Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
Creole Language versus Standard English debate heats up DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the letter by Henry Singh U.G lecturer in Kaieteur News, February 8, wherein he alleges that many bright students end up in wasteland because of the notion that they are not bright. Permit me to ask, which area is considered the wasteland, and who are the perpetrators behind the formulation of the notion of not being bright. I stand to be corrected, but as a bona fide Guyanese I have always labored under the apprehension that in Guyana, the Queen’s English was our official language, and Guyanese Creole English the de facto language of national identity. The Proceedings of the Second Creolists Conference held in Mona, Jamaica in 1968 affirmed, “A creole is inferior to its corresponding standard language only in social status”. I do wish to inform Mr. Singh with no succinct attack on the oratorical effusion of Mr. Devonish that there has been hitherto a substantial amount of academic linguistic research done on Creolese particularly as it pertains to Guyana and the Caribbean. Pursuance of my Master’s thesis titled Linguistic Competence using Dialectal Readers now a part of Mc Gill University Faculty of Education, brought me into vicarious reading contact with Guyanese linguists such as John Rickford, RichardAllsopp and Walter Edwards, as well as a few other prolific non-Guyanese linguists. Mentioned in Mr. Singh’s article is the
following “In reality, it is the educator who has failed them, teaching them in their (the teachers’) English Language, which is mistakenly taken to mean our native tongue”. Should the blame, (if any) not be given its rightful deserver as education in Guyana is largely provided by the government of Guyana, via the Ministry of Education and its subsidiaries in the different regions of the country. The role of the accused (teacher) then is simply to administer the loot as directed by the provider (Ministry of Education). Reported data has stated that there are no current statistics regarding bilingualism in Creolese and Standard English but there are statistics related to literacy in English. In 1995 a report summary “Nipped in the Bud: Young Guyanese adults and their functional literacy” provided by Dr. Zellyne Jennings of the University of Guyana and disseminated to the Ministry of Education mentioned that 89% of the out of school youths between the ages of 14-25 were functionally illiterate. Putting this finding in simple context, blatantly indicates that a large percentage of the population do not possess adequate linguistic competency in Standard English. Taking the said data just a nano step further on the road to commonsensual logic would indicate that there would be a high percentage of people who would not display true bilingualism. By true bilingualism I mean native speaker fluency in both Creolese and Continued on page 23
Could those in authority confront the police on this nonsense? DEAR EDITOR, On 22nd March, 2016 an article appeared in the press which referred to the driving on the East Bank as a “Nightmare”. There was a temporary relief after that article but the reprieve abruptly ended and the discomfort has again “Reared its ugly head” On Wednesday April 06, 2016 I was stopped at Coverden Public Road by a Police Patrol about 4pm and my documents checked. About one mile after that, I was stopped by another patrol on the said road and my documents checked again. At both “stops” there were at least
six (6) policemen. Is there nothing that those in authority can do to alleviate this detestable stupidity? It seems that these police ranks have been vetted with full permission to do as they please so they continue to humiliate and harass drivers. Stops at Grove continues; the congestion at the Habour Bridge; Diamond, Eccles etc continue as policemen subvert the purpose of the traffic lights and “Do their own thing”. Confusion continues unabated at Regent and King Streets and the litany of woes for motorist remain unaddressed. In Kaieteur News
dated Thursday April 07, 2016 another article captioned “Unstoppable random stops by the Police” appeared. The in-action by those in authority can only be considered complicit and paints a dismal view on the image of the police force which, justifiably conveys a dissipation in intellectual recourse. Further, the apparent shortage in the police force does not affect the traffic department. Mr. Commissioner “Your slip is showing” while, the public outcry against your traffic ranks resonate with a deafening crescendo. Concerned driver
Page 5
The police have to stop these random traffic stops DEAR EDITOR, I recently read an article, “Women drivers should not have to deal with unprofessional traffic ranks,” in which I felt as a woman I would like to share my experiences as a woman driver. Firstly, I must commend persons for highlighting this issue in Guyana. I fully agree that some Police Officers do tend to behave unprofessionally in the form of harassment and belittling women drivers. Only recently, I was stopped by a police officer and he requested for my documents, which I happily gave, all documents were checked and I calmly asked why I was stopped. I was told, ‘ I jumped a stop sign ’ in which I immediately responded ‘I saw the sign, however since the road was cleared, I only stopped for approximately 7 seconds and continue driving’, I was told that was wrong, when I further supported my stance on what I learned from the very three (3) days classes offered by the Guyana Police Force, I was told that ‘ I am very difficult and if I don’t
want to be hauled into the station, I (me) should shut up and apologise if I want to go, ’and I immediately replied that ‘ if he was aware that he threatened me in front of my mother and my sister’( who will be in the near future make an application for a driver licence, one more female driver on the road!). The officer then, told me I should proceed. Even though, the story finished there, with that police officer, I still felt taken back by the words and manner in which the officer spoke to me, as though I do not possess the ability to drive and make decisions based on situation(s) on the road (which I ironically have a valid driving licence) nor have the right to stand up for myself. The reason I wrote this letter was because my sister was with me when this happened, I felt I somewhat condoned the behaviour of that officer, because I thought then, time and energies would be wasted, had I seek to enlighten the officer about hauling me in the station. Come July 2016, my sister will be eligible to apply for her
licence, I don’t ever want her to assume that it is right for any officer to speak to a female driver like that, nor back down on her rights/ abilities as a driver due to intimidation. I also should mention that during that ordeal, the whole time the officer was referring to me as babes, when I gave him my documents, I told him very frankly I don’t appreciate you or anyone else calling me that, I am a fully grown woman and please refer to me by the name stated on the licence, if you may, I must admit the officer did desist from referring to me as a babes. In closing, I would like to frankly say, while officers may feel that it is ok to tease, harass and even referring to female drivers as sexy, honey, babes, and baby girl, I find that very distasteful and insulting to the womenfolk! One ask, why I chose those names, because overtime, that is how I was referred to in the past by officers until I objected. And in some instances, my objection to be referred to those names, resulted in the Continued on page 23
SUGGESTION FOR THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEAR EDITOR, I recently observed that the Ministry of Education is devising plans to revamp the education system and, because I have been within the education structure at various levels, I believe I can make a valid contribution to this renewal effort. I would like to recommend that the planners at NCERD should place a major emphasis on those factors that have been negatively impacting our society, and design any new curriculum to address these. One of the greatest of these is the frequent incidence of suicide among our young people that has become like a virus in our society. My first recommendation is that we revive the course on Health and Family Life
Education which was instituted and carried out at all levels of the teaching profession by a team of which I was second in charge. For some reason only known to the previous administration this programme, which catered for the psychological, emotional and to some extent spiritual development of students in our schools, was unceremoniously discontinued. There was a large component on Building Self-esteem, which we all will agree has the potential of helping students to counteract any negativity that can lead to hopelessness and ultimately to thoughts of suicide. I shall be willing to share my experience and offer any advice and help that may be required to further this programme. Roy Paul
Page 6
Kaieteur News
Monday April 11, 2016
Cabinet colleague Amna Ally says...
Nothing wrong with Harmon’s actions Harmon, the Chu’s and two other Govt. officials on a private jet
Approximately 15 persons mounted protest yesterday in support of Harmon Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, sees nothing wrong with the alleged transgressions of Minister of State Joseph Harmon in the ongoing BaiShanLin fiasco.
Kaieteur News understands that both Harmon and Ally yesterday visited Region Three to hold talks with residents there about matters coming out of the recently concluded Local
Government Elections (LGE). Addressing the meeting at West Demerara, Ally said that she is proud of Harmon. She spoke about the “many” projects Harmon undertook to better the lives of citizens in Region Three. She said that Harmon’s main priority is the development of Guyana. Minister Ally told the gathering, “Joseph Harmon is not corrupt. President Granger has every confidence
in the Minister of State.” She added that “had the Minister of State done wrong, he would have been gone”. I AM NOTACCOUNTABLE TO THE MEDIA In addition, Harmon’s Press Secretary, Malika Ramsey released a statement via her Facebook page. The statement read that Harmon “is not concerned that the current organized campaign to damage his reputation will affect the way he performs his duties as minister.” “Minister Harmon says he has always felt that it was the people who elected him, and the people who elected the Coalition Government, and it is the people who decide whether or not that government is performing not one or two newspaper columnists or one or two persons who write newspaper articles. The Minister of State says the President has spoken on the matter definitively, and he respects the President’s judgment therefore he (the Minister of State) need not say more.” President David Granger recently had cause to undo
Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally an appointment that Harmon made without consulting him. Harmon had appointed Brian Tiwarie as Ministerial Advisor to Business. As soon as the President became aware of this he rescinded the appointment. President Granger told reporters that he saw no need for such an appointment as he has a competent Minister of Business. It was that Minister, Dominic Gaskin, who President Granger said he has confidence in. Kaieteur News had also reported that Harmon undermined the Guyana
Revenue Authority when he halted attempts by the GRA to seize two of BaiShanLin’s vehicles. The Chinese company had failed to pay the required duties on the vehicles within the legally stipulated timeframe. But before the GRA and SOCU officials could carry out the operation, Harmon instructed that the vehicles must not be removed. The vehicles were seized a day after Kaieteur News’ exposé. But the government is still to say how it intends to address Harmon’s actions. After promising to “investigate the veracity” of the allegation against Harmon, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, is still to update the media on the probe. Efforts to contact him subsequently proved futile. Anti-corruption advocates have expressed disappointment in Harmon and said Guyana cannot be made to suffer a repeat of what had occurred under the rule of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C).
Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
Jamaican Attorney slams US over treatment of most vulnerable The Gleaner - Less than four months after being elected one of the commissioners of the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Jamaican attorney Margaret Macaulay has stamped her mark on the international body by blasting the United States government over the difficulties being faced by some minority groups in that country to access potable water. Addressing a hearing hosted by IACHR, Macaulay noted that she is from one of the small-island, poor countries which the US has been generous in helping around the world, but expressed shock at the difficulties some Americans are facing in meeting some of their basic needs. She said the US needs to balance its efforts and focus on addressing internal issues, too. “If you’re doing that (helping others) outside of your borders, can’t you do it at the same time in tandem so that nobody falls through the cracks?” Macaulay questioned, eliciting applause from participants. “I literally cannot understand the most powerful country in the world having these kinds of stories about the lack of clean, potable water and sanitation! “It really blows my mind, quite frankly. There should not be these gaps. If you ignore your most vulnerable, I say it quite bluntly, you are not a civilised society,” added
Margaret Macaulay Macaulay to more applause. The April 4 hearing hosted by the IACHR, which is part of the Organisation of American States, was scheduled in response to a crisis caused by contaminated water supplies in the city of Flint in Michigan state. It featured stark testimony that sharply contrasted with the bureaucratic statements of US officials who largely failed to address the specifics of the collective human rights violations, which were highlighted and which led activists to call for the hearing. After all of the representatives spoke, the US officials opened with an overview of what the country has done and continues to generously do through initiatives intended to improve water and sanitation
around the world. However, this tactic backfired in extraordinary fashion as Macaulay responded. Others at the hearing told horror stories, including one told by Chili Yazzie, a farmer from Navajo Nation, one of the largest tribal regions in the US. Yazzie told the human rights body of the release of contaminated water that ended up into the San Juan River, which is critical to the group’s agriculture. The US Environmental Protection Agency had admitted last August that one of its safety teams ‘accidentally’ released contaminated water from an abandoned gold mine into the Animas River. US government officials at the IACHR hearing spoke of financing difficulties in fixing some issues, but they committed to collaborating with the relevant agencies and indigenous groups to address the issues. The IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organisation of American States which is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights in the American hemisphere. Macaulay and the other commissioners will serve a four-year term which started on January and will run to December 31, 2019. Previously, Macaulay served as a judge of the IACHR from 2007-2012.
South Africa’s Mantashe says ruling ANC losing supporters’ confidence Reuters South A f r i c a ’s r u l i n g A f r i c a n National Congress has lost some supporters’ confidence and could totally lose them if it does not deal with discontent with President Jacob Zuma, a n A N C o ff i c i a l s a i d yesterday. The ANC has been in damage control mode since the country’s highest court ruled that Zuma failed to uphold the constitution by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million (£11.3 million) in state funds spent renovating his home. The party, which came to power after toppling white apartheid rule in 1994, crushed an opposition bid to impeach Zuma last week but has faced rising calls, including from some of its veteran members, to remove him. “It is not the Constitutional Court judgement that is the issue. The issue is the trust deficit
Jacob Zuma that has developed, with people beginning to trust us less and less and less and less,” ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said yesterday. Speaking at the anniversary of the 1993 killing of anti-apartheid activist Chris Hani, Mantashe defended the ANC’s rejection of the impeachment drive against Zuma, saying to do otherwise would have served the opposition’s agenda. “But it doesn’t absolve
us from looking into our own behaviour. There must be change in our behaviour as a movement,” he added. “If we don’t change our behaviour, we become arrogant in dealing with our problems. We are going to pay the price.” Mantashe spoke as residents in poor townships vowed to boycott August local government elections out of anger that the ANC has done little to improve their lives, dashing the hopes that accompanied Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as South Africa’s first black president two decades ago. Zuma’s own presidency has been riddled with c o n t r o v e r s y. Most recently, his close ties with the wealthy Gupta family have come under scrutiny after the deputy finance minister said the Indianborn family had influenced the sudden firing of his former boss in December.
Page 7
Page 8
Kaieteur News
Monday April 11, 2016
Greece condemns Macedonia tear gas and rubber bullets against migrants Reuters - Dozens of migrants and refugees were wounded yesterday when Macedonian police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at crowds on the Greek side of the border, aid workers said, an act Athens called “dangerous and deplorable”. More than 10,000 migrants and refugees have been stranded at the Greek border outpost of Idomeni since February after a cascade of border shutdowns across the Balkans closed off their route to central and western Europe. An earlier attempt by a large group of migrants to cross the border fence had resulted in the confrontation, a Macedonian official said. Greece said police on the Macedonian side of their joint frontier used teargas, rubber bullets and stun grenades to push back the migrants. Macedonian authorities would only confirm they had used tear gas. A deputy field coordinator with medical charity Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told Reuters that, of around 300 people treated, more than 30 had injuries caused by rubber
A teargas canister thrown by Macedonian police lands among protesting migrants during clashes next to a border fence at a makeshift camp for refugees and migrants at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni, Greece, yesterday. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov bullets. A news release issued by MSF quoted one doctor with the charity saying said three children had been taken in to its field clinic with head injuries caused by rubber bullets. Police in Skopje said three officers were also hurt.
Over a million people fleeing conflict poured into Europe, mainly through Greece, in the past year. The European Union is implementing an accord under which all new arrivals to Greece will be sent back to Turkey if they do not meet asylum criteria.
A Macedonian official who asked to remain anonymous said that a large group of migrants left Idomeni camp yesterday morning and surged towards the fence. “They threw rocks at the Macedonian police. The police fired tear gas in response,” the official said.
“The migrants were pushing against the fence but standing on the Greek side of the border. The fence is still there, they have not broken through.” Reuters witnesses said a small group of migrants attempted to talk to Macedonian border guards,
asking for them to open the border. After given a negative response, they and other migrants started walking towards the fence. Macedonian police fired tear gas, and some migrants hurled back some gas canisters and rocks, they said.
Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 9
A MINOR DISCOMFORT Speculatively, if there was to be a rift within the government, most persons would have expected that this rift would have been between the AFC and the APNU. Given the weakness of the small parties within APNU, it was never likely that any of those parties would have broken ranks with the PNCR. The smaller parties – the Guyana Action Party, the Working Peoples Alliance, National Democratic Front, Justice for All Party and the National Front Alliance - are electorally insignificant. As Guyanese would say, these
parties are simply “making up numbers.” There was never going to be a split within APNU. What is taking place at the moment is that there is an intra-PNCR split. There is a rift within the PNC and this is what is behind the controversy over Joseph Harmon is about. Joseph Harmon is being used as a pawn by forces of the old guard of the PNC who want to retake their party from what they view as a take-over by military veterans. It has now been confirmed in a Demerara Waves report that
there is no rift between the President and his Minister of State. As it has been said, if the Minister of State had done anything wrong then he would have been gone. What has been happening is that members of the old guard of the PNC have been deeply concerned at what they perceive as the alienation of the hardline, old guard PNCites from the government. Instead of them seeing more of their members holding major appointments within the government, they are seeing instead a large number of military veterans
Dem boys seh...
Soulja Bai pointing to de commandments Old people always seh that rat shouldn’t try go get cheese when he know that he didn’t put it deh. But all dem rat don’t think about that. All dem does think about is cheese. De big Rat couldn’t wait to get he hand pun de cheese when he tek over de ship. Dem boys seh that he tek so much that when he couldn’t fit cheese in he mouth and he pocket he call he friends and share to dem. De new people who tek over de house try to find out how much cheese disappear. Dem conduct audit upon audit and while dem seeing de trail dem can’t mek de trap fly. Dem boys seh that dem didn’t know that dem had some big rat who move in wid de new home owner. One rat use to sit down outside and cuss. He even threaten wha he ain’t gun do wid dem old rat. But dem boys seh that when he smell de cheese everything fly out he brain. He find out that it was difficult to get to de cheese safe so he go to de people who preparing de cheese and that is wheh he get ketch. He had cheese all round he
mouth till he couldn’t talk. If he did only open he mouth he woulda choke. But dem boys not prepared to wait till he swallow. De thing wha get some people vex is that this rat walking around smelling of cheese and he still ain’t getting trap. One of he colleagues try to trap him by telling him to come clean. He couldn’t even talk then because he mouth still full and he ain’t getting a chance to swallow. That is when Soulja Bai
seh that he got to deal wid this situation. As a church man Soulja Bai know de Bible good. He know de commandments. One of dem seh ‘Thou shalt not steal.’ This week dem boys hear that he gun walk wid de Bible and ask this rat to read it. And if he still can’t talk then Soulja Bai will turn de page of de Bible to de part which seh, “Those who know he master’s will and doeth it not shall be beaten wid many stripes” Talk half and wait fuh de blows to fall.
being given jobs, including positions of presidential advisers. The old guard is concerned about over developments, and are fearful of the party slipping from their grasp. It was never assumed when the old guard used their influence within the leadership of the PNCR to pilot David Granger to the leadership of the party that the combined opposition would have actually denied the PPP a majority in the National Assembly in the 2011 elections. This took the old guard by surprise. They also did not cater for the fact that David Granger would have been such a strong leader. He has taken command of the party and of the government and has not allowed himself, like some others on the other side of the political divide, to be dominated by underlings. He is being supported by his Minister of State who is also a strong leader. The old
guard has, this time correctly assessed the situation, and they are seeking to plant the seeds of discord within the ruling party. They have been successful in creating a fuss over the appointment of a ministerial adviser on business. The old PNC guard has created a furor over this matter and forced a knee- jerk reaction from the government. They know that if they can get at Harmon, they will weaken Granger. This is what is playing out right now in the party and in the government. The AFC has nothing to do with the leaked instrument appointing a businessman as a Ministerial Adviser. The AFC is not part of any attempt to undermine the government or seize political space. The AFC is quite comfortable basking in the political fame that it has secured because of the deal it brokered to have 40% of the spoils in the last elections. It got the deal of a lifetime and will live with that
deal for a lifetime. The real dogfight is soon to come. It will be between the old guard and the new guard within the PNCR. The old guard is trying to make a comeback. They do not intend to be left behind by the winds of change. They are, of course, genuinely concerned about the penetration by veterans of their party and they would like to feel that the idea of a grand opposition coalition originated within their camp and therefore it is them who should benefit from positions and power within the government. Joseph Harmon is not the problem. The problem is the fight for influence within the PNCR. The dissent will pass. The old guard has no bite and no bark. Like a fart, the present shenanigans is a minor discomfort.
Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Police IT Specialists actively probing cyber threat to President Police information technology experts are vigorously probing several aspects of the matter involving the 52-year-old woman and others, who allegedly posted raciallyinciting social media comments about African Guyanese, and what appeared to be a threat to President David Granger. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told this newspaper on Saturday that apart from the Force’s IT experts, investigators who have been trained in the detection of cyber crime are also weighing in on the matter. Blanhum had earlier informed that the case was a sensitive one and had also declined to say whether the woman is likely to be charged. The woman, said to be from Vergenoegen, East Bank
Essequibo, was taken into custody two Thursdays ago and was questioned at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. She was subsequently released on station bail after giving investigators a statement. Police had sought to locate the woman and two others after receiving a complaint about Facebook comments they had allegedly made about President Granger and African Guyanese. But in a statement sent out to media houses, one of the individuals, who says he is a Canada-based Guyanese, has denied posting the comments attributed to him. Blanhum had said that the perpetrators could be charged under the Racial Hostility Act for attempting “to incite excitement, hostility
Hundreds participate in “Fitercise’ walk For World Health Day
Yesterday’s event, organized by Electra Sports attracted hundreds. Electra Sports, in collaboration with a number of other organizations, yesterday held its ‘Fitercise’ walk in observance of World Health Day. Participants started at around 07.30 near the Kitty Pump Station and walked along Vlissengen Road before finishing at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. There, the participants played a number of games, including cricket and volleyball. They also skipped and watched a karate display. Afterwards, Electra Foundation members travelled to Port Mourant, Berbice for the
commencement of the Purple Cup Volleyball Tournament to commemorate International Women’s Day. The fitness walk was supported by several other NGOs, including the Give Another Chance Foundation, which was founded by soca artiste Melissa Roberts (‘Vanilla’); and Cross Color Records, with support from the National Sports Commission. Fitercise is a health and fitness walk to further promote healthy lifestyle practices for a better body and mind. Certificates are to be presented to all who participated in yesterday’s exercise.
or ill-will on grounds of race.” Chapter 23 of the Act states that a person shall be guilty of an offence if he willfully excites or attempts to excite hostility or ill-will against any section of the
public or against any person on the grounds of their or his race, by means of words spoken by him in a public place or spoken by him and transmitted for general reception by wireless
telegraphy or telegraph; or by causing words spoken by him or by some other person to be reproduced in a public place from a record; or by means of written (including printed) matter or pictorial
matter published by him. Any person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $65,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Page 12
Kaieteur News
Monday April 11, 2016
Battle for Chairmanship, Deputy in Local Authority Areas…
Nandlall accuses Gov’t. of violating Court Order People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament and Attorney at- Law Anil Nandlall is expressing concerns over reports that the APNU-AFC administration is moving ahead with the selection of persons to head a number of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils despite a court order restraining them from doing so. Following the recently held Local Government Elections, PPP/C’s Commissioners revealed that voters from six Local Authority Areas (LAA) are likely to return to the polls following equality (ties) of votes for the election of Chairman. Representatives of the PPP/C have contended that
the law is clear on this issue: in the event of a tie for the two or more candidates, another election is held in that particular Local Authority Area. If a tie should again occur, the Minister with the responsibility of that department will name a Chairman of his choice. But there have been reports that Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons are being appointed in the six tied LAAs by the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. The PPP/C, in a statement, said that it is outraged by the “illegal, unaccountable, nontransparent actions of the Minister. Last week, the PPP/C through their lawyer, Anil
Nandlall, secured a High Court ruling which quashed the Minister of Communities ‘selection of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Mabaruma and appointments of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen for the Woodlands-Bel Air, Malgre ToutMeer Zorgen, Gibraltar-Fyrish, Industry-Plaisance and Woodlands-Farm Neighbourhood Democractic Councils. Additionally, the Court also sent out an Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition, restraining persons from acting as or performing the functions of Chair Persons or Deputy Chair Persons in respect of the said NDCS. The legal effect of these Orders of Court is that the selection of these officials has
been put on hold and these persons are restrained from acting in those capacities. However, Nandlall noted that recently, his attention was drawn to notices sent to the Overseers of three of the NDCs who are the subject of the recently filed court proceedings. The notices, he said, purport to invite Councillors to attend meetings of the NDCS at Malgre Tout / Meer zorgen, Industry / Plaisance, and Gibraltar / Fyrish. Nandlall describes the scenario as a travesty of the law. “An Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari has been issued quashing the decision of the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan to select Chair
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan
Attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall
Persons and Vice Chair Persons of these NDCS. These persons have also been restrained by an Order or Rule Nisi of Prohibition, from acting as or performing the functions of Chair Persons or Deputy Chair Persons in respect of the said NDCs, “Nandlall said in a statement. “If these officers attempt to function as office holders, they would be violating the letter and spirit of the Orders of Court. I hope they are receiving legal advice on these issues.” The lawyer said too that the explanation proffered by the Attorney General, Basil Williams and the Minister of Communities, to justify the course of action which has been taken is “simply absurd.” “Their interpretation of the relevant sections of the Municipal and District Council Act Chapter 28:01 is simply absurd. Section 13 (6) of the Act is expressed in clear language which is incapable of an ambiguous or equivocal interpretation.” According to Nandlall, the law provides that, “If there is no election on account of an equality of votes the Town Clerk shall appoint a date not later than the 28th December in the same year for the election of Mayor from among
such candidates by the voters whose name appear on the Register of Voters for the time being in force for the city.” He asserted that section 39 of the said Act applies section 13 and related sections if the necessary changes are not made to NDCs. Inexplicably, Nandlall said that the Attorney General and the Minister of Communities are both interpreting the election referred to in 13 (6) as an election done among the elected Councillors when the clear language of the section says it is an ‘election’ by the voters whose names appear on the Register of Voters for the time being in force for the city “ “Such an interpretation is manifestly and patently incomprehensible. Moreover, they have failed abysmally to respond to the fact that in 1994, the identical position obtained at Gibraltar /Fyrish, NDC and fresh elections were held where registered voters in that Local Authority area voted to break the tie and elected a Chairman.” “Kenneth Joseph, the General Secretary of NAACIE was elected Chairman at that election. That aspect of the law did not change. Mr Joseph is still around and can speak on this issue,” Nandlall said.
Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 21
ABRACADABRA AND HALLELUJAH Right round a corner linking two busy streets in a Port-of-Spain suburb, I took a long look at a billboard which previously advertised the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), hoping to get an idea of the fixtures or the start date or even a picture of some of the players, like Carlos Braithwaite, who would guarantee serious crowd cover on even the wettest day. No CPL and in its place was an ad that proclaimed exultantly, “Bra-llelujah!” It featured two young ladies clad in garments designed to elevate and hold in place human mammary glands. Though the items are named after the inventor, Phillipelde Brassiere, their wearers seemed genuinely too hot to Handel. I remember seeing some of my female Facebook friends heavily endorsing the product which was accorded almost Messianic status by its manufacturers and the many women who no longer dreamt of Maidenform and who had solved Victoria’s Secret. One lady actually said that she carried a watermelon until she switched to “Brallelujah” and now her cup doth not runneth over. My idle mind immediately
thought of a competitive brand called “Bra-vado” that would feature perky, titillating ads, but then I worried that it would be unable to withstand the competition from “Brallelujah”, usage would drop, sales would sag, and the company would become cash-strapped and fold from lack of support. The product would become cheap and tawdry, customers will all demand refunds and return tit for tat. It was all so much easier when I was a boy in the postwar years growing up in a little sugar-cane community. It was unheard of for women not to nurse their babies. They supplemented breast feeding with Lactogen, Cow and Gate and other brands but they knew that breast was best. Nobody complained or was squeamish about women exposing their breasts, and most of us boys got so used to our mothers, aunts and female family breast feeding their babies that we did not really see it as an erotic or disgusting act. Some of us knew “breasts” as “Tot-tot” or “Tut-tut” and, later on I heard about “Bubbies”. I didn’t know the word “boobs” in that context until much later. In fact, I knew
television (which came to Trinidad when I was 17) as the “boob” tube (which with people like Vanna White it is now in a more literal sense); one of the radio programmes called “Pick-a-Box” featured a “booby” prize and it was for losers. I would have thought, if the word came to my attention at the time, that a “boob-job” was what the ladies in the brassiere section of the Ladies Underwear department of Johnson’s Store on Frederick Street had, and would not have thought of it as being very uplifting. The Urban Dictionary has 99 words, not for breasts, but for “Boobs”. Wikisaurus (under “breasts”) includes in its list “intermammary sulcus”, “bazongas” and “hooters”. And there are udders too numerous, indelicate, coarse and childish to mention. Talking about childish, it was explained to me that addiction to cigarettes has to do with our development as children. In Freudian terms, the oral stage is the first one in our psychosexual development where the mouth of an infant is its primary erogenous zone. Normally this lasts for about twenty-one months. Freud
believed that if the nursing child’s appetite was frustrated during that stage, it would become a neurosis or functional mental disorder later. The person would become obsessed with oral stimulation and these could include talkativeness, smoking, eating, chewing objects and alcoholism. Some symptoms are sarcasm, nail biting and oral sexual practices. I am not sure if Freud was ever asked what he thought about bottle feeding, but I am sure he would have given the questioner a glassy stare especially if he was into his cups. Having not kept abreast of the emerging literature on the subject, some of which must have certainly come from the Oral Roberts University, I am not sure what happened to me when about forty years ago I stopped smoking and moved from sixty cigarettes a day to zero. I suppose I was fed-up with people seeing me smoking and saying to me chidingly “Tut-tut Tony!” If ever I decided to go into the brassiere business, I suppose that as a marketing guy I would come up with some kind of product like a “magic” bra so that when the
presenter, most likely a top female conjurer, says the word “Abra-Cadabra”, the perfect form-fitting bra would pop out of nowhere. However, there are others that deal more with sects than sexiness. A man walked into the women’s department of Macy’s in New York City. He found a saleslady, and told her, “I would like a Jewish bra for my wife, size 34B.” With a quizzical look the saleslady asked, “What kind of bra?” He repeated “A Jewish bra. She said to tell you that she wanted a Jewish bra, and that you would know what she means.” ”Ah, now I remember,” said the saleslady. “We don’t get as many requests for them as we used to. Mostly our customers lately want the Catholic bra,
or the Salvation Army bra, or the Presbyterian bra.” Confused, and a little flustered, the man asked “So, what are the differences?” The saleslady responded. “It is all really quite simple. The Catholic bra supports the masses. The Salvation Army bra lifts up the fallen, and the Presbyterian bra keeps them staunch and upright.” He mused on that information for a minute, and asked “So, what does the Jewish bra do?” ”The Jewish bra,” she replied, “makes mountains out of molehills.” *Tony Deyal was last seen enjoying Dolly Parton’s quip, “I was the first woman to burn my bra - it took the fire department four days to put it out.”
Page 22
Kaieteur News
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 INNOVATIVE MARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Repairs to LED, Plasma, LCD and all other electronic equipment. Ordering of circuit boards. Abdul Electronic- Call: 225-0391
Male sales assistant: allrounder for PVC products must have Maths/English. Apply @ Key Food Trading, Mc Doom Village. Driver – posses a valid Guyanese drivers license & clean record of safe driving. Contact: 231-4999; 677-0480/ email:irbcguy@gmail.com Experience carpenter, masons & Construction Foreman. Pacific Development Inc 3 Church street, Georgetown. Tel: 2236035 One porter boy to work & clean vehicles in the interior. Call: 678-0565 One shop boy to work in shop in the interior. Call: 6780565 1 Male or female look after layer birds in the interior. Call: 678-0565 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 One handyman. 30 and 45 years old. Contact 2235273/4
TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Experienced waitress, female bartenders, bouncers needed at Eden’s Bar & Lounge. Call for appointment 652-0074 Contract cars and taxi drivers (salaries paid). Call: 231-0002; 231-0316 One receptionist ages 25 yrs & older with working experience. Please Call for more info: 223-0090 Driver wanted to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-1717
Porters wanted to work @ LEARN TO DRIVE Grocery Stall in Stabroek Soman Son & Outar Driving market, experienced is an School at Maraj Building- Tel: asset. Call: 226-9800 644-5166; 622-2872; 615One able bodied porter/clerk. 0964; 689-5997 Call: 231-2029; 616-5954 Cybertron BeReady Driving School: $20,000 2 weeks @ Factory workers from age 18 Vreed-En-Hoop. Call: s264- and older with working 3057 experience. Call: 223-0090 ACCOMMODATION Planning to visit Guyana for 50th Independence Anniversary & need comfortable accommodation Call Star International Property Management: 6632044; 225-1695
SALON
FOR SALE
- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 3 – Cat 398 Generator, Kato synchronous 1142 KVA, 800W 4 wire voltage 346/600, monitoring panel. Call: 661-6161
WANTED One live in domestic must know to cook- 25-35yrs $80,000 monthly-Call: 6105043 1 General Domestic must know to cook & Iron, responsible sales clerk, honest & have a passion for fashion. Call: 668-4973
Wanted Accounts Clerk and Pump Attendants. Call, text or whats app 627-2550. FOR OUR ADVERTISING RATES - CALL US ON TEL: 226-8210
Monday April 11, 2016
PS3 with games, XBOX 1 with games. Call or whatsapp: 683-8386 FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Bel-Air Park: long & Shortterm- Offices, furnished apartments & rooms: Breakfast, AC, hot & cold water, WiFi, security, etc- Call: 623-1575; 686-1805 2 Bedrooms apartment in Eccles for rent, recently built, fully secured -$80,000 per month. Call: 641-0568 One apartment for rent at Mon Repos, E.C.D –Call: 220-7330; 602-4105 Prashad Nagar: furnished 3 bedrooms executive house, internet/cable TV/ hot n cold/ parking/laundry/security camera/alarm -$2,000USD. Call: 663-2044 Section K Campbellville: furnished 2 bedroom apartment -$900USD, furnished 1 bedroom apartment -$850USD. Call: 663-2044 Prashad Nagar Bottom flat: furnished & unfurnished apartment, 3 bedrooms with A/C, hot & cold, internet $1500USD & $1900USD. Call: 663-2044
New Premio 2,995,000, BMW -$ 2,795,000,Audi A4-$ 3,795,000. Contact : 650-0402 1- 225 Yamaha Outboard Engine; Salt Walter series 6,000 running hour, reasonable price. Call: 662-6151 1-80CC Yamaha (Chappy) $200,000 negotiable. 1-5L RZ minibus -$1.2M negotiable. Call: 642-7555; 220-6385 Household Items: everything must go- Fridge, walldivider, wares, dinette set, curtains, plus more items. Call: 688-5446 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games & applications. Delivery also – Call: 6722566; 265-3231 24ftX8ft & 250HP Yamaha Engine with turn system. Parika to Supernaam, excellent condition- $5.2M. Call: 683-8989 German Shepherd Puppies. Call: 682-5664
50 Acres of Land, Elizabeth Ann Right, Demerara River. Call: 672-3886; 680-5266
One Jaguar XJ6 Sedan Motor Car. Good condition, most systems working, original parts, price to sell. Call: 2278448; 612-8319
Landscape Maintenance Vacancy: Hardworking, pleasant, team player, 17-28 years. Contact: 219-0468/ 621-2453 GLC Hiring: master carpenters, experienced mason, qualified plumber for a project in Corentyne Berbice. Call: 683-5629 1 Nail technician, 1 Spa attendant with knowledge of facials & body massage. Call: 696-7337 for details. Exist for 1 entertainment manager to work @ Club on Essequibo Coast, must have PR skills. Call: 226-9768
AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 Seater super custom. Cash / Experienced waitresses needed @ Millenium Mannor terms- Call: 680-3154 Hotel, bring in application to We buy & sell vehicles for 43 Hadfield Street, near Camp cash, also parts available & St. 30 Seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: Labourers wanted -$2,000 per day. Call: 225-2618 if 680-3154 interested. 1 Toyota RZ, year 2011, 1 Experienced & professional price$1.6M, 2 Recon Winch pastry marker @ 17500lb. Owner migrating. Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm, Call: 649-8214; 679-1415; 233- 38 Ketley & Sussex Street. 2583; 674-8589 Call: 225-7864 2- Unregistered new model Sales persons needed, 2 yrs Tacoma, bed covering, crash experienced, good command bar, step, alarm, mag rim. Call: of English + Maths. Call: 600695-6461 or 639-7758 1331; 621-3072
Security guards to work with a mining firm in the Interior must have military background. Call: 226-9768
PITBULL PUPS: 6 WEEKS OLD VACCINATED & DEWORMED. CALL: 667-0338
Business place in Madhia 50X60 with living quarter. Contact: 696-8987; 6001086
25 Acres prime transported land @ Mahaicony E.C.D can be used for resort, housing scheme or commercial business. Call: 221-2075
1 Nissan Murano, PRR series, excellent condition. Call: 6280016; 667-2536
Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
One mobile air conditioner unit 110V 10,000 Btus, price to sell. Call: 227-8448; 6128319
EDUCATIONAL
Eccles -$6M, Herstelling New Scheme, Corner lot (100ftx50ft) $3M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M. Call: 603-6224; 611-7223
Honda CRV (RD5), PNN stick gear -$1.9M negotiable, 2006 Hyundai Tucson, left hand drive, PMM -$4M. Call: 6911198
VACANCY 1 Female cleaner apply @ Technical Service 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles.
5-6yrs Experienced domestic maid to work @ Diamond. Call: 626-8003/ 227-8529
Automatic Garage Door opener and swing and sliding, gate operator. Call: 694-2548
Land in Diamond area. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536
Smart choice Auto: 08&06 Premio, 08&06 Allion, 212, Runx, IST, Fielder. Call: 6523820; 665-4529 Unregistered bluebird 2007 model: TV, reverse camera, dark interior, burgundy $2.3M negotiable. Call: 6553400
Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call: 225-9032;647-2943;604-5198
One 2 bedrooms bottom flat, fully grilled, self contained with A/C, space for 1 car. Call: 650-2708
LAND FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Private customs brokerage training certificate course, starting April 12, 2016. Call: 694-8322; 223-1506 I.A.E Classes for CSEC January/June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742 Earn a Diploma in Computers, 9 Courses @ Cybertron Technology, Vreed-En-Hoop. Call: 264-3057 Enroll for Phonics & Reading lessons, Day care, Kindergarten & Primary School, Monthly fees, Partial & full scholarships available. Call: 690-9378
TO LET 4 Bedrooms House @ Bel-Air Gardens with modern conveniences- $3,200USD monthly .Call during working hours: 231-7839; 227-2322. No agents 3 Bedrooms house @ Bel-Air Park with modern conveniences -$2500 USD monthly- furnished. Call during working hours: 2317839; 227-2322. No agents 4 Bedrooms house @ BelAir Park with modern convenience -$2500USD monthly furnished. Call during working hours: 2317839; 227-2322, No agents. One bedroom apartment, Well Street, Ogle, ECD. Rental: $25,000 per month. Call: 625-1514 EDUCATIONAL Computerized Accounting: 4 Courses Excel 2016, Qickbooks, Peachtree, POS, Cybertron Technology Vreed-En-Hoop. Call: 264-3057
Experienced guest house manager, security guard, cleaners, cooks, room attendants- just off Linden Soesdyke Highway. Call: 6000036 1 Cook to work in Kitchen in Trinidad, able to cook Indian & English dishes. Call Selwyn Persaud: 001868-680-2083 One driver, must be 30yrs & older, will require to assist in running around. Call: 2272322; 601-2622 Experienced teacher for Kindergarten & Primary with ability to create teaching walls with vibrant teaching aids. Call: 690-9378 PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Lot 12 Vergenoegen East Bank Essequibo. Call: 639-7903 Property @ Lot 87 Albert Street- Call: 669- 8701 Continued on page 23
Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Creole Language versus Standard English debate... From page 5 Standard English. Recently there have been calls made to the Government and the Ministry of Education in Guyana to make all schools English speaking zones, due to poor CSEC grades for English Language. Again, conducted research by Allsopp inferred that in Guyana the ability of the people to speak Standard English was not indicative of their ability to comprehend it. Observations and informal interviews with Guyanese during the aforementioned conducted research brought home the conclusion that most people did not see any true value in speaking Creolese, did not regard Creolese as something valuable but rather viewed it as a social and economic hindrance. Of ironic note is the fact that some monolingual speakers that were interviewed during the conducted research expressed the fact that they were somewhat ashamed to travel to Georgetown, on account of being ridiculed or made fun of due to their inability to speak proper English. An important point, and one not to be overlooked by any stretch of the fertile imagination is that Allsopp also found that in speaking with those employed in the educational system, the
expressed feeling was that that they would like to rid the country of Creolese. Another question that comes to the forefront of my active cranium and which would need to be addressed is what is the current stance and attitude by the Ministry of Education regarding the promotion of Creolese in schools in Guyana? Are the students receiving an education indicative of the Government’s stand on this lingering linguistic issue? Education is a major factor which affects the language vitality of Creolese. Having thus said, is it not somewhat hypocritical to throw the baby out with the bath water, if provision is not being made at the teacher training level, especially since Mr. Devonish is all for making education especially at the incipient stages available via Guyanese Creolese? Does the current government have any specific language policies? In everyday Guyana,Creolese is activated in almost any domain that necessitates communication, but when people have to communicate with Government officials or government employees then the typical language of expression is best Standard English. Such behavior as we write and speak is currently illustrative of most people in
Guyana. Reports have stated that even Guyanese who have expressed a desire to learn Creolese, have been confronted with laughter and derision, not to mention displays of pained disbelief, followed by “ wha you whan lean da fuh” , “ahwe trying fuh get away from dat”. . Further tales have circulated about city folks or Georgetown people who are forced to speak Creolese when visiting relatives in the rural areas, so as to avoid remarks being made about their citified speech. The attitudes of people toward Creolese become quite evident when you ask people where Creolese is spoken, with folks saying that Berbice takes pride of place
in being the area where it is worst spoken. At its basic level Creolese has three varieties, and I do hope that this aspect was brought out in the speech by Mr. Devonish.There are clearly identifiable speaker markers. Acrolect is the speech of upper class Creolese speakers, mesolect that of middle class speakers and basilect spoken by illiterate rural labourers. In addition depending on geographical location, race and ethnicity, there exists many sub dialects of Guyanese Creole. In areas where the population is largely of a distinct ethnic group, then a specific form of Guyanese Creole exists. Another lingering question is, “In Guyana itself how much
interaction is there between Creolese speakers and Creoles from other locations? This linguistic battle between Creolese and Standard English can only be won when all participants, stakeholders and interested parties have clearly identified goals and objectives, and a comprehensible game plan for achieving the desired objective. Hopefully, the train has not left the station, leaving decreolization behind. Incidentally, do we know what are the current views/ feelings of the populace regarding the speaking and teaching of Creolese? We cannot leave them out as they form the basis of what the linguistic issue is all about? Yvonne Sam
The police have to stop these... From page 5 police officers in the past keep me parked up for prolonged period, nevertheless I withstand it. But as the article in Citizens Report mentioned, ‘all skin teeth nah laugh’ it is right time such behaviour against women stop! I am sure, police officers don’t call men drivers those name, but yet is it ok for women drivers, or as officers say ‘wha wrang, if I call you dah.’ Women drivers we need to stand up for our rights and police officers need to respect those while at the same time acting in the confines of the Law. I end by stating that despite those negative occurrences, I have also met some very professional, respectful officers as well and I, too, support the call for investigation
into the increasing number of random stops by GPF especially those that seek to intimidate and eve tease women. I would like an advisory on the notion of ‘ police officers randomly stopping vehicle and commanding/ imposing female drivers to give them drop,’ this happened to a close female friend of mine, who was too embarrassed and intimidated to tell the officers no. As a matter of fact, since the clarity and subsequent advisory to the public on which, where and on what circumstances can ranks of the GPF can stop drivers, I have been stopped far less, because it was suggested that since I am a female it is highly possible that I don’t have a driver licence and I am an easy target to intimidate and make fun of! Frustrated female driver
Seize BaiShanLin’s materials, equipment and vehicles... (From page 16) are fully repaid,” said Goolsarran. In his audit report, Goolsarran said that “according to information provided by the Guyana Revenue Authority, during the period 2012-2015, the Government granted Baishanlin fiscal concessions on a variety of machinery, equipment and construction materials with a CIF value of $7.464 billion, equivalent to US$37.320 million. This was based on investment agreements entered into between the Government of Guyana (represented by the Minister of Finance) and Baishanlin for the construction of a wood processing facility in Region 10. The total value of concessions granted amounted to $1.827 billion.GRA indicated that it was unable to provide information relating to the earlier years because of computer problems.” He added that a review of the list of items of machinery, equipment and construction materials for which fiscal concessions were granted indicated that many of the items were either unrelated to,
or were significantly in excess of, the requirements for the construction of wood processing facility. “Indeed, the evidence suggests that the fiscal concessions granted were substantially in relation to BaiShanLin’s ownership/control of the five logging companies having TSAs as well as its proposed investment at Providence, East Bank Demerara. This is notwithstanding that the investment agreements were exclusive to the wood processing facility in Linden,” said Goolsarran. Goolsarran noted that up to the time of reporting in the audit, Baishanlin had not fulfilled its obligations under the investment agreements and was requesting an additional two years to do so. He said that this was despite the fact that, in a letter to the former Prime Minister, the company had given the assurance of setting up the wood processing facility by the end of 2007. A further assurance was given in July 2012 in a letter to the former Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce that the facility would be ready by the end of 2013.
Goolsarran said that the investment agreements specifically provide for their termination where, among others, there has been a failure to undertake the business proposal without providing a reasonable explanation. When this happens, the company is required to repay the value of all fiscal concessions granted. “Despite the persistent failure
by Baishanlin to honour its obligations under these agreements, and without reasonable explanations, no action taken to terminate the agreements and to recover the value of the fiscal concessions granted,” said Goolsarran. He added that the GRA and/or Go-Invest were required to visit the business premises and inspect assets
that benefitted from the fiscal concessions. However, GRA confirmed that it had not done so. Goolsarran recommended in his report, “the Government of Guyana should consider terminating the investment agreements with the company (BaiShanLin) and recover the value of the fiscal concessions granted to it.
From page 22
PROPERTY FOR SALE Flat house in Grove, (corner property) 1 Block from main road, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 Transported property @ Grove $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Business spot at Diamond Public Road. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete. Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 664-5052 House 38X20; land 100X200 all fenced @ 635 Kuru Kururu-$5.5M. Call: 6941090; 661-6073 One 2 flat concrete 6 bedrooms house in Strathspey, E.C.D, big land space -$14M- Call: 689-5103 Transported property for sale in Regent Street between Wellington & Camp Street. Call: 625-1514 Property @ Cummings Street; 4 storey building, club, 8 self contain rooms. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 Reliable rentals: Cars, SUV – low rates & security deposits, special rates for long term. Call:227-2322;6012622
Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 25
Cameron releases tax records U.S. Democrat Clinton downplays to calm Panama Papers storm chance of contested convention Reuters - British Prime Minister David Cameron took the unusual step yesterday of publishing his tax records to try to end days of questions about his personal wealth raised by the mention of his late father’s offshore fund in the Panama Papers. Cameron’s initial reluctance to admit he had benefited from the fund caused a furore, compounding his problems when he faces a huge political fight to persuade Britons to vote to stay in the European Union in a June 23 referendum. The EU issue has split his Conservative Party, while the government has also been going through a tough patch over a senior minister’s resignation, a u-turn on welfare cuts and accusations it is failing to protect Britain’s steel industry. After saying on Saturday that could have handled the fallout from the Panama disclosures better, Cameron released a summary of his tax records for the past six years. But any hope that would draw a line under the row was short-lived, as the main Sunday newspapers zeroed in on a gift of 200,000 pounds ($282,500) Cameron received from his mother in 2011, suggesting it may be a way of avoiding inheritance tax. A source at Cameron’s Downing Street office said the suggestion was inaccurate. Cameron is one of dozens of politicians around the world who have been hit by the leak of 11.5 million documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca that detail the creation of more than 200,000 companies in offshore tax havens. Cameron will make a statement about tax policy to parliament today to try to regain the upper hand. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused him of misleading the public by issuing what Corbyn described as four “weaselworded” statements in as many days before finally admitting that he had benefited from his father’s fund. Some politicians
David Cameron campaigning for Britain to vote to stay in the EU in June’s referendum are concerned that the damage to Cameron is bad for their side, as he had previously been considered the best advocate for an “In” vote. “The scandals over David Cameron’s finances ... may tip the decision further towards ‘Leave’,” said former Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Gordon Wilson yesterday. Nicola Sturgeon, SNP leader and first minister of Scotland’s devolved government, published her latest tax return yesterday, adding to pressure for greater transparency by politicians. Cameron is not accused of having done anything illegal, and the fact that he is a wealthy man is nothing new. But the past week has been damaging because the drip-drip of carefully worded statements before the fuller disclosure created the impression he may have had something to hide. “He’s not behaved improperly in any way and he’s gone further than any prime minister previously in publishing these tax returns,” Conservative minister Dominic Raab told Sky News television, accusing Cameron’s Labour critics of “unsavoury” personal attacks and comparing them to
“hyenas”. Cameron announced a new taskforce on tax evasion would be led by the tax authority, HMRC, and the National Crime Agency. The Guardian newspaper reported later that HMRC boss Edward Troup’s former employer, London-based law firm Simmons and Simmons, had counted Cameron’s father ’s fund among its clients. The Guardian made no suggestion of wrongdoing by Troup or Simmons and Simmons. HMRC said Troup had never had any dealings with Mossack Fonseca or advised any of its clients named so far. It added that any HMRC officers with a potential conflict of interest would exclude themselves from a relevant investigation. Bookmakers William Hill said they had cut their odds on Cameron resigning as prime minister this year to 2/ 1, compared with 16/1 when he won the last general election last May. Cameron said on Thursday his father’s investment trust was not set up to avoid tax but to invest in dollar-denominated shares. He said he had paid all taxes due on his own investment, which was worth about 30,000 pounds when he sold it in 2010. But Cameron stands accused of hypocrisy after portraying his government as being in the forefront of global efforts to crack down on offshore tax havens. A comment he made in 2012 about a famous comedian’s legal tax avoidance scheme being “morally wrong” has been widely quoted by media. The documents disclosed by Downing Street yesterday, from RNS Chartered Accountants, show Cameron paid tax of 75,898 pounds on income of 200,307 pounds in the 2014-2015 financial year, the most recent one included.
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders writes on his notes as his rival Hillary Clinton walks behind, Florida Saturday. REUTERS/Carlo Alleg Reuters - Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton yesterday dismissed the notion of a contested nominating convention and said she was not preparing for such a scenario, after her rival for her party’s presidential nomination racked up another victory. Bernie Sanders won the Wyoming caucuses on Saturday, his seventh victory over Clinton in the last eight
Democratic nominating contests as the two gear up for a crucial matchup on April 19 in New York state. Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, is trying to chip away at Clinton’s big lead in the number of delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination for the Nov. 8 presidential election. He said yesterday he believed he could close the gap, and left the door open
for a so-called floor flight at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July if neither has won an outright majority of delegates. In that case, a system of multiple ballots takes place, governed by complex rules, with candidates hoping to persuade delegates to vote for them. Asked on CNN if she were preparing for such a scenario, Clinton said, “No, I intend to have the number of delegates that are required to be nominated.” The former U.S. secretary of state said she was leading Sanders by 2.5 million popular votes and in pledged delegates. “I feel good about the upcoming contests, and I expect to be the nominee,” she said. The spectre of a contested convention, a relatively rare event in recent U.S. politics, looms much larger in the Republican race. While front-runner Donald Trump has amassed a delegate lead by winning many state contests, rival Ted Cruz has proved tenacious in pursuit of every last delegate available by other means. Cruz’s campaign has worked hard in states where the delegate allocation process is more complex, such as Colorado, where the U.S. senator from Texas garnered 34 delegates on Saturday.
Indian temple blaze kills 100, more than 380 injured Reuters - A fire and explosions during a fireworks display to mark the start of the local Hindu new year killed 100 people and injured more than 380 at a temple in India’s southern Kerala state yesterday. Thousands of devotees had packed into the Puttingal Devi temple, about 70 km from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram in the coastal district of Kollam, to watch the display that started at midnight and went on four hours. The blaze started when a cracker fell onto a shed where the fireworks were stored,
sparking a string of powerful explosions that blew the roof of the administrative block of the temple and caused another building to collapse, residents said. Kollam district magistrate A. Shainamol said people living in the area near the temple had complained about the danger of these fireworks in the past. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Kollam with a team of doctors to help state authorities cope with the large number of injured, moving swiftly to head off criticism of a lack of public safety.
Page 26
Kaieteur News
Monday April 11, 2016
Malta’s opposition demands resignation of PM over Panama Papers Reuters - Several thousand people filled a big square in Malta’s capital yesterday and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat after the leaked Panama Papers said two of his political allies had offshore accounts. “Shame on you, you are shaming Malta, you have lost the moral authority to govern,” opposition leader Simon Busuttil said to the applause of protesters. The rally, organised by the opposition outside the prime minister’s office, drew no official comment from Muscat. He said on Wednesday that he would take a decision on the future of his two allies when he knows all the facts and on the basis of public sentiment. The Nationalist Party opposition wants the removal of Health and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and the prime minister’s Chief of Staff, Keith Schembri. The Panama Papers showed how Mizzi set up a company in Panama and a trust in New Zealand. Mizzi denies wrongdoing and says the arrangements were made to facilitate the management of his family assets, including income from a property in London. He has refused calls to r e s i gn and said he is subjecting himself to an independent audit.
Joseph Muscat However, on Thursday he told the ruling Labour Party he is ready for any decision that the prime minister might take. Busuttil said the opposition is also calling for the resignation of Schembri, for having similarly set up a company in Panama and a trust in Panama. Schembri has denied any wrongdoing. He says that he was in business well before he assumed his government role and that he handed over his business management as soon as the government was elected in 2013. The opposition has repeatedly hit out at Mizzi, who handled the government’s biggest contracts, including the partprivatisation of the health
service, the part-privatisation of energy provider Enemalta and an oil hedging agreement with Azerbaijan. Busuttil said that although the scandal became known in Malta as early as February, Muscat had done nothing about it. Rather, he had promoted Mizzi to deputy leader of the Labour Party. “His inaction is undermining Malta’s reputation and endangering its financial services centre,” he warned. “How can the prime minister defend Malta’s financial services industry in the EU when his fellow minister has a secret company in Panama?” Busuttil asked. The opposition has presented a parliamentary motion of no confidence in the government. The Panama Papers scandal broke a week ago when the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung said it had received 11.5 million leaked documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca showing how offshore companies are used to stash the wealth of the world’s elite. The leak quickly led to the resignation of Iceland’s prime minister and embroiled British Prime Minister David Cameron in difficulties over offshore investments made by his father.
Rowley denies award of contract to Brazilian firm Trinidad Guardian - Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has moved to quash allegations that it was the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government that signed off on the award of the controversial $5 billion construction project to Brazilian firm OAS Construtora on May 25, 2010. “Nothing is further from the truth,” he said in the Parliament on Friday. This adds to the blame game over the issue. Rowley said he wanted to “rectify misinformation” from the Opposition about the Point Fortin Highway and the OAS contractor. He said everyone knew there was a new government on May 25, 2010. The PM said documents would show that the correspondence between National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) and OAS took place under the newly-elected government. “As a matter of fact, it was because there was no contract given to OAS, why
Dr. Keith Rowley OAS travelled from Brazil...South Africa, to ensure that a contract was given to OAS. And I asked the prime minister of the day a number of times about that and she never answered about that.” He said with the Panama Papers scandal, all of a sudden, the Opposition wanted to make the country believe that the OAS contract was a PNM creature.
Rowley said, “The PNM has absolutely nothing to do with the award of the contract to OAS.” The highway project has become politically toxic, with the firm pulling out of the half completed project, and laying off hundreds of workers. It started in 2011. Construction had to be delayed on several occasions due to protest action at various sites taken by the Highway Reroute Movement (HRM), who opposed it based on environmental concerns and the displacement of residents, whose land had to be acquired by the Government for construction. The Sunday Guardian had reported that in the last report of the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) for October 2015 and its former president Dr Carson Charles, on May 13, 2010, the Tenders Evaluation Committee recommended that Nidco enter into negotiations with OAS Construtora Ltd as a preferred respondent.
Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 27
Page 28
Kaieteur News
Monday April 11, 2016
Barbados defends economic BVI Govt. implements policy benefits of its offshore structures regarding overseas journalists BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — In response to the global outcry against offshore financial jurisdictions caused by the “Panama Papers” leak, the government of Barbados has issued a statement intended to provide the public with a balanced and rational perspective. The leak has led to the propagation of two highly erroneous stereotypes – that all offshore financial jurisdictions are used to hide money and that they all erode the proper functioning of the global economy. In stark contrast to a widely held label, Barbados said it is an example of an ethical, fully transparent jurisdiction that enhances the functioning of the global economy. “We understand that government-to-government secrecy undermines the proper functioning of our global economy given that it can be used as a cover for illicit and illegal activity. Such secrecy creates a flash point for an emotional reaction that is helping to fuel an antioffshore sentiment in many G20 nations. However, that emotion is leading to the ‘country profiling’ of all offshore financial centres (OFCs) – a practice that negatively stereotypes legitimate jurisdictions,” said Donville Inniss, Barbados’ minister of industry, international business, commerce and small business development, and vice chair of the steering group of the Global Forum on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Donville Inniss Development (OECD). Inniss noted that Barbados has long embraced transparency and the exchange of tax information between governments. As evidence, Barbados has officially and publicly endorsed the OECD’s global standard for the automatic exchange of information and has agreed to facilitate compliance with the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. “Additionally, beyond being highly cooperative and transparent, Barbados’ position as a preeminent low tax jurisdiction attracts business of substance and ethical business structures that provide significant benefits to both domestic markets and the global economy,” Inniss continued. Barbados contributes meaningfully to the international economy and does so because of its network of double taxation and bilateral investment treaties – agreements that effectively act as stimulus structures and enable global trade. Studies conducted by Dr Walid Hejazi (published in
US and Dutch law enforcement officials make US$8 million drug bust ORANJESTAD, Aruba – United States Coast Guard and Dutch law enforcement teams have seized 550 pounds of cocaine and detained one man during an at-sea interdiction northwest of Aruba. The seized cocaine shipment was estimated to have a wholesale value of more than US$8.25 million. The US Coast Guard said that while on a joint patrol, members of its Law Enforcement Detachment along with the crew of HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën detected and intercepted a suspicious vessel northwest of Aruba in international waters. The cocaine and boat were seized and the man who was on board the vessel was taken into custody. The suspect and contraband were transferred to Panama Express Strike Force agents in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. But the US Coast Guard said the seized vessel became inoperable during the transit and “was sunk as a danger to navigation”. (Caribbean360)
2015), professor of international business, Rotman School of Management, have analyzed the unique and mutually beneficial economic relationship between Canada and Barbados. According to Hejazi’s most recent study, the evidence concludes that the use of Barbados by “Canadian companies has delivered significant trade, employment and tax benefits to the Canadian economy.” More specifically, “the use of Barbados by Canadian companies generates between 26,000 and 31,000 additional jobs in Canada.” Hejazi concluded by saying, “Governments should work to deepen relationships with OFCs that have enhanced transparency and exchange of information agreements, with Barbados serving as the model jurisdiction.” (Caribbean News)
ORTOLA, British Virgin Islands - (CMC) – The Government of the British Virgin Islands, in defending a recent decision to bar a Canadian journalist, says journalists employed to overseas news agencies will not be allowed entry to work here unless they have the necessary permission. “Anybody that’s working in the BVI needs a work permit to work in the BVI. It’s just like any other place in the world. Any place in the world that you go, you have to have the right permission to be in that place,” said Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Brodrick Penn. In recent weeks, journalists employed to overseas news agencies have tried to enter this British territory to probe issues regarding the financial services industry. Some have written stories about being
Brodrick Penn barred from entering the territory, or about being poorly treated upon entry. Earlier this month, Toronto Star journalist Marco Chown Oved, reported that he was turned back at the Terrence B Lettsome International Airport despite having prior discussion with the Governor’s Office
regarding an interview. “We’ve seen the story [written by the Toronto Star journalist], and it’s really a simple matter. He was aware that he needed to have the requisite permission to work in the BVI, and he came to the BVI without permissions, and so he was denied entry. It’s a very simple issue; he did not have the right permissions to be in the BVI,” Penn said. “There have been other international journalists that have inquired about coming into the BVI. They were told that they need work permits to enter the BVI, and in some cases where they are filming they need some permission also. I am aware that there are other international journalists that have come to the BVI and they have sought the requisite permission to enter the BVI, and they came in and they did what they had to do,” Penn added.
Guyana, Suriname take part in Islamic summit GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The Western Hemisphere’s only two members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Guyana and Suriname, participate in this week’s 13th Summit of the OIC from yesterday to Friday in Istanbul, Turkey. The president and the foreign minister of Guyana expected to travel to Turkey. Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse is represented at the summit by foreign minister, Niermala Badrisingh. Guyana and Suriname’s growing ties with Turkey have increased economic and political contacts, so there may be high level participation these two Caribbean countries with significant Muslim population. Islamic holidays such as Youman Nabi and Eid-ul-Fitr are national holidays in these countries. Leaders will make decisions and take practical measures aimed at developing joint Islamic action and advancing the OIC’s role at the regional and international arenas. This includes the adoption of the “OIC Programme of Action: 20162025”, which constitutes a strategic vision with specific priorities addressing: peace and security, terrorism and extremism, humanitarian work, human rights, development, poverty alleviation, eradication of epidemics, the rights of
Niermala Badrisingh women, children and the family in the Islamic world, higher education, science and technology, and cultural exchange among OIC member states, according to an OIC press statement on
Wednesday. The Palestinian issue, one that is very close and dear to the new government in Guyana since it was the main coalition political party that championed the Palestinian cause, will dominate the agenda of the meeting. Guyana is also a member of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and was the first Caribbean country to recognize a Palestinian state. The Islamic Summit, which will be held under the theme “Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace”, will also discuss the current situation in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mali, Jammu and Kashmir, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Azerbaijan.
Combating terrorism, sustainable development, promotion of scientific cooperation among OIC states in the areas of health, higher education and environment; promotion of cultural, social and media cooperation, the humanitarian situation, poverty eradication and infrastructure will be addressed. The First Ladies of the OIC countries will hold a special session on the sideline of the Islamic Summit on the theme “First Ladies’ Leadership on Cancer Control in OIC Member States”. The summit will be preceded by meetings of senior officials and the foreign ministers of OIC countries beginning today. (Caribbean News)
Fuel subsidy had to be ended Trinidad Guardian - Senior economist Dr Roger Hosein says the reduction in the gas subsidy comes at a time when oil prices are low and may not be a significant saving measure for the State. However, he said it needed to be done. “Overall, this is a welcome change as it brings the Trinidad and Tobago economy closer to the type of changes necessary to realign its expenditures with its revenue intake”, the economist said. Hosein’s main concern with the mid-term review presented by Finance Minister Colm Imbert on Friday was the statements about devaluation. He said while Imbert could not announce that an outright devaluation of 20-30 per cent
was needed, he had to be aware that a seven per cent devaluation overall from September may not be sufficient to change the external competitiveness of the manufacturing and non-energy sector to bring the desired amount of foreign exchange. On the issue of the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses Programme (Gate), which Imbert said would be reviewed and reported on in July, Hosein said it seemed to him that the Government was prepared to make some cutbacks. “Nothing much was said except that a Standing Committee would provide a report by July. But it seems to be heading in the direction of a partial removal, especially for those who can afford to pay.”
Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
RUSSELL AND HOGG ROUT DAREDEVILS
Brad Hogg finished with figures of 4-1-19-3. (BCCI) ESPNcricinfo - Kolkata Knight Riders responded with a ‘horses for courses’ approach on a greenish Eden Gardens surface. Shakib Al Hasan and Morne Morkel, central to their plans last season, were benched. Sunil Narine, who played a stellar role in their title-winning run in 2012 and 2014, was unavailable because of his father’s demise. Did it hamper them? It didn’t look like, as Andre Russell and Brad Hogg took three wickets apiece to skittle Delhi Daredevils for 98. Robin Uthappa and Gautam
Gambhir’s 69-run opening partnership then set a strong platform in the chase for a nine-wicket win with 35 balls to spare. Russell and John Hastings, taking Morkel’s place, ran in hard and hit the deck harder to extract unusual bounce. Quinton de Kock, who had pulled Umesh Yadav for back-to-back boundaries, was the first to go when he skewed a catch to mid-off. Four balls later, Shreyas Iyer was trapped lbw for a duck. Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair also exited in successive
Andre Russell celebrates after taking an early wicket, Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2016, Kolkata, April 10, 2016. (BCCI)
Pacquiao beats Bradley... From page 31 trouble at the final bell. “Every round (I was) looking for a KO but Bradley is a very good boxer,” Pacquiao said of the performance, which may go some way to helping cement his legacy after a disappointing fight against Floyd Mayweather last May. Mayweather easily won the fight that lacked much action to retire undefeated, though Pacquiao’s support team said afterwards he had suffered a shoulder injury in training beforehand and later needed surgery.
overs as Hastings capped the Powerplay with a wicket maiden. By then, Daredevils were in a familiar spot at 35 for 4. Gambhir multiplied the efficiency of his attack by deploying two slips for most parts of the innings. He even placed himself at short leg after Russell dismantled the top order. Pawan Negi, who was promoted to No.6, swished and missed balls. He was finally put out of his misery when Hogg had him stumped for a 19-ball 11. IPL debutant Carlos Brathwaite, who had fired West Indies to their second World T20 title last week, momentarily broke the shackles with a biff over wide long-on, but was foxed by a skiddy googly from Piyush Chawla two balls later. Sanju Samson was the eighth Daredevils batsman to be dismissed before Hastings made a reappearance to wrap up the innings. Daredevils had slumped to their seventh sub-100 score in IPL, which also happened to be the second-lowest score in the tournament’s history at Eden Gardens. The chase was a stroll for Knight Riders, and the onset of dew only made things worse for Daredevils. Zaheer Khan, playing his first competitive game since May 2015, floated flick-me balls in the lower 120kph range to Gambhir’s pads and got picked away for three fours in the second over. Uthappa moved into his shot-making stride with a brace of straightdriven fours as the hosts raced past 50 in the eighth over. Although Uthappa holed out for 35 in the tenth over against the run of play, Gambhir and Manish Pandey ensured Knight Riders enjoyed a winning start. Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 99 for 1 (Gambhir 38*, Uthappa 35) beat Delhi Dardevils 98 (De Kock 17, Hogg 3-19, Russell 3-24) by nine wickets.
Page 29
Leicester march on, Tottenham not giving up chase LONDON (Reuters) Leicester City continued their inexorable march towards the Premier League title as Jamie Vardy’s brace earned them victory at Sunderland on Sunday but Tottenham Hotspur showed they will not give up the chase after demolishing Manchester United 3-0. Vardy’s late goals in a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light sent Claudio Ranieri’s side 10 points clear before secondplaced Tottenham kicked off at White Hart Lane and judging by the way the Leicester fans reacted they have clearly started believing the impossible dream. The visiting supporters, some of whom have already bought scarves embossed with “Premier League Champions”, gave a rousing rendition of “We’re going to win the league” at fulltime. Tottenham, however, have proved durable pursuers while other more fancied sides have faltered and the way they turned over a lacklustre United suggests they still believe the season could have a final twist. A flat first half at White Hart Lane, not helped by the score from Sunderland and United’s late arrival due to traffic jams forcing a 30minute delay, was followed by a vibrant second period from Mauricio Pochettino’s team. Three goals in six minutes from Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela earned Tottenham a first home league win over United since 2001 — a result that meant Leicester are at least guaranteed a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League’s playoff round. United, meanwhile, remained fifth, four points behind Manchester City, and their hopes of salvation this season are more likely to come in the FA Cup in which they face West Ham United in a
quarter-final replay on Wednesday. With five matches remaining Leicester have 72 points and Tottenham have 65 with Arsenal back in third on 59. Liverpool moved into eighth place with a 4-1 home victory over Stoke City — the perfect warm-up for their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund on Thursday. Leicester will be guaranteed an improbable first top flight title if they win three more matches after grinding past a poor Sunderland side who are sliding towards relegation. Ranieri’s side have now won five matches in a row without conceding a goal and the Italian’s emotional reaction to victory suggests he finally believes the miracle may happen. He quickly recovered his composure, however. “The fans must continue to dream but we must stay focussed and concentrated, we have now two tough matches at home,” he said. “We have achieved nothing yet though. We must stay calm, stay strong and keep going.” Vardy broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when experienced defender Younes Kaboul failed to deal with Danny Drinkwater’s long ball and the England striker guided his shot past goalkeeper Vito Mannone. Jack Rodwell wasted a Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
great chance to equalise for Sunderland, wafting a shot over with the goal gaping, and Vardy raced away to seal victory in stoppage time to take his tally in the league to 21. He is the first Leicester player to score more than 20 goals in the top flight since Gary Lineker in 1984-85. Only Tottenham’s Harry Kane has more this season, although the Spurs striker for once did not get on the scoresheet on Sunday. He did have a hand in Tottenham’s opener though, releasing Christian Eriksen on the left before the Dane crossed for Alli to finish easily past David De Gea. Four minutes later Lamela, guilty of a terrible first-half miss, curled in a free kick for Alderweireld to meet with a textbook glancing header and with Spurs rampant Argentine Lamela then finished off a flowing move with precise shot. United’s fans had taunted Tottenham with a chant of “You Nearly Won The League” during the first half, but hope had returned in north London by the time the final whistle blew. “It was important for us to show character after Leicester’s game, because we were under pressure,” Pochettino told reporters. “It’s true we gave a message to them that we are there. We are waiting and fighting.” Divock Origi scored twice for Liverpool while Daniel Sturridge was also on target.
Team Leicester Tottenham Arsenal Man City Man Utd West Ham Southampton Liverpool Stoke Chelsea
P 33 33 32 32 32 32 33 31 33 32
GD 26 35 22 25 9 12 10 8 -6 7
Jamie Vardy runs through to score the second goal for Leicester. (Reuters / Russell CheyneLivepic)
Pts 72 65 59 57 53 52 50 48 47 44
Page 30
Kaieteur News
Monday April 11, 2016
Garner questions proposed dissolution of WICB ESPNcricinfo - Former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner, currently a director of the WICB, has questioned the CARICOM cricket review panel’s suggestion of dissolving the board and asking all its members to resign. Garner, who is also president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), wondered how some members of the WICB could suddenly be called “illegal” when they were formed according to the individual constitutions of the region’s countries. “My questions are: is the BCA, which was constituted by an act of parliament in 1933, an illegal entity and my selection as president of the BCA an illegal act?” Garner asked while speaking at the association’s quarterly meeting on Thursday. “So I have to ask the question: is the GCB [Guyana Cricket Board] an illegal entity? Is the Jamaica Cricket [Association] an illegal entity? Is the Leeward Islands Cricket Association an illegal entity? Is the Windward Islands Cricket Board an illegal entity? Is the TTCB [Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board] an illegal entity? “If they are so, they have all been established in countries in which the prime ministers are making noise, and they have to tell the
public of the region, if these entities are illegal, how they were able to remain vibrant for so long.” The five-member CARICOM panel, comprising V. Eudine Barriteau, Sir Dennis Byron, Dwain Gill, Deryck Murray and Warren Smith, was appointed by the Prime Ministerial Committee on the Governance of West Indies Cricket in response to the crisis that engulfed the WICB after the BCCI suspended bilateral ties and slapped $41.97 million as damages following the West Indies team’s decision to pull out midway through their India tour in 2014. The panel concluded its report in October last year. After extensive discussions and interviews with various stakeholders that included the management of the WICB, the CARICOM panel concluded that the governance structure of the board was obsolete. “There is an inherent and as yet unresolved tension between the evolution of the game of cricket into a powerful, professionally-driven entertainment and sporting industry and a system of governance predicated on an earlier, more simplified set of requirements,” the panel stated. “In this regard, the panel strongly recommends
the immediate dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board and the appointment of an Interim Board whose structure and composition will be radically different from the now proven obsolete governance framework. These two key measures are absolutely necessary in order to transform and modernize the governance, management, administration and the playing of the game.” In its response, the WICB rejected the CARICOM panel’s report in January. According to WICB president Dave Cameron, the panel had not consulted either the six territorial boards - Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Leeward Islands and Windward Islands - or its directors, clubs, representatives and, hence, the panel’s findings were not supported by facts. “This [lack of consultations] has caused or triggered findings and recommendations by the panel which are not supported by the facts. The panel made statements and conclusions related to the structure and governance of the WICB, while ignoring the sweeping structural and governance changes which have taken place at the WICB since 2002,” Cameron said.
Stephens beats Vesnina in Charleston final
(Reuters) American seventh seed Sloane Stephens captured her third title of 2016 by defeating Russian qualifier Elena Vesnina 76(4) 6-2 in the final of the Volvo Car Open clay court event in South Carolina yesterday. The 23-year-old American raced out to a 5-2 lead before Vesnina, the 2011 Charleston finalist, used a slew of winners to win four consecutive games before moving within one point of winning the opening set. Stephens, however, held her nerve producing some of her best tennis in the tiebreak before cruising through the second set. “I just said to myself, ‘You have to fight for every point and compete.’ She’s a great player, so I knew I had to stay in every point,” said Stephens. “When I got a couple of opportunities, I took them, so that was great.” The win marked the fourth career WTA title for an in-form Stephens, who has been close to her best for nearly a year after winning her maiden title in Washington last August followed by wins this year in Auckland and Acapulco. Stephens, who was 1-5 in Charleston before this week, had two straight-set wins to open the tournament and then saved a match point against rising Russian teen Daria Kasatkina in the quarter-finals. She faced defending champion Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals where she had a 6-1 3-0 lead before the top-seeded German retired with a viral illness. Vesnina had caught fire on the unique
Joel Garner (left) directed a rhetorical volley at the CARICOM panel. (Getty Images)
RHTYSC, MS to honour Shemaine Campbelle The Caribbean premier airline, Caribbean Airlines has joined hands with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS to honour our West Indies World Cup Champion, Shemaine Campbelle. Campbelle a member of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation and captain of its Metro Female team, was a member o f t h e v i c t o r i o u s We s t Indies 20/20 World Cup team, which defeated Australia in the finals to lift the historic title. The RHTYSC, MS during its 26th annual awards ceremony on Sunday 17th of April would honour Campbelle with a collection of special gifts including the airline ticket. Secretary/CEO of the Club Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to Caribbean
– Caribbean Airlines donates North American air ticket Airlines for the donation of the North American airline ticket as it would allow the RHTYSC, MS to properly honour Campbelle who was described as a true and proud representative of the Club and its tradition. The Club, he stated over its short 26 years has achieved unbelievable success but it was only the second time it has produced a World Champion after Assad Fuddadin was part of the West Indies under-15 team in 2000. Honouring its heroes on and off the Cricket field, Foster stated was very important to the RHTYSC, MS as the organisation
strongly believes in recognising and rewarding hard work and dedication. Campbelle, the long serving Secretary/CEO noted, was an outstanding sports ambassador of the RHTYSC, MS, Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies. Caribbean Airlines Marketing Executive Dion Inniss in handing over the airline ticket to Foster stated that the airline was pleased to be associated with the Club to honour Campbelle. The airline, Inniss stated is fully aware of its corporate responsibilities and education. He wished Campbelle and the RHTYSC, MS the best in the future.
Sloane Stephens gestures to her player’s box after missing a shot. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports) green clay courts of Charleston where she arrived as the world number 85 and having won two matches in the qualifying. En route to becoming the first qualifier to make the Charleston final in the tournament’s 44 years, Vesnina upset Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the second round and Italy’s Sara Errani in the semis.
Caribbean Airlines Executive Dion Inniss (right) hands over ticket to Hilbert Foster, RHTYSC, M.S Secretary/CEO.
Monday April 11, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 31
Plans on stream for RHTYSC, ‘Green Machine’ intensifying MS Awards Ceremony NACRA 15s South Zone C/ship
preparations for B/dos clash
By Rawle Welch Evidently not satisfied with the level of preparations that they’ve been afforded so far, Head Coach of the Guyana national rugby squad commonly referred to as the ‘Green Machine’ Laurie Adonis speaking with Kaieteur Sport on Saturday, at the National Park, said that the current phase of preparations definitely needs to intensify. Adonis, who is spearheading Guyana’s preparations for the upcoming clash against Barbados in the NACRA 15s’ South Zone Championship pointed to a late start as mainly responsible for the squad’s slow buildup in its training for the Barbados engagement, but assured that by the time April 23 come around Guyana will be ready to successfully defend home turf against an opponent they know very well. Guyana defeated Barbados last year in its opening engagement, before losing to nemesis Trinidad and Tobago that captured the South Zone title. Adonis, a former national player with vast experience as a Coach, disclosed that they are presently working on a few areas that the Bajans are strong at, namely line-outs, scrums and tackling, adding
that they will have to be able to stop them from dominating those aspects of the game to come out victorious. “Those areas we know they are traditionally strong in so we have to be well prepared to nullify their strength and use it to our advantage,” Adonis stated. The Head Coach noted the importance of all the games which according to him has become increasingly vital for the sustenance of the sport here with winning the best certification for future funding from the International Rugby Board (IRB). Quizzed on the unusual late commencement of preparations, a development that is totally strange to national teams, Adonis revealed that the Union was forced to accommodate the staging of the GTT 15s’ tournament, while the late arrival of players from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) did not help the situation. He, however, was confident that they will be ready for the task ahead and urged the fans to come out in their usual numbers to rally around the team as it seeks to continue its dominance over the Bajans. He disclosed that three players will be arriving shortly from Trinidad and Tobago
where they will join the squad in its preparations ahead of the game. They are all very experienced players in Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers and Peabo Hamilton, all players who have played an integral part in Guyana’s unrivalled success in the sport over the past decade. Quizzed on how important and crucial it is to have the experienced players around to guide the younger ones, Adonis said it is vitally important since they are the ones who will have to build the confidence in those that haven’t been around very long, while also pointing to crucial periods in the game where their knowledge in certain situations could help ease the tension. Commenting on fitness which has always been the standout feature and responsible for the teams that swept aside every regional challenge not so long ago, the Head Coach expressed his disappointment about the current state of affairs, but evaluated that the players have shown admirable commitment since and their level of fitness has improved tremendously. He also welcomed the improved turnout at practice sessions and was hopeful that the trend continues.
– President David Granger to deliver feature address
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster (right) receives donation from a representative of Nalico. Plans for the successful hosting of the 26th annual awards ceremony of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS are well on stream with several major sponsors coming on board. Club Patron, President David Granger has confirmed his participation as the Guest Speaker, while Veteran Cricketer Khemraj Mahadeo and West Indies female
Pacquiao beats Bradley in farewell fight (Reuters) Manny Pacquiao defeated Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision in the rubber match between the fighters on Saturday, prevailing in what the Filipino has said is the final fight of his career. Pacquiao, who bounced back from a controversial split-decision defeat to Bradley in 2012 with a decisive win two years later, delivered the final blow in their welterweight clash in Las Vegas as all three judges scored it 116-110 in his favour. With fans chanting ‘Manny’ at the conclusion, Pacquiao (58-6-2) maintained that he is heading into retirement and continuing his political career in the Philippines. “I have a commitment to my family that I’m going to retire after this and we don’t know,” Pacquiao told ringside reporters. “If you ask me about if I’m coming back, maybe I enjoy by being retired and serving and helping the people.” After a slow start
Manny Pacquiao lands a punch to bring down Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand Garden Arena. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) narrowly controlled by Bradley, the 37-year-old Pacquiao seized the momentum in the middle portion following a furious fifth round. Pacquiao then caught an off balance Bradley with a
right hand to the ear to drop him in the seventh, but the American surprisingly bounced back to hurt Pacquiao during the eighth. From there Pacquiao wrested back control, highlighted by a right
uppercut that dropped Bradley in the ninth. At the strong urging of his trainer Teddy Atlas, Bradley (33-2-1) continued to hang in for the latter rounds though he appeared in Continued on page 29
player Shemaine Campbelle has been confirmed as the Male and Female Cricketer of the Year respectively. The Award ceremony would be held at the St. Francis Community Developers head office and would entail the honouring of over 40 Cricketers and Club officials. The Club would also be honouring outstanding teachers form the Lower Corentyne district, retired teachers from Region 5 and 6 and five role model police officers under its Tribute to Heroes programme. The Club would also be paying tribute to its immediate past Patron, Ms. Beverly Harper by awarding her the RHTYSC, MS highest award – The Dolphin Award of Excellence while donations would be made to several schools. Meanwhile, the Club’s plans for the hosting of the Award Ceremony over the weekend received major boosts from several donors. Insurance Company, North American Life Insurance Co Ltd donated a carton of 25 trophies, while Impressions, National Milling Company, Ricks and Sari, Agro Industries, The National Sports Commission, Shameer Baksh, Karen Raphael,
Bakewell, Wood Pecker Sports, Jumbo Jet, New GPC INC, Joseph Lewis, Mings Products Ltd, The Gift Centre, John Lewis Styles, Paul Persaud, Bounty Farm Ltd, Royal Jewel House, Dr. Phillip DaSilva all making contributions. Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster who is heading the Planning Committee for the 26th annual awards ceremony stated that all plans are in place and expressed gratitude to all the donors for their continued confidence in the organisation. This year’s ceremony would be a smaller one when compared to the last fifteen years as Management has taken a decision to greatly reduce the prize package from $2.5M to about $1M. This is to allow the Club to invest more into its Cricket development programme for youths between the ages of 8 to 15 years and its Berbice Wide Say No to Drugs, Suicide and Crime programme. The Club, during the programme, would also be announcing plans for an ambitious County Wide Traffic Education Campaign that would take in school children and drivers in an effort to reduce the death rate on the roads.
Page 32
Kaieteur News
Monday April 11, 2016
Berbice U-19 Volleyball squad returns home
The Berbice Under-19 volleyball squad in Trinidad. Despite losing all their matches in the recently concluded Flow Easter Classic Invitational Players League 5 Tournament, the Berbice U19 Volleyball squad gave a good account of themselves. The tournament, which was organised by the Trinidad & Tobago Volleyball Federation, was played at the Mayaro Indoor sporting Facility in Trinidad. The Berbice U19 volleyball squad was invited by the TTVF (Trinidad & Tobago Volleyball Federation) based on their remarkable performance in winning the Goodwill Tournament in Trinidad last
year. Whilst the Berbice team was a junior squad made up of U19 players the other clubs used senior players in the competition. The Berbice team during the successful debut engagement last year played against fellow U19 players then. Most of the clubs that participated in this year’s tournament are top clubs in their respective countries and some even franchised players from other countries including the United States of America, Canada, Jamaica and Barbados. As the results will show
the Berbice U19 squad, which is preparing for the Inter Guiana Games competition, did not go down without a fight. Results of the matches played showed Trinidad Defence Force defeating the
Berbice U19s- 15-5, 15-8. The Berbice U19 next encounter was against Chargers of Barbados and despite puttying up a good fight they lost 15-12, 15-9. Against eventual winners
Technocrats of Trinidad the Berbice U19s lost 15-8, 15-10. Bigcepos of Trinidad then got the better of The Berbice U19 (2-0) the scores being 1512, 15-10 in a hard fought contest. The Berbice U19 squad then took on Barbados Beacons and lost 15-12, 1511 in a good encounter. The tournament was won by Technocrats who defeated Bigcepos in the final. According to Chief de Mission and Coach/ Manager, Levi Nedd, he was pleased with the team’s participation. Although unhappy that they did not play against junior players and they lost. He is happy how his charges performed against the bigger and more season players. He stated that the engagement was good and will work in good stead for the upcoming Inter – G u i a n a Games (IGG) and the CSV Inter –Continental Tournament billed for later this year. The players that made the
Fly Jamaica supports RHTYSC, MS Fundraising Raffle for 2nd successive year
Successful weekend for... From page 34 the way up to challenging for the lead along with ten other cars as the race wound down towards the finish line. As the pack raced towards the checkered flag, they were spread out the entire width of the track. At the final corner, Calvin Ming made a valiant move for the lead and win but, the stiff competition from Max Mallinen who had made a sensational pass along the backstretch earlier in the last lap to narrowly beat out Steve Bamford who snuck in for 2nd place ahead of Calvin Ming by inches. With three top 5 finishes with one being a 3rd place podium, Ming can now concentrate on Watkins Glen on May 13-15 ‘2016.
Agricola Red Triangle are... From page 35 association for committing to sponsor the tournament on an annual basis. Special recognition was made of the lone female to participate in the competition, 10-year-old Kera Yaw of Friendship All Stars. The top four teams were presented with medals, while each player from the six participating teams were presented with Certificates of Participation. Five individual trophies were distributed as follows: Highest Goal Scorer: (joint with 3 goals each) Tyrese Jones – Grove Hi Tech and Floyd Boyce – Agricola Red Triangle. Most Valuable Player: Floyd Boyce – Agricola Red triangle Best Goal Keeper: Adam Wilson – Agricola Red Triangle Most Promising Player: Shavi Atkinson – Friendship All Stars Most Improved Player: Joshua Moore – Craig Primary School
trip were Yoganand Dhoray (Captain), Devendra Latchman (Vice Captain), Ravi Rampertab, Klondyke Rodney, Samuel Fraser, Lezon Khan and Rolwyn Heywood, Vickram Nandram, Kellon Leitch, Reaad Razak,Marcelyous Hector, Joel Cort, Jermaine Munroe and Joel Hughes. The assistant coach was Devendra Budhu, while female players Malika Jervis and Nadine Benjamin also accompanied the team. Nedd who is also the President of the BVA and the Vice President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sport Commission, the Guyana Volleyball Federation, Guysuco, the Management and Apprentices of the Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC Poonai’s Pharmacy and members of the Business Community among others. (Samuel Whyte)
RHTYSC, M.S Executive Member Mark Papannah (centre) receives the package from Ashanti Thorne, Human Resources Officer, while Elizabeth Seepaul, Accounts Supervisor, looks on. International Airline, Fly Jamaica for the second successive year has joined hands with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS as Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation seeks to raise funds for its highly successful Say Yes to Sports Programme. The Airline has donated an airline ticket to any of its destinations that would be used as the first prize for a Berbice wide raffle. Club Secretary/CEO
Hilbert Foster in accepting the airline ticket from Fly Jamaica’s local Human Resources Officer, Ashanti Thorne expressed gratitude to the company for its continued assistance. The Club, he stated places special emphasis on the promotion of sports as it is a safe avenue for youths away from a life of drugs, crime and the evil ways of Satan. The raffle would be a joint effort between the RHTYSC, MS and the Community Relations
Department of the Guyana Police Force ‘B’ Division. Funds raised would be used to purchase sport gears and equipment for selected Clubs and schools in the region. Last year, the raffle raised over $500,000 and was used to purchase school bags and educational materials for over 500 less fortunate students drawn from both Regions 5 and 6. The Club’s executive also disclosed that would shortly be unveiling a Massive Traffic Education Campaign,
a joint project with the Guyana Police Force ‘B’ Division Traffic Department. The Club would also be re-launching its Say No to Drugs, Suicide and Crime programme with Region 5 been added to the programme for 2016 after a highly successful campaign in Region 6. The main aims of the Say Yes to Sports campaign are to get youths to join a sports Club in their area, to assist them to fulfill their potentials and to provide assistance where possible to Clubs and schools in an effort to get them to promote the importance of sports in the lives of youths. Foster specially praised the airline’s Marketing Executive Mr. Carl Bowen for his support and cooperation over the last two years. Tickets for the raffle would be available shortly with the price being $100. Mr. Bowen in brief remarks expressed Fly Jamaica pleasure in assisting the RHTYSC, MS and stated that he was confident that the venture would be successful as it was in 2015. The experienced airline executive stated that Fly Jamaica is passionate about youths, educational and sports activities and where possible would assist. He encouraged the RHTYSC to continue its outstanding work among youths, the elderly and less fortunate.