPP embrace, subtle shouts are being heard for a boycott of German’s. I cannot support such action and will not support it for moral reasons. Here I am speaking for me only. I am refusing to boycott German’s because of how I see life. And the way I see life, it will not be possible, contextually speaking, to discontinue my patronage. People buy at Muneshwer’s. I would close my eyes and say that I find Clinton Urling a far more acceptable person than any of the Muneshwer’s. That is my opinion that I am entitled to express. I patronize Survival Supermarket quite often. The things workers there complained to me about this business place cannot be published here out of fear of libel. Give me a Clinton Urling any day than an Eddie Boyer, and I buy at National Hardware. I have an account at a commercial bank that refuses to have trade union
Frederick Kissoon representation. I could name more than a dozen places where those who want to avoid spending at German’s will willingly walk into those places. There are three popular stores whose management told me plainly that they will not discontinue the ‘whites only’ faces in their advertisements. They say they want white faces in their ads. If we withhold our purchasing power from Urling, we must do so for others who are far worse people than Urling. Because of what I wrote about the two robberies that have deterred me from taking my wife ever again to German’s, I felt I had an obligation to Urling to take her back there, and I did so last Monday. Urling’s food and local juices are way too expensive. That will deter me from buying there again.
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Failure to wear life jackets aboard speedboats is a maritime violation – MARAD Director
Only a few passengers aboard this boat opted to wear a life jacket For some people it is merely a habit to board a speedboat and travel to a destination without even strapping on a life jacket. This practice was recently observed by a Kaieteur News reporter during a trip to Bartica, Region Seven, recently. Travelling to Bartica in a speedboat requires one to board the boat at the Parika Stelling. Ahead of boarding the vessel, the names of passengers are recorded, after which they are escorted to the vessel. Ensuring that the vessel is filled to capacity is the task of the bow-man after which the Captain starts the engine as part of his duty to transport passengers to the final destination – the Bartica dock. At the start of the trip in question there was no warning that the vessel was about to take off. But even after it became clear that the vessel was en route, no appeals were made for passengers to strap on their life jackets. However, some persons, including the reporter, proceeded to “strap up.” However, some persons
who started the near onehour long journey with their life jackets on, opted to remove it before reaching their destination. But according to Director General of the Guyana Maritime Administration (MARAD), Ms Claudette Rogers, the failure to wear a life jacket is in fact a violation of the Maritime safety regulations. “The licence and regulations clearly state that you must wear your life jacket. There are clear safety regulations and you have to be compliant with the safety regulations,” asserted Rogers. Persons found to be noncompliant, according to her, could be charged by the police and taken before the court. “They (police) are the enforcers so if such a person is found not to be in compliance then we can call in the police,” said the Maritime Director as she pointed out that the captain of the vessel has a responsibility to ensure that the passengers adhere. In fact a female officer attached to MARAD outlined to Kaieteur News that the captain reserves the right to
move the vessel even if all passengers, including children, are not wearing life jackets. “Once the vessel is on its way, there is no compromise with that (wearing life jackets); it is life-safety
equipment that can help to float the body if there is a mishap. You have to comply, because even the best swimmer can drown,” the officer stated. And the wearing life jacket is viewed as a particularly important feature, she added, in light of the fact that opting to not do so has had fatal outcomes. The officer recalled what she described as “a terrible accident” which occurred in the Essequibo River in the vicinity of Cuyuni/Mazaruni, Region Seven, which claimed the lives of 10 persons aboard a speedboat. According to the officer, the common factor among the victims was that they weren’t wearing life jackets. According to Rogers, while the captain is ultimately the one tasked with ensuring that passengers are secured before moving off, the vessel cannot be policed throughout the entire journey. However, she noted that “what we have found though is that captains usually do not report these cases. While we
MARAD Director General, Claudette Rogers are cognisant that it happens they don’t usually come forward and tell us.” She said that this is due to the fact, that some might see it as a rather tedious task since “we would have to get the passengers’ names and all other paraphernalia which sometimes become very difficult to get.” But this should not be a challenge, since the names of all passengers are recorded
ahead of them boarding the vessel. However, Rogers noted that MARAD has engaged in activities to monitor the boating activities, though intermittently. This task is performed by Cadet officers, Rogers said, who “report to us...they let us know exactly what is going on, on the ground. They do impromptu visits and we are working towards having a collaborative effort with other agencies such as the Coast Guard.” “We recognise that this is an area that requires a lot of attention, but we have not been able to respond in the way or time that we would want to, but we are working towards having that corrected,” said Rogers, who disclosed that MARAD’s limitations are linked mainly to human resources. Although MARAD has not been keeping statistics of those found violating the rules and regulations, Rogers said that “it is a good area that we will be looking at in the not too distant future.”
Port Mourant workers down tools in protest Workers from the Albion/ Port Mourant estate downed tools yesterday in protest for what they perceive as a result of a price dispute for their services. According to one worker, they had worked all day on Monday last, with the understanding that they would be paid $200 a row for the cane. However, yesterday morning when they turned up for work, they were not paid for their labour. They subsequently refused to work. According to a source, there is a weight at which workers cut and load their cane, for which they are paid a fixed price. Workers, however, sometimes have to take into account obstacles in the fields
that would impede their progress when cutting and traversing with the cane, such as vines and weeds. There is no fixed price for this and these prices are normally negotiated between Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the workers. When Kaieteur News made contact with General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) Seepaul Narine, he confirmed the strike action, stating that it was as a result of a pricing dispute and conditions of work. According to Narine, the workers had planned to withhold their services until the matter was resolved, however after a meeting between union representatives and
GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine management of GuySuCo, a tentative truce was reached. He also said that workers
should be turning back out to work on the basis that GuySuCo will review their pricing structure and come up with one more amiable to the sugar workers. Guyana’s sugar target for 2015 is set at 240,000 tonnes. The projected target for last year was 216,000 tonnes. Though GuySuCo was able to meet its target last year, the industry has faced a slew of problems, not least of which is the Skeldon sugar factory. The US$200M Chinese-built facility has been a drag on the sugar industry, with costs of production above all the other factories in Demerara and Berbice. It has also failed to reach its targets on a consistent basis.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Farmers upset due to poor irrigation systems of Hope Canal project By Nicholas Peters Irrigation is a vital component in farming as it provides the necessary regulatory measures needed for crop production. However for farmers surrounding the East Demerara Water
Conservancy (EDWC)’s Hope Canal project, irrigation has become an issue of troubling concern, and is hindering their livelihoods. Since the construction of the $3.6B facility, farmers in the backlands of the East
Coast Demerara community of Hope have been plagued by irregular irrigation problems which have resulted in loss of crops. The Hope Canal project was expected to be the answer to the flooding experienced in the Mahaica/
Irrigation in place for farmers in Hope backlands.
Mahaicony/Abary (MMA) areas during rainy periods, and would be operational as the rainy season sets in. The Hope farmers have said that their crops are under threat from flooding and uncommon drought. According to them, they were advised that such irregularities would not happen, since the EDWC’s Hope Canal would prevent such losses and increase production. To their dismay that has not happened. “Since the construction of the canal our crops suffered big losses,” said farmer Roy Doodnauth, “last month (March) we lost three crops already”. He explained that the irrigation systems which were in place before the construction of the canal have now been cut off from their regular paths since construction started. This has resulted in the poor flow of water to crops causing the huge losses. Doodnauth highlighted the issue of the lands which farmers sold to make way for
the Hope Canal being overcultivated with rice crops. This has posed a troubling issue for the farmer as the rice farmers are continually encroaching on the surrounding crops and further damaging what little harvest they have. Doodnauth related to this publication that as of yesterday the problem continues to persist, with crops “drying up” as a result of the poor irrigation in place. In further explaining the situation of farmers in the area, another farmer, Curt Washington said that the irrigation trench which was set up is “ineffective” in its operation. “When the rain falls we getting a flood and when the dry weather comes there is limited water,” said Washington, who emphasised that the trench is not properly maintained which is the reason for the faulty irrigation. “The water isn’t being diverted properly and it’s affecting how we make a living,” said Washington.
This is despite being promised that an irrigation system would be set up with the farmers’ interest in mind. Raising the same concerns was Ferose Mohamed. He said that as a farmer with a variety of crops like bora, squash and baigan, the poor irrigation system is dealing a huge blow to his livelihood. Mohamed related that he has talked to the managers connected to the Hope Canal project, but has seen little to no improvements on the situation. “The trenches are not cleaned and that’s just adding to our problem,” said Mohamed. He explained that the irrigation system set up by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) was meant to supply water to not only Hope, but other villages along the EDWC. According to Mohamed, and the rest of the farmers, this has caused an added strain on the water supply and further compounds the problem they face with their crops.
Stewartville woman killed by speeding driver
A 33-year-old woman was killed at around 19.00 hrs yesterday at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, by a speeding driver who ignored pleas by the victim’s brother to take her to a hospital. Forde, who worked at an internet café, was hurled into a trench and was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Eyewitnesses said that the driver fled the scene but was later arrested at a relative’s home and detained at the Leonora Police Station. The victim was reportedly standing on the West Coast Demerara public road, near Stewartville, with her mother, six-year-old son and other relatives when the tragedy occurred. Her mother, Olnie Forde, said that Vanessa was waiting on her brother, before heading to her home, when a car, which was heading west, “came at
DEAD: Vanessa Forde one speed” and struck her daughter, who was holding a bicycle at the time. Mrs. Forde said that after the car had passed, she looked around, but did not see her daughter. “I say where my daughter deh?” She said that Vanessa’s brother, who had just arrived
at the scene, saw his sister lying in a nearby trench. The brother, Sheldon Forde, said the driver who had struck his sister stopped a short distance away. He told Kaieteur News that he ran to the vehicle, and saw that a woman and a child were also inside. “I run up to the car and tell he (the driver) to take my sister to the hospital and he just drive away.” However, he managed to see and memorise the licence number. Eventually, a minibus driver took the injured woman to the West Coast Demerara Regional Hospital, but doctors were unable to save her. A distraught Sheldon Forde noted that his sister and relatives were standing near a street-lamp, and should have been clearly visible to the driver. “Just like that this man kill my sister? He didn’t see her?”
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
Pensioners dissatisfied at handling of contribution payments, monthly claims One of the functions of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is the provision of old age pension to retired Guyanese above the age of 60. Citizens become eligible for old age pension after working for at least 15 years, and have made the required payment of contributions for that period. At minimum, one’s contributions should add up to 750 allowing them to receive a monthly pension after the NIS has conducted the necessary investigations into that individual’s work history. However, for some persons, although contributions have exceeded the minimum requirements, thus allowing them to collect their due pension, the NIS seems apprehensive to cash in these payments. Such is the case for former Police Officer George Roland Nedd. According to Nedd, he has been paying contributions to the institution since 1970 until his retirement in 2010. The retiree has worked not only as a police officer, but in Sea Defence and as a Regional Democratic Chairman for Region Two. As it stands, Nedd’s contributions have exceeded the minimum 750 contributions, to over 1000. This would therefore make him eligible to receive monthly pensions above the current minimum payment. While this should be the case, Nedd has reported to this publication that four years after his retirement he is yet to receive his due pension. “They’ve been telling me one thing over and over for the past four years,” said the 64-year-old, with records of his contributions in hand. Despite having in his possession the necessary paperwork to validate his payment of contributions, Nedd explained that nothing has come out of his matter. According to Nedd, he has been behind the NIS about his contribution for the
Pensioner George Nedd last four years and has received no response as to an increase in his monthly old age pension. “Every time I go to NIS, they tell me to check back. And every time I check back, I don’t get a response from anybody,” said the former Regional Chairman. In the best of circumstances, this could be considered an isolated incident subject to some human error, however Nedd’s plights comes at a time when the NIS faces an uphill battle in public favour. Nedd is not alone in his years of appeal to the NIS, for receiving due payment. Ian De France is another retiree saying that the NIS is preventing him from receiving his correct monthly pension. The 67-year-old says that he has been back and forth with the NIS for over 10 years in order to get his contributions right. De France related his frustrations as he has made four appeals to the NIS in relation to his contributions, since his retirement in 2007. He had been working since 1964, with contributions amounting to over 900. He has since been behind the NIS with his necessary paperwork and proof of contribution payments to sort out the matter. Much like Nedd, De France explained that the institution has been
very unhelpful in his situation. “Since 2004 I’ve been behind NIS to get conditions right with my pension,” said De France, yet again with documentation to prove his claims. His proof of contributions came from the compilation of his personal pay slips reaching as far back as the 1970s. De France has also had an eclectic work life, spending most of his years employed at Omai Mines. De France further showed that he had been working for above the cut-off point for contributions which would validate his contribution claims. The pensioner has even resorted to writing to the NIS Chairman, Dr Roger Luncheon, about his concerns. He presented a letter of acknowledgment from the Chairman, but has not come closer to resolving the issue surrounding his monthly pension. However, after a decade of back and forth, De France stated that they just have him “running around” with his haversack full of payment slips. “My main concern is: why are these people not responding to my appeals?” expressed a noticeably vexed De France. He subsequently outlined his various medical ailments, saying his pension is vital for him to receive treatment. “I need it.” The cases of De France and Nedd come as Presidential Candidate, Brigadier (retired) David Granger, contesting in the May 11 General and Regional Elections, has called for a “overhaul” of the NIS. Granger expressed his opinion after a question on the efficiency of the institution was asked at a public forum earlier this week. Granger posited that the NIS needs a review of its entire operations, to meet the goals it was meant to achieve when it was set up some 40 years ago. Attempts to reach the NIS yesterday for a comment on both matters proved unsuccessful. (Nicholas Peters)
Skeletal remains found in U.S. identified as Guyanese Birmingham, US- Skeletal remains found in bushes in downtown Birmingham earlier this year have now been identified. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office yesterday said the remains are those of 63year-old Michael Augustus Parkinson, a homeless man who only moved to Birmingham months before he likely died. The cause of Parkinson’s death can’t be determined, but Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said there is no indication of foul play. Birmingham police were called to the scene behind a warehouse in the 600 block of 6th Street North about 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 4. The remains were under brush in an area near I-65. Russell Williams, owner of Russell’s Speed Shop, said he was walking his four dogs near
his business when he made the discovery. He said he spotted what he thought looked like a body and took a closer look. “I was like that’s a skull,” Williams told AL.com in January. Yates said Parkinson was carrying a form of identification issued to area transients. Investigators reached out to Birmingham homeless shelters, and then found family members in Huntsville, Maryland, Michigan and Florida. They were able to obtain medical records to confirm the man’s identity. Parkinson, born in Guyana, lived in Huntsville for a time, but most recently lived in Huntsville before coming to Birmingham. He was last known to be alive in late March or early April of 2014.
Page 21
Labourer jailed for illegal gun, ammo Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced a 23 –year –old man to a total of four years’ imprisonment, after he pleaded guilty to having an illegal firearm and ammunition in his possession. The accused was also fined $100,000. Joel Johnson, who told the court that he has a threemonth-old baby, had seven .38 rounds ammunition in his possession, at Arakaka, Barima –Waini, without being the hold of a firearm licence. He also had a .38 pistol in his possession without being the holder of a firearm licence at the same location The prosecution stated that the defendant was employed as a labourer at a shop at Four Mile. On the day in question, he went to a nearby shop in the same area to visit a female friend. As a result, they had a misunderstanding and an
argument ensued. The accused then threatened to shoot his female friend. The frightened woman then reported the matter to the police station. Subsequently, the police came to the shop in which the accused is employed and conducted a search in his presence, and the firearm and ammunition were recovered. At the time of the search the defendant was the only person at the shop. He was cautioned, told of the offence, arrested and charged. When given the opportunity to address the court, Thompson explained that the gun was never in his possession, since it did not belong to him. He said that the illegal weapon was given to him by his boss, Rhonda Samuels for security purposes. “I showed my friend the
JAILED: Joel Johnson gun and give she one of the rounds, she tek the gun and went to the station and mek a report”, the defendant recalled. He further claimed that the officers assaulted him and told him that they would continue if he did not surrender the gun. The accused was given a two years jail term on the gun possession charge and another two years on the ammunition charge. The sentences will run concurrently.
Bent Street woman charged with drug trafficking
Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry remanded a vendor on Monday, after she was found with a quantity of ganja in her possession. Natasha Jordon, 35, of PP 6 Bent Street, Wortmanville, denied the allegation which stated that on April 10, she had in her possession 43 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. According to Police Corporal Deniro Jones, the police, acting on information, went to the aforementioned address and found the defendant in a shop under the house. The accused was caught by the ranks putting a black plastic bag in her pants. She was asked by the police to remove the bag, and upon opening the bag, the police found 33 transparent plastic bags inside containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.
The woman then told the police, “is a bredren pass and I buy it fuh $4,000. I didn’t sell it all the time”. However, Jordon’s attorney Dexter Todd contradicted the prosecution’s facts. The lawyer informed the court that the alleged narcotic was found in the shop behind a door. He explained that there is no nexus between the drug and his client since the shop is a public place, which is frequently visited by persons. According to the lawyer, before his client was taken to the police station she was forced to change her clothing in front of the policemen. The lawyer stressed that it is mandatory that a female officer be present to arrest a woman. He said that it was after the woman had changed her clothes that the police alleged the narcotic was found in her underwear. The matter was adjourned until April 28.
Page 22
Kaieteur News
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL: CARS & SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 2193900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM VACANCY The #1 Plant Shop expanding: Need hardworking, literate, punctual workers, between age 18-28- Tel: 648-1821 Site engineer, road and architecture, 3-5year experience (male), must have ability to write construction Mothology plan – Tel: 6687104 Vacancy for body work man – Tel: 649-0659 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 695-9880; 669-4755 1 Manager for a Hotel/Club @ Essequibo Coast, experienced in hotel industry, attractive salary & Accommodation – Contact: 226-9768; 642-7963 1 Computer Clerk (Legal) – Call: 226-4283; 258-0213
WANTED Senior Accounts Clerk, 5yrs experienced, CAT or equivalent. Email: snow198390@hotmail.com Business/Economics Writer, email application to snow198390@hotmail.com Pump attendants, cashier at Shell Mc Doom Services Station – Contact: 627-2550; 670-6005 Live in waitress age 20 & older with Secondary Education @ Diamond Gate Liquior Restaurant, Lot 18-19 Belmont Mahaica - Tel: 2285013 1 OFFICE ASSISTANT: Must have motorcycle, car/ van license, able to work flexible hours, from E.B.D. Email: snow198390@hotmail.com Farm workers, 1 male clerkCall: 265-3586 1 mechanic to work in the interior must know about 6BT Cummings and Perkins –Tel: 691-6260 Need worker to work in Trinidad, 1 office clerk, 1 domestic - text or call: 868755-1990
EDUCATIONAL Phonics, Reading, Spelling Classes for children of all ages, limited space available Tel: 675-4379 First AID/CPR course, St. John Headquarters, 110 Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown. Tel: 225-9082, between 9:30- 15:30
TOURS Suriname tour return May 1st -5th, sightseeing of dolphins; shopping –Tel: 639-2663; 644-0185; 6655171
LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Enterprise @ 2 Croal Street, enquire about on internaton drivers permit “join us on face book” –Tel: 622-8162; 227-3869
Porters to work in Grocery Stall, experienced is an asset @ Stabroek Market – Tel: 2269800 1 Male, 3 female general workers @ Land Of Canaan E.B.D – Tel: 225-6337 Salesgirls wanted – Tel: 2276817 Experienced saw man and male cook – Tel: 681-3801 Live- in waitress $60,000 monthly. Live- in domestic $70,000 monthly (must know to cook) - Call: 610-3974 1 Graphic artist, 1 office clerk between 30-40 yearsTel:233-2725 Receptionist to work at Xenon hotel, must be between the ages 35-45 contact 223-5273/4 One DAF 55 truck driver with mechanical skills, preferably from the Land of Canaan area –Tel:592-227-5585
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 -DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL. COM Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel: 698-7807
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Vacant land space at Supply East Bank Demerara –Tel: 227-1744 or 657-9237 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, , JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE - CALL: 675-0767, 627-5098 One 2 bedrooms apartment @ 35 Howes Street- Contact Pet Boy Shop, between the hours 11am-6pm - $45,000 monthly 1-One bedroom apartment to rent at Lyng street Charlestown $35,000 per month- Call: 670-7171 1-Two bedroom apartment to rent at 23B Lyng street Charlestown $50,000 per month- call: 670-7171 Small office space, in regent street (back building) – Call: 664-4304 Church to rent @ 180 Charlotte Street - $150,000 negotiable -Contact: 2276817; 624-7341 One bedroom apartment 25FTX22FT prefer working couple or single person – Call: 638-8858 WANTED
Minibus driver living in G/ Town for relief on SundaysTel: 687-8728
1 Inventory clerk, apply @ Technical Services Inc, Eccles Industrial Site, EBD.
Two Cleaner -Age 16-18yrs. Referable from Eccles to Diamond - Tel # 600-5253
1 maid to cook & clean @ East Bank area –Tel:614-4358
Manager for 704 Contact 223-5273/4 Office clerk: CXC English, Mathematics. Live in, live out babysitter/domestic- Call: 219-5354
HOUSEKEEPER TO WORK AT HOTEL- CALL: 6382027 Minibus driver living in G/ Town for relief on SundaysTel: 687-8728
Wednesday April 15, 2015
SALON
LEARN TO DANCE
FOR SALE
Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
Learn To Dance Latin Style: Salsa, Merengue, Tango, Waltz Etc. Call:612-6475; 629-8842
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc -Call: 225-9032, 647-2943
SERVICES
VEHICLE FOR SALE
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
Toyota Prado, Price$4.7M Neg. Call: 643-2403
Advertisements; Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves. Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building visadocumentsgy@yahoo.com Call : 225-6496, 662-6045 Mahadeo Construction for all construction, carpentry, masonry, pluming, painting etc. Free estimates and plan Contact # 669-7376 Accounting & Taxation Services: tax returns, compliances, financial statements. Avinash Persaud Tax Consultancy, 163 Parika, EBE - Call: 260-4762. Your Dream Yard Today! Stunning designs, Assortment, colourful plant choices, Professional Landscapers Tel: 219-0468/ 648-1821 Balloon decorating for birthdays, weddings, anniversary etc, make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 Eagle’s fridge re-gas - $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 646-0966 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS- CALL:6294946 OR 225-4822 For tree & hedge trimming, weeding, clearing & spraying of land- Call:610-9187, 6489750 & 685-5425 For your (NIS) National Insurance Needs – Call: 6096952; 682-7879 PENPAL Guys & Dolls; meet your match singles only! 1 Hour link –Tel: 592-223-8237; 6486098; 8:30am-5pm (both phones same hours)
AT212 Carina PJJ series good condition, recently sprayed - $1,150,000 negotiable Tel: 666-6618; 615-5925 Deals! Deals! Deals! Venus Auto Sale, new model Toyota Spacio, front and back camera/TV/CD/Navi – Call: 682-5117 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 New Model Allion $3.300, 2004 Spacio $2.050, Registered Spacio $1.7M Call: 655-3400 To y o t a Vo x y t o b e registered in “B” series $2.1M & ‘G’ series $1.7M - Tel: 617-2891 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom, Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 Blow Out Sales @ Star Cars Auto Sale- Premio, Spacio, Bluebird, IST, Benz, Alteeza, free alarm- Tel: 679-3140 Toyota Premio 2003 $2.350M, Toyota Spacio 2004- $2.150M – Contact: 2275950; 681-7117 Truck GNN5366, Car PMM 755 – Contact:613-5212 Mercedes –Benz C200 Kompressor, left hand driver, automatic, 2005 model, low mileage, excellent condition, negotiable –Call: 624-5130 Unregistered Toyota IST fully Loaded - $2.1M – Call: 657-1796 1 L-Touring Wagon, flair kit, remote start- $1.450,000, 1 Honda CRV, $1.850, 000, 1 AT192 - $850, 000. All in good condition, price negotiable –Tel: 626-2884 Toyota Fun Cargo, PMM series, 1300cc, HID lights, AC -$1.150M –Tel: 677-9544 Toyota Raum new model, excellent condition, 1st owner -$1.3M negotiable – Contact Kim: 685-7728. 1 Toyota Vigo, manual transmission – Tel:6005759
Great Deals on video games and all gaming consoles – Call: 672-2566; 265-3232 Stamp collection selling out, rare stamps, coins, documents, comic books, LP records, etc - Contact: 2276817; 226-5183; 624-7141 Cosmetologist is migrating and is selling out her salon equipmentsa- Call:6812500 Cummings complete genset generator 4CYL 30KVA, 2011 Ducati 1198’s superbike, pearl white, CH series original –Tel: 684-2838 6X6 TM with free maintenance schedule includes accessories for logs & fuel –Contact: 670-6521; 680-3154 Male Enhancement - Tel: 642-6664 Computer paper, American locks, transformers, door exit device –Tel: 233-2725 Dredge engines 1 6 cylinder German deutz, 2-3 cylinder Perkins on bed, 5" housing & bearing block, 8"-6" razor blade pump. Tel:666-6618; 615-5925 Complete 6" dredge with Honda ATV and Pickup (24CYL – deutz engine) -$5.5M negotiable - Tel:666-6618; 615-5925 Foreign used Yamaha outboard engines 15HP, 225HP and spare parts Yamaha 4 stroke jet ski –Tel:666-6618; 615-5925 1 Mini marine tanker capacity 11,500 Gallons – Tel:227-1744 or 657-9237 1 Exhaust box, 600 amp automatic, change over switch –Tel: 627-7835 One new Samsung refrigerator (French door with drawer), size: 35.78"WX70"HX35.67"D – Contact: 622-5512; 687-5006 Hymac, 200KVA CAT generators, portable, hours 07115, G3 John boat 14Ft, 25HP 4 Stroke Yamaha, 399 Massey Ferguson tractor – Tel: 601-1138 Unregistered 2006 Toyota rush - $2.9M negotiable, unregistered 2007 Mitsubishi hard top convertible -$2.8M negotiable, owner migrating – Call:629-2314 Continued on page 23
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
Jacob Rambarran... Reclaiming the $10,000 voucher
From page 5 not be done Mr. Rambarran demonstrated that it was possible. At the end of that mega event, Pastor, Benny Hinn said it was the first time he had had a crusade, in this part of the world, without any glitches. In 2005, during the great flood, he travelled to many rural communities and provided much-needed assistance to citizens. I applaud him for standing up and committing to work with and support the political process to improve the quality of live for all Guyanese. Royston King
PPP/C promises to strengthen security measures to combat crime People Progressive Party/Civic Prime Ministerial hopeful, Elisabeth Harper, in an interview to update Guyanese in the diaspora throughout the United States and Canada on the upcoming May 11 General and Regional Elections, indicated that her party intends to reveal a 15-point plan to revive Guyana’s failing criminal system, if re-elected to office. During an interview conducted by Dr. Rudy R. Jadoopat in the New York-based ITV Studio, on Friday last, Harper explained that the “15-point plan” will be outlined when the ruling party unveils its manifesto. According to Harper, the plan for crime will be introduced “to professionalise and help the police force to become more professional”. She said that the essence of the plan is to ensure that there is “sufficient training of the police, equipping of the force, ensuring the force is more responsive [by having] quicker response time to 911 emergency calls, and community policing.” These, according to the Prime Ministerial Candidate, are the key areas which the party will be looking at with respect to fighting crime. However, Dr. Jadoopat interjected to highlight the fact that most of the measures Harper listed to tackle these “key areas” of crime, have been in place for many years, but are not functioning under the current administration. To this, Harper responded, “we are looking at strengthening the systems that are in place” and will be “adding new systems as well.” To further address the issue, Harper said that the ruling party intends to increase the numbers within the police force. However, no mention was made as to increasing police officers’ salary, which former Commissioner of Police Winston Felix, outlined as one of the primary reasons that police are not cracking down on the upsurge of crime in Guyana. Felix made this statement early last month, when he explained that there is urgent need for police reform in Guyana. He said that the root of the problems facing the police force, are poor salaries, poor police standards, and poor facilities, coupled with the fact that the efforts of Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee to reform the force will never be effective, since they did not deal with the real issues in this regard. At a forum held by the Guyana Women Roundtable, in collaboration with Guyana National Youth Council, at the Theatre Guild, Parade Street, on Monday, APNU+AFC presidential hopeful, Brig. David Granger, also lamented that police officers are underpaid, and are therefore not sufficiently incensed to perform their duties. Harper however expressed unwavering confidence in her party’s intended strategy to combat crime, by what she referred to as its dedication to create a “safer, more secure and more stable Guyana.” She went on to say that in achieving this vision, the PPP/C also plans to strengthen the justice system, so as to address the issue of backlog of cases in the court.
New probe launched... (From page 3) something could not have been done about the abscess, he replied in an insolent manner, ‘you need to be more educated about your niece’s situation,’” said Benons. The families, along with the Critchlows, are still maintaining that their children died due to negligence by health practitioners. Last month, four-month-old Kevon Critchlow died less than 24 hours after being injected by a nurse at the Plaisance health centre. Although the preliminary post mortem indicated that the child died of brain hemorrhage, the family maintains that he was given a wrong injection. Two weeks earlier Akeela Benons died after she visited GPHC with a fever. The post mortem results showed that the child died from three pre-existing conditions: Septic Shock, Bronchopneumonia and a Brain Abscess.
DEAR EDITOR, Ever so often the Government would boast about its input within the education sector. However that can be far from the truth. I have a child who attends the Enmore Hope Primary School who came home to me one day telling me that his teacher was asking for a donation to purchase a water dispenser for the class. I have no problem making such a contribution because to my knowledge at some point my child will also benefit from the water dispenser. I decided to pay my child’s class teacher a visit since I became concerned about the sudden need for a water dispenser.
What my child’s teacher told me came as a total surprise. I was told that the school was visited by officials of the Ministry of Education who instructed that every class be equipped with a water dispenser and water. Do the Maths for thirty children in a class; a minimum of two five-gallon bottles per a day. I was further told by the teacher that when the issue of financial capabilities by parents was raised with the Education officials the teachers were told to approach business persons in the village for financial assistance. This is tantamount to begging. Bad talk the late President L.F.S. Burnham but under his leadership there
was free education from nursery to tertiary. Schools are now being forced to hold fund-raising activities so as to purchase stationary and teachers have been reduced to beggars, yet the M.o.E would receive a huge chunk from our annual budget. Is it that the Ministry of Educaton is not getting the entire amount of monies that it requested or is it that someone is deliberately misappropriating the funds? It seems as though the government gave out the ten thousand dollars voucher in one hand and is collecting it back with the other hand in the forms of fundraising and water dispensers. Randy Persaud
The metamorphosis of Africo Selman DEAR SIR, It was with a heavy heart that I sat to write this letter because I did not want to say anything about this young lady, but I recently read an article in the Guyana Times in which Ms. Africo Selman was utterly disrespectful to Brigadier David Granger and even pronounced on his class by saying that he cannot match Mrs. Elizabeth Harper for class. I kept reading all the statements she made recently against the People’s National Congress (PNC) and APNU and said to myself that we all have the right to sing for our supper, but in doing so we must stay within our competence. Since when has Ms. Selman acquired the competence to be a judge of class? Ms. Selman announced at the PPP Kitty Rally on March 29, 2015 that she joined the PNC in 2006. In doing so she made it sound as if she walked into a PNC office and joined voluntarily. By her own admission to us she was being encouraged to join the Party by one of its senior functionaries, but was never minded to accept the invitation. The truth of the matter is that my wife and I were looking for a young person to recommend to the PNC as a candidate for the General and Regional Elections of 2006, and, since we knew her from her days of attending Queen’s College, my wife, who always gave her a lift in her vehicle when she saw her awaiting transportation on the East Bank public road, saw her and asked if she would have any objections to have her name submitted to be a candidate
for the upcoming elections. She agreed but showed no interest after. When I saw her behaviour, I told my wife not to worry with her if that is the level of interest she’ll show. Preferring not to listen to me, my wife persevered with her, filled the membership application form, got her to sign it, provided her with the $100 application fee, submitted her name to be a candidate and introduced her to Congress Place. Africo Selman became an Member of Parliament after the 2006 elections and, believe me, she never returned to us in all those
years of her Parliamentary life to express her gratitude to us for what we had done for her. Never did she. This is the person who now holds herself out as a judge of class. What class did she exhibit towards us! Over the years she has metamorphosed from an ugly duckling to a gaggling goose against her political past. It will be useful for her to realize that her world has not ended and that what goes around, comes around. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Lance McCaskey
GuySuCo was... From page 5 They will not maintain a corrupt police force and allow misfits to continue to work in senior management positions. The leaders of the Coalition are original and practical thinkers. They will not hire unqualified and inexperienced party loyalists over qualified and experienced persons. Fifteen years of poor thinking by the Jagdeo/ Ramotar regime to hire unqualified PPP loyalists over qualified persons is part of the problem that has stifled the development of the country and has led to the creation of massive corruption, high unemployment especially among the youths and a high crime rate. The consequence is that Guyana has been paying a heavy price for this warped thinking from its inept leaders, because many government departments and state agencies have been wasting the taxpayers’ money, which
is made even worst in the country’s current economic circumstances. In the case with GuySuCo, the Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabal was never serious about making it profitable because they had several opportunities to do so many years ago by recruiting qualified, and experienced persons who have demonstrated that they are patriotic rather than politically partisan. And, given all that has happened at GuySuCo over the years, the AFC+APNU Coalition if elected must revamp not only GuySuCo but the NIS, GPL and all other government agencies and departments. It has to be a fresh start from the get go. And new appointees should not be controversial or be under a cloud of suspicion. Dr. Asquith Rose, Chandra Deolall, Dr. Merle Spencer-Marks
(From page 22)
FOR SALE 1 Miller Bob Cat, Welding generator 225 amps –Tel: 616-5424; 680-0378 International Truck and trailer –Tel: 624-4076
LAND FOR SALE Vacant transported land at 303 Independence Boulivard, La Penitence, Georgetown, serious inquiries only – Call: 6229998 Blankenburg, 3 lots 75X76 each, $15M, all 3 lots, Parika, Peter Street, lot size 38’X150' - $7.9M-Contact # 650-0402/ 260-4988 50 Acres titled farm land @ The Belle, Upper Dem, River Front -reasonable offer accepted, serious enquiries only! – Tel: 669-8152 Concrete fenced land in high income area in Continental / Republic Park –Phone: 2330570; 629-7426 5 Star gated community with pool, mall, well, solar powered, get your land/ house-Tel: 609-0783
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Poor response scuttles local Deviant Parliamentarians will Miss World 2015 pageant be thrown out for unacceptable - selected candidate will represent country With the election season seemingly dominating every facet of Guyanese life, it looks like even pageantry has received a blow due to the upcoming General Elections which will be held within a month’s time. Organizers of the local Miss World pageant announced over the weekend that this year’s event has been cancelled as a result of poor applicant responses. While the organizers regret not hosting the event, they said that a suitable person will be chosen to represent Guyana on the international stage. In a public announcement, the Miss World Guyana Board of Directors said that after much consideration, it decided to cancel the 2015 Miss World Guyana pageant and select a representative from the list of current applicants to represent the country at the Miss World 2015 pageant. “The decision to cancel the Miss World-Guyana 2015 pageant is as a result of poor response from in-country applicants, which may be linked to National Elections being a priority at this time.” On the contrary, it was stated, the 2015 application process
Miss World-Guyana Franchise Holder, Natasha Martindale saw a greater response from overseas-based Guyanese. The Miss World-Guyana Franchise is currently interviewing qualified applicants who applied on or before the March 20, 2015 deadline. The Miss World Guyana 2015 Representative will be selected and revealed at a special event in June at which Rafieya Husain - Miss World Guyana 2014 - will be presenting her crown to the new Miss World Guyana. The date and venue of the ceremony will be announced
Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.
soon. Franchise Holder Natasha Martindale said that while there will not be a pageant this year, she is confident that Guyana will be well represented. In the meantime, she added, “the Miss World Guyana Organization would like to take this opportunity to have an early start on preparations for the 2016 pageant and focus on finalizing plans for a homecoming fundraiser e v e n t f o r M i s s Wo r l d Guyana 2014 –Continental Queen of Caribbean, Rafieya Husain, as she concludes her reign.” “Miss World-Guyana wishes to apologize to all its devoted supporters and the applicants for the cancellation, but saw this as the best alternative given the current challenges.” The Franchise hopes that in 2016 the Miss WorldGuyana Pageant will be a grand success as it will be the 50th Independence anniversary of Guyana. Miss World 2015 will be the 65th edition of the pageant, and will be held in October. Rolene Strauss of South Africa, the 2014 queen, will crown her successor at the end of that event. Guyana is still striving to be one of the countries fortunate to capture the international crown.
behaviour – APNU+AFC
Standing at the podium, Mrs. Cathy Hughes addresses the audience with Presidential candidate Brigadier David Granger (right). Senior officials of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition have pledged to get rid of party members who break the rules and do not conform to the laws of the country. This is a major concern for citizens who continue to rebuke the current Administration for their “blatant” refusal to reprimand Ministers and other party associates who have broken the law or conducted some inappropriate act while holding public office or when entrusted with some level of power. The matter was one raised during a public candidate forum held at the Theatre Guild on Monday. With the upcoming General and Regional Elections, the public discussion gives citizens a chance to question the politicians on any issue concerning them. The question posed to APNU+AFC senior member Cathy Hughes and Presidential candidate
Brigadier David Granger was the party’s position on the treatment of members or agents when they break the law or use their office/power to act against a citizen or the country. A female member of the audience asked the politicians about a Code of Conduct that would address representatives who sit at high levels of government. The woman asked, if in government, what would happen if one of the party’s members becomes involved in sexual harassment, domestic violence or any such matter. Granger responded that his party has already put forward two codes of service; one for Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and one for the National Assembly. He promised that after the May 11 election, if APNU+AFC gets into power, a Code of Conduct will also be constructed for Cabinet members. Hughes in a passionate response said that it is totally unacceptable to condone
inappropriate behaviour by public figures. She said that in addition to supporting what the party leader said, the party’s position is that if members deviate from normal acceptable behaviour and engage in criminal activities, “then we will throw them out.” To a thunderous round of applause, Hughes stated further that, “There is no way we will be keeping on board anybody that displays unacceptable behaviour.” The issue of reprimanding deviant Parliamentarians was also one addressed when APNU+AFC visited the Essequibo Coast two Saturdays ago. Again it was the public pleading with the party that if they get into power, they do not follow the current Administration and shield their deviated members. Prominent businessman Sam Bacchus detailing a long list of government failures urged that the party adhere to the people’s wishes once voted in. He said that citizens want the power to recall their parliamentarians when they do not conform to the wishes of the people. The biggest argument which seems to support corruption allegations, even if that might not be the case, is the secrecy in which the Administration operates. For instance, Guyana is still to have access to all information concerning the Marriott Hotel, the Amaila Falls project, the CJIA expansion project which was signed in Jamaica and made public by journalists there, among several other major undertakings. This “blatant disrespect” for law and Parliament promoted several court actions.
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
Obama to remove Cuba from state sponsor of terror list
U.S. President Barack Obama, right, smiles as he looks over towards Cuban President Raul Castro. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, the White House announced Tuesday, a key step in his bid to normalize relations between the two countries. The terror designation has been a stain on Cuba’s pride and a major stumbling block for efforts to mend ties between Washington and Havana. In a message to Congress, Obama said the government of Cuba “has not provided any support for international terrorism” over the last six months. He also told lawmakers that Cuba “has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.” Cuba will officially be removed from the terror list 45 days after the president’s message was sent to Congress. Lawmakers could vote to block the move during that window, though Obama would be all-but-certain to veto such a measure. Cuba’s top diplomat for U.S. affairs hailed Obama’s action. “The Cuban government recognizes the president of the United States’ just decision to take Cuba off a list in which it should never have been included,” Josefina Vidal said Tuesday night. “As the Cuban government has said on many occasions, Cuba rejects and condemns all acts of terrorism, in every form, as
well as any action aimed at encouraging, supporting, financing or concealing terrorism.” Tuesday’s announcement comes days after Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro met on the sidelines of a regional summit in Panama. The historic talks marked the first formal meeting between the leaders of their countries in a half-century. The U.S. has long since stopped actively accusing Cuba of supporting terrorism. When Obama and Castro announced a thaw in relations in December, the U.S. president expressed his willingness to remove Cuba from that list. However, he held off on making a final decision amid indications that the White House was reluctant to grant Cuba’s request until other thorny issues — such as restrictions on U.S. diplomats in Havana — were resolved. The president’s final decision followed a State Department review of Cuba’s presence on the list. Removing Cuba from the terror list could pave the way for the opening of a U.S. Embassy in Havana and other steps. Administration officials said they were optimistic about the prospects of opening the embassy, but did not provide any specific updates in timing. Cuba was designated a state sponsor of terror in 1982
because of what the White House said was its efforts “to promote armed revolution by organizations that used terrorism.” Those efforts included support for leftist guerrilla groups in Central and South America that carried out attacks on civilians in their efforts to overthrow U.S.backed governments. State Department reports on the terror list specifically mention Cuba sheltering members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and the Spanish Basque separatist group ETA. Cuba has also given shelter to black and Puerto Rican militants who fled to the island after carrying out attacks in the United States. Cuba renounced its direct support for foreign militants years ago, and is sponsoring peace talks between the FARC and Colombian government. Most of the terror list’s direct legal impact is on relatively narrow issues that don’t affect Cuba due to the longstanding trade embargo on the island and deep historical enmity between the two nations. For example, the listing bars U.S. arms sales and other aid to Cuba, an issue that’s been moot for more than a half-century. However, Cubans say the listing has badly damaged their ability to conduct international financial transactions by frightening banks away from doing business with the communist government. Those who do businesses with state sponsors of terror are vulnerable to lawsuits in U.S. courts. Cuba’s removal from the terror list will likely make it easier to get credit from nonU.S. banks, transfer funds between countries and conduct a host of other international financial transactions. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that taking Cuba off the terror list does not change the fact that the U.S. has differences with the island nation’s government.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Venezuela reduces credit Jamaica’s new “Ganja Law” goes into effect April 15 authorization for travelers abroad CARACAS, Venezuela (UPI) - The Venezuelan government has reduced the amount of money travelers visiting the United States can withdraw from credit cards. Venezuelans visiting abroad can now receive authorization for $700, down from $2,500, for purchases made in the United States, Aruba, Belize, Colombia and Mexico. The move aimed at easing the constant shortage of U.S. currency will save the Venezuelan government about $2.8 billion in 2015, reports Bloomberg. Venezuelans traveling to Argentina, Uruguay, and Bolivia will be authorized to receive up to $1,500 while travelers to Africa, Asia and Eu-
Nicolas Maduro rope will be authorized for up to $2,000. Lowering oil prices have
worsened Venezuela’s recession. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is attempting to increase the country’s finances to avoid a default. The country has a $5.2 billion principal and interest payment due in October and November. Venezuela, which has $20.2 billion in international reserves, owes $20.3 billion due in the coming years. A struggling economy, rising crime and violence between pro-government and opposing forces have plagued the South American country, which recently imposed new visa requirements on U.S. citizens. Tourism to Venezuela could drop about 10 percent because of the visa rules.
KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Jamaica government says the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015, commonly referred to as the “Ganja Law” and passed by both Houses of Parliament in February, goes into effect today. A statement from the Ministry of Justice Monday said that notification of the Governor General’s assent to the Act has been published in the official Gazette and that the Minister of Justice, Mark Golding will bring the legislation into operation this week, April,15. The Ministry of Justice said that the legislation is expected to have a number of positive implications for Jamaica, including strengthening respect for the rule of law and building a more just society, by eliminating a common
cause of corrosive antagonism between the police and young men, particularly in less affluent communities. It said the legislation would reduce the heavy burden of cases on the Resident Magistrates’ Courts and acknowledge the constitutional rights of the Rastafari community, who use
ganja as a sacrament. In addition, the government said the legislation paves the way for the emergence of a lawful, regulated legitimate medicinal and industrial marijuana industry that may have significant economic opportunities and benefits. “This is a landmark piece of legislation, that is long overdue,” Golding said, adding “Jamaica is approaching these reforms in a responsible manner, and in keeping with our international obligations. “The benefits of these reforms will be significant, and the possible negative implications will, for the first time, be mitigated by a public education campaign to discourage ganja use by adolescents, persons with mental disorders, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups,” he added.
Trinidad Guardian - Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley Monday called for a forensic probe into the Office of the Attorney General in the wake of the legal fees payment mix-up. He also said Attorney General Garvin Nicholas must apologise to the country and the Parliament for “misleading” and attempting to “hoodwink” everyone with his “convoluted and disingenuous” explanation of the inaccuracies over the fees presented to the Parliament last month. Rowley made the call at a press briefing at the Opposition’s office, Port-ofSpain, Monday, as he said the AG’s office had once again become a matter of “great concern” and that Nicholas should face parliamentary sanction. He said the House could sanction Nicholas in various ways, including that of a rep-
rimand or a suspension. “Mistakes can be made in Parliament but what we had here is the AG outside of the Parliament taking the position that what he laid in the Parliament had errors. He now has to come back to the Parliament and say what the true story is,” Rowley said. The budgetary allocation to the AG’s office, Rowley said, was unique in the sense that monies made to an AG for hiring private services included attorney, investigators and accountants, and the only person who had the responsibility for selecting people to be hired and determining fees was an attorney general. The Opposition leader added that this was not the duty of a permanent secretary in the office of the AG. He accused the People’s Partnership (PP) Government of substantially raising the allocation for selected people
to be hired. “We were very concerned and we took a lot of time in the Parliament to point out that something was not right and there was just the lavishing of monies to the attorney general,” Rowley said. He said despite questions being filed in the Parliament regarding who was being hired and for how much, former AG Anand Ramlogan never answered. Rowley said for the past four years the allocation to the AG’s office for private services “jumped to $100 million a year,” hence the reason why Nicholas was now forced to publicly explain. Nicholas had ordered a probe of the initial legal fee budget of $343 million he gave to Parliament last month after several attorneys complained that fees attributed to them were inaccurate and in some cases represented double payments.
Mark Golding
Jamaica opposition wants full scale investigation into possible ISIS link Rowley, T&T being misled on legal fees KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Monday called for a full scale independent investigation into a possible link between the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and local citizens. The call follows the decision by Suriname Immigration authorities over the weekend to deny entry to a 16-year-old Jamaican teenager who was suspected of travelling to Turkey in order to join ISIS. Police said the teenager arrived at the Johan Adolf Pengel Airport on a flight from Jamaica, intending to transit to the Netherlands, from where he would travel to Turkey. “He was denied entry to Suriname because we received information from a regional intelligence service that he wanted to join ISIS,” the police said without identifying the teenager. National Security Minister Peter Bunting said the Jamai-
can authorities were instrumental in the apprehension of the teenager and that he is awaiting confirmation from the police on whether there is an ISIS connection. JLP spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith, said the situation warrants a detailed investigation given a recent statement by the authorities here that there was no information of Jamaicans being involved with ISIS. “As to how this has happened, is it happening? How long has it been happening? Bring this to the attention of Parliament so that the people can be exposed to what is likely to happen to any youngster…. It is a very frightening situation,” Smith said. On Monday, the De Ware Tijd newspaper said that on at least two previous occasions, Immigrations officers encountered suspect ISIS recruits at the Johan Adolf
Derrick Smith Pengel Airport, but they were allowed to continue their journeys after Suriname checked their stories with regional intelligence services. The paper did not mention the nationalities and other information about the suspected recruits and neither did it provide a source for the information. It said that Melvin Linscheer, the director of the Bureau National Security, declined to comment on the “information”.
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
Raffik & Sons Construction 2nd div. 20-over cricket in Berbice
Page 27
Letter to the Sports Editor
Chinapen slams 91 for Fyrish; Gibson (4 The WI selectors should for 6), Cummings (3 for 4) for Courtland shed some light on this The Raffik and Sons Construction Services 2nd division 20-over cricket competition, organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) for teams in the Lower/Central Corentyne area continued recently with Yuvendra Chinapen of Fyrish registering the highest score of the competition so far when he slammed 91 against Fyrish Strikers. His knock which included 7 fours and 6 sixes, backed up by 41 from former Berbice under 15 batsman Javed Mohamed, saw Fyrish to 184 for 7 in their 20 overs. Fyrish Strikers for their part gave a good chase with Ravindra Persaud leading the
way with 61 with 4 fours and 5 sixes and Joseph Kamaludin with 43 with 4 fours and 2 sixes but they eventually fell short by 6 runs. Jai Hind of Albion Front, led by 59 (7x4 and 5x6) from Vicky Veerasamy and 37 (3 fours and 3 sixes) from Aakash Singh, amassed an impressive 193 for 7 in 20 overs against Cheskoy Riders who despite a good knock of 57(3 fours and 3 sixes) from Nazrudeen Bux, could only reach 157 for 9 in their 20 overs. Off spinner Veerapen Moonsammy picking up 4 for 18 from 3 overs for Jai Hind. Letter Kenny Young Stars did very well to bowl out defend-
ing champions Courtland All Stars for 82 in 17.4 overs thanks mainly to off spinner Perry Kanhai and former Berbice under 19 per spinner Parasram Tilkuram who picked up 3 wickets each. Their euphoria was however short lived as they were bundled out for 44 in 15.2 overs. Courtland pacers former Berbice senior player Eon Gibson with 4 for 6 from 3.2 overs and Michael Cummings 3 for 4 from 3 overs were too hot to handle. Summarized scores: At Kilcoy Long Dam, Fyrish beat Fyrish Strikers by 6 runs. Fyrish 184 for 7 in 20 overs with Yuvendra Chinapen 91
Wednesday April 15, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If you're a salesperson, Aries, expect orders to roll in today. You're unusually persuasive, making it virtually impossible for anyone to say no to you. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This is a good day to spend with your family, Taurus, as you love to do. Try to get chores out of the way as quickly as possible and schedule something fun for the afternoon. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today's planetary energies may put spiritual matters in your mind, Gemini. You may not be thinking in religious terms. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may be thinking about political or social matters today, Cancer, specifically, the deterioration of the planet. You may be worried about your future and that of your children. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today is going to present not only a continuation but also an intensification of the strong energies that have been pushing you toward self-discovery. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you should be asking yourself a lot of important questions, Virgo. The Universe is pushing you on your journey of selfdiscovery. If you resist, you aren't going to be in a very good mood.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) If you're feeling unappreciated by the people around you, Libra, try going somewhere else. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You could be in an uncomfortable situation with friends today, Scorpio. There may be gossip going around about a mutual friend and you will be tempted to join in. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A close friend or colleague could receive special recognition for good works today. You're pleased with your friend's success, and grateful for your own good fortune. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You may have heard a juicy story about a friend lately and be just dying to share it with your entourage, Capricorn. Be careful with this impulse! The party in question would not appreciate hearing about what you're doing. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It looks as though your ship is about to come in, Aquarius. It's likely that you will receive a letter or call alerting you to good financial news. Your mind may immediately begin to spin with ways to spend this windfall. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today you may find all your recent efforts rewarded. Your quick thinking and astute powers of observation have impressed others. Today you're likely to be recognized in some way.
and Javed Mohamed 41. Yadram Barran 3 for 19 and Devendra Persaud 2 for 22. Fyrish Strikers 178 for 8 in 20 overs with Ravindra Persaud 61 and Joseph Kamaludin 43. Munilall Shivdyal took 3 for 21. At Kilcoy Multipurpose Center, Jai Hind beat Cheskoy Riders by 36 runs. Jai Hind 193 for 7 in 20 overs with Vicky Veerasammy 59, Aakash Singh 37 and Andy Naidu 22. Suraj Dookna 3 for 23 and Kelly Persaud 2 for 43. Cheskoy Riders 157 for 9 in 20 overs with Nazrudeen Bux 57 and Imran Hussain 25. Veerapen Moonsammy 4 for 18. Courtland All Stars beat Letter Kenny Young Stars by 38 runs. Courtland All Stars 82 in 17.4 overs with Keon Sinclair 23. Perry Kanhai 3 for 3, Parasram Tilkuram 3 for 10 and Vinode Samaroo 2 for 25. Letter Kenny Young Stars 44 all out in 15.2 overs. Eon Gibson 4 for 6 and Michael Cummings 3 for 4. At Belvedere, Fyrish Road beat Belvedere United by 4 runs. Fyrish Road 116 for 9 in 20 overs with Saif Latchana 23. Bias Samad 3 for 20 and Ramnarine Permaul 2 for 20. Belvedere United 112 for 8 in 20 overs with Kevin Veerapatren 31. Hassan Hussein 3 for 12 and William Dass 2 for 26.
RHTG&G names...
(From page 29) would be donated to ailing Guyana Chronicle Sports Reporter Calvin Roberts while the remainder would be used for cricket development. The full squad reads: Shawn Pereira, Delbert Hicks, Assad Fudadin, Ashkay Homraj, Vidal Crandon, Khemraj Mahadeo, Leroy Bristol, Collis Butts, Brandon Prashad, Keon Sinclair, Troy Mathieson, Eon Hooper, Sherain Murray, Jason Anderson, Denzil Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson and Sylus Tyndall. Manager is Keith Hicks. The winning team would receive $100,000 and the Busta Cup while the runner-up earns $50,000 and trophy. There would also be prizes for the man-of-the-final, best batsman and best bowler. Gate prizes will also be at stake for lucky patrons including one Tablet, blenders and food hampers.
DEAR EDITOR, I am still puzzled and bemused, and hoping that the West Indies selectors could shed some light on their decision to cut Leon Johnson and Veerasammy Permaul from the West Indies squad I am trying to understand what criteria were used to select Jermaine Blackwood and Sulieman Benn before these two individuals above. Below I submit the recent statistics for Messrs Johnson and Blackwood. Test Figures Test Matches Runs Avg Blackwood 5 243 34.71 Johnson 4 275 39.28 Most recent test tour in South Africa Blackwood 2 96 24.00 Johnson 3 168 33.60 Please note: Blackwood was dropped after the first test. Regional - Four Day Matches Runs Avg Blackwood 8 405 28.92 Johnson 8 465 33.21 With regards to Mr. Permaul, one is left to wonder what next he needs to do to wear West Indies colours again, since being the leading wicket in the regional four day cricket is not enough. I would be most surprised if Benn gets a wicket in the first test. Time will tell. I close by saying that opinions expressed about senility in the hierarchy appear to have some credence, as the affliction seems to have spread throughout the selection panel.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Serene Smith guides Royals to third straight win A perfectly paced unbeaten 79 from Steven Smith anchored a chase of 165 and steered Rajasthan Royals to a seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians. It was Royals’ third win in three games and Mumbai’s third loss in three. Once again, Mumbai’s top order failed, and even though Corey Anderson and Kieron Pollard gave their innings an explosive finish, their sluggish start proved the difference between the two sides. Royals kept wickets in hand through their chase, and built momentum steadily, with a 64-run second-wicket stand between Ajinkya Rahane and Smith laying the foundation for the final charge. When Rahane was dismissed, Royals needed 73 from 41 balls, with eight wickets in hand. Deepak Hooda, promoted to number four, provided some of the impetus, lofting Shreyas Gopal for two massive sixes in one over, before Lasith Malinga took out his leg stump after spotting him walking too far across his
stumps. This left 52 to get from 31. At the fall of Hooda’s wicket, Smith was on 35 off 31, and had struck two fours and no sixes. The change of gears was swift, and it happened in the 17th over. Malinga speared his first two balls into the blockhole. The first one was straight and Smith walked across to clip him over midwicket. The next one was a bit wider to compensate. Smith opened his bat face and steered him past backward point. Fifteen came off that over and Royals were left needing 24 from 18 balls; they got home with five balls remaining. Having chosen to bat, Mumbai were going well enough - 24 for 0 in the middle of the fourth over - when Aaron Finch, stretching for the final stride of a quick single, pulled up with what looked like a hamstring strain. That stalled the momentum the openers had gathered; only four runs came off that over, and Parthiv Patel, com-
ing back on strike after Unmukt Chand managed only one run off the first three balls of the next over, miscued a Dhawal Kulkarni slower ball straight to mid-off. When Rohit Sharma nicked a Stuart Binny outswinger to slip in the seventh over, Mumbai were 31 for 2 - effectively 31 for 3 - and their run-rate had dipped below six an over. By the 10-over mark they had lost Chand and were 45 for 3. Only one run came off the 11th over, bowled by Chris Morris, who kept cramping the left-handed Anderson for room, jagging the ball into him off the pitch and extracting awkward bounce on a couple of occasions to rap him on the handle and the gloves. With some balls skidding through and others stopping on the batsmen, runs were looking extremely hard to get. But Anderson and Pollard stayed alert for the slower balls, ensured they maintained stable bases, and began finding the big hits. Both picked up sixes off James
Leblanc inspires Dominican youth, urges them to dream big
Canada international Karina LeBlanc (center) visited Dominica last month with an inspirational message for its young people. Canada international Karina Leblanc returned to her childhood home in Dominica last month to inspire local youth to ‘dream big’. Leblanc is a UNICEF Ambassador for the ‘No Child left too far’ initiative and visited UNICEF projects, conducted soccer clinics and met with Dominican government officials. ”It was so special and different to me,” Leblanc told CONCACAF.com. “People ask me about my list of achievements all the time, I think it’s (the trip to Dominica) is up there. I was so excited about the opportunity. As I was approaching the islands, I don’t get nervous before games but I had the shakes. It was as soon as I landed I
knew this was going to be different trip.” Leblanc was raised in Dominica until age eight before moving to Canada, four years later she walked onto a soccer field in British Columbia for the first time. In an illustrious career at all levels, Leblanc has earned over 100 international caps for Canada, played in four FIFA Women’s World Cup and earned a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2013, Leblanc teamed up with UNICEF Canada and has since travelled to Honduras and Dominica inspiring young players and students with a story of perseverance aimed at boosting self-worth. ”My goal originally, was not only the kids would hear my
story and think it was cool; but they would feel something within, that made them think they could be greater than originally thought. When I left the island I felt like I accomplished that, it was pretty powerful.” Known as a hard to crack professional between the sticks, Leblanc admitted the trip back home struck an emotional chord. “During the trip I just broke down in tears just because I went there with the intention of giving back but I left with so much more. I left being inspired again to a whole different level.” Leblanc fought back tears when she recounted her most memorable moment. “There was a little girl who thanked me after a visit and said, today I know I am special, I know I am meant for greatness and today I believe I am beautiful. ”There is no moment in the game of soccer that makes you feel what you feel in that moment when you help change somebody’s life.” Karina Leblanc will play in her fifth FIFA World Cup Finals tournament in June when Canada host the competition, where she will have the support of Canadian and Dominican supporters. (CONCACAF)
Faulkner in the 14th over, and the run-rate climbed back above five an over. The recovery seemed to have ended when Anderson mishit another Kulkarni slower ball straight to longoff in the 15th over, but replays showed the bowler had overstepped, just about. It was just the sort of luck Mumbai needed after injury to Finch, and they made full use of it. They were 83 for 3 after 15 overs; over the next five overs they came within two runs of doubling their score. Tim Southee, bowling primarily length or just short of it, took the bulk of the punishment - his last two overs went for 36, with Pollard and Anderson hitting him for four fours and three sixes - but no one went unscathed. James Faulkner went for 17 in the 17th over, and Chris Morris, till then the pick of Royals’ seamers, went for 15 in the final over. Anderson kept his plans simple - clear his front leg and swing freely to hit down the
Steven Smith ground and over the leg side. Pollard dealt in his trademark one-handed clubs and flatbat swats down the ground, but also pulled off a couple of stunning flicked sixes. Given the fact that the bowlers were generally looking to go full, and given both
batsmen’s power in the V, it was a little strange to see midoff in the circle and fine leg back on the rope on a couple of occasions. By the end, though, Smith’s batting would ensure his tactics became a distant memory. (ESPNcricinfo)
May Day Cup 2015
Memorex Enterprise sponsors the New Amsterdam/Canje team The Combined New Amsterdam/Canje Team was the first team to receive full sponsorship for the mega event, May Day Cup 2015. This fundraiser is organised by Friends of the PPP/C and is slated for Saturday May 2, 2015 at the historic Albion Sports Complex. Proceeds from the event will go towards the Political Party for its 2015 elections campaign and beyond. Anthony Ameerally of Memorex Enterprise of Strand New Amsterdam readily provided sponsorship for the team after being approached. The team will now be named Memorex NA/Canje and the sponsor is responsible for preparation of the team in the build up to the tournament, provide fifteen coloured uniforms and cover all refreshments and meals on the day of the event. Four exciting teams from the county of Berbice namely West Berbice, Memorex New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne/RHTY&SC will be competing for bragging rights. The matches will be of 15 overs aside with two semi finals and a grand finale with the winner taking home a
Anthony Ameerally of Memorex Enterprise hands over sponsorship to Adrian Anamayah in the presence of other committee members. trophy and $100,000, the runner up $50,000 and the two losing semi finalist $25,000 each. The man of the match will also receive a trophy and $10,000 cash. The big game under floodlights will see arch rivals Berbice clashing with Demerara in a T20 game with the winner collecting a trophy and $200,000, man of the match a trophy and $20,000 and the loser $100,000. Several gate prizes for the fans will be up for grabs and games for the young and the old will be there. The other teams are expected to attract sponsorship too. Shakti’s Strings along with Crown Vibes International will provide live entertainment after the feature clash. Tickets will be $1,000
all day with kids under 12 free. At a simple ceremony held recently, Anthony Ameerally, Managing Director of Memorex Enterprise presented the sponsorship cheque to Adrian Anamayah in the presence of Roy J a ff a r a l l y a n d Vi j a i Ramdhan, other members of the organising committee. Ameerally said that he is pleased with the idea and even more pleased to be part of this historic event and will always continue to support the work of the PPP/C. Anamayah thanked the sponsor for coming on board and called on other businesses and private individuals to support this mega event which is expected to be an annual affair.
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 29
West Indies fight but England in control The second day of the series involved a similar scenario to the first, with West Indies dominating the opening session but England ending with the advantage. The home side’s quicks had another excellent morning to restrict England to 399 but their reply was a stuttering affair as they stumbled to 155 for 4. There was good bowling on display throughout the day, firstly by West Indies’ pace trio and then the collective five-man England unit led by James Anderson, who moved one wicket closer to breaking Ian Botham’s Test record. Successes were hardearned, as they should be, and Chris Jordan’s brilliant low catch at slip brought Kraigg Brathwaite’s scalp to leave West Indies tottering on 99 for 4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, in a familiar role, and Jermaine Blackwood, who was given a life on 21 when Ben Stokes overstepped having taken the edge, battled to the close with West Indies still 244 behind. England began the day with eyes on a total around 500 but instead ended up just short of 400. In all, going back to Ian Bell’s dismissal late on the first evening, England’s last six wickets fell for 58 and that included a stand of 38 by the final pair of Jordan and Anderson. There was a period of five
consecutive maidens, which highlighted West Indies’ early grip on proceedings. That stranglehold included the removal of both overnight batsmen, Stokes and James Tredwell, then Jos Buttler struggled through a 22-ball duck and Stuart Broad’s batting woes continued. The combination of Bell, Stokes and Joe Root contributed 305 of England’s runs; the rest 70. Anderson, who had flayed 20 via five boundaries in his 100th Test, responded with an outstanding opening spell which included the scalp of Devon Smith, who was worked over before edging to Buttler. Jordan, without quite the same consistency of line or length in his first spell, provided the second breakthrough when Darren Bravo was late trying to withdraw his bat. Brathwaite impressed in South Africa with his steel and determination, traits that were again on show as he withstood the early forays. Marlon Samuels, meanwhile, was more aggressive from the outset and was aided by four overthrows when he took a quick single to the off side and Anderson’s throw - a justifiable one as Samuels would have been short - was just wide of the stumps. However, Samuels was removed by a smart piece of bowling by Broad shortly af-
Jermaine Blackwood drives hard (Photos by WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography) ter tea when he rolled his fingers across the ball and found the outside edge. In finest Hannibal style, a plan had clearly come together, given the applause from the bowling coach Ottis Gibson on the balcony and Broad himself. During this period, Tredwell was wheeling away through what would become a 12-over spell. His selection is viewed more as an indictment of English spin re-
NBS Second Division Cricket
RHT Bakewell A & B teams record easy wins Rose Hall Town Bakewell A & B Teams recorded easy wins when the fourth round of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) New Building Society (NBS) second division tournament was played on Sunday last. RHT ‘A’ team led by brilliant performances from former Berbice Under 19 player Vidal Crandon and off spinner Mark Fernandes destroyed Letter Kenny by 9 wickets at the Whim Community Centre while the ‘B’ team got past Belvedere at the Area ‘H’ ground following a classy innings of 60 from Berbice Under-15 player, Junior Williams. RHT ‘A’ bowled out Letter Kenny for 89 in 24.2 overs, only Vishal Samaroo with 35 (5x4) offered any resistance. Off spinner Mark Fernandes claimed 5 for 22 from 7 impressive overs while left arm pacer Rondel Lewis and West Indies left arm female pacer Erva Giddings took 2 for 13 and 14 respectively. In response, RHT Bakewell ‘A’ raced to 92 for 1 off 12 overs, Crandon blasted five
sources than recognition for Tredwell - and there is an element of truth to that argument - but he performed his role admirably, using his experience with subtle changes of pace. His reward was to remove the nuggety Brathwaite, who edged a ball on the back foot, but it was the grab at slip by Jordan, low to his right, which was the show-stopping moment. Blackwood responded by putting his second ball,
from Tredwell, over long-off and was a curious combination of defence and the occasional moment of outright aggression. Chanderpaul did what he has done forever and a day. However, although West Indies resisted well during the closing stages of the day with a little help from Stokes’ errant front foot - the signs are that batting last will not be an easy task on this surface so much work remains to narrow the deficit. To start with they will need a good morning session on the third day, and for that at least the omens are promising given the way the match has gone so far. Whatever Curtly Ambrose said during a passionate team talk shortly before play clearly had the desired effect on West Indies’ bowlers. Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor soon settled into their work before Jason Holder followed them with an exacting spell of 7-4-14-1. The frustration will be that the disciplines of line and length deserted them for two sessions on Monday. Stokes angled one boundary down to third man before succumbing attempting a repeat which landed in the lap of a fine gully. The shot was neither one thing nor the other, which was a contrast to the conviction Stokes had shown for much of his in-
nings. Tredwell’s stint as nightwatchman ended with a flat-footed drive that gave Bravo his third catch of the innings. Buttler was given nothing to free his arms against before he could resist no longer and edged a very full delivery. Broad has spoken very honestly about the problems he has faced with the bat since returning to the side after knee surgery, a delayed reaction to the blow from Varun Aaron at Old Trafford which broke his nose. On this occasion it took Roach just three deliveries to entice him into driving a soft catch to point. The most fluent batting of the morning came from the last-wicket pair as Jordan and Anderson managed to put bat to ball with decent impact. Jordan provided a reminder of his very solid technique while Anderson unfurled a couple of boundaries that revived the “Burnley Lara” tag. His fun came to end when he popped a catch to cover against Samuels and attention turned to his attempts to pass Botham’s England wicket-taking record. West Indies 155 for 4 (Chanderpaul 29*, Blackwood 30*) trail England 399 (Bell 143, Root 83, Stokes 79, Roach 4-94) by 244 runs. (ESPNcricinfo)
RHTG&G names 18-man squad for Busta Champion of Champions final The Selection Committee of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) has named a strong 18-man squad to commence training under Coach Delbert Hicks at the Area ‘H’ ground as they seek to win their 10th Busta trophy following their first in 2004.
Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets will face arch rival Albion Community Centre in the final on Saturday April 25 at the historic Albion Cricket Ground in a day/night encounter. The game will commence at 15:00hrs and would be aired live on NCN Radio. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert
Foster has disclosed that all plans are in place for the successful hosting of the final which is expected to feature at least three Test players along with a number of senior and junior players. Foster also disclosed that 25% of the gate revenue (Continued on page 27)
Austin to fight Dorway for Light... Vidal Crandon
Mark Fernandes
massive sixes and three fours in an unbeaten 61, Mark Papannah made 20*. At the Area ‘H’ ground, the ‘B’ team which is made up of mostly Under-15 players scored 208 for 7 off their allotted 35 overs; Sinclair batted well for 60 (4x4), Keet Joseph 28, Ryan Tillack 26, skipper Simon Lawson 21 and Joshua Gobin 20. Bowling for Belvedere, F. Mohamed claimed 2 for 45 from 7 overs. In response, Belvedere reached 178 for 9 off 39 overs to
lose by 31 runs. Dean Jones top scored with 71 (8x4 2x6) off 40 balls while M. Sububar supported with 21. Bowling for RHT ‘B’ Simon Lawson took 2 for 14 from six overs, Keet Joseph 2 for 28 (7 overs) while 13 year-old Samuel Lewis in his first senior match claimed 2 for 20 from 6 overs. Both teams will be in action again on Sunday, the ‘A’ team will play Whim at Whim and the ‘B’ side faces Tamarind Root at the Area ‘H’ ground.
(From page 32) Pocket Rocket Promotions, the Mark DeFreitas Production will feature the Main bout for the Light Middleweight title of Guyana over 12 rounds between Gladwin Dorway and Mark Austin. This is a highly anticipated re-match between the two pugilists after they went after each other in April off 2013 at the Princess Hotel when Austin drew first blood. In February of this year Austin, was rushed to the Georgetown Hospital after he mysteriously collapsed in the dressing room less than fif-
teen minutes before his scheduled bout against Dexter Gonsalves in an eight-round Junior Welterweight matchup, after he allegedly encountered problems making the required weight one day earlier and swallowed a tablet to assist him in shedding the excessive poundage. Dorway is no pushover and will be nurturing ambitions of reinstating himself on the local scene after his lopsided loss to Austin the last time they met at the Princess Hotel. In the main supporting bout Lindeners Sharon
‘Stone’ Ward and Avlon Scotland will go head-to-head over four rounds in a ladies encounter, while Orlon Rogers will battle Dillon Allicock over six rounds and in another rematch Keeve Allicock matches skills with Quincy Gomes over six rounds. In the fifth fight of what promises to be an exciting night, Kelsey George will go toe to toe with Romeo Norville in a sixrounder. In addition to four Amateur fights involving boxers from Berbice, Linden and Georgetown, the night’s event will also feature a dance off by X-Factor 2 from Linden.
Page 30
Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 15, 2015
Raj Singh Inter-County U-19 Three-day cricket
Paul is man-of-the-match Berbice complete comprehensive as E’bo win by 109 runs victory over Demerara By Sean Devers A man-of-the-match performance from Kemo Paul led Essequibo to a convincing 109-run win against the National U-17s at the DCC ground when the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) / Raj Singh Insurance Under-19 three-day cricket tournament concluded yesterday. Paul, who made 47 and 52 and had three wickets in the game took 2-18 to help dismiss the U-17s who were set 256 for victory, for 147 just before Tea on the final day. Left-arm spinner Keanu Harry and Looknauth Chinkoo took three wickets each to set up the emphatic win for Essequibo who lost to defending Champions Demerara in the first round at Everest. Scores: E’bo (262 &
140), Nat U-17s (147 & 147). The day began with the National U-17s on 7-2 and they quickly lost Raymond Perez off Paul for five at 13-3. Baskar Yadram, who hit the ball powerfully and dominated the fourth wicket partnership with pint size Romain Muniram took the score to 52 before Muniram (4) was run out while Yadram, who hammered four fours in 25 departed 18 runs later. By Lunch Timothy McCalmont on 31 and his skipper National U-19 allrounder Renaldo Mohamed (24) were staging a gutsy fight back as they saw their side to 117-5 with 139 needed for victory in the last two sessions. After the break the sixth wicket pair continued to mix caution with aggression before Harry broke the 67-run stand when McCalmont threw
his wicket away with an injudicious shot and was taken at mid-on for 33 (4x4) to leave his team on 137-6. Harry, a burly left-handed all-rounder who captured nine wickets in the opening game, had the important wicket of Mohamed just when he seemed set for a big innings. Mohamed was caught behind after making 42 (5x4 1x6) to leave the score on 138-7 and after Harry, now with 15 wickets in the tournament, got rid of Ashmead Nedd (3) at 145-8, Looknauth Chinkoo wrapped up the innings by removing the last two batsmen. Berbice, with two wins from two matches, play Essequibo from tomorrow at Enmore in the final round needing only a draw to lift the title.
Berbice romped to a 216run victory over Demerara in the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ Raj Singh Insurance Brokers Inter County Under-19 threeday tournament yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club gourd, Bourda. Needing a further 227 with two wickets in hand, Demerara resumed their second innings on 71-8 and were bowled out for 81 after facing just 2.3 overs in the day. The host may have ruined their decision to promote their lower order ahead of the more accomplished batsmen earlier in the innings, and this contributed significantly to their down fall. After play commenced one hour late due to seepages on the pitch, Sherfene Rutherford punched pacer Gersean Grant for fours before he was dropped in the same over. However he failed to capitalize and was bowled by offspinner Balchand Baldeo as he attempted to slog him over mid-wicket; he went for 13.
Gersean Grant Grant then had Daniel Basdeo (03) caught at second slip in the next over to wrap things up. Grant finished with 4-13 and Baldeo 3-20 while there was a wicket each for Daniel Lewis, Kassim Khan and
Leon Andrews. Hetmyer was named man-ofthe-match for his century in Berbice second innings. Scores: Berbice 199 and 250 beat Demerara 152 and 81. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Port Mourant Jaguars win BVA “B” Division Tourney By Samuel Whyte
Renaldo Mohamed pulls Harry for four during his 62-run stand with Timothy McCalmont at DCC yesterday.
Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond U18 Schools’ Football tourney launched The Seventh Edition of the Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond U18 Secondary Schools’ Football tournament was launched Monday in the Boardroom of LEN’s Building. According to Organizing Secretary James Craig, the 2015 tournament started before but due to certain constraints they were forced to call a halt to the tournament. “This Organization is a Non Profit Organization and the reason why we had to stop it before was the fee structure. The referees wanted $7,000 per game and that was too much for a tournament that is not bringing in money at the gates.” According to Craig all these issues had to be ironed
out and after correspondence back and forth to the Guyana Football Federation they were given a revised fee of $5,000. Craig also noted that all the previous matches played are now null and void so in fact it is a new tournament. He also mentioned that in the previous tournaments there was one group now they are two groups with four teams in each group. He noted that the scholarship programme that was on the back burner will come on stream this year. “I want to ask teachers to select one person from your team who is well rounded academically and on the field and in the fourth form for consideration. That means that child CXC fees will be paid by the orga-
nization thus taking the burden off the parents and who knows it may not end at CXC it may go on to University once potential is there.” All games will be played at the Wisburg Ground with the exception of the final which will be played at the MSC ground. The tournament began April 14th and ends May 07th. Defending Champions Christianburg Wismar Secondary School is in Group A with Harmony Secondary, Linden Foundation High and Linden Technical Institute and in Group B are New Silvercity Secondary School, McKenzie High School, Wisburg Secondary and M.C’s Educational Institute.
Port Mourant Jaguars (PMJ) played unbeaten on Sunday to come out winners of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) “B” Division Competition which was played on the recently commissioned all weather volleyball court at the Port Mourant Community Centre. The competition, which attracted seven teams, was played in very windy conditions with several stoppages due to heavy rainfall; however the players gave of their best on the quick drying modular tile surface. In the final Port Mourant Jags (PMJ ) led by captain Buddy Motiepersaud with support from Afraz Hussain, Javed Motiepersaud and Adityanand Singh defeated PMTC2 30-25 in a hard fought game to take home the National Sport Commission trophy and a Mikasa MVA 330 volleyball at the end of the one day competition In the semifinal encounter, PMJ defeated Rollers of New Amsterdam in the first semifinal 30-24, while in the other semi Port Mourant Training Centre 2(PMTC2) made light work of newcomers Tain Vol-
MVP Adityanand Singh (right) uses the block set up by Levi Nedd & Klondyke Rodney leyball Club 30-16 to book their place in the final. Earlier the teams were placed into two groups with each team in the respective groups opposing each other with the top two emerging to the semifinal stage. In preliminary matches played in group A - PMJ got the better of PMTC4 30-15, Tain VC won a close encounter from 3 Doors Strikers 3028, PMJ beat 3 Doors Strikers 30-20 and PMJ whipped Tain VC 20-08. In Group B games PMTC2 won from PMTC 3 30-15, Rollers defeated PMTC3 30-16 and PMTC2 edged past Rollers 31-29. At the presentation ceremony held immediately after the conclusion of the competition, President of the BVA,
Gregory Rambarran in his remarks said that volleyball was the winner at the end of the day and thanked the teams for turning out in their numbers. He congratulated the winners and all who received incentives for their outstanding individual performances. He also complimented the referees and line judges for the good work done. Special prizes were presented to the following players:- Adityanand Singh (former National Under 19 player in the 1990’s) for being adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Afraz Hussain of PMJ for being the Best Setter and current National Under 19 player, Joshua Jagmohan for being the Most Promising Player.