Thursday April 20, 2017
NIS must investigate what this company did to a 73 year old pensioner DEAR EDITOR, Please publish this letter which is in support of my old school mate. Mr. Hubert (Monty) Cramer-Seon, now 73 years of age; who worked his prime years with this large logging company only to be denied his NIS benefits through incompetent or compromised officials of NIS. NIS is in receipt of indisputable official information from the logging company stating that CramerSeon was employed for 19 years (988 contributions) along with pay slips showing that NIS and PAYE deductions were made on his behalf. What else does NIS wants? I have followed this subject through the media and read a press release from the Public Relations Officer of NIS stating that enquiries are being conducted re: CramerSeon’s record of employment
with Willems Timber, a company Cramer never worked with post 1969. And which is non-operational for over fifteen years. Is this PRO real? Or in a hallucinatory state? Mr. Editor it is only in Guyana, employers can deduct taxes from employees on behalf of government agencies and convert same to their own use and are free from prosecution. The post and pre election rhetoric - “if you do the crime you must do the time” is only for the poor and powerless. It is evident that our ministerial officials are aware of this subject but somehow have failed to quiz NIS on CramerSeon’s behalf. Mr. CramerSeon I urge you to continue your struggle against NIS and despite the odds, by God’s help you will prevail. Sidney King Seba Mazaruni River
Three salient points that Minister Bulkan and City Hall should know DEAR EDITOR, What a flip flop and a complete waste of time. The Fantastic Four has now announced that for the first time in almost one year that copies purportedly of the authentic original controversial parking meter contract will be officially released to the remaining City Councillors who were prevented from receiving this secret document. There are several salient points that the City Council and even the Minister of Communities fail to understand. First, there has to be a new contract. There has to be the revocation of the City Hall- Smart City Solutions agreement because there was no competitive bidding, nor were there any consultations with stakeholders prior to entering into this very flawed contract. This contract stinks to high heaven. So it started off on the wrong footing and therefore cannot now be adjusted to be placed on the
right footing. The contract is illegal as it never had Council’s authorization and cannot be made legal retroactively even with adjustments. Second, none of the four persons originally involved in the deception and notorious arrangement in the first place, should be allowed to participate in the review process. If they have any decency they should recuse themselves because of a potential conflict of interest and lack of impartiality. Third, before the Council could even consider another revenue source such as fees from parking meters even if it is a paltry and shameful 20%, they must have their books audited and their accounts qualified first and foremost. The country is overtaxed at the moment, and the reintroduction of a crooked parking meter contract will be the proverbial ‘straw that will break the camel’s back’. Mark Roopan
The joy and wonder of Easter Monday DEAR EDITOR, The euphoria -the feeling of happiness, camaraderie and sheer good will that we experience on Easter Monday is like no other and transcends all barriers and borders. It was good to see the coming together of families, friends, neighbours and even strangers; the mingling and sharing of space on the ground and in the air. The sharing and partaking of food, drinks, a good gaff or helping
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to get kites raised or repaired or untangled are experiences and lessons we can transport to our everyday life. At the end of the day, tired and weary as we trudge our way home the good feeling of joy, fulfillment and contentment is with us and we cannot help but wonder why can’t this feeling last? Yes Easter Monday in Guyana is like no other and we would not trade it for anything. Shamshun Mohamed
APNU+AFC Govt. has a dysfunctional PR department DEAR EDITOR, I sat in the National Cultural Center (NCC) a few Fridays ago and heard the Prime Minister, the Honorable Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, say that the government will NOT review the VAT on private tuition for 2017 but they will consider reviewing it for 2018. I also saw that as soon as he said that, the audience, almost in unison, rise up and began walking out. I had never before seen anything like that. Normally, protocol dictates that the audience remains seated until the Prime Minister leaves. However, the ire of the attending audience members was so stoked, that they defied any established protocol and began walking out as the Prime Minister was still speaking. I was not there at the NCC for the Prime Minister’s address. I was at the Center to attend the health symposium that was a simultaneous event at the same venue. So when I entered the hall and saw the Mr. Nagamootoo (who used to be my favorite politician) speaking, I quietly sat and listened. I heard the PM say that the government had reduced
the VAT from 16% to14% and that single act cost the treasury billions of dollars. I heard him say that the Cabinet agreed to bail out GUYSOCO, again, to the tune of one billion dollars. I heard the PM say that the government has increased the education budget substantially. He made some other points to establish his case that having done all this spending, the government had to find ways to make up for the budgetary and operational shortfalls. He went on to justify his argument that the VAT on tuition was justifiable, given this now overwhelming financial need of the government. As I sat there listening to him, I kept wondering if the Prime Minister was listening to himself. Here he was telling a hall scattered with some of Guyana’s finest minds, that his government has given the Guyanese people a lot of financial incentives and therefore his government must find a way to take it back from them. He looked as though he was reading from a script and I wondered who wrote that script, or who assisted in ad-
vising him on the content and construct of that script. How could the Prime Minister justify telling a gathering of protesters that his government is simply taking back what they had given to the people? It was a Public Relations nightmare! I remain seated and while I did not agree with the students, parents and teachers walking out in defiance of the PM, I understood their frustration. Then two days ago I opened the daily paper and read that the AFC (the Prime Minister is the highest ranking AFC member in the Government and Cabinet), will be reviewing the VAT on education. Editor, I did not know if to laugh or cry. Only a couple of weeks ago, the PM got up in front of a protesting crowd and articulated his Government’s position: he being the 1st Vice President and 2nd in command. Now a few days later the AFC comes out and says – contrary to the Government – that they are reviewing the VAT on education. It is as clear as day that this Government has a very
dysfunctional PR department. And come 2020 they will be penalized for it. The VAT on education was a non-starter from the beginning. I have said before that while I am no supporter of Mr. Burnham, he put Guyana’s education in its right perspective. His notion of free education from nursery to university was visionary. And that his party – the PNC – would lead the charge of making it more difficult to achieve this basic and worthwhile necessity, is a slap in his face. Let me end by saying that while the current administration seems confused and incoherent on this matter of tax on education, it is heartening to know that within the halls of administrative power, there is some degree of commonsense. There needs to be an immediate cessation of this nonsensical additional cost to Guyanese education. If the government wants to replace the money they will lose from taxing education, let them tax cigarettes and alcohol. As far as I am concerned, there can never be too many taxes on those. Pastor Wendell Jeffrey
Aubrey Retemyer is a man of integrity and modesty DEAR EDITOR, Once again Mr. Bharat Jagdeo has by his utterances established that he is the worst thing short of a nuclear bomb that could ever happen to Guyana. Jagdeo accused the Director and officers at SARU of ‘shaking down businessmen’. Any right thinking person knows that Jagdeo only gets noticed when he creates hysteria using baseless fake news. Nothing of substance is ever uttered by this poor excuse of a national leader. Correctly, Mr. Retemyer the SARU Director challenged him to a polygraph test. Typical of the man, he runs from the challenge and resorts to cussing down Mr. Retemyer from a distance. I have known Mr. Retemyer personally, worked with him for a number of years and will vouch for his character every day and twice on Sundays. I wonder how many people other than Jagdeo’s lackeys, cronies and other de-
pendents would vouch for his character. Mr. Retemyer’s record and reputation speak for themselves, but in the interest of exposing Mr. Jagdeo’s lies, and not allowing him to besmirch yet another true Guyanese patriot, I will set the record straight and expose his recent vulgar rant to the Guyanese populace. Mr. Retemyer is a former distinguished member of the Guyana Defence Force, and served that organization for a number of years rising to a very senior level. During this time Mr. Retemyer obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Guyana, eventually commanding the Army’s Corp of Engineers. While Jagdeo’s elder PPP cohorts were burning sugar cane fields, and damaging Guyana’s reputation internationally, Mr. Retemyer was toiling to build this nation. For personal reasons he migrated to the United States,
and pursued a Master’s Degree in Education. Mr. Retemyer gained a New York State Education Department license as a permanent Mathematics educator and was subsequently hired as a Mathematics teacher at two highly regarded public schools in Brooklyn, New York. He served a stint the chair of the Mathematics department, and voluntarily gave it up to revert to the classroom. During his tenure as a Mathematics educator, Mr. Retemyer was involved in social-emotional programs at the schools he worked at to improve the livelihood of less fortunate students at those institutions. I worked with Mr. Retemyer side by side at a public school in Brooklyn, and witnessed his intellectual acumen, passion for human development, and commitment to social justice. So Mr. Jagdeo, this man you speak of was never a security guard
in the United States, as you falsely and maliciously claims. The only thing he ever guarded was the lives, hearts, minds, and brains of the young people entrusted in his care. Now he is the security guard for the state assets, so you and your fellow travelers should run scared as he is incorruptible. Please tell us if you are. Mr. Retemyer is a staunch member of the religious fraternity, and lives firmly by its ethos. Through this and other non-governmental partnerships he and his team make annual trips to Africa and execute developmental projects. For example, on a trip to Ghana in 2012, Continued on page 6
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Noise nusiance on Sherrif Street continues DEAR EDITOR, It is a fact that the noise abuse on Sheriff Street has never really stopped, but had eased tremendously. I continued to write the authorities whenever these acts were committed especially by the old offenders both on Sheriff and Seaforth Streets Campbellville but nothing real serious is being done to stop these people. There was a period of time when there was peace and calm for a couple of weeks now the noise has started all over again these acts are committed by people who the Patrol have been visiting for years whenever summoned; it is crystal clear though that there is no fear or respect for the law since these acts stop only for a short period and are repeated all over again by the same offenders and the reason for this is that the law is causing this to happen-by not dealing with these people the way they ought to. I am forced to raise my voice once again now that a new offender has taken up the mantle, since Thursday the 6th April, 2011 loud music
and the beating of drums started emanating from the Maharaja Palace situated next to the Survival Supermarket on Sheriff Street at around 14 hrs (2 pm) that day, it never stopped until after 2 a.m the next day despite the fact that several calls to the Police were made. The abuse continued for the next two days; it was a Wedding celebration. Only a few months ago residents were exposed to this same cruel act by someone in Seaforth Street for five straight days, without mercy or consideration for the residents there and as always responses by the Police proved futile. Last night Monday 17th April, calls had to be made to the police to stop noise emanating from the top floor which I assume is the Restaurant, again it never stopped until closing time. As a result I am now inclined to believe that this going to be the new trend of operation there. I am pleading with the authorities to nip this in the bud. It is unfair for residents to have to endure this kind of
torture and stupidity for no reason at all, causing a deep infringement to people’s health, peace and comfort. During last year after several complaints made by me, against a liquor restaurant operator who usually puts out a music box from very early in the morning every Saturday until around 8-9 pm at nights, eventually saw him being charged and brought before the court. I declined to offer any evidence against him for three reasons – 1. The day and date he was supposed to have committed this offence was wrong. 2. He is over seventy years old. 3. He is not the person who plays the music and appears not to have any control over this. It is on this note I am asking those in charge to have a rank visit there once again and get the names of the two persons both male and female who operate the music system, after which should this act continue they be dealt with accordingly. As recent as Saturday last after a brief stoppage of noise abuse, it has begun all over again.
These people must be made to understand that there is a law and they have to play their music within the confines of their space and not try to entertain the entire neighbourhood. Some of the residents would much prefer to be involved in more intelligent activities and whose rights and health they are grossly violating. We also have to endure a noisy generator from as early as 5 am in the morning, a malfunctioning alarm and noise emanating from a supposedly soundproofed night club especially on Sunday nights; also from other businesses located in the area. The person who grants permission to host these Wedding Ceremonies has to be held accountable for this unspeakable cruelty that is being unleashed on residents for so many days and nights, in the form of music. There must be a limit and time frame set for each day of activities. And the Police must act as if they are in charge at all times whether permission is given or not. P. Lewis
What happened to the Guyana Hemp Society? From page 4 anti-psychoactive ingredient. Dr West stated that “the THC levels in industrial hemp are so low that no one can get a high from smoking it.” Moreover; hemp contains a high percentage of CBD that blocks the marijuana high. Hemp, it turns out is not only not marijuana; it could be called anti-marijuana “contended Dr. West. He further stated that trying to extract the tiny percentage of THC from hemp would be more difficult and costly than extracting gold from seawater because of the high anti-psychoactive CBD in hemp. Dr. West opined that;”marijuana planted near to hemp will result in the reduction of the THC levels of the marijuana because of cross-pollination making the marijuana ditchweed (no good)”. In short hemp could be the terminator of marijuana cultivation in Guyana. Also hemp is planted 4 inches apart like rice and harvested faster than marijuana.
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West said that police in hemp growing countries have no problem differentiating between hemp and marijuana. Dr West stated; “In 1994 by executive order the (then) US president designated hemp as a strategic crop of importance to national security.” Moreover! Hemp is legally grown in 29 countries around the world, half of which legalised it in the last four years and each year the US identifies those countries that it considers to be drug exporting nations. None of the major hemp growing and exporting nations has ever been listed. Yet the US Drug enforcement Agency (DEA) remains adamant. Industrial hemp was outlawed as a crop in the US in 1970 by the narcotics act that classified marijuana and hemp as one. Dr David West said. “The Federal Goverment has long recognized the distinction between marijuana and hemp. This distinction is codified in numerous domestic laws and statutes and in international treaties to which we (America) are a party.” The DEA has it in its own authority to recognize this history and drop hemp from its narcotics schedule. Instead the DEA, unlike its predecessor, the Bureau of Narcotics, is aggressively trying to persuade Americans that hemp and marijuana are identical plants. The US has a DEA pres-
ence in Guyana. It seems highly plausible that the Government of Guyana is sacrificing our freedom to cultivate a crop that can better the livelihood of all Guyanese farmers to please an American institution, the DEA, because it refuses to accept the scientific facts that hemp and marijuana are two different plants. Hemp made the news for a few days and disappeared. Obviously the Government didn’t want anything to do with it! Rural Guyana (a local organization) is crying out for a crop to cultivate to earn a decent living. The brilliant Dr. Dourga had the answer (hemp) and the government turned its back. William Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the American constitution once wrote that “the greatest contribution a person could make to his country would be to introduce a new crop.” Dr Dourga was denied the opportunity to introduce a crop which in his estimate is ten times more profitable than rice because the Government choose to bow to the dictates of an American institution. Rice farmers are going bankrupt and sugar (Guysuco) which has accumulated a debt of over 80 billion dollars, continues to depend on yearly subventions from the state for survival ; our main agricultural pillars (sugar and rice) of the economy have gone dead. In this scenario one would
have expected any prudent government to grab hemp for its people with both arms. Hemp should have been the crop of choice for the diversification of Guysuco. In the past there was a saying that agriculture is the “backbone” of Guyana. Now that having been broken in the form of rice and sugar, the dependants in the rural areas are finding it very difficult to survive. Hopelessness and frustration are eating into the sinews of the rural folks. We are going to see more suicides, increase in crimes and drug abuse all because of the government’s lack of vision or the ease at which it could be coerced. Hemp’s multipurpose usage lends itself to a wide range of economic activities only surpassed by crude oil refining. As such hemp can create jobs from farming to manufacturing on a large scale. As such the government should follow the research and change its position or explain to the public why farmers in 29 countries around the world, including Canada, America’s neighbour to the North can cultivate hemp and we are being denied that right. The Minister of Agriculture should apologize to the Guyanese public for misinforming us, that hemp and marijuana are the same or confess that he was just echoing the sentiments of the DEA. Rudolph Singh
The SARA Bill should never be put in the hands of someone like Jagdeo DEAR EDITOR, The current 1980 Constitution was forced upon the people of Guyana through a rigged referendum. Back in those days, everything the PNC did was authoritarian. The PPP begged the international community to intervene and after 28 arduous years, Guyana got the change she was badly seeking. Then rather than change the 1980 Constitution, the PPP wrapped themselves in it and bullied their way into the Guyanese psyche for another 23 years. Jagdeo, in particular, used the vagaries and autocratic allowances in the constitution to be as ungodly and vile as he can be. The suffering that Guyana has found itself in until today can be traced directly to the intent of Burnham, as drafted into the constitution. Now almost 40 years later, the PNC has struck again. This time with a bill that will turn into the Sword of Zoro,
in the hands of Jagdeo. The saying goes: “He who forgets the past is destined to repeat it.” And the PNC seems to forget their past. The SARU bill should have been sent to a small committee so that the Opposition could have had their input. Not that the government had to acquiesce to them but it would have given the process and the bill transparency. The Coalition was given the mandate to investigate, arrest, and jail all those found guilty of stealing the people’s money. It was one of the APNU/ AFC’s campaign promises. However, half of the country believes Jadgeo’s lies that the PPP Ministers all became wealthy - like him - by honest means. Even some of the Indian supporters who were reduced to paupers and beggars, while the Freedom House cronies who bought, stole, built and expanded, still believe that Jagdeo’s behaviour is as pure Continued on page 23
Aubrey Retemyer is a man of... From page 5 Mr. Retemyer and team were busy promoting investment opportunities for small scale businessmen in the Caribbean and the diaspora. While I am not sure of the results of the venture the sterling intent and effort speaks for itself. On the personal side Mr. Retemyer is known to be satisfied with a modest existence. Since his days of serving in the Guyana Defence Force, he purchased a home in one of the housing schemes developed during the reign of the People’s National Congress, and he resides in the same home up to this day. He made continuous improvements to this home while living abroad and stayed in that home while he traveled to Guyana annually. He lives in that home up to today. Let Jagdeo speak publicly about how he acquired his mansions. Mr. Retemyer also purchased a home in New York while working over there, and that is the same property he owns up to today. Mr. Retemyer drives the same car he bought and drove in New York some eight years ago. Contrary to Jagdeo’s rants, Mr. Retemyer is by no means a geriatric. He had the option to continue working in the United States, but opted to retire early and serve his country. He is not interested in living the life of a fat cat since he refused to pursue administration in education for which he was eminently
qualified to do. It is a fact that the salary he receives as the SARU Director, is but a mere fraction of what he earns in retirement benefits and other personal investments. Only a madman would conclude that Mr. Retemyer’s intention is to use SARU for personal enrichment. Jagdeo also needs to be reminded that Mr. Retemyer retired and remigrated to Guyana long before the APNU/AFC victory at the polls. Yes, he loves Guyana so much he returned under the PPP’s rapacious regime. So Mr. Jagdeo, you will not get away with this one. Neither you nor any of your underlings can match Mr. Retemyer’s intellect, integrity, and commitment to human development. Find a corner rumshop to cuss down. Either you accept the challenge to do the polygraph or not! If you are so sure that the man is corrupt, bring your evidence. Name the businessmen that he and his colleagues shook down! Take it to the police! Put up or shut up! In the meantime we can also ask Jagdeo to explain Pradoville, ghost employees at Office of the President, and the disappearance of billions in state assets. We can understand why he is running scared…the power of SARU is near! Jerrick Rutherford jr. East Orange New Jersey
Thursday April 20, 2017
Covent Garden murder…
Mom says neighbours want to frame daughter - as cops take statements
Sumintra Brijmohan As investigations continue into the death of 21year-old Vishaul Hansraj, who succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Tuesday, several hours after being stabbed, his mother is maintaining that her 24-year-old daughter is not responsible for his demise. In defence of her daughter, Sumintra Brijmohan said, “Dey (neighbours) don’t like she so dem gone say anything.” Brijmohan claimed that the police have wrongfully arrested her daughter and even though the young woman and her siblings fought a lot, she did not kill him. The police are however apparently not buying the woman’s story. Neighbours have claimed that it was the daughter who not only stabbed the young man but also attacked her mother and slightly cut her neck with the same knife. The suspect is being held
Dead: Vishaul Hansraj
at the East La Penitence Police Station where she is being grilled. Yesterday, Brijmohan said that she is aware that she can get into trouble for withholding information from the police, but whatever information she has given to the police is all she knows about her son’s killing. “I don’t know who killed my son, but it was not my daughter. After me and she fight, she picked up the knife and put it to my neck but she didn’t cut me bad,” the woman claimed. She explained that at the time both she and her daughter were under the influence of alcohol, and said things to each other which escalated over time. “We had a quarrel because I ask her why she drink (alcohol) and she picked up a knife and cut me on my neck, but it’s not deep,” the woman said. The woman is claiming
that when she was attacked by her daughter, neighbours called a taxi so that she could go to the hospital— and it was while walking to the vehicle that she saw her son running home from the Covent Garden ground, covered in blood. But investigators said that there is no way a wounded Hansraj could have walked home from the ground with two stab wounds. They believe that the young man, his mother and sister were involved in an argument (which is being reported as a norm in the home), and as a result, he got stabbed by the young woman. The cops believe that Brijmohan, in an attempt to protect her daughter, is withholding information. “She said that her son ‘gone home’ and she doesn’t want to lose her daughter too, which suggests that she is hiding information,” a source Continued on page 10
Guyana may face pressure with rising inflation in US - Finance Officials Historically, inflation in Guyana has tracked price increases in the United States. With this trend in mind, the Economic Policy Analysis Unit (EPAU) of the Ministry of Finance is predicting that rising U.S. inflation may put upward pressure on prices in Guyana for 2017. The Unit said that this is partly due to rising prices for U.S. imports. The Unit also noted the fact that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its January World Economic Outlook. According to the report, economic activities are projected to pick up in emerging markets and developing economies in 2017 and 2018. The Unit said that another important point coming out of the report is the fact that
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growth prospects on the contrary, have marginally worsened, where financial conditions have generally tightened. For advanced economies, the outlook has improved for 2017-2018, indicating somewhat stronger activity in the second half of 2016 as well as a projected fiscal stimulus in the United States. Due to expected policy stimulus, China’s near-term prospects were revised upward, but down for India, Brazil and Mexico. Headline inflation rates have recovered in advanced economies with the bottoming out of commodity prices, but code inflation rates have remained b r o a d l y u n c h a n g e d and generally below inflation targets. Additionally, inflation
ticked up in China as capacity cuts and higher commodity prices have pushed producer price inflation to positive territory after more than four years of deflation.
Babita Sarjou murder PI…
Doctor to testify via Skype from Brazil
MURDER ACCUSED: MURDER ACCUSED: Darrel Ponton Shardanand Naraine A doctor is scheduled to testify on May 11, via Skype video call from Brazil, when the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder of Babita Sarjou continues before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The prosecution is still presenting its case. It is alleged that Sarjou’s ex-spouse, Shardanand Naraine, called ‘Anand’ of 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, and Darrel Ponton called ‘Yankee’ of 54 Broad Street, Charlestown, killed her. They are currently on remand for the indictable offence. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum and his team of detectives were able to crack the case on May 22, 2016 after they spent over five hours digging up a site at Naraine’s home. After excavating the site, detectives recovered skeletal remains which DNA samples confirmed were those of Sarjou. According to reports, Sarjou had left her home to go to the Diwali motorcade on the eve of November 4, 2010 with Naraine, who had called her. He reportedly picked her up in his car and while she
was sitting in the front passenger seat she was allegedly strangled by Ponton who was reportedly seated at the back of the car. Sarjou’s lifeless body was allegedly transported to Naraine’s house where it was buried. Reports had indicated that Naraine had dug the grave two days before Sarjou was killed. This PI has been ongoing in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for over six months, during which time the prosecution has called a number of police and civilian witnesses to testify. Some of the persons included Champa Seonarine, the mother of Babita Sarjou, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Mitchell Caesar, who is the head of the Major Crimes Investigations Unit. Seonarine, who said she is a farmer, had told the court that she last saw her daughter on November 4, 2010. The woman recalled that her daughter had left home to attend the Diwali motorcade in Georgetown. The mother also identified several pieces of clothing, a pair of footwear and jewellery that were recovered from the shallow grave as her daughter’s belongings.
MURDERED: Babita Sarjou Also, during the PI several oral and caution statements given to police by the two murder accused were ruled admissible by the Chief Magistrate at the conclusion of a Voir Dire. As such, the oral and caution statements were admitted to form part of the prosecution’s evidence. Police Lance Corporal Orlan Alleyne had recounted that he took video footage and audio recordings of a crime scene at 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, where the suspected skeletal remains of Babita Sarjou were recovered from a shallow grave. Detective Inspector Suraj Singh and Detective Lance Corporal Jermaine Laundry had testified to interviewing Naraine and Ponton at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, during which they told them of a murder allegation and cautioned them, according to the judge’s rule.
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Berbice chambers set conditions for GuySuCo’s privatization A shutdown of the country’s sugar industry is unacceptable at this time. This was the assertion of Berbice business persons during a high-level meeting late last month with a team of Government officials, including Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan. The meeting was initiated by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and included executives of all the chambers in Berbice, according to the body in a statement this week. Also present at the meeting were Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia and Dr. Gobind Ganga, Governor of Central Bank. The current crisis of the Guyana Sugar Corporation was a major issue on the agenda for the chambers. There are four estates in the East and West Berbice areas - Skeldon, Albion, Rose Hall and Blairmont. “Our members expressed the view that sugar is still viable industry in many parts of the world and in spite of its many problems we do not want the industry to be shut down. We will support privatization of the industry once…conditions are met,” the chambers said in a statement. The Berbice businesses want the privatization transaction to be done in an open, free and transparent manner. The chambers also want any buyer to continue the production and sale of sugar, so that the present employees can continue to work in the industry. “During the period leading up to the privatization, the Government will not close any factory and or send home workers. We told the minister we do not want another Wales estate scenario in Berbice.” Another condition set
Enmore estate’s future looks bleak as government is reportedly considering what to do with it. forth in the event of privatization is that the manufacturing and sale of sugar should be open to any individual or organization who wants to invest in the sector. “We have noted also that whilst Government is spending billions to support GuySuCo, a significant portion of it, in the form of wages and salaries, is spent in the region, and it helps to develop the economy, moreover deduction in taxes and NIS contributions go back to the government and NIS respectively.” In recent days, Government has named three estates it believes that it should keep out of the seven. These are Albion and Blairmont in Berbice and Uitvlugt on the West Demerara. The chambers had arranged the meeting with the officials to raise several matters of concern.
These included decisions this year by the administration to introduced VAT on water, electricity and education. The latter, which has sparked protests, was
described as “mean spirited and should be urgently reviewed”. Government has already said that VAT on education will remain for this year but
several taxes will be reviewed for next year’s budget. According to the chambers, the taxes have a negative effect on the psyche of the ordinary man and will
only service to discourage and de-motivate people. The issue of the SARA bill and the state of the Guyana Sugar Corporation as well as more services of GRA in Berbice were also raised, as was the seeming slowdown in lending by commercial banks which signals that new investments by the private sector have reduced significantly, the chambers argued. Leading the delegation from the Berbice businesses were Mohamed Raffik, President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce. Also present were its Vice President, Imran Hamid, and Secretary, Poonai Bhigroog. Representing the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry was K. Jaichand. While R. Ramroop represented the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association. Others in attendance were the CEO of Nand Persaud Company Limited, Mr R Persaud, and Pradeep Bachan representing the West Berbice Chamber of Commerce, together with other members.
Body of miner found in shallow grave, two weeks after beating A little boy flying his kite on Tuesday at Karrau Backdam, Three Miles, Mazaruni stumbled upon the body of a man buried in a three-foot deep grave some two weeks ago. The victim has so far only been identified as Kevin, a resident of Region Seven. According to reports, after the body of the miner was discovered, the child’s parents informed the police, who went to the scene to investigate. Shortly after, an arrest was made. Divisional Commander, Ravindradat Budhram con-
- Employer, colleague in custody firmed that two persons have been arrested and are said to be cooperating with investigators. Kaieteur News understands that the suspects have been identified as the victim’s employer and a colleague. The victim, whose body was decomposed when it was discovered, was reportedly attacked with pieces of wood and a cutlass after he was accused of stealing raw gold. When investigators removed the remains from the
shallow grave on Tuesday afternoon, it was determined that the victim was clad in a pair of blue pants and a jersey. A police source explained that the victim started working with one of the individuals in custody, at a mining camp in Mazaruni some months ago. Two weeks ago, a quantity of raw gold went missing from the camp and the victim’s employer accused him of stealing the valuables. It is
being reported that the two men got into an argument which resulted in a scuffle. This newspaper was informed that the two men went their separate ways and later in the night, the victim’s employer returned and dealt him several chops with a cutlass and struck him with a piece of wood. Kaieteur News was informed that the victim’s colleague did not play a part in his death but may have witnessed part of the incident. He is providing police with information as investigations continue.
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Gold production will peak in another three years Gold mining is hazardous to the environment. Gold mining is, however, not going to be outlawed because of its environmental effects. The reason is economic. The economy only grew in 2016 because of gold output. And so without gold there will be recession, all things remaining the same as they were at the end of 2016. The government seems very comfortable with riding on the gold wave. The 2017 Budget had few policies aimed at stimulating the other main sectors of the economy. The two Budgets of APNU+AFC were more about
taxes than about growth, a major shortcoming which the government has tried to dismiss as a case of the economy ‘righting’ itself. An economy does not right itself. Free markets do. The economy is more than free markets. It is, also, about the growth of the various sectors. And quite honestly, the APNU+AFC coalition has demonstrated a glaring lack of vision when it comes to growing an economy. Despite the adverse environmental effects of gold mining, the sector is not likely to be scaled out. When the PPPC signed an
agreement with Norway for a financial stream of benefits related to the environment, the PPPC also said that mining and forestry would not be outlawed. The PPPC spoke about sustainable management of its forestry resources and improved mining practices. The PPPC successfully managed to contain deforestation within the limits agreed upon with Norway. There is no successor to the Norway agreement but the government, and so the question is likely to be raised as to what happens when the Norway agreement expires. Guyana, under the
Dem boys seh...
Ex-Minister hiding face at airport There is an old saying—nothing in this life lasts forever and if human beings understand that saying and live by it, you will have so much peace, love, joy and happiness within youself. You get a brand new car, a new shirt or dress, even you life—none of dem things does last forever. If you don’t live by that principle and you think de opposite, believing everything lasts forever, you will get a reality check. Dem had two glaring example recently, at de airport dat dem boys witness. Shaik Baksh was a powerful minister. When he lose de wuk dem boys see him stand up at de baggage claim waiting fuh pull off ee suitcase. When de Waterfalls paper boss man see him and call out to him, Shaik down he head and tun he face. Up to now he ain’t answer de boss man. People could see in ee face that he shame that he got to stand up like de boss man to collect he baggage. When he was holding de office of a Ministah, de man used to walk off de plane and head straight to de VIP lounge. All he baggage use to get pick up by he driver and he luggage people. De same thing happen to Jagdeo at JFK after he cease to be president. He and de boss man meet up in de same line waiting fuh he baggage too. He too, like Baksh, was shame. He tun he face from de boss man. De most recent was de man who run de Ministry of Housing accounts wid lead pencil and a big eraser. That Ministry used to handle
billions of dollars. Money used to come from de sale of all government land and property. When he was sitting in de chair, he tell heself he was almighty, de greatest thing Guyana ever produce. One editor from de Waterfalls paper remember when he meet wid him to discuss a house lot application. He seh Irfaat throw back in ee chair, laugh like a king and seh, “Hey, hey. Kaieteur News bai. You, Adam and Glenn Lall mekking laugh off me. Now watch how you fall in me hand.” He sit and talk like a prince. He thought he would sit in de chair and have power forever. Yesterday morning, he fall in de Waterfalls paper boss man hand. He was no longer de prince or de king. He didn’t even look like any one of dem, de boss man seh. He was going out de country and was standing in de line at de airport fuh put ee suitcase through de scanner. De boss man couldn’t recognize he at first because de man had a big dark shades over he face and he chin couldn’t come out ee chest how he tuck it in so tight. Is hide he try to hide from de boss man. Is when he go in de immigration line like an ordinary passenger, is then somebody seh, “Look how Irfaat tun.” He fall from a king to now hiding he face to catch a plane. Before, he too was like Shaik Baksh. All of dem climb de ladder and fall off. Talk half and hope this new crop of politicians tek note.
APNU+AFC administration, seems to have its own ideas on the environment. Gold mining is going to be at odds with the government’s stress on the green economy. The question, therefore, is how government is going to limit the environmental destruction that is being caused by gold mining. The government’s talk about a green economy is not going to be taken seriously if it continues to expand gold mining. On the other hand, the economy is presently only showing growth because of gold. The absence of any clearcut policies to grow the other sectors of the economy means that the government is gambling on oil. It is waiting for oil to be pumped and for the avalanche of funds which will be deposited as a result. Eric Williams, the late Prime Minister of Trinidad and
Tobago, used to boast that oil don’t spoil. Burnham used to tell him that while oil does not spoil, you cannot eat oil. Guyana must not become dependent on oil. It must find a way in which it can exploit its oil, its forests and its gold in a manner that is sustainable, without any massive effects on the environment. Offshore drilling of oil always carries with it the risk of environmental accidents. Safety standards and oil spill responses have improved over the years, but these have not made accidents impossible, nor will they ever. The government, therefore, should not put all its eggs in the oil drum, as now seems to be the clear strategy. This will have dire longterm consequences, as we have seen with countries such as Venezuela and Nigeria, which have suffered greatly since the decline in oil prices. Guyana seems, how-
ever, to be counting its chickens before they are hatched. A lid will at some time or the other have to be placed on gold mining, so that it can remain sustainable and environmentally manageable. But what should be the production level which should be treated as the benchmark above which production should be curtailed? Some persons will suggest that gold production of one million ounces should be what we should be aiming for in Guyana. This is a reasonable limit. Anything above this should be deemed unsustainable. If we are not going to have pro-growth policies, then the least which can be done is to curb environmental destruction by limiting gold mining expansion.
US$13.2M on fatal accidents annually a burden on Guyana – Senior Engineer The US$13.2M being spent annually on counter measures and to repair infrastructure -amongst other costs – after and prior to fatal accidents, is a burden on the state’s economy. This is according to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI)’s Senior Projects Engineer, Kester Hinds, who presented an overview of Guyana’s road safety situation at a Road Safety Forum held at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston Georgetown yesterday. The conference, which will conclude today, is being facilitated by the International Road Federation (IRF). Hinds told the gathering that in 2004, through financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), an
MPI Senior Projects Engineer, Kester Hinds assessment on Guyana’s traffic safety situation was carried out.
It was during this assessment, Hinds explained, it was detected that for every fatal accident on the country’s roadways, it was costing the national coffers US$60,000. “Guyana is losing US$13.2M (Approximately GYD$2.8B) every year,” Hinds told the gathering. Hinds’ presentation coincided with what was previously uttered by the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan earlier this year. Ramjattan had told media representatives that during a specific period, the country had to expend in excess of $4.3B to facilitate medical responses and execute repairs to the damage caused by road accidents. Hinds added that the Continued on page 23
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Thursday April 20, 2017
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
President Granger steps into intellectually challenging waters President Granger has come to the defence of Minister Bulkan over the latter’s communication to the Chronicle, in which he suggested to the editors that they need to know their national duties and they fell down in that regard. The Minister was of the opinion that the Chronicle’s lead should have been on the swearing-in of the elected municipal officers in Guyana rather than the reporting on oil and gas. One would want to believe that the President knows that context is everything in
life. There can be no action or policy that emerges without a contextual canopy. Against all that the state media have gone through from President Burnham right down to President Ramotar, the new government had to know that it was a sensitive issue, so Ministers had to tread carefully in their relation to the State media. They are ministers and the state media could easily buckle under their emanations, even if those outpourings are not intended to intimidate. Context becomes overwhelming in such a situ-
ation. President Granger defended the Minister and went into a polemical direction that will be intriguing to watch as his years in the presidency move on. But first, his seminal mistake; the President said that Mr. Bulkan wrote in his personal capacity. But the letter I saw in the Chronicle, he signed as Minister of Communities. There is an enormous legal difference here. When I wrote letters to the newspapers and signed my name then put my university status, UG rejected that.
I was written to by the then Vice-Chancellor, James Rose, to say that I must not put my UG designation, because it could be interpreted that I am speaking on behalf of the university. I go on talk shows and I make it clear that I am there in my own capacity as a public person and not as the columnist from Kaieteur News. Officials all the time make it clear that they are speaking in their personal capacity, without the presence of their occupational status. A priest from any religion should make it clear that his words on a controversial issue are his own feelings and do not represent his denomination. Nowhere in his letter, did the minister mention that his missive was his own personal thoughts. The second mistake the President made was to not observe that the minister wrote the Chronicle about an event in which the minister was a central player. It is not that the Minister opined on an episode of which he had no connection whatsoever. If he had chastised the Chronicle for carrying the story of Mahendra Dhoni on its front page, and not that of Chris Gayle, it would have been another matter, altogether. But let’s
move to the direction that the President went. What the President has done in coming to the side of Minister Bulkan is to open up a vista of intellectual innovation that could engender a philosophical climate in this country. He indicated that ministers have personal opinions on things and they have the right to express those thoughts. I would like to see a polemic that demolishes that postulation. Humans, whether they are officials in a church, a government, a commercial bank, etc., must have the right to their own inner feelings as separate from the title they hold. One hopes that since the declaration of the right to personal adumbrations by the
President, we will see such thoughts coming from the President himself, all his ministers, all party leaders, all public sector heads, etc. They must be careful to say that this is their personal opinion. So we can safely say that the Head of the GRA, Forestry Commission, Police Force, NIS, Bank of Guyana, etc., can offer their personal opinion on homosexuality, the marijuana possession penalty, the Carter/Price formulation of GECOM, cost of produce at the local markets, the shape of things at UG, etc. If I used to attend the Public Interest programme in which the President takes questions from selected journalists, I would have asked him a few questions from his private mind, and not in his capacity as President of the Republic. I end with some of my questions: Do you think robbery with violence should carry bail but not possession of ten grams of marijuana? Do you think the administrative structure of UG is very top heavy for such a small university? Do you think Raphael Trotman was accurate when at an AFC press conference he said you and not the AFC appointed three ministers from the said AFC?
covered in her kitchen. She further stated that a large quantity of cash - over $14.5 million Guyana dollars, a large amount of US dollars and other foreign currencies – was also found at the property. The prosecutor added that two vehicles - a Toyota Altezza and a Toyota Premio - and five passports, were also found at the premises, and seized. The court also heard that police found ‘cooked’ cocaine on a stove in the kitchen and they are currently searching for another individual close to the defendant.
The defendant was represented by Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson, who in his application to secure bail for his client told the court that there were multiple persons residing at the address and the articles found could have belonged to anyone. Thompson argued that his client was at her boutique which is located not far from her home, when CANU officers arrived at her premises, and that the cocaine was not found on his client. The mother of two will make her next court appearance on May 3.
Frederick Kissoon
No bail for accused cocaine trafficker
A 36-year-old woman was yesterday remanded to prison by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore after she appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Joy Jacqueline Caines, of 232 Luckhoo Street, Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on April 16 at the aforementioned address, she had in her possession 2.092 kilogrammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. According to Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) prosecutor Konyo Sandiford, CANU ranks conducted a raid at the defendant’s home where an empty suitcase with a false wall containing cocaine, along with two small amounts of cocaine, were dis-
Mom says neighbours want to... From page 7 said. The woman had revealed that her son left home early Easter Monday to go and lime at the Covent Gar-
den ground with his brothers and friends. “He doesn’t stay one place, so his brothers dem ain’t see anything. All we know is that he get in an argument with some boys and they stab he and he li’l hot headed. If he and someone get it out, he does jump to fight,” the woman related.”My daughter didn’t stab him.” Brijmohan stressed that she “doesn’t want any story” and that she is a poor woman. In the past, Hansraj was stabbed three times to the back during a robbery.
Thursday April 20, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Provisions in place to stop small miners from being overrun - Min. Broomes During the meeting of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources yesterday, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes was questioned whether there are measures in place to prevent large scale miners from infiltrating mining syndicates. Also present at the meeting was Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. Held in the Parliamentary Chambers, the meeting was made possible following a request for the Natural Resources Ministry to update the Committee on the mining issue of syndicates with small miners; on the oil and gas Industry in Guyana and the status of Chinese logging company Baishanlin and its
Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman (facing camera, 2nd right) and Junior Minister Simona Broomes (to Trotman’s immediate right) making their presentations yesterday before members of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee
Special meters among measures to v erify accur ac y of oil ffind ind verify accurac acy
To ensure that Guyana receives its fair share of oil found in the Stabroek Block, the government will be employing the use of special meters as part of its entire programme to ensure Guyana is not shortchanged by the oil giant, ExxonMobil. This was made known yesterday to the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, when he was quizzed on the issue by Parliamentarian and Committee Member, Jermaine Figueira. The MP asked Trotman whether, based on the estimated oil find of 800 million to 1.4 billion barrels of oil, government has a system in place to verify the total amount of oil claimed to be found below Guyana’s seabed. Figueira asked, “This data, is it a reflection of
– Trotman tells Parliamentary Committee ExxonMobil’s data or has government taken steps to do its own independent investigation to ascertain if this is the actual find that is being proposed by ExxonMobil?” According to Trotman, the verification of the amount of oil is something which his government is moving independently towards. Trotman said, “Rest assured, that the level of excitement and the level of interest that this project has generated all over the world tells us that it is no ordinary find. It is being named in the industry as one of the best finds in the last two to three decades in any part of the world.” Moreover, Trotman said that at the time of production, one of the things which the government will have to do is install its own meters, gauges
and pumps, so that Guyana can independently verify the quantity of oil being extracted. He said that it will be almost akin to what is done when persons purchase gasoline from the service station. “There is going to be real time monitoring both onshore and on the vessel on a 24-hour basis to ensure that the production is as they (ExxonMobil) said it would be.” He said that the issue is one which government has been considering addressing by implementing several means of corroborating and cross-referencing the information. He admitted that government has been told one figure and it may be far more or even less. However, he said that he believes that persons
would want to underestimate so as to manage expectations. In addition, he said that government has retained the services of independent sources such as consultants and contractors to report to the state what exactly is below the Stabroek Block. Further, he said, “One indicator of course is that the vessel that is being retrofitted, the FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) which is being done in Singapore, will tell you the volume of production and size of well.” The Minister said that currently there is a process whereby the Ministry is going through ExxonMobil’s application for a production licence. Trotman explained that during this process, the verification of oil quantity is one of the issues which will have to be rectified before the licence is granted.
operations in Guyana. Following the presentation by Minister Broomes on the mining syndicates, Member of the Committee, Odinga Lumumba asked whether there is an income analysis which is done to ascertain whether someone qualifies to obtain membership in a syndicate. He went further to ask if billionaires in Guyana can become members of syndicates. Broomes said that once a person is a Guyanese they have rights protected by the Constitution of Guyana allowing them to engage in mining as an economic activity. However, Lumumba said, “My understanding of a syndicate is to assist small miners or the small people. If you are a billionaire, you should be able to go on the open market and bid for land or purchase land like anybody else.” He said that the syndicate programme can only make sense if it is limited to the small miners and as a result, a part of the system should be a well-defined limit concerning economic capacity.
Lumumba said that without a limit, eventually the syndicates will be dominated by large miners from whom the programme is intended to protect small miners. However, Broomes said that persons can only become members of syndicates if they own no more than 10 blocks of mining land. She said, “To prevent them (small miners) from being overrun or overruled by the larger miners, there are provisions in there for that, and the syndicates are well aware.” She said that the persons that comprise the 15 syndicates which have since been formed are small miners who operate the regular four-inch dredges. Further, she said that the syndicates are required to submit the names of its members and the equipment that they own. Lumumba said that he supports those measures, but insisted that to protect the small miners, there should be fixed rules and regulations stating clearly that if a person is above a certain income Continued on page 22
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Thursday April 20, 2017
Kaieteur News
MOU signed to better UG’s ICT platforms Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes and University of Guyana’s (UG), Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Ivelaw Griffith yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost the Information Communication Technology (ICT) platforms at the Turkeyen campus. One of the major goals of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications is to better equip UG, so as to provide broadband internet access to students and lecturers, Minister Hughes said. The Minister noted that it is an exciting time for her, the e-government unit and the Ministry of Public Telecommunications. The E- Government unit has been able to create a wireless fibre optic ring, to connect the university onto the e-government fibre optic network. Minister Hughes explained that another focus of the Ministry will be to ensure that as many locations within the university have internet
access at a level that facilitates productivity and expansion. Another project is facilitating the interconnection of Tain, John and Turkeyen Campuses. Minister Hughes hopes that in the next two weeks, “we will gather and show you a real demonstration because our unit, and Ministry, will be handing over to UG, a video conferencing facility.” The facility will allow all three campuses to interact in live real-time. “We want to make sure that we are investing as much as possible and dealing with some of the challenges that we know the university faces,” the Minister stated. The Ministry of Public Telecommunications yesterday also handed over 20 laptop computers to the UG Vice Chancellor. Minister Hughes said this is to ensure that lecturers are better equipped. Professor Griffith expressed gratitude for all the teams involved in the process of getting the MoU done, noting “it is a symbolic but
substantive demonstration of what we intend to do better over time.” Professor Griffith said that the MOU represents, “the end of a torturous longstanding frustration by a lot of existing students.” He explained that he has been at UG for over eight months, and during that period both students and lecturers have expressed their frustration, about the limitations of some things that are normal at other universities. This also enables the university to be able to expand platforms for the delivery of programmes. The university plans to establish a school of entrepreneurship and business innovation soon. “We have got to look beyond the coast, to deliver those services,” Professor Griffith noted. This symbolises an opportunity for expansion and offerings, Professor Griffith said, ‘to build the revenue base for this much needed enterprise called education delivery at the university.” (GINA)
Driver freed of causing workmate’s death in highway crash Nathan Heyliger was yesterday freed on a causing death by dangerous driving charge, whereby it was alleged that his actions resulted in the death of a father of eight in an accident on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. It was alleged that on September 11, 2016 on the Marudi Public Road, he drove a motor lorry in a manner dangerous to the public causing the death of Carl Dundas. Yesterday Magistrate
Judy Latchman dismissed the charge against Heyliger, 27, of Lot 12 Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, because the evidence led by the prosecution was insufficient to prove the elements of the offence. According to reports, Dundas and Heyliger were workmates who operated a truck for a dredge owner in the interior. Based on reports, Dundas and his wife Rona were occupants in the vehicle Heyliger was driving when he
collided with a parked truck that was reportedly seized from BaiShanLin Company, by officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). They were reportedly leaving Yarrowkabra, after participating in Amerindian Heritage Celebration. Based on reports, Dundas was seated in the front passenger seat. Both Dundas and his wife received injuries and were rushed to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital. Dundas succumbed to his injuries a few days after.
Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes and Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor, Dr. Ivelaw Griffith, signing the MOU yesterday at the Turkeyen Campus
Colwyn Harding slapped with another robbery charge Colwyn Harding, who became known to the public in 2013 after he had accused two police ranks of raping him with a baton while he was in custody at the Timehri Station, was yesterday released on $50,000 bail after being slapped with yet another robbery charge. Harding, 26, of 118 Laing Avenue West Ruimveldt, Housing Scheme appeared before City Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on April 15, at Lime Street, Georgetown, he robbed Margret Baird of three cellular phones valued $160,000, a pair of spectacles valued $48,000 among other articles to the value of $211,000.
Colwyn Harding released on bail Harding, a father of one and vendor, told Magistrate Fabayo Azore that he did not rob the woman and that he
was willing to help her purchase a new pair of glasses since he has a sister with an eye problem and he knows how it feel to not have a glasses. Harding further told the court that he was at home sleeping when the woman was robbed. Harding was previously remanded to prison after it was alleged that he and another man robbed Jameel Williams of a Samsung cellular phone, a pocket knife and $15,000 cash. In July 2014, Harding was charged with violently robbing Cheryl Ann Hope of $30,000 cash and three Samsung Galaxy S5 Smartphones costing $360,000 at Hadfield Street, Georgetown. Harding will make his next court appearance on May 3.
Thursday April 20, 2017
Kaieteur News
Ex-NFL star Hernandez hangs self in prison; family seeks probe (Reuters) Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez hanged himself on Wednesday in a prison cell where he was serving a life sentence for murder, prison officials said, and his family called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances. The body of the 27-yearold former athlete was found hanging from a bed sheet at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts. Hernandez was serving a life sentence for the 2013 murder of an acquaintance but on Friday had been found not guilty of killing two other people. State police were investigating the circumstances of the death of the former rising star in the National Football League, and a coroner was performing an autopsy on Wednesday. “There were no conversations or correspondence from Aaron to his family or legal team that would have indicated anything like this was possible,” said lawyer Jose Baez, who successfully de-
fended Hernandez in the double-murder trial. “Aaron was looking forward to an opportunity for a second chance to prove his innocence” in an appeal of the 2013 verdict, Baez said. The attorney called on authorities to “conduct a transparent and thorough investigation” and promised his own examination of the death. A prison spokesman told the Boston Globe that Hernandez had not been on a suicide watch and did not indicate that he intended to harm himself. The spokesman did not respond to requests for comment. “Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bed sheet that he attached to his cell window,” the state corrections commission said in a statement. “Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.” Hernandez’s former agent, Brian Murphy, said on Twitter that he did not believe the athlete had killed himself.
“Absolutely no chance he took his own life,” Murphy said. “Chico was not a saint, but my family and I loved him, and he would never take his own life.” Witnesses at Hernandez’s two murder trials painted a picture of a troubled man who often used illegal narcotics and at times believed strangers were challenging or disrespecting him. In his double-murder trial, Baez challenged the credibility of the prosecution’s star witness, suggesting he had killed the men and pinned it on Hernandez in exchange for immunity. Baez is best known for successfully defending Florida mother Casey Anthony in 2011 against charges of murdering her daughter. Hernandez had been expected to appeal his sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole for the 2013 murder. Under Massachusetts law, the verdict in the 2013 murder will be overturned since he died before exhausting his appeal process.
Trump claims immunity as President in lawsuit
Protesters are led out of a Donald Trump rally in Louisville, Kentucky Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump is claiming he cannot be sued now that he has won the White House — a defense in a lawsuit that alleges Trump incited rallygoers to violence when they allegedly assaulted protesters during the 2016 campaign. In a court filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers argue twice that the President has blanket immunity against lawsuits. “Mr. Trump is immune from suit because he is President of the United States,” the attorneys wrote, adding, “Mr. Trump is immune from proceedings pursuant to Clinton v. Jones.” In the case, three protesters, Kashiya
Nwanguma, Molly Shah and Henry Brousseau, accuse two men, Alvin Bamberger and Matthew Heimbach, of assaulting them at a Kentucky rally in March 2016. The lawsuit also names Trump for allegedly inciting the men’s actions, pointing to Trump telling the crowd, “Get them out of here” with regard to protesters during the rally. Trump’s lawyers contended that Trump was speaking to security and not the crowd, but the federal judge in the case has already ruled that it’s plausible Trump had incited a riot, allowing the lawsuit to move forward.
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Business property to rent near Campbellville Secondary School. Call: 6276480/ 613-6815 One and two bedrooms apartment Herstelling E.B.D - Tel: 641-2311 or 627-3882 One bedroom apartment well secured for working couple $35,000 monthly. Light, water and garbage included. Call: 638-8858
VACANCY Room attendant, male security age 30-55, 233 South Road, Lacytown. Call: 225-0198
Carpenter, Tiler, Plumber, mason, painter & one day domestic helper, preferably from East Bank. Call: 625-3705
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/ residence /business.Call: 226-7012
Business opportunities needed to invest in Gold trade in Interior. Call: 6587553
AutoCad Technician. Must be familiar with AutoCAD 2008 or higher. Computer will be provided. Call: 628-2962
FOR RENT
1 Complete Sawmill at Ya r r o w k a b r a Linden Soesdyke Highway and 1 F66 – Clarke, Ranger Skidder. Call: 609-8041/ 6441190
Experienced shop workers, handyman & domestic to work in the Interior, age 1840yrs. Call: 231-0363 (9am4:30pm). (TIN, ID & NIS)
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
Thursday April 20, 2017
Kaieteur News
Experienced female Accounts Clerk, apply in person to Alabama Trading, 65-66 Robb Street Bourda. Experienced cook (for canteen), porters, bond clerks, snackette attendants. Apply: Survival, Lot 10 Vlissengen Rd, Kitty. Diesel mechanic, welder/ fabricator, machinist. Have Technical background & atleast 3yrs experience. Apply: Written application @ Technical Services, Eccles Apprentice. Must have Technical Background. Apply with written application @ Technical Services Inc, 18-23 Eccles Industrial Site. Cashiers to work at Super bet, 21-22 Hink Street, Georgetown. Call: 625-5322 PROPERTY FOR SALE Subryanville property for sale: 44 fifth Avenue., Subryanville, Georgetown $45M or best offer. Call Mortimer: 625-7669/ Richard: 624-1154
1-Bottom flat 2 rooms apartment situated pm East Bank Demerara. Call: 6886228 2 Bedrooms apartment for rent; working couple. Call: 664-2861 Upper flat $120,000 and lower flat $100,000 fully furnished 2 bedrooms for rent in Barr St. Call 592-6011700 serious inquiries only.
LAND FOR SALE Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938 La Parfaite Harmonie- $1.6M, $1.2M, $1.4M, Tuschen Phase II - $1.4M, Herstelling -$3.5M, Uitvlugt - $2M. Call: 604-6724 or 673-6300 La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.8M, $1.2M, $1.1M, Tuschen Phase II $1.3M, Uitvulgt $2M, V/Hoop - $27M. Call: 666-2326 21 Acres land for housing, alongside Linden Highway, average distance from Soesdyke -$20Million. Call: 692-8216 Eccles - $5M, Farm $3M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.6M, Uitvlugt -$2.6M, Bartica - $3M, Cuyuni Mining Block - $2.5M. Call: 658-5897; 651-1969
Provisions in place to stop small miners from being overrun Min. Broomes From page 11 level, he or she cannot be a part of a syndicate. “It doesn’t make sense having a miner in a syndicate who has the capacity to own 10 dredges and six Hymacs (excavators). He is going to dominate the syndicate at some point in time and there goes the small miners off the floor.” He stressed the point that government must ensure that the syndicates remain solely for small miners. He suggested that the equipment used in the operations of the syndicate should be owned by the group and not individuals, since those who own the machinery can attempt to dominate the syndicate. With that point made, Broomes said that it must be understood that the creation of the syndicates is government’s response to a plight expressed by small miners who already had their equipment parked with no land to work. She assured the committee that provisions are in place to ensure that the syndicates are not overrun or used as any machine or vehicle to only benefit certain persons. Broomes encouraged Lumumba and members of the Committee to feel free to offer their suggestions and ideas in the future, since the process is open. In her presentation on syndicates, Minister Broomes defined a syndicate to mean a group of people coming together to overcome their different challenges that they face in the mining sector. Broomes informed the Committee that gaining membership in a syndicate is not the only way persons can get access to mining lands. She said that there are other avenues such as the lottery and auctions. Broomes also told the Committee that syndicates were created to answer the plight of small miners not having sufficient access to mining land and being subjected to bullyism by larger miners, whereby they would be forced off of mining land belonging to larger miners after finding considerable gold and diamond. The initiative is considered to be the answer to the issue of landlordism within the mining industry.
Thursday April 20, 2017
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Multi-agency discussion leads way for waterfront developments A multi-agency discussion is leading the way for the major waterfront developments across the nation’s coastland under Government‘s impending infrastructural improvement project. The discussions were held between key representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and members of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) following a meeting at City Hall, yesterday. Prior to the discussion, a presentation on details of the proposed waterfront improvements was made to the Council by Senior Engineer of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jermaine Braithwaite. Braithwaite outlined the areas earmarked for
infrastructural improvements under the project. These include the sea and river defence fronts along Stabroek Market, Vreed-enHoop and on the East Coast of Demerara. Based on the studies conducted, Braithwaite said that the mooring facilities for water taxis at both the Georgetown and Vreed-enHoop Stellings were also earmarked for repairs and major architectural enhancements. The wharves and boarding facilities should be upgraded under the project. According to the engineer, the plan entails details to improve the general aesthetical designs of sections of the Georgetown seawall, transforming it into an area for fostering on a large scale, economic, social and
sightseeing activities. With the rollout of a plan, Braithwaite posited that Guyana’s waterfront will become a main tourist attraction. The proposals include provisions for a recreational zone, boardwalks and kiosks to be constructed along sections of the coastland waterfront. With the construction of standardised kiosks, the government is hoping to introduce organised commercial activities along the river and sea defence areas. Facilities for secure parking spaces, cycle lanes, adequate lighting and seating as well as green spaces for family entertainment, are also included in the project. The sea defence from Kitty to Ogle is among the areas demarcated for the im-
US$13.2M on fatal accidents annually a burden... From page 9 US$60,000 being spent per fatality is still small compared to nations such as the United States and Switzerland where the cost goes beyond US$1M. The veteran Engineer noted that the money being “lost” is troubling and explained that it would be logical to spend less to initiate safety measures than to spend millions after fatal accidents. Hinds who has responsibility for Traffic, Maintenance and Safety at the MPI, presented statistics to the gathering where it was noted that the number of deaths over the
past decade, reflects almost 130 deaths annually from an average of 114 fatal accidents each year. He added also, that for a decade, pedestrians represented a large percentage of deaths, with pedal cyclists coming in second. The combined number of deaths of both categories makes up 60 percent of the lives lost on the roadways since 2007. Guyana is currently experiencing a 10 percent decline in road fatalities. The number of deaths stand at 30 as compared to 39 during this same period last year. Hinds said that over the years, the Ministry has
gained a lot of support from the IDB and looks forward for additional support as the Government moves to curb road fatalities. Also, the Ministry will be looking at capacity building, initiating additional road safety programmes and deepening collaboration with stakeholders including the private sector. Further, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) will be moving to introduce its action plan sometime next month. It is expected that the plan will have the necessary measures to deal with some of the issues on the roadways.
The SARA Bill should never be put in the hands of... From page 6 as the driven snow. So anything the government does will first be opposed by this large segment of the population. It is incumbent on the administration, therefore, to make every move against the PPP crooks as above board as possible. And it was indeed possible to send that SARU bill to a sub-committee. The reluctance of the government to have the bill discussed and scrutinized by a small committee or to allow for the full debate on the bill is very telling. It seems that the Granger administration is running against the clock. After two years they have not proven to the Guyanese people that the PPP did anything worthy of criminal charges. Now they have just about another year left before the election cycle gets into full swing. So they are desperate to make good on their promise to arrest and jail some of the PPP’s top brass. However, this bill that they forced through, might
well backfire on them. Already Jagdeo is going abroad saying that Granger’s men are above board. He has made several calls for them to declare their assets and they have refused. Their campaign promise of a Code of Ethics – which was a part of their 100-days pledge – has not been fulfilled; even after two years. Joe Harmon, Dr. George Norton, Volda Lawerence, Raphel Trotman, David Patterson and a few others are some of the Ministers that Jagdeo has in this crosshairs. If Granger’s administration loses the next election, Jagdeo will put this SARU bill to full use. The PNC-Coalition members would have no rest under the PPP with the passage of this bill. One only has to reflect how Jagdeo used the GRA to harass and intimidate his opponents. The personal records of citizens who opposed the PPP were leaked to the media, duty-free concessions and remigrant waivers were threatened against people. This bill will be used against all
Guyanese. This monstrosity of a bill gives the SARU director too much leverage, one can only imagine what a character like Jagdeo would do with it. That is why the United Republican Party (URP), would like to go on record in stating that it was a huge mistake and gross shortsightedness for the Coalition to ram this bill through the Parliament. Any undue consequences the citizens of this country face because of this autocratic and politically motivated act will be laid squarely at the feet of those who were selfish and narrowminded enough to not see the detriment of this bill. Mr. Granger had better hope that the bill does what their shorted-sighted vision intends for it to do, or it will be hell to pay should the prevailing winds blow in 2020. As Anil Nandall, (former AG) said in his comment about the bill, “Therein, lies who will have the last laugh.” Dr. Vishnu Bandhu Leader, URP
Senior Engineer, Jermaine Braithwaite makes his presentation at City Hall, yesterday. provements. In terms of improving river defence, Braithwaite noted that breakwater systems will be introduced to help alleviate issues of overtopping along sections of the coastland during seasons of high tide. Additionally, the engineer told the ga t h e r i n g t h a t works will be continuous to make the sea defence on the coast more effective with the placement of rock beams and boulders along sections of the river defence. Meanwhile, Ministry of Finance‘s Director of the
Project Cycle Management, Tarachand Balgobin, explained that the project is being financed by the United Kingdom‘s Caribbean Infrastructural Fund. Balgobin noted too that aspects of the project will be funded through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, (CDB). As such, he noted that the programme must show that it is sustainable and a profitable venture. According to Balgobin, that is one of the requirements that must be satisfied for the project to be considered suc-
cessful by the funding agencies. He said that steps must be taken by the Council to ensure removal and relocation of vendors from the areas earmarked. “We must prove that the project is viable and financially sustainable, as the project will be subject to evaluation by the agencies helping to finance it,” he added. Additionally, Balgobin said that efforts must be made to sensitise other stakeholders on the waterfront development project.
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Opposition wants government to account for money spent on new airport KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – The main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) has called on the Ralph Gonsalves led administration to account for the more than EC$700 million (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) reportedly spent to build Argyle International Airport (AIA). NDP President and Leader of the Opposition, Godwin Friday, made the call at a press conference in Kingstown on Wednesday in which he accused the government of breaking the nation’s accountability laws. Friday, who, like Gonsalves is a lawyer, referred to Section 70 of the Constitution and the Finance Administration Act, 2004 which says that the Minister of Finance is responsible for “Ensuring that a full account of the finances of the Government is laid before the House of Assembly in the Public Accounts”. He, further pointed out that the Finance Administration Act says that the Accountant General shall within
four months after the end of every financial year prepare, certify and submit to the Director of Audit, the Public Accounts of SVG for that financial year accounting for all public money and showing fully the financial position of St Vincent and the Grenadines at the end of the financial year. The law also demands that the Director of Audit must audit the accounts prepared by the Accountant General. “Accountability is not optional. As specified in the subsection of the law quoted above: the work of accountability is legally and constitutionally required; it must be performed annually, AND it is the responsibility of the Minister of Finance to ensure that it is performed annually,” Friday told reporters. He said that notwithstanding the nation’s laws, Gonsalves, as Minister of Finance, has failed to lay before Parliament annual reports on the financial performance of several stateowned companies, including
the International Airport Development Company (AIDC), which was responsible for building the AIA. The airport opened on February 14, six years behind schedule and at a cost almost twice what the government initially said would have been needed to build it. Friday noted that in reference to the airport, Gonsalves has said it is the responsibility of all citizens to get together and “make it work”. The opposition leader said that he, too, maintains that given the large scale of the project and the implications for the country, “we must do what we can to make it work”. Friday, however, asked about Gonsalves’ responsibility as Minister of Finance, adding, “What about the responsibility of the Director of Audit? What about the responsibility of the Accountant General?” he said, noting that these officials have legally specified responsibilities relating to accountability that cannot be shoved aside for any reason.
Serena Williams suggests she’s 20 weeks pregnant. One of the greatest tennis players of all time has shared the news that she is pregnant. This could mean the 35-yearold’s days of racking up Grand Slam titles are over. The 23-time major winner posted a selfie of a small baby bump with the caption “20 weeks”. The dates would mean she won the Australian Open in January 10 weeks after conceiving. But the news hasn’t yet been confirmed by her team. World number two Serena Williams is pregnant and due in the autumn, her representative has confirmed. The 35-year-old earlier posted a picture of herself on Snapchat posing in a mirror with the message: “20 weeks” before deleting the post. The American, who won an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam in Australia in January, is almost certain to miss the rest of the season. This includes three Grand Slams - the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. Williams, who will return to world number one next week, would be eligible to retain her ranking under the WTA special ranking rule if she is ready to play her first tournament within 12 months of giving birth. US Open Tennis re-
sponded to Williams’s message by saying: “Serena Williams will have a new pride and joy to hug and call her own soon! Congratulations on the exciting baby announcement!” BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller said, “We are very unlikely to see Serena compete in another Grand Slam before the French Open of 2018. That event will take place four months before her 37th birthday - but do not write off a woman who will return to world number one on Monday.” Victoria Azarenka is a useful guide. Even though
she is eight years younger, Azarenka gave birth to her first child in December, returned to serious training in March and is targeting the WTA event in Stanford at the end of July for her return to the WTA Tour. Best female player of the Open era Williams, who is engaged to the co-founder of community news and chat site Reddit, Alexis Ohanian, is top of the all-time list of major winners since Grand Slams accepted professional players in 1968. She is second only to Australian Margaret Court on the list of women’s all-time Grand Slam singles titles leaders.
Thursday April 20, 2017
Kaieteur News
Jamaica making inroads into Asia – Tourism Minister KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says Asia has emerged as a big tourism market and Jamaica has been making good roads into that region. Bartlett, who is currently visiting Africa and Asia, also noted that a new report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) shows that Travel & Tourism generated 1 in 10 of the world’s jobs in 2016, as the sector grew by 3.3 per cent, outpacing the global economy for the sixth year in a row. “The Chinese and Indians have become heavy travellers and the Caribbean is a huge part of their itinerary,” Bartlett said. “With our unique blend of tourism offerings, Jamaica has a golden opportunity to tap into this very attractive market. The marketing team of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), ably led by Director of Tourism, Paul
Pennicook, has been very active in this regard and has been making inroads in the Asian market,” he added. Bartlett pointed out that the sector also supported a total of 292 million jobs in 2016. He said the WTTC report showed that South East Asia was the fastest growing region in the travel and tourism sector in 2016, growing by 8.3 per cent and was driven by what it called the expanding Chinese outbound market. The Tourism minister said it is projected that by 2027, travel and tourism will generate more than 11 per cent of the world’s GDP and employ a total of 380 million people. “It is estimated by the WTTC that one quarter of all jobs created in the next decade will be supported by travel and tourism,” he added.
Several detained during antigovernment protest in Suriname
by Ivan Cairo PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname, CMC – Riot police in Suriname detained several individuals including a union leader during anti-government protests in the capital Paramaribo on Tuesday. At the fourth demonstration so far this month, the protestors, chanting antigovernment slogans, called for the resignation of president Desi Bouterse and urged the government to stop its “policies of destruction”. Although smaller in numbers than the previous demonstrations – the protesters vowed to continue their rallies until the recent price hike for fuel has been revoked and government freezes proposed measures which would cause more hardship for the people.President of the Progressive Workers Union (PWO), Armand Zunder, said that since 2012, union leaders have been warning the government to change its policies, to keep prices under control and to prevent infla-
tion and devaluation of the country’s currency to prevent erosion of the spending power of workers. “The government didn’t listen but instead continued its destructive policies resulting in an economic crisis,” Zunder told the gathering. The union leader argued that instead of pilfering the hard fought earning of workers the government should renegotiate deals it struck with multinationals Iamgold and Newmont in order for these companies to contribute more to the state coffers. Shortly afterwards when demonstrators took to the streets,they were confronted by riot police barring them to continue the street march. Disgruntled participants sat on the road to protest against the barrier, but they circumvented the blockade and took an alternative route to continue their march. However at a crucial traffic junction downtown protesters were barred by police and eventually three indi-
viduals including Curtis Hofwijks, leader of the protest movement ‘We are fed up’ and Bryan Boerleider from the ‘People’s Collective’ were arrested and detained. The crowd subsequently dispersed and after the formal closing of the protest, Wilgo Valies, president of the Teacher’s Union, was arrested by police officers after he held a speech calling citizens to join fresh protests on Wednesday. “If we accept that individuals who are demonstrating peacefully are being arrested and detained by the authorities we open the flood gates for dictatorship”, the union leader said. According to District Commissioner of Paramaribo, Mike Nerkust, organizers of the protest didn’t have a permit. “They didn’t even seek one, which led to the conclusion that the organizers were aiming for chaos and disturbance of order and peace”, Nerkust said on state-owned Radio SRS.
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Thursday April 20, 2017
Thursday April 20, 2017
NBA roundup: Bulls out to 2-0 lead over Celtics From page 31 range. Raptors 106, Bucks 100 TORONTO — DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points and hit the go-ahead jump shot late in the fourth q u a r t e r a s To r o n t o d e feated Milwaukee to even the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at one game each. Kyle Lowry added 22 points for the Raptors and made the clinching jumper. Serge Ibaka added
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16 points for Toronto, Cory Joseph had 11 and Jonas Va l a n c i u n a s a d d e d 1 0 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. G i a n n i s Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 24 points and 15 rebounds, Khris Middleton added 2 0 points, Greg Monroe had 18 and Tony Snell scored 14. Clippers 99, Jazz 91 LOS ANGELES — Blake Griffin scored 24 points, and Los Angeles beat Utah in Game 2 to
e v e n t h e We s t e r n C o n ference first-round playoff series at one game apiece. Chris Paul had 21 points and 10 assists for the Clippers. DeAndre Jordan collected 18 points and 15 rebounds for Los Angeles before fouling out with 52 seconds left. Gordon Hayward scored 20 points and Derrick Favors and Joe Johnson added 13 apiece for the Jazz. George Hill chipped in 12 points and seven boards.
Thursday April 20, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Look into physical activities that will help get rid of some of that tension you may be feeling. Talk to peers who you trust in order to get sound advice. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Don't make excuses. Unexpected visitors will be a welcome surprise. You may find travel to be most rewarding. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Leave things as they are for the moment and focus on reaching your highest potential at work. Think about starting your own small business. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Be prepared to counteract the damage that adversaries are about to create. You may be frazzled today. You will meet potential new mates through business. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You will have an inaccurate assessment of your status in society. You can make financial gains through investments and dealing with other people's money. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Romantic opportunities will develop through friends or relatives. You can write beautiful love letters today.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Communication will be the source of your knowledge and you must be sure to spend time with those who have more experience. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may not get your facts correct today; double-check before making any statements. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Let go of the past in order to progress. Family outings or a quiet stroll through the park will lead to stimulating conversation and a closer bond. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You can find out important information if you listen to friends and relatives. You could be attracting individuals who are anything but good for you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Make career changes that may increase your income. Secret affairs may be tempting, but keep in mind that they will damage your reputation if you decide to indulge. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Put your time and energy into travel, philosophy, and soul-searching. Don't fall for damaging rumors, and refuse to get involved in gossip.
WICB and UWI sign MOU in honour of five Caribbean media stalwarts Kingston, JAMAICA – The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), through the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communications (CARIMAC), on Tuesday April 18, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for five bursaries to begin September 2017. The five bursaries are being named in honour of five Caribbean media stalwarts. The honourees are the late Roy Lawrence and Tony Cozier; Tony Becca, Headley Samuels and Joseph Perreira. Head of CARIMAC, Professor Hopeton Dunn says “the programme is geared towards affording students with a specific interest in cricket as they pursue further education in Media/ Communications programmes to include undergraduate studies in Integrated Marketing Communication, Journalism (Radio, Television, Print and Online) and Digital Media Production. This relationship is for three years. Professor Dunn also noted that the MOU has prompted CARIMAC to add two new courses in the short term – Cricket Commentary and Analytics and Sport Culture and Caribbean Media.
YWCC ... From page 27 recently elected president of the club, said that, S h i m r o n ’s s u c c e s s w a s purely due to hard work, commitment and humility. He said that his talent was spotted since he was six years old accompanying his elder brother Seon Hetmyer, a former national youth player to the cricket ground. His potential was obvious and with proper guidance, there was no doubt that he would have one day don West Indies colours. Kassim said that his achievement has made his club proud and everyone in the East Canje area. He called on parents to send their children to the club so that more like Shimron can be found. Hetmyer was the first West Indies U19 Captain to win a youth World Cup. The president would like to thank his parents, the former and current executives of the club, his team mates and all those who have helped him during his career. Special mention was made of his coach Hubern Evans, Kwesi Maltay, Anil Beharry. Kassim wishes him well, encourages him to stay humble and to keep God in his daily life.
This the Professor says will begin for the new academic year. WICB President, Dave Cameron says “the investment is for US$150,000 over the period and the students who get selected for the bursaries will have access to work experience in WICB’s international and regional series and with other partners where applicable.” Cameron noted that “it was important that two of the oldest Caribbean institutions partnering for such an important programme, is a signal of the commitment of the WICB to continue on to facilitate the growth of cricket across the region. Education forms part of that role.” The selection criteria for
Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira the programme have been prepared and the five students will be selected shortly.
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Guyanese earns Expo 11 Masters of Martial Arts award in Atlantic City event The Host/Producer of Maximum Sports Combat & Strength (MSCS), Guyana’s popular “live” one-hour TV Sports programme, which is aired Fridays from 9.05pm on NCN TV, Mr. Max Massiah, a 3rd Degree Black Belt Martial Arts practitioner, was on Saturday April 7, in the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, presented with a “EXPO 11 & Masters of Martial Arts Award”, during the award ceremony & dinner held later in the evening, after the huge display/demonstration held earlier in the day, and attended by approximately 150 World-renowned Martial Artists with ranks of Grandmaster, Master, Hanshi, Sifu, Shihan, & Sensei. Massiah has the distinction of being honoured as a 2-time “Legends of Martial Arts Hall-of-Fame” inductee (2015 & 2016), holder of a “Master of Martial Arts GOLD Category Award Guyana” presented by WISDA (World International Self-Defense Association) & UWAMA (Unified World Association Martial Arts) of Barcelona, Spain. There was a total of almost 100 demonstrations, with the Guyanese being placed early at #14 to do his demonstration, using his
Nunchucku sticks (his favorite weapon he has trained with since the age of 15). He then choose 245lb American Hanshi Johnny Hunter from the audience, to do his “live” demonstration of submission moves, which thrilled the audience to hearty applause. The Martial Artist explained he choose the biggest guy as he finds it easier to utilise their strength & weight to his advantage. “I have created my own Style, which I call “MAX-IDO” (pronounced as “max-edoh”). I am too big to be jumping around with these hotheaded youths of today’s society, in event of a situation, which I would go to full lengths by running or walking away to avoid, so my style is concentrated on breaking my opponents limbs in under 4 seconds to finish the confrontation as quickly as possible,” the TV host explained. Chinese Movie-Star, Grandmaster Chui Chi Ling (of KUNG FU HUSTLE fame and dozens of other blockbuster movies) was the giant of the event with his extremely friendly and hilarious personality. All the nominees proved during their display how they earned their rankings, by some awe-
Max Massiah does a demonstration with the Nunchucku sticks while his trophy (inset) is displayed. some (and deadly) performances. Some of the elders in their 60s moved with such precision, speed, and stealth, that 20-year olds would envy. “Chief Grandmaster Rico Guy, Hanshi Anthony Dwight Lingo, Miguel “Thunderfist” Lopez Snr, Miguel “Thunderfoot” Lopez Jnr, Master Karen Eden Herdman, Master Luis “Mad Dog “
Ortega, & Master David Fury are just a sprinkling of names of the World’s best, which I consider to be some of the most dangerous men in the World when it comes to empty-hand and weapon Combat that attended the event, which was hosted by Sifu Cliff Kupper of New Jersey,” Massiah opined. Sifu Cliff Kupper noted,
Max Massiah demonstrates a arm breaking submission hold with American Hanshi Johnny Hunter during his demonstration. “We had a huge honour having you over, great demonstration and your friendliness to all martial artists around the world is the top.” Massiah said he is ever grateful to the sponsors of MSCS, such as Fly Jamaica Airlines (which also assisted him with his ticket to and from JFK Airport), Fitness Express, Jermin’s
Enterprise, Guyana Karate College, Rossignol Butchery, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Space Gym, Superbet Sport-Betting, Giftland’s Sportsmaxx, Nexgen Global Marketing, Fanta Seafoods, & Mike’s Pharmacy. Max Massiah can be contacted on (592) 609-8132 / 672-8569/ or (USA) 929 245 6444.
Cheong, Sooklall guide NSC to 33-run win over Dindyal XI
Matthew Cheong
Tushall Surujpaul
Half centuries from Matthew Cheong and Navindra Sooklall handed Noitgedacht SC a 33-run victory over Sachin Dindyal XI in a 30-over U19 match played on Tuesday at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. Cheong and Sooklall added 69 for the third-wicket after they lost openers Khemraj Dass (17) and Arvinda Rai (10), as Noitgedacht SC posted 2257, batting first. Cheong slammed eight fours and three sixes in a top score of 76, while Sooklall hit three fours and one six in his 53. Parmamand Rai made 27 as Marlon Dindyal captured 4-
26, while there was one each for Mahase Ramnarine, Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon and David Chalitar. Openers Tushall Surujpaul and Ramkissoon put on 54 for the first wicket to give Dindyal XI a solid start before the latter was dismissed for 28, while Surujpaul, who timed the ball well, made 36 with four fours. Mahase Ramnarine slammed two sixes and a similar number of fours but after he went for 35, Noitgedacht SC picked up some quick wickets to restrict their opponent for 192-9. Sachin Dindyal contributed 14 as Navin Persaud picked three wickets, while Cheong
Members of both teams following the game. and Imran Khan had two each. Cheong was named
man-of-the-match. Following the game the
players were involved a coaching session with
Nandkishore Andrews and Zaheer Mohamed.
Thursday April 20, 2017
GCF executive pays Minister Henry courtesy call Relays plans for inaugural Chess and Scholastic Centre The recently installed executive body of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) continues to work assiduously towards the development of the sport and is putting the modalities in place to integrate chess in schools and to establish for the first time in Guyana a Chess and Scholastic Centre. This much was relayed to the Junior Minister of Sports within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, when several members of the GCF executive joined their President, James Bond, for a courtesy call to her Main Street office on Tuesday afternoon. Other (GCF) executives present at the forum were Vice President of Development, Frankie Farley, Attorney-atLaw, Yolander Persaud in her capacity of Vice President of Sponsorship and Finance
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and Committee Member Anthony Drayton. Mr. Bond briefed the Minister of plans to integrate chess in schools. He also disclosed that plans are in train to establish an inaugural institution to be known as The Guyana Chess and Scholastic Centre which will serve to augment the schools’ programme. This entity would be christened in honour of Guyana’s most prolific player, former national and Caribbean champion, Maurice Broomes. Minister Henry was also informed of plans to focus on increasing female participation. Mr. Bond said that his team will place greater emphasis on organising more women’s tournaments in an effort to pique the interest of the distaff groups in all ten regions.
Minister Henry was enthused by those projections and pledged her unstinted support. She was also impressed by the GCF executives’ desire to establish a permanent home for the sport and committed to full support. Plans are also in train to facilitate other board games such as scrabble among others. Minister Henry further indicated that her Ministry is in the process of building capacity amongst her staff to better manage aforementioned facilities in order to guarantee optimum involvement and deliverables in and from the use of such facilities. She also pledged full support to the work of the Federation and indicated that her Ministry has an open door policy for the GCF and all other sport disciplines.
C’bean Teacher’s Union Les Harris t20 cricket
Osborne, Samaroo set up Guyana’s win over T&T Jamaica destroy Bahamas by 10 Wkts
Inter Association U-19 Cricket
Perez, Mohamed powers GT to crushing win over West Dem A dashing 110 from Raymond Perez laced with 11 fours and an attacking 52 from Renaldo Ali Mohamed, which included four fours and two sixes, spearheaded Georgetown to a crushing 126-run win against West Demerara yesterday at Everest in the Inter Association 50-over U19 cricket competition. The City side rattled up 241-8 off their 50 overs as Mark Jeffers (3-36) and
National youth player Richi Looknauth (3-40) did the damage with the ball for the lads from the West side. West Demerara, led by Skipper L o o k n a u t h ’s unbeaten 35, could only manage 115 all out in 32.1 overs. Mohamed returned with the ball to finish a great day at the office with 6-25 and got support offspinner Dwayne Dick who had two wickets. (Sean Devers)
Raymon Perez
YWCC congratulates Hetmyer on West Indies senior team call up The Cumberland based Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) has offered congratulations to their exciting young opener Shimron Hetmyer on his elevation to the West Indies Senior team for the upcoming three-test series against Pakistan in the Caribbean. The twenty-year old is the first player from the club to be called up for senior West Indies duties. However, over the years the club produced many outstanding players such as Damodar Daesrath, Gajanand Singh, Richard Ramdeen, Balram Samaroo, Kwesi Maltay, Linden Austin among others. Rafeek Kassim, (Continued on page 25)
Shimron Hetmyer
Balram Samaroo punches Chris Siewsankar past cover during his half century at the GDF ground yesterday. By Sean Devers Guyana and Jamaica registered second round victories in the Caribbean Teachers Union Les Harris four-day t20 tournament at the GDF ground yesterday to give Jamaica their second win and Guyana their first after Jamaica beat them Tuesday. A commanding 123-run opening stand between former Essequibo InterCounty Keeper Wayne Osborne, who hit 10 fours and a six from 62 balls in an entertaining 76 and the left-handed Berbice Inter County player Balram Samaroo, whose delightful 52 lasted 38 balls and was decorated with nine fours, took Guyana to 154-4 when their 20 overs expired. Dehaan Seeram took 219 for Trinidad &Tobago who replied with 106-9 off 2 0 o v e r s w i t h Vi n o o d Maharaj hitting a run-a-ball 30 with four fours. But only Chris Siewsankar (16), Lester Hanooman (14) and Kirti Lalpu (11) of the other batsmen reached double figures. Essequibo Inter-County off-spinner Andrew Williams, who plays first division cricket in Berbic e f o r Bermine, took 4-13 and was on a hat-trick. He was well supported by Kevin Paul who bagged 4-19. With a cooling breeze blowing from the Atlantic Ocean to North of the ground
Guyana won the toss and opted to bat on a flat track and fast outfield in scorching heat and Osborne hammered Shiva Harry for four in the first over to get going, while Samaroo pulled Maharaj to mid-wicket and inside edged him to fine leg for a couple of boundaries. Osborne dumped Ramsehai Ramesar for six before Samaroo flayed Hanooman for three boundaries and Osborne finished off the over, which cost 17 runs, with another four as the partnership galloped to 50 from 38 balls. Osborne pulled Seeram for four to post his 50 from 46 balls with seven fours and a six, while Samaroo caressed Siewsankar gloriously past extra cover for four to post the 100 partnership in the 14th over and celebrated with two more fours in the over and local fans including Elizabeth Sunish, one Guyana most die-hard cricket fans, were on their feet. Samaroo reached his 50 from 37 balls with nine fours but was removed next ball by Seeram who a l so got rid of Darnel Douglas, who made 51 in first match, for a duck as two wickets fell on 123. When Osborne was removed by Maharaj at 146-3 the run rate dipped slightly
but former Guyana youth player Renoli Bourne (13*) and Albert Sinclair (1), who was stumped in the final over, saw their team to the 150 mark. Aided by sloppy fielding and some wayward bowling, especially from Trelon Garraway who started with four wides, Kalpu and Maharaj built a solid, if at times a bit slow, foundation before Kalpu was removed by Williams at 47-1 before Maharaj was run out three runs later. Samaroo was miserly, bowling fast, flat leg breaks with the new ball and once Siewsankar departed off Paul seven wickets tumbled for just 24 runs as Williams and Paul began their demolition job. In the afternoon game Jamaica got the better of Bahamas by 10 wickets after reaching 28 without loss in 1.1 overs in reply to Bahamas’ 25 all out. The Bahamians batting was ripped apart by Dwight Stewart (3-7), Gavaskar Malachi 2-0 and former Jamaica U-19 leftarm pacer Darren McTaggart who bowled left-arm spin yesterday and took 2-1. The action shifts to Albion in Berbice today before the final and third place play-off are set for the Tushen ground in East Bank Essequibo tomorrow.
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GCB thanks Drubahadur The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) would like to thank its outgoing President Mr. Drubahadur, who served the board for four years as President. Mr. Drubahadur tendered his resignation effective 10th March, 2017 citing excessive business and family commitment. An accountant by profession, the outgoing President also served on the WICB Finance Committee. In 2011, Mr. Drubahadur joined the GCB as its Assistant Secretary and was elected in 2013 as the Board’s President during a turbulent period. In his parting statement, this ardent cricket fan pledged continued support to the GCB and we look forward to his participation in all other ways possible. The Executives and staff thank Mr. Drubahadur for his leadership during the difficult period and realize his worthwhile contributions to the
Jadunauth retained as Chairman of Enmore CCCC
Mr. Drubahadur current success of the Guyana’s cricket on and off the field of play. Mr. Fizul Bacchus, current Vice President of Administration and will serve as the President until elections of the GCB are held.
GCB names Jaguars Squad for 10th Round game The Guyana Jaguars enters its final round of the Digicel WICB Regional Four Day PCL from tomorrow, Friday 21st April, 2017, against Leeward Islands at the National Stadium - Providence. The Jaguars currently enjoys an unattainable lead over its opponents; as such has already secured the championship trophy and triple crown honors - having won the first three WICB Regional 4 Day Professional Cricket League. While the Guyana Jaguars look forward to lifting the trophy at the end of the final round, they will certainly be seeking to finish on a high with a win against the Leeward Islands. The Guyana Cricket Board yesterday released the Jaguars squad for the final round contest. Leon Johnson is the Captain,
Thursday April 20, 2017
Kaieteur News
while Veerasammy Permaul has been recommended for Vi c e C a p tain. Notable, Shimron Hetmyer and Vishaul are not in the squad after earning West indies call ups, while Raymon Reifer is back after Windies ‘A’Team duties against Pakistan. Players are: 1. Assad Fudadin 2. Rajendra Chandrika 3. Chanderpaul Hemraj 4. Leon Johnson 5. Bhaskar Yadram 6. Keemo Paul 7. Anthony Bramble 8. Raymon Reifer 9. V e e r a s a m m y Permaul 10. Gudakesh Motie 11. Keon Joseph 12. Steven Jacobs 13. Anthony Adams Coach - Esuan Crandon Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith Physio - Ernesto Campo
Members of the newly elected executive of the Enmore CCCC. Taajnauth Jadunauth was unanimously re-elected as the Chairman of the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club when the body held its Annual General Meeting recently. Bheemraj Ramkelawan was elected as Secretary and Club Captain; Tahal Ganesh Treasurer and Ramdeo Ramkissoon and Chaitram Ramlall as
Committee Members. The new faces on the executive body are Suresh Jainarine - Assistant Secretary/Asst. Treasurer; R u d o l p h S i n g h - Vi c e captain; and Gavin MoriahCommittee Member. Jadunauth thanked the members for their confidence in retaining the majority of the executives from 2016, and called upon the
membership to remain committed to the club’s mission. Ramkelawan, highlighted some of the plans for the club during this year. Those included a highgrade cricket pitch cover, village outreach for expansion of membership, cricket tour to Trinidad and Tobago, Inter-block cricket competition and the club’s
anniversary cricket tournament. Meanwhile, the club commenced the 2017 cricket programme with consecutive victories over D’ Edward Village, East Coast Under-19 and Strathavon SC. The ECCCC’s anniversary T20 cricket and Inter-block softball competitions are also scheduled for April 30 and May 1 respectively.
Massy Industries joins list of sponsors for YWCC company understands its Mash Cup his role as a Corporate Citizen, Massy Industries joined the list of sponsors for The Young Warriors Cricket Club fund raising, Mash Cup 2017 which is set for April 30 at the Cumberland Cricket Ground, East Canje, Berbice. Information coming out of the East Canje area is that the interest of the public is gaining momentum and they are looking forward for this annual mega event. Proceeds from this event runs the clubs cricket programmes. It is expected that a number of teams from the East Canje area will compete in the action packed five overs cricket competition for prize monies of over $100,000. Two top Masters Softball teams in Guyana are expected to do battle in a 15over aside feature game. There will be added attractions for the kids and the entire family. Live musical entertainment and a well stocked bar will be provided. At the presentation ceremony, Mark Roopnarine, Manager of the Berbice Branch said they are once again pleased to be part of this event. He stated that
adding that he has been following the progress of the club over the years and is impressed with the strides they have made. In response, Rafeek Kassim, newly elected President of the club was thankful for the support and promised that the event will provide entertainment for the entire family. He said that the large trophy provided will be used as incentive for the competition, eliminating some cost. The club commenced a three-day cricket clinic yesterday for its U-19 members. The clinic, which is being conducted by Julian Moore, will conclude tomorrow and players are urged to take advantage of this opportunity for there is no cost attached. Interested persons can contact the club executives on 3277585, 612-0944 or 332-0476 for more information. Meanwhile, the club has extended congratulations to opening batsman Shimron Hetmyer on his selection to the West Indies senior team to face Pakistan in the threetest series in the Caribbean.
Mark Roopnarine, left hands over the trophy to YWCC executive Sahadeo Singh in the presence of staff members and representatives of the club.
Thursday April 20, 2017
Kaieteur News
Ali a doubt for Sabina Park Test
Fast bowler Hasan Ali. KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – A groin injury has put Pakistan seamer Hasan Ali in doubt for the opening Test of the three-match series against West Indies bowling off here tomorrow. The 23-year-old, who is yet to make his Test debut, picked up the injury during last weekend’s three-day four game against the WICB President’s XI and is yet to recover. The Pakistan Cricket Board said the player would undergo rehabilitation in an attempt to return to full fitness
quickly. “On clinical assessment there is strain to one of his adductor muscles. He will undergo progressive rehabilitation to regain strength in the groin,’ the PCB statement said. “Currently, we are confident that he will recover in time to be able to play in the Test series against West Indies. We will continue review his situation as he progresses through rehabilitation stages and give an update later when we are satisfied with his successful
recovery or progress.” Ali was expected to be a shoo-in for the first Test after impressive performances in the preceding limited overs series. He was especially outstanding in the opening one-dayer with a fivewicket haul. The right-armer sent down 27 overs in the first innings of the tour game but did not bowl in the President’s XI second innings. He has taken 29 wickets in 16 one-dayers and 10 wickets in seven Twenty20 Internationals.
Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya bailed in UK BBC Sport - Indebted tycoon Vijay Mallya has been bailed on security of £650,000 after appearing in court in London. He was arrested on Tuesday by the Metropolitan Police on behalf of the Indian authorities, over fraud accusations. India has been seeking the extradition of Mr Mallya, who faces charges of financial irregularities at his defunct Kingfisher Airlines. Mr Mallya is said to owe banks £600m but he denies wrongdoing. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and a case management hearing was scheduled for 17 May. A brief statement on Mr Mallya’s Twitter account said: “Usual Indian media hype. Extradition hearing in court started today as expected.” The 61-year-old former Indian MP entered the UK on a valid passport in March 2016. Airline collapse Mr Mallya made his
Vijay Mallya has denied any wrongdoing. (Getty Images)
fortune selling beer under the Kingfisher brand before branching out into aviation and Formula 1 racing. He is the co-owner of the F1 team Force India and also owns the Indian Premier League cricket franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, Mr Mallya’s airline was grounded in 2012 and its flying permit lapsed the following year. Kingfisher made annual losses for five years in a row and finally collapsed after lenders refused to give it fresh loans.
In March last year, Mr Mallya was blocked from receiving $75m in severance pay from the UK drinks giant Diageo. He was due to receive the money after being ousted from the firm, but a consortium of banks and creditors had demanded the money should be used to settle some of Mr Mallya’s outstanding debts to them. In April last year, India r e v o k e d M r M a l l y a ’s passport. The following month, it began seeking his extradition from the UK.
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Ex-NFL star Hernandez hangs self in prison; family seeks probe B O S TO N ( R e u t e r s ) Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez hanged himself yesterday in a prison cell where he was serving a life sentence for murder, prison officials said, and his family called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances. The body of the 27-yearold former athlete was found hanging from a bed sheet at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts. Hernandez was serving a life sentence for the 2013 murder of an acquaintance but on Friday had been found not guilty of killing two other people. State police were investigating the circumstances of the death of the former rising star in the National Football League, and a coroner was performing an autopsy yesterday. “There were no conversations or correspondence from Aaron to his family or legal team that would have indicated anything like this was possible,” said lawyer Jose Baez, who successfully defended Hernandez in the double-murder trial. “Aaron was looking forward to an opportunity for a second chance to prove his innocence.” Baez called on authorities to “conduct a transparent and thorough investigation” and promised his own examination of the death. A prison spokesman told the Boston Globe that Hernandez had not been on a suicide watch and did not indicate that he intended to
Former NFL player Aaron Hernandez during his murder trial in Fall River, Massachusetts, March 2015. (REUTERS/Dominick Reuter) harm himself. The spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bed sheet that he attached to his cell w i n d o w, ” t h e s t a t e corrections commission said i n a s t a t e m e n t . “ M r. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.” Hernandez’s former agent, Brian Murphy, said on Twitter that he did not believe the athlete had killed himself. “Absolutely no chance he took his own life,” Murphy said. “Chico was not a saint, but my family and I loved him, and he would never take his own life.” Hernandez’s two murder trials revealed a troubled man who often used illegal narcotics and at times believed strangers were challenging or disrespecting him.
In his trial for the double murder, Baez challenged the credibility of the prosecution’s star witness, suggesting that he had killed the men and pinned it on Hernandez in exchange for immunity. Baez is best known for successfully defending Florida mother Casey Anthony in 2011 against charges of murdering her daughter. Hernandez was expected to appeal his sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole for the 2013 murder. Some of his former teammates visited the White House and met President Donald Trump in honor of their Super Bowl win yesterday. Tom Brady, the team’s best-known player, did not attend the White House event due to family commitments, local media reported, citing a statement from the star quarterback and self-described friend of Trump.
Lyon, Besiktas handed suspended European bans by UEFA (Reuters) Olympique Lyonnais and Besiktas have been handed suspended oneseason bans from European competition and fined 100,000 euros ($107,000) after crowd trouble delayed the start of their Europa League clash last week. Both teams’ bans have been deferred for a probationary period of two years, European soccer’s governing body UEFA said in a statement on its website (www.uefa.org). Ugly scenes in the crowd delayed kickoff at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais by 45 minutes. Lyon were charged with insufficient organisation and a breach of safety regulations as their fans blocked stairways, set off fireworks and invaded the pitch after the home team’s second goal completed a comeback 2-1 win.
Visiting Besiktas were charged with their fans setting off fireworks, throwing objects and crowd disturbances. Clashes between rival fans started hours before the kickoff after around 15,000 Besiktas supporters arrived in Lyon, marching through the city centre and lighting flares. Lyon said their fans sought refuge on the pitch after they were pelted with objects and flares from the upper tiers of the stadium. The bans will cover the next European club competition for which each team qualifies. “The CEDB (Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body) has considered that the supporters of both clubs were responsible for the crowd disturbances at the match,” UEFA said in a statement.
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Kaieteur News
Lessons to learn after CARIFTA success
Kadecia Baird
Tai Payne
By Edison Jefford The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has another opportunity to end the proliferation of its inability to transition talented and promising athletes to the next level with the success of the CARIFTA Games team last weekend in Curacao. For the record, it is not the first time Guyana has succeeded at the CARIFTA Games. Guyanese athletes have been doing well at the Caribbean’s most prestigious junior Championship for some time without any of them being able to transition to senior international success. Guyana has gone down in the annals of history again at the 2017 Games, garnering eight medals, which include four gold, one silver and three bronze from a team of 12 athletes. Compton Caesar did what no other Guyanese male sprinter was able to do. He won the signature 100m gold medal of the CARIFTA Games. As if that was not enough, Caesar went on to demonstrate his authenticity with a bronze medal in the 200m; the other three gold medals came from Chantoba Bright (Long Jump), United States-based Natricia Hooper (Triple Jump) and Claudrice McKoy (3000m). In addition, Bright and McKoy also won bronze medals, while Anfernee Headecker (1500m) won a silver medal. Guyana’s medals came from five of the 12 athletes in Curacao where the country was able to carve out a fifth place finish overall of 17 countries. The other athletes were Daniel Williams (200m, LJ) Tarique Boyle (High Jump), Samuel Lynch (800m), Matthew McKenzie (5000m), Kenisha Phillips (100, 200m), Onasha Rogers (100m) and Tremaine Browne (Long, Triple Jump). Now that these athletes have performed as so many others before them had done, a big challenge for the athletics
association is to ensure that these athletes make the conversion to the next level according to a development plan, which unfortunately has been non-existent. President of the association, Aubrey Hutson had promised on live national television to deliver a development plan for athletes. To-date, he has been unable to fulfill that promise, but the success of these athletes now demands the implementation of such a programme. We have been here before where an obviously talented athlete or group of athletes surfaces in an era, but nothing is done to ensure they go on to greater success. The athletics association must be receptive to the lessons of Kadecia Baird and so many others. United States-based, Baird was second at the International Association of Athletics Federations ( I A A F ) Wo r l d J u n i o r Championships in 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. Baird was 17 at the time and ran 51.04 seconds. Bahamian, Shaunae Miller was fourth in that race. However, four years after, Miller is a 400m Olympic Champion with the now famous ‘dive across’ the finish line. Miller is also a silver medallist from the 2015 World Championships, while Baird did not go on to maximise the early potential she showed. It was hardly her fault. Baird did not get the support she deserved from the athletics association, which is the main affiliate of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). Together, they contrived to produce very little, if anything at all, for Baird, who is now in College regaining the form that made her a world beater five years ago. We can look before Baird at the potential that fell by the wayside because Guyana is s t i l l w i t h o u t a Wo r l d Championship or Olympic medal. Guyana is still without overwhelming athletic
Aubrey Hutson
Compton Caesar success at the Central America and Caribbean (CAC), and Pan American Games, though we have picked up medals there through Marian Burnett, Aliann Pompey and James Wren Gilkes. Perhaps, Guyana’s highest achievement in athletics remains Pompey’s Commonwealth gold and silver medals. This is not to say that we have not had the talent to produce much more. It is rather an indictment on the administration of the sport to produce the development plan and programme that will ensure the transition of athletes. Guyana has had many CARIFTA Games successes before, including 800m prodigy, Tai Payne. In the most recent history, there were multiple gold medallists, Jevina Straker and Cassey George among other medallists, but they were all left alone to navigate the world of athletics without any substantive and deliberate effort to develop their ability. Without an intentional arrangement to ensure that Caesar and others appear in contention for medals in Osaka, Japan at the 2020 Olympic Games, Guyana will continue to come up short on the biggest platform. With the CARIFTA Games over, the focus is now on what happens next.
Thursday April 20, 2017
Pakistan tour match a learning moment, says Hetmyer KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – West Indies’ latest batting recruit, Shimron Hetmyer, has hailed his outing in the three-day tour game against Pakistan as a learning experience and an important boost to his career. The 20-year-old struck 97 in the contest at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in Trelawny last weekend, a knock that helped him force his way into the 13-man squad for the opening Test bowling off here tomorrow. “I’ve learnt that going through my innings I should take it a ball at a time and a session at a time as well,” the Guyana Jaguars left-hander said. “[I need to also] just keep my eyes on the ball as much as possible and try and communicate as much as possible with my partner to see what’s going on. Just waiting and being more selective [is also
important].” Hetmyer has been on the selectors’ radar ever since he captained West Indies Under-19s to their triumph at last year’s Youth World Cup in Bangladesh. He further impressed in the Regional four-day championship by gathering nearly 500 runs and was rewarded with call-up to the WICB President’s XI side to face the Pakistanis. Hetmyer said such tour games against international opposition were crucial for young players in the region. “I think it is very important. [It tells us] where we are in our cricket and where we should improve and where we can improve,” he pointed out. “If this should continue and we get more youngsters in the system, they would understand where they are and know how to build later.” A naturally aggressive player
at the top of the order, Hetmyer struck 11 fours and two sixes in a breezy 115ball innings against a Pakistan attack that included the likes of leg-spinner Yasir Shah and pacer Mohammad Amir. He said the knock had been important since he failed to get a significant score in his previous first class outing. “I just played to my strengths, that was mainly it. I just chose the balls that I could put away and I think I did that well,” he explained. “The ball that I got out with I don’t think I could’ve really done that much but then again, that’s how cricket goes sometimes.” He added: “It (innings) boosted me a lot because coming off the last first class game I played in Barbados I didn’t really get much so I was hoping to get some in this game and I think that came off.”
British teenager has legs amputated after F4 crash (Reuters) British Formula Four driver Billy Monger has had his lower legs amputated after an horrific crash at the Donington Park circuit on Sunday, series organisers said yesterday. The 17-year-old, who smashed at speed into the back of another car that had halted on the track, was trapped in the wreckage for more than 90 minutes before being extricated and flown to hospital. “Due to the injuries sustained and despite every effort, Billy has sadly had both lower legs amputated,” the FIA sanctioned series said in a statement. “He has been kept in an induced coma while undergoing surgery, from which he is expected to be woken in the next few days.”
British Formula Four driver Billy Monger (mirror.co.uk) A crowd-funding site was set up to raise funds for the teenager ’s medical treatment and recovery, with
Formula One drivers joining the motorsport community in expressing support on Twitter.
‘Rusty’ Murray wins in Monte Carlo, Nadal taken to three sets (Reuters) World number one Andy Murray overcame a dreadful start to beat Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 7-5, 7-5 and reach the Monte Carlo Masters third round as he made his return from a five-week injury layoff yesterday. The Briton, who had a first-round bye, had not played competitive tennis since injuring his elbow in March and began with three double faults as he lost his opening service game.
Left-hander Muller served for the first set but Murray dug himself out of trouble to move through. Rafael Nadal began his quest for a 10th title in the principality but was also made to work hard by Murray’s compatriot Kyle Edmund - winning 6-0, 5-7 (6-3). Nadal made a dazzling start on one of his favourite courts but hard-hitting 22-year-old Edmund hit back to worry the Spaniard who was playing his 400th match on the red dust.
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Kaieteur News
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Steely Juventus shut down Hamza Eastman prevails in senior Barca to kill off comeback hopes segment; Briton John is top junior
Chin Chan Family and Friends sponsored Cycle Road Race
Warren ‘Forth’ McKay. Team Coco’s Hamza Eastman came out winner of last Sunday’s Chin Chan Family and Friends sponsored 65-mile cycle road race from the city to the Coca Cola sign on the Linden, Soesdyke Highway returning to the village of Grove on the East Bank of Demerara for the finish. Pedaling off from H o m e s t r e t c h Av e n u e , Eastman capitalized on a number of misfortunes suffered by some riders including Raynauth Jeffrey to win in Two Hours 43 Minutes 54 Seconds. The top six was completed by Christopher Griffith, Michael Anthony, Walter Grant-Stuart, Akeem Wilkinson and Paul De Nobrega in that order. Briton John of United We Stand Cycle Club has continued his winning ways with victory in the junior category ahead of Jason Cameron and Adealie Hodge. The veteran category saw some rearranging in
Team Coco’s. (Photos by Franklin Wilson) terms of the usual placing with Warren ‘Forty’ McKay emerging winner in the process relegating Lear Nunes to the runner-up spot with the dominant Junior Niles settling for third. Winner of the female segment of the race was Deance Welch, while the top mountain bike cyclist was Keon Thomas. Jeffrey, who rides for the USA based Pharmaco Cycle Club, encountered mechanical issues on the downward journey and was forced to discontinue the race which saw Eastman, Anthony, Griffith and Wilkinson breaking away from the pack at Craig Village on the upward journey and never looked back. Anthony had suffered a puncture on the downward journey at Garden of Eden but still found the resolve to storm back to claim the third place, while Wilkinson was dropped at Friendship coming back which afforded P hys ically Challenged
Barcelona’s Luis Suarez in action with Juventus’ Alex Sandro during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg. (Reuters / Sergio Perez Livepic)
Briton JohnUnited We Stand CC. cyclist Grant-Stuart to catch up with him thereby edging him for fourth place.
NBA roundup: Bulls out to 2-0 lead over Celtics Sports Xchange BOSTON — The eighthseeded Chicago Bulls, getting a balanced attack led by a vintage Rajon Rondo floor game, cruised by the top-seeded Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to take a stunning 2-0 lead in an Eastern Conference firstround playoff series. The Bulls, 41-41 in the regular season, are attempting to become the sixth No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 in the first round —
and the first since the Philadelphia 76ers upset Chicago in the 2012 playoffs. Game 3 of the bestof-seven series is in Chicago tomorrow. The Bulls used several quick spurts to control this game, the last one a 10-0 burst to build a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter. Dwyane Wade scored eight of those points. Rondo, a former Celtic who won a championship in Boston, just missed the 11th triple-
double of his playoff career with 11 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds. He added five steals and three blocked shots. Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, who will fly to Tacoma, Wash., on Wednesday to attend the funeral for his younger sister, Chyna, who was killed in an automobile crash, had an off night. He scored 20 points but was just 6 of 15 from the floor, including 1 of 5 from 3-point (Continued on page 25)
BARCELONA (Reuters) Barcelona’s hopes of staging another sensational Champions League comeback fell flat against a hardened Juventus side who held the Catalans to a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp yesterday to reach the semifinals 3-0 on aggregate. The Italian champions barely gave Barca a glimmer of hope of repeating their historic turnaround against Paris St Germain in the last 16 and protected their healthy advantage from the first leg by starving the hosts of space and clear sights of goal. Lionel Messi came closest to giving Barca a route back into the contest with four strikes at goal but failed to hit the target with any of them and frequently came up short against Juve’s intimidating centre-back pairing of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. “Juventus are a great team and they were better than us in the tie and overall they deserved to go through. I wish them the best and I think they could win the trophy,” Barca defender Gerard Pique told reporters. “It was a very difficult result to come back from although we tried until the end. They’re Italian and they defended very well. They knew how they wanted to play and got their objective. We created chances but little by little we realised we had a mountain to climb.” Tw i c e E u r o p e a n champions Juve lacked the
spark and power of their thrilling first-leg victory in Turin, but there was rarely any doubt they would exact revenge for their defeat by Barca in the 2015 Champions League final by reaching the semis for a 12th time. Barca coach Luis Enrique had said before the game that if hia team managed to strike early then the noise of the Nou Camp would suck the other goals in. J u v e n t u s , h o w e v e r, showed in the opening stages that they are made of sterner stuff than PSG, who gave up a 4-0 first-leg advantage. Massimiliano Allegri’s side pressed Barca in their own half and limited the supply to the front three. Messi almost managed to pick out Jordi Alba with a hooked pass and later played a one-two with the Spaniard before dragging narrowly wide of the far post. Ivan Rakitic and Neymar also missed the target with hopeful efforts but Juventus’ aggressive gameplan limited how much
attacking Barca could do without leaving themselves exposed. Gonzalo Higuain cracked a shot over the bar before the break while the probing Juan Cuadrado almost picked out the Argentine striker in the middle, but was thwarted by a brilliant block from Pique. Barca increased their grip on possession after the break and spent most of the remainder of the game in their opponents’ half trying to carve out chances, but Juve were always ready for them. Messi whipped a free kick on to the roof of the net and slammed another shot wide before spurning his best chance, a volley which fizzed over the bar. Barca right back Sergi Roberto attempted a repeat of his heroic strike against PSG, but also missed the target, unable to prevent his side’s second successive elimination at the quarterfinal stage, which will provoke much soul-searching at the five-times European champions.
rt o p S C’bean Teacher’s Union Les Harris t20 cricket Guyanese earns Expo 11 Masters of Martial Arts award in Atlantic City event Osborne, Samaroo set
up Guyana’s win over T&T Jamaica destroy Bahamas by 10 Wkts Wayne Osbourne smashes Chris Siewsanker back past him for four during pugnacious 76 at the GDF ground yesterday (Sean Devers photos)
Chinese Grandmaster Chui Chi Ling (left) and Max Massiah enjoy playful combat during the Atlantic City event.
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GCF executive pays Minister Henry courtesy call
Minister Henry (centre) engages Anthony Drayton (2nd R) and James Bond (extreme R) in discussion in the presence of Frankie Farley (extreme L) and Attorney-at-Law, Yolander Persaud. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.